Questioning the right way to turn into a contract author and discover excessive paying jobs? You’ve gotten reached the precise place. I’ve been into freelance writing for over 6+ years (even earlier than make money working from home was thought of cool), and all through this time, I’ve discovered loads about what it takes to be a superb content material author and discover excessive paying writing jobs.
In case you are somebody like me who has a love for writing and need to flip your pastime into an precise profession that may pay your payments freelance writing is one one of the best choices.
After I began out as a freelance content material author in 2015, I had little to no data about the entire thing. I had been managing my private weblog for someday, so I knew I appreciated it, however I had no concept the right way to receives a commission to jot down So, I did what any regular particular person would do: I researched, requested round, and googled all the pieces associated to content material writing.
I checked freelance job web sites, stalked different freelance writers on-line, learn loads about content material writing, and 5 years later, I can proudly say that I made it. It’s potential to turn into a full-time freelance author and make money working from home — in case you observe the precise path and techniques.
Who’s a contract author?
A contract author is a self employed skilled who writes for a residing. They’ll work for magazines, publications, or web sites. Most freelance writers are paid per article, per phrase, or per venture, relying on the sort of work they deal with.
Whereas some freelance writers majorly create thought items and inventive essays for magazines, others (like me) take the advertising section and turn into a contract content material author. As a content material author, you develop focused content material advertising methods that assist manufacturers enhance their natural visitors, search engine rankings, conversions, and general model consciousness.
What’s freelance writing?
Freelance writing means when you find yourself paid in your writing companies by firms or purchasers with out formally being employed by them. Working as a contract author offers you the choice to work at your leisure, from wherever you need — whether or not its your house, a restaurant, or a rented workspace. Whereas providing your writing companies, you may both have a single shopper or a number of purchasers concurrently. The workload additionally varies and will be both quick time period or a gradual and ongoing venture. Furthermore, freelance writing offers you the scope of writing in a distinct segment like culinary or choosing up subjects as numerous as cars and architectural design. A specialization or area of interest whereas being a contract author, nevertheless, tends to deliver extra assignments and revenue as in comparison with a generalist.
How one can turn into a contract author?
Beginning out as a contract content material author looks as if a pure choice for a lot of. Nevertheless, from my expertise, many of the writers who begin freelancing enthusiastically burn down in just some weeks as a result of they notice it isn’t as enjoyable and nice as they thought.
If you wish to write freelance you’ll require extra self-discipline that you’d see in a standard workplace house. There may be additionally little or no room for errors – You mess issues as soon as with a shopper by delivering late or plagiarized work and chances are high, they gained’t be assigning you any extra work.
Put collectively a small portfolio
Purchasers are uncertain about hiring new freelance writers and therefore they typically ask you to share your portfolio to get an concept about your fashion of writing. One of the best ways can be to supply a pattern (paid, not free) to the shopper as a substitute. That approach, they’d be keen to rent you in the event that they appreciated your work, and even when they didn’t, you’ll have a pattern so as to add to your portfolio.
Begin pitching for jobs, excessively
No one and I imply no one goes to give you jobs immediately. In case you want to start as a content material author in India you need to be able to pitch for jobs excessively and e-mail potential purchasers. After I began out, I spent two hours day by day on the lookout for new purchasers and contacting them. So, when you find yourself starting to jot down freelance even and you’re sending out 20 emails a day, you can rejoice even when certainly one of them reverts.
Nevertheless, in case you are cribbing about not getting jobs as a author, then you’re both not wanting in the precise locations or not being proactive sufficient as a result of there are really ample freelance writing jobs on the market available in the market.
Nevertheless, whereas working as a freelancer for content material writing, you by no means know when a shopper may dump you. Therefore you might want to continuously search for newer ones.
Go for digital as a substitute of print publications
Whereas seeing your title in print may sound alluring, it doesn’t have sufficient jobs or cash to pay writers. To not point out, many print publications might want you to journey to their places of work.
Therefore, for a content material author in India, one of the best wager can be to stay to digital publications and web sites which have a lot of content material necessities and would help you work remotely as properly once you determine to jot down freelance.
Resolve in your writing charges
Earlier than you begin pitching to purchasers, you might want to determine your freelance writing charges. Whereas it may be tempting to cost lower than what the opposite writers are charging, I like to recommend you not try this. Assess your work and high quality of writing to ensure you are getting paid for on a regular basis you’re placing in.
