Freelance writing is a very lucrative venture if you know what you’re doing.
I made my first million online via freelance writing, and it felt like a dream. So far, I’ve made over 8 million Naira via freelancing and it still feels good to get paid to write.
You can read about my freelance writing journey if you like.
So, what am I trying to prove?
I’m simply letting you know that you can make good money online just by providing quality content that people are willing to pay for.
And that can be done by freelancing aka content skill marketing.
In this article, I will be sharing a few steps that have enabled me to build a flourishing freelance writing career from scratch, without the help of any guru.
I believe you can take the same steps and build a budding freelance writing career for yourself as well.
Here we go.
Carve a Niche
The most important part of starting a freelance career is to know where you thrive.
You have to find your specialty to be able to give your best.
There are many writing niches to start from, but the one you choose would depend on your writing skills and what kind of copy you enjoy writing.
Here are some writing niches to choose from:
- Fiction & screenplay
- Non-fiction & Tutorial
- Explanatory Articles
- Technical Copy
- Product Descriptions
- Direct-response Copy
- Product Storytelling
- UI/UX Writing
- Press Releases
- Editorials
- Etc.
You have to find a space where you thrive and try to own that space through your writing skills.
Build a Portfolio
Clients need proof that you can deliver a good job, so it is very important to have a portfolio of jobs you’ve done.
This could be in the form of articles written online, or your profile on a company’s website, or a few feedback on a freelance platform.
A portfolio is the ultimate trust ladder that will help you climb to the pinnacle as a freelance writer.
So, first things first. Build a portfolio.
Become a Thought Leader
Thought leadership is akin to taking your portfolio a notch higher.
You don’t just want to be like the regular freelance writer who has a few writeups here and there.
Instead, you want to prove your mettle by being in conversations, and showing your deep knowledge and capacity to deliver quality content.
On the average, freelance writers who are thought leaders earn more than the majority of writers out there.
Target Client-interest Topics
Visibility is what sets high-earning freelancers apart from their peers.
No matter how good you are as a writer, if you aren’t visible enough to your potential client or industry, your earnings would suffer.
So, how do you avoid that?
Simply target Client-interest Topics, that is, topics that clients in your niche are more likely to search for.
The more you populate your niche with Client-interest Topics, the more the probability that you’d be found and hired by the right client.
Use Freelance Platforms
Freelance Platforms are like stadiums for freelancers; there are many clients there willing to buy a ticket to see you perform.
So, it’s a no-brainer.
Want to be a freelance writer that makes good income online? Join a freelance platform.
There are many of these freelance platforms nowadays, but I recommend Upwork and Fiverr.
Both platforms will give you massive exposure not only to make good monthly income, but also to hone your writing skills through a variety of writing jobs.
Use Social Media
Social Media is a great place for a freelance writer to create visibility and enjoy exposure to their industry.
With social media, you can join important conversations, share your works, and build a content structure that attracts the kind of client you want.
Twitter and Linkedin are good places to start as a freelance writer. On these platforms, it is not unheard of to see freelancers consistently get hired or sell their services for thousands of Naira and dollars.
Create a Sales Funnel
Now, how do you plan to attract the right client and make sales on a consistent basis?
You don’t want to leave your freelance career to chance and hope that somehow, clients would find you and pay for your services.
Instead, you want to be in control of poaching clients, showing the value you bring and getting paid right for your services.
That is why it is important to create a sales funnel for your freelance writing business.
You have to intentionally choose the platforms where you want to get clients from, get them interested via your thought leadership and get them to pay for your services as soon as possible.
The freelance writers who consistently make more than 100k monthly do not move like the crowd.
They devise a working process that gets clients flowing to them via recognized sales funnels.