How To Become A Highly-Paid Freelance Writer With No Experience

Are you reading dozens of blog posts about freelance writing? Still, you’re struggling to get clients as a freelance writer.

It’s not only you, many people are sailing in the same boat.

There’s not a super detailed guide on this particular topic. Guess what?

You don’t need any magic bullet.

You don’t need a degree to become a high-paying freelance writer.

You need the right guidance.

In this post, I’m going to share a super detailed guide on how to become a freelance writer with no experience. And get your first paycheck.

I promise this is the last guide you need to start your freelancing writing business.

Let’s jump right in.

What Is Freelance Writing?

Freelance writing is working as a writer for clients, rather than being a full-time employee at a company.

It can include writing blog posts, email copies, case studies, e-books, newsletters, product descriptions, sales letters, web copies, social media content, video scripts, and podcast scripts.

Blog post writing is the most popular among these.

What makes freelance writing unique is the freedom it offers. You’re not tied to a single employer/company.

Your “office” might be a coffee shop one day, your home the next, and a hotel the other day.

Is Freelance Writing Worth It in 2024?

Many people are saying that freelance writing is dead. Businesses are going to use AI tools to write content.

AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude can write a 1,000-word blog post in seconds.

It’s true. AI tools write super fast.

However, there are some serious problems if businesses rely on AI tools to write content.

First, these tools are spitting out the same information that is already there on the web.

These tools regurgitate the same information and give you unoriginal content.

If you use ChatGPT or other tools, you’ll sound like everyone else. And no business wants that.

Second, sometimes the tools provide wrong information. I’ve been using all major AI tools.

What I noticed is sometimes they provide the wrong and outdated information.

Third, you can’t establish yourself as an authority. When it comes to providing authoritative content, AI does a terrible job.

Fourth, Google wants unique and thorough content. The March 2024 Google Spam Update tanked many sites’ organic traffic.

Google wants to provide helpful content to its users. The tools can’t generate in-depth and helpful content.

According to Neil Patel, 94.12% of the time human written content outranked AI-generated content.

If businesses are serious about content marketing and want to stand out they need to hire human writers.

With that said, it doesn’t mean you’ll not use the tools at all.

You can still use the tools to:

Come up with content ideas
Create outline
Optimize content
Overcoming writer’s block
Research (But you’ve to cross-check)
Generate images

Another concern people have about freelance writing is – whether freelance writing brings in a high enough income to pay all the bills.

Many full-time freelance writers earn a 6-figure. But it’s not easy. I’ll share more on this later in this post.

Sean shared an excellent post on the future of freelance writing.

Types Of Freelance Writing

When we say “freelance writing”, many people assume it’s just about blog post writing.

Freelance writing is not limited to blog posts.

There are different kinds of writing that you should know.

Blog post
Copywriting
Technical Writing
Ghostwriting
Newsletter
White Paper
E-Book

All these come under two umbrellas content writing and copywriting.

Every business needs content writers and copywriters for both types of content.

Copywriting Vs Content Writing

Copywriting is the art and science of persuading people to take action. It is directly related to sales. For example, ad copy, sales letters, print ads, etc.

Content writing is about educating about a product/service. It includes blog posts, e-books, white papers, and newsletters.

In short, content writing is for educating, and copywriting is for persuading.

What Does a Freelance Writer Do?

A freelance content writer content for businesses. And get paid to write. It can be a blog post, email, ad copy, social media content, landing page, etc.

This is what most people think.

Here’s what they do:

Find prospects
Craft and send pitches
Manage finances
Face rejections
Wait for payments
Sip coffee
Walk in the park to clear their mind
Research
Write a draft
Editing

Freelancing is a one-person business.

How to Get Started With Freelance Writing When You Have No Experience

I’ve shared the theoretical knowledge.

Now time for some real action.

Let’s see how to start freelance writing.

#0 Choose Your Niche

Some people say you should choose a niche and stick to it. And other say you should be a generalist.

What should you follow?

There’s no right or wrong answer to this question.

Both have their pros and cons.

Do what works best for you.

For example, if you love writing about the outdoors, try to write about it.

You can always change the niche.

Here are some niches that you can choose from.

