12 Highly Effective Ways to Get Freelance Writing Clients

What are you doing right now? I hope you’re changing your hobby writing passion into a money-making profession!

Becoming a freelancer is the hot thing right now.

This is a good thing because we have the ability to set our rate and find new freelance clients.

12 Highly Effective Ways to Get Freelance Writing Clients

A challenge many of us face is finding freelance writing jobs. Where the heck do you find freelance clients that pay well?

You hear stories of how to get freelance writing clients and you’ve been struggling on Upwork trying to make more than $20 a project.

I know for new freelance writers, this is the most challenging thing. I get ya!

But, did you know that you can find a way to attract clients to you? It’s called inbound marketing and if you know how to get new clients, there’s no need to jump on job boards and ask around for work.

Here are 12 effective ways you can get steady work if you are looking for clients.

1. Hone Your Niche

What’s your writing niche? Is it parenting? Real estate? Law?

These are pretty general writing niches. To get a client online, it’s best to hone your writing niche and make it easy for prospects to find you and to realize you’re their writer.

Maybe you’re a parent writer for apps or freelance academic writers. Look at your niche and see if you can dive a little more deeper and see where you can exploit your writing.

For more information on finding the best writing niche, check this article here.

2. Guest Post

As a new freelance writer, you have to get your name out there! One easy way is to guest post.

This is writing for another blog. You get an author bio with links to your website or hire me page. Prospects who read your writing can contact you and hire you on the spot!

I write for OptinMonster and I get a lot of inquiries from prospects based on my posts on that site.

If you don’t have any freelance clients yet, the best way to get out there is to guest post and market your author bio. This is the most effective piece of real estate you can have on your post.

And you know what?

You can get paid to build your portfolio. There are blogs that pay writers to guest post on!

3. Improve Your Skill

No one is born to be an online writer.

This is a new profession and if you want to be in this industry for a long time, it’s best to improve your skill as an online writer.

This means learning how to market your business, handle clients in a professional way, or it might mean being certified for a skill.

Be versed in the latest trends in your niche; know how to use certain tools like Asana or Skitch or Trello.

Freelance writing clients will see that you are easy to work with and don’t have to worry about teaching you or changing their routine.

4. Develop a Strong brand

One thing I learned is that you need a brand as a freelance writer. Now I know my writer website has been changed a lot over many years.

But, each of those new changes had a strong brand behind it. And with this Elna Cain site, I also have a brand associated with this.

A brand is made up of your visual elements as well as what you stand for and how you portray yourself online.

You may be a writer that’s also a blogger or a writer that likes to curse or a writer that only writes for popular magazines.

By branding yourself, you become easier to remember and prospects will find that you fit their brand and contact you.

5. Get Testimonials from Previous Clients

If you have freelance copywriting clients already, make sure you gather some testimonials from them. Having a place with your testimonials can help you attract clients.

How?

Because of social proof. When prospects see that other people like your writing and would recommend your services, then they are more likely to hire you.

When I first started and didn’t have any clients, I used my connections. I was guest posting on FreelancerFAQs when it was still owned by Alicia Rades and I asked her for a testimonial.

So, it’s okay to ask other writers or freinds for a testimonial of your work.

6. Provide Value

Clients want your writing, but it must fulfill their idea. Remember, they are paying for your words, so your words better be dang good and have uber value.

If you’re writing is engaging, can help solve a problem, gives good tactics, tips and strategies, has images or screenshots to elaborate what you are talking about and all that jazz…your client will love it.

 

7. Wow Current Clients

I’ve talked a lot on this blog, but it goes without saying that part of being a freelance writer, isn’t constantly hustling to find work, it’s nurturing your client list.

For a lot of my freelance clients, I’m their only content writer. Whether it’s ghostwritten or not, I mostly provide weekly content for their blog.

So, if I’m constantly late on deadlines, change the content schedule, or don’t fulfill the scope of the project, a client isn’t going to keep you.

