Since 2017, I’ve been working as a freelance writer. While I can’t say that the experience has been full of ups and downs, I can say that it has been rewarding overall.
It’s a beautiful thing that my craft allows me to make so much money each week. Due to the fact that I have a great deal of experience with the commercial aspects of freelancing, I frequently find that I have more work than I can do at once.
In this article, I will provide you with seven helpful hints, and it is my sincere hope that you will be able to expand your company in no time.
1. Work On The Basis Of Earnings Rather Than Hours.
As a freelancer, there are a number different ways you might organize your days:
Make a commitment to working from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day (or any set number of hours). Even if you are in the middle of a project, you need to put it aside when it is time to go for the day and start over the following day.
By tasks: Make a list of everything that needs to be done today and keep working until you’ve finished everything on it.
In terms of revenue: Work until you have earned a sum equivalent to an average daily dollar amount, and aim for that amount.
I organize my days according to how much money I expect to make, since this allows me to make the most money possible and constantly bring in more money without having to put in more effort or work.
2. Get Rid Of Time-Wasting Customers.
After coming to the conclusion that I could make a greater income from writing than from content management, I decided to part ways with a client that required a significant amount of my time but paid a low hourly rate.
My hourly pay increased by almost forty percent after I was able to fill that time with new clients. That meant I could increase my income while decreasing the number of hours I put in. I was scared to lose that business because they promised me as much work as I could handle, but I realized that I could make better use of my time elsewhere.
Be conscious of work that is inefficient and wastes a lot of time that you could be spending on work that brings in more money, and don’t be hesitant to let clients go in order to pursue better chances.
3. Try Looking For Work In The Appropriate Locations.
It’s possible that when you first started out as a freelance writer, you relied on broker sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Textbroker to help you find locations where you could get paid to write. On the other hand, customers who use those sites are frequently looking for the least expensive possible hire and aren’t nearly as concerned with quality.
You have a better chance of finding freelance work on job boards with a higher quality, such as MediaBistro, JournalismJobs.com, and Mediagazer. These job boards offer a wider variety of opportunities.
4. Make Contact With Potential New Customers.
If you’re just starting out as a writer, it can be tempting to rely on job boards or Facebook posts to discover new clients. However, if you locate clients on your own, you’ll be able to make significantly more money.
Find relevant startups in your industry by using websites such as Crunchbase. Send them an email outlining what you have to offer as well as how your writing may assist in the expansion of their company.
You should put a reminder in your calendar to contact them again in a few months with a brief check-in and a link to your most recent piece.
It is essential to follow up, even if you do not hear back from the other party or merely receive a lukewarm reaction. It is impossible to predict when a company will be ready to hire independent workers. It could be in half a year or in a whole year from now.
5. Be Flexible With Prices.
The process of determining prices for freelance work is a delicate dance. My initial goal was rather arbitrary; it was based on what I’d learned from my coworkers and the freelance writers I’d collaborated with in my previous role as an editor. Because it was so exorbitant, I had to decline several offers from potential clients who were unable to compete with it.
But then I got an offer from a website that I was positive would be fun for me to write for. It provided all freelancers with the same fee, which was fifty percent less than my desired rate per word. On the other hand, it provided me with an infinite number of options for tasks, which allowed me to spend less time networking and looking for new job.
It’s possible that a low fee with the promise of abundant work will bring in more money than a high rate for one-off or infrequent tasks that require you to spend time that won’t be paid looking for them. Include that difference in your prices so that you won’t have to pass up lucrative possibilities just because they don’t meet your exacting criteria.
6. Focus On A Niche.
My focus on writing about personal finance, which is a specialty that is in high demand, is largely responsible for the speed with which I have been able to amass a clientele. I had spent the previous five years working in this field on a full-time basis, polishing my knowledge of difficult subjects.
Because I enjoy writing about such a wide variety of topics, at first I resisted the idea of developing a specialized niche for my work. But by referring to myself as a “personal finance writer” and focusing on the areas in which I have the most skill, I am better able to attract customers who are looking for my assistance in these areas. It also helps my network think of me when they are considering who to refer.
The fields of finance, health, and law are all profitable specializations that consistently appear to have available positions for writers. Because they each cover complicated subject matter that has a significant influence on the lives of the readers, the skill of the writers and editors is essential.
7. Network More
I created excellent ties with editors and other writers over the course of my career by working full-time jobs in addition to doing freelance work on the side.
My skill in networking has never been one of my strengths. On the other hand, I was able to build relationships because to the quality of work that I produced; I made all of my deadlines and I came up with creative solutions. When my acquaintances and coworkers found out that I was looking for a job, they did not hesitate to recommend me to potential employers and bring new prospects my way.
Put in your best effort no matter how much money you’re making right now from your work. You owe it to yourself. You will be in a position to see referrals rolling in if you show up and perform an outstanding job, which will allow you to eventually be picky and feel good negotiating higher prices if you do so.
Conclusion
Your value can be increased if you zero in on a certain market segment and demonstrate to your peers that you are of high quality and have a strong work ethic.
Instead of using low-quality job sites, look for work through industry groups, listings that have been screened, and referrals from your network.
