Many aspiring freelance writers develop into discouraged after making use of to lots of of jobs on job boards and receiving zero responses.
The issue isn’t essentially that you just’re a nasty author.
You’re simply not utilizing the appropriate technique to land your first freelance job.
Even should you use one of the best follow recommendation, like personalizing your pitch and sharing related writing samples, it’s nonetheless arduous to face out on a job board.
When you really feel discouraged and desire a simpler technique to discover a freelance writing job, this submit will present you precisely the best way to discover and land a high-paying freelance copywriting job in 2023.
Why You Ought to Skip On-line Job Boards For Your First Writing Job
Freelance writing job boards, like Upwork, ProBlogger, and even Certainly, are extremely crowded, with numerous writers vying for a similar alternatives.
For instance, this single job advert has over 400 candidates. There’s a great probability that the hiring supervisor received’t even see your utility:
Talking from private expertise, most hiring managers choose the primary respectable applicant they obtain quite than sifting by means of a number of hundred functions.
Secondly, lots of the finest freelance writing shoppers discover their writers by means of referrals and proposals from their networks, so that they don’t actively publish job listings.
Listed here are just a few simpler strategies that enable you to land higher freelance writing jobs in much less time (and a few may even flip into full-time jobs if you want!).
7 Finest Methods To Discover Entry-Stage Freelance Writing Jobs
As somebody who has been on each the hiring and making use of aspect of the method, I’ve used quite a few strategies to land and fill freelance writing gigs. Listed here are essentially the most profitable strategies I like to recommend for touchdown extra high-paying freelance work.
1- Use LinkedIn To Discover New Writing Purchasers
Most preferrred shoppers are already on LinkedIn, however chilly pitching methods hardly ever work. I personally obtain lots of of LinkedIn pitches from totally different freelance writers, and I’ve by no means responded to considered one of them.
Nonetheless, I’ve employed loads of freelance writers by means of LinkedIn.
The secret is to construct a LinkedIn following to appeal to potential shoppers. After you have a following, you’ll have a gradual circulate of shoppers, and even when one consumer churns, you received’t should spend hours cold-pitching shoppers.
As an alternative, you’ll nonetheless have a gradual circulate of inbound leads, and your follower rely will truly proceed to develop exponentially as you construct a presence. In distinction, should you rely solely on cold-pitching shoppers, you’ll have to start out once more from floor zero when a consumer churns.
An excellent instance of a person who has constructed her freelance writing profession on LinkedIn is Romana Hoekstra. She often posts useful content material on LinkedIn and has constructed a loyal following of SaaS entrepreneurs.
So how do you get began? First, arrange your LinkedIn profile.
Set Up Your LinkedIn Profile
Do all of the fundamentals like importing a high-quality headshot photograph, an attention-grabbing banner picture, and a headline that clearly communicates that you just’re a contract author for (your trade) like SaaS or ecommerce.
Under is a wonderful instance of an important profile image.
I additionally just like the banner picture of Elisa Silverman, who makes use of the logos of manufacturers she has written for previously.
Subsequent, concentrate on the 80/20 of what makes a profile actually glorious. Craft an attention-grabbing abstract in your LinkedIn Profile, also called the “About” part.
Use this area to relate your distinctive story and the way your abilities positively impression the folks you collaborate with. Right here is a superb instance of a LinkedIn profile abstract for inspiration:
Begin Constructing Connections
Subsequent, join with folks personally, akin to colleagues, pals, classmates, and former shoppers.
These connections can present a basis for increasing your community and enable you to get new shoppers by sharing suggestions. LinkedIn endorsements act as social proof and can assist your profile stand out from a pool of different writers in your trade. Constructive opinions in your LinkedIn profile may also increase your credibility as a contract author.
When reaching out with connection requests, take the time to personalize every message. Point out how the individual or clarify why you’d like to attach. A customized message is extra prone to be well-received and accepted.
Be part of Writing Teams
Be part of LinkedIn teams centered on writing, content material creation, running a blog, and freelancing. Examples embrace “Freelance Writers” or “Content material Writing Professionals.”
Actively have interaction in group discussions and provide beneficial insights that might assist different content material entrepreneurs. Networking inside these teams can result in potential job alternatives, and hiring managers pay attention to individuals who share nice insights and ask nice questions.
