Finding writing clients can be hard work. Hiring a sales team might work… but why not MAKE a sales team that’ll work 24/7 for you instead? (And you don’t even have to pay them!)
Back in the dark ages, freelancers could rock at finding writing clients without having a website of their own. I know, because I did it. I had no website, no portfolio, no client list, and no paid experience. Still, I reached the $5k per month revenue goal that seemed completely unrealistic when I set it. That was 2005.
You know, back when we had to walk uphill both ways in three feet of snow, carrying nothing but a baked potato for warmth and to eat at lunch while using Starbucks as a home office? (All that “back in the old days” stuff sounded so much better when my parents and grandparents used to say it!)
Back then, building a website was hard. There was Dream Weaver, Front Page, and X-Site Pro, which is the program I cut my website building teeth on. They broke easily. You kind of had to know some coding. There were no plug-ins or apps, so every feature and function you wanted on your site, you had to build. After brushing up on your coding skills, if you had any… which I did not. See exhibits A and B.
From the Way Back Machine, circa 2006. There WERE images, but they weren’t captured on the day the site was crawled.
I broke down and paid for this new iteration of my site. Much improved, but still not great, right?
Now, You NEED a Website to Get Great Writing Clients
Even with these ugly old sites, I managed to create a full-time income. That’s probably because not many writers had sites. Plus, the way I landed most of my original clients, it didn’t matter that I didn’t have a site. (The strategy I used back then still works, but there are easier ways to find clients now. I give in-depth training on this in the Working Writer, Happy Writer course.)
Theoretically, you could still try finding writing clients without a website now. But that leaves you ACTIVELY looking for gigs to fill up your pipeline. Kind of a pain, right?
By building a good freelancer site, you can build an inbound, PASSIVE-ish client-getting machine.
To be perfectly clear, I’m NOT saying, “If you build it, they will come.” That movie line has probably tanked more businesses and ruined more lives than most. Ever seen a new business pop up in your town and then the next time you drive by, it’s boarded up? I’d bet you a slab of thick-cut bacon that the now-despondent former owners bought into the myth that just hanging a shingle and selling something at least somewhat awesome would be enough. They probably thought word of mouth would build and make their business flourish. It happens All. The. Time.
You can’t rely on your freelancer website to attract and convert as many writing clients as you need, all by itself. However, it’s worth building a great site anyway.
Build Your Site, Build Your Biz (and help your clients grow, too)
Huddle up for a sec here. What I’m about to tell you will help you build YOUR freelance business and make finding writing clients a snap. But now’s a great time to drill an important perspective into your brain as well.
See, there are like a gajillion freelance writers out there. Most of them kind of stink, to be honest. Some are even crooks (trust me on this, as an agency owner!). You want to do whatever you can to stand out from the crowd.
There are practically infinite ways to do that. You could stand out by choosing an unusual niche. Specializing in a certain type of writing is another way. Education, certifications, and training are other differentiators that could help you nail clients.
But the ONE thing I can tell you that’s helped me keep some clients for more than a decade (even though my firm is nowhere near the least expensive option – not by a long shot)? It’s that I am always on the lookout for ways to help my clients more. Not even always stuff I charge them for, in fact, it’s less tangible than a deliverable. It’s more along the lines of developing a fascination for learning and passing along what I learn to help my clients. Especially when it comes to marketing principles, tactics, tools, and tips.
As you learn how to market YOUR business, you’re also gathering info and data that could help your clients grow THEIR businesses. See? I look at every new tool and tactic that I learn in light of how it could help my clients.
With that mindset, building your writing website takes on a whole new significance. If you can build yours, you can learn to build sites for clients (if you want to add that to your offerings). Build your writing site yourself, and now you can build other sites for yourself, too – especially helpful if you want to get into affiliate marketing or info marketing.
This post is excellent, really clearly laid out and easy to read. Thanks so much for sharing and for being so helpful.
Thank you – glad you found it helpful!
I love your back in the day. Freelancing is something I have thought about but haven’t really looked into. Your site though is definitely important!
Chuckle… you like them, huh? You’re awfully kind, Angela!
This is a great way of thinking. I put forth a ton of effort in making my own website and learning how to do things for myself, but it really does make me more helpful to others. Turning that helpfulness into a business and profiting from it just sounds like a no brainer.
That’s all business is, right? Solving a problem for someone else. Plus, in learning how to do stuff, we also learn the finer points of what will make our clients’ lives easier, since we’ve been there, too.
Oh my gosh, I remember those early web building clients! I learned how to do html code in high school so didn’t use the builders often, but they were so clunky! Web site building has come such a long way since then. But I agree, doing those little things above and beyond others is what makes any business stand out.
In high school?! That’s fantastic! What a great skill to develop as a teen. Back in the day… well, my typing class (IBM Selectric) was by far, the most useful class I took in high school (maybe in college, too!). Do you still code?
You’re right, you definitely can’t get writing jobs these days without your own website! I still have a lot more to work on for mine!
Same! The site – even after all these years – is never quite “done” but it gets better and better.
You provided some really great tips here. I like your idea of providing greater value to the clients than what they already pay for. If you prove yourself to be invaluable to them, they will keep returning to you and passing your name along to others.
Absolutely true, Elaine! Doing this, I’ve had some clients for more than a decade, and they’ve sent me tons of referrals.
Build it and they will come! It’s really important to believe and invest in ourselves first.
“Invest” is exactly the right word. Freelance writing, as a business, has the lowest possible start-up cost. Not much overhead at all… but there are some business assets we either have to make or buy, for sure.
There is so much of a difference in what websites were and what they are now! Isn’t it crazy to think about?
Plus, sometimes you stumble upon an OLDIE – flashing rainbow font and everything! Thank goodness web design has evolved 🙂
My best friend was just talking to me the other day about how she loves to write, but doesn’t feel like she could get any jobs because she doesn’t have her own website. I need to let her read this. Thank you.
She might be right (although I started without one) – BUT it’s pretty easy to make one these days, so it’s not the hurdle it used to be. Hope she finds this helpful!
I swear it doesn’t matter what business you are in, you need a website and social pages! It’s the easiest way for clients to find you!
So true! When I first got started in 2005, there was a whole lot of convincing business owners that this “Internet thing” was not going away and that they needed to get a site! Now, it’s rare to find an established business without one.
I’ve been thinking of doing freelance writing! This was super helpful! Definitely going to save this so if I choose to start I’ll have it!
That’s great, Shannon! You might find other posts here that can help you get started. Best wishes!
I am LOLing at your back in the day! 🙂 Good point though, you do need a website nowadays to get going and earn an online income. I think it helps people trust you more.
😀 They’re pretty awful! That credibility is another huge reason every business needs a site (a good one!). It baffles me when I go to check out a business online and there’s no website. Like… why?!?! The Internet essentially gives you a storefront on Main Street – all you have to do is staff and stock it. Never been a better time to be a business owner – at least where marketing is concerned.
I think this info applies to a LOT of jobs really. I laugh when I look at my first website. I think we’ve all been there.
That’s why they say, “The first is the worst!”
This is such a great way of looking at it. This will help a lot of freelance writers build cilents.
It really will! Even just counting the skills it takes to post a blog post, learning how to do it can help make clients’ lives easier if you can do it for them.