If you want to become a freelance writer, then there are a few things
that you must know about the business or profession (whichever you
want to call it). Freelance writers are in high demand these days
particularly online. Thanks to the web, you don’t have to jump through
the hoops of cold-calling, attending meetings and conferences before
you can get a gig like most did in the hey days. These days, with a
website –is that even necessary anymore?- the forums, and job
websites, you can get started in as little as an hour or so.
How to Get Writing Gigs when You Become a Freelance Writer
This is pretty simple. The first step is to have some writing samples
of your own. If you are just starting out, make sure that they are on
different topics. This shows your versatility to any intending client.
Write about 5-20 samples on varied topics for a start and have them
online on any of the article directories. If you want, you can compile
them into a PDF file that you can send to clients when samples are
requested of you.
Then write a compelling cover letter that you’ll send to your targeted
clients. Cover letters vary, and will change according to a client’s
demands. To learn how to write a compelling cover letter, get one or
two books on writing cover letters. Or you can Google for samples of a
cover letter to see what they look like.
Register with bidding sites like elance.com, odesk.com, guru.com among
others. These websites are portals that connect potential clients with
writers. Then create a compelling profile. Most of the time, a good
profile will win more biddings and projects for . This is because
potential employers take a look at your profile to see what skills you
have displayed and how well you profile page is written.
Pitfalls to Avoid
To become a freelance writer, and a profitable one at that, you ought
to have your smarts around you. Never write a bulk of articles for a
client without some evidence of payment. If the client cannot pay some
percentage upfront, then ask him to pay as you deliver. This way, even
if he doesn’t pay, you don’t lose much.
Freelance writing is profitable, but you have to do it right in order
to reap the best benefits possible from it.