- sign up to jobs boards
- scan employment sites and social media for freelance positions
- join a content marketing agency
- pitch work and guest posts to established newspapers, magazines, websites or industry blogs
- approach local or niche-interest community groups and businesses
7. Learn how to pitch
When you pitch ideas you need to make sure you get your point across in as professional, succinct and engaging a way as possible. Each publication may offer its own guidance on pitching, so always check the website first. The Write Life has tips on pitching for long-form journalism and copywriting.
You’ll need to pay attention to the style of content they produce and make sure your pitch is in line with this. As a rough guide, your pitch should contain:
- an engaging headline
- a question which your article seeks to answer (and some idea of what you expect to uncover)
- why this is important
- prospective sources
8. Be open to communication
Whether you’re connecting with potential clients through social media, online forums, in person at local business networking events or you receive inbound requests, be contactable. As a freelancer, you’ll need to show your prospective client you can make things easy for them. This could include Skype, telephone, email, a contact form on your website, and professional networking services like LinkedIn.
9. Create a portfolio
Even if you have no published works, it’s important to have an attractive and professional-looking portfolio with a link from your social media profiles and website. It’s the shop front to your freelancing business.
While you’re still waiting to get clients, write samples of different kinds of content to showcase your skills. When you have new work published, ensure you add it to your portfolio as soon as possible (if you’ve produced a piece of content for a client, you may need approval from them first).
Read More: How to create a killer copywriting portfolio
10. Don’t neglect the practical aspects
When you embark on a freelancing career, you’re technically going self-employed. Therefore, there are some additional matters you’ll need to prepare for:
- Register for self-assessment with HMRC and keep records of your incomings and outgoings.
- Take out insurance should the worst happen.
- Be prepared to budget while you are building up your brand. Keep a log of your income and don’t overcommit.
For a while, you may need to juggle freelancing with regular paid work but keep your spirits up and your goal in mind and it will be worth it in the end!
Takeaway
If you've ever wondered how to be a freelance writer then follow these steps and you'll be gaining the writing experience and confidence you need to kick-start your writing career. A new world of flexibility and freedom doing what you love is waiting at your fingertips! We wish you the best of luck on your journey to becoming a freelance writer.
Image credit: Thought Catalog