How to market yourself as a self-employed writer

As a self-employed writer, you’ll need to find a steady client base to succeed. A well-planned marketing strategy is essential to reaching potential clients. But with so many marketing options out there, you may be unsure where to focus your energy. If you’re wondering how to market yourself as a writer, there are some great places to start. 

This guide will cover how to market yourself as a writer, including: 

• Finding your focus
• Designing a website and portfolio 
• Using social media outlets 
• Networking among the industry 
• Taking advantage of freelance sites 

If you want to know how to market yourself as a writer, you’ll first need to consider what type of writing you’ll do. Having a focus for your writing can help you target the right people for your services. 

For example, maybe you want to write copy for small business marketing, or you may want to sell travel or food pieces to magazines. Your marketing approach and job finding process will be different depending on your choice. When thinking about this, try to be as specific as possible. This focus will help you outline your services and decide who your ideal client would be.

Once you decide what type of writing you’ll do, you’ll need to compile evidence of your skills to market yourself. 

The best way to exhibit your writing is with a portfolio. The portfolio should be a well-rounded collection of writing samples that shows your knowledge and abilities. You could also include a personal bio and reviews from satisfied clients. 

This portfolio will help you provide samples to potential clients. A strong portfolio is the key to convincing clients to work with you. It means clients don’t have to bet on your talents; you can prove them before they hire you. 

Next, you’ll need to create a writing website, which you can do with platforms like WordPress or Squarespace. Designing a strong website for your writing services is crucial to getting yourself out there. Plus, add the site link to your business cards, social media accounts, and other marketing materials so potential clients can learn more about you.

On your website, outline your background, experience, and services. Be sure to include your writing portfolio and contact information. Then, consider adding links to past publications. You may also want to blog to show your commitment to timely, regular writing. 

Think of your website as the foundation of your marketing and a way to brand your business. Ultimately, try to make it clean, easy to navigate, and eye-catching. 

Another great way to market yourself as a writer is through social media. If you set time aside each week to share content and interact with these platforms, you can grow your audience and access writing opportunities. We’ll discuss a few platforms that may be most beneficial to writers. 

LinkedIn is a valuable platform to exhibit your skills and network with other professionals. Develop your LinkedIn profile by adding a headshot, professional title such as ‘Writer open to work,’ and linking your website to the page. You can also add your education and work experience to show your credibility. 

Then, start connecting with other writers and joining professional writing groups. You can also follow companies or industry professionals that you’d like to work with. Consider posting about your writing and insights on the industry. Plus, interact with other posts to get to know other people. These efforts can help you learn more about the industry and find work opportunities.   

Twitter is another excellent social media for writers. This platform has a strong literary community that you could tap into. You can find useful contacts and resources by searching the right writing-focused hashtags and following journals or writing accounts. To make the most of Twitter, try interacting with relevant threads and regularly posting shorter content that blends with the platform. 

If you want to reach an artistic and literary audience, you may want to consider joining Pinterest. This visual-blogging platform is a popular place for freelance people and creators to share short videos and photos. For instance, you could post writing quotes, grammar tips, or book recommendations. 

Medium is another great social media blogging platform that many writers use. You can create a medium account and link it to your website or other social media accounts to share the content you post. In addition, blogging on this platform allows you to access its 100 million monthly readers. 

The platform ranks and categorises content to access a readership that’s relevant to your target audience. Plus, you could use your Medium as a portfolio for potential clients.

Another part of knowing how to market yourself as a writer is networking with other writers and potential clients. Look to social media sites, event platforms, or writing blogs to find networking opportunities. 

At these events, you can sell yourself to potential clients and build valuable relationships within the industry that could lead to work opportunities. To make the most of them, bring your business cards and prepare a pitch as to why people should hire you. 

Finally, market your writing services on freelance sites like Fiverr or Upwork. With these platforms, you’ll access a market of people already looking to hire a writer. By making profiles with detailed information on who you are and what you offer, you can earn valuable opportunities. From there, you just have to convince people you’re the best choice. 

As you market your writing services effectively, you’ll start bringing in more money that you’ll need to manage well for success. Thousands of business owners use the Countingup app to make their financial admin easier. 

Countingup is the business current account with built-in accounting software that allows you to manage all your financial data in one place. With features like automatic expense categorisation, invoicing on the go, receipt capture tools, tax estimates, and cash flow insights, you can confidently keep on top of your business finances wherever you are. 

You can also share your bookkeeping with your accountant instantly without worrying about duplication errors, data lags or inaccuracies. Seamless, simple, and straightforward! 

Find out more here.