How one can discover freelance writing jobs
Discovering dependable jobs is among the most troublesome and essential issues that you’ll have to do as a contract author in India. Nailing this half and discovering a gradual stream of income by freelance writing alternatives could make all of the distinction.
However, have you ever ever puzzled what’s freelancing? Freelancing is a enterprise since you are your personal boss. And to achieve success at it, you want enterprise acumen, in any other case, it’s possible you’ll not have the ability to attain the precise purchasers and get the precise tasks — regardless of how proficient you’re.
Listed below are seven efficient methods to search out alternatives as a content material author in India:
Phrase of mouth publicity
One of the best ways to rapidly discover freelance writing alternatives from house is by leveraging your community. Connecting with different writers or corporations by e-mail or posting on LinkedIn relating to your availability to take freelance work as a author are the 2 finest choices.
Ship chilly pitches
Don’t await purchasers to succeed in out to you – as a substitute, e-mail them about your writing companies even earlier than they begin on the lookout for a contract author.
Chilly pitches will be scary and typically, you may not hear again, however even when you’ll be able to rating one venture from sending 20 emails, then it’s all value it. Listed below are a number of suggestions for efficiently sending chilly pitches whereas on the lookout for jobs in freelance writing:
- Don’t ship copy/paste emails to each shopper. Analysis about their firm, what sort of content material they could need, and connect related samples solely. It’s very straightforward for folks to detect copy/paste emails and it’ll solely put them off.
- Use a device like Mailtrack to verify in case your emails have been learn or not.
- Ship just one followup e-mail, per week after your first e-mail.
- Attempt to schedule your chilly pitch emails for early mornings round 10 AM when most places of work open and ship them throughout the first half of the week.
- Provide reductions to purchasers in the event that they affirm a venture inside a stipulated time frame.
Get in contact with different writers
Typically writers are contacted by purchasers for jobs for freelance writing which the latter could both not be taken with or they could not have the bandwidth to take up a brand new venture. In such conditions, most freelance writers, together with me, attempt to join purchasers to different freelancers who may be obtainable.
Keep in mind, what goes round at all times comes round. Therefore, I actively attempt to assist different freelancers for content material writing to get tasks as a result of there have been many freelancers prior to now who advisable me to their purchasers.
Replace your LinkedIn
One of the best ways to let purchasers know that you’re on the lookout for make money working from home jobs is by updating your LinkedIn profile. You may make adjustments to your LinkedIn standing and present work standing. You must also embrace hyperlinks to your beforehand revealed articles on LinkedIn to assist purchasers confer with these samples earlier than connecting you relating to freelance writing alternatives.
Use your web site
It’s vital to keep up a private model and a web-based presence, particularly when you find yourself on the lookout for on-line freelance writing jobs. You should utilize your private web site to offer details about your self, your previous purchasers, and your portfolio.
A author web site doesn’t simply enhance your credibility in your purchasers and makes you look extra skilled, however it additionally saves you time. As an alternative of copy-pasting the identical info to purchasers time and again–you may merely share the hyperlink to your web site.
Discover a area of interest that may get you extra jobs
As an alternative of choosing a distinct segment by yourself, discover out what sort of niches generate probably the most jobs for a author.
You possibly can search on web sites like Upwork or Freelancer which particularly provide on-line freelance writing jobs, to flick thru the varied alternatives the purchasers are normally posting. The extra in style niches in freelance writing that additionally pay greater than the usual costs embrace know-how and finance.
Scourge the job boards
There are lots of on-line boards with jobs for freelance writing the place purchasers actively put up about their writing necessities.
There are additionally many Fb teams the place you may have the ability to discover make money working from home jobs. Although I wouldn’t suggest these as a result of most critical firms wouldn’t put up their necessities on Fb teams.
Pursue recurring long-term tasks
For freelancers for content material writing, a well-paid long run venture is value greater than a one-off excessive paying venture as a result of the previous ensures long run income.
In case you are a brand new freelance author in India then you must focus extra on long-term tasks with recurring necessities. You possibly can provide purchasers a small low cost in the event that they assure work for the approaching months (Ensure you get a freelance work settlement for long run tasks in order that purchasers don’t reap the benefits of your discounted charges and cease the venture with none discover).
Use Twitter
Twitter can also be a strong platform that may make it easier to join with purchasers. Hashtags like #writingjobs or key phrases like ‘on the lookout for a author’ may help you flick thru varied alternatives.
