What Is Freelance Writing? Everything You Need To Know

Copywriter vs. Freelance Writer: What’s The Difference?

A full-time copywriter is usually an employee who works for a specific company and earns a specific income. A freelance copywriter is self-employed and may write for several clients using a variety of writing techniques; and, copywriting is one. 

An important thing to consider is that freelance writing offers you a lot more flexibility. You can set your own hours, and you can work from anywhere in the world. For a more in-depth explanation, you can read How To Become A Copywriter in 3 Easy Steps here. 

Surprisingly, exceptional writing is not necessarily the most important skill you need as a freelance writer. You don’t have to be a professional writer to succeed as a freelance writer. However, you do need to have a solid command of reading, writing, and editing in English. Excellent communication skills, good IT skills, including good internet connectivity, and a willingness to learn are some of the core skills needed. 

The ability to work independently is also important. You may be asking yourself, “What do I do if I have no experience?” Well, a good place to start is to brainstorm and document anything you’ve written in the last month. Have you written a persuasive text or email to a friend, a resume, business correspondence, an academic essay, a formal letter, or blog, or even a business letter? With just a few writing examples, you can begin to compile a portfolio.

Asking a friend or previous employer to write a testimonial for you is helpful. “What about salary?” According to Business News Daily, freelance writers earn more than salaried employees. According to Upwork, “44% of freelancers made more money than they did when employed at a traditional job.” 

That sounds pretty awesome! Read on to discover the three most important steps to becoming a freelance writer.

How To Become A Freelance Writer

If you understand the information provided above, you are ready to take the first step. The most important thing to remember is that the primary difference between a salaried copywriter and a freelance copywriter is that a salaried copywriter offers income stability, while a freelance copywriter has more flexibility and the possibility of greater income potential. 

This is the time to develop your writing skills and find your areas of interest. Start learning more about the field of copywriting. There is a wealth of resources on the internet. Active Campaign is a great place to start.

The second step is to highlight your talents and create an online presence. You will need to build a solid portfolio to do this. Begin by assembling testimonials, references, and writing samples demonstrating your abilities. 

If you don’t have a lot of experience, get creative. Take some time to think about all the writing you’ve done in the past day, week, or year. Select a few that you feel particularly proud of and put them all together in a portfolio. Choose samples for your portfolio that highlight your originality, creativity, and diversity of subject areas. 

Once you’ve begun to compile your portfolio, you will need a platform to find work. Upwork is an excellent place to market your skills and look for work. Upwork is well-known in the freelance writing world and offers a plethora of freelance writing gigs that don’t require a lot of prior experience. All you have to do is create a profile, that includes a portfolio of your work, and you’re on your way to working as a freelance writer!

The third step is to finetune your marketing skills. But, don’t worry; marketing skills in the context of freelance writing is not rocket science. This gets easier with experience. Begin by updating your portfolio as you complete jobs. This is an essential part of expanding your client base. 

Testimonials from satisfied clients augment your success as a freelance writer. When you first start out, it is important to get as many gigs as possible to demonstrate your ability to work with a variety of clients and to show that you get the job done professionally and on time.