When employers want to hire a freelance writer they’re unfamiliar with, they want to have as much information as possible before deciding. This means that every time you pitch to someone, you’re being compared with many other freelancers for the role.
In some cases, your digital presence can be the deciding factor. This refers to whatever prospective clients find when they look you up on Google or Bing. These days, most companies conduct a quick search prior to hiring anyone, so it’s a problem if you’re invisible online.
To get discovered, you need to build a strong presence on the web, as any freelance business should. Expanding your online reach is key to landing work in this technologically advanced age.
Expanding Your Reach as a Freelance Writer
Unless you’ve been living under a rock without internet, chances are that you already have an online presence. There is a difference between having social media profiles and establishing a reputation as a professional though. Let’s go over some tips to help potential clients find you.
Build your portfolio
Being a freelance writer, your first order of business is to have a portfolio set up. The difference of having one is huge so have some pieces published to show off to your leads. Have this selection ready by the time you begin pitching.
It’s nice to have your own blog but it’s better to have articles on several websites too. Collate the links to these posts so it’s easier for a client to check them if they want to have a feel for your writing style and quality.
Some sites to consider for your writing portfolio:
Update your portfolio whenever you have a new piece published. People tend to distrust outdated results even if an article is well-written. Keep the formatting as modern and professional as possible. In other words, stay away from Comic Sans MS and similar fonts.
Build your network
Business magnate Richard Branson once said that: “Succeeding in business is all about making connections”. This is especially true in the world of freelancing. As unfair as it sounds, having somebody back you will give you an edge over your competitors.
It’s hard for a freelance writer to attend networking parties to meet prospective clients. The good news is that there are plenty of virtual events to choose from. Check out your industry’s discussion boards and forums to learn about them.
Your social media profiles also enable you to put your best foot forward. However, choose your social networks wisely; there’s no need to be on every single one. Focus on professional sites like LinkedIn, although you may consider Instagram and Facebook as well.
Be consistent on your professional social profiles. If it’s not possible to post original content a few times a week, share relevant posts about writing. Comment and react on posts by potential employers to inform them of your presence. Also, answer as quickly as you can to any messages.
Build your skills
It’s great that you already know how to create engaging content but don’t stop there. Think of ways you can be better at your job and boost your value. Having more skills to add to your resume means being able to do more and earning more.
For instance, by attending a course on CSS, you can learn to modify your website’s appearance without needing the help of a developer. You’d also become more comfortable with publishing and tweaking articles on WordPress. These are huge pluses for clients.
Other skills worth working on:
- Project management
- Organization
- Communication
- Budgeting
- Research
Keep track of tasks, files, and emails so projects progress as they should and no deadlines are missed. Also, make it easy for employers to pay by setting up your own invoicing. Stay up-to-date on the latest trends in writing and marketing as well.
Build your strategy
Your clients aren’t the only ones who need a marketing plan—so do you! First off, ensure that you have a reliable internet connection so you can respond to enquiries and post on your socials regularly. Have both wired and wireless connections so you always have a backup.
Identify your target audience and how you’ll promote yourself to them. Consider your preferences, be it individual employers or marketing agencies. For instance, maybe you’re interested in working on books and not just regular blogging.
Once you’ve determined your objectives, think about how you can connect to your prospects on a regular basis. This may involve contacting marketing managers on LinkedIn, joining Facebook groups for editors, or following companies on Instagram so that they know you exist.
Continue to work on your strategy even when after you land clients. In doing so, you avoid the ‘feast and famine’ loop of having and not having work. Reach out to leads consistently. If you have projects you’re currently working on, be honest with when you can start on theirs.
Using Online Reach to Land Your Next Gig
Broadening your digital footprint as a freelance writer is tricky business. You want to convince prospective clients that you know what you’re doing and that you’re good at it. At the same time, you want to avoid giving the impression that you’re like everyone else.
If you’ve invested much time and effort on your web presence as we’ve suggested above, you’re ready to reach out to people who may be interested in working with you. Let Remote Workmate help you by connecting you to reputable employers.
The opportunities we’ve listed on our website aren’t limited to only freelance gigs though. You have your choice of full-time roles as well, in case you want a position that’s more stable next time.
See our latest job openings and apply now.
