How to *REALLY* Start Freelance Writing in 2024

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive guide for freelance writers to secure high-paying clients in 2024. It emphasizes the importance of specialization, skill adaptation, and confidence in setting rates. The speaker shares personal experiences and strategies, such as exploring niches, learning about SEO and digital marketing, and leveraging platforms like LinkedIn and WordPress. Persistence in follow-ups and expanding one's online presence through guest posting and interviews are also highlighted as key to winning lucrative writing projects.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Specialize in a niche to stand out in the crowded freelance writing market. Experiment with different niches initially to find your passion and expertise.
• 📝 Focus on honing specific types of writing skills such as SEO writing, copywriting, or email writing to offer targeted services to clients.
• 📚 Continuously learn and adapt new skills beyond writing, such as using tools like WordPress, Trello, Asana, and SEO tools, to increase your value to clients.
• 💪 Build confidence in your rates by starting with a base rate and gradually increasing it as you gain more experience and client responses.
• 🔄 Be persistent in following up with potential clients to secure high-paying projects. Don't hesitate to follow up within a few days if you don't hear back.
• 🌐 Utilize various online platforms to market yourself, including guest posting, social media, Medium, and participating in interviews to build your personal brand.
• 💬 Engage actively on LinkedIn to connect with potential clients and other professionals in the industry. Keep your profile updated and professional.
• 📊 Create and manage a newsletter to grow your personal audience and demonstrate your expertise in your niche.
• 🚀 Set realistic goals and plans for your freelance writing business, including a 90-day marketing strategy to increase your online presence.
• 📈 Invest in courses or communities like 'Write Your Way to First 1K' to receive guidance, support, and resources to help you succeed as a freelance writer.

Q & A

What is the first step to winning high-paying clients as a freelance writer or copywriter?

The first step is specialization. You need to stand out by finding a niche that aligns with your experience or personal interests, which can be identified by exploring different areas and seeing what resonates with you.

Why is specialization important for freelance writers and copywriters in 2024?

Specialization is important because of the influx of new freelancers in the market. It allows you to offer unique expertise and stand out from the competition, making it easier to attract high-paying clients.

How did the speaker initially explore different niches in freelance writing?

The speaker spent time researching online, looking for contributors and writers in various topics such as parenting, natural health, and education for children with autism to determine viable niches.

What is the significance of skill adaptation for new freelance writers and copywriters?

Skill adaptation is significant because, in addition to writing skills, freelancers need to learn new skills such as SEO, copywriting, and using various tools like WordPress, Trello, and Asana to stay competitive and meet client demands.

Why is learning about digital marketing beneficial for a freelance writer?

Learning about digital marketing is beneficial because it allows the writer to specialize in a high-demand area, understand the audience and industry better, and thus attract high-paying clients.

How can a new freelance writer build confidence in their rates?

A new freelance writer can build confidence in their rates by starting at a base level, such as 10 to 12 cents per word, and gradually increasing their rates as they gain experience and client feedback.

What is the role of persistence in following up with potential clients?

Persistence in following up is crucial to winning high-paying clients. If there is initial interest but no response, following up sooner rather than later can help nurture the potential client relationship and increase the chances of securing the job.

Why is it important for freelance writers to have a presence on multiple online platforms?

Having a presence on multiple platforms helps increase visibility and reach a wider audience. It also establishes the writer's authority on certain topics, making them more attractive to high-paying clients.

What are some of the tools a freelance writer might need to learn to adapt to client needs?

Some tools a freelance writer might need to learn include content management systems like WordPress, project management tools like Trello or Asana, SEO tools like SEMrush, and graphic design tools like Canva.

How can freelance writers use LinkedIn to find high-paying clients?

Freelance writers can use LinkedIn by optimizing their profile, connecting with industry professionals, content leads, strategists, and decision-makers, and participating in relevant discussions to increase their visibility and attract high-paying clients.

What is the recommended approach for a new freelance writer when setting their rates?

A new freelance writer should start at a base rate of 10 to 15 cents per word and adjust based on their comfort level, the market, and client feedback. They can then gradually increase their rates as they gain more experience and confidence.

