With the ever-growing need for content, writing businesses are becoming a popular way to make money. But it’s not just about how good you are at creating or editing pieces of work; it also depends on what type of business you set up. There is no one size fits all when starting a writing business in 2020 and that means success will depend on which approach works best with your skillset.
Content writing is a popular business to start in 2020. There are many ways to go about starting a content writing business, but there are some things that you will need to take into consideration before you decide on your own company.
“Every firm is a media company,” ex-FT writer and Silicon Valley Watcher editor Tom Foremski stated a decade ago. He was implying that, increasingly, even businesses that are uninterested in news or journalism must be able to engage with consumers via the written word.
Given the rise of content marketing, blogging, and social media, it seems that talented writers will continue to be in great demand.
It’s simpler than ever to start your own writing company, but making it a full-time job is still difficult. This article will assist you in determining if writing as a main employment or as a side hustle is a viable option for you in 2020.
I recently assisted a digital firm in its quest for a full-time copywriter. The search was unsuccessful. None of the numerous professional writers in the area would take full-time, long-term positions.
Why?
They’re all now self-employed, and they’ve worked out how to make money out of it. Top-notch writing is in great demand in this era of ubiquitous material, and freelancing has its advantages.
This occupation is great for persons with the correct skill set because of the wide market and flexible hours. But first, assess your abilities and be critical and honest with yourself. Are you an accomplished writer? Are you prepared to provide full-service customer support on your own? It’s one thing to work full-time as a writer, but it’s quite another to manage client relationships. Are you well-versed enough in particular fields to write compellingly?
Yes? Good. Let’s take a closer look at the specifics now.
What should you think about before starting your own writing business?
1. Wages
When compared to any mid-level office employment, the compensation an aspiring writer might anticipate may seem disheartening at first. Despite the growing need for skilled writers and the growing number of specialists in the area, few authors earn their livelihood solely from freelance writing. It’s not impossible, but they’ve been working hard for years to get there. This isn’t intended to be negative, but it’s vital to be honest with yourself about what you may anticipate when you first start out.
The professional, self-employed writer runs the danger of having an inconsistent income. You’ll be astonished at the possibility if you sign enough contracts and get a handful of long-term positions. Consider each smaller writing job as a chance to establish a solid working relationship with a firm so that you become their first option for larger, longer-term assignments.
Don’t sell yourself too short. Do some research to determine how much you should charge for your services based on your skill level and the scope of each assignment. You may get a sense of the typical range by looking at the resources here and here.
2. Client interaction
In the realm of writing, there is a lot of rivalry. Provide exceptional customer service to establish a long-term connection. Go above and above to provide your customers with customized care they won’t find anyplace else. Make it a habit to promise less and deliver more.
Always do what you’re supposed to do, and establish clear expectations from the start. It may seem simple, but it may be difficult. Based on an in-person meeting, phone, or Skype chat, produce a concise proposal for each assignment, detailing the specific scope of work the customer expects you to do.
Make a comprehensive questionnaire for yourself to guide your dialogue with and serve as the basis for your scope paper. Before you start, have your customer sign the proposal as a show of agreement that you’re both on the same page. Keep a copy on file and send it to them through email.
3. Growth that is within reach
Aside from the most precious asset—your time and effort—writing requires a very cheap initial investment. A degree in writing or journalism may be beneficial, although credentials are not required. You’ll need a computer, an internet connection, and a work location that’s comfortable for you, as well as the ability to have phone or Skype conversations with customers on occasion. All you need to operate your company is a passion for what you do and satisfied customers.
Developing a reputation as an expert is a certain method to raise your fee. Choose an industry in which you have the greatest confidence and become an expert. Write about what you know and do what you’re excellent at. But don’t stop learning. Find a mentor, ideally an excellent editor who will answer your queries and assist you in improving writing abilities. Keep a look out for industry conventions and beneficial online courses. Don’t underestimate the importance of having a good command of the English language.
Writing specialists, on the whole, have a lot of information and a compelling style. Work on your writing abilities the same way you would any other business skill. Continue to read, blog, and freewrite.
4. Adaptability
The majority of authors rank having a flexible schedule as the most important factor for considering freelance writing. As long as there is Wi-Fi, you can work from wherever.
You’re also not tied to a single company. This offers you the flexibility to establish different hourly rates for certain tasks. For example, social media management may pay $15 per Instagram post, while a ghostwriting assignment can pay up to $15K in a single run.
It won’t make you a billionaire until you can grow your services without working 20 hours a day, but it does offer certain advantages. Another advantage is that you don’t have to go all in and leave your day job while starting your writing career. You may begin scaling it while doing your day job.
Pro tip: If you have the financial means, consider relocating to a nation where the cost of living is comparable to your income. Thousands of authors have chosen Southeast Asia or tiny European locations as their destinations.
What’s the best way to get started?
Pick a niche for yourself.
The following is a list of services that are currently in great demand. Reduce your choices to a few that you are most confident in.
- Business names, slogans, commercial campaigns, public relations, and advertorials are all examples of commercial work.
- Instagram updates, Facebook postings, and profile descriptions are all examples of social media.
- Personal and corporate blogs, feeds, and community bulletins are examples of web content.
- Manuals, instructions, and technical specifications are examples of technical documents.