Digital Marketing
Self Development
Finance / Personal Finance
Cryptocurrency / Blockchain
Technology Writing
Education
SaaS (Software-as-a-Service)
Diet
Health
Travel
Real Estate
Outdoor
Parenting

You can also become a generalist and write about multiple topics.

#1 Select The Type Of Copy You Want To Write

What kind copy should you write?

Blog post
Email copy
Sales Letter
Video Sales Letter
Social media copy
Twitter Ghostwriting
LinkedIn Ghostwriting
Newsletter
E-book
White Paper

People pivot too quickly from one type of writing to another. For example, blog posts email copies to social media copy.

Beginner freelancers don’t give many shorts before they pivot.

You’re not alone many people do this. It’s one of the reasons beginner freelancer writers struggle to make a good amount of money as a freelance writer.

Choose one type of writing and master it. Start with one skill like a blog post or email copy.

Later you can learn more skills as you grow.

If you’re specialized in something, businesses are more likely to work with you.

#2 Sharpen Your Writing Skills

If you can’t write well, you will always struggle to earn handsome money from freelance writing.

Businesses will offer you more work only if you deliver great content. I’m repeating great content.

But the truth is most freelance writers are not that good at writing. And they keep complaining about not getting clients and not earning enough money.

Heck, even some writers use ChatGPT to write content edit a little bit, and submit.

This is not going to work in the long run.

If you want to build a sustainable writing business, you need to write exceptionally well.

Here’s how you can start:

Practice Writing Daily

You can’t learn to swim without entering the water.

This applies to all the skills out there including writing.

You can’t write good copy unless start writing. You’ve to write a lot to become a good writer.

Write every single day. And your writing skills will be improved.

It’s not easy to write daily.

Block 30-90 minutes per day for writing.

I’m not saying to write a 3,000-word-long post daily.

You can start with as low as 100 words per day. Then eventually you can increase the word count.

Make sure you hit the keyword daily to develop the writing bone in your body.

Head over to Google Docs or any other word processor and start writing.

Pro Tip: Find a quiet place to write.

Read and Analyze Copies

Analyzing other people’s proven work can help you identify recurring elements like effective headlines, compelling storytelling techniques, persuasive arguments, and strong calls to action.

If you want to become an email copywriter, analyze proven email copies.

Subscribe to more email lists and analyze how they are crafting emails.

If you want to become a content writer and write blog posts, visit your favorite blogs and read their viral content.

Look at their intro, the body, and the conclusion. How they have crafted the whole post.

You can build a swipe file. A swipe file is a collection of proven marketing materials. Copywriters use it for future reference.

You can visit swiped.co or swipefile.com to find proven copywriting works.

Learn The Formats and Frameworks

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. There are proven frameworks and formats that you can use.

For example, list-based and “how-to” blog posts perform well for most bloggers. You can see how people are writing those posts.

You can use the frameworks to make the work easy for you.

Some copywriting frameworks:

AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action)
PAS (Problem, Agitate, Solution)
BAB (Before-After-Bridge)

Here you can find more copywriting frameworks.

Get Feedback

Sometimes we can’t find our own mistakes in the copy. We think it’s the best.

But when you ask someone to look into it, they suggest some improvements.

And your copy looks even better and more clear.

Feedback provides a fresh perspective, helping identify weaknesses and areas for improvement you might have overlooked.

And what you think is clear writing might be confusing to others.

Feedback can help identify areas where your writing is unclear or dull, and suggests ways to make it clear and more reader-friendly.

You can ask your colleague to check into it.

Or you can join writing communities on Facebook Group or Discord.

#3 Write Some Sample Pieces to Add to Your Portfolio

You can’t get clients. Because you don’t have a portfolio.

You don’t have a portfolio. Because you don’t have clients.

Beginner freelance writers complain about it. They say they can’t get clients because they don’t have a portfolio.

Who said you need a portfolio to get clients?

You just need some freelance writing samples.

You can write spec copies for your favorite business.

A spec copy is copywriting work that is created without being paid, typically as a sample to prove your ability.

Freelance writers and copywriters use spec copies to build their portfolios and attract potential clients.

