25 Freelance Writing Tips from a Seasoned, Veteran Freelance Writer

After spending more than ten years working from home, supporting my family as a freelance writer, it’s time to share some of the secrets and tips I’ve developed that help me to do well at something I love. I’m not going to say I know it all. In fact, I learn and grow every day in my career as a freelance writer. What I have found though, is that’s it’s just a few crucial things that ensure some people stand out and end up in high demand while others stay on the outskirts. Here are some tips to get you started. It’s what I would have wanted to know when I was just starting out, so I hope it helps you to excel.

#1: Listen to your clients. This is perhaps the most important tip to offer. Most often, those seeking copywriting, website content or blog posts have ideas of their own but they don’t always know how to put it together. By listening and asking questions, you can customize the results to meet their needs. Your job is to fill in the blanks and wow them with your service!

#2: You need to have a thick skin. You will not make everyone happy. You will be told some harsh, critical things in fact. But learn from it. If you can keep your cool and move on you’ll end up with a happier client and your writing will improve as a result. Don’t fight with the client or you’re just wasting your time (think of the word-count of that angry e-mail!). If you feel you cannot do a project justice, back out and explain honestly but politely why you can’t work with them.

#3: Use content mills as a starting point, not a solution. Content mills like Textbroker.com are a good place to learn the ins and outs of the craft of SEO writing (though not really for most other forms of content writing). Use them to get your feet wet and learn from those who provide details.

#4: Learn how to write proposals and bids in the right way. Instead of telling all about yourself, use proposals as a way to show what you can do for the client. Flip them around to focus on specific clients and you’ll be sure to impress. This is your first interaction, so make sure it’s a positive one.

#5: Stick with your rates. I find this is the hardest part for some freelancers (especially the green horns). Set a minimum rate for what you will take and stick with it. If the client isn’t willing to spend a bit more for your quality work, walk away. I’ve found (and this is the hard truth) that low paying clients tend to be the hardest to work with and the most-picky and critical as well. If they’re already trying to get ‘a bargain’ this doesn’t bode well for their value to you.

#6: Create a portfolio on sites like Upwork (formerly oDesk) and Elance.com. Your portfolio should provide some information to your clients on what you offer, showcase your work and be a starting point for them. It’s your proposals that will ultimately sell you to them, though.

#7: Invest in Grammarly or other types of editing solutions. They work to help you become a better writer but also help you to spot errors. Here’s something I also believe – every writer needs an editor. There’s no way you will catch every one of your typos. Grammarly can minimize these risks significantly, though if you don’t have the funds to hire one.

#8: Get passionate about a subject, learn all there is to it and specialize in it. For me, my degree and experience has always been in finances. I’ve done well applying for jobs and bidding on projects because I know the terminology and the market. Dig deeper than Buzzfeed pieces or ‘lifehack’ articles; give yourself something that makes you stand out. The more specialized you are, the more targeted leads you can work towards.

#9: Set up a Google alert for words related to your niche. This way, whenever someone is looking for a “finance writer” they can find you easily. You can do this without much work by going to this location: https://www.google.com/alerts. It takes about five minutes to set up and can help you to find leads posted on company websites or in news articles.

#10: Create a website. My site (ContentWriter.org) isn’t where I want it to be right now – it’s being redone actually, but it nevertheless provides a spot for people to find me. It also gives them contact information so there is no delay in contacting me for my services. Eventually it will also include links to my work, my published books and my blog. Do you have a central location to send your clients for more information?

#11: Don’t do free samples. Once you have links on websites (more on that later) you don’t need to provide free samples to people requesting them. The fact is, they don’t need to see something specifically written for them if they can see what you’ve written previously in the area. It costs you time and money.

#12: For large projects, get a down payment upfront. One of the best reasons to work with Elance, for example, is because you can use their escrow system. It allows the client to fund or pay for the project upfront, reducing your risk and the client’s risk since they get to see the work first before paying for it. However, there’s also less chance someone will leave without paying.

#13: Don’t try to compete with overseas writers. Let’s be frank; with their very low cost of living, they can afford to work for pennies per word. However, when a qualified writer comes along, you are worth far more. Those who do not speak English as their first language cannot understand all of the intricacies that make English writing sound fluent. Don’t undervalue yourself.

