When you’re just starting out as a freelance writer, it’s tempting to use job boards like Upwork to try and find work.
I have two words of advice: DO NOT.
Before you burn yourself out vying for low-paying gigs and shady clients with thousands of other freelancers, take a breath.
Ask yourself: if you were your dream client, who would you rather hire:
A person who you know nothing about beyond a form they completed on a freelancer marketplace?
Or a trusted member of your professional community?
Over my freelance writing career, I’ve learned that the best way to get new client work is NOT hunting for gigs on low-paying job boards or spamming strangers with desperate cold pitches.
Finding great freelance writing jobs is an ongoing cycle powered by relationships.
Let’s call this process “The Freelance Flywheel.”
The freelancing flywheel is a sustainable way to find freelance writing jobs
Here’s how it works.
Phase 1: Learning
The learning process is ongoing for any freelance writer. I’ve created some digital resources to help you keep your skills sharp.
As you master the basics of your craft, you’ll start to specialize in types of freelance writing or writing for a specific client, and you’ll need to hone your skills – not only as a writer but also as a business owner.
Here are some of the top resources for building a successful freelance writing business.
In addition to adding to your knowledge base, learning gives you more access to communities of other freelance writers, prospective clients, and thought leaders in your industry.
This brings me to the next (and super important) dimension of the Freelance Flywheel...
Phase 2: Growing Your Network
A freelance writer (or any professional, for that matter) is nothing without a growing network of peers and clients. As you build your network, you’ll not only discover more opportunities for work, you’ll also discover what kind of work you don’t want to do (and the kinds of clients you want to avoid).
What are some ways to grow my network as a freelance writer?
First, focus on meeting other freelance writers. It’s important to have a network of people who not only understand what it is you do, but that act as your sounding board, that can help you troubleshoot, that you can vent to and that you can celebrate with.
Bonus: They can be incredible referral sources and may even hire you themselves.
Here are some online groups that are major social hubs for the freelance writing world:
Freelance Writing Facebook Groups
Slack Groups for Freelance Writers
Private Communities for Freelance Writers
Once you join these groups, the best thing to do is listen, learn, ask questions, and leave thoughtful comments. Participation is essential. As you engage with your network, you’ll discover more resources writers use for finding clients, including industry-specific Slack groups, events, and other communities (even some that are private or invite-only.)
Attend/speak at events with your target audience
Interacting with other professionals in a live setting leaves a lasting impression. You can make new relationships face to face, and if you speak, you get the undivided attention of your audience.
While live events for freelance writers are wonderful ways to connect with your peers, I recommend you research the events your target audience attends, as this will be the most relevant and profitable use of your time. If there are particular companies you want to work with or people you’re hoping to connect with in real life, go to the conferences they’re going to.
What if I don’t know who my target audience is?
Plenty of freelance writers (including yours truly) start as generalists. They take any project or client that comes along to have the income and to build up their portfolios.
But if you plan on making a full-time career out of freelance work (ahem: earning MONEY), it’s important to figure out what type of writing you like and who you like to do it for. And the sooner you specialize, the better off you’ll be.
Phase 3: Cultivating Your Relationships
So you’ve developed some skills and connected with some like-minded folks in the freelance writing world. Now what?
Now it’s time to become invaluable to your community of colleagues and clients.
Create a reminder in your calendar (or inbox) to check in with clients or colleagues you haven’t heard from in a while (I try to do this every 4-6 weeks)
Follow the social media accounts of your dream clients (not the brands, but rather the person working at those brands you want to hire you) as well as editors of publications you’d like to write for
Help share and promote content created by fellow freelancers, target clients, and publications you want to write for
Answer questions and offer encouragement within your online communities
Make introductions and help fellow freelance writers with other specialties connect with potential clients
Which brings us to the final and most fruitful stage of the Freelance Flywheel...
Phase 4: Seeking Out Work
This is the part of the process that strikes fear into the hearts of creative individuals. But fear not: you can get freelance writing work without turning into a sleazy, sales-pitching spambot.
The good news: if you’ve accomplished Phases 1 - 3, there’s a very good chance you’ll be able to get work without having to spend your days sending out cold emails to sell your services.
The bad news: you’re still going to have to pitch for some work, but I’m going to make it easier for you.
More on that in a minute.
How do I get freelance writing work without pitching?
If you’ve developed a strong network and actively add value to your community, be prepared: new client opportunities will literally land in your DMs and inbox.
All you have to do is ask.
Don’t believe me? Take a look at what a panel of freelance writers said when I asked them to list their top three sources of new client work:
89% of freelance writers get work through client referrals (and say it’s the best way to get qualified gigs.)
Asking for referrals from previous freelance writing clients
Of all the ways to get new clients, asking previous clients for referrals ranked at number one by a landslide.
“Referrals need very little convincing to sign on.They have a baseline trust in your work and character. That means fewer long proposals, less back and forth, and a better starting relationship.” -Freelance writer Laura Bosco
How to ask for referrals from existing/previous freelance writing clients
Don’t be shy: if you’re confident that you’ve done a great job for a client and enjoyed working with them, let them know you’re looking for more projects with companies like theirs.