Outlines

00:00

📘 Specialization for Freelance Success in 2024

The paragraph discusses the importance of specialization for freelance writers and copywriters to stand out in a competitive market. It suggests starting with a few niches to find the right fit and emphasizes the need to learn about the chosen niche and its associated content and businesses. The speaker shares personal experiences of finding a niche in digital marketing and encourages new writers to explore different niches to discover their own. The paragraph also touches on the availability of a free business planner for writers.

05:02

🛠 Skill Adaptation and Tool Proficiency for Freelancers

This paragraph highlights the necessity for freelance writers to adapt and learn new skills beyond writing. It mentions that writing for the web is different from academic writing and requires knowledge of SEO, copywriting, and content writing. The speaker advises learning various tools such as WordPress, project management software like Trello and Asana, and SEO tools like SEMrush. The paragraph also discusses the benefits of learning these tools early in one's freelance career and how they can be leveraged to write better content for clients.

10:03

💰 Building Confidence in Your Rates as a Freelancer

The speaker addresses the common concerns new freelance writers have regarding setting their rates. They suggest starting at a base rate of 10 to 12 cents per word, with the possibility of increasing to 15 or 20 cents per word as the writer gains experience and confidence. The paragraph also touches on the importance of consistency in writing to meet financial goals and the potential for charging higher rates if a writer can demonstrate their value to clients.

15:04

🚀 Persistence and Online Presence for Landing High-Paying Clients

The paragraph emphasizes the importance of persistence in following up with potential clients and the need to establish a strong online presence to attract high-paying clients. It suggests using various platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Medium to increase visibility and credibility. The speaker also talks about the benefits of networking and getting interviewed to grow one's personal brand and the value of guest posting to demonstrate expertise.

🔎 Identifying High-Paying Clients and Marketing Strategies

The final paragraph focuses on where to find high-paying clients and the importance of marketing on platforms like LinkedIn and job boards. The speaker advises taking time to curate a professional LinkedIn profile and connect with the right people in the industry. They also mention the value of starting a newsletter and participating in programs like 'Write Your Way to First 1K' for additional support and guidance in securing high-paying freelance writing jobs.

Keywords

💡Freelance Writer

A freelance writer is a self-employed individual who offers writing services to clients on a project-by-project basis, rather than being employed by a single company. In the video's context, the term is central to the discussion of how to secure high-paying clients. The script mentions the need for a freelance writer to specialize in a niche to stand out in a competitive market.

💡Specialization

Specialization refers to focusing on a specific area of expertise within a broader field. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of a freelance writer finding their niche, such as digital marketing or natural health, to distinguish themselves and attract high-paying clients. The script uses the speaker's personal journey to illustrate how they found success in digital marketing.

💡SEO Writer

An SEO (Search Engine Optimization) writer is a specialist who crafts content with the intent of improving a website's visibility on search engines. The script mentions SEO writing as one of the services a freelance writer might offer, highlighting the importance of understanding SEO principles to enhance a writer's marketability.

💡Skill Adaptation

Skill adaptation is the ability to learn and incorporate new skills as needed. The video script discusses the necessity for freelance writers to be adaptable, learning tools and techniques beyond just writing, such as WordPress, project management tools, and SEO, to meet the evolving demands of clients.

💡Project Management Tool

A project management tool is software designed to help individuals and teams plan and manage their work. In the script, tools like Trello and Asana are mentioned as examples of project management tools that freelance writers should familiarize themselves with to improve their workflow and client management.

💡Content Writing

Content writing is the process of creating written materials for various platforms, such as blogs, articles, and social media posts. The video emphasizes that content writing is a fundamental skill for freelance writers, which can be enhanced with additional skills like SEO and copywriting to create more value for clients.

💡Copywriting

Copywriting is the craft of writing persuasive content to promote a product or service. The script positions copywriting as an essential skill for freelance writers to master, as it can significantly increase the effectiveness of their writing and the value they offer to clients.

💡Niche

In the context of the video, a niche refers to a specific segment of the market that has particular interests or needs. The speaker advises freelance writers to identify and specialize in a niche to become experts in that area, which can help them attract clients who are willing to pay higher rates for specialized knowledge.