#14: Get your articles up on sites like EzineArticles.com as a starting point. If you don’t have a blog yet or it does not contain client-quality material, use this site or others like it to get your name on the Internet. Byline work is critical! This site gives you a way to freely showcase your abilities. Sure, you have to write a free article but it is working for your benefit and will offer ROI in the long run.

#15: Use forums for writers (and content marketers) to gain leads. Often times, websites like WAHM.com and WorkPlaceLikeHome.com have other writers talking about their work, offering tips and even giving leads. Sometimes, clients will also visit these sites. Interact and be friendly. Learn along the way!

#16: Ask clients for a byline. A byline is simply your name appearing on the article as an author. You need this so that you can later showcase your information to your prospective clients.

#17: Use Facebook as a tool. You will find all types of freelance writer groups, both public and private, available on Facebook. These tend to be project based or they may be groups that share leads. Just head over to Facebook and browse available groups for freelance writers to get started.

#18: Yes, you are working from home but this is a business, not a job. You have to treat it as such. That means you need to work at marketing, bidding on projects and doing the work every single day. That’s a lot of work but it pays off if you put the time in. Do you really want to work 4 hours a day? If so, plan for that to happen in a few years, not right now as you are just proving yourself. You’ll have to work hard but I promise it is worth it.

#19: Don’t forget offline clients! Do you have business cards yet? Remember, this is a real business! That little home improvement company up the street or the restaurant you frequent may need help with blogging, social media, content writing or much more. Once you get comfortable with your skills and services, don’t be afraid to ask business owners if they need help with their website.

#20: Learn SEO. For free and low-cost education on search engine optimization, content writing, or just about anything else, visit www.udemy.com. You will not be earning college credit but you are learning the information and tools you need so that you can do your job. Plan to spend an hour a day learning, whether there, through reading blogs or through staying up-to-date on Google’s latest changes. Not only will learning SEO help you to promote your own website and reach new clients but it will also mean you can offer basic digital marketing services alongside your writing (to land those small business clients) or at least provide SEO optimized content. The latter is a requirement for a lot of clients.

#21: Get a contract whenever possible. Sure, one-time projects that are low-end may not need a contract. However, any project that you consider high value should involve a contract. In short, you want to be sure the payment terms are spelled out, delivery dates and specs are understood, and rights are given to the client only after payment is made to you.

#22: Pick up a copy of the Writer’s Market (a book that’s published annually) if you are interested in writing for offline publications, like journals, digests, magazines, etc. Generally, these gigs are much tougher to get, but over time, your skill and experience can help you qualify. You can also join their site for more information and support.

#23: Save all your content and have a back-up plan. Sometimes you’ll find that work you’ve written falls through if the client bails or doesn’t like what you’ve done. When this happens, there are plenty of ways you can still profit from the writing. Either sell it at a discounted price on a forum, publish it on your own blog or use it as a sample. Likewise, it pays to keep copies of your old work in case a client loses it or asks for edits and so that you can use it for research. Learning from copy you’ve previous written is actually easier than learning from the web as it will jog your memory. Remember: writing is valuable, don’t let a single ‘drop’ go to waste.

#24: Find what’s fascinating about every topic. Sometimes you’ll be asked to write about things that are plain dull and as a result you’re write more slowly (hello writers’ block!) and the quality of your work will suffer. Dig a little deeper though and there’s usually at least some aspect of a topic you can find interesting – even if it means combining it with a topic you would rather write about or with current events. Take this approach and the words will flow and you’ll learn a lot of amazing things. That’s actually one of the big perks of this job!

#25: Finally, keep at it. You will learn as you go. Never stop trying. Look for clients on a daily basis and then ask for references and referrals from those clients. Most importantly, keep your nose to the grindstone, turn projects around on time, take your time with them and be friendly and upbeat with anyone you email!

Sandy Baker is a published author of six, in-print books and a seasoned freelance writer with more than 10 years in the industry producing blogs, website content, articles, ebooks, and much more! Check out ContentWriter.org for more information and to get freelance writing services.