Starting A Freelance Writing Career: Must-Know Tips For Beginners
Are you starting out in the world of freelance writing, but don’t know where to look for work or how to approach potential clients? You must get the basics right, otherwise you will find it difficult to get any traction. With that thought in mind, read on for the simple tips that all beginners should know.
Where To Look for Work
Knowing where to look for work when starting out can make the difference between success and failure. Nowadays there are a lot of options, and if you are creative enough then you can access them all. Here is a list of the tops places to start:
- Bidding sites: one of the best places to start your writing career is at bidding sites. That’s because you’ll have the opportunity to get in touch with a large volume of potential clients. What’s more, some of these clients are prepared to give beginners a try on their projects. However, until you have a profile with a proven track history don’t expect to get the highest paying jobs.
- Forums: internet marketing forums have members that need fresh content. You can offer your services to them by advertising in a “for hire” thread, or in the signature.
- Internet marketing companies: there are a hoard of internet marketing companies out there that need freelance writers. You can look for these on the search engines, and then send them an e-mail with your application.
Write Samples
Another top tip when starting out is to create samples. These will be used to showcase your work. If you have no proven track record, then it’s the only way to show a potential client of what you are capable of doing.
It makes sense to write samples in an array of different industries. That’s because it will show to the potential client that you are capable of writing on a number of different topics. This is important because some writing jobs will require you to write on several different industries.
Be Persistent
In the beginning it can take a while to get traction before you get a steady amount of work. You might find that in the first few weeks you’ll get no work. However, you have to keep at it, and eventually you’ll get more clients than you can handle.