Is it nonetheless potential to become profitable as a contract author in 2025?
Briefly, sure.
AI writing instruments are getting higher, however these freelance writers show that you could nonetheless earn a six determine wage 2025:
Even should you’re simply getting began, this step-by-step information will allow you to begin making a living as a contract author in 2025.
1. Choose Your Area of interest
Some freelance writing niches pay considerably greater than others, so selecting a excessive paying area of interest can dramatically enhance your incomes potential.
Two elements to think about as you’re choosing your freelance writing area of interest are:
- The service
- The shopper
Among the hottest freelance writing platform/alternatives embody:
- Social media: Social media ghostwriting for LinkedIn and X is an in-demand service. It is a nice service should you take pleasure in quick type content material and are a terrific storyteller.
- Content material advertising: Firms rent freelance writers to create weblog posts to rank for particular key phrases. If you wish to be a content material marketer, be taught the fundamentals of search engine marketing, as most firms hiring content material entrepreneurs care extra about rating for key phrases than the content material itself.
- Publication author: Publication writing is a good area of interest should you take pleasure in analysis. Choose a topic you’re keen about as you’ll want to remain on prime of the newest information and traits.You may both ghostwrite a e-newsletter for a person, or you’ll be able to write for a e-newsletter firm (like Morning Brew). Right here’s an instance of a private e-newsletter:
- Electronic mail copywriting: There are a lot of forms of e-mail copywriting, from common firm updates to in-depth nurture sequences. Gross sales emails for merchandise or programs are usually probably the most worthwhile because it’s value it for an organization to pay an additional few thousand {dollars} for an e-mail copywriter who can enhance conversions by even a small share.
- Video scriptwriting: YouTube is maturing as a reputable advertising channel, and loads of firms are hiring scriptwriters. Moreover, many YouTubers have turned their channels into reputable companies and are hiring scriptwriters to expedite the manufacturing course of. Video scriptwriting is clearly an up-and-coming area of interest as one creator just lately earned $70,000 launching a YouTube scriptwriting course.
The following step to choosing your area of interest is selecting your dream shopper – each the business and enterprise.
Pinpointing your dream shopper is necessary as a result of your revenue as a contract author is not correlated with effort.
Your incomes potential is correlated with the worth you ship to purchasers.
Understand that:
Worth ≠ Work High quality
Worth = {Dollars} Earned
This idea is necessary to recollect as a result of the sum of money you generate for a shopper typically varies on elements exterior of your management, like:
- The profitability of their product
- Their viewers measurement
- Their advertising funnel’s optimization
For instance, a terrific e-mail copywriter can cost $10,000 for a gross sales letter that generates $100,000 in revenue for the enterprise – even when they solely spent three hours writing it.
Nonetheless, a model new dropshipping enterprise that sells a $5 product in all probability gained’t pay greater than $100 for a similar quantity of labor. It’s because a brand new firm has a small viewers, and the worth is so low that it doubtless generates little revenue.
As you’re contemplating your dream shopper, ask:
How a lot cash will my outcomes make for this particular person/enterprise?
Listed below are some primary tips for figuring out a mature shopper throughout a number of completely different providers:
- Social media: Entrepreneurs who’ve exited their enterprise or are making eight figures per 12 months.
- Running a blog/content material advertising: Companies with a powerful model (not less than 100k in month-to-month site visitors.) that rely closely on search engine marketing for buyer acquisition.
- Publication: Newsletters that have already got massive sponsors (you’ll be able to subscribe and see how large the businesses sponsoring them are), paid newsletters which have a big subscriber base, and newsletters in extremely profitable industries (assume banking, and so forth.).
- Electronic mail writing: Course creators with a considerable, engaged following (a number of thousand folks) and a excessive worth course ($1,000 plus) or B2B firms that want nurture sequences for prime worth merchandise are all wonderful prospects.
- Video scriptwriting: You may goal a significant YouTuber or a big model like HubSpot that’s starting to create movies for particular key phrases.
Lastly, the business ought to be a subject you’re genuinely keen about, as your ardour will impression each your work high quality and total happiness as a contract author.
For instance, you’ll be able to cost so much to put in writing a e-newsletter about mergers and acquisitions, however when you have little interest in the topic, you in all probability gained’t do nearly as good of a job as somebody who lives and breathes mergers and acquisitions.
