How to Become Successful as a Freelance Writer: 10 Practical Tips
To help aspiring freelance writers achieve success, we gathered insights from CEOs, co-founders, and marketing professionals. From building a strong personal brand to embracing your writing niche, here are the top 10 pieces of advice these experts shared on how to become a successful freelance writer.
- Build a Strong Personal Brand
- Develop Consistent Discipline
- Network and Showcase Your Work
- Prioritize Deadlines and Quality
- Choose Clients Aligned With Your Goals
- Connect With Personal Experiences
- Create an Interesting Portfolio
- Maintain Consistency and Skill Development
- Seek Feedback and Network
- Embrace Your Writing Niche
Build a Strong Personal Brand
I have learned that success in any field requires a combination of hard work, persistence, and a willingness to learn and adapt continuously. This is especially true in the world of freelance writing, where competition is fierce and the industry is constantly developing.
My best piece of advice for becoming a successful freelance writer is to focus on building a strong personal brand. This means developing a clear and unique voice, creating a professional website and social media presence, and consistently delivering high-quality work that showcases your expertise and style.
To build your personal brand, it’s important to establish yourself as an authority in your niche. This can be achieved by writing articles, blog posts, and other content that shows your knowledge and expertise. You should also actively engage with your audience by responding to comments and questions, and by sharing your work on social media and other platforms.
Matthew Ramirez
CEO, Rephrase
Balance passion-driven work and flexibility
Promoted by Fiverr
Freelancing is the best way to balance passion-driven work and flexibility – giving people the opportunity to have full autonomy over their career and how they want to work on a day-to-day basis. Whether you’re working at home or on-the-go, freelancers can choose the projects they want to pursue, then craft their work experience around it. As a freelancer, you have the freedom to travel the world, spend time with your family, and manage your own schedule.
As we continue to navigate a volatile economy plagued by layoffs and firings, independent work is a great vehicle for financial security. By not being tied down by a singular employer, you can take on more projects, be your own boss, and further develop your own service offerings with new skills – such as AI. With businesses relying on freelancers more than ever before, freelancers today can expand their horizons and work on projects of all shapes and sizes.
Shai-Lee Spigelman
General Manager, Fiverr Pro
Develop Consistent Discipline
Developing consistent discipline is one of the best pieces of advice for becoming a successful freelance writer. Self-motivation, planning, and the ability to meet deadlines are prerequisites for freelance writing.
By adopting a disciplined approach to your work, you’ll be better able to manage your time wisely, stay committed to your writing goals, and consistently provide your clients with outstanding content.
Establish a designated workstation that is free from distractions, whether it’s a home office or a quiet area in a coffee shop. Create a schedule that allows for focused writing time and sets clear boundaries.
Maintain a routine that includes regular working hours and treat your freelance writing as a professional commitment. By maintaining consistent discipline, you can strengthen your work ethic, boost your output, and ultimately position yourself for success as a freelance writer.
Elisa Bender
Co-founder, RevenueGeeks
Network and Showcase Your Work
I would advise aspiring freelance writers to consider the type of writing they would like to do, the industry they would like to focus on and to network as much as they can within that field.
Refresh your knowledge of content marketing, SEO, brand voice, and keyword research. You should be able to showcase your capabilities, so I would recommend building an online portfolio and possibly even your own website.
Create a blog for your online portfolio. A professional website is necessary if you want to be recognized as a professional. One can be easily created using Wix or a similar platform. Keep your writing samples in one section and add a blog to another section.
Write articles relevant to your niche for the blog section. But the most important thing is to write! The sooner you establish a name for yourself, the sooner others will take notice of you.
Rodney Warner
CEO, Connective Web Design
Prioritize Deadlines and Quality
An integral component for achieving success as a freelance writer is prioritizing adherence to deadlines and consistently delivering work of the highest quality. Freelance writing engagements often require working within specified timeframes, demanding the punctual submission of unique content.
Establish an unwavering reputation for reliability and professionalism by consistently exceeding client expectations and ensuring timely deliverables. Such a reputation is a cornerstone for fostering a successful career in the competitive freelance writing domain.