💡Networking

Networking involves building and maintaining professional relationships. The script mentions networking as a strategy for freelance writers to get known in their industry, with the speaker sharing an example of how they were interviewed for a blog series after engaging with someone on LinkedIn.

💡Confidence in Rates

Confidence in rates refers to a freelance writer's belief in the value of their work and their ability to command higher fees. The video script discusses the importance of setting rates that reflect the writer's expertise and the quality of their work, and the need for new writers to start at a base rate and gradually increase it as they gain experience and credibility.

💡Persistence

Persistence is the continued effort to achieve a goal despite obstacles. In the script, the speaker highlights the need for freelance writers to be persistent in following up with potential clients, especially when they have shown interest, to increase their chances of securing high-paying projects.

💡LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional networking platform. The video emphasizes LinkedIn as a critical platform for freelance writers to market themselves, connect with potential clients, and establish their professional brand. The speaker shares personal strategies for optimizing their LinkedIn profile and engaging with the right people to attract high-paying clients.

Highlights

Specialization is crucial for standing out among the influx of new freelancers and can be identified through personal experience or interests.

Exploring different niches is recommended for new freelance writers to discover their preferred area of specialization.

The importance of finding a niche in digital marketing to attract high-paying clients due to specialization.

The necessity to adapt and learn new skills on top of writing, such as SEO and copywriting, for online content creation.

The evolution of content writing to include stylized forms and the integration of various skills like SEO and copywriting.

Learning and incorporating project management tools like Trello and Asana into a freelancer's workflow.

The advantage of being open to learning new tools and how it can benefit a freelance writer's growth and client base.

The process of building confidence in setting rates for freelance writing services.

Starting at a base rate and gradually increasing it based on client responses and market demand.

The importance of persistence in following up with potential clients to secure high-paying freelance writing jobs.

Utilizing various online platforms to increase visibility and establish a personal brand for freelance writers.

Engaging in guest posting, social media, and platforms like Medium to expand a freelance writer's reach.

The value of networking on LinkedIn and participating in interviews to build a freelance writer's personal brand.

Identifying high-paying clients across various platforms and the importance of a strong LinkedIn presence.

Curating a LinkedIn feed with valuable connections to avoid distractions and focus on high-paying opportunities.

The strategy of reverse engineering financial goals to determine the number of projects and rates needed.

Offering a comprehensive program 'Write Your Way to First 1K' to assist new freelance writers in their journey.

The availability of a free business planner for writers to assist in planning and organizing their freelance business.

