COVID-19 has taken a toll on many professionals, and freelance writers have not been spared either. The lockdowns have shuttered many businesses, leaving stranded not only their employees but also their outsourced talent ecosystem.
But instead of worrying and moping, freelance writers should make this an opportunity to gear up for the post-COVID times. Companies will eventually open up, and you should be ready to win any business that comes your way.
So, here are 5 tips to make the best out of the pandemic lull so you can boost earnings when clients get back into action.
1. Master your craft
Let’s face it. There’s no end to learning, no matter how good you are as a writer. Of course, there are plenty of tools today to make writing that much easier. Grammarly will point out grammatical errors, the Hemingway Editor will assess the readability level of your work, and Copyscape will check for any duplicate content.
But these are tools programmed to help you, not to do your job. As a writer, it’s essential to enhance knowledge and hone skills. Mastering your craft regularly and consistently is critical to stay on top of your game. Besides, writing styles, content structure, and techniques can all change over time. So, keeping up with trends is essential to ensure content remains relevant and effective. This is the only way to deliver value to clients in the long term.
2. Expand your portfolio
Many freelance writers specialize in a specific area of writing, like blog posts, eBooks, or white papers. Limiting to one or two niches can help focus better and build expertise. But to expand a writing business and multiply the available opportunities, it’s important to widen your portfolio.
So, if you’ve specialized in blog posts, expand into case studies and white papers. Start with mock projects you could add to the work portfolio. Study techniques that are unique to each niche. Then build expertise by writing in those areas. Once done, write some more.
Also, consider expanding the industry niche. For instance, if you’re currently specializing in tech articles, try writing on business, marketing, or even finance. Of course, this is not about becoming a jack of all trades. But building expertise in a few more industries will definitely help expand the client base.
3. Develop complementing skills
There are several additional skills that could support the career of a freelance writer. The best example is designing. Whether you specialize in social media copy or white papers, you can bundle up content with layouts by improving design skills. These extra services could significantly boost earnings. Your clients will be happy, too, without the hassles of hiring a designer.
And the best part? Learning new skills is much easier today than it was a few decades back. For example, there are plenty of easy-to-use online tools like Canva that can get any budding designer started in a few minutes. All you need is a little bit of patience and a good dose of creativity. Before you know it, you’ll be designing cover images for articles, layouts for eBooks, and infographics to support blog posts.
There are many more similar skills you can develop to complement a writing career. These can include photography, animations, or even a bit of coding. It’s an easy way to stand out from the crowd and win more business.
4. Publish
Getting work published is essential for any freelance writer. Published content can add credibility and amplify exposure to your work.
So, start publishing while you wait for clients to open up shop. Reach out to third-party blogs, magazines, and news sites. Write a couple of eBooks and put them up on an online publishing site like Amazon. Then don’t forget social media platforms. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are all great options to get your work across to different types of massive audiences. Free publishing platforms like Medium and HubPages are another option. These are all excellent ways to get work published.
And don’t be modest about sharing published work. The more your content is liked and shared, the more visibility it will get.
5. Expand your network
A network of like-minded professionals is essential to learn and share knowledge, build contacts, and ultimately create new opportunities.
So, take a proactive approach to expand your network. Reach out to just about anyone who can spread the word about your writing business. Social media, forums, and blogs are great places to start. Identify and network with influencers—they might promote your content and dramatically raise visibility. Help others by sharing ideas, suggestions, and advice—this will allow you to demonstrate knowledge and establish yourself as a domain expert. All these will go a long way to help acquire new business.
COVID-19 has, no doubt, driven many professionals to re-evaluate their approach to work. As businesses scramble to rebuild themselves, one thing is for sure: opportunities will always present themselves in more ways than one. However, those who adapt to changing times will be the first to harness opportunities in a post-COVID era. So, use these tips to step up your game ahead of others and thrive in the months to come.
