The First 3 Steps to Starting a Freelance Writing Business
If you are itching to break into the freelance writing scene, it will take more than creativity and top notch grammar. You need to be business savvy. Here are the first three steps you should take when launching your freelance writing business.
1. Build Your Portfolio Website
Would you hire someone without a resume? I certainly wouldn't, and neither will any of those amazing potential clients you will soon be pitching. Having a professional-looking portfolio is essential to landing your first writing job, and it is a fairly simple process these days to build a nice website.
Don't fret if you are a web-design newbie. With so many options for drag and drop editing sites, building a website is easier than ever. I used Wix to build this website in less than a week with no coding knowledge, but there are also options such as Squarespace, Weebly and Wordpress.
Also, you don't have to include a ton of pages on your site to make it professional. If you have a welcome page, a list of services, and a page with some sample work, you are already off to a great start!
Lastly, once you finish putting together a respectable website, you want to make sure you pay to get an official domain name for your business. Using the free option doesn't exactly scream confidence in your business to potential clients.
2. Pick a Niche
I cannot tell you how many times I have received the advice to focus on a niche for my writing business. It was tough taming my creative instincts to focus on a specific writing niche, but sometimes you have to be practical. Having a niche makes you competitive, and you need to stand out when pitching alongside a large line of talented writers.
The hardest part for me when it comes to picking a niche is weighing passion against profitability. Sure, writing poetry and whimsical stories is fun, but making it your career is a one-in-a-million shot. My advice is to find a practical way to use your creative skills. For instance, I love volunteering, and I have a background in non-profit work, so I have focused a large part of my business on writing grant proposals, social media content and marketing materials for non-profit organizations.
If you have a hobby or passion, try to find a way to use it as your business niche. Love video games? Sports? Real Estate? Reach out to some businesses in those niches, and pitch your services. After all, every business needs communication and marketing materials.
3. Create a LinkedIn Profile
Having a LinkedIn account is great for finding writing clients. You can advertise your business by linking it to your account, but you can also have clients find you by being clear about your writing niche.
Don't be shy about getting specific when it comes to selling your services on LinkedIn. Business managers are not searching for the term "freelance writer," they are searching for things like "copywriting for non-profit organizations" or "travel writer."
The bottom line is to make sure you can be found through the key words that describe your business niche. And don't forget, LinkedIn is not Facebook! Everything you share, post or comment can directly impact your career or business, so mind your manners.
Amy Glassman is a freelance writer and communications professional at The Writing Architect. Her work has been published by NPR news affiliates, magazines, blogs and newspapers. She also creates social media content and marketing materials for non-profit organizations. Samples can be found through her portfolio.
Glassman's pastimes include drinking lots of coffee, over-booking her calendar with volunteer events, watching recorded basketball games at odd hours, never finishing writing that book, cooking healthier versions of her favorite recipes and traveling to anywhere there are mountains.
Contact Amy Glassman via email.
