Copywriting Business Blog

Got a way with words and a knack for story-telling? A career as a freelance writer can definitely have its perks, whether you are looking to supplement your existing income from a “regular” job, or have always dreamed of working in your PJs and being your own boss. Getting started down this career path is often the most challenging aspect of the career itself. But with a few tips from the pros, you can make a solid primary or secondary income from writing.

Benefits of Freelance Work

Freelance writing work is filled with tons of benefits, including:

*Ability to be your own boss and set your own hours.
*Option to work from your own home; imagine not having to get dressed for work.
*Huge potential client sector that stretches around the globe.
*Ability to move anywhere in the world that you wish, without fear of losing your job.
*No formal education required, just the ability to write well.
*Fewer expenses incurred than when holding a traditional job (lunches, gas money, wardrobe), but bigger tax breaks when it is time to settle with Uncle Sam each year.
*Enjoy what you do – you choose what type of projects you wish to take on, which leads to greater artistic freedom and fulfillment.
Like any type of self-employment, there are some drawbacks to consider. Many freelance writers don’t care for the solitude that is found in working from home, but prefer to be around people more often. You will also need to purchase your own health insurance.

A Dose of Reality

Every journey starts with a small step, just ask anyone who is living their dream. Most people find that when they are looking to start a career as a freelancer in any field, not just writing, that it takes time to build up their reputation and to obtain a significant number of clients. For this reason, plan on having an alternate source of income to tide you over for at least six months to a year as you grow your client base and learn the ropes of working from home. So simply put, don’t quit your day job – at least not until you have established yourself and are comfortable with the income that you are making.

Getting Started

When you first begin writing as a freelancer, you biggest concern should be finding relevant topics that folks want to read. This is likely determined by the audience that you wish to write for. Do you plan to offer your services online only, to websites and companies that outsource their writing work? Or do you want to write for magazines, newspapers and periodicals? The majority of freelance writers do at least some work for the online audience. And with millions of websites around the globe looking for material and content, working for online companies can be very lucrative.

Signing Up on the Marketplaces

There are many online marketplaces where you can peddle your writing skills. Some are clearinghouses for material that is already written, while others allow you to bid on writing jobs that interest you. Make the rounds and sign up for a couple of marketplaces initially. Signing up for each and everyone is not practical, as each will have their own specifications and rules, and keeping up with everything when you are new to the industry might become too confusing. Focus on just one or two popular sites and begin submitting your written work or bidding on jobs that match your skills set.

Setting Your Rates

As a beginning writer, regardless of any education you might have had, don’t plan on setting your rates too high as you first start out. In fact, plan on working for peanuts or less. There are many very successful freelance writers who began their careers part-time while earning $30 an hour at a day job – and found that they might work an entire week for less than a hundred bucks. That’s the breaks when you are working to build a reputation as a good writer. Demanding a more-than-reasonable rate is a good way to land a job or project – and then work hard to prove that you are worthy of more money in the future. As a general rule, plan on finishing as many as ten fairly big projects for next to nothing before looking for a raise.

Dealing with Clients

As with any type of home-based business, customer service can make or break a freelance writing business. Consider each client as your only client, and work hard to build a strong professional relationship between the two of you. Always follow the exact specifications of the client, and offer to gladly rewrite anything that the client doesn’t find appealing. This is like having a liberal refund policy at a retail store; clients are more willing to “shop” with you if they have some guarantee that they will be pleased with the material that you present them with.

In sum, working as a freelance writer can be a profitable and rewarding career, although it takes patience and persistence to get started. This is not the perfect career for everyone, but there are many people who have found successful and fulfilling careers in writing from home as a freelancer.