Are you destined to be a freelance writer? Do you think that you have what it takes? If so, you are not alone. Over the past couple of years it seems that more and more people are attempting to break into this industry. In fact, I have read many blog posts this month alone stating just how easy it is to make money as a freelance writer. Of course, I do not agree with this but everybody is entitled to their own opinion.
This leads to the question of what makes a successful freelance writer. Are there traits that you need in order to succeed in this industry? There are countless answers to this question, but in my opinion there are three things that you need if you are going to succeed as a freelance writer:
1. Are you willing to work hard? If you want to earn a living in this capacity you need to work hard. And this does not mean that you have to work hard for only a couple of weeks. Although most freelance writers work from home, the successful ones are always going strong and striving to reach the next level. If you are adverse to hard work, you probably won’t make it far as a freelance writer.
2. The ability to write quality content. More than one person has been ignorant enough to tell me that anybody can be a freelance writer. Of course, I have to shrug this off because it is nonsense. You need to be able to do more than write to achieve success in this career. Good freelance writers have the ability to put together quality content that is easy to read and free of mistakes. Do you fit this mold?
3. Writing killer content is just one part of becoming a successful freelance writer. To succeed over the long haul you must also be able to market your services, offer great customer service, and juggle many tasks. Your main task will be to write, but this is not the end all.
Do you have the three details above on your side? If so, you have what it takes to be a successful freelance writer. Now, all you have to do is move forward full steam ahead.Â
If you are a freelance writer it is safe to say that your main goal is to supply clients with quality content. With that being said, what else do you offer clients? Do you offer anything special that will put you in a better position than the competition? For many, this is a tough question to answer; but it does not have to be.
I feel that my customer service skills are top notch. I strive to offer great service, and most of my clients have thanked me for this at some point in time. This is something that I take great pride in, and over the years it has helped me to earn new business while also building long term relationships.
Of course, you can also offer clients other services in order to make yourself more valuable. For instance, many freelance writers offer to submit online articles to social bookmarking sites or directories. Others will supply images with their content. While I try to stay away from this, there is nothing wrong with offering these services if they will help you to earn more money.
The more that you offer clients the better. You do not have to go so far overboard that you begin to compromise your content. But at the very least you should mix in some intangibles that will give clients an added reason to work with you.
The rate that you charge as a freelance writer will greatly determine how much money you earn. Many aspiring writers do not know how to set a fee schedule because they are unaware of the details that go into this. When it comes down to it, setting your rates is not as hard as it sounds.
You are your own person. For this reason, you should set your freelance writing rates based on what you offer. Sure, you should consider what the competition is doing, but do not let this effect your rates too much. I know many freelance writers who charge twice as much as I do. At the same time, others charge half as much. This just goes to show you that the industry is full from top to bottom.
Many freelance writers think that lower rates will mean more work. While this can be the case, it also means that you will have to work more in order to earn a decent living. You may want to consider this option instead: charge higher rates so that you can do less work to make the same amount of money.
Of course, you cannot charge rates that do not align with your experience and knowledge. Far too often I receive emails from new freelance writers who are charging twice as much as me. While there is nothing wrong with reaching for the sky, they do not realize that clients that pay a lot of money want to hire somebody with solid experience. Remember, you can start your rates on the low end of the scale until you gain experience and build your portfolio.
I know that this post is not an exact “step by step†guide on how to set a fee schedule. The reason for this is simple: every freelance writer is different. Set your rates according to what you are comfortable with and what you need to earn in order to bring in a nice monthly income. Over time, as your experience grows, you can then up your rates to better match your new position within the industry.
