When I got my start as a freelance writer I thought I had one job and one job only: to produce high quality content. While this is very true, you need to consider that other things can and will come up from time to time. You may be surprised at how much you have to do for clients, outside of producing content.
Don’t get me wrong, writing is your main job and you should learn how to do it well. But as you begin to grow your business you will find that clients want more from you. While this may sound scary, it actually works out in the long run because it gives you the chance to earn extra money.
So, what other “tasks†may I be asked to take on? More and more of my clients are asking for help marketing their content – this is especially true among those who are posting online. While it is not something I specialize in, I have picked up some skills over the years. Do not be surprised if your web based clients ask for help in this area.
Other clients want basic advice on what type of content is best, how often they need fresh content, etc. With this, you become a “writing consultant†of sorts. In addition to producing content you are also in the business of advising clients on what they should and should not be doing.
Of course, what you do as a freelance writer comes down to your comfort level. If you don’t want to help with marketing, for example, you have the right to say no. I have found it is best to help when possible, but to also let clients know that I do not specialize in other areas. This helps to keep expectations realistic.
Your job as a freelance writer will change from client to client. Do you help with any tasks outside of content creation?
As a freelance writer I know how important it is to collect as much valuable information as possible. That being said, I have to be careful about how much time I spend reading blogs, etc. One that I never miss is: All Freelance Writing.
When it comes to freelance writing blogs this is truly one of my favorites. Jennifer Mattern is in charge, but she has brought on an entire team of freelancers, including myself, to write guest posts from time to time. If you want to see some of my work at All Freelance Writing, check out my most recent piece: What to Include on your Freelance Writing Website.
I don’t want to take anything away from this great blog by explaining every last detail. You would be much better off visiting yourself and seeing just how much valuable information it has to offer. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!
Talking about how much money freelance writers earn is never easy. The reason for this is the broad range of answers. Some freelancers are only earning a few dollars per month. Others are pulling in tens of thousands of dollars and still on the rise. So, when I am asked to discuss freelance writing income I always make sure to talk about both the good and bad.
One thing is for sure: new freelance writers have to start at the bottom of the barrel. Although you may dream of earning $10k or more per month, it is not something that you should expect in your first month on the job. If you set unrealistic expectations in terms of your freelance writing income you are going to find yourself disappointed soon enough. Don’t get me wrong, you need to have goals. But you must make sure that they are realistic and actually attainable.
Your expectations probably won’t be spot on. My first month as a freelance writer led to a whopping $52. By the next month I was closing in on $1k. Although these are modest numbers, I did not expect them to come. I honestly thought it would take much longer, at least six to nine months, to reach the $1k barrier – fortunately I was wrong.
The best advice I can give is to set goals, but also realize that they are going to change from month to month. Since aspiring freelance writers do not know much about the industry it is important that they are reasonable with their expectations. Once you have a few months of work under your belt you will have a much better idea of what you can earn now and in the future.
If you have any questions about “freelance writing income†please leave a comment. Of course, those who are not comfortable doing so can always send me an email. Either way, this is a difficult subject and I will do what I can to help.
