How to Achieve Freelance Business Success

When I first started freelancing the thing that surprised me the most was, I found myself spending more time running a business than actually writing. After being downsized from the company I worked for at the time as a copywriter, I searched for a new place to land. In the meantime, a previous work colleague contacted me, asking if I was interested in writing copy for her construction website, which would include a blog (posting twice a week). Of course, I said “yes.” Here are some strategies to make your freelance business successful.

Select Your Niche

There are a lot of freelancers out there, including a lot of freelance writers. Find a way to distinguish yourself from other writers offering similar services.

While it might be helpful to one-time or occasional clients to be able to produce copy on a variety of topics, having a specific niche – being an authority – will inspire trust. When clients trust you, they will keep coming back.

Targeting the kind of client you want to work with is easier when your niche is well-defined. This allows you to use your skill sets and experience to customize your articles and projects to address their unique needs.

Legal Requirements

You do not have to register your business in Canada if:

• Annual earnings are $30,000 or less

• Using your legal name, e.g. Jane Smith and not a trade name, Elegant Writing Services

However, depending on where you live in the province, you might have to apply for a home-business licence regardless of what you earn annually. Check your local bylaws for any requirements and/or restrictions.

Secure Hosting Platform

A secure hosting platform is a must for any professional website. Select one that is user-friendly, reliable, has good customer service, and offers features useful to freelancers such as a free domain name with matching email address (e. g. ElegantWritingServices.com and yourname@elegantwritingservices.com), free SSL certificates, and scalable resources.

Choose your domain name wisely – it should be easy to spell, contain keywords related to your business, and reflect the company’s core purpose.

Business Website

Having a business website is essential for enhancing visibility, credibility, and accessibility. A well-designed site should include the following pages:

• Homepage – the first thing a potential client sees; content should be current, up-to-date, and have working (no broken) links

• About page – Tell potential customers who you are, what you do, how long you’ve been in business, and what you can offer them that your competitors can’t

• Portfolio – Create an online portfolio; update it regularly

• FAQ page – Add an FAQ page that answers common questions you’ve been asked about your business; it makes it easier for potential customers to visualize working with you

• Products or services page – What do you have to offer? It’s a way of showing people what they will be paying for

• Contact page – It should list your business phone number, email, and social media links. This page could also be or include a contact form

• Blog – While the time and resources needed to maintain a business blog might seem better spent elsewhere, it actually is good for your brand: showcases your knowledge and expertise; builds a connection between you and your audience; improves conversion rates; generates organic traffic

• Testimonials – Gives your clients a platform to share their experiences (and recommend you)

A good marketing strategy is to make your business website interactive. When you include a search box, site map, Google map, a survey, or real-time chat, you increase the time a potential client spends discovering what you have to offer.

Something in Writing

Regardless of the size of the project, you should always have a contract signed by both you and your client(s). It can range from a general agreement that covers the basic terms of the work to be done to a multi-page contract outlining in detail every stage of the project.

There are templates available online to help you write your own contract that can be tailored to a specific client. If the project suffers from scope creep, the client refuses to pay, or you get ghosted, you will have something in writing to fall back on.

Setting Your Rates

Knowing what to charge can pose a dilemma for many freelance writers – you don’t want to price yourself out of the project, but you don’t want to quote a price that’s too low. Pricing models for freelancers include:

• Per word

• Hourly

• Project-based pricing (fixed fee)

• Retainer pricing – a monthly fee for a specific amount of work ($X = 8 blogs)

• Value-based pricing – Focus is on compensating for expertise and not on time; generally recommended for expert writers in niches such as fintech, technical writing, strategic content marketing, and medical/scientific articles

Before setting your rates, take into account:

• Your skills, expertise, and value

• Market rates matching your niche

• Rates charged be your main competitors for similar projects

• All of the project requirements, including time spent researching

• Non-billable aspects of the project such the initial meeting with a client, emails/texts/phone calls, a proposal or quote, administrative and marketing tasks

• Cost of living where you live – you need to pay expenses

• Where your client lives – they might be accustomed to paying higher fees

Review your rates periodically to stay competitive. Raise rates annually to keep up with the cost of living.