Qasim MughalIsn’t it cool to write and get paid? Imagine sitting on your couch with your laptop searching through online jobs and one of them click your mind. The job wants to hire a freelance writer. Now you start to wonder that you can write and you are a writer but what is freelancing writing and who is a freelance writer?
Or you recently encounter a friend or family who just started as a freelance writer and you have zero ideas about it. Well, I will give answers to most of your questions regarding freelance writing and freelance writer in the post below, that will help you to kick start your career as a freelance writer.
Freelance Writing And Freelance Writer
Freelance writing is a branch of Freelancing which is already discussed in my previous article. There are a lot of things one can do in freelancing, but today I will be covering what is freelance writing and how you can kick start your career as a freelance writer.
A freelance writer is a type of writer who works from home through a laptop, and completely independent and self-employed. You can write on about almost anything, or you can choose your niche according to your interest. As a freelance writer, you have the freedom to express each and everything you want.
There are two types of freelance writers who are doing freelance writing on a full-time basis, and the others who do it on a part-time basis. It depends on your schedule and personal choice what suits best for you, or whether you prefer it over your traditional job.
How to Setup As A Freelance Writer?
Things You Will Need
A need only following things to kick start your career as a freelance writer:
- A decently upgraded laptop with Microsoft word
- A good internet connection
Skills And Softwares You Need To Master
– WRITING PRACTICE
This is the main skill you need to master, rest are all side ones. Only practice can make you a better writer and nothing else. If you feel sad or happy write. If you feel anxious write. Are you facing a major trauma or major change in life? Write. Having some thought in mind? Write. This will make your way expressive, improve your writing skills, speed, and tone.
Do you know what is the main thing besides practice that can improve your writing? It is learning and reading about each and everything, and gaining information daily. Keep feeding your mind with information to grow.
– MICROSOFT WORD
I don’t think that Microsoft office or Microsoft word needs any introduction for not only freelance writers but also for everyone who uses a computer. This is a software pack almost always installed in windows.
Microsoft word is a software used to write letters, documents, applications, and different types of writing pieces. As a freelance writer, you must start with a Microsoft word as your writing pad. It’s easy to use and contains everything one may need.
– PICTURE EDITING TOOLS
After writing an important aspect is to learn photo or picture editing. Pictures must be attractive, high quality, and relevant to the topic of your article or blog. As a freelance writer always use Alt text for every image you use in your text.
You can use pictures from a copyright-free website such as Pixabay. Or you can also use pictures to edit and make them your own by using editing software like Canva.
– GRAMMAR CORRECTORS
Being a freelance writer having grammatical errors is generally unacceptable. Don’t worry nobody is perfect. You can write freely and later on correct your grammar using the build-in software or online available software such as Grammarly. It will not only correct grammar but also provide a lot of aids to your writing.
– SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION (SEO)
This one is the key to your success as a freelance writer. I can not emphasize enough on this one. But my advice is to start learning SEO as soon as you start your career as a freelance writer.
SEO is search engine optimization which is needed for increasing the traffic on your blog post or article by search engine results such as Google.
– COPYWRITING
To start your career as a freelance writer, I will recommend you to learn about copywriting which is actually focus on the things that will increase sales to your services or products if you are writing affiliate content for example. Copywriting helps the customer or audience to take action.
– LEARN ABOUT HIRING PLATFORMS
And finally, once you have all the skills and software in orders start your research on the platforms or websites through which you will get hired like Fiverr or Upwork. Understand them so that because they are the platforms between you and your client.
Step by Step Setup
Once you have mastered the skills and software start setting up yourself as a Freelance Writer with these steps:
– DECIDE YOUR NICHE
Niche is basically a category you want to write on. This can be something related to your field or something you are good at or understand better. Once you have decided your niche. My advice is to stick to it as it’s better for your career. But if don’t many people have their own style of writing and they write on almost everything this is also not an issue. But choosing a niche helps you to focus more and results will be better.
– PUBLISH SAMPLE WORK
Once you have decided your niche. Start writing guys what are you waiting for? I mean I know you are asking how and where? The answer to this is the website that provides you a platform to publish your writing work under your own name such as Medium.com you can get an idea from my profile on that.
How this will help? In freelance writing, it is difficult to get hired without samples of articles. Once you approach a client send them your proposals with your sample works links. This will increase your hiring chances and get the client an idea about your writing style.
– SETUP A PORTFOLIO
It’s better than with the online sample of published articles you create your online portfolio. The portfolio must be attractive, and explain all about you, and your skills as a freelance writer, can be made easily on Medium or you can create your one-page portfolio website for a better explanation. Check out my profile for reference.
– RESEARCH
Whenever you get any project or topic to write on getting thorough research about that first before writing is crucial. Read all the related articles, blogs, and researches on that topic to get an idea then start writing. Use search engines for your research such as Google or Google scholars.
– WRITE YOUR CONTENT
Start writing your content in Microsoft word. Keep short sentences. Use bullets and headings to improve readability. Make short paragraphs. Then check your text for grammar mistakes and finalize. Everything between 500-1500 words is good to go.
– EDIT AND ADD RELEVANT PICTURES
Add relevant pictures in your text after editing from canvas or downloaded from copyright-free websites. Add alt text in every one of them.
– PUBLISH OR SUBMIT
Once your text and pictures are ready submit your work to the client or publish on the platform you are working on. Check out the blog I am working on Cheekly.
– MAKE A PROFILE ON HIRING PLATFORMS
Hiring platforms are a lot of them but you need to consider those who are trustworthy. Platforms that are user-friendly, scam-free, and have a secure payment method such as Fiverr and Upwork. You can visit my profile link on them to get a better idea.
– APPLY AND SEARCH FOR JOBS
All the above was relevant about how to write and how to publish and where to publish. This was to introduce yourself to the world of freelance writers. Now, you need to apply for jobs. I have already discussed the platform on which you can search for jobs. Go there set up a profile and start finding jobs such as Fiverr.
Once you find your relevant job. Starting pitching and sending proposals to clients. Give them the link to their sample work and portfolio to get hired.
– UNDERSTAND YOUR CLIENT
There are thousands of freelance writers or jobs for them in the market. But why are some successes and others don’t? The reason is to get a job lot of things matter, but one thing that matters most is the client. You have to understand your client and what he is required.
If you communicate and understand him it will not only help you to deliver the desired work but also building up a long-term professional relationship with the client. Learn better how to pitch for jobs to get hired.
Top 10 Niches In Trends
You can write on every topic but it’s better to find and stick to your niche. Check you the link to find more about top niches you can write. I am listing below the top 10 in my opinion.
- Freelancing
- Pets
- Health, and Fitness
- Food and Nutrition
- Beauty and Fashion
- Lifestyle
- Travel and Tourism
- Information and Technology
- SEO and Digital Marketing
- Parenting
Additional tips are to stay consistent and patient. Success never comes overnight, it comes best to those who wait patiently. Always try to look for great content for your article or blog post which is of public interest and according to your niche. And always make eye-catching headlines as this is a must. In the end, I just want to say that Don’t jump over things, stay calm. Spend your time in learning and reading and this will be the key to success for your career as a freelance writer.