A referral request should be part of your exit process with clients after your project wraps up. It can be as simple as emailing a line that says, “If you know anyone else who needs this type of work, please send them my way as I’m taking on new clients right now.”
Asking for leads and referrals from other freelance writers
Over half of the freelance writers surveyed said online groups were their go-to source for getting work, and a healthy percentage agreed that asking other freelancers for work is key.
Most online groups discourage self-promotion but have assigned channels and threads exclusively for letting folks know you’re available for work. Be sure to detail what type of client you enjoy working with and your writing specialty.
Many online professional groups have “hiring” posts or posts where people are looking for recommendations for freelancers. This is not only a great opportunity to follow up via DM, but it’s a way to build relationships by recommending colleagues (they’ll remember and return the favor).
Don’t be too shy to ask for introductions: if you see that a friend is writing for a dream publication, see if they’d be willing to connect you with their editor (and thank them if they do! I like to send a little thank you package or send a gift card to incentivize them to do it again.)
Pitching publications and blogs
As a writer, it’s essential to demonstrate your expertise, and there’s no better way to show off your writing chops than to write for a publication. But not all blogs are alike, and the quality of work can vary depending on the source of the lead. Let’s get into this a bit more.
Large publications
Getting a byline in a big-name publication like Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, or New York Times will add authority to your personal brand (read: they’ll help you charge higher rates). Plus: You’ll reach larger audiences (and give your relatives bragging rights.)
That said, be warned: since many readers of these big guys aren’t necessarily your target client, the quality of traffic referred to your site from large publication posts is likely spotty at best. What’s more: Many large publishers don’t pay for guest contributor posts (if they do, it’s not often high-dollar work), and there are often no guarantees that your piece will be published.
That said, is getting published in a major publication ultimately worth the work required?
As with most things, the answer is: It depends. In my case, it’s been helpful: I’ve built part of my career off retail reporting for Vogue, Adweek, Forbes, and others.
How do I pitch ideas to major publications?
I bet you’ll guess what I’m about to say. Build relationships.
Use those networking skills you developed in Phase 2 and Phase 3 to get friendly with editors at your favorite publications.
Twitter is your friend: my tweeting has led to some cool opportunities; it’s helped me get a foot in the door with new writing gigs, it’s linked me up with editors at publications I want to write for, and it’s helped me meet fellow writers who have become my internet (and real-life!) friends
Pitch frequently and fearlessly: take a page out of Aaron Orendorff’s book and use the mantra “Let’s get rejected.”
Pitching niche/industry blogs
Other than asking for referrals, my best client work has found me through the posts I’ve written for eCommerce and SaaS blogs. These specialty websites attract audiences that are actively in need of my services. Plus, getting featured on these blogs with links to my website has boosted my SEO authority, which helped me reach top ranking on search engine queries for “freelance writers for SaaS” and “freelance writers for eCommerce.”
Pitching reputable agencies and established freelance writers
Working for a copy chief or a more experienced freelance writer can be an apprenticeship. It helps them with overflow projects and lets you see inside their processes so you can get guidance from a pro. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone doing what you want to do and see if they’d be willing to explore this arrangement with you.
Another option: Leverage a matching platform.
Platforms like SelectFew and Marketerhire empower freelance writers to get matched with quality clients. They’re always looking for talented and knowledgeable writers to pair with clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies. You do have to go through a vetting process, but if you’re burnt out pitching clients, this can help alleviate some of that legwork.
Pitching your dream clients on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is more than a job-hunting site for corporate employees. You can use the platform to showcase your expertise and get freelance writing clients.
Leverage your network and see if your clients or colleagues are connected with decision-makers at your dream client companies. If so, ask for an intro or send a connection invite mentioning your mutual connection.
A great LinkedIn profile goes a long way: use a title that matches keywords that your dream clients are looking for, collect recommendations and endorsements, polish up your bio, and comment on prospects' posts. Leave thoughtful comments to make a deeper impression.
Keep in mind that LinkedIn pitch fatigue is real - Messaging someone with no connections can be intrusive, so be sure to ask for an intro from a connection you share. If there are no connections, follow them and engage with their posts.
Set Goals, Get More Freelance Writing Jobs
As you work on ideal finding freelance writing jobs, set some goals that’ll help you stay on track and make consistent progress toward finding better, more quality freelance writing work. If you need some ideas, consider the following:
Focusing on 2-3 of the above methods to acquire new clients for 90 days
Switching up your strategy and experimenting with some of the other methods
Be consistent: make time in your schedule exclusively for new client acquisition at least 2x per month
Make “theme days”: focus on one type of activity (i.e. Facebook Group Friday, Pitch-Writing Wednesday, Client Work Tuesday) for each workday.
Make cultivating relationships your number one priority.
Create a reminder in your calendar to check in with clients or colleagues you haven’t heard from in a while every 4-8 weeks.
“When starting out, at LEAST half of your time should be spent building your pipeline. When you’re a freelance writer, your main job is booking meetings with qualified prospects, NOT writing.”
Will any of this happen overnight? Nope, of course not. But if you put in the work, you’ll be on the right path.
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