By Hope Nunzio
If you’re serious about making a living freelance writing, you probably know it’s not enough just to be a good writer. Freelance writers wear many hats; they have to be expert self-marketers, their own customer service, and their own boss. Many new freelancers flounder during the first year, because they haven’t done enough research on what it takes to be successful in the field beyond writing well. If you are new to freelance writing, try to avoid these five freelancing mistakes.
Sure, every freelance writer needs a computer, an email account, and access to Internet, but that’s not all. Freelancers should also have a LinkedIn profile, a Facebook group or fan page, a Twitter account, and a professional website. These online tools can help build a name for yourself and attract potential clients. Find your writing niche and highlight past work on your website to establish your personal brand. Describe the services that you offer, and why you are exceptionally qualified for professional projects. Update social media to connect with other people, fans, and potential customers.
1. Not marketing. Sure, every freelance writer needs a computer, an email account, and access to Internet, but that’s not all. Freelancers should also have a LinkedIn profile, a Facebook group or fan page, a Twitter account, and a professional website. These online tools can help build a name for yourself and attract potential clients. Find your writing niche and highlight past work on your website to establish your personal brand. Describe the services that you offer, and why you are exceptionally qualified for professional projects. Update social media to connect with other people, fans, and potential customers.
2. Ignoring other writers. Even though freelance writing is a competitive market, you shouldn’t isolate yourself from the competition. Other freelance writers have been where you are, and most love to help newcomers succeed. Online communities of fellow writers are helpful resources for sharing experiences. Many established freelancers also keep blogs with expert advice, which can be invaluable for writers with less experience.
3. Accepting every assignment. Many new freelancers are eager to take whatever they can get so they can make as much money as possible. This is a mistake for several reasons. They may have to do more research on obscure content that takes time away from other projects, they might not be able to write quality material, and they could experience boredom and eventually burnout. For example, don’t take an assignment about deep-sea fishing if you don’t care about the subject or don’t know anything about it. You’ll end up dreading your work if you aren’t interested in the topic, and this will probably be reflected in your writing. Moral of the story? Just because a client offers you a job, doesn’t mean you are obligated to take it.
4. Lowballing. You wouldn’t work for under minimum wage, would you? So why would you consider taking a low-paying assignment? There are many clients who want to take advantage of exchange rates and cheap labor overseas. They will find that the end result usually isn’t high-quality work. Don’t cheayourself out of a fair wage just because you think you need to compete. Charge what you think is fair, and don’t waste your time trying to churn out articles for pennies. The only exception is non-paying online magazines or non-paying literary print magazines, which can help build your portfolio. Obviously if you focus on non-paying gigs, you won’t be able to support yourself, so keep a diverse range of paying clients as well.
5. Bad customer service. Freelance writers have to be their own customer service representatives. This means when clients email you about upcoming assignments, you should respond promptly and politely. Even better, send periodic emails to clients to update them on the progress of your project. They will appreciate the effort, and will be more likely to think of you the next time they have writing opportunities. If you can’t make a deadline, just communicate with the client, explain the situation, and ask for more time. No one wants to work with hostile or forgetful contractors, so maintain contact with your clients in a friendly, approachable way.
Hope Nunzio writes for the Facebook login program Chit Chat for Facebook. Chit Chat is a Facebook login client that you can use to receive Facebook messages from your computer.
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