Transcripts

as a freelance writer or copywriter

content writer SEO writer Emil writer

how do you win high paying clients in

2024 so many things have changed

recently about finding and winning and

Landing building clients for you so I'm

going to share with you the new way to

land high paying clients because it is

lightly different than even last year

and the year before there are additional

requirements that I'm noticing

that I want to help you with and let you

be aware of so that you can make a good

solid plan when you start your freelance

writing business and just to let you

know I do have a free business planner

for writers that you can download for

free go ahead get the book start writing

in it after you watch this video all

right the first step to winning high

paying clients is specialization this is

more prominent than ever before because

there is an influx of new Freelancers

and freelance writers and copywriters

out there you need to find a way to

stand out and you can easily do that by

the experience that you have in your job

or in personal life to specialize this

is also called your freelance wri Niche

and what I suggest is to dabble in a

couple of niches in the beginning to see

what you like as someone who's brand new

to freelance writing I didn't know what

I knew I was a parent so I thought well

I can write about parenting topics I

love Natural Health so that I could

write about natural health and I had

experience with children with autism so

education was another area that I was

looking into I spent the first bit of

time I'd say probably the first couple

weeks just really scaring the internet

finding these topics online seeing if

there are contributors writers if they

were you know had author bios to say

that I'm a freelance writer and I've

been a parent writer for 10 years I was

looking for those Market to see if this

is a viable Niche over time the thing

that I realized was when I was marketing

my business and reading about marketing

my business online I loved learning

about it I loved reading about it and I

loved applying it so then I realized hey

maybe digital marketing might be a good

Niche for me and that's how I ended up

finding most of my clients that were

high paying because I specialized and

honed in on one topic right so I always

say with brand new writers if you don't

know your niche then you need to explore

different niches so that the niche can

reveal itself to you okay if you already

have an idea and you can specialize

right away out the gate then do that and

build up all your branding materials

with that specialized topic industry

service okay those are the areas where

you can specialize in so the topic it

could be natural health for moms that

could be very niched down it could be

sustainability for hotels for the hotel

industry okay it could be niched down to

that it could be Tech related content

for merchants okay again

specialization by finding that topic and

the service could be the type of writing

that you do maybe you want to focus on

case study writing maybe you want to

focus on SEO long form writing or maybe

email writing okay there's lots of

different types of writing deliverables

that you can give to clients and that

can offer as your service you know for

the longest time I was offering a couple

of different writing services article

writing SEO writing I did blog writing I

consider that different I was just

trying different things in the beginning

to see what landed and over time I

refined refined refined and specialized

in SEO long form writing so that's what

I mean when you specialize in a topic if

you don't know about that topic but you

want to learn like I did with digital

marketing then you're going to spend the

time learning about the audience that

industry or topic you're going to learn

about the type of content and the

businesses that are associated with that

topic okay that's what I did when I

learned about digital marketing I first

found the blogs that talked about it

like the content marketing Institute I

looked at the author bios I saw what

companies they had I started looking

around lots of different blogs and

businesses that wrote a lot of blogs and

that's how I landed like my client with

blogging wizard so I was networking

getting to know other people in in that

industry now the next thing to win

high-paying clients is new it is new

because it is practically required

nowadays for new freelance writers and

copywriters and what that is is skill

adaptation you're going to have to be

willing to learn new skills on top of

your writing because writing isn't just

for the sake of writing because you were

a good college student or high school

student and you got A's and all your

essays that's not the type of writing

that we do online we don't do personal

essays or personal opinions okay it's a

stylized form of writing which is a

skill in and of itself which is content

writing okay on top of content writing

there are aspects infused like SEO

writing is in content writing okay

copywriting is in content writing these

are skills that you need to learn on top

of the writing and then as you become a

freelance writer online you will start

using different tools and those are

advantages for you to learn and to

incorpor at into your workflow so

WordPress for example was one of the

first tools that I had to learn it was a

struggle it took me a long time to feel

confident in writing about WordPress

when my clients asked me a client is

currently ask me to write about a tool

that I've never used and I'm very

hesitant to write about it because I

know it's going to take me a very long

time to learn that tool to watch YouTube

videos to read blog post from other

people to find other people that talk

about that tool and use it in their work

plan or workflow whatever it is is for

their business and I don't have that

time okay I know that it could be

advantageous overall but I don't have

that time right now as a professional

writer but you as a brand new writer you

have that time to dedicate to your

clients or to your industry and Niche to

learn these skills so WordPress is one

of them um a project management tool

using something like Trello I learned

Trello early on to help me with my

workflow as a blogger and content

creator and freelancer uh a client

introduced me to assana so I SAA is

probably one of the main tools that a

