by Leo Wiles
11 May 2016
Hi Rachel and Leo. I am in my final year of Communications and Media and on your entry level list. I wondered what tips you can offer to launch a successful freelance career. C
If you’re going freelance right out of university or college, the most important thing is to start accruing industry experience now, as every edge in this competitive market helps. And, if you’re passionate about writing you’ll already be contributing – hopefully for university papers and magazines, radio programs, your own blog. Starting with clippings under your belt is everything.
If you’ve been too shy up until now to start writing and putting yourself out there, hear this: there is never going to be the ideal time when you have all your ducks in a row, perfect grades, enough money, the endorsement from your nearest or dearest etc. Strike out now. Choose the genre, research like crazy and put yourself out there with trail blazing ideas that are your very own. The great news about the internet is that it’s so much easier to find your tribe. Start banging your drum!
I’m hoping your course covers off on things like SEO, digital reach, content marketing metrics and other digital tools that are becoming pretty much essential for writers in our industry. If not, bone up. You’re going to need those skills and having them will land you in good stead with employers. On that note, don’t be picky about what you do. When you’re starting out, if you’re offered work at a decent rate and it’s not exactly a genre you love, take it. Once you’ve built a reputation and regular income streams you can afford to be more choosy.
Applying for an ABN also goes without saying, as is having a website to showcase your work. We bang on a lot on this blog about being visible and never is it more important than when you’re setting yourself up in the hugely competitive freelance world. If people don’t know you exist, how can you expect them to hire you?
If you’re wondering how to land clients, the secret is to market yourself. Each and every time you shake hands, make eye contact, send an email, tweet or write an FB update or blog post. If you can’t face the art of self promotion, then at least deliver a bare minimum telling them you are a writer / content producer / translator / word God/dess, create a Gravatar linked to your professional email address and a bio so that whenever you comment on another site, your professional footprint follows you around.
Be smarter with your smartphone, too. It’s the one device that can literally save your bacon when you’re a freelancer, helping you make deadline when your home internet decides to fall over minutes from delivering copy to your client. At a pinch it can also double as a dictaphone and enable you to video interviews, too – and it’ll easily become your own private hot spot when filing copy or images on location. Just be sure to do regular back-ups and be mindful of extra costs you can easily incur with downloads/uploads.
If you work in-house, there’s a swag of departments that take care of marketing, invoicing, editorial calendars, subbing etc. leaving you free to do what you do best – write. When you freelance, however, it’s all on you. So it’s important to outsource what you’re not great at. Starting with a good media accountant who understands depreciation, what’s legally ok to expense and how that whole family tax benefit system works. If you still feel the need to go it alone at tax time check out our blog on dealing with tax time as a freelancer.
Finally, given the nature of our solitary job, a support network is essential. People who understand how isolating it can be working from home and how frustrating it can be to convince your nearest and dearest that what you’re doing is, actually, work. These fellow freelancers will also be invaluable for bouncing off pitch ideas, bitching about clients who haven’t paid, reminding you of your talents – and casting a fresh eye over a piece you’re so close to you can no longer see it.
I hope that helps and good luck!
What top tips would you suggest for our letter-writer? We’d love to hear them in the comments.