If you’re writing spec copies, you should mention that it’s a spec copy.

When I started I used to say – I’ll write a free sample blog post for you.

I got the first clients because I wrote a specific sample copy for them. Later they paid me for that.

You need to write some samples.

If you are a blog writer, write 5 blog posts. Find relevant topics in your niche and start writing.

You can go one step further and start your blog. You can also write on Medium and LinkedIn.

You can do the same for any kind of writing e.g. email copywriting, ad copy, etc.

You can create a Google Doc portfolio.

It’s free and super easy to create a portfolio on Google Docs. Open a new blank document and write some headings like About, Services I Offer, Testimonial, Writing Samples, Contact Details, and so on.

Write about yourself, how you can help them, what others are saying about your writing, provide the links of your samples, and how they can contact you.

That’s it.

#4 Edit The Samples

“The first draft of anything is shit.” – Ernest Hemingway.

Magic happens in the editing table.

Here’s why you should edit your content.

Editing makes your writing clear.
It improves the flow and structure of your content.
Editing makes it easier for readers to understand and absorb your message.

Remember, Here you need to write content that provides a good ROI.

Your goal should be to provide value.

Otherwise, anyone can hit the keyboard and write content.

#5 Create A Professional Looking Website

Having a website helps you to stand out from your other competitors.

Because freelance writers don’t consider having a website.

A website can help you to:

Showcase your portfolio
Establish as a credible writer
Display your skills and work experience
Attract new clients

You can create your website with your name. Or you can choose any other business name as well.

Creating a portfolio website is super easy.

You can build a simple website with WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, etc.

You need to create some pages like About, Testimonial, Services, Contact, and so on.

Here are some freelance writers’ websites.

How to Close Your First Freelance Writing Client

Getting the first client is hard.

Once you get the first client then you gain some confidence.

But for that, you need to get your first client.

Now the question is – how to get the first client as a beginner freelance writer.

It’s time to get real-world experience as a freelance writer.

1. Ask Your Friends and Relative

Freelancer writers often say – how to find freelance writing clients. But they never ask their friends.

People who know you are more likely to be receptive and trust your abilities.

Wait for online writing jobs, try pitching offline.

Let them know that you’re a freelance content writer/freelancer copywriter.

Let’s say your friend has an e-commerce website. And he is not using email marketing. You can offer them an email copywriting service.

Show your sample copies and website (If you have one) to your friend and close them as your first client.

If a friend of yours has a blog, you can offer freelance content writing work.

For your first client, you can offer your services at a reduced rate in exchange for a testimonial showcasing your skills and building your credibility.

Don’t be afraid to work for free.

When you’re a newbie how can someone can trust you?

You can do the work for free and then reach out to them.

Later you can ask for referrals.

2. Use Freelancing Platforms

You can use freelancing platforms to get writing clients.

Businesses are already looking for freelancers on these platforms. You just need to be in front of them.

Here are some freelancing platforms:

Upwork
Fiverr
Freelancers.com
PeoplePerHour
Guru

You can find many freelance writing gigs on these platforms.

Create a solid profile that wows your potential clients.

There are some problems with these platforms.

First, the competition is huge.

Second, many businesses don’t pay much for these platforms. Because other freelancers are ready to work for $5 or $10.

Third, freelancing platforms charge a fee.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be on these platforms. But you shouldn’t rely only on these platforms.

It’s a good way to get your foot in the door. You can find many freelance writing opportunities for beginners on these platforms.

3. Facebook Groups

Facebook is the most popular social media. I’m sure you have an account on it.

There are some Facebook groups where you can find clients.

You can join those groups to get clients.

Many freelancers got their first clients from Facebook groups.

How to find Facebook Groups:

Head over to Facebook.
Click on the search bar.
Type “Freelance Writing” “Freelance Writing Jobs,” or “[Your Niche + Freelance Writing]”.
Click on “Groups” on the left side.
It will show you the Facebook Groups.
Join the groups and look for freelance gigs.

4. Send Cold Pitches to Potential Clients

Cold email is an effective way to get clients.

I got my first client through cold emailing.

Here’s how you get freelance writing clients through cold pitch.

