How to Build Your Credibility as a Freelancer Writer (and Make More Money)

The job of a freelance writer falls into a variety of different categories. Some writers enjoy the creative storytelling side, while others prefer the business or technical aspects. Whatever your niche is, there are clients looking for someone just like you to help with their next project.

But to gain clients you must first build your credibility as a freelance writer.

So how do you do that?

Identify Your Niche (as a Freelance Writer)

Given my own experience, if you’re a freelance writer, you might be overwhelmed by the number of other writers out there. That is why you need a competitive edge and a niche to specialize in. The ideal niche will be one in which you are already knowledgeable as well as profitable.

If you plan on leaving a job in education to become a freelance writer, consider writing content that is related to your industry. Same thing if you are, for example, a lawyer that got tired of it all. You leave the job but you use your knowledge and experience. Doing so lets you combine your passion with your experience as well as make you an instant expert in your domain.

Become a specialist instead of a generalist

The best advice will always be to niche down and become a specialist instead of a generalist. This is particularly true for freelancers. If you niche down, you’ll be able to target clients that need you instead of another freelancer.

And what do you do after you niche down?

You create a regular diet of industry information, including:

• Industry publications
• Podcasts
• Books
• Panels of experts

Build Your Brand (as a Freelance Writer)

Freelancing means YOU are your brand.

Take some time to figure out exactly who you are, who you want to market to, what you want to accomplish, and what you have that sets you apart from the competition.

Create a personal website or a portfolio

Your website/portfolio is the first place readers who find you in an interview, on a guest blog post, or through your books, will go to find out more information about you and the other things you’ve written.

If you don’t have a website/portfolio, you risk losing those potential readers and clients.

Read more: How to Show Off Your Skills in a Creative Way with a Personal Website

Share your expertise (as a freelance writer)

While you can share your ideas on social platforms, your reach is limited. It can take time to build up an audience, and not everyone is a potential client. For this to happen, you need to appear in places where potential clients are likely to find you, not just on social channels.

A good way to do this is to appear as a guest in blogs or on podcasts. You’ll probably need to start small, especially if you haven’t yet established your industry authority. But you can pitch a topic where you do have an opinion or some expertise. 

Write thought-leadership pieces and ‘how to’ articles for websites, magazines, newsletters and journals serving the relevant sectors. Start a regular and thought-provoking blog. If you are a freelance writer, this should be a piece of cake for you!

Read More: 5 Ways to Develop Your Personal Brand By Giving Value

Be active on social media

As a freelance writer, social media is your friend. If you’re able to build a presence or following on social media, it’ll only ever help you as a writer. You can share an insight into your personality, examples of your work, and stay connected with prospective and current clients. 

But keep in mind that social media isn’t just Facebook and Instagram. It’s Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and so many more. All these different types of people utilize different social media channels.

Read More: Leverage Social Media as a Bridge If You’re an Introvert

Learn Fundamental SEO Skills

As a freelance writer, you want people to read your work, and your clients are paying you for work that will be read. When writing for the internet, the way to get eyes on the page is through search engine optimization. By optimizing your writing with Google’s search algorithms in mind, you can create content that ranks on first page search results (FPSR), which is a highly valued skill.

While you may not have control over where a client publishes your content, you can learn fundamental SEO skills to ensure your pieces are optimized.

SEO basics for freelance writers:

• Spend time on the title. If you’re writing a blog or article, incorporate your primary keywords into the title and try to keep it between 50-70 characters.
• Know your keywords. Even if a client doesn’t give you keywords to target, research the topic and pick a few to use in the copy.
• Organize your article. Google likes articles that are well structured and easy to read. Try organizing your article with smaller paragraphs and sentences, headers, bullets, and bold text.
• Add internal links. Link to your client’s other articles and content within your article.

(As a Freelance Writer You Must) Learn To Edit Your Own Writing

Successful freelance writers know how to edit their own writing. When handing over a piece of writing to your client, you should proofread and check for errors. Establish a copyediting process that you complete before delivering any copy to clients.

A client may ask for revisions of the content itself, which is normal, but too many simple mistakes could lead to a negative review and a dissatisfied client. If a client has to edit your work, it’s extra time on their end. Clients typically look for freelance writers to give them finalized copy ready for publishing.

Say Yes to Every Gig for a While

Under normal circumstances, saying yes to every gig is a bad idea. However, when you’re trying to establish credibility, taking on projects that seem over your head could turn out to be a blessing.

Many people seriously underestimate their abilities and skills and only take gigs that are safe. The problem is, the big money is found outside of your comfort zone and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish when you’re challenged.

Worst case scenario, you’ll take on a gig that you need to bow out of. It happens. You’ll never know what you’re capable of achieving until you try.

…and meet deadlines 

It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many so-called ‘professionals’ can’t do it! A deadline isn’t the point at which you start negotiating to deliver – it’s the absolute, final point at which the completed work must be given to the client. Excuses are simply unacceptable! If you can’t meet deadlines, you can’t do freelance work.

To Sum Up

Your freelance writer portfolio is your CV and your foot in the door. Most companies offering freelance work couldn’t care less about your education or your potential. They just want someone who can do the job well and who can do it now. So, learn how to show off your best work so you can get the gig, keep on writing and writing (because more you write, the better writer you’ll become), and don’t forget to update your portfolio regularly!

But keep in mind that even with these strategies helping, building solid credibility as a freelancer can still take a big time and effort. So, don’t be discouraged if things are not going exactly your way because eventually, it will – I promise!