Some writing teams could have devoted sections for job postings or freelance gigs. Control these alternatives to seek out new writing tasks.
I’ve loads of pals who’ve employed new writers from these teams, so should you share insightful content material, you would possibly discover them extremely efficient.
Write the Good LinkedIn Outreach Message
Earlier, I discussed that cold-pitching shoppers don’t work.
Nonetheless, should you’ve put within the work and constructed a powerful LinkedIn following, you’ll have a fairly good shot at getting employed if the corporate you’re concentrating on is in search of a brand new freelance author. It’s because a following is actually social proof, so that you’ll instantly stand out to potential shoppers.
To get began, analysis and determine potential shoppers who suit your writing companies.
Then, take into consideration how one can present worth to them first.
I prefer to ask for a quote from that individual or present them that I linked to their firm in a special consumer’s article. Most individuals will reply to those messages since you’re providing them free press.
They love these messages!
After you present worth to them and open the dialog, it’s very straightforward to say that you just’re in search of extra freelance shoppers and ask in the event that they know of anybody in search of freelance writing work.
Right here is an instance template that you should use to construct connections:
Message #1
Hello [Recipient’s Name],
I used to be writing a submit on AI advertising and marketing instruments and located [company name] within the course of. I added you to the listing and linked to your weblog submit on X. I write loads of content material on AI advertising and marketing and can be completely happy to incorporate you in additional future posts, so let me know if you would like me to vary how I place the product or add any further data.
Finest,
[Your Name]
Message #2
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll make these changes sooner or later! Additionally, I’m in search of extra freelance writing work. When you’ve got any pals hiring, I’d love a connection! Thanks!
This pitch is more likely to obtain a optimistic response since you’ve already offered large worth to them (free promotion and a hyperlink!) they usually’ve additionally seen your writing, so that they know you’ll be able to write properly.
2. Provide Your Providers For Free
When you begin with low-paying jobs on a platform like Upwork or Fiverr, you’ll in all probability be working with low-quality shoppers which might be troublesome to handle.
It could appear counterintuitive, however providing your companies at no cost to your preferrred shoppers is definitely the quickest option to land a high-paying job.
The truth is, that is how I obtained my begin as a contract author. I reached out to my preferrred consumer with a accomplished weblog submit related to their area of interest and advised them I may proceed sending them content material prefer it at no cost in change for a testimonial.
After just a few free items of content material, this consumer started paying me (very properly!) and referred me to their pals.
Because of this, I had a handful of high-paying, low-maintenance shoppers in a really brief time period.
It additionally made it straightforward for me to win different dream shoppers by means of chilly pitching, as I may use the model identify from my preliminary free job to realize immediate credibility.
Right here’s a visible illustration of what it would appear like should you begin with a free job versus a low paying job:
If I used to be beginning a contract writing enterprise in the present day, that is nonetheless the technique I might use.
3. Strategy Digital Advertising and marketing Companies
Digital advertising and marketing businesses want dependable freelance writers, and plenty of are keen to take an opportunity on trainable new writers. I’ve additionally discovered that working for an company can enhance your writing abilities as they usually present extra suggestions and processes.
Begin by researching digital advertising and marketing companies in your goal market or trade. Search for corporations that align together with your writing area of interest or the kind of content material you excel at creating. As an example, should you concentrate on SaaS or ecommerce, you’ll be able to method businesses providing SaaS or ecommerce companies.
Go to company web sites in your space and familiarize your self with their vary of companies, present shoppers, and the sort of content material they create.
Then, create an optimized writing portfolio showcasing your finest samples associated to the goal area of interest.
Kristen Bateman’s style writing portfolio is an inspiration to all beginner writers as to how your portfolio ought to appear like:
Subsequent, be sure you method the appropriate individual. In any other case, your message will in all probability be deleted.
You possibly can e mail the corporate director or the president in case you are approaching smaller businesses. For bigger businesses (10 plus folks) e mail the content material supervisor or the advertising and marketing director. You could find this data on their About web page, just like the one proven under:
Once you attain out to this individual, make sure the pitch is related and personalised. Right here are some things to remember:
- Keep away from mass emails. As an alternative, ship personalised and tailor-made emails to every company you’re approaching.
- Keep away from submitting subpar or irrelevant writing samples, as it will possibly create a unfavourable impression. Select your finest and most related work.