Visitor put up on web sites
A good way to construct your resume as a freelancer for content material writing is by visitor posting on different web sites. Whereas some web sites pay writers, others don’t. Both approach, it’s an effective way so as to add some clippings to your portfolio, particularly in case you haven’t formally labored on too many tasks.
Finest practices and suggestions for a brand new freelance author
Whether or not you’re a beginner simply dipping your toes in freelance writing or you have got been at it for fairly a while, and also you simply can’t handle to discover a steady stream of purchasers to take freelancing full-time.
Then cease what you’re doing and get a notepad and pen, and write down your objectives. Converse them into existence and allow them to out. When you find yourself executed, sketch a plan on the right way to make your objectives a actuality.
However keep in mind to make reasonable objectives. You can not write ‘I need to get revealed by the tip of 2018’ in case you don’t actually have a e book concept. Listed below are some freelance writing objectives you may take up and plan forward:
Pitch to that journal/newspaper you have got at all times cherished
Each Indian content material author has that one journal or newspaper they need to see their article revealed in, and I’m positive you do too. So, as a substitute of sighing each time you learn that journal, take a daring step and pitch an article to the editor. You might get the editor’s e-mail tackle both by Twitter or LinkedIn. There may be a number of causes to not ship that e-mail, however keep in mind – You’ve got nothing to lose.
In 2017, I lastly overcame my fears and despatched my article pitch to a newspaper I had at all times admired. The editor responded inside an hour, and my article was revealed inside two weeks. All as a result of I took the braveness to hit ‘Ship’ on that e-mail.
Ask greater than your customary worth
You may come throughout conditions when regardless of your expertise as a contract author you’ll be supplied a low worth in your companies. That’s, purchasers may belittle you about the way you don’t deserve increased compensation. However, you may by no means attain the next pay degree till you ask for it.
Consider in your self and your work. Ask for increased pay from new purchasers. Some could decline, however there can be some who agree along with your charges.
Nevertheless, whereas the commonest purpose of a contract author is to lift their pricing, I like to recommend you to lift your worth as a author first after which your charges.
It’s fairly unfair to the shopper once you ask for increased compensation however ship the very same high quality of content material. It doesn’t fiscally make sense for them.
Deal with your work as your enterprise
The factor about freelance writers is, they suppose an excessive amount of from the center. Writing and getting revealed means extra to them than getting paid. However, it’s important to keep in mind in case you don’t receives a commission for writing, it’s only a pastime and never a profession.
Freelance which means, you may work from wherever you need and by yourself phrases. However, you might want to make a vow to deal with your work as a enterprise. Work as an expert, make well timed deliveries, ship invoices on time, and anticipate the identical professionalism from others.
Create contracts for purchasers earlier than beginning tasks and ensure they signal them. Spend money on your self and your freelancing profession as a lot as you may. Keep in mind, cash makes cash.
Ship out formal invoices with correct templates. Worth your time and your purchasers’ time as properly.
Increase your portfolio by going past your consolation zone
Whereas working as a contract author you may be snug with dealing with solely journey and wedding-related articles. And, you don’t join new tasks which diverge out of your area of interest. Nevertheless, closing your self as an Indian content material author off will solely restrict your work and in addition to your revenue.
As an alternative, transcend your consolation zone and anticipate new sorts of tasks with confidence. It’d look troublesome initially and likewise require a number of analysis at your finish, however once you lastly nail that venture, you’ll be extra happy with your self than ever.
No submitting common work
Seems, you underestimated the enormity of the venture, and also you don’t have sufficient time to submit it by the deadline. So, you rapidly take an article off the web, rewrite it precisely the identical, and ship over the article with out even proofreading it correctly.
The state of affairs will solely lead two eventualities – Both the shopper will utterly reject your work or they may nonetheless pay you, however they gained’t ever work with you once more.
Submitting lower than excellent work could appear to be an ideal shortcut that will get your work executed rapidly and doesn’t make you keep up all night time, however it isn’t useful in the long run. To not point out, when a shopper is paying you from their hard-earned cash, they anticipate excellent work.
So, when you find yourself nearing a deadline and you’re feeling like submitting common work, remind your self that you’re higher than that and get higher time administration expertise.
Create a advertising plan to promote your expertise
When you’ve got simply been hoping for jobs for freelance writers to land in your lap with out advertising your expertise, then you’ll by no means have the ability to get a steady stream of labor that you really want.
