Some of the links within this article may be affiliate links. Meaning, I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on said link at no extra cost to you.
When I first began my freelance writing journey I didn’t have: A website for my business. That was mistake number one.
I did have a website, but it was a personal blog that had nothing to do with my business. A personal blog can be great for showcasing your writing. However, if it’s not business-oriented it isn’t going to leverage your writing business.
If I learned nothing else from Jorden Makelle and her freelance writing course, it’s that having a professional online portfolio for your business is a top priority if you want to be successful.
A Website Will Help You Brand Your Business
Your website is the place where you show clients what makes you different from the other writers out there. The copy that you write for it shouldn’t be the only thing that is speaking for your business. The brand that you create for your business will also be telling your clients a lot about you.
From the font or color scheme you to choose your presence on social media as a business. It all speaks volumes for your business and your brand. Any time you’ve scrolled through Pinterest you can instantly point out which pins are from certain professionals, just by how they’ve branded themselves. You immediately recognize their colors, fonts, and even the voice in their writing. You want your brand to make your business something that your current and potential clients can easily identify as you.
Your freelance writing business website will give you the perfect platform to create your brand and showcase everything that makes it unique.
A Website Will Make Your Business Look Professional
Having an online portfolio for your business is the icing on the cake when you are really pushing to grow and be successful. Since all of your work is done online, the first impression you’ll be making on clients will be online. Not an in-person impression that is made based on how your shake someone’s hand or dress.
Be honest, any time you’ve needed to hire a service for something in your life, if the service has a website and that website is appealing, you’re more likely to trust and hire that business. Versus one that doesn’t have a website. All they have is a business card with a phone number and maybe an email address.
Showcase Your Work on Your Website
As a freelance writer, 99% of your work will be online, why wouldn’t you create a website to hold and showcase your work? It’s likely that new clients will be asking to see samples of your writing. Preferably samples that fall within their area of business. You’ve worked hard to create a portfolio of your best work to showcase to clients.
Instead of emailing a new client a word doc or directing them to an online portfolio website that hundreds thousands of other writers use, direct them to your little corner of the internet that is centered around you and your writing only.
It Will Make Your Niche Clear
Having a clearly defined niche or area of expertise that you work in is super important. Your clients need to know that you are the writer that they have been dreaming of working with. Because you are an authority in writing about a specific niche that fits their needs. This doesn’t mean settling down into one specific niche and never expanding your writing horizons. BUT it does mean being clear on where you do specialize.
For instance, I am a health and medical writer by trade, but I also have a lot of writing experience in the pet and travel niches. You can use your writing portfolio to showcase your variety, or even better, your flexibility.No matter what your niche(s) are, and how obscure they may seem, make sure they are clear on your business website.
This will save a lot of steps in the client onboarding process. So many questions will be answered without them needing to send you a single email about your services.
Create a Hub for Your Clients
Having a website makes it clear to your clients where exactly they need to go to work with you.You can create a website that allows clients to stay up to date with your business, communicate with you, order services, and even pay for them all in one place.
Creating a website for your business may sound like a lot of work, but it truly is worth the time and effort. Clients want to work with someone who knows what they’re doing. You want your freelance writing business to look legit so that your clients will trust you and what you promise to provide to them right off.
Branding your business and displaying it throughout your website as well as other places that you wander within the internet will help you to catch the eyes of clients. They see your brand over and over and begin to recognize it immediately.
Having a website is also like having an online office space. A place that you and your clients meet up and talk business. Although, having a website with writing samples and FAQs will really help eliminate a lot of the extra preliminary communications. Most of their questions will be answered right on your website.
Check out some of my resources here. I only recommend resources that I have tried and believe to be super helpful.
[…] later makes your business website look tons more professional in the eye of potential clients. I started my WordPress adventure, […]