How to get lucrative freelance writing assignments.

Are you an aspiring freelance writer eager to break into the writing scene? Or are you already a professional looking to increase your income? If so, here are some tips on how to get lucrative freelance writing assignments that will help you earn more money.

1) Search for new clients: Researching and finding new opportunities is essential. If a company hasn't contacted you yet, it's up to you to make them aware of your services. Keep in mind that companies don't just actively seek out writers - they're usually content with their current freelancers or working with a limited budget - so it can be difficult getting noticed and landing assignments. Go on a campaign to find new writing jobs - check out the classifieds section of the local newspapers, call up your local Chamber of Commerce, search sites such as Craigslist and Monster.com, and put up flyers around your area.

2) Visit target clients: At this point, you should have a list of organizations that will be perfect for your writing specialties. Instead of just calling them up or sending emails to their generic contacts, try speaking with them directly by visiting them in person. Not only will you get a chance to meet the people who are in charge of hiring writers, but you'll have an opportunity to sell yourself better than you could in a phone call or email. Dress professionally, have some business cards on hand, and be extremely friendly and personable.

3) Look for small jobs: While many freelancers focus on larger projects, a lot of opportunities are smaller in nature. These include proofreading documents, writing press releases, and updating websites. If you do well with these assignments, more work will most likely follow.

4) Keep your clients happy: Once you've landed an assignment with a company, make an effort to impress them as best as possible. This means taking extra time to ensure that their needs are met and their expectations exceeded. In the long run this will allow for possible earning increases or future assignments.

5) Take the initiative: If a company is looking for a writer, but doesn't have any posted openings, try reaching out to them anyway. This can be easier said than done, but if you've handled multiple projects with them before and made a positive impact on their business, they'll most likely be willing to take you on. Be enthusiastic, demonstrate your skills and experience, and tell them how you can help them.

6) Offer writing services your clients need: If a company already has established writers handling their content needs, don't automatically assume that they won't want to hire someone else. You can always contact the owners of the business and propose that you handle certain areas of writing (i.e. advertising copy, newsletters, press releases), while their regular writers handle the others.

7) Network: If you're plugged into the right professional networks, there's a good chance that you'll receive leads on freelance writing jobs through them. Join groups such as craigslistwriters or professional associations that focus on your areas of expertise. Not only will you get a better understanding of the market conditions, but you'll also be able to contact potential clients directly without having to go through an agent or salesperson. The key is to provide quality service and positive attention - in other words, don't spam their members unnecessarily (or at all).

8) Follow a publishing schedule: If you're in the process of writing a book and have a steady stream of clients looking for freelance work, you can use this time to make money. These types of publishing schedules differ depending on the subject matter of your book, but they will most likely include different types of work (i.e. copywriting assignments, consulting engagements, marketing strategies). As soon as your book is completed, get working on the next one!

9) Establish relationships with clients: Most businesses are more than willing to give their visitors some form of benefit by including them in their mailing list or offering special deals/promotions. Take the initiative with your own marketing efforts by working with a company's PR person, writing them a blog post for their website, or reaching out to any of their employees that you might know. This type of relationship building can really pay off in the long run.

10) Keep costs down: It's tempting to be drawn in by the most expensive or highly compensated freelance jobs, but try to resist this urge as much as possible. Instead of focusing on the dollar signs attached to these contracts, look at other factors such as whether or not they're worth your time and effort. Remember that you're an educated writer who knows how to handle projects efficiently - make sure that other people recognize this as well.

If you follow these steps and continue to hone your skills, there's a good chance that you'll be able to break into the freelance writing industry. The best part is that the opportunities don't stop there! As you start to build your reputation, more and more clients will contact you for work. Not only does this mean more income for you, but it also means less searching for jobs in the future.

About the Author: Brian Clark is President of Copyblogger Media and co-founder of Blog Tyrant. He has written for Mashable, Entrepreneur and Time magazine among others. To learn how his team can transform your business's blog into a money-making machine, visit www.copybloggermedia.com or www.blogtyrant.com.

Image courtesy of Sadia/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

About the Author: Brian Clark is President of Copyblogger Media and co-founder of Blog Tyrant. He has written for Mashable, Entrepreneur and Time magazine among others. To learn how his team can transform your business's blog into a money-making machine, visit www.copybloggermedia.com or www.blogtyrant.com.

Further Reading: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Freelance_Writer/Salary

www.myfreelanceway.com

About the Author: Brian Clark is President of Copyblogger Media and co-founder of Blog Tyrant. He has written for Mashable, Entrepreneur and Time magazine among others. To learn how his team can transform your business's blog into a money-making machine, visit www.copybloggermedia.com or www.blogtyrant.com.

Image courtesy of Brian Clark / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This article was originally published on Entrepreneur Media's official blog - http://www.entrepreneurmedia.com/article/freelance-writing-services

This article was originally published on Entrepreneur Media's official blog - http://www.entrepreneurmedia.com/article/freelance-writing-services

This article was originally published on Entrepreneur Media's official blog - http://www.entrepreneurmedia.com/article/freelance-writing-services

This article was originally published on Entrepreneur Media's official blog - http://www.entrepreneurmedia.

Conclusion

So there you have it – what it takes to break into the freelance writing industry. If you follow these steps and continue to hone your skills, there's a good chance that you'll be able to break into the freelance writing industry. The best part is that the opportunities don't stop there! As you start to build your reputation, more and more clients will contact you for work. Not only does this mean more income for you, but it also means less searching for jobs in the future. What have you got to lose by trying?

By Brian Clark | Posted on October 10, 2012

This article was originally published on Entrepreneur Media's official blog - http://www.entrepreneurmedia.