Dispelling the myths about freelance writing
People say to pick a niche, make a course, and build a website. But we don’t think there’s one right way to run a business.
Everyone’s path is unique and different.
In this episode, we explore a number of myths about freelance writing businesses and offer alternative perspectives.
What “freelance writer” means
Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr may work for some freelancers, but most of the time, it’s a race to the bottom; a matter of who can bid the lowest price.
Freelancing doesn’t mean you’re making $25 a post and barely getting by. We can both attest to the fact that freelance writing is so much more than gig hopping and side hustling. Freelance writing is a viable business model and many freelancers go on to create successful, lucrative careers out of it.
Significant startup costs
Guess what? You don’t need a fancy website, accounting software, or a new computer to start your freelance business. Start with what you have. If you have an internet connection and a laptop, that’s more than enough for now.
“You can start from anywhere.”
But even though startup costs are low, it’s worth mentioning you will have to make investments eventually. You can’t work from your bed forever; you’ll want a desk and comfortable chair (trust us: your back will thank you.)
Working set business hours from 9-5
After working a traditional job, the 9-5 schedule is pretty ingrained in you. You think you need to stay in your chair for 40 hours a week to be successful, but that’s just not the case. The whole point you went into freelancing was to have the flexibility to do what you need and want to do.
“The beauty of freelancing is you get to set your own schedule.”
Get out of the employee mindset. Set your own schedule and start structuring your weeks and days. It could take a year or more to figure out what works for you, but keep experimenting until you discover your ideal routine.
Taking projects only in your niche
As much as we talk about choosing a niche—becoming known for one thing—there’s value in being a generalist too. It’s more than okay to open yourself up to generalization where you allow your expertise to bleed into other areas and diversify your offerings.
You don’t have to say no to leads outside of your niche. If the project interests you, and you have the skills and value the client needs, say yes!
No need to be so caught up in narrowing down your services that you start losing out on opportunities. For all you know, you could enjoy the new industry or project area even more than what you’re already doing. Take opportunities that feel right for you and your business.
“Not everyone needs a niche. It’s your call.”
Showing up a certain way online
There’s this pressure to be the same person on every platform when you’re working for yourself. But you don’t have to be your business everywhere online.
Some freelancers (like us) use Twitter or LinkedIn to connect with clients and stay involved in the freelancing community. Then we use Instagram as a more personal space to share mostly non-business content. It’s completely up to you where you want to spend your time online.
You don’t have to be on every platform
Even if you feel like every other freelancer is hopping on a new platform, don’t feel like you have to follow their lead. Deciding what platforms you want to be on is a personal choice. Every freelancer is different, and it’s not necessary to be present on every platform.
You don’t have to stay in your lane
You can have interests and pieces of you that are OUTSIDE of what you normally do—other publications you write for or different topic areas you explore. As long as you’re not confusing people, you should feel free to explore and experiment.
When you’re trying to niche down and make a name for yourself, you start to believe you have to stick to one thing so you don’t confuse people. But it’s a matter of keeping things straight. Make sure you keep a clear representation of what you do and be aware of what you’re sharing online.
“It’s okay to explore creative opportunities and interest areas.”
There’s no ONE way to be successful
We start to carry so many ideas about what freelancing should be—what a typical freelance day should look like; how quickly reaching a certain income should take. The biggest myth about freelance writing is that success looks a certain way. Success looks different for everyone.
“We need to be really careful about the ‘shoulds’ we put on ourselves.”
Let’s clear something up: you don’t have to sell a course to “make it” as a freelancer. Even if your social feed or favorite freelancer tell you otherwise. Courses aren’t for everyone.
A freelancer’s end goal doesn’t have to be building an agency or empire. Success doesn’t have to mean transitioning out of client work and into product-based work; it’s perfectly fine to be happy with your client work.
“You don’t need to build an empire.”
As long as you’re challenging yourself to keep learning—and keep providing the best service to your clients—it’s more than okay to stay within service-based work. Make sure you’re not being stagnant and you’ll stay on the right track.
If you’re going to be successful, you can’t run your business like someone else. You’re going to have to run it like yourself. Your growth is about YOU.
Why did YOU decide to become a freelancer?
What do YOU love about what you do?
What does your dream career look like for YOU?
Wading through ambiguity
There’s so much misinformation out there about what freelancing means and what it takes to be a successful freelancer. You can’t believe everything you see or hear (which is why we recommend building a community of freelancers you can depend on). Ask your peers, take success stories with a grain of salt, and focus on what works best for you and your own business.