- Business: Pitch decks, grant applications, and business proposals
- Translations are a fantastic topic to think about if you speak a second language.
- Novels, short tales, poems, and plays are examples of fiction writing.
- Biographies, memoirs, and business publications are all examples of ghostwriting.
- Dialogues, scripts, and interactive narrative in mobile and computer games (a rare breed that you can find on niche bulletin boards)
- News, reportage, and corporate journalism are all examples of journalism.
- Product reviews, experience reviews, and book reviews are all examples of reviews.
- Children’s literature includes popular science, fiction, and poetry.
Create a portfolio
Whatever kind of writing you pick, you’ll need to develop a suitable portfolio. Make certain it persuades prospective employers that you are the ideal applicant for the position. The failsafe solution is a decent web page with your greatest writing examples. It’s much better if you can provide examples of your work that have been published.
Contently, Journo, and Clippings.me are three portfolio systems that are simple to use.
Prepare your writing samples.
- Take a look at your Google Docs. There’s a strong possibility you’ll discover something suitable to begin your portfolio.
- Create a Medium blog and publish your work on LinkedIn.
- Find a mentor and join a writing community. For example, college publications are frequently welcoming to prospective writers. Obtain comments from a professional editor if possible.
- Don’t be shy if you operate your own blog or company Facebook page. Showcase the items that are exceptionally excellent.
- Ask customers whether you may utilize snippets from their orders in your portfolio as soon as you obtain your first assignments.
How do you get paying customers?
Larger organizations, on average, have larger expenditures, allowing them to be more profitable. Medical and business writing are the most expensive, so go into the healthcare and business development areas for more money. If you intend to write for online publications, Contently’s prices database is certainly worth checking out.
To begin developing your clientele, follow these steps:
Make use of your own connections.
Make contact with your friends, coworkers, community, and internet contacts. Tell them you’re searching for clients and make it simple for them to browse your portfolio. Make some business cards and put them to good use. There’s a good probability that someone in your network needs writing assistance.
Make presentations to local companies.
Finding local writing job has several advantages. When you can meet in person, it can be easier to immerse yourself in a company’s brand and voice. Determine the appropriate person to approach and inquire if they need your writing expertise for any forthcoming assignments. Remember that knowing and being able to write in a company’s established voice and tone is an important aspect of writing for them.
Make use of internet platforms.
Clients you meet via online freelancing platforms may not seem to have much promise for long-term partnerships. These platforms, on the other hand, may be beneficial for generating sporadic jobs. There’s always the chance that a single successful endeavor may blossom into something greater.
Popular sites include Upwork and Freelancer.
You establish a writer’s profile on Upwork and get email notifications when customers choose you to pitch for their assignments. If you take the time to develop a good profile, you should be able to obtain a few calls every month.
Freelancing is brimming with opportunities, but the competition is fierce. To obtain a decent catch, you’ll need to keep tuned in all the time.
However, be cautious out there. The bad news is that frauds have been reported on both of those sites on a regular basis. Use common judgment and keep in mind that anything that seems to be too good to be true most likely is. The good news is that new platforms appear on a daily basis. For starters, check out Fiverr, ProBlogger, and PeoplePerHour.
Make use of LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is an excellent place to find prospective clients. If you’ve already identified your specialty, you already know what kind of work and clientele you desire. What kind of publication would you want to contribute to? So, how about some hospitality? Finance? Type it into the search box on LinkedIn. Switch to the “Companies” tab in the results box to get a list of companies that match your term. To continue, choose a firm and click the “See all employees on LinkedIn” option.
Send a compelling proposal to the content officers that is personalized for each organization. It seems more professional than cold emailing, and companies will be more likely to respond quickly.
ProTip: You will almost certainly be rejected. It’ll happen; it’s part of the deal when you’re a freelance writer. Not every job is a good fit for you. Don’t let it get the best of you. Make the most of those rejections by fine-tuning your pitch.
What you can do right now to begin your writing career:
- Set your own prices.
- Define your specialty areas.
- Practice your writing skills.
- Create a blog (Twitter might also help!)
- Make a big deal out of it in your social circles.
- Make a pitching proposal.
You’ve got this.
Establishing a writing company is difficult, but no more so than starting any other kind of business. Spend time preparing, laying out your strategy, identifying problems, and choosing how to overcome them. Now is the time to take action.
Watch This Video-
A lot of people are considering launching a writing business in 2020. They’re wondering if they should start one or not. There are a few things to consider before you decide. Reference: online writing jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you start a writing business?
A: I can be a professional writer. You could hire me to write for your website, blog or magazine.
What do you need to start a writing business?
A: To start a business, you will need to have an idea that is unique and marketable. Youll also need the skills necessary to be able to do what your company does. A good way of determining whether or not you are ready for this career change is by talking with someone who has already done it, as they may know more about how much work needs to go into running such a project than anyone else would.
How do I start a content writing agency?
A: To start a content writing agency, you will need to have an understanding of the different types of writing. Content can be in form of articles, blog posts and ebooks for example. You should also properly research your target audience with their trends so that you are able to provide them something they want. Once this is sketched out, it would give you more clarity on how much money the market is willing to pay per article or blog post and what kind of features people expect from such articles/blog posts etc.,
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