I’ve been writing professionally for over two years and a good chunk of my clients have stuck with me and I’ve had one-off clients reach out to me again numerous times.

This is because I provide a stellar service.

My writing is error free, is engaging, has a visual component and it’s properly formatted for their content management system like WordPress.

So, how does wowing clients attract more clients? Clients will refer you behind your back…I know! It’s happened to me and I’m utterly shocked..

Your clients hang in the same circle and they are actually friends! So wow your current clients because you never know who they are talking to.

8. Be Helpful

One way to finding clients is to be helpful on social media. If you hang out on Facebook groups, answer questions and make it known that you’re a writer.

If someone has a question about their sales page content or blog content or managing their schedule, jump in.

Facebook – for me – has been a great way to market my services. I have a Facebook page that helps me drive traffic to this blog and get noticed with bigger brands.

9. Be Available

As a freelancer, the one thing that many people think about is that we can set our own hours and if we don’t want to work, we don’t have to.

Well, that is right, but typically, when we don’t work, we don’t make money.

I’ve been doing this for many years and even though I may not be in work mode during the weekends, I still check my email.

You have to remember that the nature of being an online writer means that you will have clients from all over the world. What’s your morning, it may be their midnight.

For example, I have clients in Israel and their weekend starts on my Friday and ends on my Sunday. So it’s not usual to get emails from them on Sunday morning.

So, if you want to know how to get clientele, be available!

10. Have a Blog (or Two!)

Do you have a blog? I hope so! Not having a blog as a freelance writer is almost like having a dentist with bad teeth! It just doesn’t make sense to me.

A blog can serve as a marketing strategy by providing samples for your portfolio, show your dedication and consistency (only if you blog consistently), and it provides material for social posting.

I recently started Twins Mommy and within several months I was already getting emails from people wanting me to write for them based on my Twins Mommy posts.

So start a blog and be consistent!

11. Tell People What the Heck You Do

One thing I see with new freelance writers is that they don’t mention that they are a freelance writer!

Instead, they mention their hobbies or likes. For example, here’s one that sites their hobbies and another one that tells you what they do.

Both of them are writers, but one looks like it’s a hobby, while the other tells me she’s getting paid as a writer.

So, whether it’s on social media or on your author bio, tell people what you do.

12. Have a Professional Website

You don’t technically need a professional service-based website in order to land clients. But, you do need one if you want to attract clients.

** I have a super simple, tech-free tutorial on starting a blog for your business (comes with video too!).

Clients have to find you and it’s easier for them if you have a home base like a writer website. It’s professional and it makes you look legit. And it’s a great place to house your portfolio.

Of course there are other places you can have a portfolio like Contently, but having one centralized place just makes it easier for prospects to learn about you and your services and to see where you’ve been writing.

The Long-Term Strategy

I know there are many of you that need to land a freelance writing job last week. I totally get you.

And while there are job boards you can use to quickly land a gig, the best way to get higher-paying clients and ensure that you will never be without work, is to learn the steps to become a freelance writer and run a successful business.

And my freelance writing course is the only one out there that really dives into attracting clients, finding clients and wowing clients. With over 95 ways to find clients in my course, I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to find hoards of clients with my course.

Hi I'm Elna and I'm a freelance writer and mom blogger. I help people just like you become a profitable freelance writer. Within 6 months of starting my freelance writing business from scratch I was able to earn a full-time living as a part-time freelance writer while taking care of my twin toddlers. Check out my free email course Get Paid to Write Online and learn the steps you need to take to be a freelance writer.

