Do you want to make money from home? Are you looking for an industry that anybody can join? If so, you want to become a freelance writer. Doesn’t sound like me, does it? I am not one to say that it is simple to become a freelance writer. But after yesterday, I am starting to believe that I am the only one.
While doing some research for a client I came across three “make money online†blogs that suggested freelance writing as the simplest way to start a work at home career. Yes, I agree that freelance writing is a great career that you can work from home. But on the other side of things, this is not something that is simple to do. I hate to read the opposite because it means that people are actually thinking that the money will come quick and heavy – and most of us freelance writers know that this is not true.
Just because you have access to the internet does not mean that you can become a freelance writer. To go along with this, the internet is far from the only opportunity for writers to succeed. This is one of the first ways I know that a blogger has not thought through their statement about freelance writing being simple. If you believe that writing for the internet is the only option, you are wrong. Freelance writers earn in many ways. For instance, I write sales letters, press releases, marketing material, business plans, and much more. None of these projects are based exclusively online.
I don’t want this post to scare away aspiring freelance writers. I do want it to show that becoming a freelance writer is not necessarily the simplest way to make money online. Only those who have the skills and are truly interested in this career path will succeed. The rest are better off considering another opportunity that better suits their needs.
As a freelance writer your main task is to write content. But guess what? Your secondary task is to make the client happy, and this often times means edit after edit. I have some clients that love what I do and never ask for revisions – this is a good thing. On the other hand, there are some that are not as easy to work with. Instead, they ask for revisions no matter what I send them. This is part of being a freelance writer, and it does not bother me in the slightest.
What should I do if a client asks for revisions? This is a question that many people ask on a regular basis. Simply put, you should do what is being asked of you. Yes, it can be a pain in the neck to do more work before you get paid. Just remember that this will make the client happy. Along with this, it should increase your chance of repeat work.
What if a client is being unreasonable? While a difficult situation, you must deal with it nonetheless. You are bound to run into a client or two that appears to attempt to make your life miserable at all costs. Instead of getting mad, get on the same page as the client. Ask them what is wrong and how you can fix it. It is very important to know what the client expects. This way, you don’t leave any wiggle room after the revision.
Do you have a policy on revisions? This is something you may want to think about. I usually work with clients until they get exactly what they want. I know some freelance writers who will only revise the project once for free. After that, they charge a fee. Which option is best for you?
Some clients will ask for revision after revision. Some never ask for any. As a freelance writer you need to be ready for anything that comes your way.Â
Are you looking for a way to improve your freelance writing career? Do you just want to learn more about the industry and how to get started? No matter what type of information you want to collect, one thing is for sure: you can find it online.
I recently received an email from the team at ReliableWriters.com. They took the time to compile 73 of the best online resources for freelance writers. If you scroll down the list far enough, to the Establishing a Writing Business section, you will find my blog.
Out of all the freelance writing resource lists I have come across, this is truly one of the best. No matter what type of information you are looking for you should be able to find a link to the proper material in no time at all.