The unequivocal emphasis on timely and excellent work satisfies discerning clients and bolsters your professional image, paving the way for sustained success in this dynamic industry.
Jeffrey Pitrak
Marketing and Account Manager, Transient Specialists
Choose Clients Aligned With Your Goals
The ability to choose clients carefully who align with my professional goals and values significantly contributes to my success as a freelance writer.
By selecting projects and collaborations that genuinely excite and inspire me, I tap into my creativity and passion, resulting in high-quality work that stands out in the competitive freelance writing industry.
Working with clients who share a similar vision or align with my expertise fosters effective communication and collaboration. This alignment allows me to understand their needs intuitively, leading to work that exceeds their expectations.
Satisfied clients are more likely to provide positive feedback, refer me to others, and offer repeat business, further boosting my success as a freelance writer.
Tristan Harris
Demand Generation Senior Marketing Manager, Thrive Agency
Connect With Personal Experiences
I discovered early in my freelance writing career that readers connected with my personal stories and experiences on a deep level. These anecdotes were interwoven into my work to add a bit of myself to each piece.
The reaction was amazing. Readers identified with my sincerity, and my clientele quickly expanded. I created an emotional connection with my audience by incorporating personal experiences into my writing, leaving a lasting impression.
Percy Grunwald
Co-founder, Compare Banks
Create an Interesting Portfolio
Freelancers’ careers can quickly take off when they have a solid portfolio to wave their banner for them. With a range of works and ready samples of what you deliver, you can use your portfolio to do more than showcase your creative and professional talents.
You can even use it to market your abilities and convince your clients to work with you. If NDAs are getting in the way, spend some time rewriting a few pieces, but make sure you add enough in your portfolio to showcase specific expertise in a niche. The equation is simple. The stronger your portfolio, the more reasons a client has to hire you.
Ariav Cohen
VP of Marketing and Sales, Proprep
Maintain Consistency and Skill Development
Consistency is key to building a successful freelance writing career. Set aside dedicated time each day or week for writing and stick to it. Treat freelance writing like a job, even if you have the flexibility of working from home. Create a schedule and meet deadlines consistently to build trust and reliability with clients.
Diversify your writing skills to increase your marketability. Explore different writing genres, such as blog posts, articles, copywriting, or social media content. Develop expertise in areas that interest you and align with market demand. Acquiring additional skills like SEO, content marketing, or editing can also broaden your opportunities.
Remember to learn and adapt continuously. Stay updated with industry trends, follow successful writers’ blogs, and join relevant writing communities. Networking with other freelancers and potential clients can open doors to new opportunities and help you grow your freelance writing business.
Vikas Kaushik
CEO, TechAhead
Seek Feedback and Network
My best piece of advice on how to become a successful freelance writer is to ask for feedback and network. Seeking feedback from clients, editors, and fellow writers allows you to improve your craft and deliver high-quality work.
Actively, networking within the writing community helps you connect with potential clients, discover new opportunities, and gain insights from experienced professionals. Engage in writing groups, attend industry events, and leverage social media platforms to build relationships and showcase your expertise.
By embracing feedback and nurturing professional connections, you can refine your skills, expand your client base, and establish a strong reputation as a successful freelance writer.
Simon Brisk
Director, Click Intelligence Ltd
Embrace Your Writing Niche
Becoming a successful freelance writer lies in discovering and embracing your niche. By honing in on a specific area, you position yourself as an authority in that domain, attracting clients who seek your specialized knowledge.
Your chosen niche becomes the foundation for your writing style, expertise, and portfolio, allowing you to cater directly to a targeted audience. Embracing a niche enables you to showcase your unique skills, setting you apart from competitors.
A focused approach enhances your research efficiency, saving valuable time and empowering you to deliver top-notch content consistently. Thus, invest time exploring various interests, identifying your strengths, and wholeheartedly embracing a niche that resonates with your passion and expertise.
Peter Reagan
Financial Market Strategist, Birch Gold Group
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