Whether you have been working as a freelance copywriter for some time, or you are just starting out, learning how you can start making some extra money can be hugely beneficial. It can be easy to assume (especially if you are a very busy freelance copywriter) that you are working at the fullest capacity, which means there is no time or space for you to start making extra money.
While this assumption is completely natural, it is also misguided. No matter your level of experience, or how busy you might be, there is always an opportunity for you to increase your income as a freelance copywriter. Read on for more information
1. Find Your Niche
It is common for freelancers to want to take any work that is offered to them, especially if they are just starting out in their career. While it might sound counterintuitive, one of the best steps that you can take when it comes to increasing your income as a freelance copywriter, is to focus on finding your niche.
If you do not already have a niche, there are certain that you will need to take into account. Firstly, you should consider your own personal interests. You will be spending a lot of time writing about this niche, so it is useful if you have some personal interest and experience in the area to keep yourself motivated. It is also useful to consider you own expertise, because if you can offer some expert knowledge this will set you apart from other freelance copywriters.
Taking the time to focus on work that is relevant to your niche might be an investment that can have a huge benefit for your long-term career as a freelance copywriter.
2. Define Your Preferences
This tip is another that might sound, at first, to be counterintuitive. When you are working as a freelancer it is useful to outline what your working preferences are early on. Specifically, you should define what type of work you are happy to take, and what you are not going to be happy to work on. For example, some people are happy to take on long projects and very large word counts, whereas other people may struggle with this type of work.
The more that you work with a certain type of content or at a certain work count, the better you are able to excel within these parameters. This means that accepting work that you are happy and comfortable with will help you to be as efficient as possible with your time.
3. Put Your Money To Work
When it comes to earning extra money as a freelance copywriter you will not only need to consider the work that you are taking on but also how you deal with your finances. Taking the time to consult with a wealth management expert can help you to create a financial plan for the future. Investing extra money or even putting it in a high-interest savings account can help you to put your money to work. This means that you will be able to make some extra income without having to take on extra work yourself.
4. Outline Your Target Client
When you are looking to work as a freelancer it is important that you not only define your niche, but also your ideal client. Defining who your ideal client is will help you to be focused on your search for work. Not only will you be able to more easily identify the right work for you, but defining your client is also an essential step when it comes to marketing yourself.
It is critical that you define who your target client is before you create an online portfolio. The reason for this is that it will affect what work you choose to include.
5. Develop a High-Quality Portfolio
When you are working as a freelance copywriter it is vital that you take the time to create a very high-quality portfolio. When you are creating a portfolio it is important that you take the time to find your very best work. You should look for work that showcases your technical skills, to ensure you are able to win the best clients.
Creating a high-quality portfolio is not always simple. Not only will you need to showcase your most technically skilled work but you should also use your portfolio to inform a potential client about who you are as a person. Your portfolio will need to show your skills, but also spark some excitement and interest in a potential client.
6. Diversify Your Skill Set
When it comes to freelance copywriting there is often a wide range of competition for any given job. When it comes to winning work it is not only useful to have a high-quality portfolio, but also to have a valuable and diverse range of skills.
Some of the skills and knowledge that it is useful to have as a freelance copywriter include:
- Graphic design
- Website design
- Application design
- Digital marketing skills
Of course, you will not be expected to have every single one of the skills listed above; however, being able to employ, say, digital marketing techniques in your work can help you to set yourself apart from the competition and win more work.
7. Build Your Reputation
When it comes to winning work, clients will not only be interested in your skills but also the working relationship they are able to cultivate with you. No matter how well written an article might be, or how well it is created for search engine optimization, if is it late or if it does not meet the client’s requirements then it is, ultimately, useless. Building a strong reputation will show potential clients that you are able to maintain a high-quality working relationship.
There are many ways that you can build a reputation as a freelance copywriter. For example, you can ask past clients for reviews and references that you can showcase on your online portfolio; and working with established clients and influencers is another great way to build up a high-quality, respectable reputation as a freelance copywriter.
