Thursday, May 22, 2014

The First 5 Steps to Take as a Freelance Writer

There are a lot of elements that go into making a successful freelance writer.  Taking the first few steps into the world of internet content creation can be daunting. However, if you set out a definite plan and follow it, getting a foot in the door can be a lot easier than it seems.

Setup a Paypal account – Most sites and clients pay their employees through Paypal. It can take time to link Paypal to your bank account. Getting a head start on this means no lag in payments.

Keep printed and scanned W-9s – This is important because most legitimate freelance writing sites require authors to submit a W-9. They typically do this for tax purposes and to prove that you live in the United States. Having them on-hand can save time and ensure you get paid as soon as possible.

Write for “pay upfront sites” – These freelance writing sites typically have a job board from which you can pick and choose projects. They will show the price they’re paying per job upfront and pay for completed jobs either at the end of the week or when you request a payout. These sites usually pay pretty low but they can be the quickest and easiest method of jumpstarting a freelance writing career. Also, they will keep money in your account when other, higher paying jobs are scarce.

Create a website – This takes time so begin early and steadily build it up as you go. This site can be a portfolio of your work or a blog about a hobby or interest. Create content everyday for your website and monetize it as soon as possible. This will be your freelance writing face, but you can also earn residual income from it.

Start pitching – The easiest way to move from the pay upfront sites to higher paying clients is to pitch them. Find subjects that are lacking in coverage or publications that report on topics you have education or interest in and contact them. Pitching is an art and we’ll cover it in more detail later.

As long as you stay focused and remember that freelancewriting is a job, you’ll have no problem succeeding. 

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