Moreover, you’ll burn out should you don’t benefit from the topic you’re writing about, which is able to finally trigger you to fail.
So selecting a topic you like writing about actually does impression how a lot cash you’ll finally earn.
2. Create a Checklist of Your Dream Purchasers
New freelance writers typically make the error of concentrating on smaller purchasers after they first begin as a result of they worry their dream shopper gained’t need somebody inexperienced.
Nonetheless, your dream purchasers don’t actually care about your expertise – they wish to rent an individual who persistently delivers nice work.
Within the subsequent step, you’ll show that you simply’re that A-tier freelancer by creating a tremendous free pattern for that shopper.
In the event you create a stellar pattern piece, most dream purchasers gained’t even ask about your expertise.
However, advertising funds is extra valuable for a smaller shopper, so they might ask extra about your expertise.
The opposite issue that can impression your shut price (the proportion of purchasers that rent you) is whether or not or not the shopper is actively hiring for that service.
If the corporate already has a workforce in place, they may not be keen on hiring one other particular person, no matter your high quality of labor. That field is already “checked” on their to-do listing.
That is why you’ll want to succeed in out to a number of firms. Don’t be discouraged should you don’t obtain a reply in your first few tries.
That stated, if the corporate is actively hiring a full-time worker for the service you supply, that’s a transparent signal they want your service.
To search out firms hiring a full-time worker on your providers, you’ll be able to take a look at a job board like LinkedIn, Wellfound, and even Certainly.
Firms hiring in-house expertise for that place have already put aside a funds for the service you supply, and plenty of of them are completely happy to think about freelancers relatively than hiring in-house.
You may also submit on job boards like Upwork, however these are usually far more aggressive and it may be troublesome to face out.
You may nonetheless attain out to firms that aren’t actively hiring for the position, as they might want that service and simply haven’t gotten round to posting a job description.
In the event you can entry a software like Crunchbase, search for firms that just lately employed a brand new advertising chief (e.g., CMO, VP of Advertising and marketing, Advertising and marketing Director, and so forth.) or obtained extra funding. New advertising leaders have to develop and can in all probability rent for brand spanking new roles. Equally, firms that just lately obtained funding will doubtless deploy that capital into hiring new expertise.
3. Create Free Pattern Items
“Construct a writing portfolio.”
That is recommendation most individuals inform you.
As an alternative, create free pattern items on your dream purchasers.
In case your dream purchasers don’t rent you, you should utilize these pattern items to construct a writing portfolio.
So let’s say you determined to supply content material advertising providers.
You recognized that your dream shopper is Influencity, an influencer advertising software.
Subsequently, write a weblog submit on the subject of influencer advertising.
This observe will make you a greater author, and it’s a compelling pitch.
4. Pitch Your Dream Consumer
These are the 2 most necessary rules when pitching purchasers:
- Discover the fitting particular person to contact.
- Maintain it quick.
First, the fitting particular person to contact is the one who has the authority to rent for that position.
I take advantage of LinkedIn. The free model means that you can search by “advertising” underneath the “Folks” tab:
The perfect particular person to contact is normally the very best ranked advertising govt if it’s a advertising workforce of 5 or fewer folks.
If it’s a bigger firm with a advertising workforce of 5 or ten folks, there’s a superb probability these executives obtain too many pitches for yours to chop by way of the noise.
In that case, pitch the content material or social media advertising supervisor (relying on the service you’re pitching).
As soon as you discover the fitting particular person, ship them a connection request. In the event you see that they’re lively on LinkedIn, touch upon a few of their content material.
Subsequent, discover their e-mail deal with.
You should utilize a software like Hunter.io or Verifalia to do that.
Attempt a number of completely different mixtures like:
- (first)@area.com
- (first).(final)@area.com
- (firstinitial).(final)@area.com
- (final)@area.com
A type of will in all probability work.
Subsequent, write your e-mail. Maintain it to only two traces.
Right here’s the template
Hello (identify),
(one line saying why they’re your dream shopper)
I’d love to put in writing (service) for (model). I already wrote one for you (see hooked up).
Tim
Bear in mind to connect your pattern!
Right here’s an instance of how you would alter this template for an actual pitch:
Hello Alex,
It was love at first chew after I tried the peanut butter chocolate taste 🙂
I’d love to put in writing emails for SkinnyDipped. I already wrote one for you (see hooked up).
