My journey through the first year of freelancing.
Do you have a new freelance writing job in mind, or are you considering a career as a freelance writer? You may have asked yourself, “Can I make money online writing?”
I am sure I did.
Imagine this. After many months of deliberation with my husband about what to do, after much agony, I quit my 15-year career in corporate marketing. It wasn’t a simple decision. Not even because I disliked my job. The 9-5 schedule didn’t work well with my motherhood, and I was mentally tired from trying to keep up.
I needed to change my career, and thankfully, becoming a freelance writer and starting my own freelance writing business evolved. I realized I could combine my passion for online writing with over ten years of experience in digital marketing, SEO, and other aspects of digital marketing.
So, I created my LLC to help clients grow their online presence through organic content. One year later, I am able to say that I earn a living. Although it’s not yet my corporate salary, I am finding a way to earn an income that will help pay for necessities and give me the flexibility I require.
Are you ready to earn money by finding those freelance writing jobs? Let’s get started!
How To Make Money By Freelance Writing
You’re ready for your first earnings.
First, I recommend doing a few simple things. Here’s what I did before I started looking for paid writing jobs or job boards.
Create an online portfolio of your writing.
Writing samples demonstrate your writing skills. If you do not have a blog or any examples that you can show to potential clients, this should be the first thing on your list.
In my first year writing online, I focused primarily on blogging (and writing a lot of them). This was my primary online hangout, where I wrote more than 400 articles.
You don’t need this many samples of writing!
I was stuck on Medium. I wanted to earn enough money through their membership program.
You’ve been lied to! Not even close.
However, I was fortunate to have another freelance copywriter who encouraged me to stop writing article after article and instead focus on finding clients. (More on that later).
Improve your writing skills.
Online writing requires a different set of skills than you learn in high school or college English classes.
Blocks of text are not acceptable in online writing. Online readers don’t like to read a lot of text. The key is to keep it short. Your content will be easier to scan and read with headlines, bullets, and spacing.
I had to learn to write differently. Yes, sentences can begin with a conjunction. See what I did?
Consider the differences if you have never written online. It helped me to read other blogs by freelance writers who have experience and apply their style differences to my articles. I’m still learning.
Consider a writing niche.
A niche can mean different things.
You can narrow down your writing niche by focusing on a specific industry. You might want to focus on health and wellness or finance articles.
You can also choose a specific niche based on the kind of writing you’d like to do. You might want to specialize only in blog writing or email copywriting.
With only one year of experience, I am not in a position where I would like to focus on a particular industry or type of writing job. I have decided to concentrate on my skills instead. I am a data-driven content strategist who loves to help clients solve their content strategy challenges. I provide SEO writing and strategic insights across digital channels, including websites, social media, and CRM funnels.
It’s not necessary to start with a specific niche, but having one can help you stand apart from other freelancers. I wouldn’t be surprised to find myself focusing on a niche in the future.
Find out how to become a successful freelance writer by following
It can be helpful to follow other writers on the same path.
Medium.com was not unfamiliar to me. I have seen many blog posts by the successful freelance writer Tim Dennings. After reading his articles, I knew that I had to join LinkedIn. His style is so direct that it’s hard to put down.
You can also join freelance writer groups to make connections. When I first started writing, I didn’t know what I should do. Elna helped me by enrolling in an online course and following along with her Facebook group about the steps necessary to build my company.
In recent years, as I spend the majority of my LinkedIn time, I have gravitated to following experienced freelance writers such as Ed Gandia or Austin L. Church. Over the past decade, they have made freelance writing a lucrative career. Their podcasts for freelancers are full of great information.
Find a few authors you like to read and engage with. This will give you extra motivation on your journey to becoming a freelancer.
Five Ways to Make Money by Writing
Here’s the good stuff!
These are the five ways that I earned money during my first year as a freelance writer. This is the real story of how my freelance writing jobs resulted directly in dollars being deposited into my bank account.
#1: Writing social media posts using LinkedIn
LinkedIn was the source of 92% of my income. I received clients and projects to write on LinkedIn.
It was the smartest thing I could have done to build my writing business early on. I joined LinkedIn and posted five times a week. Here’s the truth: If your goal is to build a business, then you need to market yourself. People will know what you offer and how you can assist.
LinkedIn is the largest professional network on the internet, so I decided to concentrate all my efforts here. In just two months, I had my first two clients. It’s not that Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (X) aren’t worth checking out. You can also use sites like Upwork or Fiverr. Jumping between social platforms can be difficult when you are a mother and “team of one”.