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38 Comments

Thank you for the great article and ideas. It was an eye opener for new blogger like myself. You are hugely inspiring.. once again, thank youReply to Shan
I am so glad I made my professional writing website my first priority when it comes to attracting new clients. I had no idea what I was doing then so I’m glad I’ve learned the proper way to do things. Thank you for these awesome tips, Elna!Reply to Lisa
Spectacular post! I’m trying to do a number of guest posts on various sites. Just get started. Do you have any list of good guest posts sites accepting new contributors? Or any tips to hunt guest post sites. I’m also going to use your tip of asking for testimonials from old clients and Wow current clients. It’s going to help a lot.Reply to Arfa
Thanks Arfa! The Write Life has some great posts for guest posts so make sure to check there!Reply to Elna
Hi Elna, I just stumbled upon your blog and I really, really love all of it! You provide so much awesome resources for freelance writers that are just starting out (or in my case – starting to look outside content mill websites like Up work) and I could not thank you enough! Keep up the amazing work, girl 🙂Reply to Denny
Hi Denny! Thank you so much. So happy you found some great resources to help you move out of content mills like Upwork 🙂Reply to Elna
Working on the number two at the moment. Thank you for an informative post and a great blog! EmmaReply to Emma
Hi Emma, That’s great! Glad you found some tips to help you get your ideal clients 🙂Reply to Elna
Is there a code to save the 20%. Also, I have a GREAT personal essay that was rejected by the NYT 🙂 LOL. What other sites do you suggest or should I save it for my personal blog?Reply to Lynn
Hi Lynn! Would you like a 20% discount on my Writeto1k course? Email me and tell me your story! [email protected]Reply to Elna
Where do you recommend hosting a writing website?Reply to Lynn
Hi Lynn, My host is SiteGround and I do have a post on my other blog. If you go through my link you do save 20% off your hosting fees 🙂 https://twinsmommy.com/start-a-blog-for-beginner/Reply to Elna
Hi Elna, Thanks SO much for your posts. They are so helpful to us newbies. Your steps are so easy to follow and take action on. You help makes this journey feel less overwhelming 🙂Reply to Ariel
Thanks so much Ariel! I know I haven’t written for a while but I will soon!Reply to Elna
Hi Elna, I am here for the first time. Well, I also love writing and sharing my views with my audience. I basically write about working from home, productivity tips and transcription. I am also connected with thousands of work at home moms and many of them do freelancing. I think this would be a good read for them and so I’m going to share it on my social channels. Thanks a lot.Reply to Mahesh
Hi Mahesh, Thanks so much for sharing this post. I really appreciate it. Happy to hear you are loving what you are writing and love helping your audience! Thanks again!Reply to Elna
Thanks for sharing such a nice article …… Really amazing post!! 🙂 🙂Reply to HindIndia
Thanks so much! So happy to help you out!Reply to Elna
Great tips, Elna! I am going to use these.Reply to Rachel
Thanks Rachel!Reply to Elna
Hi Elna, I have just found this article via @NotNowMomsBusy Facebook page. This is a really cool stuff and will be really useful for freelancers. I am going to pass this to my social channels so that it helps thousands of work at home moms connected with me.Reply to Mahesh
Hi Mahesh, Thanks so much. I love Cori’s sites and FB page. I’m always humbled when I hear others sharing my content! Thanks so much.Reply to Elna
Hi Elna, You always have some great stuff to share about freelancing! There is still a part of me that wants to pursue freelance writing. I’m bookmarking this for the day I decide to go for it. 🙂 Thanks for sharing! CoriReply to Cori
Hi Cori! Thanks so much. You seem to have your hands full with your sites! Loving the new design mama!Reply to Elna
Aw, thanks hun. You keep on rockin’ as always! CoriReply to Cori
hi elna you are very good guide.your courses are very help full for every body.thanks.Reply to surekshagupta
Hey Elna, recently bought your course after being really impressed by your work. It is hard to believe that you have only been a freelance writer for two years, yet you offer so much value. Really loving the course by the way as it was exactly what I was looking for.Reply to Matthew
Hi Matthew! Thanks so much for purchasing my course and joining us in the private FB group!Reply to Elna