Guest Post by Michelle Rebecca
There are freelance copywriters who earn as low as $35,000 – full-time. However, some freelance copywriters regularly earn a six-figure salary. How do you go from the low-end of the compensation scale to the high-end? You’ve already got one plus in your corner: your innate skill at creating great content.
Many writers also consider themselves “artists,” and artists are notoriously laid back and not as driven as other professionals, like top-ranked attorneys and Wall Street traders. You need to bridge this gap. A flourishing freelance copywriting business demands that you’re both a phenomenal writer and an ambitious businessperson. Check out these three tips for doing what you love where you love, and generating a salary that makes you smile.
Diversify Your Portfolio
There are naturally some markets that are more profitable and areas where you’re naturally interested in the subject. Sometimes, however, what pays well is not what you like writing about. It’s time to get over it because, quite often, it’s the technical fields or corporate clients that pay what you’re worth. For example, working for an SEO company is often much more profitable than an entertainment blog.
Whether or not you’ve firmly committed to a niche market, it’s always a good idea to keep your options open and be prepared to work in other markets. This is especially important when you are just starting out so you don’t get bored as you build your portfolio and so you can showcase your diversity. There may one day be a fantastic job that requires experience in real estate. You will want to pick up that real estate project (or opportunities in a variety of other industries you haven’t tapped into) to maximize your future portfolio.
You Have to Know SEO
More companies are requiring search engine optimization (SEO) knowledge, and in today’s market it’s something you can’t avoid if you want to snag the best projects. If SEO is new to you, you’re going to have to work your way up. Take a project that might not pay what you’d like in order to get your feet wet. If you can write solid SEO copy, you’re way ahead of the competition.
While you’re at it, explore Google tools like Analytics and AdWords. A little crossover into marketing can help you broaden your scope, not to mention further your career. Companies don’t just want a writer to provide great content; they want a professional who can help their site succeed. SEO and Google tools have a steep learning curve, but it’s a necessary step.
Stay Hungry
A successful freelancer is always looking for new projects and clients even when the current workload is immense. You never know when a project will suddenly end. Carve out a block of time every weekday to scour the ads for new opportunities. It doesn’t hurt to have as many feelers out there as possible.
Update your resume, bibliography, and professional social media sites regularly. Companies looking for freelancers really do reach out on sites like LinkedIn. Invest in a professional headshot and update your projects as they come in. Otherwise, it’s easy to overlook that short-term investment blog you updated, and you might lose out when a bank is looking for a content writer.
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Michelle is an aspiring writer and blogger with a passion for the Internet, specifically social media and blogging. She loves how social media connects people across the globe, and appreciates that blogging gives her the opportunity to voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.
