How to Become a Freelance Writer (And Earn Money!)

Do you like writing?Do you want to learn how to become a freelance writer?

If you do, the idea of getting paid to write and work from home might seem too good to be true.

Trust me, it's not.

Learning how to become a freelance writer is a job and will require time, effort, and an investment in yourself to get started.But I can assure you that this career path will give you the flexibility and freedom you want!

Think:

You will be able to work from the comfort of your home and set your own schedule!Or you'll be able to work from anywhere in the world!This is perfect for moms, students, or anyone who doesn't want to be limited by the time restrictions of a 9-5 job. 

If you like to travel like me, you can freelance from anywhere since all you need is your computer and an internet connection.

The best part?

You don't need a degree or a lot of training if you want to learn how to become a successful freelance writer. Research shows that freelance writers can earn around $70,000 on average each year.

And once you've built your consistent base of customers who love you, you could earn even more!

 

The difference between freelancer and employee

Before I go any further, I just wanted to be transparent and point out that freelance writers aren't employees, which is why you have so much flexibility.

As a freelancer, you will basically have your own business and you can do as little or as much as you want.However, since you do not have an employer, you will be responsible for paying your taxes and covering benefits such as health insurance, time off and retirement plan.

It's a compromise, but it's worth it if you want more freedom.If you're able to become a 6-figure writer or earn enough to achieve all your financial goals, you probably won't mind paying taxes and covering your expenses and benefits.

Is that okay with me again?

How to become a freelance writer: 7 steps to make money!

If you're ready to learn how to become a freelance writer, here's a proven step-by-step process to get started and make money fast.

1. Decide what kind of writer you want to be

This is such an important first step.There are several types of writers, each of which can be classified under the general umbrella of the freelance writer.

The most common types of independent writing are:

• Writing articles/articles: This is probably the most common type of writing that comes to mind when people think of freelancing.You will write for online magazines and newspapers or for the printed version.
• Blogging – You can make money with your blog or writing blog posts for other bloggers.
• Copywriting: As a freelance copywriter, you'll write a creative copy to help businesses establish and promote their brand, engage customers, and market products and services.
• Social Media Content: With social media becoming an important aspect of everyone's life, as a social media content writer you will help brands plan, write, and schedule social media posts on a variety of platforms.
• Technical writing: The idea of technical writing is to take an overly complicated idea in a specific field and present it in a simple way to the public.You will need an existing in-depth knowledge of the industry you want to work in if you want to succeed in this type of writing.

Think about which projects seem most interesting to you along with the one you think you're good at.For example, you may not find it interesting to write technical instructions, but you might enjoy writing a feature about a local business or discussing your best parenting tips on a mom blog.

In that case, you'd probably prefer to write for blogs, small businesses, or growing websites.The choice is yours If you like technical writing, go for it!

The process of becoming a freelance writer is quite similar, regardless of what kind of writer you want to be. 

2. Narrow down your niche

Now that you know what kind of writer you want to be, it's time to narrow down your niche.The best and most profitable freelance writers who specialize in a particular niche.That's how customers know how to find and match them to projects.

Believe it or not, advertising yourself as a general freelance writer can backfire.If you choose to become a Jack or Jill of all trades, people will assume that you are not specialized enough and not quite what they are looking for.

In addition, choosing a niche allows you to get better at dealing with a certain topic so that you can become an expert on that topic.Brainstorming the topics that seem most interesting to you and in which you have some experience. You can even create subtitles from your main niche to allow for more diversity.

For example, if you like to write about personal finance, you can also cover specific topics such as paying off debts, saving for retirement, and credit.

Here are some of the best and most profitable niches that freelance writers need to consider:

• Trip
• Personal Finance
• Parenting
• Marketing
• Tech
• Meetings and relationships
• Food
• Fitness
• Commercial / Freelance
• Higher education
• Fashion

 

3. Invest in yourself

Be open to investing in yourself and your abilities so you can succeed.If you want to improve your writing, you may want to invest in a course or training that will help you improve this skill set.

Another thing you can learn is SEO which stands for Search Engine Optimization.If you are going to become a blog or article author, realize that most clients are interested in working with writers who understand how search engines work and can write SEO-friendly articles.

You should also consider investing in the right equipment if it means upgrading your laptop or setting up a home office so you can work efficiently.Here are some useful tools you might want to consider using as a freelance writer.

