One of the fastest growing home businesses is freelance writing. Freelance writers are in high demand even in rough economic times. There are a number of things that can assist writers start their own freelance writing business.
Diversify
Freelance writers cannot allow themselves to be limited in the types of writing that they produce. The more kinds of writing a freelancer can produce increases their opportunity to earn money. There is a large variety of writing opportunities that are available for writers.
Here are just a few of the markets that are open to freelancing:
Copywriting
Grant writing
Ghost Writing
Technical Writing
Speech Writing
Report Writing
Public Relations Writing
Magazines and Newspapers
Online Writing
Work on multiple projects
One way that freelance writers can increase their income and build their home based business is to have multiple projects and clients. Writers need to continue to make contacts and have more than one project going at the same time to keep business flowing.
Taking one large project can cause a stagnation of business after that project is over. Keeping multiple projects on the drawing table allows the writer to constantly mine their contacts and continue to build their business. One major concern with this strategy is to have good time management skills to juggle several projects at once.
Make an effective portfolio
Building a portfolio is one of the more difficult tasks of starting out as a freelance writer. There are ways to develop a portfolio that our relatively easy. One way is to use existing writing work. Use existing copy writing, magazine articles and online content to build a portfolio.
If there is no work to be found, create the work by offering free work to gain the samples. Making an offer for nonprofit organizations to provide free copywriting services is a sure way to gain needed samples quickly. Offering to work for nonprofit organizations also gives tax incentives as well. Remember the portfolio will be the first impression that most potential clients will see. Be sure that the portfolio reflects the absolute best work.
Develop the habit of making contacts
Writers need to develop the habit of making contacts about writing jobs. There are job opportunities just waiting for a freelance writer with the right skills and the right timing. Writers will never find jobs if they do not take the time to search for them. There are a number of writing websites that offer job postings almost daily.
Finding the jobs is not difficult. Be sure to have several letters that pitch skills as a writer, define abilities and highlight writing experience. Writers who do everything in an excellent fashion on one assignment can lead to landing additional work in the future.
Starting a freelance writing business from home takes a great deal of effort but the payoff is always worth it. Diversify the types of writing to produce. Work on multiple projects at the same time. Build an effective writing portfolio. Develop the habit of making contacts. Take some time to explore all of the possible writing options and opportunities to maximize the possibility of building a great writing business.
