How to Start a Freelance Business When You are Broke

If you have a passion for writing and want to turn it into a career, then becoming a freelance writer might be the perfect fit for you. However, getting started as a freelance writer can be overwhelming, especially if you're on a budget. Don't worry, though! In this blog post, we'll give you ten ways to get started as a freelance writer without breaking the bank.

1. Determine your niche and target market: Before you start looking for clients, it's essential to identify your writing niche and target market. This will help you tailor your writing to your specific audience and find clients who are looking for your particular skillset.

2. Create a portfolio: To showcase your writing abilities, create a portfolio of your best work. You can publish it on a personal website or on platforms like Medium or Contently. A strong portfolio will help you land clients and demonstrate your writing style.

3. Join freelance writing platforms: There are numerous freelance writing platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr, that can help you find clients. Joining these platforms is free, and they provide you with access to a pool of potential clients.

4. Network on social media: Social media can be an excellent way to connect with potential clients and other freelance writers. Join writing communities on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and engage with them. Share your work and participate in discussions to build your network.

5. Pitch to online publications: Many online publications accept submissions from freelance writers. Research publications that align with your writing niche and submit your work to them. Not only will this help you build your portfolio, but it can also lead to paid writing opportunities.

6. Create a website: A website can be an effective tool to promote your writing services and showcase your portfolio. You can create a basic website using platforms like WordPress or Squarespace, which offer free and paid options.

7. Offer your services to friends and family: Let your friends and family know that you're a freelance writer and offer your services to them. You can write blog posts, website content, or social media posts for them. Not only will this help you build your portfolio, but it can also lead to referrals.

8. Attend writing workshops and conferences: Writing workshops and conferences can be a great way to learn new skills, connect with other writers, and gain exposure. Many conferences offer early bird discounts or scholarships, so keep an eye out for those opportunities.

9. Write guest posts: Writing guest posts for blogs and websites can help you reach a wider audience and build your portfolio. Research blogs and websites that align with your writing niche and reach out to them with your ideas.

10. Be persistent: Finally, becoming a successful freelance writer takes time and persistence. Don't get discouraged if you don't land clients right away or if you receive rejections. Keep honing your craft, building your portfolio, and networking, and eventually, the right opportunities will come your way.  

In conclusion, getting started as a freelance writer on a budget is possible. By following these ten tips, you can build your portfolio, connect with potential clients, and start earning income as a freelance writer. Remember, success in freelance writing is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep at it, and you'll see the results. Good luck!

Start Your Freelancing Career in Five Simple Steps

As many eager writers start on their path to become freelance writers and start their own business, it seems to me that many often think too much or rethink this decision based on the fact that they do not see the "perks" of this job.

One of the things that turns most freelancers away from being full time writers is having to invest the time to do the proper research, having time to write and having time actually start making connections in all of the right places.

Here are five simple ways that freelancers can start their career and making money!

In the beginning of any career, most people find out that all they do is work but not make any "real" money. Making small amounts of money is quite simple, especially for any writer, but there comes a time, when most people want to see themselves making at least a two or three thousand dollars a month for their hard work.

I have been one of those writers that have gotten so lost in between multiple searches and information that I really did not know that starting my freelance career and/or business is simple and writer do not need to invest too much time reading different versions of the same articles. 

Steps

1. First of all, before any writer starts they have to think about what do they want to do. Do you want to own your own website or write on your own blog? Do you want to make a little bit of quick money and write on content mills and start your portfolio? In reality, many freelance writers start out just like this: writing on content mills to build their portfolio, however, many of them stop when they choose to chase or apply for other online jobs which will give them more money. This is up to you.
2. Once you set your mind towards what you want to do, just begin to research only those things that are interested in. If you are interested in writing for private clients, then your best bet is to sign up for bidding sites to start looking for good to great jobs. 

I recommend: 

• Freelancer.com, E lance and Guru.com, these are great sites to find jobs and they always have jobs for beginners where people actually make a profit!
• If you are interested in content mills, then you might want to start off in Helium (great money maker), Triond (perfect for beginners), and even Hubpages. This site is harder than the others but once you get started, the money is amazing!
• If you want to blog for a living then Blogger is your best bet, then there is Wordpress, this is a harder blog to work, at least for me, but I've heard that those that use it have a lot of great experiences with it! Sign up for Adsense and start driving hard traffic to your blog. Marketing helps a ton! 

3. If you are already doing these things, then the next step is to just keep on writing. This is a job that if taken seriously it can make you a lot of money. Also, Learn SEO and learn it well. Learn all about the best and highest paying keywords around and put them in your work! This is one of the best ways to make money all the time!

4. Make a work schedule and stick to it! This is perhaps one of the most important parts about being a writer. Although we can work from home, this job is not easy, can be demanding but this can also mean we can be distracted easily!

5. Finally and the most important part of all, make sure you put yourself out there! The most important part about being a freelancer is being able to connect with other people and being able to get people to read and take an interest in our writing. So get out there and start making writing buddies!

I hope this helps someone!