Starting a freelance business requires some preparation, research, and commitment. The fact that the globe is interconnected through the digital space means that your freelance business has the opportunity to grow beyond your geographical location. You will need to strategize and insert yourself in a space that is ever-evolving and diverse. Let’s look at how to start your own freelance writing business.
1. Decide on Services to Offer
The freelance writing space is diverse and versatile. You need to decide on the type of writing service that your business is going to provide. This could be anything from translation services, blog marketing, link building, and social media content such as influencer marketing production. The types of services you can offer are endless.
2. Research Target Market
Once you have established the type of content that you want to offer, you need to research your target market. You need to know their profile as this will determine how you will create content. For example, if your target market is found in the business sphere, you need to find out the type of topics that interest them. These topics will differ from a market that is young and enjoys vlogs, for example.
3. Analyze Competition
How you set up your business is also determined by your competitors. You need to establish your unique signature as a business that draws you out from the crowd. You will have to start by analysing how your competitors deliver content to the target market so that you can explore how you can be different. Analyze the language, platforms, frequency, and topics of your competitors and determine your position among these. Consumers are always on the lookout for different and more valuable business services.
4. Work Out Start-Up Costs
Once you develop a strategy based on the information you gather from the prior stages, you have to work out the start-up costs. These include online service fees depending on the platform your business will operate on, business insurance costs, legal costs if any, overheads such as electricity, transactional costs, wages, marketing, and internet connection, to name a few. The costs that you will incur depend on varying factors that your business will operate in.
5. Scout for Talent
Once you have your system in place, you can begin to scout for talent. You can use various methods to market your business to future employees. You can join freelance platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Trulancer where you can post your business and what you are looking for in employees. Once candidates apply you can draw from there and hire your workers.
Alternatively, you can scout for talent without advertising your business. You can join the various platforms as an individual and privately invite applicants to apply to your business. Freelancers also advertise their services on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
Conclusion
Establishing your freelance services requires you to take a stance on the types of content you will produce as these are several. You also need to research your target market and competitors so that you successfully position yourself. Once you work out the costs to run your business, you can then scout for talent and begin delivering services.
