You guys! I am so excited to share this with you today! One of the questions I get asked almost on a daily basis is from Moms who are at home, trying to figure out just how to make their finances work. They want to know how to save, but they often ask me what I recommend for making money at home. I have written some on How to Make Money with Blogging because that’s the aspect of the industry I know really well, and that’s what’s worked for me, but that’s really just the beginning there are so many ways you can make money online.
Recently I had the opportunity to meet Holly Johnson, Holly is the mom of 2 sweet girls and the creator of the new Earn More Writing course. Currently she earns over $200,000 a year Freelance Writing for other websites online. Holly earned enough in her first 12 months of Free Lance Writing to be able to quit her full time job! I was so excited when Holly agreed to share with us some of her wisdom and knowledge, in this guest post on how to make your First $100 as a Freelance Writer.
How to Make Your First $100 as a Freelance Writer
When I first tried my hand at freelance writing, I had no idea what I was doing. I was creating funny and interesting content that entertained for sure, but mostly for my own blog – ClubThrifty.com. I did have a certain amount of writing talent, but I had no idea how to parlay those skills into paid work.
After a while, I finally figured it out. It took a few months to get my foot in the door, but I eventually started guest posting and networking my way to real, legitimate writing jobs. It wasn’t easy at first, but hardly anything worth doing is.
Fortunately, all of my hard work paid off in spades. After writing on the side for around 12 months, I made enough money to quit my job to pursue my freelance career full-time. Yep, I put in a one-month notice at my mortuary job the minute I could, and practically bounced out the front door.
Since then, I’ve grown my income from humble beginnings to a steady six-figure salary. Last year, I invoiced for around $180,000 in freelance work. This year, I’m on schedule to earn around $225,000 for my freelance endeavors alone.
I’ve also earned ongoing work in popular publications like The Simple Dollar, Lending Tree, Wise Bread, U.S. News and World Report Travel, and Frugal Travel Guy. Even better, I just began writing for my local newspaper, The Indianapolis Star. So, if you love reading about money or travel on the internet, you have probably read my words.
5 Ways to Earn Your First $100 as a Freelance Writer
Over time, I’ve found that scoring consistent work with the same handful of clients is the best way to earn a salary you can count on. Of course, this lesson is one I learned the hard way, with plenty of bumps and setbacks during my journey.
With years of experience under my belt, I have also mastered some of the most important aspects of freelancing – things like how to pitch clients, how to add more value, how to raise your rates, and how to get your first “big break.”
To help new writers forge their own path, I even created a new course earlier this year. EarnMoreWriting.com is not only the premier course for online freelancers on the web, but it’s my pride and joy. Through nine video modules and an array of printed resources, I help new freelancers earn their first $100 – and their first $1,000 – creating cool content for the web.
If you dream of turning your writing skills into a paid job you can count on, I can help. Here are five tips to help you earn your first $100 writing content for others:
Offer to guest post for free…at first.
Before you can find paid work, it helps to get your name and writing style in front of others. It also helps to have writing samples you can show off on your blog or “hire me” page.
One way to get your foot in the door is to guest post on similar websites for free. While you don’t want to work for free forever, creating a few one-off posts for other websites is a great way to get a few starter pieces in front of eyeballs. And who knows? Guest posting might even lead to paid work.
Check out the job boards.
When it comes to finding paid work, it helps to know where to look. Fortunately, an array of freelancing job boards offer ads suited to writers looking for a paid gig.
The Problogger job board is a smart place to start, although there are a ton of other options that might suit your niche or writing style better.
Create a profile on websites for freelancers.
In addition to freelancing job boards, the internet is teeming with online platforms meant to connect freelancers with those who hire. By finding the right platforms and creating a profile with your best work, you may get connected to a business or larger blog who hires writers for ongoing work or one-off jobs.
You’ll never know unless you try.
Figure out your ideal “niche.”
A lot of writers love creating content, yet have absolutely no clue what to write about. When it comes to finding paid work, this is a fatal flaw. If you don’t know what to write about, it’s much harder to look for paid work.
While finding your niche isn’t an exact science, asking yourself a few key questions might point you in the right direction. What are you truly passionate about? Does your former career help you qualify as a subject matter expert? What are your areas of expertise? Answer these questions, and you’ll find your niche in no time.
Create a simple pitch letter and sell it.
If you want to get your first “big break,” it’s important to create a pitch letter that inspires. A pitch letter is a written email that serves as a job inquiry, but also includes details on some of your best work.
Nobody likes cold pitching clients, yet it’s an inevitable part of working as a freelancer. If you truly want to find paid work, you might as well start perfecting your pitch now.
The Bottom Line
I knew I was ready for something different when I found myself working miserable hours for mediocre pay. If you’re in a similar boat or just want to try something different, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
My new course, EarnMoreWriting.com, can help, but you have to be willing to devote time and energy to get the ball rolling. Writing online is a rewarding and lucrative way to make a living, but it only works when you do.
