Freelance writing is a great way for a talented writer to build their own business, and it is a good way for almost anyone to make a little extra money to supplement their income. The freelance writing business is booming; more writers are getting hired for web content as more and more folks are creating websites with the hope of making big money.
If you are starting out as a freelance writer, or if you are thinking of getting into writing you may benefit by a few hints and tips. Seasoned freelance writers know secrets and have advice that can help beginners to be more effective and make more money. These are just six of those helpful tips:
1.) Don’t expect too much. If you are new, you can’t ask for too much money. Sure, don’t’ sell yourself short, but often what you want to make may be too much to ask if you are a beginner with few work samples and references. YES, there are writers making the big bucks, but they worked hard to get there. And NO … don’t work for clients for FREE. Never!
2.) Use freelancing sites to find your clients. There are dozen of job board sites that have freelancers vying for jobs, and that is because there are a lot of jobs available. You need not be exceptional; if you are even proficient, you will be able to land some of these gigs. With many of these sites you have to start really low and build a reputation. Just keep increasing your prices every time you successfully complete a gig with good reviews.
3.) Don’t rely on Craigslist. The free classified offers here often have freelance writing gigs, and some of them are good and legit, but many of them are not. There are many scams set up to get you to subscribe or pay for something that will “get you work” and others aim to trick you into doing something for nothing. Many of the legitimate listings are posted by buyers who have no real notion of what your time and talent are worth. Never work for FREE!
4.) Don’t work in your jammies. When it’s time to get down to business, don’t do it in your PJs. Before you sit down to write, be good and ready to start you day, and look the part. You don’t have to dress like you are going to an office, but you will feel more professional and organized if you look more professional and put together.
5.) Create differences between work time and home time. Yes, you are probably at home the whole time, but to keep your productivity up and to retain your sanity, you need to separate the two. Make sure that you are undisturbed during work time, left to focus so that what you do is the most cost effective. When it is home time, stop working. If you work during home time, you’ll soon start feeling like a slave.
6.) Get out of the house. Working and writing at home can be a very solitary life. This means you can end up starved with a lack of human contact. One day a week you should think about working in a public space like a coffee shop or library. Think about heading out for lunch every now and again You should consider taking breaks for walks in the park, a nearby shopping center or somewhere else that people are. You will be much more productive if you are happy; and isolation can be a leading cause of unhappiness.
Thanks for the tips.
It is a big help for me since I want to earn more money by doing freelance writing.