Hey there freelancer,
What’s standing in the way of you becoming a full-time freelance writer?
These are a few of the excuses I hear freelance writers make when they’re starting out. I struggled with these problems myself for years so believe me when I say, I get it.
It’s not easy to build a freelance writing business and start making real money online. That’s kind of the point though right? If it were easy, anyone could string together a few words and become a six-figure writer overnight.
It’s SUPPOSED to be hard to throw off the shackles of your 9-5 and become a full-time freelancer. But once you do, the opportunities are endless.
I’ve seen freelance writers build six and even seven figure businesses without ever hiring another employee. Writers who decide when and where they work, spend their days doing what they love and never have to punch a clock again.
You can quit your day job, follow your passions and become your own boss.
But just like the writers that came before you, it will take hard work. You don’t have to go at it alone though.
My goal is to help you gain writing skills and reach success as fast as possible. One of the ways I do that is by introducing you to other freelance writers who have been where you are now.
I was able to connect with a fantastic freelance content writer recently. Her name is Sharon Wu. Sharon is a veteran freelancer, she’s been at it for 10 years!
If you want to shortcut your way to a profitable writing business and learn from a pro then this article is for you.
Alright Sharon, first things first: are you a Full-time Freelancer?
Yes, I’ve been freelancing full-time for a decade. I started right out of college in 2013 (more on this later)!
That’s impressive! So, would you describe yourself as a copywriter, a content writer, or something in between?
I’m definitely a content writer! [1]
When I first started a career in freelance writing though, I took on just about any job opportunity that came my way. This allowed me to become a well-rounded writer and discover where my strengths lie.
Since then, I’ve learned that I enjoy writing long-form content most (specifically blogs and articles)… so here we are.
Do you write content for any specific niche?
My favorite topics to write about are beauty, medical aesthetics, and wellness. [2] The target clients are medical spas and wellness clinics.
I’d love to write full-time for this industry, but from my experience so far, it doesn’t pay nearly as well as other industries like tech and B2B.
While I’ve niched down to long-form content writing, I currently serve a diverse clientele in various industries ranging from beauty and health to tech and home security to higher education lifestyle.
So many seasoned writers say, “riches are in the niches,” and I don’t entirely agree… it’s very possible to make $10k+/month consistently without niching down the industry.
Writing about different things keeps my work interesting and I’m always learning new things every day from the vast amount of research I do.
Bottom line: Find what works for YOU and do that 🙂
Earlier you mentioned taking on any job opportunities that came your way when you were starting out. Can you share a little bit more about your freelance writing journey?
2013: Sure! After graduating from UCSD, I moved to LA to pursue modeling when a modeling agency offered me a contract. I mostly booked commercial print campaigns but also walked a few runways. I did this for about three years and it was the start of my solopreneur journey. [3]
2014: My brother works in web hosting and he suggested I start a lifestyle blog to share my passion for fashion and beauty. He helped me launch it, and this new venture complemented my modeling career perfectly.
To my surprise, it caught the attention of notable brands like COVERGIRL, Marshalls, and American Express. I would write blogs about their products and services, sharing my personal experiences through original photos and written content.
I spent the next several years honing my craft and working with many different clients.
2020: When COVID hit, these brands were shifting toward video content for marketing. Video isn’t my expertise (nor is it something I care to learn). I knew I had to pivot—so I started offering freelance product photography and writing services. [4]
2022-now: I learned that I enjoy writing more so that’s been my focus as of May 2022… but I still take on product photography gigs when the right ones come my way. I’ve recently started offering 1:1 coaching for aspiring freelancers as well.
Wow! You’ve worked with several huge companies. What’s the easiest way for a new freelancer to break into the market and work with large businesses?
Having a robust personal brand is indispensable today. [5] If you don’t have one yet, I’d start building one. Share raw and real experiences, showcase your expertise, and be uniquely you.
When starting out, people often get overwhelmed thinking there is NO way they can be seen on so many different social media platforms.
It’s true, which is why I recommend choosing ONE to start (where your ideal clients hang out) and focusing your branding efforts there.
For me, Instagram worked out best during my lifestyle blogging days. LinkedIn is much better for the clients I work with today.
