The freelancing boom is in full swing around the globe and it’s not hard to see why! Freelancing helps workers ditch routine 9-5 roles to pursue a career that provides complete freedom and flexibility. Just like any business, when freelancing, building a solid reputation is the key to success.
10 Vital Elements to Making Your Freelance Website Superb
As a freelance professional, the most important tool in your marketing arsenal is your website. This is the first step to project your intentions to potential customers. If you configure it correctly, you can generate a lot of interest, converting prospective customers into paying ones, and your freelance business can flourish.
Shockingly, studies have revealed that countless small businesses do not maximise the benefits of their website. Are you interested in capitalising your business presence online? Implement these 10 vital elements now, and you’ll achieve the desired results.
Is your freelance website working to your advantage? Check. Click To TweetDesign Tips for Your Freelance Writing Portfolio
The best freelance writers (and pretty much every other freelancer: designers, developers, photographers, content marketers, etc.) have creative portfolios where they showcase their work. This is their business card that potential customers will carefully check before sending them an email.
A great portfolio will quickly demonstrate to potential clients and/or employers what kind of work you can do, and keep in mind that your portfolio itself is a project that you can use to showcase your skills. [Read more…]
A Guide to Building a Freelance Writing Portfolio for Beginners
You’ve heard of people who ditched their corporate posts to do freelance work. And now you’ve decided to join them and become a freelance writer. You read advice on how to start but you find yourself getting confused. You search for jobs on online job boards. But competition is stiff. What’s more, most clients ask for a portfolio, which you don’t have. [Read more…]
Eight Online Portfolio Mistakes You Want to Avoid
As a freelance writer, the importance of a great portfolio can’t be overstated. It’s one of the most important things you’ll ever design, and it portrays your professional image. Furthermore, it may stand between you and your next job.
Now, you’re a writer, not a designer, so you might make a few mistakes here and there. To minimize issues, read on for a list of common portfolio mistakes and how to avoid them.
Common freelance writing portfolio mistakes and how to avoid them. Click To Tweet5 Tips for Building a Smashing Online Writing Portfolio
Every freelance writer knows that you won’t get hired if you don’t have a decent collection of writing samples. Understandably, prospective employers like to see what you can do before they commit to paying you.
You could send an email loaded with writing samples, but it’s much easier and more professional to build an online writing portfolio. These are becoming the current standard for freelancers, whether the proposed work is going to be online or not. [Read more…]
Simple Tips to Spruce Up Your Portfolio With Infographics
Though most freelance writers are all about the written word, visuals are becoming very important. Our brains crave images that help translate complicated topics into comprehensible concepts – a perception that makes your job more marketable.
Infographics are excellent for building up your portfolio. Oftentimes, those looking for freelancers want individuals who wear more than one hat in the content creation field. Good freelancers should dabble in visuals and infographics, but many don’t know how. [Read more…]
5 Resources for Writers to Building a Winning Portfolio Site
So – you finally decided to build your very own freelance writing portfolio website. This is the giant leap forward that will separate you from the rest of the pack. It will allow you to get more work, establish your online presence, and create a permanent channel that will connect you and your clientele.
Related: Why You Need an Online Portfolio; Yes, You!
But first, you need to learn how to build a standout portfolio website that will make a big impression on your prospects. The good news is you no longer need to learn web design or programming to do this. Here are five resources that will help set you up. [Read more…]
5 Tactics to Boost Your Freelance Writing Services
Editor’s note: This post was written by Christopher Jan Benitez, content marketer during the day, heavy sleeper at night. Dreams of non-existent brass rings. Writer by trade. Pro wrestling fan by choice. Family man all the time.
Being your own boss and working without the restraints of an office environment are words that make freelance writing such a promising career choice for many individuals. While nothing beats having your own home office and working at your own pace, freelancing can be one of the most demanding and stressful jobs. [Read more…]
6 Ways to Earn Extra Income Through Writing
Editor’s note: This post was written by Jennifer Parris, career writer at FlexJobs, the award-winning site for telecommuting and flexible job listings. FlexJobs lists thousands of pre-screened, legitimate, and professional-level work-from-home jobs and other types of flexibility like part-time positions, freelancing, and flexible schedules. Jennifer provides career and job search advice through the FlexJobs Blog and social media. Learn more at www.FlexJobs.com.
From the time you could hold a crayon in your hand, you knew that you wanted to be a writer. Writing is not only your career, but the way you express yourself to the world. Thing is, freelance writing jobs can be sporadic at best, so you need to be creative when it comes to keeping a steady income. Put pen to paper—and get paid—with these six ways to earn extra income through writing.
Use your network.
Some people might think that they’re the next Hemingway, but as a writer, you know the real deal. So if you have friends and family who are in need of a writer, offer up your services. Let them know the specific type of writing you do (after all, no two writers are created equal) and your rate as well. That way, when they speak of your services to their own nearest and dearest, they have the most accurate information.
Reach out to local businesses.
Just because you’re looking to work from home doesn’t mean that you can’t venture out to local businesses and offer your writing skills. Look for companies close by that might be in need of some writing help; perhaps their website needs some sprucing up. Identify what the company’s needs might be—and how you can help it—and then reach out. Finding a neighborhood business that needs an occasional writer might translate into having a steady freelance client in the future.
Use niche job boards.
If you’ve ever searched through generic job boards, you’ll spend a lot of time weeding through hundreds of job postings to find the few that you want to apply for. (And that’s not counting the numerous job scams you might come across, either.) So it’s best to use niche job boards, such as FlexJobs, where you can find legitimate work-from-home writing jobs. It will save you time, stress, and money in the long run.
Create an online portfolio.
You might be surprised how many hiring managers are crawling the web looking for a writer just like yourself. But if you don’t have anything online that spotlights your work, you’ll definitely get passed over for any potential position. You can easily create an online portfolio that includes links to your published articles, or a basic website that showcases your writing skills.
Establish yourself as an expert.
When you are looking to freelance, it’s important to be as social as possible. Create a Facebook page for your business, as well as a Twitter account and a LinkedIn profile, too. It’s not enough to set up your social media channels unless you’re actively involved in them, though. In addition to posting all of your new published works, you can offer advice, writing tips, and answer online questions that you come across that pertain to writing. By being active on the Internet, you’ll create a name for yourself—and attract the attention of potential clients, too. That can lead to extra income.
Think outside the box.
Sure, you may be primarily a magazine writer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t write for other outlets, either. For example, you can create content for websites, or even write press releases for companies. You can get in touch with your softer side by writing for greeting card companies or even be a social media manager for an organization or individual.
There are many, many opportunities for writers to find side gigs. It may require a little extra effort, but you could soon be writing your way to extra income in no time.
