You’re intrigued by the idea of having a writing career. You like the idea of being able to work from anywhere, have a flexible schedule, and make a good living by tapping on your keyboard.
Yet, you feel overwhelmed and aren’t sure how to make your dream a reality.
Welcome to the club. I was once in that same boat.
In fact, I spent several years dabbling in this and that. I bought courses. I read articles. I started an information site, learned how to write for the web, and grew the site to 87,500 visitors per month. But I still didn’t think about offering digital-copywriting services to potential clients.
That is until a layoff forced me into action, and I realized I needed to figure out something fast! But what? There were so many possible services to offer… so many skills to learn.
It was while listening to a webinar with Rebecca Matter and Nick Usborne on the social media opportunity that something clicked for me.
I didn’t have to offer everything.
I could offer web content and social media. At the time, I was attending local events regularly, and the business owners I met were often confused by Facebook and LinkedIn. They’d ask me questions, and I soon found myself giving an ad hoc mini lecture on how to use social media for business.
Since there was a clear interest, I started offering social media workshops in my suburban community. Doing those workshops led to web-copy projects.
Fast forward a couple of years and I wanted to work with bigger companies around the country. I decided to offer blogging, since it came with the opportunity for ongoing work. I crafted a message that highlighted my blogging experience and started reaching out to prospects via email.
More recently, I shifting into writing case studies and profiles.
The point is you don’t have to offer ALL the potential writing projects. That would be overwhelming for you and for your client. No one wants a menu of services. They want to know if you can help them accomplish one thing.
Which is good news for you, because you can focus on getting good at one type of writing and finding clients who need that resource. Then, you can expand.
If you’ve been blogging for a client for a while, you can ask if they need web copy or help with their social media. If they say, “yes,” then bam! You’ve just gained a new project (or two). Even if they’re not ready right now, you’ve planted the seed for later.
Here Are 3 Possible Scenarios for a New Writer
When you choose one writing service to offer (to start), it gives you focus, so you can build momentum.
Service 1: Blogging
Sources say as many as 75% of B2B marketers outsource their content-creation activities, including blog writing. Which isn’t surprising, because it’s demanding to keep up a company blog.
If you’d like to blog for businesses, then pick a topic you know something about and give yourself an assignment. Maybe you’re a former realtor and can easily write a post on things new homeowners need to look for when buying their first home.
Now you have a sample to show prospects.
Service 2: Email Marketing
How many emails do you get from companies on any given day? 5? 100? From airlines to restaurants to webinar announcements, our inboxes are stuffed with messages.
Each of those emails was written by someone… many of them by freelancers. Personally, I think emails are among the most fun copy to write. They’re short. They have a specific purpose. And you can even write first drafts on your phone, no matter where you are. After all, nearly half of them will be read on a phone, so it’s helpful to see how it looks there.
Service 3: Web Copy
I started my web-writing career when I told a friend I was hanging out my writing shingle and she said, “I’ll be your first customer!” My project was writing her web copy for a new dog-training business.
If you’re interested in writing web copy, you can start with your own website. You’ll have to think through the different pages you’ll need. For example, your Home page, About page, and Services page each have different functions. And then craft each one. It will get you familiar with the process and help you put forward a professional-looking site for your business.
For Newer Writers
My best advice, if you’re a newer writer, is to pick one writing project at first and get some practice with it. It builds your confidence, which will come through when you talk with potential prospects. And, once you’ve written a few emails, blog posts, or web pages, you’ll feel ready to add on to your skillset.
Companies need multiple types of writing, but you only need to do one to get your foot in the door. You can start working with a client on their web copy and then ask about their email-marketing or blogging plans down the road, when you’re ready.
You may be surprised at how often one project leads to something else. Do you have a favorite type of writing project? Please post it in the comments!
