It is not uncommon to come across freelance writing ads on sites such as Craigslist. That being said, many writers never apply for these jobs because they do not know what to say. Of course, this is silly. You should never pass up an opportunity to apply for a freelance writing job because you are at a loss for words. Sure, it may take some time to put together a good response, but it is well worth it.
The number one thing to remember when responding to a freelance writing ad is that you should do what you are told. Simply put, do whatever the ad tells you to do. If you are asked to send a cover letter, resume, and samples, make sure that you follow this down to every last detail. Remember, if you cannot follow simple directions you are going to put yourself behind the eight ball from the get-go.
If you are asked to include samples, make sure that you use ones that will give you the best chance of obtaining the job. For instance, if you are applying for a position as a “sports blogger†you will want to send samples that are associated with this topic. This will work out much better than samples on health, real estate, or another unrelated subject.
Do I really need a freelance writing resume? I get asked this question all the time. The answer is yes! Some buyers are going to ask for your resume before they hire you. If you do not have one, they are going to cross your name off their list. Creating a freelance writing resume is not a difficult task. For those of you who need help with this, send me a quick email; I would be glad to give you feedback on your resume, etc.
Responding to freelance writing ads is all about following directions. Send what you are asked for, and then leave well enough alone. From there, you will either receive a follow-up email or nothing at all. While there is nothing wrong with following up if you do not hear back, make sure that you give the recipient enough time to go through all of the applications that they receive. Believe it or not, a single posting on Craigslist for a freelance writing opening can bring in hundreds of replies.
Hopefully you now have the confidence needed to respond to any freelance writing ad that you come across.Â
In my opinion, one of the biggest benefits of being a freelance writer is the freedom that it offers. I am not bogged down by reporting to a boss, or being required to show up at an office five days a week. Instead, I have the freedom to do what I please as long as I serve my clients.
I spent this past weekend, as well as last Friday, in Palm Beach. Although I am not big on vacationing, I decided to take a short trip nonetheless. Not only do I hate flying, but leaving my freelance writing work behind is always tough. That being said, I do have the ability to check email from the road, and since the majority of my trip was on the weekend, this helped me to stay on track.
Would I have been able to take this trip if I worked a 9-5 job? Probably. But of course, this would have meant taking a vacation day, explaining myself to the boss, and having to worry about the headaches of heading back to the office upon my return. As a freelance writer, I avoided all of this. Instead, I made sure that my clients were aware of my absence and then I took off. And despite the fact that my plane landed late Sunday night, I knew that I would be able to work the next day since my office is right down the hall from by bedroom.
There are many reasons to become a freelance writer. But if you had to narrow it down to just one, would freedom be at the top of your list? This is definitely something that I enjoy about the freelance writing life.Â
Are you destined to be a freelance writer? Do you think that you have what it takes? If so, you are not alone. Over the past couple of years it seems that more and more people are attempting to break into this industry. In fact, I have read many blog posts this month alone stating just how easy it is to make money as a freelance writer. Of course, I do not agree with this but everybody is entitled to their own opinion.
This leads to the question of what makes a successful freelance writer. Are there traits that you need in order to succeed in this industry? There are countless answers to this question, but in my opinion there are three things that you need if you are going to succeed as a freelance writer:
1. Are you willing to work hard? If you want to earn a living in this capacity you need to work hard. And this does not mean that you have to work hard for only a couple of weeks. Although most freelance writers work from home, the successful ones are always going strong and striving to reach the next level. If you are adverse to hard work, you probably won’t make it far as a freelance writer.
2. The ability to write quality content. More than one person has been ignorant enough to tell me that anybody can be a freelance writer. Of course, I have to shrug this off because it is nonsense. You need to be able to do more than write to achieve success in this career. Good freelance writers have the ability to put together quality content that is easy to read and free of mistakes. Do you fit this mold?
3. Writing killer content is just one part of becoming a successful freelance writer. To succeed over the long haul you must also be able to market your services, offer great customer service, and juggle many tasks. Your main task will be to write, but this is not the end all.
Do you have the three details above on your side? If so, you have what it takes to be a successful freelance writer. Now, all you have to do is move forward full steam ahead.Â