lot of clients and businesses are

starting to use right so these are tools

that you should probably become familiar

with I am trying to learn notion on the

side here so in case a client asks me

either to write about notion or are that

they're using notion in some capacity I

am learning these tools because I want

to grow as a writer okay and that's what

you need to do right off the gate as a

freelance writer that's new learn about

content writing Infuse that SEO Infuse

some copywriting then start learning the

tools WordPress project management you

need to manage your your clients

eventually so why not learn a project

management tool right it only fits in

your business other ones might be you

know maybe drilling down into SEO and

getting an SEO tool for example and

learning how to use semrush or other SEO

tools that are out there you might want

to start an email list because you want

to learn about that tool in case clients

might ask you to write about it or you

want to start building your personal

brand you know I recently landed a

client with beehive and they encouraged

me to use their tool now with any new

client that I write for most of them are

tool-based I am going to start using

them my other client I did start

using their course platform or their

digital product platform to get to know

how to use so that I can write about

it in my content so for example let's

look at beehive when I signed up one of

the first things I had to do was to

create my landing page this was the most

difficult out of all the steps because

it is geared for Content creators that

don't know much about tech I

unfortunately know a little bit about it

so it just limited my capabilities but

just like a website this is also another

tool to help you understand and it

breaks these down to logos and identity

so I can upload my logo here that I made

again using another tool called canva

okay so that came in handy Global colors

I can play around with the colors that I

had here okay for my primary color

secondary color and these are things

that you can play around okay background

color some landing pages that are these

that that's what this is called a

landing page are all black so I want it

to be white for me and my text color so

I can play around with the colors same

thing with the WordPress blog they have

a section for that as well and the

typography as well changing the font if

I wanted to or I could just keep it as

is make sure to write what I want so in

my hero section you know I can upload Lo

an image behind that I can change my

headline here my body here okay so those

are the things that I want to work on

you know one of the things that I

struggled with was trying to put my name

here cuz it just said LinkedIn

accelerate newsletter so again I am

still learning beehive and learning how

to use it and work with it now I can

write post on it I can figure how to do

that and I've been working with that and

because I'm learning this tool I can

write better content for my client

because I'm learning canva for example I

can create graphics for them if they

need be I can create videos if I want to

um in my latest content piece for

beehive I created a gif I learned how to

create a gift for this client that's

another skill that I'm learning okay so

as you grow as a freelance riter I hope

you are wanting to adapt as much as

possible and learn as much as possible

it's important to have these skill sets

with you so that you can become the

writer for businesses now whereas in

2023 I said it it's not requirement I

honestly believe nowadays it's becoming

more and more of a a requirement at

least to learn WordPress at least to

know some aspects of SEO and copywriting

those are the big things and then

understanding a project management tool

if it's not a SAA then it's Trello

something else you can still adapt I

told my client I didn't know aana but

I'm willing to learn it's it's that

willingness to learn and so now I'm

learning how to use AA which I like now

now if you're interested in starting a

newsletter with beehive just to

understand understand the tool maybe you

want to start growing your own personal

audience this is LinkedIn tips so I

decided to start a newsletter just with

LinkedIn tips if you want to start a

newsletter with just maybe you want to

plan your journey as a freelance writer

I think a lot of people would like to

subscribe to your newsletter if it's

sort of like my journey to getting to

10,000 a month or my journey to becoming

a you know well-renowned copywriter and

those are the post that you're going to

give to your audience you can build a

nice following and that's something that

I'm going to talk about later on in this

plan to win high paying clients but I

encourage you to start maybe something

with beehive it's super easy and I do

have a special link for you to use if

you want to get started with beehive so

I'll leave the link in the comments

below so that you can get started for

free the next thing you need to win

these high-paying clients that will pay

you like thousands of dollars per blog

post or per article per sales page per

email is the confidence in your rates

okay but as a new freelance writer I

mean anxiety frustration uncertainty are

huge emotions around your rate my

suggestion is to start at a base level

and that's between 10 and 12 cents a

word some new writers can go up to 15

cents a word and that's their base and

they're comfortable with 15 cents a word

clients and then they'll slowly increase

up to 20 cents a word and that's where

they're hovering between 15 and 20 cents

a word it's all up to you for your end

goal if you want to generally make

$345,000

then you have to reverse engineer how

many projects you need at what rate you

need at that so if you're going to do 10

cents a word you're going to have to

write a lot or write very long blog post

at 10 cents a word okay to fulfill that

quota for me I would have to I would

have to up my rate because I don't have

the time but if you have the time and

you're willing to learn then you can

start at the 10 cents of rate clients

that are wanting $1,500 words that's 150

if you write a blog post every day at

that rate then that's a th000 a week so

again it's it's writing consistently

every day for you know one client

multiple clients okay so you can figure

that out of what you want to charge but

if I was starting now I would definitely

