Similarly, you’ll want to keep your tools of the trade up to scratch....
TIPS ‘N’ TRICKS
* Keep learning
As a freelancer, you’ll likely find yourself working across a range of different subject areas. As such, you’ll want to keep researching relevant topics and expanding your knowledge and understanding. Similarly, you’ll want to keep your tools of the trade up to scratch.
* Know your worth
When you’re first starting out, you’ll find all kinds of clients and platforms that want cheap writers. These ‘content mills’ don’t pay well for the articles. Avoid these like the plague. Your skills and your time are more valuable than that.
You want to start by figuring out what you want your rate to be. This rate can be per article, per hour, per day, or even per word. Have a look around at what other writers are charging, and price yourself accordingly. Although you might start out lower than you’d like, you can soon build your way up once you have experience. Make sure to start budgeting to account for your new income while you’re at it.
* Set goals
Establishing yourself as a writer takes time. You’ll need to build up your portfolio, expand your client base, and increase your rate. But it’s not going to happen overnight. It’s really important that you set goals for your work and your career.
If you’re only going to start part-time, then maybe consider how many projects you want to take each month or how much you want to boost your income by. If it’s a more permanent move, look at targets based around your clients, contracts, and earnings. Gradually ticking off these goals can help you build your reputation and your business.
* Keep trying
When you’re trying to become a freelance writer, it’s not always plain sailing. You might send countless pitches and not hear back. Clients might decide they don’t want to pay. Contracts could end unexpectedly. But don’t let these setbacks put you off. Learn from them, and keep trying to do what you love.