Make a list of your target businesses: If you don’t know who is your target audience, you’ll always struggle to land clients. Define your ideal clients and make a list.

You can use Apollo or Hunter to find businesses. You can also use Google or business directories to find your ideal targets.

Find prospects: You need to know whom should you reach out to. If you sent an email to the CFO/Manager/Software Engineer, they might not reply to you.

If you’re an email copywriter, you should look for a Director of Marketing, VP of Marketing, and Marketing Manager.

If you’re a content writer, your ideal targets would be Content Marketer, Director of Content Marketing, VP of Content Marketing, and Senior Content Marketing Manager.

Craft a great pitch: Now people receive a lot of cold emails. Your cold pitch needs to be good to get a response.

Here are some tips:

Personalize each cold pitch using cold email software. It’s not just about the first name.
Write eye-catching subject lines.
Focus on solving their problem not selling your service. Add value upfront.
Add a clear Call To Action (CTA).

Now start reaching out to your prospects.

Initially, you should reach out to at least 30-50 prospects per day.

5. Start Using LinkedIn

If you’re a freelancer and not using LinkedIn you are missing big opportunities.

LinkedIn is the goldmine for getting high-paying clients.

Because here you can connect with CEOs, Founders, Directors, and other decision-makers of a company.

How to use LinkedIn to get clients:

Optimize your LinkedIn profile.
Write a good headline that reflects who you are and whom you help e.g. Freelance Writer For B2B SaaS.
Have a professional profile picture. And have a good LinkedIn banner. You can use Canva to make these.
Show your writing skills in the “ LinkedIn About” section.
Search Operator

Hop onto LinkedIn and click on the search bar.

And type:

“Looking for a freelance content writer”
“Looking for freelance copywriter”.
“Looking for a content writer”
“Hiring content writer?”
“Hiring freelance content writer”?

Now click on the “Posts” section.

Then use the filter to get the latest results.

Boom!

Now you can see posts that are looking for freelance writers.

Connect with them and share your writing samples with them.

Some people share their email addresses, you can contact them via email.

If you want to work as a remote content writer, you can find remote writing jobs on LinkedIn.

6. Use Warm Pitch To Close Clients

Cold pitching works for getting clients.

But you need to send a lot of emails to get clients.

And many people give up before getting a client.

You can use the warm pitch method to get clients.

Here’s what it is:

Let’s say you want to work with a business owner.

You found him on Twitter.

What most people do is directly pitch their services.

What you should do is – warm up the lead first.

You comment on their every post on Twitter and LinkedIn for 30 days.

Send a DM appreciating their work. Don’t pitch your service immediately.

If you engage with someone for 30 days, they will notice your name.

Now go to their website and look for some opportunities where you can add value.

For example, if you have a better headline idea, content ideas, etc.

Now send them a DM about what they are missing and how they can get more leads/sales by fixing it.

First, don’t ask for anything in exchange.

Your only goal is to offer free value to help them.

7. Pitch Agencies

Working with agencies can be beneficial for you.

Typically, they have a large pool of clients, which means you’ll have access to more work opportunities than you might be able to find on your own.

Agencies can handle the administrative tasks of contracts, such as sending invoices and chasing late payments. This can free up your time to focus on what you do best: hitting the keyboard (writing).

How to find agencies:

Head over to Clutch.
Select digital marketing and choose a location. You can choose your local location.
It will show you the agencies.
Use a tool like Hunter or Snov to find your ideal targets.
Send them an email with your offering of your service.

You can also use DesignRush or Semrush to find an agency.

8. Work With Startups

Working with startups can be a great way for freelance writers to gain valuable experience.

Some startups want to work with new freelancers.

You can get startups as your freelance clients.

You can go to Crunchbase, Inc. 5,000, Wellfound, and Startup to find a startup.

Now find your target using Hunter and craft a solid personalized pitch.

Be prepared before pitching a startup.

Freelance Writing Tips For Beginners

Here are some tips to help you build a freelance writing business.

1. Treat Freelancing Like a Business

To build a freelance writing business, you need to treat it like a business.

Many freelancers fail even after getting clients and earning money. Because they don’t treat freelancing like a business.

In reality, freelancing is a one-man business.

