Freelance writing is a great way to add some extra income to your bank account. But it’s also one of the most competitive fields out there. So how do you stand out and make yourself attractive as a freelance writer? The answer lies in following some best practices for freelance content writing, which we’ll discuss further below:
Do Your Research
One of the best ways to ensure that you are being paid fairly and make sure that you deliver a high-quality product is by doing research. Research is also essential for helping you understand your client’s industry, audience, and competitors.
Researching means learning all the information possible about your topic or market. This can include:
- The history of the industry/subject matter
- Statistics on current trends in the field (what people are looking for)
- How other brands are marketing themselves
Use a PDF editor to make edits on the go
With a PDF editor like PDFSimpli, you can write in whatever font and size you want. You can also add images (and links to them) within the document, so it’s not just text-based. If you use a PDF editor to edit PDF online and again save as PDF, you can make changes to your documents on the fly without having to install any additional software on your device. Your answer to questions like how to rotate PDF and save is also here.
Have a Distraction-Free Writing Space
As a writer, you need to be able to focus on your work. That means not having any distractions while you’re trying to write. Here are some suggestions:
- No phone calls or text messages
- No TV or music (or anything else that might distract you) playing in the background
- No pets around (especially if they’re easily distracted and/or loud)
- No food or drinks (water is okay, but don’t drink anything caffeinated)
Understand Your Client’s Target Audience
As a content writer, it’s your job to understand the target audience for each piece of content you write. The more you know about them, the better you can connect with them and make sure that your writing resonates with their needs.
Understanding who your client wants to reach makes it easier for you to create content that they will find valuable and shareable. You may even come up with ideas for where they should take their marketing efforts next.
Set Clear Expectations and Goals
First, you’ll want to set clear expectations for yourself and your client. The goal of this step is twofold: it will help you keep on track with the project at hand and give your client a better idea of what they can expect from you.
If you’re working as a freelancer for someone else’s company or brand, you first want to get their goals in writing. This may seem an obvious step—and it is important—but there are some cases where people go into freelance projects without laying out exactly their end goal for hiring someone.