charge like 12 cents a word like I would

just go from there and quickly try to

move up to 15 cents a word to make it

worth my while okay what you can also do

is if you find a knack for getting at

least a response back from your pitch

from potential leads saying hey what's

your rate this is promising you if you

have many of those then you can pick and

choose say okay I'm going to ask for

this rate I'm going to ask for this rate

I'm going to ask for an an outrageous

rate for this client and see what

happens you might be surprised because

this has happened to me before where I

have just you know thrown some

outrageous number and the client bit and

I was like oh okay um so it does happen

the next thing is persistence in

following up you're not going to win

those high-paying clients if you're not

persistent so if you come back with a

rate and you don't hear from them for 2

or 3 days follow up follow up sooner

than later okay this is not your

traditional follow-up process if you

just send a pitch and you hear nothing

back and so you just follow up a week

later no if you've already gotten a bite

you need to nurture that and be

persistent so that's what I mean by the

followup have a system of following up

and be persistent in that this next

thing is critical I do talk about it and

write your way to First 1K but I think

it's more important than ever now in

2024 and that is using different ways

online to get known you have to put

yourself out there I don't think it's

enough just to have a Facebook page or

just a website and one and a LinkedIn

profile and that's it like I don't think

that's enough I think you need to do

more and Market more especially in the

beginning give yourself let's say 3

months 90 days to do these things to get

yourself out there so that could be

guest posting spend a day finding all

the sites to guest post and send your

pictures get on social media get a

LinkedIn get an X get an Instagram a

Facebook page get on all the socials as

you can and start developing a plan to

post repurpose whatever you need to stay

active on those platforms consider

getting on medium I think getting on

medium too is is somewhat critical

because your name will show up in Google

when you write about topics so for

example if you're researching different

types of copywriting clients to know or

understand I am here in medium right

here okay so it's advantageous for you

to have a sort of this footprint on

Google when people are searching for

ideas that they come to you okay now I'm

writing about freelancing topics because

I want to build my personal brand but I

can also write about SEO topics digital

marketing topics and see if I can get

into Google that way too cuz it'll have

my name to it so medium is a good arm of

your business and then another thing

that you consider doing is uh getting

interviewed all right on LinkedIn I do a

lot of networking I comment another

Freelancers post and this is what

happened with Jessica WRA I saw her post

I really liked what she was saying I

commented on her post and she uh dm' me

and say hey I have a freelance uh

Spotlight series on my blog I'd love to

interview you you and I said sure why

not right so here 10 questions with Ela

K again this is just another way to grow

my personal brand and get my name out

there on Google so all of this helps me

so these are things that you should

probably start doing and make it a plan

within that 90 days now you don't need

to secure an interview right away but I

mean it could be year at the end of the

year year two that could be your goal to

get on more podcasts to get on more

interviews that could be a goal in year

two okay as long as you have a plan for

that to win high-paying clients you need

to know where to look for these high

paying clients right like where are they

hiding what's going on here I can assure

you that high-paying clients are

everywhere you will find high-paying

clients on upwork you will find

high-paying clients on job boards okay

you will find them on X on Instagram on

Facebook you'll find them because I have

found clients in all of those places

except upwork I don't use upwork but on

other places like that that I mentioned

I have found high paying clients but the

one platform to win high-paying clients

for new writers is LinkedIn I want you

to really focus on LinkedIn marketing

aspect and then your job board aspect

those are the two things that I want you

to focus on and I do lay that out and

write your way to first onek I do have

modules on several videos on LinkedIn

and modules on on finding clients on

LinkedIn as well and other modules on

job boards for for sure to get started

so my suggestion with LinkedIn is to

take your time okay this profile that

you see is a work in progress I change

it constantly so take your time with all

of these aspects of having your banner

having a good title having your head

shot uh writing post writing your about

section your services adding your

featured section your experience all of

this is a work in progress and then

connecting with the right people you

know you're connecting with not only

other Freelancers and copywriters out

there and graphic designers and who

knows what but also the content leads

the cont strategist SEO strategists the

CEOs the CMOS the cosos all of those

people you want to flood your feed with

so that you're not being inated by the

Bro marketers out there that are

claiming that you can win clients that

will pay you millions of dollars like or

that you can make millions of dollars in

your sleep kind of thing right like I'm

not seeing those posts because I've

curated a nice list here on Linkin so

that I can start winning high paying

clients feel free to you know sign up to

my LinkedIn an accelerator newsletter if

you want I'll leave a link in the

comments below too and you can start

your own beehive newsletter too if

that's what you want to do and if you

need more help make sure to enroll in my

program right your way to First 1K this

is my comprehensive program with a

Facebook Community where I can help you

I can hold your hand and help you

through this process if you need it okay

so I'm there for you so check that out

if you want and for other places to find

clients make sure you check out the best

freelance platforms for writers right

here all right like this video give it a

thumbs up and I'll see you in that video