How to start a career as a freelance writer with no experience?

Even if you have the skills, starting from scratch ain’t that easy, it’s never a walk in the park. Writing casually is one thing and earning from is a different story.

So if you are like a lot of folks who wished to venture into this department, you’ve landed on the right page.

We’ll help you learn about freelance writing and how to be able to maximize your talent so you can make money with it.

Ways to Be a Successful Freelance Writer

Do these and you’re on your way to landing clients and open up the window of opportunity.

Identify your niche and work on improving your skill set

There are a lot of generalist writers out there. Working on a variety of topics can make it seem like you can land more clients. But that can be the other way around. 

While brands often commission the service of generalist writers, many brands nowadays are switching to an expert opinion. If you focus on a niche, that can help you be more of an expert in that area. And that you need to stand out.

Depending on your skillset and existing knowledge you can choose from a myriad of niches. Ghost wring, for once, is a more common a popular choice. You can choose to write short articles or focus on writing a book. But keep in mind that your name will not be attached to the work, hence the word ghost. The client often writes out an NDA  for this one.

Another example is technical writing. This one requires a very specific knowledge and this often pays more.  It’s also important to align your niche in your field of work or interest, it has to be something that you love and enjoy.  Also, it will be time-consuming, more challenging, and even boring to write about something you don’t like.

Also, having a niche also enables you to command a higher rate, since you are an expert in that field. 

Freelance writing can be a very challenging arena, so specializing in a niche and working on your skillset is one way to become successful.

Showcase your skills and background by creating your profile 

You have to have a strong online presence. Even if you have no experience, clients will still be willing to hire you if you possess the essential skills that you’re looking for. That’s why you have to showcase your talents and abilities.

Thus, ensure that your LinkedIn profile, resume, and CV are updated with the relevant degrees, skills, training, and work experience. 

Launching a blog is also a clever and efficient way to showcase your talents and skills. 

It’s a fantastic way to build your profile online. You can write samples and topics that you are interested in. This will help potential clients assess your writing skills to see if you are a good fit for their brand. 

And while building your profile online, blogs can also help you earn money. If you have sufficient followers, you can monetize your content. 

The key to making this work is to aim to update the blog regularly, every week or so.  This will help create a steady stream of content that your followers can look forward to.  

In case launching a blog seems too big of a move for you, you can always choose to post your articles and samples to your social media platforms.  

Learn basic SEO principles

In addition to enhancing your writing skills, adapting a new skill relevant to freelance writing is also a must. 

Understanding basic SEO or Search Engine Optimization can make you more marketable as a freelance writer. So you have to familiarize yourself with keyword research and content formatting. This will help you create content that can rank better in search engines. There are a myriad of tutorials and online resources that can help you with this. 

Set your rates

Setting your rates a bit lower at first can help you attract more potential clients. But be careful of lowballer offers and scams. There are a lot of unscrupulous individuals targeting newbie writers or those who need a job.

Also, be wary of unpaid test articles. This is one way for scammers to get hold of free writing articles at the expense of the writer. 

Explore job boards and start pitching

The beauty of venturing into this industry nowadays is that there are several job boards and marketplaces that you can respond to. 

Look for job postings on social media platforms and freelance marketplaces. Hover through them and find ones that align with your skillset and make an offer to the client.

However, this part can be quite challenging and it’s not for the faint of heart. Be ready to accept rejection and don’t lose heart if you have been applying to job ads and get no invite for interviews in return.

As mentioned, freelance writing can be very challenging, so patience is one of the keys to being successful.

That’s why it’s very important to pay utmost importance to the things we have mentioned above before pitching. This will make more clients interested in your work and create a desire in them to hire you.

Network

Networking is a very essential tool in finding clients. Aside from being visible online and in freelance marketplaces, you can also find potential clients in your existing circle and connections.  Connect with fellow freelance writers so if they have offers that they cannot attend to, they might refer you. 

You can also look for industry events and conferences where you can get a chance to meet face-to-face with your potential clients.  Don’t forget to bring your business card so that whenever the need arises, you will be on top of their minds. 

Start your own freelance writing business in no time 

The beauty of freelance writing is that you don’t need to have a degree in this to be able to land a job. Also, there are a handful of freelance marketplaces where you can find an array of job offers. But also, the competition can be very, very fierce. 

Working on your endowed skills is one of the prime keys to being successful.   The more you have to offer to the clients, the more chances they will hire you.