How to Become a Freelance Content Writer: an Easy 7-Step Guide for Moms

Are you a stay-at-home mom looking to start a freelance writing career? Or maybe you’re a working mom who’s interested in earning some extra income by writing content from home. Either way, becoming a freelance writer is a great way to make money while enjoying the flexibility of working from home.

I’ll share all my favorite tips that helped me build my 6-figure freelance writing business. So if you’re ready to start making money as a freelance writer, read on!

1. Start by Writing for Yourself – Create a Blog or Website and Post New Content Regularly

Doing freelance content writing can be both fulfilling and rewarding, but it’s not always an easy transition to make. To give yourself the best chance of success, a great place to start is by developing your writing skills on your own terms.

Creating a blog or website gives you the opportunity to write content at whatever pace and with whatever topics you like so that you can develop your skills in a relaxed atmosphere.

And by regularly posting new pieces of content, you can track progress and ensure you are consistently pushing yourself beyond what you have done before. Taking such steps provides essential practice for when it comes to building an identity as a freelance writer.

2. Research What Kind of Content is Popular in Your Niche and Write Accordingly

Becoming a freelance content writer is an exciting and rewarding journey that requires planning and perseverance. To make the most of it, your first major step should be to research what kind of content is popular in your desired niche.

This way, you’ll be able to tailor your writing style to draw the attention of readers and create engaging pieces. With just a bit of effort on the researching front, you can ensure that your work stands out from less engaged competitors, has potential for monetizing, and captures the admiration of editors.

So take a few minutes to figure out what will tickle audiences’ fancy – then watch as you reap all the rewards!

3. Reach Out to Other Bloggers and Businesses in Your Field to Offer Your Services

If you want to kickstart your career as a freelance content writer, the best way to do so is by reaching out to fellow bloggers and businesses in your field. Making those initial contacts could initiate some great opportunities for you – whether it’s taking on assignments from a business or regularly contributing pieces to another digital platform, this could be your chance to share your writing talents with the world! Not only is this exciting, but it’s also an efficient way of networking.

4. Use Social Media to Market Your Skills as a Freelance Content Writer

As a freelance content writer, leveraging social media as part of your marketing strategy is essential to growing your client base. Whether you’re a blogging entrepreneur or you specialize in copywriting for brands, having an active presence on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn can be invaluable resources in connecting with potential clients.

Establishing yourself as an authority on the subject material you specialize in is also beneficial when it comes to building your reputation as a trusted and reliable source. Post relevant content, join conversations that take place within online communities, and network tirelessly – these are all great steps to take if you want your freelance writing business to flourish.

With the right approaches and effort, social media will be more than just another place to remarket yourself – it could provide the key to unlocking sustainable success as a freelance content writer.

5. Stay Up-to-Date with the Latest Trends in Your Field, and Adjust Your Writing Style Accordingly

Keeping up with the latest trends in your field is like running a marathon—it’s a deliberate and sustained effort. Staying abreast of new theories, methodologies, practices and tools ensures you can capitalize on new opportunities and remain competitive.

The stakes are even higher if you’re a professional writer; understanding the changing tone and direction of your industry helps ensure that your work remains sharp and engaging.

There are many ways to stay current including subscribing to industry publications, attending conferences or seminars, listening to podcasts, following thought leaders on social media and networking with colleagues in your field.

With regular practice, staying up-to-date will quickly become second nature, enabling you to adjust your writing style for maximum impact.

6. What Tools are Needed for a Freelance Content Writer

To succeed as a freelance content writer, it’s essential to invest in the necessary tools and resources – from software and hardware to templates and reference tools.

Word processors, web browsers, and mobile devices are among the hardware necessities for anyone looking to take up this line of work.

A subscription to content management platforms such as WordPress or Gutenburg will enable writers to publish their content with ease. Investing in SEO-optimized website templates with conversion boosting features can also be extremely beneficial.

Here are my favorite tools as a freelance content writer:

BigScoots – I use BigScoots to host my websites. Their customer service is top notch and they always answer my questions in MINUTES via email.

WordPress – I use WordPress for my website. If you want to make money from your site, then you’ll need to use wordpress.org. I use a Kadence free theme to make my site simple and pretty.

Jasper Ai – Jasper Ai is my BFF. Whenever I’m stuck or looking for ideas on writing, Jasper is my writing assistant that makes my life easier. If you’ve never tried Jasper, you can get 10,000 free credits to get started and test it out.

WriteSonic – I just recently tested out WriteSonic and it is worth a try to see how it can benefit your business. You can get started with 2,500 free credits and you don’t even have to put in your credit card information!

SurferSEO – This is my current favorite SEO tool. There’s so many out there, and it’s easy to get distracted and caught up in the details of each one. I’ve decided to just pick one and keep at it. SurferSEO allows me to ensure that my blog posts are answering my targeted keywords well based on how well my competitors have written about the topic. I always try my best to provide more value than anyone else.

QuickBooks Self-Employed – I use the QuickBooks Self-Employed app on my iPhone to not only invoice my clients, but to also keep track of all my bookkeeping. I would be lost without this software. Come tax season, I just download my Schedule-C and plug it into my tax return and I’m good to go.

Google Suites – Google Suites is free with a G-Mail account. I do ALL of my writing in Google Docs. I used to use Microsoft Word, but I hated buying the license every year. I’ve found Google Docs to be even easier to use, and did I mention…free?

Canva – If you plan to create any graphics for your business, you’ll need Canva. I created my logo, my brand board, my Pinterest pin graphics, and my social media posts using Canva. They have a paid version, but I still do everything on the free version and I am very happy with their services.

Unsplash – I use Unsplash for all of my stock photos for my posts. They are free to use for commercial purposes, and so easy to search for exactly what I need.

Finally, picking up the necessary soft skills such as critical business analysis and creative problem solving can elevate one’s work even further. All these tools aim at equipping freelancers with everything needed for success – no matter their level of experience.

7. How to Find Your First Freelance Writing Clients

As a freelance content writer, finding your first client can be intimidating. But with the right knowledge and effort, you’ll be able to find one in no time.

To get started, consider reaching out to friends and family for recommendations — if they’ve ever hired a freelance content writer before, ask them who it was and contact them for more information. You may even have the chance to start working on projects right away!

Additionally, many websites specialize in connecting freelancers with clients by posting job opportunities — take advantage of these platforms to get noticed quickly.

And while cold emailing potential prospects can feel daunting at first, it’s actually one of the most effective tactics freelancers use when searching for new clients. At the end of the day, finding your first client as a freelance content writer is an exciting accomplishment.

Final Thoughts

If you want to be a successful freelance content writer, follow the tips outlined in this blog post.

First and foremost, write for yourself – create a space online where you can share your work with the world.

Secondly, do your research to find out what kind of content is popular in your niche so that you can produce writing that resonates with your audience. It’s also important to reach out to other bloggers and businesses in your field, as this will help you develop a network of contacts who may be interested in working with you.

Use social media wisely to market your skills as a freelance content writer, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends in your industry so that you can adjust your writing style accordingly.

Finally, always remember to act professional – meeting deadlines, communicating effectively, and delivering quality work are essential if you want to succeed as a freelance writer.

If you don’t think that a freelance writing career is for you, consider the other options here!