When you first heard about content writing, had no idea about it. You started looking it up and along the way, a few hints gave you the courage to give it a go. You started learning it for free and the next thing we know you are writing killer blogs like it’s nothing (way to go!!!)
Now you believe the time has come to finally find your first client and kick-start your career as a content writer. Let me give you three easy follow steps to expedite that wish of yours.
1. Start your own blog and use it as your portfolio.
When it comes to finding a client, they will want to see your work before hiring you and that’s why we have portfolios, to show our potential clients what we are made of.
Blogs are primarily made up of various blog posts and they are typically written to share knowledge and experiences. You can start your own blog and start posting blog posts there so whenever someone asks for work, you can share that blog since it also doubles as your portfolio. At least, that’s what I did and it worked.
Creating a blog can be difficult, but hey don’t throw in the towel yet. Try WordPress to launch your first blog because it is pretty easy and completely free!
You obviously still have a lot of questions, so allow me to quickly enter your mind and provide answers.
Question – “What should I write about? I’ve just learned how to write a blog and that’s pretty much it”
Answer – That is a great question! That is why you need to find a niche that suits you the best. A niche is one specific segment of a product or service. To understand the niche that suits you the best, first identify your interests and hobbies and make a list of corresponding industries. Then make a list of products or services under each industry and you will have a better idea of which niche suits you the best.
Question – “What’s a portfolio if you don’t mind me asking“
Answer – Another great question! You are on a roll! A portfolio is a collection of work that potential clients can read to get a sense of your writing abilities. Since you want to launch your writing profession, you will need to contact prospects frequently, and there is a good chance that they will ask to see some of your work.
Question – “Okay it sounds great but how can I start my portfolio for free?”
Answer – Yes! There are many platforms that give you the opportunity to start a blog for free and reading about these 10 Best Free Blogging Sites to Build Your Blog for Free in 2023: Tested, Compared and Reviewed will help you understand which platform suits you the best. you might come across some limitations with the free options but fortunately, it wouldn’t stop you from showcasing your writing skills.
2. Start Writing Free Guest Posts. (Guest Blogging)
Writing blog posts for a website other than your own is known as guest posting. There are many inherent benefits in this since it creates a great opportunity to create backlinks to your own website which is a major part of SEO content writing.
When you are writing a blog post for a website, you will have to follow certain guidelines to ensure what you write matches the standard of their website. The best thing about guest posting is that if your blog fails to meet the abovementioned guidelines, there won’t be any ramifications. You can either try again or move on.
As a content writing newbie, I’m pretty sure you would appreciate it! Plus you can post that rejected blog post in your own blog as a part of your portfolio so it’s a win-win situation either way.
Two of the most popular places to submit guest blogs for free are listed below :
A completely free guest posting website where you can write about anything and have it published publicly. Your content writing skills and reader base will improve as your posts become more popular and if you are not keen on starting your own blog, Medium is a great alternative.
LinkedIn can be considered every content writing freelancer’s best friend because it gives us the opportunity to network with other content writers. LinkedIn also has a section set aside for articles that anyone can write and share, so that’s another plus.
There are lots of guest posting websites are available out there and going through these 350 Free Guest Posting Sites will surely help you find many opportunities.
3. Become active on Social Media Platforms, Especially on LinkedIn.
Social media platforms are a great way to share your work and your skills as a content writer with everyone. They are also a great way to make your work available to potential clients who might end up hiring you. The best thing is that you can quickly set up your social media accounts and get them up and running in no time.
LinkedIn has assisted me greatly to start my content writing career and I’d highly recommend you start and maintain a solid LinkedIn account as well. Using LinkedIn, you can build a network of seasoned content writers and search for freelance content writing jobs at a corporate level.
If you’re wondering how to start a LinkedIn account with no experience, the video below will help you out.
Don’t limit yourself to LinkedIn; you can also use other social media platforms to share your story and, most importantly, your content writing skills.
If you want to go all in with social media, this Ultimate Guide to Social Media for Writers will undoubtedly assist you.
I hope this helped you find a path to your goal of becoming a professional content writer.
