Working as a writer can be a great career when done right. With the advancement of technology, you can now work 100% remote as a writer. What is involved in working as a writer? What about working remote and freelance? And how do I get started? Keep reading to find out!

In this article, I will cover:

• How to present yourself to a potential client.
• Where to find clients.
• How to land the client.

What Qualification And Skills Do I Need To Be A Copywriter Or Content Writer?

To become a writer, or at least get started, you need a few basic qualifications:

• Fluency in the language you want to write in.
• Solid grammar and communication skills. Spelling doesn’t have to be perfect, Grammarly saves my life here, but your understanding of grammar and the flow of a sentence are very important.
• Research skills, I am not joking when I say Google is my ride or die! Deep research is a huge skill!
• A device you can use to write. (Tablet with keyboard, laptop, or computer.) I work on a laptop or computer when I write. 
• A willingness to learn and receive constructive criticism. Writing and freelancing require you to continue to improve your skills and abilities. Find opportunities to learn and get feedback. Learn to take criticism. You will grow exponentially faster if you can take constructive criticism. 
• A stable internet connection. 

Honorable mentions:

• Quiet writing location. 
• Mentor or colleague to support and guide you. 
• Coffee!!!😜

So, those are some of the basic things you need to get started. What next? You need to understand what this career involves and the strategies for writing effective content. 

Content Writing Vs. Copywriting What Kind Of Writer Should I Be?

There are different kinds of writing we will discuss here:

• Copywriting 
• Content Writing 

What Is Copywriting?

Copywriting is used to drive sales by persuading readers. It uses something called a CTA or Call To Action. It is usually shorter and focuses on the emotions and psychological drivers behind a consumer’s decisions. This writing requires more research, an understanding of behavioral psychology, and effective copywriting strategies. 

The goal of Copywriting is to elicit the emotions, reactions, and behaviors you want in your reader and encourage them to respond to your content by purchasing something. The length of this content can vary. However, it usually leans towards the shorter and more concise side. Most Copywriting I do is 1500 words or less per piece. 

To be a copywriter who is effective, training and/or mentorship is recommended. It is not absolutely necessary, but you will progress much faster. Feedback and guidance to become a more thoughtful and effective writer are very beneficial here. There are many courses, training programs, and mentors available when it comes to Copywriting. But it goes without saying that not all programs or mentors are created equal. It’s up to you whether you go to a school or work with a successful copyrighter to learn the skills you will need. 

Personally, I prefer training and mentorship from an individual who is practicing what they preach, so to speak. I have partnered with Copywriters who are more experienced than I am, and they have been the most detailed when giving feedback. I love this feedback, but in all honesty, it’s not always easy to take. But I know I am better for it so I push forward.

What Is Content Writing?

Content Writing is used to educate and/or entertain readers. This kind of content can be much longer than 1000 words. I have written articles as long as 4500. Content Writing is better for SEO than copywriting is. * 

This kind of writing can take on a more creative and expressive tone. That is not to say Copywriting is not creative. However, the Content Writing projects I usually work on can be persuasive essays, personal stories, articles on my client’s life or personal experience, and so on. We have a lot more freedom in the length and overall tone of content writing. 

Learn more: Copywriting vs. Content Writing: What’s the Difference? | Indeed.com

SEO, Why You Need To Be Familiar With It

Search Engine Optimized (SEO) or SEO Friendly Content are two terms that are becoming very popular. Business owners and professionals are starting to recognize the importance of writing with Google algorithms and crawl bots in mind. 

SEO – Search Engine Optimization is raising your website’s ranking on a search engine, so more people see and visit your website. Content Writing and Copywriting can be done with SEO in mind. Writers can use strategies and keywords to improve a website’s overall SEO. There are many SEO tactics a writer can study and employ. And when your content is more effective in drawing readers, your price should be higher. So learning SEO is a VERY good idea for those who write content online as your skills are more valuable and in higher demand. 

When hiring a writer you get what you pay for. If a business hires a cheap overworked writer, they should expect low-quality content with errors, no strategy, or research behind the content. The writer may even plagiarise or use an AI writer. A colleague and mentor once told me, “You shouldn’t be working for anything under 50 USD per 1000 words… and that’s the beginner’s rate; I have seen writers who make up to 900 USD per 1000 words!” Good writers are worth the price tag!

If you decide you want to get started with SEO, there are some fundamentals you need to cover. The links below should give you a VERY good foundation to build from. 

Read through these articles as you can and go from there:

• SEO Writing Tips: 10 Writing Techniques & Guidelines for SEO Content
• SEO Copywriting: How to Write Content For People and Optimize For Google
• SEO Writing: The 10 Rules For Creating Optimized Content

How Do I Get Started As A Freelance Writer?

To get started, you need to complete a few different tasks that will display your work, provide your contact information, and attract clients.

Should I Create A Portfolio?

Based on my experience, YES. 100%, you should have a portfolio. I say this because I would not hire a writer myself if I had not seen some of their work first. But, if you have never taken on any clients, how do you display any work?

By writing. Think of a topic you want to learn, or you love talking about. Write a 1000-word article on it. Think I am joking? Look at this. That blog post is about the love of coffee. You could write on anything, literally anything. Do you like plants? Write about plant care or how to take care of a specific plant species. Do you love video games? Write a review of your top 5 favorite games. 

Whatever it is, write a blog on it. Edit it, proofread it, and you have a piece to display on your portfolio. Now, repeat that 3-5 times. 

Where should I display my portfolio?

Some people buy a website and hire someone to create a portfolio and professional brand. Should you do that? 