Tim
Don’t be discouraged in the event that they don’t reply to your first e-mail. Observe up with them not less than twice.
It would take a number of tries, however you’ll ultimately land your first shopper and construct your portfolio within the course of.
5. Construct Your Private Model
Chilly outreach is good to get your first few purchasers and get began.
Nevertheless it’s loads of work.
Touchdown a shopper is normally about timing. If the shopper is about to rent for that place, they’ll in all probability rent you. If not, they’ll in all probability cross.
What should you might get in your dream shopper’s radar earlier than they’re prepared to rent? Then, they attain out to you when they’re prepared to rent.
How do you get on their radar earlier than they’re prepared to rent?
Construct a private model.
If purchasers see you posting useful content material (or not less than logical content material that exhibits you already know what you’re doing) on LinkedIn and X, you’ll in all probability be the primary one who involves thoughts after they need to rent.
Now we have a separate useful resource on constructing a private model, however listed below are content material concepts that will help you begin posting on LinkedIn and X:
- Templates you utilize on your writing
- Case research (as you begin writing extra)
- Errors and failures to keep away from (ideally from your individual expertise)
- Suggestions for a subtopic of your providers (e.g., writing topic traces should you supply e-mail copywriting)
The simplest methodology to develop your following is providing information that solutions a burning business query or a free software.
Right here’s an instance of a free software:
Right here’s an instance of knowledge that solutions a burning business query:
Free instruments and related information are sometimes probably the most efficient strategies to rapidly construct an viewers, however they’re extra concerned to create. So don’t procrastinate getting began should you don’t have a free software or unique information firstly.
Begin publishing content material a number of days per week.
Moreover, have interaction along with your dream purchasers’ content material. Depart insightful feedback and share their posts.
This isn’t solely wonderful for constructing real connections, but it surely additionally helps you keep updated with business traits. You’ll additionally find out about their ache factors, what’s working within the business, and enhance your individual expertise.
A professional tip is to pick out simply 5 of your dream purchasers who’re lively on LinkedIn (posting not less than 3x per week) after which put them in a Google Sheet.
Then, for the subsequent week, revisit that Google Sheet every week, click on into their profile, and meaningfully have interaction with every new submit they publish.
These folks need LinkedIn engagement, so participating with their content material is the easiest way so as to add worth.
6. Elevate Your Costs
As you construct your private model, you’ll ultimately have extra purchasers than you’ll be able to tackle.
Ultimately you’ll have two choices to proceed rising: Both construct a workforce and flip it right into a advertising company or increase your costs.
If you wish to rent different writers and construct a advertising company, you are able to do that, however remember the fact that working a advertising company requires very completely different expertise than freelance writing.
For a lot of freelance writers, growing costs is a greater methodology to generate extra revenue.
In the event you’re unsure learn how to enhance your costs, ship this e-mail to your least favourite shopper:
Hello (identify),
It’s been a pleasure working with you and I’m actually enthusiastic about (final marketing campaign that went effectively).
I’m presently at capability and should enhance my costs to proceed giving every shopper the time they deserve.
Starting (date), my costs shall be $X,000 per 30 days. If that works for you, I look ahead to persevering with our partnership.
Thanks,
Identify
As quickly as you hit capability, increase your costs.
Even when the shopper cancels, you’ll nonetheless produce other purchasers, and you should utilize that point to reinvest in your private model to draw extra top quality purchasers who pays much more.
Get Extra Assist Constructing Your Freelance Writing Profession
The step-by-step course of outlined above will allow you to kickstart your freelance writing profession, however getting began might be lonely.
You in all probability gained’t land the very first potential shopper you pitch, however you’ll construct a gentle shopper base should you’re persistent and persistently ship high quality work.
To make the journey simpler, we created Copyblogger Academy. It’s a course and group that offers freelancers and aspect hustlers all the advertising supplies they want. There are 9 programs on subjects starting from private branding and copywriting to search engine marketing and e-mail advertising.
You may also ask the group for suggestions in your work and even ask inquiries to seven determine entrepreneurs, Charles Miller and Tim Stoddart.
Take a look at Copyblogger Academy immediately to see if it’s a superb match for you.