• Grammar – to help check grammar and spelling for your work (there are free and paid versions)
• Hemingway app – free grammar editor that can help you mark the level of your writing and evaluate the general structure of the sentence
• Wave: It can help you send invoices to customers and track your payments. The best part?It's completely free!
• SEO courses – I LOVE this, but if budget is an issue, you need to check out Brian's free resources on backlink copywriting

Lean by experts

Starting to work as a freelance writer at first can be overwhelming.When I started my blog, I knew that the only way to accelerate my success was to invest some money and learn from the best in the business.And the same goes for every freelance career out there!

Can you make money learning everything for free?

Of course you can!But how long will it take?

If you want to make sure you get a full-time income as a freelance writer in the next 6 months or a year, I think one of the best things you can do for yourself is learn from someone who did it before you.

Holly started her freelance writing business in 2011, while still working full time.Within a year she earned over $40,000 and quit her job to become a full-time freelance writer.3 years later Holly was earning $180,000 and now she consistently earns over $200,000!

Holly created an amazing course , to share with everyone how she had such great success in finding high-paid freelance concerts.And with the course, you'll have access to a private Facebook group where Holly will answer your questions.There are several people in the group who earn over $10,000 a month thanks to what Holly teaches.

I recommend doing your research, but every time I ask someone who is a freelance writer, I hear them excited about Holly's course again and again!

4. Do I need a blog?

I think it's essential for freelance writers to have their own blog, especially if you're just starting out!Having a blog can be a great way to showcase your work if you're looking to make money writing articles but don't have much experience.

You can blog about what you want and use your blog posts as writing examples to help you get customers.Yes, starting a blog costs some money, but it's another way to invest in yourself and it pays off.Most writers I talk to also have a blog and have used it to help them get qualified freelance gigs.

Let's also not forget that starting a blog can also be a super profitable and flexible way to make money.

While it takes time to make money on blogging, freelance writing provides a faster path but you can do both to diversify your income.Freelancers tend to have variable income, so your blog can be the perfect way to even out your earnings and serve as an income backup plan as well.

CHECK OUT: How to make blog money (in no time)

5. Build your portfolio (yes, write for free)

I've talked about all the money you can make as a freelancer before, so some of you may be wondering: why is he telling us now to write for free?

If you're trying to figure out how to become a freelance writer with no experience, this is it.Writing samples is so important and it's hard to get hired without them.

Would you hire a dog sitter who has no experience?Probably not. You'll probably want to see reviews and testimonials from past customers to make sure they know what they're doing when it comes to taking care of your dog.It's the same with freelance writing.

Customers want to see that you've already written content, and they also use samples from your portfolio to get a feel for your writing.

If you don't have samples in your portfolio, you may have to write for free a few times, so you have some work to show.You don't have to do it in the long run.Try to land 3-4 points of guest articles on other sites and provide your best work.

Here's how you do it:

1. Look for websites within your niche that accept articles from guest writers.
2. Put together a list of your favorite blogs that contain articles about what you'd like to become an expert on.
3. Contact them to see if they would be willing to let you write a test article that can be published on their blog.The best approach is to email them, tell them why you love their website, and give them a proposal for some guest post articles that you could offer them for free.

Some tips for contacting your first articles:

• Keep it short, simple and to the point.
• Explain in a short paragraph who you are and why you are an expert in that particular niche.
• Enter your article with a catchy title and a brief description of what will be.

From there, you can use those samples to refer other clients for paid work (we'll talk about launching soon).

6. Building a network

Don't underestimate the power of a solid network.Consider joining some freelance writers groups on Facebook.This will allow you to connect with other writers, ask questions, and get feedback.

Most of the freelance writers in these groups are friendly and more than willing to help other members.There's a lot of work for everyone, so you probably won't feel a sense of competition and should feel more like you're part of a community.

Below are some of the best Facebook groups for freelance writers to join right now:

• The Write Life Community
• Binders
• 1 … 2 … Freelancing: a community for creative freelancers
• No Fluff freelance writing group
• Freelance writing jobs

Remember that networking should not be one-sided.If you join a Facebook group or also connect with other writers via email or in person, be sure to give back and contribute as much as you receive.

Who knows, you may even be able to share contacts with your network once you reach your capacity with customers.

It can happen sooner than you think!

