How to start freelance content writing as a stay-at-home mom?
Are you a stay-at-home mom who is looking for a way to make some extra money?
If so, then starting a freelance content writing business may be the perfect solution for you!
As a freelance content writer, you can work from home and set your own hours, which means you can easily fit your work around your family’s schedule.
Plus, there is a huge demand for well-written, original content these days, so there are plenty of opportunities for you to get paid to write.
Interested in learning more? Here’s everything you need to know about how to start a freelance content writing business as a stay-at-home mom that I have learned during my 4 years of freelancing journey as a mom.
What is Content Writing?
Content writing is the process of creating content for websites, blogs, and other online platforms.
As a content writer, you will be responsible for researching and writing content mostly articles, engaging social media posts, email newsletters, etc…
In order to be successful in this field, you will need excellent writing skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
Freelance Content Writing
Now that you know a little bit about what content writing is, let’s talk about freelance content writing.
Freelance content writers are self-employed professionals who write content for clients on a contract basis.
As a freelance writer, you will be able to choose which clients you work with and which projects you take on, which means you can easily tailor your work to fit around your family’s schedule.
Why Start Freelance Content Writing as a mom?
Once you get the hang of it, freelance content writing as a mom is such a breeze. Of course, you always have that commotion of work-life balance one way or the other. But, personally, I would say, it is THE BEST!
While, there are many reasons why you should consider starting a freelance content writing business as a mom, here are the top ones:
- You can work from home.
- You can set your own hours.
- You can take care of your kids and family while also working whenever possible.
- You can choose which clients you work with.
- There is a high demand for well-written, original content.
- You can make good money as a freelance writer.
Now, moving on to the biggest deal breaker, let’s see how to start freelance content writing for beginners.
How do I start as a content writer as a stay-at-home mom?
So, if you’ve decided that you want to start freelance content writing as a mom, Congratulations!
Based on my personal experience, I can assure you that content writing is a great way to earn a living while doing something you love.
But where do you start?
I have been there 4 years ago. I still see moms in the confused state of how to start freelance writing a mom who is new to this field.
If you are someone committed to start freelance content writing, then the following tips can help you start your content writing journey easier.
Understand Content Writing Skills
If you are a total beginner, start by understanding the basic skills you will need to be a content writer.
The most important skill for any writer is, of course, writing itself. But there are other important skills you will need, such as
- Research: You will need to be able to research topics and find information quickly and efficiently.
- SEO: You will need to understand how to optimize your content for search engines so that it can be easily found by potential clients.
- Marketing: You will need to know how to market your services and attract clients.
- Social Media: You will need to be active on social media in order to promote your business and connect with potential clients.
- Grammar: You will need to have excellent grammar in order to produce well-written, error-free content.
Once you have a good understanding of the skills you will need to be a content writer, it’s time to start building these skills.
There are various courses and classes that can help you with this, but the best way to learn is by doing. Start by writing articles for your own blog or website, and then move on to writing guest posts for other blogs in your niche.
As you gain more experience, you will start to build up a portfolio of work that you can show to potential clients.
Find Your Niche
One of the first things you need to do is figure out what kind of writing you want to do.
There are various content types that you can explore, try and decide which one best suits your skills and interests.
Some of the most popular content types include:
- Blog posts
- Listicles
- How-to guides
- Product reviews
- Tutorials
- E-books
- Case studies
- Product descriptions
Once you have decided on the type of content you want to write, it’s time to focus on finding your niche.
Your niche is the specific topic or industry that you will be writing about.
For example, if you want to write blog posts, you could specialize in writing about motherhood, fashion, or travel.
If you want to write product reviews, you could specialize in reviewing baby products, beauty products, or travel gear.
The key is to find a niche that you are passionate about and that you have some knowledge about. If you try to write about a topic that you know nothing about, it will be very difficult to produce high-quality content.
Build Your Portfolio
Most businesses will want to see examples of your work before they hire you, so it’s important that you have a strong portfolio of writing samples.
If you don’t have any previous writing experience, that’s okay! You can start by writing sample articles on topics that interest you.
Once you have a few samples, put them all in one place (online or offline) so they’re easy for potential clients to find and review.
Keep in mind that your ultimate goal is to get paid for your writing, so make sure the pieces in your portfolio reflect the type of work you want to be paid for.
For example, if most of your samples are lighthearted blog posts but you really want to write web copy, include a couple of web copy samples in your portfolio as well.
Learn the Basics of SEO
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the process of making sure your website and online content are easy for search engines like Google and Bing to find and index.
The better your SEO, the higher your website will rank in search engine results pages—and the more likely people are going to find and read your content!
As a content writer, it’s important that you understand at least the basics of SEO so that you can ensure your work is helping rather than hurting your client’s website traffic.
Define Your Services and Set Your Rates
When it comes to content writing, there are many different services you can offer, such as writing blog posts, articles, web copy, or even creating social media posts.
Decide which services you want to offer and then set your rates accordingly.
Be sure to research what other freelance writers in your area are charging for similar services so you can price yourself competitively.
Be Clear About Your Schedules
As a mom, it’s important that you are clear about your availability and schedule with potential clients.
Many content writing projects can be completed remotely, which gives you a lot of flexibility in terms of when and where you work.
But it’s still important to be clear about your availability so that potential clients know what to expect.
For example, if you only have time to work on writing projects during your child’s naptime, be sure to let clients know that up front.
Get the Word Out
Now that you know what services you’re going to offer and who you’re going to offer them to, it’s time to spread the word about your new freelance content writing business!
Start by creating some stellar marketing materials
- A website or blog portfolio showcasing your best work (make sure each piece links back to its original home on the web)
- An elevator pitch describing what makes you and your work unique, and even some business cards or other promo items if you’re feeling fancy.
Then, get out there and start networking like crazy.
Attend local business events, introduce yourself as a freelance writer at meetups or co-working spaces, submit guest blog posts or articles to popular sites in your niche — whatever it takes to get yourself out there in front of potential clients.
Accept Only What You Can Manage
As a mom, you have a lot on your plate already — so don’t try to take on more than you can handle when it comes to freelance content writing.
Start small, and only commit to taking on as much work as you know you can complete without sacrificing the quality of your work or your family life.
You can always increase your rates and take on more work later, once you’ve gotten a handle on your new freelance business!
Keep Them Coming Back for More
This is one important thing that new freelance content writers often forget: even if you land a great client, your work isn’t done yet!
Once you land some clients and start cranking out quality content for them on a regular basis, it’s important that you keep them happy so they’ll keep coming back for more (and paying handsomely for it).
Make sure all of your deadlines are met without fail and that the final product always meets or exceeds expectations.
If a client ever has an issue with something you’ve written, be quick to address it and make things right—no one wants to work with a diva (or even worse, someone who takes their money but doesn’t deliver on their end of the deal).
Going above and beyond for clients will help ensure they keep coming back—and referring others your way too!
Starting a freelance content writing business is a great way for stay-at-home moms to make some extra money—and it doesn’t have to be difficult either! With the right planning and execution, you can start a freelance content writer with very little experience or overhead. Just be clear about your services and rates, manage your time well, and always deliver quality work to keep clients happy. Soon you’ll be a successful freelance content writer!