Mastering a ability like writing isn’t any straightforward feat and discovering suggestions for touchdown a high-paying freelance writing job generally is a problem. Regardless of in the event you’re a pure, a seasoned author, or a self-taught wizard of phrases, beginning your freelance writing profession will be thrilling, overwhelming, and irritating, . The place do you even begin? And the place do you discover jobs that truly pay you on your worth?
I’ve been freelancing for 15 years – eight of those have been whereas working a company 9-5, and the opposite seven have been fully full-time. Getting right here was an eye-opening wrestle on the planet of freelance writing, and I’ve actually discovered a factor or two alongside the best way.
In an effort to land high-paying freelance gigs, it’s vital to maintain just a few issues in thoughts to make sure that you stand out within the sea of 1,000,000 rivals. Understand that struggling, to start with, is totally regular. Listed here are some strategies that may assist you to win your dream shoppers.
Ideas For Touchdown Excessive-Paid Freelance Writing Jobs
I couldn’t be extra grateful for my freelance writing profession and typically should pinch myself that it’s actual. The pliability, the flexibility to work wherever on the planet, and the number of issues that I study day-after-day are only a handful of the priceless perks. Listed here are some tried-and-true suggestions that will help you construct a strong, high-paying basis in your freelance writing profession:
1. Take a Freelance Writing Course
The primary option to snag high-paying shoppers is to be one of the best within the biz. And the one option to grasp your ability is to apply, study, apply, and study some extra. The writing world is continually altering, and the extra you hone your abilities, the higher.
Contemplate taking a contract writing course to enhance your writing abilities, in no matter style you’re specializing in particularly, or simply in regards to the freelance writing enterprise typically. Information is energy, and it additionally equals greenback indicators.
The Freelance Author Course by Knowadays is accredited, self-paced, and gives 50 hours of tutor time. When you use promo code GOATS25 and this hyperlink, you’ll obtain 25% off the course. Learn our full evaluate of the Knowadays Freelance Writing Course, and in the event you’re on the lookout for extra choices, see our checklist of the finest freelance writing programs on-line.
2. Be taught How one can Pitch Your self
On this day in age, increasingly persons are looking for methods to make an revenue on-line, and freelance writing is actually one of many extra common avenues. When 1000’s of individuals have their eyes on the identical job listings, it’s essential that you simply stand out when sending your cowl letter.
One of many greatest issues to remember, which could sound counterintuitive at first, is to focus your pitch on the corporate or shopper – reasonably than your self. It may be tempting to create a canopy letter that explains why you’re an important match, your training, or your accomplishments, however doing that may ship your e-mail straight to the trash.
As a substitute, use these accomplishments and training to explain the way it will profit them, the corporate. How can your abilities and expertise profit them particularly? Additionally, present them you’re an important match by giving particular examples of labor which can be much like what they’re on the lookout for.
3. Search Out a Properly-Paying Business
After I first began freelance writing, I had goals of writing about tropical journey locations and being paid to go to those dreamy areas. Though that could be doable if all the appropriate circumstances line up, it’s in all probability unlikely, (hate to interrupt it to you).
You additionally could be annoyed by job postings that need to pay you $100 for a 3,000-word article, or $15 an hour to write down an extensively-researched article. Don’t promote your self brief!
Beat the sport by specializing in a sure area of interest. For instance, the tech and cybersecurity industries are by far the highest-paying, however it’s going to take time and dedication to study in regards to the business – belief me, it’s value it. You’ll have the prospect to leap from $150 for a submit to $150 an hour.
4. Increase Your Community
We’ve all heard the phrase, “It’s not what you already know, it’s who you already know”, and though it’s undoubtedly about what you already know… who you already know can undoubtedly assist you to land some high quality shoppers. Build up your private community can up your possibilities of discovering long-term, high-paying shoppers.
Begin by sending messages to your present contacts – former co-workers, household pals, outdated bosses, and many others. – and clarify what freelance providers you’re providing and if they might suggest your providers to anybody they know.
One other option to develop your skilled community is to attach with different freelancers in social media teams, attend particular occasions which can be tied to your area of interest, and community regionally by merely pitching your self in informal dialog. You by no means know who has a hook-up!
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Chilly Pitch
It’d sound a little bit intimidating (and even ineffective) to ship a random e-mail to an organization providing your providers, however you’d be stunned how nicely this will work – when achieved appropriately. Chilly pitching is the time period for mainly “promoting your self” to potential shoppers with none immediate to take action, apart from your curiosity.
