7 most important skills to Generate Income as a Writer

 

7 most important skills to generate income as a Writer





As a freelancer, your income is directly linked to the work you take on and how much you charge for your services. So, finding new ways to generate an income as a writer is a must. Fortunately, there are numerous opportunities to monetize your skills as a writer that don’t involve selling your soul or taking up another side job. You may not be able to see it right now, but these small steps will lead to bigger things in the future. The key is to keep building on what you've already established while continuing to grow as a creative professional. A successful freelancer has many streams of revenue; let these ideas serve as inspiration so you can begin building your own stable of clients and steady cash flow from the get go.

 

Build Relationships

It’s cliché, but you can’t expect to receive if you don’t give. Freelancing is a business, and as such, it’s important to understand that relationships are key. You’ll want to nurture these relationships for years to come. This can mean getting coffee with an editor to learn more about the publication and their needs, attending relevant conferences and events, or simply sending an email every so often to keep in touch. Make sure to keep track of all of your relationships – both old and new – as you never know when you might need them down the road. You may be able to use these relationships to broaden your own network and receive introductions to new potential clients.

 

Write Services Into Your Proposal

If you’re pitching a new client, add a line to your proposal saying something like, “I’ll create two pieces of content a month for you on this topic,” or “I’ll let you pick the stories I write each week.” This shows your potential client that you are capable of delivering value on a continual basis while also giving them a service they will benefit from, thus increasing the likelihood that they’ll hire you. You can also write services into your contract after you’ve received the job. For example, if you’ll be creating an eBook for a client, you can ask if they have a platform where it can be offered for download or recommend that they publish it on their own website.

 

Write Content For Brands

There are countless brands out there looking to publish content on their website. While it won’t always be about your niche, if you have a skill set, you can write about almost anything. A few places to start your search include Content Marketing Institute, Contently, and Mediavine. Being able to write for multiple brands will not only give you an additional source of income, but also provide you with valuable experience and insight into how different industries operate. It’s also a great way to get your name out there and establish yourself as an industry leader.

 

Write An eBook or eCourse

If you have a skill or expertise in a particular field, creating an eBook or eCourse where you teach others what you know can be a great way to monetize your knowledge. You can use your eBook as a lead magnet for attracting subscribers to your email list or offer it as a free download in exchange for an email address. Alternatively, you can use a tool like Gumroad or Shopify to sell your eBook. Alternatively, you can create an eCourse and sell it directly through your website. This gives you more control over the process and puts you in the driver’s seat when it comes to the marketing strategy behind the course. An important thing to keep in mind is that it will likely take several months to create your course or eBook, so you don’t want to wait until you have it published to start marketing it. Start creating value and marketing your product as soon as you start creating it.

 

Take On Guest Blogging gigs

Guest blogging, especially for large publications, can lead to a nice chunk of change. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, not all publications pay, but those that do pay well. Look for publications that have a sponsored content section on their website. Often, these publications will hire writers to create content for their site and pay them a flat rate. Another way to go about guest blogging is to partner with someone who has a large following. You can also approach publications that are exploring a new topic and see if they’re willing to team up with you.

 

Earned Media Opportunities

Reach out to editors, writers, and reporters at your local newspapers or major publications and offer to write a short piece for free or at a reduced rate. This can be a great way to get your foot in the door and establish yourself as an expert in your field. You can also use your name as a guest post author to build your author profile on platforms like LinkedIn, Medium, and other publications. You can also offer to work as a freelancer with PR firms. This can lead to additional work and put you in a position to network with people in the industry. PR firms will often have people on retainer, but they may be willing to hire you whenever they have a special project.

 

Become an Expert Through Speaking

If you’re interested in speaking, it’s important to focus on where you can find these opportunities. One of the best places to start is with organizations like the American Marketing Association and the Society of Human Resource Management. You can also join industry organizations, like The Content Marketing Alliance, Marketing Automation Society, and Entrepreneurs’ Organization. As you begin attending events and speaking at organizations, you can begin to build a name for yourself in your industry and earn the title of expert. You can also use your speaking engagements to secure larger deals. If you are building a long-term career, then it is important to start making connections at these events. Find the people who are in your field, and start building relationships. You never know who might lead to something great down the road.

 

Conclusion

As a freelancer, your income is directly linked to the work you take on and how much you charge for your services. So, finding new ways to generate an income as a writer is a must. Fortunately, there are numerous opportunities to monetize your skills as a writer that don’t involve selling your soul or taking up another side job. You may not be able to see it right now, but these small steps will lead to bigger things in the future. The key is to keep building on what you've already established while continuing to grow as a creative professional. A successful freelancer has many streams of revenue; let these ideas serve as inspiration so you can begin building your own stable of clients and steady cash flow from the get go.