- Comply with up politely after an inexpensive interval to precise your continued curiosity in working collectively.
4. Be part of Related Fb Teams
Fb teams are a superb option to community and promote your writing companies as a freelancer.
Leverage Fb’s search bar by inputting related key phrases associated to your writing area of interest. Attempt phrases like “freelance writing,” “content material writers,” “bloggers,” or the precise industries you aspire to jot down for. It will enable you to uncover related teams, pages, or people inside your writing pursuits.
Top-of-the-line ideas is to ask for suggestions on a few of your writing samples, because it isn’t a direct pitch however helps you get your work in entrance of your preferrred viewers. It additionally exhibits that you just’re hungry to be taught and teachable.
5. Create Your Personal Web site To Generate Inbound Writing Leads
The easiest way to enhance your writing abilities is to jot down.
You’ll additionally discover that rising an viewers makes it a lot simpler to generate inbound freelance writing alternatives so that you just by no means should chilly pitch for leads.
So think about creating your personal web site and often publish content material on numerous content material advertising and marketing and writing matters.
There are a number of web site builders and CMS platforms accessible that cater to customers with out coding data. Some common choices embrace:
- WordPress.org: Gives a easy and intuitive interface with pre-designed templates and customization choices.
- Wix: Offers a drag-and-drop web site builder with ready-made templates for straightforward customization.
- Squarespace: Identified for its visually interesting templates and user-friendly interface.
- Weebly: One other drag-and-drop web site builder that simplifies the web site creation course of.
After deciding on an internet site builder, join an account. Most web site builders provide area registration companies, so you should buy your area by means of them immediately. Select a site identify that displays your writing model or area of interest. Preserve it brief, memorable, and related to your writing companies.
Right here is an instance of a primary freelance writing web site, the place the author describes his background in writing together with a CTA permitting prospects to contact for writing assist.
You need to have the next pages in your web site:
- House Web page: That is the principle touchdown web page of your web site and serves as an introduction to your writing companies. It ought to be participating, concise, and convey what you provide as a contract author.
- About Me: This web page is devoted to introducing your self as a author. Share your background, experience, expertise, and keenness for writing. Make it private and spotlight what units you aside from different freelance writers.
- Providers: The companies web page outlines the writing companies you provide. Clearly listing the forms of writing you concentrate on, akin to weblog posts, articles, net content material, copywriting, technical writing, and many others. Keep in mind that shoppers need to rent specialists quite than generalists, so decide simply two or three companies to supply.
- Portfolio: Showcase your writing samples in a devoted portfolio part. Embrace solely your finest writing samples. Most individuals solely learn two or three samples earlier than hiring, so be sure these two or three items they learn are your best work. It’s additionally vital to make sure samples are related to your preferrred shoppers.
- Testimonials: Show testimonials or opinions from happy shoppers. Constructive suggestions from earlier shoppers can construct belief and credibility with potential shoppers.
- Contact: This web page ought to present numerous methods for potential shoppers to get in contact with you. Embrace a contact kind, your e mail handle, and any related social media profiles or different communication channels.
Alternatively, should you really feel overwhelmed by the prospect of constructing an internet site, think about making a publication on a platform like Beehiiv.
Now it’s time to start out creating content material.
Start by researching key phrases associated to “freelance writing” that your potential prospects would possibly search when trying to rent a author.
For instance, writing a weblog submit concentrating on a subject like “hiring a B2B freelance author” may generate some leads as that’s a query many potential shoppers could search.
You can too use search engine optimization key phrase analysis instruments like SEMrush or Ahrefs to seek out these key phrases.
My favourite trick is to have a look at the highest web sites rating for freelance writing phrases, enter the URL into the search bar, after which take a look at the key phrases they’re concentrating on. Then, create your personal distinctive weblog submit for that key phrase.
For instance, The Author Finder covers loads of freelance writing matters, so I put that URL into Ahrefs, and listed here are among the key phrases it’s concentrating on that you might additionally goal:
For instance, “enterprise weblog submit concepts” and “the best way to outsource content material writing” may be good key phrases because the searchers are in all probability enterprise homeowners needing a great content material author.
When you’ve selected a key phrase, listed here are some search engine optimization tricks to observe:
- Embrace goal key phrases naturally in web page titles of related pages.
