Securing Your First Assignment as a Freelance Writer

Freelancing writing is all the rage at the moment, and it shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. As a freelance writer yourself, it’s important to figure out the best way to secure your first assignment as this is the first step you’ll need to take.

Once you’ve secured and completed your first contract, you’ll have a reference, a review and you’ll be ready to pursue your career dreams. However, you still need that first assignment, which is what we’re going to show you how to do today!

Understanding Your Niche

Before you even get out there and start applying for every job under the sun, it’s important that you understand which niche that you’re writing in and what you can excel in. There is a tonne of writing opportunities out there, so it’s easy to get lost and confused, ensuring that you’re not putting your best foot forward.

Here are some categories you might like to write in;

• Business
• Finance
• Technology
• Travel
• Lifestyle
• Entertainment
• Gaming
• Beauty
• Health
• History

And so on. The list is extensive so make sure that you’re choosing what you specialise in, so you know what to aim for. That doesn’t mean that you can’t write for multiple niches, but it’s better to stick with a couple.

Pitch Early

There is a tonne of publications out there who are looking for writers, and although you’re new to the industry, that doesn’t mean they won’t hire you if you’ve got the enthusiasm, the skills and the creative passion that they’re looking for.

When you’re pitching your idea for a post to a publication, it’s important to make sure that you’re getting it in as early as possible, even if this is months or even a year in advance. This helps publishers to plan what they are going to do and what content they are going to upload so gives you the benefit of working with the editors for a long time.

When you’re writing your pitch, make sure that it’s accurate and comprehensive to give the best first impression. You can use writing guides like State of Writing and Via Writing to help with this.

Apply on Job Sites

There are so many freelancing job sites out there that are renowned for being one of the best ways to secure your first assignment. While the pay will typically be lower than applying directly to a publication, this a great way to improve your skills, find new writing opportunities, develop long-term partnerships and secure those first testimonials that are going to win you the higher paid jobs.

Below, you’ll find a list of some of the best places to find freelance writing work that can get you started;

• Upwork – The leading freelance job database with over 17 million jobs posted a year
• UK Writings – A database of jobs for all kinds of freelance writing assignments
• Indeed – A huge job database that covers all areas of business in all parts of the world
• Big Assignments – The ideal place to find your first copywriting jobs
• iWriter – A simple service where you can sign up and pick the jobs you want
• Paper Fellows – A freelance site where you can find editing and proofreading assignments
• Problogger – A large selection of well-paid writing jobs in all niches
• Resumention – Find jobs writing resumes for people around the world

Consider Your Customer Experience

As a freelance writer, it’s easy to get caught up in the image of being able to work your own hours from anywhere in the world (the perks of the job), but it’s important to remember that in your client’s eyes, you’re still a business.

This means you need to focus on the way that you’re talking to your clients and the service that you’re providing. Provide the best service you can, and you can be sure that you’ll snap up your first client in no time at all.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many things you can consider when it comes to securing your first job as a freelance writer. By giving the best experience and expanding your horizons, you can be sure that you’ll secure your first job in no time at all!

Author Bio
Brenda Berg is a professional with over 15 years of experience in business management, marketing and entrepreneurship. Consultant and tutor for college students and entrepreneurs at Oxessays. She believes that constant learning is the only way to success. You can visit her personal blog at Letsgoandlearn.com