You may or may not know that I haven’t always been Copyblogger’s editor.
For many years, I was a Copyblogger reader. I didn’t know Brian. I didn’t know Sonia.
But I pretended that I did. Of course I didn’t tell anyone that … I just received so much guidance from Copyblogger that helped me position my writing and editing services for success that it felt like I knew them.
Although it was just a website with content I read, Copyblogger supported my business journey.
I’m bringing this up today because I’m happy to pay it forward, if you will, and share a list of Copyblogger’s top 30 tips that help you become an in-demand freelance writer.
1. Start with the basics
The overhead to work as a freelance writer in the digital space is quite small compared to a brick-and-mortar business.
Get clear on the bare minimum you need to get started, which includes:
- A payment processor
- Social media profiles on platforms your prospects use
If you’re like me, you’ll also need a lot of Moleskine notebooks for ideas and drafting.
But see? Nothing too complicated.
2. Assess short-term and long-term goals
It’s fun and exciting to think about all the projects you have planned for your business.
But one of the most important skills you can build is the ability to focus on your current work and short-term goals that keep the current incarnation of your writing services running.
You don’t have to forget about your ambitions; you just have to prioritize your time properly.
That could look something like spending 90 percent of your time on your immediate responsibilities and 10 percent of your time working on that Next Big Project.
Because, remember, you’ll never get to your long-term goals if you don’t meet your short-term ones.
3. Create an order of operations
Once you’ve got a handle on your short-term and long-term goals, select an order for the tasks you need to accomplish.
What marketing projects will help you get your first clients?
If something sounds like a good idea, but you don’t have the time or budget for it yet, it’s a distraction from actually making money sooner rather than later.
During this process, you’ll narrow down your short-term and long-term goals even more. Swiftly move distractions to your “possibility list for the future,” when you’re in a better position to take them on.
4. Recognize that your skill set helps businesses
People often have a difficult time understanding how you make a living as a writer.
However, some might assume you write fiction. Perhaps they ask if you work in entertainment. That one is somewhat easy to grasp.
So, when you say that’s not the type of writing you do, confusion sets in — along with the notion that you probably just write as a hobby.
That obstacle can distort your self-image as a writer and perpetuate the false belief Alaura Weaver wrote about in How to Make a Living as a Writer When Creative Writing Isn’t Paying the Bills: “… because almost everyone can write words, anyone can be a writer.”
Amateurs don’t excel at good, strategic writing, and that’s what sets you apart. You think in terms of using your communication skills to help others clearly convey their messages.
5. Determine your prices
Many people don’t know where to begin when it comes to translating ideas in their minds into cohesive sentences and paragraphs.
Your professional writing services can become the answer to their needs.
Accordingly, you have to set your prices with confidence. And it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process, either.
Learn the basics in 5 Stress-Free Steps for Pricing Your Services.
6. Demonstrate you’re dedicated to producing excellent work
Proof that supports your professional rates is a win-win.
You’ll communicate your dedication to your clients, so that you don’t feel like a sleazy marketer, and your clients will get a clear picture of what it’s like to do business with you.
A combination of content marketing and copywriting helps you achieve this one. More on both of those in upcoming tips.
7. Outline the details you consider when evaluating a new project
As a premium service provider, you won’t be able to accept every project someone proposes.
You have to be a good match for the job, and the work has to be a good match for you.
Gathering information about a project helps you decide if it’s the right fit for your business and also allows you to tailor your service — before a client has given you any money — in a way that justifies the rate you’ll charge in exchange for your exceptional work.
You’ll convey that you’re highly focused on your client’s business goals — and that you may have even given those goals more consideration than he has.
Some questions you might ask are:
- Does the client have a budget for this project? If so, what is it?
- What’s the client’s business goal?
- How does this project fit into the client’s marketing strategy?
- Does the client intend to make any alterations to the completed project (i.e., edits to the text)? Or, is there any subsequent work the client or other service providers will perform related to this project (i.e., formatting, graphic design)?
- Is this a project that could lead to regular work (daily, weekly, monthly), or is this a one-time task?
8. Present a compelling proposal
After you’ve evaluated a project, outline what you will produce if the prospect chooses to hire you.
And, most importantly, provide details about how your services will help them achieve what they want.
When you present the benefits of your offer as well, you provide the information your prospect initially requested and potentially even spark excitement about your collaboration.
9. Set (and meet) your own deadline
If your client gives you a specific deadline, give yourself one that is even earlier than theirs.
The earlier the better — it gives you time to handle unexpected events that may arise in your business or life and still keep the promise you made to your client.
If your client is vague about a deadline, set a precise one for them based on the information you gather about their project. Then tell your client when the project will be completed and meet (or beat) the deadline.
10. Communicate that clients must agree to your terms of service and payment policy
Just as setting your prices doesn’t have to be stressful, having a terms of service and payment policy doesn’t have to be intimidating.
You could think of them as a “comprehensive frequently asked questions form” that your clients must review and agree to before working with you.
Some aspects will…
