Freelance content writing is a flexible and creative career path that allows you to work independently while utilizing your writing skills. As a freelance content writer, you will be responsible for writing a variety of material, like blog posts, website copy, articles, products descriptions and more.
While the idea of becoming a freelance writer may seem appealing, it does require some work to get started and keep steady work flowing in. In this in-depth guide, we will cover everything you need to know to successfully freelance as a content writer, including how to get clients, what types of content to write, pricing your work, productivity tips, and more.
Getting Started
The first step is to determine what types of content you want to specialize in writing. Some popular topics freelancers write about include technology, business, health/wellness, personal finance, marketing, travel, and more. Choose a niche you are knowledgeable and passionate about so that writing comes naturally.
You’ll also need to set up the basic tools and infrastructure required to function as a freelance writer, such as:
Business email addresses (yourname@yourwebsite.com)
Professional website/portfolio
Freelance writing resume
Contract and invoice templates
Bookkeeping/accounting system
Having these business essentials in place makes you look more credible and organized as a freelancer. Your website should showcase samples of your writing abilities and services offered.
Getting Clients
There are several effective ways to find clients as a freelance content writer:
Networking – Connect with potential clients through industry events, conferences, online forums, and your existing professional network on LinkedIn.
Direct outreach – Research companies/blogs in your niche and directly pitch them your writing services via cold emails or phone calls. Provide writing samples.
Freelance job boards – Sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and PeoplePerHour are great marketplaces to find short and long-term writing gigs.
Cold email campaigns – Search blogs, directories, and articles for site owners’ contact details. Email them personalized pitches about collaborating.
Referrals – Provide excellent work for initial clients to generate positive referrals and word-of-mouth leads over time.
Content mills – Sites like Textbroker, Constant Content, and iWriter pay per piece but have lots of work available.
Whether you pursue one approach or combine strategies, be patient – it can take time to build a steady client base. Provide outstanding work and customer service to turn initial clients into recurring ones.
Writing Different Content Types
As a freelance content writer, you may be tasked with creating various types of written material for websites and marketing. Here are some of the most common:
Blog posts (500-1000 words) – Entertaining and informative articles to engage site visitors and build thought leadership.
Website copy (100-500 words) – Copy for pages like About Us, Services, FAQs to attract and inform customers.
Product descriptions (100-250 words) – Succinctly explaining an item’s features, specs, benefits to appeal to buyers.
Email newsletters (400-1000 words) – Share timely and valuable news/tips with subscribers on a regular schedule, usually weekly or monthly.
Ebooks/reports (3000-15000 words) – In-depth guides, how-tos and case studies that double as lead magnets and products to sell.
Articles (700-2000 words) – Informative, well-researched long-form content suitable for industry publications and personal blogs.
Social media posts (1-2 sentences) – Catchy captions to promote blogs, products and build awareness via platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
Staying on top of content trends and formats is important to produce work clients need at a high standard. Write samples of different types to showcase versatility.
Pricing Your Services
Determining fair prices for content projects can depend on:
Content type (blog posts vs ebooks vs articles)
Word count
Research and drafting time involved
Client needs (editing requested, strict deadlines)
Your experience level and expertise
Industry standards
Common pricing models for freelance writers include:
Fixed price per project
Hourly rate (usually $25-75/hour depending on experience)
Flat fee per word (often 1-3 cents depending on complexity)
Be sure to also quote fees for related services like revisions, source research, complex formatting/multimedia insertion. Always provide written estimates. As your experience grows, you can increase rates. Factoring all costs, focus on earning $30-50 per hour minimum.
Additional Tips
Set clear expectations and deliverables with clients via proposals and contracts.
Respect deadlines by planning ahead and strictly managing your time.
Continually upgrade skills through online courses in new topics or tools like SEO, web analytics.
Use productivity apps like Todoist, Trello to organize tasks and track billable hours.
Quality check all work thoroughly for errors before submitting.
Accept feedback graciously and make revisions until work meets client standards.
Send invoices promptly through tools like FreshBooks and collect payment upfront where possible.
Promote your brand through thought leadership, speaking engagements or strategic content partnerships.
Consider offering additional complementary services like link building, graphics to expand revenue streams.
Take 1-2 days off each week to recharge while staying organized the rest of the time.
Following these best practices should help you establish a successful and fulfilling freelance writing career creating meaningful content for a diverse clientele. With experience and hustle, freelance writers can earn a comfortable living!
Andrew Stroud