So you have decided to finally start doing what you have wanted to do for a long time – adopt writing as a career. This requires a bit of planning and a lot of organisation. Being a freelancer requires discipline, so starting right is half the success. Here are five tips to help you launch your freelance writing business.
1. Create a portfolio
Most clients offering writing work are more interested in looking at samples than a résumé. Creating a portfolio of writing samples on different topics is very helpful to get you started off. Always make sure that your sample contains something very generic and interesting because writing assignments will vary vastly, and it is not possible to have a sample on hand for every kind of topic. If you are applying for writing work in a specialised field such as finance or business, it is important to have at least one relevant sample. Put in a lot of hard work on your sample as it is going to be your gateway to a rewarding writing career.
You can also provide client testimonies for past jobs along with the samples. Make sure to ask for a formally written appreciation from the client if your work has been praised. This will be useful in the long run to show new potential clients.
2. Start saving
Leaving your regular job to start a freelance writing career is a financial risk. It is quite possible that you will not immediately start getting a lot of assignments. So before leaving your job, make certain that you have enough savings to take care of expenses for at least six months. This will ensure that you can concentrate on building a network and a career instead of worrying about day to day expenses.
3. Start a blog
A blog is a great way to have an online presence. You can put up your credentials on your blog, let prospective clients look at your writing work, and gradually build a mutually satisfying network. With the help of a blog, it is also possible to find partners with whom to work on larger projects.
Other than a blog, it is also a good idea to have a presence on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. More and more, freelancers are using these sites for easy and instant communication.
However, be careful of posting all your ideas online for free. Social media and blogging is also capable of sucking your time, so it is a good idea to set some strict schedules for networking and marketing online.
4. Learn the market
It takes a little time to understand how the market works. It is good to start networking with the people already working in this field. They can help you with a lot of things, including giving information and warning on what to do and what to avoid. Talk to potential clients and understand what they want. Read a lot and observe the minutiae of client requirements. If you learn how the market works, then you will be easily able to market your services accordingly.
5. Establish rates
Do research and understand what other writers are charging. Use this information to fix an average rate for your services. It is important to be flexible with your rates to suit the needs of different customers, so it is a good idea to fix a minimum rate below which you will not accept work. At the same time, try to negotiate for the highest rate possible for your experience and the kind of work expected. You can increase this rate once you gain experience and confidence. Understanding how to negotiate with the customer is an important aspect of being a freelance writer.
And last but not the least; remember that now is the best time to start.
Image credit: Kārlis Dambrāns on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0
Kavitha is a freelance content writer and French translator, and has been working in this field since 2008. She has degrees in computer applications and international business and has a background in business and international trade. She enjoys learning languages and is currently learning Japanese. Her interests vary from books and writing to travelling and history.