- Guarantee titles precisely signify the content material of every web page.
- Write compelling meta descriptions with focused key phrases.
- Use key phrases in headings and subheadings for higher web page construction.
- Incorporate key phrases naturally all through your content material.
- Keep away from key phrase stuffing to take care of optimistic search rankings.
- Preserve URLs easy, descriptive, and embrace goal key phrases if attainable.
6. Strategy Companies Wanting For Writers Utilizing Google Search
One among my favourite hacks to seek out freelance writing jobs on-line is to enter the key phrase “in search of writers” in Google and seek for corporations serious about hiring freelance writers.
Ignore the listicles and informative articles and filter the listing of corporations which have posted precise job data on their web site.
As an example, once I searched with the key phrase “in search of writers” [in double quotes], I came upon that Selection of Video games LLC is actively in search of writers:
I clicked on it to learn the job description and apply on-line.
Equally, you will discover such direct writing alternatives utilizing quite a lot of queries, like:
- “freelance writers wanted”
- “Want technical writers”
- “writers needed”
You can too search key phrases related to your area of interest like “in search of SaaS writers” or “in search of ecommerce writers”.
You can too automate the whole course of by setting Google Alerts. Go to Google Alerts, enter your key phrase, and click on “Create Alert.”
Then, filter alerts based mostly in your necessities. As an example, you’ll be able to change the settings to inform Google when to e mail the search outcomes to you – as soon as a day or week or because it occurs. You can too choose the area to get essentially the most related writing job alternatives delivered to your inbox day by day.
Whereas I normally suggest towards making use of to job boards, this technique can work as I discover web sites normally don’t obtain as many functions as on-line job boards.
7. Write Visitor Posts To Construct a Sturdy Portfolio
Many hiring managers don’t even trouble posting jobs due to the overwhelming variety of functions. So most hiring managers merely rent one of the best writers who’ve written for his or her opponents.
For instance, if I’m a hiring supervisor at a advertising and marketing analytics SaaS firm, I would browse different respected martech firm blogs like Sprout Social or HubSpot and attain out to these writers.
To get in entrance of those hiring managers, provide to jot down visitor posts for essentially the most respected corporations in your trade. That is additionally an effective way to bolster your freelance writing portfolio.
As well as, the businesses you write visitor posts for would possibly provide to rent you in the event that they just like the work.
To seek out visitor posting alternatives, decide the precise matters and industries you concentrate on or are captivated with. It will enable you to goal web sites and blogs related to your experience.
Use search engines like google and yahoo to seek out web sites that cowl matters just like your writing area of interest. Discover blogs accepting visitor posts or have a “Write for Us” web page.
Under are some related Google search queries to seek out visitor posts:
- “write for us” + [Your Niche/Industry]
- “submit a visitor submit” + [Your Niche/Industry]
- “develop into a contributor” + [Your Niche/Industry]
- Inurl: “write-for-us” key phrase
- Inurl: “guest-post” key phrase
You can too attain out to your dream corporations immediately, even when they don’t publicly provide visitor posting alternatives.
Then, attain out to the content material supervisor immediately with a personalised visitor submit pitch that matches their preferrred audience.
Start Your Dream Freelance Writing Journey
Discovering freelance writing jobs might be difficult, particularly for newcomers.
Whereas the trail to touchdown your first freelance writing job is comparatively simple (simply observe the steps above!), that doesn’t imply it’s straightforward. If you need extra steerage and help, think about becoming a member of the Copyblogger Academy.
You get direct entry to me (a author, advertising and marketing company proprietor, and content material creator) and a vibrant group of freelance writers providing help, recommendation, and peer-to-peer accountability.
You’ll additionally discover numerous self-paced programs to enhance your writing abilities, and also you’ll have entry to unique interviews with among the finest content material creators of the day, like Steph Smith, Justin Moore, and others.
You possibly can soar into the academy in the present day risk-free to see if it’s the appropriate match for you. When you’re not 100% happy within the first 30 days, tell us, and we’ll offer you a full refund.
Whether or not you simply desire a aspect hustle to usher in just a few additional thousand {dollars} otherwise you need to construct a full-time freelance writing profession, your future self will thanks for the funding you make in the present day! See you contained in the Copyblogger Academy!
