Once I first began freelance writing as a mother, I didn’t have full workdays out there.
Nap schedules modified continually. Somebody all the time wanted snacks. The home was loud. And truthfully, most days I felt exhausted earlier than midday.
So when folks speak about constructing a contract writing enterprise such as you want 40 further hours each week and an ideal morning routine, I simply can’t relate to that.
As a result of that wasn’t my actuality in any respect as a newly mother to twins.
I constructed my freelance writing enterprise in tiny pockets of time round my household life.
Early mornings earlier than the youngsters awakened. Throughout nap instances. Evenings with my laptop computer on the sofa. And random quiet moments in the course of the day.
Little by little, I used to be in a position to construct a contract writing enterprise that’s nonetheless thriving over a decade later.
And, it began with solely 5 hours every week…that’s all you REALLY must make this work.
You don’t want limitless free time and even the proper work from home workplace that’s Instagram-worthy.
You simply want consistency and a plan.
First Off: Cease Ready Till You “Have Extra Time”
This is without doubt one of the largest issues that retains new freelance writers caught they usually by no means transfer the dial with their facet hustle.
They maintain ready for the proper season of life.
Perhaps when the youngsters are older. Perhaps after summer time. Perhaps as soon as work slows down. Perhaps as soon as I really feel extra assured.
However freelance writing hardly ever begins on the good time. Once I began freelance writing, I used to be nonetheless taking hour lengthy stroller walks to get my twins to sleep for his or her day by day nap.
I used to be additionally dwelling with my inlaws so I hardly ever had “alone” time or uninterrupted time.
However, I made it work after I may.
Most freelance writers begin messy like I needed to.
You work issues out whilst you go.
And, having solely 5 hours every week can truly allow you to as a result of it forces you to concentrate on what actually issues as a substitute of spending hours on busywork.
As soon as my twins went to highschool and I truly had a number of hours of uninterrupted time, guess what I ended up doing?
I wasted a whole lot of that point updating my web site with the proper model colours, altering my e mail signature to make it good, and simply fussing over the little issues.
However after I solely had an hour throughout nap time to concentrate on freelance writing, you guess I used to be tremendous duper productive.
I used to be pitching, writing, circling again and checking job boards continually.
So when your time is proscribed, you cease obsessing over tiny issues like altering fonts in your web site for the fifth time or endlessly watching YouTube movies as a substitute of pitching purchasers.
You turn into extra intentional together with your time and you actually imply it.
What Truly Issues within the Starting
When you solely have 5 hours every week, your objective is to not do every little thing .
Your objective is to construct momentum little by little.
Which means specializing in actions that may truly allow you to land freelance writing purchasers.
Issues like:
This appears like quite a bit, however you are able to do all of this in a 5 hour week.
I do know a whole lot of new freelance writers spend an excessive amount of time getting ready as a substitute of really placing themselves on the market. At instances I do that when I’m confronted with a brand new consumer or a onerous matter to write down about.
However freelance writing companies develop by means of motion. And typically you must be your individual cheerleader and push your self to do these motion steps.
So hpoefully this 5 hour every week plan is doable and straightforward sufficient so that you can do when you could have a full-time enterprise or have your arms full with children like I had!
Right here’s What a 5-Hour Freelance Writing Week May Look Like
That is very near what my schedule seemed like after I first began freelance writing throughout maternity go away.
Hour 1: Enhance Your On-line Presence
Use one hour every week to enhance your LinkedIn profile, portfolio, or web site.
For instance, you need to use that hour to replace your LinkedIn profile or bio.
This would possibly imply:
- Scheduling just a few posts
- Including relevent expertise
- Modifying the About part
- Tweaking your LinkedIn title
- Making an optimized LinkedIn banner
Once you take the time to indicate like to your LinkedIn profile, you’ll get extra views and hopefully the appropriate views that can find yourself hiring you.
Different methods to refill that hour is to focus in your author web site. That is your service-based web site that you’ll use to draw purchasers and hyperlink to in your pitches.
You’ll be able to take the hour to make clear your area of interest when speaking about what you provide to purchasers. You too can work on making a freelance author title that can assist you model your self higher.
Shoppers seek for freelance writers on social media and on Google.
Your on-line presence issues quite a bit as a result of companies need proof that you simply perceive your area of interest.
Even a easy portfolio with two or three strong samples and a LinkedIn profile will help you begin touchdown writing job alternatives.
