Want a lead on a secret B2B market not many copywriters know about or pursue?
It’s government contracts. They aren’t just for large defense firms and marketing agencies. Many freelance writers have gotten well-paying work on a variety of writing projects, from editing to white papers.
You might think government contracts are too much of a hassle because of all the red tape you have to cut through. Or because you wouldn’t be writing about “your” niche. Or because you don’t know enough about the government to think you can do it well.
But I invite you to take a closer look…
Government contracts can be extremely lucrative for freelance writers. Some pay between $100-$200 an hour, while others have you billing $5,000 a month or more. That certainly makes all the up-front hassle worth it, doesn’t it?
If you’re curious about how you could land a government contract for writing projects and do them well, keep reading.
Types of Projects You’d Write on Government Contracts
Governments need writing help just like any other industry or company. You might build marketing strategies on one contract, write social media content for another, or do research for a high-profile white paper.
B2B writers who can translate complex information, research, or data into engaging, accurate, and inspiring content will do well with government writing projects.
You may also be asked to produce annual reports, magazine articles, thought-leadership posts, training materials, evaluations, and more.
Questions About Government Writing Contracts
Q: Do I need to be located in Washington D.C. to bid on federal contracts?
A: No, you don’t. The federal government has branch offices and military bases in every corner of the country, so chances are there’s one near you. Plus, you may never need to set foot in the office if you’re able to work remotely on the contract.
Q: Are there only federal government writing contracts?
A: No, all levels of government can use your writing help. There may be opportunities in your state, county, and city, as well as with other local and regional agencies near you.
Most people only think of the federal government when they hear the phrase “government contract.” But there are writing projects available at all levels everywhere in the U.S. You don’t even need to be located in Washington D.C. to apply for federal contracts since there are branch offices and military bases in every part of the country.
Q: Do I need to register with the government to bid on contracts?
A: For federal government contracts, yes, you’ll need to register as a contractor first. Learn how to do that over here. Other levels of government will have different requirements, so refer to their websites for their guidelines and rules about working with them.
Government agencies at all levels often set aside a percent of all work contracts for minority and women-owned businesses, so be sure to declare your eligibility as part of your registration.
Q: What kind of money can I make with government contracts?
A: Generally speaking, you can make good money writing for the government. They typically have millions or even billions of dollars in their budgets they need to spend every year on businesses that support their operations. Your freelance writing business can be one of those businesses.
Where to Find Government Contract Opportunities
There are a few things you can do to find writing opportunities with the government.
- Set up keyword alerts on websites that track government opportunities and through Google.
- Network locally if you’re looking for local government contracts. Lower levels of government are always looking to help local small businesses with sessions and webinars on how to work with them. Get on the email list and show up to any in-person meetings they have. Learn more about them, the process, and how you could potentially help.
- Search for companies that already have government contracts and research them. Get in touch with them if they have projects that could use a freelance writer.
- Optimize your LinkedIn profile as many government agencies and departments look there first for freelance writers.
- Get your business administrative situation squared away. Many government contracts require you to have a registered business name, a federal tax ID number, and more. Find out what you need for the level of government you’re hoping to work with and get it sorted out before applying for the contract.
- Have a good writer network. Based on the amount of work and timeline of the contract, you may not be able to do all the writing yourself. In which case, you need other writers to subcontract to, so already having a network you can tap up-front will help.
Not many freelance writers know about government contracts, so it’s a bit of a secret market. Cut through the red tape and learn more about this well-paying freelance writing work. Cash in by networking locally, doing a little research on the companies that already have contracts, and finding out how you can become a government contractor. You could be one of the few freelance B2B writers cashing in on this niche.
