Become a Freelance Writer

Your complete guide to the business of writing

Rachael Oku

• Publisher: Harriman House
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781908003621
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Imprenditoria
• Index: Business

Become a Freelance Writer is a complete guide to the business of writing. Freelance editorial consultant, Rachael Oku, sheds light on the skills and attributes needed to become an in-demand freelancer.Offering a realistic outlook on getting ahead, Become a Freelance Writer provides a wealth of useful information and tips on how to build a successful brand while avoiding common pitfalls. Covering everything from budgeting and prioritising to pitching and reputation management, Become a Freelance Writer also explores the benefits of social media, email marketing and analytics software - advising how writers can leverage such tools to build an expansive audience and client base.Become a Freelance Writer is a must-read for any writer serious about taking their potential to the next level. With a no-nonsense approach that gets straight to the point, this book is written with the infamous George Orwell quote in mind: "If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out."

1. Operate Like a Pro

TO ESTABLISH YOURSELF as a credible freelance writer there are a few things you’ll need to do. It’s particularly important to ensure you’re viewed in the best possible light. It’s a big part of how you win work.

Before we get on to marketing and self-promotion, you need to create a brand and identity that is both memorable and identifiable with your area of expertise.

To woo the big boys and give your competition a run for their money follow these simple steps …

Build a brand

Perhaps the most important aspect of building your freelance operation is to approach it like a business. After all, it really is a small business when you think about it – and as with any other business, reputation and word-of-mouth marketing are key.

If you can get into this mindset it becomes a whole lot easier to separate yourself and your personal views from your work. A good way of doing so may even be to create a pen name and treat that as your brand. At the very least you will need to come up with a name for your freelance services.

What to call yourself?

You’ll want something that’s catchy, relevant to the work you do, easy to remember and easy to spell. Think about what online keywords you’d like to hit. For example, should the word ‘writer’ be in there somewhere? Do you want to use your full name or opt for something that expresses your writing style or focus?

One of my favourite names for a freelance writing business is ABC Copywriting, run by Tom Albrighton. Everything he could possibly want to convey is summed up in that name.

Also, consider your potential URL. Really long domain names can be confusing, as can ones with unorthodox spellings. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for people to find you.

In order to balance the commercial and the personal aspects of your brand personality you’ll need to consider brand guidelines. Nothing too rigid, as the beauty of being a freelance writer is the versatility you offer. But you’ll need to have a rough idea of how you’d like to portray your business before you can start marketing your services.

Position yourself as an expert

To ensure you stand out, think about what areas of expertise you have that will make you more valuable than your competition.

When many think of an ‘expert’ they think of an academic who has been working in her field for decades. Alternatively, people figure an expert is someone who makes a lot of money or is a household name.

Thankfully, these days anyone who is good at what he or she does and boasts insider knowledge can position themselves as a voice of authority in their field.

If you work in a niche industry or have good knowledge of a specialist or emerging subject, capitalise on it in the following ways:

• Develop relationships with reporters and become their go-to expert for quotes or soundbites.
• Speak at events relevant to your industry – discussion panels are a great way to test the water.
• Teach and pass on what you’ve learned (go down the higher education route and provide guest lectures at colleges and universities, or design and run your own educational programmes delivered in person or online).
• Claim your topic – read the latest trade publications, blogs and journals and keep abreast of industry trends; offer to contribute guest posts or be interviewed.
• Use social media to engage with influencers and consumers in your field.
• Create reports and useful statistics as a by-product of your market research (this can be as simple as utilising feedback from your clients or readers).
• Write about your industry with a view to getting published or heading down the self-publishing route.
• Gather testimonials from previous clients and put together a case study.
• Enter competitions.
• Volunteer your services as a mentor or advisor.

Create a platform

As a freelance writer, if you can’t be Googled you don’t exist. There is no excuse for not having an online home.

When it comes to building your online base, there are a few key things you’ll need to include. The rest is up to you:

• A brief introduction such as a biography or ‘about’ page.
• An outline of the services you offer.
• Examples of your work. No need to detail your CV, but an overview of the variety of roles you’ve held and demonstration of your versatility is crucial, as are links to previously published work to support your statements. This will help prospective clients get a feel for your writing style.
• Contact information such as an email address and social media channels.

Websites and blogs

If you’re thinking of starting a blog or website to support your writing, Wordpress (wordpress.org) is by far the most user-friendly platform out there. Whether you want a slick and professional site with your own domain name or are happy for it to be hosted by Wordpress (and therefore have ‘.wordpress.com’ at the end of your URL), this platform comes highly recommended.

The good thing about a universally preferred platform, such as Wordpress, is the amount of online forums and chat rooms dedicated to fixing bugs and script errors. There are also several bestselling books that will enable you to become a WordPress whizz in no time at all.

Other platforms that have enjoyed success are Google’s Blogger (www.blogger.com), Blog.com and Tumblr (www.tumblr.com). All of these platforms offer a basic package free of charge.

Whichever service you use to build your site you should include a blog. Unless you’re working on new projects every week, your blog is the only part of your site that is likely to be updated regularly. It’s also a great place to get personal with your audience. Here you can express your thoughts without a hard sell: for most people other areas of websites take care of the pitch.

Blogs should be engaging and serve a specific purpose. Some of the most successful are used to keep customers and followers updated on what brands or individuals have been up to, while others draw as many experts and commentators into the fold as possible to add credibility.

When it comes to maintaining a blog, consistency is everything. If you’re planning to start a blog or have one already, take some time to plan what content you’d like to cover over the course of a week, fortnight or month. Planning is key. With a plan, you always know what’s going live, and will develop a great routine that also means your readers, followers and customers know what to expect and when.

The aim is for your blog to run like clockwork. Don’t think this means you have to post at 10, 12, 2 and 4 o’clock each and every day. You can have a great content plan that consists of one kick-ass post a week.

If you need further convincing on the merits of a blog – they’re great for improving search engine rankings!

Portfolios

While using a portfolio-building site won’t be as expressive as a personalised website, it’ll allow you to link to your portfolio in everything from your CV and job applications, to guest posts and social media channels. A portfolio is also a good option if you’re looking for something maintenance-free.

Here are three portfolio-building websites to explore:

1. Ideas Tap: If you join as a member you’re allowed to u...