What you’ve heard is true: you have to spend money to make money. Yes, you can get your freelance writing business started without really putting up much cash. You can do like I did, and start writing for a friend, or you can hire on to one of the larger content creation shops like Demand Studios. Both are viable, free ways to get into the freelance writing business.
However, if you want to grow your business and move into new and different types of opportunities, you need to spend some cash. Specifically, you need to spend some money on marketing. But, where do you spend it so as to get the most bang for your buck?
Here area few places you can drop some coin that will, ultimately, increase your freelance writing business income:
1. Get some business cards. I won’t go into all the merits here (click the link if you need convincing) but I will say that a business card with a quality design can bring you both attention and new business.
2. Put up a website. A website gives you a way to display your writing portfolio online, and you can direct folks to it via social media, your email tagline or even your business card. You can get web hosting for a few bucks a month. You can put up a blog on your site if you want to try to create attention or if you’re trying to break into the blog writing market, too.
3. Hire a professional designer for your website. You might have a good eye for design, but your website will look amateurish unless you hire a real professional. If you can’t afford a designer yet, do the best you can, but this should be a priority.
4. Join a freelance marketplace. Elance and Guru both come to mind. Both offer very limited “free” memberships, but putting a little bit of money into an actual membership can really pay off.
5. Educate yourself. I’ve been talking a lot about Seth Godin and Zig Ziglar lately, I know. Don’t worry, I go through phases with these sorts of things. The point is, learn what you can from marketing and sales experts, as well as from other freelance experts.
For the most part, I invest in my own education because I feel this generates the best results for my career. I put it even above building a beautiful Web site.
I know you have only a chance to make a first impression. However, if I don’t have the qualifications needed to make that first impression last, I won’t benefit at all from my super well-designed site, as prospects won’t hire me.
I haven’t spent a single penny for marketing of my personal blog…All I do is social bookmarking and social networking.
Anyway liked your post.
Thanks
TC
Such a good idea. I will think about this .
Thanks