Words for hire; 10 steps to a successful writing career

Most of us are looking to make extra money on the side to add to the financial family kitty. Students want to earn while they learn to meet their expenses. In our quest, almost all of us have seen hundreds of reels and or videos where people show their bank balance where they have earned thousands of rupees from freelance writing content.

While it is true that there are several sites that lure you to join them with offers that you will end up making lakhs of rupees with a few hours of work in a month, the truth is that achieving success will need skill, patience, and a strong will to do something great in life! What you need is a good and honest guide who will help you at each stage.

Kanwal Gurleen Singh, Head-Training & Placements, Assistant Professor in Marketing at Apeejay Institute of Management and Engineering Technical Campus in Jalandhar, and an independent content strategist consultant recently held a workshop where the students received immersive and practical training, empowering them with the necessary insights and skills to pursue flourishing careers in the field of online freelancing.

“With more and more people trying their hands at freelancing, it has become imperative that people, especially students have the necessary knowledge to make a success of the task they have undertaken —  freelance content writer. For this, you have to first understand what content writing is and how it will fetch you good money,” Singh said and added that there are several freelancing websites which include: Writing website content, writing Blogs,  writing informative eBooks, and writing website page content to name a few.

As a beginner, focus on any one area. Choose from the above-mentioned areas. “Once you choose your area, try to narrow it down further to a niche. Focus on ONE NICHE AREA; this is where people get it wrong. They try to write for everything and end up reaching nowhere,” Singh opined.

The next step is to master one specific area in your chosen niche. Since you have chosen website page content writing, narrow it down to say B2B websites or storytelling websites or B2C websites. Visit as many related websites as possible and read them to understand the context of the writing, and jargon used. Watch YouTube videos of your chosen writing area.

“Master the skill of writing. Spend as much time as possible at this stage. Write sample articles on topics of your chosen niche area. You must write 10-15 articles of at least 1,500 words. Now, open a free blog account. Publish your sample articles here. Learn about SEO from free sources, and add relevant keywords in your articles,” Singh said.

The next step is probably the most important. Consider only the trusted and best platforms, being used world over for freelancing. Some of them are: Upwork, Fiverr, Peopleperhour, and Guru.

“There will be plenty of jobs available on these websites. You must look for jobs only in your specific niche. Each of these websites has different algorithms for showing jobs. Check all the websites, and their tutorials, understand the jobs, and their requirements, and find out what is expected from you,” Singh explained.

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With more and more people trying their hands at freelancing, it has become imperative that people, especially students have the necessary knowledge to make a success of the task they have undertaken —  freelance content writer

–Kanwal Gurleen Singh, Head-Training & Placements, Assistant Professor in Marketing at Apeejay Institute of Management and Engineering Technical Campus, Jalandhar

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Now, it is time to apply. But Singh cautions against applying everywhere with the same cover letter. “When you choose a job, answer the question ‘why you are the perfect fit’. Now write a convincing cover letter. Getting the first job is the most difficult and most critical. Once you complete one job, your chances of getting more jobs increase exponentially.

“Remember that to become a successful freelance writer, you must have three requirements: Skill, quality writing, and professionalism in your attitude,” Singh said.

And why should a student take up freelance work? Taking up freelance content writing in India can be a lucrative and rewarding career choice for several reasons:

Vast Market Demand: With the increasing number of businesses, startups, and online platforms, there is a significant demand for high-quality content. Hence, there are ample opportunities for content writers.

Flexible Work Schedule: Freelance content writing allows you to choose your working hours and location.

Diverse Range of Topics: As a content writer, you can explore and write about topics that interest you or align with your expertise.

Growing Digital Market: India’s digital market is rapidly expanding, with more businesses and individuals establishing an online presence. This trend has created a demand for content to engage audiences and boost SEO.

Networking Opportunities: Working with different clients and platforms provides opportunities to network and build relationships with professionals in various industries.

Low Start-up Costs: Getting started as a freelance content writer requires minimal investment. All you need is a computer or laptop and an internet connection.

Global Clientele: The internet allows you to work with clients from around the world, expanding your reach and exposure to diverse writing projects.

Improving English Proficiency: For many Indian freelance writers, English might be their second language. Engaging in content writing helps to enhance their language proficiency and grammar skills.

Skill Diversification: Content writing can lead to opportunities in related fields such as copywriting, content marketing, social media management, and SEO, broadening your skill set.