5 Freelance Writing Habits That Will Make You Stand Out

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The field of freelance writing is just as competitive as any other field that relies on a craft/skill. In order to stand out from the crowd, there are some habits and techniques that you can utilize in order to reach that level of success that you see other writers achieving.

I wanted to take some time to share a few of the habits that I’ve picked up on and have been working on through the years in my writing careers. I either read articles written by successful freelance writers where they talked about practicing these habits, or realized that when I focused on doing these things in my own work that the results spoke for themselves.

Get in the Habit of Putting Quality Above Quantity

This should be the standard for any business, not just in freelance writing. In any instance that you are a customer that is paying for a product or service, would you not want something that is high quality that a lot of time and focus was put into? Or would you want something that someone rushed to complete, just so they could move onto the next as fast as possible?

As a freelance writer, its crucial to focus on the quality of your work in each and every project that you take on. Even if this means telling your client that you require x amount of time to provide them with the highest quality work that you can produce. Some clients might not like the sound of this and will want the finished product in a tight time frame.

However, you need to remember that they came to you for your talents. If you need 2 weeks in order to give your clients your 100% best efforts, then you need to outline that in your offer and not be afraid to stand by it.

I would much rather produce 20 high quality freelance writer project a month, for MY asking rate with no negotiation. Because the client knows that my best quality work is worth every penny. Than to rush through 50 projects in one month, just to TRY and rake in all that money. If the work I’m busting out is low quality, not only will I likely get some bad reviews, damaging my reputation in this field. But also lose out on some possible future returning customers.

Showcase Your Passions

One of the first lessons I learned when first diving into the world of freelance writing and blogging, was that it was necessary to have a professional website to showcase your writing to potential clients. Want to learn more about building a professional website and why it’s so important for your business? Check out my article about it here.

It doesn’t need to be expensive and flashy. Just neat, organized, and filled with writing that puts your best foot forward. You want to give your potential clients a taste of what you can do and show them why you’re the right person for the job that they need done.

I found my passion in writing about topics within the health and wellness niche, as well as in the realm of personal finance and mental health. These are huge areas of interest for me, so I found it easy to write from my own knowledge bank with the topics that I was passionate about. I once read that, as a blogger, the best topics to write about are ones that you can talk about endlessly to someone. This mind set can really help you when you begin to create your professional freelance writing website to showcase some of your own writing.

Make it a Habit to Utilize Your Professional Network in Your Freelance Writing

One of the best ways to grow a business is the old fashioned way – Word of Mouth. Making a habit of networking within your realm of connections in life and building a professional network of people will become a huge stepping stone for your business one day.

You don’t necessarily have had to work with certain people in order to tie them into your growing professional network. The art of networking really just boils down to having decent people skills. For instance, maybe you want to grow your writing business in the realm of small local businesses. Specifically, coffee shops. Sure, it’s a bonus if you’ve worked at one of them and know the employees. But, you could also just be a customer who strikes up a conversation with the manager of the shop. Thus leading to an inside connection.

By doing this you can lead your freelance writing business down the path of exponential growth. Just through one conversation over a cup of coffee. That manager might love the idea of you writing content for their business’s website, love the content you end up creating, and lastly, recommending you to contacts of theirs within that business niche. Making a habit of utilizing and growing your professional network will certainly pay off over time if you are practicing often.

Make it a Habit to Always Strive for Improvement

It’s important to know that there’s always room for growth as a writer and business owner. You never want to “get comfortable” with where you are, and convince yourself that improvement isn’t necessary just because you have clients and are making the income that you need at that time.

First of all, there will always be other writers out there, competing with your business and striving to set the next bar just above you. Whether it’s with the knowledge they have on certain content topics, experience with new technology in the field, or just their ability. to sell themselves and know what their clients need in the current market.

A habit that’s important to have as a freelance writer to not forget that there is always room for improvement. Improving on writing skills, technology utilization, customer relations, and so on.

Invest in Your Craft

When you are just starting out, you won’t want to be dumping tons of money into your business right away. The fat is, you probably don’t even have that much extra money to throw into it just yet. Which is why you’re starting your business in the first place, right? To make some extra money.

You’re probably still working your 9-5 job that you just cannot wait to give your 2 weeks notice to and start you life as a freelance writer who makes their own scheduled and works where ever they feel like. I know I was. You don’t need to throw hundreds of dollars into it to be “investing” in your new career. asa freelance writer.

Investing in your craft doesn’t always mean monetarily. It does sometimes, but not always. When I just started freelance writing, the biggest investments that I made where in my time. The goal is to ultimately be gaining control over your time by becoming a freelancer. And you will one day. I spent so much time researching and learning before I began to see an ounce of success.

Then I did invest some money into my craft. I bought a few online courses, which helped ALOT. I eventually invested in my professional freelance writer website as well. A place where I could showcase my work and allow potential clients to contact me and talk about projects. So no, I definitely didn’t invest hundreds upon hundreds of dollars into it. 3 to 4 hundred maybe over time, but do I regret it? Not a cent! All in all, you’re only going to get out of it what you put into it in the long run.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to stand out as a freelance writer, it’s important to develop good habits and invest your time and energy into honing your craft. Quality should always be prioritized over quantity, shine the spotlight on yourself and showcase your passion, don’t be afraid to build your professional network, always strive for improvement, and invest in yourself.

If you’re someone who is new to freelance writing looking for more tips; Or a seasoned freelancer writer who is looking. to continue building your professional network, leave a comment below.