Note from Jennifer: We’ve welcomed a lot of new members to the Freelance Content Marketing Writer group on Facebook recently, and it reminded me that I wanted to post more content for writers who are just starting out in content marketing, either as a new area of focus or freelancing for the very first time. I asked Cat DiStasio to share some advice, from her experience responding to questions from first-timers. Don’t forget to visit her website and blog after reading this post.

By Cat DiStasio

With the rapid rise of content marketing in recent years, there is also a sharp increase in the number of freelancers getting into content marketing writing for the first time. And while many aspects of being a freelance content marketing writer are no different than being a freelance writer of any other discipline, there are a few unique areas.

Whether you’re transitioning from a focus on freelance journalism to content marketing, or you’ve never freelanced a day in your life and think content marketing writing sounds like a tolerable way to make a living, there are a few things everyone should know as they transition into the world of freelance content marketing writing.

Jennifer’s blog and book contain a wealth of information, advice, must-dos and never-dos. As a free resource, the blog has become an essential knowledgebase, while the more linear format of the book allows it to serve practically as a step-by-step guide to success.

Marketing

In the Facebook group, the most common questions from writers who are new to content marketing revolve around one theme: where the heck do you find clients? Many writers come to content marketing thinking that, like freelance journalists, writers must pitch ideas to editors to land gigs. Not so. While pitching story ideas is possible, and sometimes very advantageous, the general approach to finding new content marketing writing clients looks a lot more like something most writers hate: sales.

Marketing yourself as a freelance content marketing writer means you have to:

• Maintain a professional, active web presence, including a website with a writing portfolio (more on how to organize your clips here) and social media accounts (see here for advice);
• Send out Letters of Introduction (LOIs) to companies that are a potential fit for your client roster (here’s a template, tips on finding the best contact, and some ideas on how to use LOIs); and
• Work your social and personal networks for potential leads, contribute to writer communities, and help other writers.

Rates

The second most common type of questions in the group are about the second next logical topic: money. Once you find a potential client, how do you know what to charge? Freelance writers, across the board, have one significant shortcoming in common: we never actually know what a “good rate” is. Thanks to anonymous websites and writers groups on social media, people have shared a lot of information about the rates writers have earned from different publications or companies for writing work in the past, but even that information isn’t enough to imbue confidence in a quote.

Getting together with other content marketing writers to share rate information is the best way to get a gauge on the landscape. Every writer must still sit down and calculate the amount of money they need or want to earn, but they should also compare that figure to what other writers in a similar niche are making.

Setting your rates as a freelance content marketing writer can be confusing, as there is no right or wrong answer. Here’s how to get started:

– Start with a basic approach to calculating your rates;

– Then consider why you should ignore per word rates and quote project rates instead;

– Learn how to negotiate higher rates with content marketing clients (even with existing clients); and

– Why content marketing writing rates don’t compare to journalism rates.  

Legal

Questions about contracts come up frequently in the FB group, and several have been addressed here on the blog as well. Do I need a contract? What should be in a contract? Who supplies the contract? How do I get a potential client to remove a clause I don’t like?

Without doling out legal advice, I’ll suggest you keep these things in mind, at the very least:

• Be sure to ask as many questions as you need in order to get all the relevant information about an assignment, its requirements and submission process, payment methods and terms, etc.
• A good contract should include a detailed scope of work, rate and payment terms, timelines for the project (including interim deadlines, if any), and all other terms that define the relationship between the client and the writer.
• Both parties have to agree to the terms and sign the contract before it becomes valid, so don’t sign a contract until all your questions and concerns have been addressed. If you want to change terms on the client’s generic contract, just ask. If you’re trying to get an indemnification clause removed or altered, check out this post for some great advice on that tricky subject.

Finances

Keeping track of freelance finances is practically its own fulltime job. Finding time to send invoices, chasing down late payments, and planning ahead for taxes all add to the burden. While some writers don’t mind or even enjoy this type of work, I think it’s safe to say that most writers do not like it one bit. Consequently, many tend to put it off until it’s too late.

If you’re already a freelancer, you probably already know about budgeting for uncertain cashflow and preparing quarterly taxes. Setting income goals is also essential, even when you’re first starting out. Jennifer explains why she sets an income goal as well as a stretch goal as well as how to measure your progress in this post, which is a great read for any stage of your freelance content marketing writing career.

Work-Life Balance

The possibility of maintaining your ideal work-life balance is one of the biggest perks of the freelance life, but it’s not always easy from the start. While it *is* possible to earn a living as a freelance content marketing writer while working less than 40 hours a week, most new writers will have to put in more time. Much of that time will be spent doing marketing activities and setting up the systems that keep your business churning month after month. But it’s also likely that you’ll have to start at lower rates to get the clips you need to land higher paying assignments, which means you’ll probably have to take more of them. That said, don’t lose sight of your needs. Improve your time management skills and learn how to become more productive. When writers burn the candle at both ends, every part of their business tends to suffer – plus, it’s just not fun. And second to the work-life balance perk of freelancing is the ‘work can actually be fun’ perk, but that’s one you can only enjoy if you defend it tooth and nail.

Get connected

Networking with other writers is essential for anyone new to content marketing writing as a freelance career. Since Jennifer launched the Freelance Content Marketing Writer group in May 2018, I’ve watched it become a go-to for writers around the globe. Every day, members post questions and share resources, console and congratulate one another, and alleviate some of the loneliness and isolation that comes with the freelance territory. I urge every new content marketing writer to find a community where they can learn as well as help others, since writer communities are about much more than finding a place to ask questions.

What’s your best piece of advice for freelance writers who are new to the world of content marketing writing?