Mastering a talent like writing isn’t any straightforward feat and discovering ideas for touchdown a high-paying freelance writing job could be a problem. Irrespective of in case you’re a pure, a seasoned author, or a self-taught wizard of phrases, beginning your freelance writing profession could be thrilling, overwhelming, and irritating, abruptly. 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 battle on this planet of freelance writing, and I’ve definitely realized a factor or two alongside the best way.
With a purpose to land high-paying freelance gigs, it’s necessary to maintain just a few issues in thoughts to make sure that you stand out within the sea of 1,000,000 rivals. Remember the fact that struggling, to start with, is totally regular. Listed below are some strategies that may provide help to win your dream purchasers.
Suggestions For Touchdown Excessive-Paid Freelance Writing Jobs
I couldn’t be extra grateful for my freelance writing profession and typically need to pinch myself that it’s actual. The pliability, the power to work wherever on this planet, and the number of issues that I be taught each day are only a handful of the priceless perks. Listed below are some tried-and-true ideas that will help you construct a strong, high-paying basis in your freelance writing profession:
1. Take a Freelance Writing Course
The primary method to snag high-paying purchasers is to be one of the best within the biz. And the one method to grasp your talent is to apply, be taught, apply, and be taught some extra. The writing world is consistently altering, and the extra you hone your abilities, the higher.
Contemplate taking a freelance writing course to improve your writing skills, in no matter style you’re specializing in particularly, or simply in regards to the freelance writing enterprise generally. Information is energy, and it additionally equals greenback indicators.
The Freelance Writer Course by Knowadays is accredited, self-paced, and affords 50 hours of tutor time. In the event you use promo code GOATS25 and this link, you’ll obtain 25% off the course. Learn our full review of the Knowadays Freelance Writing Course, and in case you’re in search of extra choices, see our listing of the best freelance writing courses online.
2. Study How one can Pitch Your self
On this day in age, increasingly persons are trying to find methods to make an revenue on-line, and freelance writing is definitely one of many extra standard avenues. When hundreds of individuals have their eyes on the identical job listings, it’s essential that you just stand out when sending your cowl letter.
One of many greatest issues to bear in mind, which could sound counterintuitive at first, is to focus your pitch on the corporate or shopper – fairly than your self. It may be tempting to create a canopy letter that explains why you’re a fantastic match, your training, or your accomplishments, however doing that may ship your e-mail straight to the trash.
As an alternative, 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 a fantastic match by giving particular examples of labor which might be just like what they’re in search of.
3. Search Out a Nicely-Paying Business
After I first began freelance writing, I had desires of writing about tropical journey locations and being paid to go to those dreamy areas. Though that could be potential if all the precise circumstances line up, it’s most likely unlikely, (hate to interrupt it to you).
You additionally is likely to be pissed off by job postings that wish to pay you $100 for a 3,000-word article, or $15 an hour to put in writing an extensively-researched article. Don’t promote your self quick!
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 be taught in regards to the trade – belief me, it’s value it. You’ll have the prospect to leap from $150 for a put up to $150 an hour.
4. Increase Your Community
We’ve all heard the phrase, “It’s not what you realize, it’s who you realize”, and though it’s undoubtedly about what you realize… who you realize can undoubtedly provide help to land some high quality purchasers. Build up your private community can up your probabilities of discovering long-term, high-paying purchasers.
Begin by sending messages to your present contacts – former co-workers, household mates, outdated bosses, and so forth. – and clarify what freelance providers you’re providing and if they might suggest your providers to anybody they know.
One other method to develop your skilled community is to attach with different freelancers in social media teams, attend particular occasions which might 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 would 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 effectively this will work – when achieved accurately. Chilly pitching is the time period for mainly “promoting your self” to potential purchasers with none immediate to take action, apart from your curiosity.
The foremost key in emailing a dream shopper is to personalize it as a lot as potential – to them, to not your self. Do your analysis and see the place you might have 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 may very well be perceived as “missing”?
One other essential factor to bear in mind when sending a chilly pitch e-mail is the significance of the topic line – it’s every thing. You might have probably the most skillfully crafted e-mail on this planet, but when your topic line doesn’t stand out, it will likely 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 needed, having a web-based presence as a freelancer can solely enhance your odds of getting new purchasers. The extra channels you’re part of – the higher.
You’ll be able to select to be energetic on social media, comparable to LinkedIn or Twitter. Or, you possibly can attain out to blogs within the area of interest you’re concerned in and ask in case you can write a featured visitor put up. Nonetheless you will get your identify on the market, do it.
An necessary factor to recollect when creating content material (on whichever channel you select) is to cater it to potential purchasers, not solely to fellow freelancers. For instance, in case you’re writing or tweeting about web optimization, clarify the way you’ve used it to profit purchasers previously, fairly than the way it might assist different freelancers.
7. Decide Your Content material Area of interest
Identical to discovering a distinct segment in your writing style, comparable to tech or B2B, discovering a content material area of interest may help you earn more cash too. This may come within the type of weblog posts, case research, analysis stories, 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 sort of content material is most desired, or deemed most necessary, in that trade and grasp it.
When you might have a distinct segment specialty, it positions you as extra of an professional throughout the sector, and corporations are keen to pay huge bucks for that experience. It additionally makes your portfolio look unbelievable.
8. Use Job Boards as a Instrument
Job boards would possibly look like the plain alternative when in search of new purchasers. And when you ought to undoubtedly be scouring websites like ProBlogger, Indeed, or Superpath, for brand new openings, there’s a little bit “trick” that may provide help to stand out within the crowd.
After you’ve discovered a possible shopper on a job board, and also you match no less than 80% of their {qualifications}, it’s time to start out performing some analysis. Go to the corporate’s web site and observe down the HR or hiring supervisor’s e-mail tackle. Then, ship them a customized e-mail along with your curiosity within the job and your resume.
This works as a result of tons of of persons are going to fill out the appliance from the job board, however only a few will take the time to ship a customized e-mail as well as. Be certain that to incorporate related samples and any spectacular previous purchasers which might be in the identical trade.
9. Be part of On-line Communities
Certainly one of my favourite issues about working as a contract author is the huge on-line neighborhood and unbelievable comradery. Becoming a member of these digital communities is a good way to satisfy new freelance mates, alternate ideas, and share open jobs with purchasers.
By looking Fb, Reddit, or different channels for freelance writing communities, you possibly can share your providers, charges, and what your dream shopper would possibly appear to be. You’ll be able to even converse to different freelancers who’re doing the work you’d prefer to be doing to achieve perception.
What’s cool about these communities is that they will 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 need to use that to your benefit when achieved politely. In the event 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. Actually, high-paying purchasers usually tend to rent based mostly on referrals versus different strategies.
In the event you do find yourself receiving an introduction, make sure to thank the one that launched you and return the favor everytime you’re ready to take action.
In Conclusion
Your freelance writing profession doesn’t need to be mundane, (or too demanding), and unfulfilling whereas being provided low pay. Your profession could be rewarding, enjoyable, and profitable with just a bit little bit of effort and analysis. Hopefully, these prime ideas for touchdown high-paid freelance writing jobs will assist launch your writing profession.
The freelance writing world is consistently altering, and new genres pop up yearly with rising traits and know-how. By adapting and evolving with the instances, you’ll all the time have a high-paying profession which you can be happy with.
