As the demand for quality content on the Internet continues to increase, the opportunity to earn a full-time income as a freelance writer is perhaps better today than ever before. If you’re just getting your feet wet in the challenging world of freelance writing, watch out for these 10 common mistakes:
#1: Not Setting Up a Website
With the abundance of blogging job boards, content mills, and freelance websites online, many long-time freelance writers have managed to cut a career out of writing for content agencies without ever having a real web presence of their own.
Unfortunately, many of these content mills and revenue share websites offer pennies in return for all your hard work and expertise.
Additionally, job security is far from guaranteed: Work may become sparse as more writers are added to the job pool, and in the worst case scenario the company might go bankrupt and suddenly disappear.
Setting up a website should be your prime objective as a new freelance writer. A well-structured website will brand you as a professional and give you a place to showcase your very best work as well as display important information such as previous experience, areas of expertise, policies, and contact information.
Your website can also serve as a valuable marketing platform. Consider including a blog covering industry news that your target clientele will find interesting.
On your home page, include an opt-in form for a regularly published email newsletter. This is a great way to build relationships with new clients and secure repeat business with existing ones. There are many free and easy-to-use website builders and blogging platforms these days – if you want to maximize your freelance potential you can’t afford to ignore them.