Create a web-based id for your self in order that potential purchasers can get a glimpse into your expertise. You can begin by creating your personal on-line portfolio or launching a complete web site of your personal. Creating devoted social media profiles to showcase and share your writing works as an add on.
Cease writing stuff that you just hate
You most likely began as a contract author in India since you love writing. However someplace down the road, you began taking tasks that required you to jot down stuff which doesn’t curiosity you even a bit. Why?
No one will get into writing for cash, as a result of it’s not such a profitable enterprise. So, why not take these jobs for freelance writers that make you sleep higher on the finish of the day?
I as soon as refused to work with a tobacco firm due to my ideas, although they have been keen to pay me loads. I’ve completely no regrets about that call and I might most likely do the identical factor once more, even when I used to be struggling to pay my hire.
Set up your work
Being a brand new freelance author we are likely to miss out on a number of deadlines. Therefore, I like to recommend you begin utilizing a venture administration device like Trello or Asana to maintain monitor of all of your tasks. You may also use time administration instruments and calendars to make sure you are on prime of each deadline and you’ve got sufficient time to complete each venture.
Keep in mind, ending your work on time and organizing all the pieces additionally means you’ll be able to ship invoices and receives a commission quicker.
High Apps for a Freelance Author
These finest apps gained’t simply make you a greater author, however they can even make it easier to keep productive in your writers jobs from residence and meet each deadline.
Writing
Grammarly
One among my private favorites, Grammarly makes modifying a breeze. I exploit it after I’ve already proofread the content material as a result of it helps me monitor down errors that I missed. Although it’s not an ideal device, I might say, it’s 70% there. Additionally, it’s a freemium device. You solely get entry to restricted options totally free. For the remainder, you might want to pay up.
Hemingway
Hemingway is sort of a ‘lite’ and a free model of Grammarly. It can not select grammar or spelling errors, however it might probably assist make your content material extra readable and straightforward to grasp. It picks out the difficult sentences and marks them in pink.
yWriter
yWriter is among the finest apps for writing a e book as a result of it helps you write one scene at a time. If the usual textual content editors are making you go loopy with modifying, phrase account, and innumerable chapters, then I extremely suggest yWriter.
Dropbox Paper
A quite new entry, Dropbox Paper was launched hardly 6 months in the past and it has already stolen my coronary heart. It’s completely minimal and distraction-free interface means you may focus in your ideas and pour them out with out getting interrupted.
Google Docs
Dropbox Paper may be distraction-free however it’s extra like a note-taking device and fewer like a textual content editor. There isn’t a approach so as to add subheadings, indenting, or spell verify on it.
That’s the reason why Google Docs is actually a boon for freelance writers. It’s an all-in-one suite and its real-time saving function means you by no means have to fret about shedding your information.
Productiveness
Mailtrack
Mailtrack is a Google Chrome extension that allows you to know if the recipient has learn your despatched e-mail or not. Much like Whatsapp, despatched emails have a single tick on them and as soon as the mails have been learn, they get a double click on.
The most effective half – you can too see which gadget the recipient used to learn your e-mail. Very helpful for a freelancer author.
Google Calendar
If I had to decide on one of the best productiveness apps for writers, it might be Google Calendar. It’s easy, efficient, and integrates properly with different apps as properly. So, if I’ve a deadline on Trello or Asana, it immediately will get added to my calendar and I can see my total schedule collectively.
Coffitivity
Right here’s why I can not write more often than not:
- It’s too noisy round me
- It’s too quiet
Coffitivity helps remedy each of these issues with white noise, and never simply any white noise, it has workplace and cafeteria sounds.
Mission Administration
Wave apps
Wave is an all-in-one device which helps you with invoicing and maintaining monitor of your bills. You may also join it along with your checking account to routinely verify your month-to-month revenue and expenditure. I exploit it persistently for fast invoices and it by no means disappoints.
Dragon Dictation
Received struck by inspiration however you may’t write it down? You should utilize Dragon Dictation to transform your ideas immediately into phrases and ship them to your e-mail!
Audio recorder
I write for some newspapers, which suggests, I typically should interview folks. Now I can kind quick, however there are occasions after I typically overlook an essential level. And that’s the reason I exploit a sound recorder app for that. This app, Audio recorder, is simple to make use of and free.