For beginners just getting into writing and freelancing, I would say no. It is unnecessary and can even be a bad decision budget-wise. One place where you can display a portfolio for free is Contra. I have one of my portfolios there. I created an account and added each project individually. You need to take photos of your work and provide a clear description. 

Once you finish that, you have a great start in displaying your work! Contra allows you to onboard clients and collects a deposit, and it does not take a single dollar from your earnings! Now, the next step, finding the people who need your services and selling them.

How To Find Clients?

So, you have decided to give it a go. You have your portfolio, research writing skills, and SEO, and you’re ready to take on your first client. 

Insert crickets here… 

Finding new clients interested in your services and products can be challenging. Where do you even start? Well, you have to go where the pool of individuals will be. In today’s age of modern technology, that will be specific websites, platforms, and communities where businesses and professionals (clients) are looking for freelancers (talent). 

Consider Using a Freelancing Website/Platform

Create Advocates / Build Your Network

The best clients, in my experience, come from your existing connections and network. Usually, the clients have already talked about you and want to hire you. Referrals are usually my favorite way to receive clients; the footwork is done. They are usually already sold on working with you and need your availability and payment info. But, there is hidden work that goes into getting these clients. So how can you get referrals? You need to build a network of people who know what you do and are willing to recommend your services. Ps. it’s helpful if they like you and have a good interaction with you!

These individuals can be:

• Friends and family
• Mentors/Teachers
• Previous clients 
• Current clients
• Colleague
• Individuals in online communities

Colleagues or other freelancers

Random people, you meet and talk to about your work, just make sure to give them your professional contact info. (Cafes are AMAZING for this kind of interaction.) Many freelancers and professionals hesitate to contact family and friends for work. Why? It can feel a bit “salesey” and most people dislike that. And I agree, if you come off wrong and push way too hard, it’s weird. However, you can inform your family and friends of your services/offerings without coming off as “salesey.” How? When you meet up with friends and/or spend time with family, your daily life and work naturally, become a topic of conversation. Your work is part of your life, so share some of it. You can do this without even making a conscious effort to “create an advocate”.

Share a goal you have, such as “I am doing content writing now; my current goal is to find a long-term client in the tech industry. I love learning about the latest tech developments, so I think I would love to handle a project on that subject.”

Or

“I am learning how to write SEO content for websites to help them reach more people. I never knew how much work and research goes into an article or blog before it’s public!”

Simple statements like that feel natural and provide information on what you do and the opportunities you would be open to. Someone in your network may become curious and ask more questions, or they may move on to a different subject of conversation. Either way, they are now aware of what you do, and you have now created a possible advocate. 

Colleagues, Freelancers, And Random People

When you interact with a colleague, you can tell them about your endeavors to become a writer. Let your excitement show, and be honest about where you are at and what you are trying to do. Individuals I have spoken with who have just started a business and present themselves as the BEST solution, the ULTIMATE x, y, z, can come off arrogant and pushy. 

But people I have talked to say something like, “yeah, I do/am learning x, y, z, and I am excited to take on my first project and use what I am learning.” come off as humble and sincere! You are more likely to like this person. Being good at what you do is also important, so continue to learn and become more skilled. Do not solely rely on “being liked” and cultivate various connections.

How To Write The Proposal

Now, when you apply for jobs on a freelancing platform, odds are you will have to submit proposals, maybe a resume, and a portfolio. Resumes and portfolios are not always required, but proposals usually are. So how do you write an effective proposal to help you land the client/job? 

The MOST IMPORTANT factor in getting a potential client to respond to your proposal is proving (in the fewest words) that you understand and can solve their challenge and the goal they want to reach.

You are more likely to hear back from them if you can convince the client that you get it or that you’re at least heading in the right direction. There are other bases you need to cover, such as:

• Describe your services clearly. 
• Provide your portfolio. 
• Share your contact invitation.
• Include a Call To Action (CTA). This would be “I would like to have a 15-minute call to discuss your project more….” 

You can see a basic example of a proposal I regularly use here. 

How To Handle A Copywriting/Content Writing Discovery Call

Let’s say you get the client to respond to your proposal and schedule an interview/discovery call. What next? How do you handle it? What are you supposed to do? Say? Prepare?

Well, the good news is, the simpler you keep it, usually the better. I worried and stressed about this during my first few months of freelancing. The shorter, the better. This is an introductory call, so it should be short. Know what you bring to the table, your offerings/services well, and prepare a simple discovery call script. With a lot of projects, you will need to do another meeting. But this meeting should be a paid “Strategy Call” or “Kick-off meeting.” Those meetings can be as long as you want. 

I usually have a kick-off meeting between 45 – 120 minutes with my clients. Then we have regular meetings to confirm we are meeting our KPIs and the goals we have set. These meetings are paid for since my clients receive strategy and digital marketing insights. So, bottom line, keep the discovery call structured, and short, and hit the key factors (offerings, the client’s main/broad goal, pricing, and timing/deadlines. 

The exact dialogue is different for each freelancer and their field. But there are foundational questions you need to cover:

• What does the client want?
• Why do they want it?
• When do they want it?
• What is their budget?
• Does the client need what they are describing or can I suggest a better solution/more effective solution?

Your discovery call will need to address those questions. You don’t need to spend 30 minutes on what the client wants, but get a good idea to start in the right direction.

Closing

So, now you know the foundation you need to get started on to work as a writer. You may be ready to get started or want to do some more research. Either way, you are off to a great start!

I really hope you enjoyed this article, and I hope you visit again to keep learning and touch up on some of the information mentioned. 

Best wishes on your writing career! Go get em!😉