Don't forget your blogging friends…

Another fun way to network is to leverage your blog to get more guest post opportunities.If you find a blog you really like and admire, pitch a guest idea that you think might be valuable to their readers.

Provide your best work, then mention that you are a freelance writer to hire and would appreciate all the leads they send you.

This friend of mine, it's like getting amazing referrals.

It's important to realize that networking is all about relationships, and relationships require nourishment.

Don't expect a lot of favors on your first interaction with someone.Instead, focus on getting to know them and understanding their needs and goals.Build rapport and see if you can do anything to help them instead of just asking for a favor all the time.

7. Start Launching: How to Get Your First Freelance Writing Client

You can actually get your first customer before you get to this step, thanks for networking and building your wallet via guest posts.

However, it's still crucial to know how to find customers.An easy way is to look at job boards.Work boards are often filled with freelance writing jobs for clients eager to hire.This is what makes it a great place to start your search.

Some of the best freelance job boards include:

• ProBlogger job board
• contain
• Freelance writing concerts
• Freelance Writer's Den (paid membership)
• Media Bistro

The main caveat for using job boards is that they can be competitive since anyone can access leads.

Another way to find customers is to send a cool tone.If you find a blog or website you want to write for, find out who the editor is and send them an email.

They may or may not be hired, but there are a few things you can do to make sure your pitch leads to new customers' work.

Tips to start launching:

1. See if there are any other writers on the site. If you see different authors on the blog it's a good indication that this client hires freelance writers.Some sites also have a team page where they can include bios for their current writers or editor-in-chief.
2. Make sure the content is up to date. Don't waste time presenting a dead blog or website.Seeing new content indicates that this prospect actually cares about writing and finds it valuable.
3. Follow the instructions. If there's a page on the site that highlights a freelance writing opening, be sure to follow the instructions exactly when submitting your pitch.
4. Connect to social media. A great way to warm up the tone is to connect with the client on Twitter or LinkedIn to build rapport.
5. Send article titles and samples. Never submit a freelance writing pitch without attaching some writing samples.You can also get creative and send them some custom article titles that you think will work well for their site.This shows that you've taken the time to read existing content and learn more about their audience.

One last tip: don't underestimate yourself

It's unfortunate, but most freelance writers actually underestimate their work and don't charge enough money.

I understand.It's hard to ask for more money sometimes not to talk a little awkwardly.However, you need to do this if you want to get paid fairly and earn enough to support yourself.

Remember that independent writing is a real job and requires a lot of skill and attention to detail.You should be compensated well for the work you do.In addition, you have to cover your expenses, pay taxes and health insurance, as well as save for your retirement.

To top it off, you may not get paid to perform administrative tasks that keep your business running like checking and responding to emails, doing research, editing your work, and sending invoices.

Factor at that time and those extra costs in your ideal rate.When a customer asks you how much you charge, never respond with a general quote.Each customer is different in their own way, so your prices should vary.

Take into account factors such as:

• How long it will take to write, research, and edit (Pro Tip: Stopwatch yourself when doing free trial work and writing guest posts to build your portfolio so you have a good idea of how much time and effort it takes to write).
• Whether you will be given a topic and description or you will have to solve it yourself.
• Whether you write under your name or subtitle or as a ghostwriter.

NOTE: Most authors upload by project or by word.

Set an income goal and talk to a tax professional about how much you should save from your freelance income in order to pay quarterly taxes.Count that amount into your rate.

For example, if you charge $75 per blog post but have a 25% tax bracket, that means $18.75 of that money should go directly to taxes.

Finally, ask yourself if you feel completely confident about the rate before sending it to a potential customer.If you secretly feel like you've sold yourself short, don't send it or increase the price.

You'll enjoy the job, and you'll most likely do a better job when you feel like you're fairly compensated.

Don't be afraid to pass by some customers if your rate doesn't work.You want it to be a mutually beneficial partnership for both you and the customer, so respect the fact that they also have a budget.You don't want them to stretch their budget even to afford to pay you because there may be no longevity in that.

 

Ready to make money as a freelance writer?

You can learn how to become a freelance writer even if you have no experience! 

Laura, Leslie, Greg, Samantha and many others have changed their lives and are now doing what they love.

Follow these 7 steps and you'll be well on your way to becoming a successful freelance writer.Independent writing can be a great way to increase or diversify your income simply by doing something you enjoy.