Have you been curious about the world of freelance writing?
Maybe you’re interested in starting your own side hustle, and think freelance writing could fit the bill. Or perhaps you want to leave the corporate world behind in favor of choosing your own clients and rates.
But maybe you’re not sure exactly how to start. Or, maybe you’re overwhelmed with the amount of information out there regarding freelance writing. Trust me – I’ve been there too.
Now that I’ve been freelancing for a number of years, I can say there is a lot more than meets the eye. Being a freelance writer can be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling jobs in the world, but only if you run your business right.
I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, but now I wouldn’t trade my freelance writing business for anything. Here are the 7 most important things I’ve learned from starting my own freelance writing business.
1) Don’t Accept Work Out of Fear
Whether or not you’re a freelance writer, you should never accept work out of fear. As I grow in my business, I stand by this ideal cause I believe in it so much. Although, admittedly, it wasn’t an easy lesson for me to learn.
So often, we lower our standards because we are afraid. We are afraid that no better opportunity will come up. We are afraid that we aren’t worth more. Or we are afraid that we aren’t cut out for anything better.
Everyone doubts themselves from time to time, but you can’t base your freelance writing career off of fear. Accepting the wrong opportunities is not only frustrating for you – it can harm your career.
I’ve heard horror stories of freelance writers working 80 hours a week to make ends because they accept projects that pay way too little out of fear. I’ve also heard of freelance writers who continue to force themselves to work with unsupportive editors and business owners, simply because they are afraid to lose out on the income.
One major appeal of becoming a freelance writer is to have the freedom to pick and choose who I work with, what projects I work on, and when I work. When I accept work out of fear, I pretty much throw all of those ideals to the wayside.
Further, running a business out of fear is not sustainable. More than likely, you’ll find yourself burnt out and anxious all of the time if you continue to accept jobs out of fear.
On the other hand, when I accept projects with awesome clients that I am genuinely excited about, I feel alive. This is freelance writing at its best. There is nothing better than getting to know your clients and their business’ mission. And when you’re compensated fairly, it won’t even feel like work.
Instead of accepting work out of fear, build up a substantial emergency fund. Come to terms with the fact that writing has slow periods and prepare yourself financially and emotionally. Always be working to build real relationships with those in your writing niche, and you will find that eventually, work will come your way.
2) Routine is Everything
Whether you are a full-time freelance writer or you do it for a side hustle, routine is extremely important. Otherwise, you will feel overwhelmed and uninspired.
To establish your routine, first figure out when you are most inspired. For some people, creativity hits at midnight. For me, I like to wake up early and write while I sip my morning coffee. It helps work not feel like work, and I then get the rest of my day to do what I want.
It takes some time to establish a routine, but try to make it a priority. By doing so, you will find you can easily accept more work, enjoy the process more, and balance your personal life better.
3) Be Picky About Your Clients
Fortunately, I haven’t worked with any terrible clients, but I have encountered a few potential clients who didn’t seem to be too easy to work with. And let me tell you – working with a bad client can ruin your career and your desire.
It’s so important, especially when starting out, to surround yourself with clients who will support you. By support, I mean clients who tell you what they need, when they need it, pay fairly, and communicate regularly. Also, it doesn’t hurt to work with generally awesome clients who make work fun!
This is really important as a freelancer because a difficult client can add hours onto your work. For instance, if I have a new client who doesn’t provide me with any guidelines, answer my questions, or give me any resources, I am probably going to fail. I would probably spend a lot of time trying to please them, when they don’t know what they even wanted in the first place. It’s impossible to provide stellar services to difficult people.
With freelance writing, it’s all about getting it right the first time. If you work on a per-project pay basis, you aren’t getting paid for the hours you spend revising your content to fit a client’s expectations. Difficult clients can cost you more money than they are worth.
And don’t forget – just because you are providing a service to a company doesn’t mean that you have to do all of the work. A client still needs to provide you with some information and support on their end.
4) Be Easy to Work With
That being said, you should always be mindful of how easy you are to work with. Ultimately, my goal is to make my clients’ lives easier. Of course, it will require some time on their end. But I also don’t want to take up too much of their time or energy.
For me, this means providing accurate work and clear communication. Before I submit my work, I proofread time and time again and check my formatting to ensure it is easy to edit. When I need to communicate with a client, I try to avoid doing a ton of back and forth.
This is where the business owner mindset comes into play. You could be the best writer in the world, but if you aren’t making your clients’ lives easier, you will be hard pressed to find work. By being easy to work with, you are providing a value to your client that far exceeds just your writing skills.
5) Learn the Administrative Tasks
Writing is such a small part of my business. Though it is how I actually make money, I can’t do it without learning how to handle the operations side of a business.
Learn about how to market yourself, close a sale, and the basic accounting and finance principles needed to run your business. Read blogs, books, and listen to podcasts to help you understand the operations side of a business. As your business grows, you might consider outsourcing some of these tasks. But it’s always important to understand every aspect of your business before you outsource it.
6) Don’t Settle With Compensation
A lot of people don’t understand that content can take hours to research, write, edit, and format. Often, you will see freelance writing job advertisements displaying the rate per post as only a few dollars.
Don’t settle with your compensation as a freelancer writer. It might seem obvious, but the lower you price yourself, the more work you have to do to make a livable wage. You can provide more value to yourself and to your client by setting your rates appropriately.
What constitutes an appropriate rate varies. Of course, when you’re first starting out in your freelance writing career, you may have to accept some lower paying jobs in order to gain the experience you need. But as your experience increases, be sure to increase your rates accordingly. While I always suggest pricing per project, you can also base your rate on a per word rate. For instance, beginning freelancers might charge $0.05 per word, while very experienced freelancers can charge and earn around $1.00 per word.
There is no magical formula to determine your rates. Do your research to see what prospective jobs in your niche are paying. Some niches, like technology or law, pay higher because they require a more specific skill set.
And don’t be afraid to experiment. I have found that, while not every client is willing to pay you a higher rate, there are plenty of clients who are. You just have to find them. Don’t be afraid to lose out on potential clients because of your rates. That goes back to not taking jobs out of fear – it does you no good.
A final note on compensation – never work for free. Any reputable company will pay you, even if it’s a trial run.
7) Be You
Every client wants something different out of their freelance writers. Some want a casual tone, while some want a formal tone. Some want you to share personal stories, while some want well-researched information. With so many different demands, it’s key to figure out how you can still be you underneath it all.
Write about what you’re most passionate about, and share the stories dearest to your heart. Interact with your readers on social media and market yourself for who you are – not who you want to be. After all, that’s what being a writer is all about.
Starting a blog is the best way to create a freelance writing portfolio that attracts potential freelance writing clients. Read our guide on how to start a blog today.
Related:
Are you a freelance writer? If so, what lessons and tips have you learned? If not, have you ever considered freelance writing? Or have you started another side hustle?
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absolutely true this points are perfect also fo job in the office:P thanks for sharing!