If you just started working as a freelance writer or already have freelance experience, you have to find clients that provide consistent work. There are tons of clients out there currently looking to hire freelancers for writing services. But, to be honest, one of the hardest tricks to the trade is keeping a constant stream of clients and projects. Fortunately, there are marketing tips freelancers can utilize to generate more clients, get higher-paying projects and more consistent work.

1. Personalize Your Pitches

When reaching out to potential clients, your freelance writing pitch should not be the same cookie-cutter email that you send to someone whenever looking for work. Personalization is paramount. Before you send your pitch, do some research on the client. Is it a large company, a small agency, a startup, or a solopreneur looking for help?

When you take the time to do your due diligence on a client, you can craft personalized sales pitches that are much more likely to resonate with them and help you secure the project. If it is an IT client, you can illustrate how you have expertise in the IT industry, provide samples, and could give them a few project ideas you have in mind. If you personalize your approach, you are far more likely to generate a client and produce a sale. Of course, after your pitch meeting you need to be sure to send a great follow-up email to stay top of mind with the prospect.

2. Create A Freelance Website

Creating a website certainly takes time, but the long-term benefits are worth it. You can use your website as a promotional tool to showcase your writing skills, expertise, as well as your ability to design engaging web pages. Your website should contain writing samples and project testimonials from clients if you have them. Likewise, you should illustrate the type of writing you prefer, such as writing blog posts, research articles, white papers, etc. Not to mention, you should provide pricing, such as a fixed price or rate price.

One of the main reasons for a successful website is the landing page. Your landing page is to entice potential clients to reach out to you and learn more. The content should be engaging and optimized for a high SEO ranking. Likewise, the landing page must contain relevant contact information, so clients know exactly how to reach you. Never underestimate the importance of having your own website. If you are unsure how to build your own website, fortunately, there are plenty of online platforms available for beginners.

3. Utilize Social Media

Another great way to promote your work as a full-time freelance is through social media. Having a social media strategy is paramount to the long-term success of being a freelance writer. There are tons of social media platforms available you could utilize. However, some of the more popular ones for business purposes include LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Each social media platform is more apt for different things. For instance, LinkedIn is an amazing platform for building business connections and networking with potential clients. Likewise, Facebook and Instagram are great for self-promotion and marketing. Regardless of which platform(s) you decide to use, you want your profiles updated with the most relevant information and optimized to expand your social reach and attract more clients. Although building your social media presence will take time, the effort will help you gain exposure and help you build a personalized community of clients.

4. Start a Blog

Starting a blog has its benefits, especially if you’re looking for work as a blogger. When starting a blog, you want to create something that displays your particular set of writing skills. You need to find a niche. You will be writing a lot of topics about your niche, so it must be something you understand. For instance, if you are an expert in music, you could create a blog about learning guitar, piano, etc.

Your blog doesn’t necessarily have to be aligned with your target market as a freelance writer. Ultimately, when potential clients come across your blog, they look for your ability to craft engaging headlines, stick to a related theme or topic, and your ability to write great content. You should include a link to your blog site on your freelance website, or just make it part of the website. Likewise, you should promote your blog on your social media accounts. Another important thing to note is that you could eventually start generating revenue from your blog if you can grow it enough to get ads displayed.

5. Join A Freelance Writing Platform

In this day and age, there are a ton of freelance websites available online to help connect freelance workers with clients, jobs, etc. Some of these online platforms are designed specifically for freelance writers, while others include freelance services for a plethora of other professions. One of the more popular websites includes Upwork, which posts thousands of job opportunities for freelance writers every day. Likewise, FlexJobs is another great platform for connecting freelancers with writing gigs.

Regardless of which platform(s) you decide to use, you want to treat it the same way you would your website or social media accounts. You are trying to market yourself to potential clients to find work. You should optimize your accounts to contain relevant contact information, your expertise, and experience, as well as any useful samples you want to provide. Although these platforms do not guarantee work, they certainly help you find clients and are great for networking.