If you’re like me, you may have realized that freelance writing can be a great way to make a little extra cash while honing your writing skills. Perhaps you’ve posted a profile on a site like WriterAccess where freelance writers go to vie for freelance writing gigs. WriterAccess is a great site for presenting yourself and your work and showcasing your particular writing specialties. It is also a great way for potential employers to search for quality writers depending on the subject matter for which they need content.

While doing a writer search for an ideaLaunch project the other day, I noticed that some writers were better at promoting themselves than others. When using a site like WriterAccess, providing as much professional information as possible about yourself and your writing is the best way to guarantee that you will catch someone’s eye and land that freelance job. Based on what I saw the other day, I have some tips for WriterAccess newcomers or to an existing writer whose profile could use a facelift:

1.       PLEASE avoid spelling errors in your profile. This is probably the fastest way to get someone to hit the “Next” button. Who would hire a writer that doesn’t even proofread his own profile?

2.       If you have a specialty or a particular subject you are able to speak on authoritatively, then own it! When you list 20 topics under your specialties, someone may be hesitant to contact you and may instead move on to someone else who demonstrates a more concrete specialty.

3.       While we’re on the subject of specialties—if you list two or three topics you have particular knowledge in, don’t post writing samples that have nothing to do with those topics. If you specialize in health-related topics, don’t post an article you wrote on finance. People read your writing samples because they want to see how you write about health-related topics. We probably won’t  be contacting you if you don’t market yourself well.

4.       Upload your resume! This falls into the “include as much info as possible” category.  I look at the resume of every writer I’m considering, and it is helpful to have that summary of your work written down on one page. Most writing assignments require you to be well-versed in a particular subject, so including your resume in your profile will help confirm your experience. Going one step further—if you have a blog centered around your specialty, include the link! The more well-rounded your profile is and the more information you provide, the more we have to go on when it comes time to contact writers.

5.       Don’t be afraid to use humor. The best writers are able to step a bit out of their comfort zones. If you have a dry profile, you may come off as stiff and boring. One writer that I plan on contacting used humor and personality in her profile. She came off as engaging and fun, while still maintaining my belief that she was truly well-versed in that subject.

6.       Remember that your profile is the one chance you have for a potential employer to get to know you and your writing. You need to market yourself, showcase your particular, relevant talents, show us a bit of your personality and prove to us why we should hire you for an assignment. That’s a lot to accomplish in one profile! Put the necessary time and effort into your profile, and all you will have left to do is let the offers come rolling in.

Good luck!

 Image from academicknowledge.com