For freelancers who enjoy writing and editing
Freelance writing is an increasingly popular career perfect for individuals who are skilled writers and like to work independently. As a freelancer one can choose to work as many or as little hours as he wishes, and work on just those projects that interest him. It’s no wonder why so many people are turning to this career when they want to leave the doldrums of working in an office. But it doesn’t all come easy and there are some things you should be aware of before changing careers. Here are five essentials to consider before starting this new and exciting career:
The first step is to create a profile and portfolio to let your potential clients know what services you offer and provide them with samples of your work. This is extremely important and can determine if you have a successful start as a freelancer. Be sure to keep the information in your profile and portfolio updated because outdated ones will look unprofessional.
The next step is to market your services through every online outlet possible. This means using social networking sites as well as professional bio sites to bring people back to your freelancing profile and portfolio. Send out links to your profile with every out-going message you make. If you can, get your web-address keyed into every email you send to friends, family and other acquaintances.
You shouldn’t expect to receive job offers by simply sitting on your hands in hopes that all of the projects will come to you. You must actively search for bid opportunities by checking classifieds, using freelancing websites and getting your name out there as much as possible. To start you should aim to submit anywhere between 10 – 15 bids per day. This number will go down as your reputation grows and clients come to you with work requests.
In order to maintain a steady flow of work in this career, it’s absolutely important that you meet all your deadlines. Unsatisfied clients will leave negative reviews which can come back to hurt you when potential clients begin to pass you up for other more reliable writers. If you need to, utilize a state-of-the-art calendaring system to keep you on track.
Effective communication will ensure that each of your projects progresses smoother than they would if you allowed days between emails or waited too long to respond. Keep your clients up-to-date with your progress and be sure to answer promptly whenever there is a question. Even if you don’t have to respond, it’s always a good idea to provide a short update.
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