What is your freelance writing specialty? Is there one sort of project that you really like to take on? If so, you should follow this feeling and milk it for all that it is worth. That being said, you do not want to paint yourself into a corner. For instance, you can specialize in web copy but this does not mean that you have to limit your workload to these types of projects.
How can you find your freelance writing specialty? Once you begin to complete a variety of projects, you will find this question easier to answer. Of course, it may take a while to pinpoint a specialty that you can really sink your teeth into. I love writing sales letter. But even then, I would not consider this my specialty. These are projects that I enjoy, but I have yet to turn all of my attention to them. Instead, I help my current clients with sales letters but do not actively seek new clients in this capacity.
Do you really need to have a freelance writing specialty? The answer to this question is no. As noted above, I am still searching for what I would call my specialty. There are particular projects that I really enjoy, but unlike many freelancers that I know, I have yet to really dig in and specialize in one area. Right now, my career is moving in the right direction so I have not had the time or desire to change my focus. But this is not to say that I won’t begin to sell myself as a “specialist†in one particular area in the future.
If there is a project type that you really enjoy and you have found that you excel in that area, you may want to consider making it your specialty. From there, you can approach potential clients with this pitch in your back pocket.
If you are a freelance writer you should get excited about your work. If you do not, you may be following the wrong career path. One of the main reasons that I became a freelance writer was that I knew it would bring joy to my work life. And although I moved into this career a few years ago, I still get excited about my work.
What does it mean to get excited about your freelance writing work? To me, this means loving what you do and not dreading the workday. If you wake up in the morning thinking about how bad work is going to be, you need to find a new career. This holds true no matter if you are a freelance writer, CEO, or anything in between. When you do not get excited about your career and dread heading to the office, it is time for a change.
Don’t get me wrong, there are times when being a freelance writer is tough work. To go along with this, there are times when the excitement dies down for one reason or the next. But with that being said, a few down times should not chase you away. You should only begin to think about a change if all the excitement is gone and you are simply going through the motions.
All in all, the most successful freelance writers get excited about their work. If you enjoy your job, it will show through and in turn allow you to become a huge success!Â
Are most of your freelance writing clients located in the same time zone as you? This is a question that you may never think about, but one that is very important. Personally, I have clients in my time zone as well as many on the other side of the world. This is not a big deal from a work standpoint, but as far as communication is concerned it can pose some problems.
For example, if you live on the east coast of the United States you are going to be several hours ahead of a client on the west coast. For this reason, you will not be able to get in touch with them early in the morning, your time. Is this a huge deal? Not really. But you should keep it in mind if you need to call a client, or if you are expecting a return email.
Most new clients that I pick up ask what time zone I am in. This helps them to plan for conference calls and much more. If your clients do not ask or you are not sure of where they are located, there is nothing wrong with inquiring. This is good information to have from day one.
