Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
Freelance writing has potential as an incredible money-making opportunity. Even those who have never created content before can easily supplement their weekly income. To help you along, I’ve decided to share my freelance writing tips for 2019.
I’ve learned a lot over the years. After all, you don’t create 7,000+ pieces of content for clients without learning a thing or two about the process.[adrotate banner=”8″]
What is Freelance Writing?
Freelance writing is when you create content for a third-party for an agreed amount of money. It’s something almost anyone can do from home and isn’t overly difficult to start.
Perhaps the hardest part of being a freelance writer is finding private clients. Aside from that, you can start right now if you know what sites to use.
Personally, I have an affinity for Textbroker. I’ve made tens of thousands of dollars on the site since 2012, and it greatly helped me develop skills.
In fact, content mills like Textbroker and WriterAccess played an intricate role in my overall success.
Actionable Freelance Writing Tips
These tips are based on my experiences since 2012. They are perhaps the most important aspects to freelance writing and how they’ve helped me become successful.
I’m not saying you can’t be successful without them, but they are things I wish I would have known when first starting out.
So, what are some of the best freelance tips for beginners?
1. Use Content Mills
I know a lot of freelancers don’t like content mills. However, they do provide a lot of benefits to beginner freelance writers such as:
- Helping to develop writing skills.
- Being easy to join and start making money.
- Learning how to interact with clients.
- Finding quick and easy freelance writing jobs.
Take Textbroker, for example. Most of the clients I write for on that system usually want basic blog posts with a single keyword. In many instances, you have free run of the content as long as it follows a specific topic.
It’s a quick and easy weekly payout to PayPal.
2. Plan for Financial Responsibilities
As a freelance writer, you’re responsible for taking care of your own financial needs. For instance, you need to set aside a bit of cash when it comes time to file taxes.
Vacation time, sick leave, retirement and more are all part of financial responsibilities you need to keep in mind when working from home.
This is true no matter what freelancing profession you go into.
3. Be Willing to Learn Writing Skills
Not everyone starts off as a freelance writer with a background in English, journalism or communications. And you don’t need them if you’re willing to learn and grow.
I spent a lot of time in Google looking up ways to improve my grammar and writing in AP style. The end result was landing some very high-paying clients.
It’s all about making the client look good. If you’re content is amazing and well-written, you’ll easily make more money in the long run.
4. Research Your Preferred Niche
A lot of writers have a preferred industry for which they like to write. Spending time learning the newest trends, tech and practices improves your value to clients.
You always want to provide the most current and updated information possible. Just make sure you’re using reputable sites for information. Always double and triple check your sources.
Become an expert in your field and you can charge more per word as clients will happily pay it.
5. Be Prepared to Write a Lot of Content!
Depending on how much you’re getting per word, you’ll probably spend a lot of time writing to pay the bills. It’s not something everyone can do over the long-term.
In fact, I’ve seen several writers get burned out rather quickly.
Let’s put it this way; my goal is to reach 1,000,000 words by the end of 2019. That’s a lot of content, and in some ways, still not enough.
6. Learn to Interact with Clients
How you treat clients will greatly affect how successful you are as a freelance writer. You need to stay professional, even if the client is not.
Realize that you’re not going to please 100% of the people 100% of the time. But if you use respect to combat even the most aggressive clients, you’ll appear better and feel like more of a professional.
For the most part, just having a positive attitude and being respectful can land you a lot of great opportunities as a freelancer.
7. Always Continue to Practice
You don’t have to only write for paying clients. In fact, I suggest you continue to practice writing even if it’s for yourself. It will keep your skills tuned and ready for when you do have a client.
Easy ways to keep practiced include:
- Blogging
- Writing your own eBook
- Writing articles on sites like Vocal.media
My point is that you should never sit idle waiting for work.[template id=”2087″]
8. Keep a Positive Mindset
One of the most important of freelance writing tips I can offer is keeping a positive mindset.
It’s easy to get sucked into impostor syndrome. This is when you don’t believe you’re good enough and have severe doubts of your abilities.
You need a degree of self-confidence if you really want to get anywhere as a freelance writer. You can’t let doubt and depression govern over your success.
9. Keep In a Professional Head Space
Being positive is only part of it. Feeling like a professional will help you focus as such.
For instance, a lot of people love the idea of writing from home in their pajamas. For me, I still get dressed appropriately as though I was heading off to work. This includes keeping a professional work area.
Even if no one is going to see me, I still feel better overall if I present myself as a professional.
10. Market Yourself Well
If you decide not to focus on content mills, you’ll need to spend a decent amount of time marketing yourself. Because, no one will hire you if they don’t know you exist.
Marketing includes a variety of things like having a professional Facebook page, a separate Twitter account, setting up a glowing LinkedIn profile and perhaps a blog with a contact form.
Essentially, you need to do what you can to get your name out there.
11. Always Keep Your Profiles Updated
If you’re using content mills like Textbroker, always keep the profiles updated. If you’re focusing on private clients, make sure your contact info and samples are current.
As a freelance writer, you’ll improve abilities over time. Keeping your information current shows clients the most professional and accurate persona to date.
For instance, I suggest creating new writing samples in Textbroker every six months. It’ll help attract clients and teams.
12. Diversify Yourself
Another one of my important freelance writing tips is diversifying yourself. Don’t simply settle on one method for making money.
For example, I still look for work on Textbroker even though my private clients pay well.
Remember, it’s all about staying productive. And with the sheer amount of work that is available online, you should constantly create content.
Don’t be afraid to try new topics and industries, either. Some of my favorite articles were in subjects I didn’t know in the beginning.
13. Get Enough Sleep
I found that my ability to write is vastly better after a good night’s rest. It keeps the mind fresh and more focused for creating content. Not to mention how it helps with creativity.
Sleep is instrumental in a lot of aspects in life. It improves memory function, reaction time, reduces stress and improves motivation. All of these aspects are vital for a freelance writer.
14. Consider Health and Fitness
Being healthy is just as vital to your mind as it is to the body. In fact, there is a ton of scientific evidence supporting how exercise and eating right improves most areas of the brain.
And since the brain is the most important organ for a writer, it only makes sense to give yourself a competitive edge.
Personally, I exercise every morning in front of the Xbox Kinect to get the blood flowing before starting the day. On days I don’t exercise, I definitely feel less willing to write and more lethargic by noon.
15. Be Mindful of Your Rates
When determining your rate for clients, be realistic. Charging too much will scare many clients away. Charging too little short-changes yourself.
I’ve seen a lot of beginners charge a ridiculously low amount just so they can get the job. The problem with that is the amount they are charging is unsustainable to make a living.
When I quote a price, I take into account how much I can write per hour and how long it takes to research the topic. Then, I come up with an amount that is fair to me as well as the client.
This is because I track everything in a spreadsheet. I know exactly what I am capable of and how much I make from other clients.
Make 2019 a Banner Year for Writing
Using these freelance writing tips for beginners won’t guarantee you’ll make as much money as I do. However, they will vastly improve your chances. In fact, it’s possible you could outperform myself if you put in the effort.
Which of these tips do you find the most helpful? What would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments down below.[template id=”2089″]
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