📝 How to Get Your First Freelance Client as a Writer
How do I become a freelance writer with no experience?
With the COVID-19 pandemic pushing more companies to work virtually, freelancing is on track to be more widespread than ever before. In fact, recent data suggests that 41% of American workers did some form of freelance work in 2020 (28% freelanced fulltime). Moreover, younger workers are leaning more towards freelance jobs, with 53% of the Gen Z population doing freelance work in 2020, and 40% of millennials freelancing on a full-time basis.
One of the concerns for people who want to become freelancers, is landing that first client. As it is with the corporate world, many clients don’t want to take a chance on an inexperienced freelancer, especially a writer. How can you woo your first freelance client if you are in this field and have limited experience? The following tips are worth trying.
Identify your marketable skills
The first thing you want to do when entering the world of freelance writing is to spend time figuring out exactly what skills you have to offer that will solve a business problem. Although this is sometimes straightforward, it can be difficult to figure out in some cases. For example, if you have never written any professional documents before, it might be hard to isolate the specific writing skills you have to offer. But it’s not impossible.
Zoom in on the parts of previous jobs that you particularly enjoyed doing which can be tied to writing. Loved working on business contracts? Maybe you can offer to write business plans and company contracts on a freelance basis. Or probably you did well as an English Language teacher, in which case you would probably do well as a proofreader or copy editor. You can also think about hobbies and passions that you have and wouldn’t mind writing about. If you love to cook, for instance, you could focus on becoming a freelance writer for food blogs and magazines.
Tap into your network
Chances are high that you have friends and colleagues from your past jobs or even from your time in college. Don’t be shy to reach out and let them know you are branching out as a freelance writer. With any luck, someone in your circle may just know another colleague or even a firm that is looking for a writer with your skills. Even if you don’t get a hookup right away, they will know you are on the market for gigs and will possibly think of you first if a writing opportunity arises.
Join a freelancing website
There are a number of freelance marketplaces that allow writers to offer their skills and get paid. Among the most popular platforms that fall under this category are Fiverr, UpWork, People Per Hour, and Freelancer. Admittedly, some of these websites have developed a bad reputation for promoting low-paying gigs. Stiff competition among thousands of writers helps to drive down bid amounts, even if some of the talent may not be of the highest quality.
With that said, a freelancing marketplace can be an ideal starting point for a writer who has very little experience. Getting ahead on one of these sites, however, requires you to put in a lot of effort. But it can bear fruit if you manage to rack up some good reviews and form relationships with clients who are willing to pay more for your writing services.
Set up your own freelancing website
Make it easy for people to find you and check out what services you offer as a freelance writer by setting up your own website. Here, you can write a compelling bio, list out your skills, display all your contact information, indicate your pricing, and show off your portfolio if you have one. Building a professional website is pretty easy these days and does not require you to have any web development experience or a lot of money. In some cases, all you need to pay for is hosting. Platforms such as WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix, allow you to quickly set up your own website using an appropriate template, along with simple drag and drop steps.
Reach out
Sometimes the best way to find a client is to simply ask. This means sending out cold emails and direct messages, and even making cold calls. You may feel squeamish about contacting someone you don’t know, but ask yourself, “What do you have to lose?” The worst outcome is that you receive a “no” or get ignored. On the other hand, someone might just be willing to pay you to write for them.
When reaching out, avoid sending random messages to just anyone who lands on your radar. Do your research to find relevant deficiencies in businesses that you can address using your writing skills. For example, if you are a copywriter, you can look at websites that could do with better written copy or some copy editing. Once you locate the contact details, send a message briefly stating your reason for reaching out and how you propose to help improve their copy. Remember to be courteous. Also, don’t take it personally if you get turned down or fail to receive a response right away.
Make use of social media
Like most people on the planet, you probably have one or more social media accounts. These are not only useful for seeing what your friends are up to. Social media networks are ideal for getting the message out that you are a freelance writer and showcasing your skills. LinkedIn is one of the main social media sites to use when trying to get started as a freelancer. It is already an ideal platform for employers who are looking for skilled workers, and it is set up to help you market your skills. But don’t forget to also announce your intentions to your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also look into starting a dedicated social media page for your freelance writing business.
Target job boards
There are various websites around that post writing jobs you can apply to, many of which are suited for freelancers. With any luck, your application might just catch the eye of a prospective employer. However, be careful when using job boards as they have been known to harbor job scams. Thoroughly research the reputation of the job board you are using, as well as any company to which you plan to send an application.
Conclusion
Thinking of moving away from a corporate job and becoming a freelance writer? Maybe you want to do freelance writing as a side hustle or to get out of unemployment. Whatever the case, success as a freelancer begins with landing that first real client.
Until next time,
—Casey