8 Practical Ways to Land Your First Job as a Freelance Writer

Freelance writing is one of the most flexible and rewarding careers to pursue if you love writing. However, breaking into the industry as a newbie writer can be daunting. But you don’t have to worry at all. We are here to guide you through the whole process.

From building your portfolio to getting noticed by potential employers, we have outlined 8 ways to help you make the most out of your writing skills and land your first job as a freelance content writer.

1. Create an Impressive Portfolio of Your Work

A portfolio is essential for demonstrating your skills, experience, and writing style. It is the first thing your client will ask for, so it better be impressive enough to demonstrate your true talent.

When compiling your portfolio, include pieces that best represent your writing style, topics you are passionate about, and clients you have worked with in the past. It’s also a good idea to include a mix of long-form content, such as articles, blog posts, and website copy, as well as shorter-form content, like social media posts and press releases.

In addition to samples of your published work, it’s also helpful to include any awards, recognition, or professional memberships you have received. Also, be sure to keep the portfolio updated with new work and relevant information to increase your chances of being hired.

2. Start a Blog and Write Regularly

By having an active blog, you will be able to showcase your writing style and demonstrate that you can write on various topics. A blog can also be used as your writing portfolio if you plan each post carefully and provide quality content.

Once you have established your blog, commit to writing regularly and post links to your posts on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. You can also join blogging communities. It will help increase your visibility and give potential clients an easy way to find you.

With some dedication and hard work, you should soon be able to land your first job as a freelance writer.

3. Hunt Freelancing Sites for Writers

Many employers post jobs on freelance platforms that require the skills of a professional writer. As such, they are an excellent source of income for budding freelance writers.

When searching these platforms, make sure you are specific in what kind of writing job you are looking for. Do you want to start in the world of publishing, journalism, or marketing and PR? After deciding on your niche, you can refer here to find some of the best freelancing sites for writers categorized in all niches.

An important thing to remember is that most freelancing sites have time limits for applications, and employers usually choose writers quickly. So, make sure to keep an eye out for new postings and respond as soon as possible.

4. Check Out Job Boards

Let’s get this clear first. Job boards like Indeed and Glassdoor are not just for full-time and in-house jobs. They also have remote job postings from top-paying employers. So, your best bet is to hop on to these platforms and respond to remote job ads in your best capacity.

Many job boards will require you to create a profile before submitting an application. This is where you should showcase your experience, portfolio, and any other information that might be relevant. You can also set up alerts to get notified when new job postings open.

That way, you can be one of the first people to apply for a job, which ultimately increases your chances of being hired.

5. Use Social Media to Build Your Personal Brand

Building your personal brand using social media is an effective way to reach potential employers and make them aware of your writing services.

Start by creating a professional-looking profile and post content that will be useful or interesting to potential employers. This could include articles you have written, writing tips, or even links to relevant industry news.

Reply to comments, ask questions, and follow other writers in your field to get your name out there and land your first job as a freelance writer.

Where to Start? The top two social media platforms for writers are Twitter and LinkedIn. Twitter will allow you to market your content and connect with small businesses, while LinkedIn is a more formal platform to network with other professionals and land writing jobs. You can use the “OpenToWork” badge on your LinkedIn profile to let recruiters know you are available for a job.

6. Reach Out to Businesses Directly

Don’t wait for businesses to come to you; be proactive and send them a tailored pitch. You can find companies that need your services by searching through freelance websites or job boards. You can also use social media sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter to search for companies that are likely to need writers.

Once you’ve identified potential clients, write a customized and engaging pitch for each one, and make sure you explain how you can help them specifically. Make sure to keep it short and succinct, and also attach your writing samples to get their attention.

7. Write Guest Posts

For starters, guest posting means writing and publishing content for someone else’s website. If you are a new writer, you won’t get paid for your articles, but you will have a portfolio of published articles that thousands of people will read. Just be sure to choose a reputable website where you will have a great chance of being noticed.

However, if you don’t know where to guest post and how to search for websites that accept guest posts, here’s a quick search trick for you. Go to Google search and search for “niche + write for us”. For example, if you want to guest on lifestyle, you can search “lifestyle + write for us”.

This search query will retrieve all lifestyle blogs and websites that accept guest posts. Visit a website, read their guest post guidelines, and pitch your gig with an impressive author bio.

8. Always Follow up After an Interview or Meeting

Well, this is an opportunity most people miss out on, and you can use it to your advantage. After you have had an initial interview or meeting with an employer, it’s important to follow up with an email.  

The email doesn’t have to be long. Just thank the employer for their time and reinforce why you think you’d be a good fit for the job. Doing so will set you apart from other applicants and demonstrate your commitment to the employer. Taking this extra step will increase your chances of landing your first freelancing job as a writer.

Last Updated on February 28, 2023