Freelance writing has become a popular way for people to make money on the side. Although it’s still not easy finding work, there are many ways you can improve your chances for success.
- Search for potential clients and make connections before you need to take on any freelance work. It’s smart to do much more than just search in your industry alone. Ensure that you look at sites like Craigslist, LinkedIn, Indeed, and others that may be more specific to your type of field or location.
Finding the Right Freelance Writer
- Check out their portfolio, and find out what types of work they’ve done in the past. Not only will this give you an idea of their style, but it will also help you determine how much they charge as well as whether or not they have a lot of experience.
- Look up any reviews or testimonials to see if other people have had good experiences with this writer. This is important because a bad experience may discourage your potential client from hiring them even though they are a good fit for your project.
- Make sure you can reach them by phone and email, and that their hours are flexible enough for when you need help.
- If possible, at least speak with them on the phone to get a sense of their personality and learn what type of personality would be best suited for your projects/work.
- Consider asking for references from previous clients, if possible, as well as from friends to get an idea of how happy people are with their work before making the final decision on whether or not to hire them for your project.
- Determine how long it should take them to complete your project after getting started
- Ask about other services that they offer like copywriting, editing, video editing etc
- Find out if they have any affiliations with other companies or publications that may be good connections for future projects
- Finally, ask them how many hours per week they typically work
Searching for Clients
- Look for clients on sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Guru. These are all popular platforms that help connect employers and freelance workers.
- Interview potential clients before you take on any projects with them to determine whether they’re a good fit for your skills and expertise.
- Use your social media profiles to showcase your other talents and offer your services as a writing freelancer. You don’t have to limit yourself by only focusing on writing gigs; you could also offer web design work or blog editing services for example.
- Offer both short-term projects as well as long-term projects when possible so that you can stay in demand with numerous companies.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the project at hand–whether it be on the phone, via email, or in person–to help determine if this is something you want to be involved in or not. It’s helpful for both parties involved if you do this upfront before agreeing to anything else.
What to Expect When Interviewing a Potential Client
When meeting with potential clients, make sure you can answer these questions:
-What is your budget for this project?
-How long will it take to complete the project?
-Are there any specific needs of the project?
-Will I have access to a design or other materials that I need in order to complete the project?
-How much experience do you have in this type of work and what are your rates?
-Do you offer any additional services, like copywriting or editing?
-What is your timeline?
Tips on How to Write a Good Proposal
If you are going to be a freelance writer, you need to know how to write a good proposal. A proposal is one of the most important things in your business. It’s your first step towards getting hired and it needs to be professional and well-written.
A good proposal will have three main points: what you do, what your qualifications are, and how much you charge for your services. You need to make sure that these three points sound convincing. That means the language has to be clear, concise, and easy for people to understand. The best way to make sure your proposal sounds convincing is by writing a mock up so that you can see exactly how it would look. This will help ensure that your ideas are communicated well and not confusing.
How to Negotiate with Your Client
One of the most important tips to finding work is negotiating with your client. Negotiation will help you determine how much they are willing to pay, how many hours you will have to work, and whether or not they offer health insurance.
A great way to start a negotiation with your potential client is by explaining what you are looking for in terms of compensation.
Explain that you need payment for all the hours you have put into their project and give an estimate of how long it will take. You should also let them know that you aren’t going to accept anything less than your hourly rate (just make sure that you don’t go below what is fair).
If the person doesn’t seem interested in negotiating at first, give them some time and try again another day. If they still don’t want to negotiate, then just take whatever job they are offering because it isn’t worth the trouble if they aren’t going to pay well or offer good hours.
- Be upfront about your schedule when applying for a job on Craigslist
It’s smart not to waste people’s time trying to write letters of introduction or cover letters when applying for freelance work on sites like Craigslist. Instead, be upfront with your availability and include any times during which you would be unavailable due to vacation or family obligations.
This way people can see right away if they are a possible match for one another so there isn’t any unnecessary back-and-forth about schedules later on
Proofreading and Editing your Writing
A common mistake that many people make is not proofreading or editing their writing before posting it online. Not only does it take time to proofread, but your content will also have a better chance of being taken seriously if you do it well.
- Create great content. This can be difficult for new writers because of the work required and the amount of time it takes to build up an audience.
However, this is one thing that can help you find work more quickly. If you want to make sure that your writing is good enough, start by just sharing your thoughts on a blog or social media page and getting feedback from people.
- Make connections with other writers in your field and ask them for referrals or reviews about their services.
- Respond promptly to requests for proposals (RFPs) so potential clients know you’re ready when they are looking for someone to do what they need done.
- Have a website with information about yourself, Get Pro Writer, your work history, and where specifically you would like to find freelance work from prospective clients who may need someone like you at the moment
6) Keep up-to-date on trends in your industry through blogs, podcasts, and other resources
7) Be available for projects outside of hours when most jobs are posted online
8) Follow companies on social media so you know what sort of projects they’re currently working on
9) Find a niche that interests you and stick with it
Final Notes.
It may be hard to find freelance work, but it can be done. And when you do find someone who is willing to pay you for your work, it’s worth the effort.
- Search for potential clients on social media. If you’re not yet ready to take on freelance writing, create a LinkedIn profile and join groups in your industry or location that have other people looking for freelancers.
- Offer up what you know as a freelancer in your field by joining Facebook groups and posting relevant content.
- Look at Craigslist or indeed every day and check out the jobs posted there specifically for freelancers in your field of expertise.
- Ask friends, family members, and acquaintances if they know of any good freelance opportunities nearby or if there are any hiring managers they could help connect you with.
- Create a job board website that showcases all the work that you’ve done in the past and present as well as any future projects you’re working on so potential employers can contact you directly instead of having to search through lots of websites for freelancers in their area of interest (this tip really helps when it comes to finding digital marketing and SEO writers).
- Join local networking groups that focus on freelancers to help make connections with people who are hiring for different types of positions like design, web development, marketing, etc.; these groups often charge a membership fee which may be worth the cost if it means accessing better opportunities later down the