Think like you’re a business owner. You have to handle everything from attracting clients to delivering projects and managing the finances.

You need to build a system in your writing business.

2. Network With Other Freelancers

Networking is like making genuine friends online.

Be friends with fellow freelance writers and freelancers(web developers, graphic designers).

Networking with like-minded people can get you more clients for your business.

In this social media era, it’s easy to find people and build connections with them.

You can use LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to connect with other freelancers.

Joining relevant public or private Facebook group and communities can help you connect with others.

You can attend conferences in your space.

Benefits Of Freelance Writing

Let’s take a look at the benefits:

Work From Anywhere: You don’t have to go to any office. You can work from anywhere. All you need is a laptop and internet access.
Work At Your Own Schedule: You don’t need to work 9-5. You can choose your schedule.
Scale Your Income: You can take on more work when you have the capacity and scale back when needed.

Is Freelance Writing A Good Side Hustle?

Freelance writing can be a good side hustle if you’re a good writer. It offers flexibility, extra income, and the chance to sharpen your writing skills.

But is it good for you?

I can’t answer that. Only you can answer this.

You have to try it yourself before you come to any conclusion.

Can You Really Make A Living As a Freelance Writer?

Yes, you can definitely make a living as a freelance writer, but it’s not easy.

You need to do a lot of hard work.

Don’t look for high-paying writing jobs in the beginning.

Start working with low-paying.

If you don’t have experience, gaining experience should be your first priority.

You need to keep pitching your services to get clients consistently.

There are successful freelance writers out there earning 6-figures or more. But it takes dedication and hard work.

Some successful freelance writers:

Where To Find Freelance Writing Jobs

I have shared some proven ways to get close clients.

Here are some sites where you can find freelance writing jobs for beginners regularly.

ProBlogger Job Board (mostly content writing jobs)
BloggingPro
ATFW Freelance Writing Job Board
Freelance Framework – Daily Writing Gigs

How Much Should You Charge

There are different types of freelance writing rates.

Pay per word (most popular)
Hourly
Per project basis

Here are the rates from Upwork.

Blog Post: $25 – $100 for 500 words.
Email Copy: $25-50 for short emails.
SEO Article: $100 – $300 for 1,000 for words.
White Paper: $500 to $5,000 per white paper.
E-Book: $300 to $500 per page.

Experienced freelancers often charge far more, and you can see how these rates translate to an annual wage by using an hourly to salary calculator.

For context, some freelancer writers charge $2,500 per blog post.

The rates depend on the value you provide and the experience you have.

What Degree Should I Get To Become A Freelance Writer

You don’t need any verifiable degree to get started with freelance writing.

Many high-paying writers don’t have any writing degree. They just know how to hit the keyboard.

You need to develop your writing bone.

That’s it.

What Are Some Freelance Writing Tools

Let’s take a look at the tools:

Google Docs: Cloud-based word processor for writing, editing, and collaborating with others in realtime.
Grammarly: Check grammar errors and suggest improvements.
Hemingway App: Improves readability, and helps avoid passive voice.
Trello: Create visual boards to manage projects, track deadlines, and collaborate.
Slack: Communication makes it easy.
Freshbooks: Manage invoices and track expenses.
Ahrefs/SEMrush: Help with keyword research, competitor analysis, and finding topic ideas.
Buzzsumo: Identify popular topics within your niche.
Canva: Create visual assets like infographics and blog banners.

Conclusion

This is a complete guide on how to become a freelance writer with no experience.

You can’t become a freelance writer unless you work with real clients. First, try to focus on getting your first client.

Write daily to improve your writing skills. You need to write super valuable content.

Your content or copy must deliver a good ROI.

Otherwise, businesses are unlikely to engage in long-term partnerships with you.

Build a strong professional network, and prioritize client relationships. Most importantly, believe in your abilities.

By treating freelancing as a business and consistently delivering high-quality work, you can build a sustainable business.

I hope this guide will help you start your freelance writing journey.

Subhrajyoti Mahato

Subhrajyoti Mahato is a content marketing strategist and marketing writer. He specializes in helping businesses generate more revenue through content marketing. He loves reading and writing about marketing.