Hour 2: Create One Writing Pattern
In your subsequent hour, create one new writing pattern and add that to your on-line portfolio.
This writing pattern doesn’t must be 2,000 phrases. It may be round 1200 phrases and may record ideas or steps about your area of interest.
So, if you wish to write about eco-friendly subjects, you need to use ChatGPT that can assist you collect some concepts that inexperienced firms would possibly need on their weblog after which create a easy define and write your article.
However you don’t have to write down a weblog publish on your writing pattern. You too can write a e-newsletter, case research, touchdown web page or social media advert.
That alone will help freelance writing or copywriting purchasers rapidly perceive your expertise.
And truthfully, creating samples will get simpler over time.
The primary ones normally really feel awkward for everybody however after the third one, it’s second nature.
I nonetheless create “writing samples” when I do visitor posting so it’s not a talent you lose.
Hour 3: Pitch Potential Writing Jobs
You are able to do all of the issues together with your web site and LinkedIn profile however if you happen to don’t truly pitch to writing jobs, you possibly can’t name your self a contract author!
Pitching builds your enterprise and it’s one thing you want to do.
Even sending 5 considerate pitches each week can create momentum surprisingly quick.
And your pitches don’t must sound robotic or overly formal both.
A few of my greatest consumer conversations began with quite simple DM’s or emails.
So construct a behavior throughout this hour to concentrate on discovering writing jobs or firms you need to write for.
You’ll be able to:
- Verify job boards for lively listings
- Ask pals and households in the event that they want writing finished
- You should use ChatGPT to seek out firms in your area of interest and test them out for potential chilly pitching
Hour 4: Be taught One Ability That Helps You Cost Extra
Companies need greater than generic weblog writing now.
Lengthy gone are generalists writers that may write about something. That is the time for specialised writers that know and perceive one area of interest or business.
This stype of author additionally understands advertising and marketing and startegy too.
That’s why studying expertise like:
- search engine optimisation
- e mail advertising and marketing
- viewers psychology
- conversions
- content material technique
- AI-assisted workflows
…will help you stand out a lot quicker.
You don’t must grasp every little thing instantly and I don’t suppose it’s best to both.
However spending even one hour every week studying these expertise provides up over time.
For me, it took years to essentially be taught all of those expertise so don’t fear if it doesn’t take you a month and even six months to be taught all of this.
Hour 5: Construct Relationships On-line
Freelance writing isn’t solely about writing.
Relationships matter too. Despite the fact that we work alone, you possibly can nonetheless discover camaraderie with different fellow freelancers.
How do you construct these relationships?
- Touch upon LinkedIn posts
- Reply to newsletters
- Speak to different writers
- Keep seen on-line
An enormous quantity of my work ultimately got here by means of referrals, repeat purchasers, and individuals who had adopted my content material for some time.
So, take that point to community and construct relationships!
You Don’t Want Full-Time Hours to Begin
I believe Instagram and TikTok makes new freelance writers really feel like they’re already behind.
You see freelancers speaking about big launches, six-figure months, and complex consumer attraction programs.
However most freelance writing companies begin a lot smaller than that with one consumer, one pitch or one referral.
That’s how momentum builds.
And, among the most profitable freelance writers I do know are constructing their companies throughout college pickups, sports activities practices, nap instances, and late-night work periods after everybody else goes to mattress.
You don’t want 50 hours every week to turn into a contract author.
You simply want 5 targeted hours and the willingness to maintain exhibiting up constantly.
Easy methods to Make This Work
The key to creating this 5-hour every week marketing strategy work is attaching it to a routine you have already got. That’s what turns this from “yet another factor” right into a behavior.
This would possibly imply engaged on this throughout your morning espresso. Or, within the night when the youngsters are in mattress or doing homework.
It additionally imply engaged on this the hour BEFORE you must go to work.
The factor is, pair your hour of working in your freelance writing enterprise with one thing your already doing.
This may make all of this intentional and allow you to construct it into your life.
It’s Time to Freelance Write
I hope you possibly can see that even if you happen to work full-time or a brand new mother you can begin a contract writing enterprise at residence!
Go forward and dream about that risk! In your pajamas, ingesting espresso and in your laptop computer checking your emails for replies out of your pitches.
That is what I do each morning and I adore it!
So, what are you ready for?