The key key in emailing a dream shopper is to personalize it as a lot as doable – to them, to not your self. Do your analysis and see the place you’ve got frequent floor with the shopper, and use these factors to promote your self – how are you going so as to add worth to areas that could possibly be perceived as “missing”?
One other essential factor to remember when sending a chilly pitch e-mail is the significance of the topic line – it’s all the things. You possibly can have essentially the most skillfully crafted e-mail on the planet, but when your topic line doesn’t stand out, it is going to be deleted earlier than it’s even learn. Bear in mind, make it about them – not you.
6. Set up Your On-line Presence
Though it isn’t crucial, having a web-based presence as a freelancer can solely enhance your odds of getting new shoppers. The extra channels you’re part of – the higher.
You’ll be able to select to be energetic on social media, corresponding to LinkedIn or Twitter. Or, you possibly can attain out to blogs within the area of interest you’re concerned in and ask in the event you can write a featured visitor submit. Nevertheless you will get your identify on the market, do it.
An vital factor to recollect when creating content material (on whichever channel you select) is to cater it to potential shoppers, not solely to fellow freelancers. For instance, in the event you’re writing or tweeting about web optimization, clarify the way you’ve used it to profit shoppers up to now, reasonably than the way it might assist different freelancers.
7. Decide Your Content material Area of interest
Similar to discovering a distinct segment in your writing style, corresponding to tech or B2B, discovering a content material area of interest will help you earn extra money too. This will come within the type of weblog posts, case research, analysis reviews, or touchdown pages.
Specializing in content material that helps a enterprise earn income or achieve visibility goes to be far more profitable than content material that doesn’t. Ask your self what kind of content material is most desired, or deemed most vital, in that business and grasp it.
When you’ve got a distinct segment specialty, it positions you as extra of an skilled throughout the sector, and firms are keen to pay huge bucks for that experience. It additionally makes your portfolio look improbable.
8. Use Job Boards as a Software
Job boards may appear to be the apparent alternative when on the lookout for new shoppers. And when you ought to undoubtedly be scouring websites like ProBlogger, Certainly, or Superpath, for brand spanking new openings, there’s a little bit “trick” that may assist you to stand out within the crowd.
After you’ve discovered a possible shopper on a job board, and also you match a minimum of 80% of their {qualifications}, it’s time to start out doing a little analysis. Go to the corporate’s web site and observe down the HR or hiring supervisor’s e-mail deal with. Then, ship them a personalised e-mail together with your curiosity within the job and your resume.
This works as a result of a whole lot of persons are going to fill out the appliance from the job board, however only a few will take the time to ship a personalised e-mail as well as. Ensure that to incorporate related samples and any spectacular previous shoppers which can be in the identical business.
9. Be a part of On-line Communities
One among my favourite issues about working as a contract author is the huge on-line neighborhood and unimaginable comradery. Becoming a member of these digital communities is an effective way to fulfill new freelance pals, change suggestions, and share open jobs with shoppers.
By looking out Fb, Reddit, or different channels for freelance writing communities, you possibly can share your providers, charges, and what your dream shopper may appear like. You’ll be able to even converse to different freelancers who’re doing the work you’d prefer to be doing to realize perception.
What’s cool about these communities is that they’ll create actual friendships and bonds. I’ve ended up assembly different fellow journey bloggers internationally due to these teams – it’s the magic of the web.
10. Ask for an Intro
Talking of gathering perception from fellow freelancers, you should use that to your benefit when achieved politely. When you occur to know somebody who works for or is aware of the shopper you’re making an attempt to land, ask them if they might introduce you.
Being launched by a trusted and dependable ally can go a good distance and tends to construct extra belief proper off the bat. In reality, high-paying shoppers usually tend to rent based mostly on referrals versus different strategies.
When you do find yourself receiving an introduction, make sure you thank the one that launched you and return the favor everytime you’re in a position to take action.
In Conclusion
Your freelance writing profession doesn’t should be mundane, (or too demanding), and unfulfilling whereas being provided low pay. Your profession will be rewarding, enjoyable, and profitable with just a bit little bit of effort and analysis. Hopefully, these high suggestions for touchdown high-paid freelance writing jobs will assist launch your writing profession.
The freelance writing world is continually altering, and new genres pop up yearly with rising tendencies and expertise. By adapting and evolving with the occasions, you’ll all the time have a high-paying profession you can be pleased with.