LinkedIn is my favourite place, and I have committed myself to a consistent marketing habit there. It’s working so far. It’s definitely smart to post consistently.
# 2 – How to convert a client who is on a project basis into a client with a retainer
My freelance writing business saw a huge boost in income when I converted a client from a project client to a client on a monthly retainer.
Finding new clients is much harder than getting more work from current ones.
The project began with a web design I created for them. They then needed campaign landing pages. After a few Zoom calls and more conversations, it was clear that they needed someone with online marketing experience on their team.
In response to this need, I created a proposal for me to act as a fractional content head. My one-off client then became a monthly client, which has made a huge difference to my business.
#3: Applying for writing jobs
LinkedIn offers a variety of writing jobs.
I applied for part-time writing positions that required a writer who had SEO experience. After working in the corporate world for many years, I was familiar with data analytics, such as GA and GSC, and wanted to use my digital marketing expertise.
One of the SEO positions I applied to was for a B2C focusing on the parenting niche. I applied formally on LinkedIn but did more than click the “easy Apply” button.
Based on one of Elna’s suggestions, I wrote a personal email to the hiring manager. I gave examples of parenting articles and explained why I was interested. I also mentioned what skills made me stand out. After a few interviews and a paid writing test, I received the job.
#4: Cold pitching a publication
You send a list of blog post ideas to an editor or website owner when you cold pitch.
Cold pitching was how I got my first paid job. After being referred by another writer, I pitched the editor my ideas for home organization and cleaning blogs that I could write.
In my first email, they accepted two of my pitches. It was then that I realized I could be paid to write.
It helped me build my confidence and brought in some income.
#5: How to get passive income on Medium.com
Medium can be a great way for writers and bloggers to earn passive income. It was here that I realized how much I enjoyed writing.
The more you write, the better your chances of earning money. I know some writers who have done well. However, I have never been able to make enough money to pay my bills.
In 2023, I earned around $200 from the stories I wrote on Medium.com, mostly those I had written in 2022. (Yep, not much—my coffee funds.) It’s not something I would ignore.
Next year, I will be adding more content. The little I’ve earned is a nice bonus for the caring and kind people I met.
It’s an awesome community.
Additional Tips to Make Money Online
Earning money online involves “non writing” activities as well.
Building your brand online and offline is essential to attracting potential clients.
Networking local entrepreneurs
LinkedIn is a great tool, but meeting local entrepreneurs and forming relationships has been very motivating. Face-to-face conversations over coffee have helped me build relationships that I cherish.
The journey has been made much more enjoyable by getting to know and understand other solopreneurs.
I am starting to form a group where we all support each other, and I have already become a successful freelance writer.
Attending in-person events
This past year, attending local events that empower entrepreneurs and freelancers was also a benefit.
I learned about other topics, such as AI and healthy living.
Relationships are the key to success in business, there is no doubt. Attending these events was much more enjoyable than staying at home and relying on social media to connect. However, my introverted side enjoys a quiet house.
It is encouraging to see doors continue to open and connections made. It’s nice to see more face-to-face interaction.
Appearing on a future podcast
Through these networking efforts, I met a mother who is a paid search consultant in my local area.
Although we have only met once, there is a lot of material to discuss. I am excited to guest appear on her podcast in the upcoming year.
I am so excited for this opportunity. I anticipate that I will cover a variety of topics, including how to build a business after leaving the corporate world and becoming a freelancer, as well as what my work-life balance is like. (And more!)
I am looking forward to this experience.
Investing a 1-on-1 strategy session
This year, I met with an author I admire for a 1-on-1 paid strategy session.
I received clarity in those 45 minutes, and I have been working on actionable steps to help me grow my business.
As a freelancer and new solopreneur, I realized you were hungry for a mentor. This is my experience. I have been looking for guidance on how to spend my time and get clients. I also want details about the freelance process that will help me work more efficiently.
This is an investment that I would make again. You can certainly grow by trial and error. I have moved forward more quickly since taking part in the strategy session. (Bye-bye, second-guessing…for now.)
Earnings from Freelance Writing Are Possible
Writing online for money is a commitment that you will have to make.
If you don’t take action, you won’t see any progress. Even small daily steps add up.
As I look back at the past year, I see what has worked for me. I also know where I would like to be as a freelancer and solopreneur.
You can do it! If you are willing to work, you can make money as a freelance writer.