Late last year, I started becoming active on this platform, sharing valuable content relevant to my industry. [6] Since then, I’ve forged incredible relationships with industry professionals and the current clients I work with!
That’s great advice. Many of my readers still work a full-time job and freelance on the side so their time is incredibly valuable. Do you have any time management tips?
Yes! Time blocking has helped me get a lot done in a short amount of time while ensuring I take care of myself (i.e. go to the gym, remember to eat, get fresh air, etc).
I’ll block out a certain amount of time for one thing, then move on to something else. This keeps my day from getting monotonous and my back from screaming at me for sitting all day every day (haha).
The time-blocking strategy in practice may look something like this:
During work times, I have my phone on “Focus” mode, which means I don’t get any notifications if people text or call me. No distractions enable me to focus on the task at hand.
See more of my favorite time management tips here! [7]
Any other advice for new freelance writers?
If you have a full-time job, don’t quit it until you start gaining traction and have some clients already. As someone who never had a traditional 9-5, I’ve endured dire times when things got rocky in my freelancing career.
Fortunately, my parents taught me to be super frugal, so I’ve always been a saver (which has saved me on rainy days). I live below my means, even when I’m having super profitable months.
To start freelancing, create a portfolio showcasing what you do. [8]
Want to be a freelance writer? Join Medium for free. Start writing and publishing blog articles that your ideal client could “buy” from you.
For example, I’d love to explore the travel niche. I wrote an article on Medium about Encinitas being San Diego’s best beach town, and a huge hotel company noticed it and reached out months later to ask about my writing services and availability. [9]
Want to be a product photographer? Start an Instagram account and showcase your photo work there for free. [10] Establish a unique style and again, shoot pictures that prospects could potentially envision using for their brands.
Then, advertise your services and work on platforms where your ideal clients live (again, for me and my writing career, that’s LinkedIn). [11]
Getting started isn’t complicated, but we often make it harder than it needs to be.
Alright so you know I have to ask… How do you feel about AI? Do you use it in your business now?
AI is a tool, and it’s only as good as the person using it. The more specific and strategic the prompts, the better the output. In other words, it takes real skill to use AI properly.
That being said, I don’t see it replacing truly talented SEO writers. Canva hasn’t replaced graphic designers, and the latest iPhone hasn’t replaced stellar photographers.
Currently, I use AI to generate meta descriptions and SEO heading ideas for blogs, especially if clients don’t provide super-detailed briefs. This helps me overcome writer’s block so I can focus on the meat of the articles.
Shockingly, I’ve had some clients suggest I use ChatGPT for research but I’ve found it to NOT be an effective tool for this purpose. AI is good at making statistics sound believable but when I fact-check on Google, 98% of the time:
Tip: Always fact-check things if you use AI to help you write. AI can be good for surface/general-level topics. I don’t rely on it though because I end up rewriting most if not all of the content.
Bonus question: What’s your favorite type of car?
I have a BMW 430i convertible (named Fiona) and I love her so much. [12] A classy convertible is a must when you live in sunny Southern California!
My ultimate dream car is an ultraviolet Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Manifesting that beauty into my future garage!
Thank you for having me! 🙂
No, thank YOU Sharon for packing so much value into this interview.
Let’s recap. If you want to be in the freelance game for over a decade like Sharon you need to follow these 8 tips:
I hope Sharon’s story inspires you. Use that inspiration to motivate you to keep going when things get tough.
Want some extra motivation?
Go back through and read Sharon’s story again. Look for ways you can apply these gems in your business and get on it!
Yours for freelance writing success,
Brandon Davis
Want to connect with Sharon? Use these links to find her:
You can find all the resources Sharon referenced in the interview at the end of this post.
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Reference
[1]
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/content-writer-vs-copywriter-which-better-you-sharon-wu/
[2]
[3]
[4]
https://sharewrites.com/services/
[5]
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/4-reasons-why-freelancers-should-build-personal-brand-sharon-wu/
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
https://medium.com/@sharebearie/encinitas-san-diegos-best-beach-town-c5f9e913bbcc
[10]
https://www.instagram.com/caciacreative/
[11]
[12]