Reasons Why You Haven’t Landed Your First Writing Gig Yet… And How You Can Change That

You’ve decided to journey down a new career path as a freelance writer—congratulations! Joining Writers Work is a great first step for launching your freelancing career. However, there are still other steps that you should take in order to be successful. If you’re wondering why you haven’t yet landed a gig, read through the following information, and then get started on your exciting new career path as a freelance writer.

You Haven’t Put Together Any Writing Samples

One of the first steps that any new freelance writer should take is putting together a few writing samples. No matter what type of writing job you are pursuing, every potential client or employer will want to see an example of your writing skills and style. Ideally, you should put together a few different writing samples. These should be similar to the different types of writing you’d like to be hired to do. For example, you could create a sample press release for a fictional business, or an article about an upcoming local event. By putting together a writing portfolio with several samples, you’ll be all set when you begin pursuing writing gigs and are asked to provide a relevant sample. Writers Work provides a convenient portfolio tool, located right on your profile page.

You Haven’t Gotten Your Name Out There

No matter what type of freelance writing you want to pursue, it helps to establish yourself as an expert in that field. One great way to do this is to set up your entire profile page here on Writers Work, and then make your profile visible in the Writers Marketplace. That way, potential clients will be able to find your profile, view your portfolio, and get in touch with you.

Another great way to get your name out there is to start a personal blog. Blogging is an excellent way to improve your writing skills, and allows you to establish yourself as an authority in your writing niche. You can also network with other bloggers in your field, who may be happy to pass work your way.

Networking on social media is another useful option for new freelance writers. Establish a few social media accounts on relevant networks, such as LinkedIn and Twitter. Then, you can post interesting articles, your own blog posts, and other engaging content on your social profiles. You can also use social networks to connect with potential clients and with experts in your writing niche.

You Haven’t Established a Services List

While you may have a general idea of the types of freelance writing you’d like to do, you should be sure to establish a list of specific services. This will allow you to consider what types of jobs to pursue seriously. You can add a services list to your Writers Work profile, and even use our eCommerce tool to sell those services. This tool lets you establish prices for writing services and accept payments directly through the Writers Work platform. However, even if you don’t set this feature up, you should still be sure to make a list of writing services you’d like to offer, and determine an ideal pricing structure for these different services. Remember, you can always update your services list at a later date!

You Haven’t Pursued Available Gigs

At Writers Work, we strive to offer members a range of different tools for finding writing gigs. Adding your profile to the Writers Marketplace is a great way to attract potential clients. However, if you want to get your career off the ground quickly, you should also take steps to actively pursue writing opportunities.

With the Job Finder, you can look through listings for part-time, full-time, and contract-based writing jobs. These jobs do require you to fill out an application or send in a resume. However, they are great options to consider when you’re starting out. Check out the beginner-friendly job filter to browse through listings that require little to no experience and no degree. We recommend that you apply to several jobs each week.

Another feature of Writers Work is the Submissions Section. Here, you’ll find a directory of online magazines and journals that are currently accepting pitch and article submissions to consider for publication. This is a great place to look for writing opportunities that focus on creative or lifestyle topics. Again, you may want to send in multiple pitches each week when you are initially establishing yourself as a freelance writer.

When you’re ready to fulfill your dream of being a freelance writer, be sure to join Writers Work. Our platform gives you the tools you need to launch and manage a successful writing career. Whether you want to pursue SEO writing, social media marketing, or personal narratives, we can help. Don’t delay—get started today and land your first gig as soon as possible!