I remember dreaming of becoming a freelance writer. I read all the articles, studied The Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting, and let it percolate in the back of my mind for years!
It was a 2010 layoff that gave me the push I needed to take a deep breath and decide this was the time.
I told a friend I was launching my freelance business, and she said, “I’ll be your first client!”
We’d met in an online forum thanks to our dog websites. My friend wanted to launch a new dog training site but didn’t want to face the writing and SEO side of it. She knew I could help.
I found my next client on Craigslist. She was a marketing and business coach who wanted someone to write her newsletters and social media posts.
In both instances, I landed those clients because I told people what I did and how I could help.
And it didn’t even take 15 minutes.
You can do the same.
It’s possible to move closer to your first (or next) paid client in only 15-20 minutes a day (or less!).
Let’s get started…
10 Simple Action Items That Will Move You Closer to Getting Paid as a Writer
1. Update Your LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn is a gold mine of potential clients, but if the last time you looked at it was six months ago (or more), you’re probably missing out on its potential. Take 15 minutes and add samples to your Featured section, update your headline to include the words “freelance writer,” and rewrite your About section so it contains keywords people might use to find someone with your skills. You can break this down into more than one session if needed.
2. Work on a Writing Sample
Author J.K. Rowling famously wrote the first Harry Potter book in snippets on scrap paper while on her commute. If you’re unsure what to write, start with a writing prompt and write for 15 minutes. For example, “What is your favorite season and why?” Like starting a new diet or exercise regimen, starting is often the most challenging part.
3. Identify 10 Prospects
In 15 minutes, you can find 10 potential companies that may hire freelancers. You can use LinkedIn’s search feature or use a guide like G2 or Clutch (if you write for tech companies). Or you could even google [industry] conference [year]. For example, if you write for HR tech, you can google “HR Tech conferences 2023.” Find out who has trade show booths. These companies are spending lots of money on marketing and may need a writer.
4. Draft an Email
If you’re going to reach out to those prospects, you need something to say. Draft a short email introducing who you are and what related experience you have, and ask if they work with freelancers. Keep it relevant to their needs, so if you have email writing experience and you know they do a lot of email marketing, mention something you like about their email marketing.
5. Find Their Email Addresses
Not every content manager has their email address publicly available; it can take digging to find them. Hunter.io, RocketReach, and dozens of alternatives can help. You open a (free) account, plug in the name of the person you’re looking for, and voila! You’ll often receive their email information. Hint: LinkedIn is your friend in finding companies and names.
6. Send Five Follow Ups
Following up is a critical piece of the marketing game. You can follow up on social media or via email but following up is essential. Send along an interesting article, or congratulate them on a killer piece of content you loved. If you can personalize your follow-up, that will help build the relationship, just like you’d do if you were speaking to the person in real life.
7. Review Job Boards
WritersWanted, LinkedIn, Flexjobs, Problogger, and We Work Remotely are just a few of the dozens of job boards available where potential clients post ads. If you make it a habit to check these a few times a week, you’re bound to find an ad or three looking for someone who needs what you do.
8. Work on a Course
In today’s fast-paced world, there’s always something new to learn. Whether you’re working on a new Certification or Badge or want to refresh your memory, take a few minutes to work through a module or review some notes.
9. Identify a (for Now) Niche
Finding freelance writing work is 100% easier if you narrow your focus. Rather than saying, “I can write all the things for anyone,” if you say, “I write HR blog articles for HR technology companies,” you’ve narrowed your prospect list from the world to a few hundred companies. That’s plenty to keep you busy and FAR easier to market. You can always add niches, and I suggest starting with something you already know about and are interested in.
10. Engage
You’re probably aware of the potential of social media for building relationships and finding new clients. Take 15 minutes and interact with some potential prospects you’ve connected with on LinkedIn or Twitter and engage with their content. Read the blog posts they’re sharing and make a comment that shows you read it. Add your perspective to their content. You’ll stand out when you make it a point to add an intelligent, pertinent comment or viewpoint.
Every freelance writer balances client work with marketing and business development, so it makes sense to start building those habits now. No matter how busy you are, even 15 minutes a day can move you forward to your version of living the writer’s life. It can even be fun! Which one of these actions will you take today?
