6 Ways to Get Hired More as a Freelance Writer
“I’m overqualified for this job. Why haven’t I heard back?”
This is something I hear from a lot of writers who are pitching for freelance work, memoir ghostwriting, book editing — or all of the above.
It’s a valid question, but it’s also important to remember clients aren’t just hiring you based on your resume.
When I was getting started as a memoir ghostwriter, I would routinely beat out flashy, traditionally published authors for huge memoir ghostwriting jobs — even a decade ago before I had even published a book! — simply because I had the right sample with the right tone. Or, I said something on the discovery call that endeared me to the client and helped me win their trust.
Hiring isn’t cut and dry: clients hire you for a variety of reasons. Even if you’re overqualified, you may miss out on a job just because the client wants to go a different direction. Or, they may decide to not move forward with the project at all.
However, there are a few things you can do to see an increase in the number of times a client says “yes, let’s work together!”
I’ve been on both sides of the proverbial freelancing desk. I’ve hired freelance writers and built my own career as a six-figure freelance writer.
I’ve even done the “impossible” and made over $300,000 as a freelance writer on Upwork (a platform that a lot of writers said was oversaturated!) before finding ways to get leads directly through my own channels (which is how clients find me now.)
Here are the 6 ways you can get hired for more freelance writing jobs:
Understand that freelancing is a numbers game. There was a time when I was submitting for jobs on Upwork earlier in my career where I was sending out 50-100 proposals per day. I knew that while (in the beginning) I didn’t always have fancy credentials on my side for some of the jobs I was going out for, I had my hustle. Freelancing is a numbers game, so if you don’t have as much work as you’d like, it’s time to pound the pavement to get your name out there and submit to as many jobs as you can. Once you start getting in regular work and your clients begin referring you to others, you’ll encounter what I call the “freelance flywheel” which you can read more about here. You don’t have to hustle forever, though: building systems will help keep your work sustainable as clients begin to find you directly.
Clients aren’t hiring the best: they’re hiring the best for them. You may be the best memoir ghostwriter in your niche, but if your client can’t afford you, then you’re not the best writer for them. This is an important distinction. You could be Ernest Hemingway reincarnated, but you still might not be the best fit to write copy for a greeting card company featuring houseplants with googly eyes. Freelancing is kinda like dating in some ways — you aren’t right for everybody, and that’s okay! Be kind about it and anchor your confidence in your self-worth. If a client passes on you, that’s a good thing. Both of you are free to move on to find the better fit!
A great portfolio means a varied portfolio with lots of easy-to-read samples and excerpts. Clients can’t determine if you’re right for them if they don’t see a sample of yours that matches the type of writing they want for their project. This is why it’s so important to have a varied portfolio. Read more about how to build your portfolio on my free frelancing 101 guide here on my blog.
Switch your niche if work is perpetually slow. If your niche is feeling a little slow, you can also branch out and try your hand at some other niches.
Attitude is everything. Every so often, I get some nasty writers in my comments or in my inbox. This is par for the course of being a content creator online, but y’all — I’m just here to help you get writing jobs! I always politely remind those people they’re welcome to unfollow or unsubscribe. Even when I’m hiring freelance writers or editors for projects, there are people who remove themselves from the running for those types of jobs by being so unfriendly or rude. The online freelancing community is smaller than you think — you’d be surprised how many clients come to me to ask my opinion on other writers! Just be kind and watch how that multiplies into amazing experiences for you (and vice-versa.) Karma is real, take your frustration out on a good workout instead.
Keep honing your craft by consistently publishing. I landed a very fancy book ghostwriting project this year in part because the client was really blown away by my book Six-Figure Freelance Writer, which is my how-to guide about freelancing. My book had nothing to do with the subject matter of the client’s project, but it impressed them to the point where they hired me for their book within a week of meeting me. If I hadn’t published that book, I might not have gotten the job. So write something that means something to you and hit publish — you’d be surprised what opportunities will come your way!
If you’re not landing the jobs you want, keep your head up! Add more samples to your portfolio, publish more of your own writing, and keep reaching out to potential clients.
If you want to learn my methodology of how to thrive as a freelance writer, you can pick up my book Six-Figure Freelance Writer: A Holistic Guide on Finding Freedom in Freelancing.
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