6 Steps to Netting Your First Freelance Writing Project

Freelance writing is a wonderful way to make money from home. The numbers of freelance writers have increased tremendously in the last 2-3 years, and many of these folks had no other choice.

With recession and loss of day jobs becoming the norm, people all over the globe have been forced to look towards freelance writing as an alternative source of income. But we all know how tougher the competition gets with increasing number of competitors.

Deciding to be a freelance writer is quite easy; it’s netting the first freelance writing project that gets tough (and I mean real tough). Being a freelance writer now for over 3 years and earning my major source of income from freelancing, I believe it is necessary to help all newbie freelancers as best as I can. So this hub is all about 6 steps to netting your first freelance writing project.

As a newbie freelance writer you already know that every freelance writing jobs site that you register with requires you to choose a screen name that will be displayed as your profile name. This is the name that all your future clients will identify you with. This is the first step in launching your freelance writing career and you need to pay attention while selecting a professional profile name.

I cannot even begin to tell you about all the weird and funny profile names I have seen freelancers display on high-profile freelancing websites. Profile names like rockstar101, cutiegalforyou, galwithcurls, hottie123 etc have made me stop and wonder ‘what were they thinking’? (You even cannot imagine how commonly freelancers use such profile names)

Considering that your profile name is the first thing that your would-be client sees first, it makes a lot of sense to put some thought, effort and time in selecting it. Some useful tips are to go with names that either describe something about your skill or if you cannot find anything interesting, simply choose your real name. Perfectwords, Quickeditor, Finewriter, Janetheexpert etc are some worthwhile examples of good profile names.

Most of us are lazy when it comes to filling out forms and details. Filling a profile page with relevant information is no doubt boring, but leave it blank and it becomes the numero uno reason for not getting noticed by potential clients.

All freelance jobs websites present an option for freelancers to fill out their short bio/ profile page. This short bio is meant to catch the client’s attention and make your application stand out amongst the rest of the applicants. So make it look outstanding and ensure that it is complete.

Do not forget to upload a good profile photo because clients prefer working with freelancers who have a face to their profile. Working online is already very stressful because you have very less chances to know about the person working with you. A missing profile photo only makes it more stressful and many clients think that profiles without photos have definitely something shady to hide.

Speaking of photos, please upload a professional image; without exceptions. Photos of your dog licking at your face and the ones where you are having fun getting drunk may be quite close to your heart, but could you just do a huge favor on everyone (which includes your clients) and leave it at home please? If you think that I am exaggerating, go take a look at some of the freelancer profiles on a few of the most popular freelancing sites and you will see photos weirder than those described above.

A typical application for a freelance writing job will call for a resume and proposal letter. As you already know, your resume is a summary of all your educational and professional information, but your proposal letter should be focused only on the project that you are applying for.

It helps to create a generic proposal letter that will serve as the outline for all your future proposal letters. But never ever make the mistake of sending out the same generic (one size fits all) kind of proposal letters without tweaking it to suit the individual project requirements. Clients will instantly recognize that you are too lazy / inconsiderate to create a specific proposal and that puts them off in a snap.

The usual procedure used by clients on freelance websites is to short list only 3 or 4 freelance writers out of the entire list of applicants, before selecting the best one. Only these short listed freelancers are invited for an interview with the client. If you receive an invite to an interview, it sure is reason for applause, but not quite for celebration!

Make the most out of this interview because you only get one chance to impress the client. Interview is not only about the client asking questions about you and your skills. You should ask questions to clear all doubts about details and specs of the project before you commit and sign the agreement.

Also discuss about payment terms, escrow, down payment, milestones, deadlines, number of revisions etc at this stage itself. You may have to use these details to decide your bid amount and / or agreement to take on the project.

Important Note: Freelance writing assignments are better to be taken on escrow arrangements or 30-40% down payment. We all have heard, endured and repented about freelance assignments gone awry and the freelancer ending up unpaid for his/ her efforts. Don’t allow yourself to be cheated of your hard earned money and take a stand in payment matters. If you ask me, my best advice would be to refuse working with any client who does not pay a down payment/ does not escrow.

If all the 4 steps have gone well, chances are you will be awarded the project now. Do your very best (not only for your first freelance writing project but for every project that you commit to hereafter) and make sure that you have carefully heeded all the specs, notes, special requirements and deadlines of the project.

Submit the efficiently completed project within the promised deadline and ask for client review. Any changes / revisions that the client highlights will need to be taken care of. Finally after everything is done, the project can be marked as complete (with mutual agreement)

This is where you get the fruits of your labor, so be careful of how you tread here. As soon as the project is marked complete, request the client to either release the escrow or remaining 60-70 % of payment (as the case may be).

Once the payment is completed, you will have a chance to ask for feedback for the work done. Most of the freelance job websites have provided this facility via a feedback-cum-rating form.

Request your client to fill this form. High feedbacks/ ratings in your profile can help in enhancing your reputation as a freelance writer, which in turn helps to win more freelance writing projects for you in future on that freelance site. When it is your turn to rate your client, try to be as generous as you can with the positive comments (unless you have had a bad experience of course).

So there you go with 6 steps to net your first freelance writing project. Make practical use of them and kick start your freelance writing career.