Practically Foolproof Freelance Business Boosts

There are no guarantees in freelancing.

There. I’ve gotten that out of the way. I bring this up because I’m about to present you with what I think are foolproof ways to boost your freelance writing business. But there’s a caveat:

Nothing is foolproof, and less so if you don’t do the work.

Too many freelancers struggle through piecing together an existence, going from one-off client to one-off client, hoping one of them decides to come back someday. There are also freelancers who think articles on Medium are going to make them rich (they won’t), or that working for content mills gives them a great leg up (it doesn’t).

Those are foolproof ways of killing a freelance career before you get it going.

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But there are ways for you to change the direction of your freelance writing business right now that will pay off in the near future. These are things I’ve done/am doing. They can work for you, too.

Set an earnings goal.

My business didn’t really take off until I decided on a number I’d shoot for every month. I knew what I wanted to make annually, but it remained unattainable. Until, that is, I set that monthly earnings goal. The minute I did that, I knew my target, and I started working toward it.

Get an accountability partner.

Right now, today, reach out to another writer or friend or family member. This is the person who will hear from you at the end of every month about how well you did in reaching that goal you just set. Nothing else keeps your eye on that goal throughout the month like knowing you have to report to someone. In my first days of accountability, I would push myself to send out one more magazine pitch or client intro letter (LOI) because I knew I had to tell my accountability partner about my efforts. A few times, those efforts came in on the last week of the month, but I did them. And a few of them paid off, too.

There’s power in knowing you have to answer for your own actions (or inertia).

Target those queries.

Sending out 100 queries or letters of introduction is great IF those 100 items are to potential clients whom you’ve researched and sent personalized notes to, not that blanket thing you send to the masses. If you research those potential clients, guess what? You won’t need to send 100 things out. You’ll hit the mark with fewer, saving yourself a ton of marketing time. And if you’ve bothered to get to know these people on social media, you’ll know enough about them to make great conversation with them and show them you’re smart enough to do your homework.

Emulate better writers.

By that I don’t mean talent, though if you’re new and you want to get better quickly, this isn’t a bad idea. I mean emulate how they interact with clients, what they share on social media (and read what they share, for it’s probably worth your time), what their processes are when attracting or working with clients. Find a writer to befriend who is earning more than you, then watch and learn.

Aim higher.

Raise those rates, drop those low-paying clients (even the nice ones are holding you back), screw up your confidence and go get those clients you deserve at the rates you want, not the ones you settle for because you’re too afraid of chasing off a client. Know this — you will chase off clients with a higher rate, but they’re not clients who are worth keeping if they’re not paying you at or near your preferred rate. Don’t hang on to dead wood.

List everything you’ve accomplished in your career. See? That’s worth much more than you’re charging now. And those clients got a bargain. Time to appeal to those clients who look for the higher rates as a sign of an actual professional.

Writers, what things did you change about your writing business that gave you an immediate boost?