While freelancing is not a new market by any means, it has grown immensely due in large part to the popularity of the internet. Thanks to its partner in crime the web, the internet is able to offer golden opportunities for writers, photographers, designers, and just about anyone with the desire to indulge in freelancing from the comfort of their own home. Since writing is the focus here, this article will explain what you need to do in order to begin a career as a freelance writer.
Create Your Portfolio
No matter how skilled you are as a writer, few clients will feel comfortable hiring you without some credentials to back you up. Don't worry, acquiring the credentials you need for potential clients to take you serious is as simple as building a good portfolio. Write up a few good articles, and publish them on free content sites such as Yahoo's Associated Content, Helium, and Hub Pages. Not only are these sites great for building a portfolio, but they also receive a lot of traffic, which could draw more eyes to your work, and possibly attract some clients as well.
Start Looking for Writing Gigs
Once you have a good portfolio, it is time to go out and find yourself some freelance writing gigs. This part can be a bit intimating at first, but trust me, it is much easier than you think. So where do you go to look for gigs? Your friendly search engine of course. Remember, this is the internet - the virtual land of opportunity. A simple search for "freelance writing jobs" will yield tons of relevant results that can point you in the direction of your first gig. The most important aspect of the job seeking process is your application. In order to beat out the dozens to hundreds of potential candidates, you must be clear and concise on why you are the man (or woman) for the job.
Build Your Website
Although a portfolio on the aforementioned content publishing sites is enough to get you started, you will eventually need your own website to make an impact as a freelance writer. Trust me, this is for the best. Having your own site makes you look more credible, professional, and will cause potential clients to take you more seriously. More than likely, you will need a web hosting service provider to deliver all the tools and technology to actually create your site. This is another process in itself, but for now, I recommend going with either HostGator or LunarPages. These are two dependable companies that will take care of you and provide everything you need to create a professional website for your new freelance business.
Good Luck!
You need the skill as a writer of course, but with that intact, this is all it takes to start a career in freelancing writing. The internet and its infinite resources makes it a heck of a lot easier than in past times. So what are you waiting for? Get out there, and start building your freelance writing business!
Contel Bradford is a seasoned freelance writer, journalist, and author of multiple books, including The iPod & iTunes Handbook. Though he specializes in numerous areas, Contel truly excels in the field of technology, well versed in topics that range from cloud computing and virtualization to email marketing and digital advertising.
During his tenor, he has produced content for some of the top internet brands in their respective fields. Some of his clients include Associated Content From Yahoo!, Benchmark Email, and Digital Media Buzz to name a few.
To learn more about Contel's professional services, please visit his website at http://ContelBradford.com
