Lately, I have received questions like this. Many aren’t aware of what Freelancing is. So, I will provide the basics for you. Just read on. Since the covid19 lockdown, many people now work from their homes, companies laid off many workers, while some enjoy sipping a cup of coffee and pressing their laptops to get money.
SO it is understandable if a newbie isn’t aware of what freelancing is all about. No matter the reasons that prompted you to ask what freelancing is all about, breaking it down like your teeth on chicken wings is why I am here.
But truly, what is freelancing?
Do you remember the time when your friend could not complete her biology note in college, and you wrote the remaining pages for a cup of ice cream or coffee? So you did a freelance job. Or let’s say you wanted to write an essay, like a letter to your Mayor, and you’re too busy to pen it down, or you feel your grammatical skill is not up to the task. So instead of going ahead with it, you hire a friend for a token to complete the task; your friend who completed it right from her room and sent the letter to you is a freelance writer.
Now, let’s say my blog is not responding, is attacked by a bug, or is too slow for a nice user experience; I will look for a professional developer to check and fix what is wrong. You see, I may not look for such a developer in my street or locality but browse through the freelancing marketplaces, Facebook, Twitter, and other social apps to look for one. I don’t need to meet the person to make a contract and complete the task. Such a guy is a freelancer.
If that is the case, what is freelance writing?
Many companies hire writers to write on their websites, write their business plans, write their whitepaper, and others. However, most companies do not hire a permanent writer; they look for a writer when they have work; the writer is a freelance writer.
Therefore, Freelance writing is any form of writing assistance you render someone or an organization in exchange for money without necessarily meeting physically. Yes, you don’t have to meet your client physically. I have written for clients in the US, UK, Germany, and others, and meeting them may never happen in this world. So, any writing service you can offer at your convenience without physical presence is freelance writing.
But, who is a freelancer?
If freelancing is a contract-based profession where you use your skills and experience to complete a service to numerous clients rather than being recruited by an organization, then who is a freelancer?
In a term not hard to crack, a freelancer is you that utilizes your experience, education, and skills to work for multiple clients without committing to a single client. The number of services you can render depends on your skills, ability, and time.
A freelancer works on gigs (jobs) from the comfort of their room, perhaps, in pajamas. However, a freelancer is different from a remote or work-from-home worker. Are you getting confused? No, don’t be; I will explain now. Cheers.
Now…
- As a freelancer, you may not work from home at times. However, you may render your service at your client’s location, depending on the gig’s requirements.
- As a remote worker, you are employed by a single client who pays you on a salary basis. The bottom line is that you work from home, instead of going to the office at 9 am.
But can I build a career in freelancing
As a freelancer, you use third-party platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, ProBlogger, and others to get clients seeking your service. These are marketplaces where you sell your services.
In recent years, many are flourishing as freelancers leading to what is called the gig economy – you work for numerous clients and negotiate your pay instead of working for a company on a fixed term.
Freelance writing is enticing, and there is no limit to what you can achieve if your skills are top-notch and scalable. Upwork reported that Americans work for 47 hours weekly while a freelancer works 11 hours less than a full-time employee. That flexibility and reduced work hours make freelance writing juicer.
So what are the profitable niches available?
Freelance writing niches are numerous; some are listed below
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO writing) — writing content that ranks on the search engine front page like Google front page
- Blog posts — writing on your client’s blog; long-form articles are lucrative
- Social media writing — writing content for media, like the posts on my Facebook page. Many companies, especially crypto companies, hire social media managers.
- Academic writing— research, thesis, assignment writing
- Web content — about us, contact us, privacy policy page writing for websites.
- Content writing — writing content to engage an audience and inform them like this one you’re reading.
- Copywriting — writing that persuades people to buy
- Product review — writing a user’s experience with a product
- Product description — writing product details to persuade buyers
- E-books – writing eBooks is a great tool for businesses to market their products – used for lead generation and to position the company as the authority.
- White papers – contain technical information; it is more used in technology niches. It is a document presenting a problem and the solution your business provides.
- Case studies – writing social proof by explaining and showing customers’ success stories after using a product. Case studies explain the transformation of the customers.
- Sales page writing – also called landing page writing; this is where to persuade customers to buy your product by selling without talking.
- Video script writing – writing scripts for explainer videos, YouTube scripts, and marketing videos
- Email writing – writing emails for brands as a form of marketing to create product awareness, engage customers, build customer trust, and sell.
The list is endless, but these here will give you insights into Freelancing.
But what are the profitable topics – the highest selling ones I can venture into?
- Blockchain/ NFT/Cryptocurrency/Web3 writing
- SaaS – software as a service
- Personal finance
- Technology writing
- Digital marketing writing
- Alternative health/CBD writing
- Education
- Real estate
But where can I learn these niches?
Great Freelance coaches are around; you can learn on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and other platforms. I’m a coach, too, and my students are earning from my skills.
What do I need to start writing?
If you can pass your school theory exam, you can be a Freelancer. Just develop the right mindset. But, of course, you also need a phone or a laptop if you can afford it.
But how lucrative is freelancing?
According to a report, 11 percent of the working adult population in the United States is working fully as freelancers – this shows its profitability. I also earn my daily income through freelancing, and many of my students are towing the path.
Ok! Where will I get these jobs?
There are freelancing marketplaces as well as your social media to get jobs. Among them are:
- Upwork
- Fiverr
- Pay per hour
- Guru
- Freelancer
- Telegram
- Nairaland
- Quora
And many other media spaces.
Conclusion
I hope this post answer your questions? If not, ask, and it shall be given. Do eat a sumptuous meal on my behalf.
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