{"id":20356,"date":"2019-02-07T17:39:38","date_gmt":"2019-02-07T22:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crowdcontent.com\/blog\/?p=20356"},"modified":"2024-04-25T10:35:20","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T10:35:20","slug":"freelance-writing-tips-10-things-to-know-before-you-start-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crowdcontent.com\/blog\/writers-hub\/freelance-writing-tips-10-things-to-know-before-you-start-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"Freelance Writing Tips: 10 Things to Know Before You Start Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Let’s be real about what it means to have a successful freelance writing career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from some excellent writing chops, pro-level customer service skills and a decent connection to the internet, you’re going to need at least a bit of luck and some well-defined hustle muscles. Work goes fast in the freelance world, and the early bird gets a better chance at landing the potential client.
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But scooping up freelance writing jobs<\/a> like you’re the Very Hungry Caterpillar out for a meal and chomping through them with equal haste is a good way to get kicked off content platforms and develop a rep for poor freelance work.
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Great book, yes, but maybe not the best approach to freelancing.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important freelance writing tips I can share is to slow down and ensure you understand what the client wants before you start writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking just a few extra minutes during the freelance shuffle can help you get more work from that client and land higher paying clients \u2014 both of which help increase your potential hourly rate and make it more likely you’ll transition from a hungry freelance caterpillar to a butterfly writer with a known brand and the ability to be choosier about what work you ingest.
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Yes, understanding what your client wants isn’t always easy. Sometimes it seems they aren\u2019t even sure about what they want. Other times, they’re not great at communicating it. But by ensuring you have the best possible answers to the ten questions below, you can wow more clients with on-point content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO <\/strong>– It’s a Small World: Why Freelance Writers Should Build, Not Burn, Bridges<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always read client instructions and briefs looking for these answers, and then reach out to the client or project manager for clarification on anything that’s missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. What Is the Target Audience?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The target audience refers to the people the client wants to read the content.
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Your client may not have a brand persona named and formalized, but they probably know who they are reaching out to. Look for demographic descriptors such as gender, age range, income level, geographic location, career, education level and interests. You may be able to figure this information out by looking at the client’s website and other content if it’s not in the instructions.
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The target audience should inform you about how to write the piece. If you’re writing about a medical device for doctors, the information, terms and voice you use should be different than if you’re writing about a medical device for the patients likely to need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO <\/strong>– The Framing Effect: How to Positively Influence Audience Response to Content<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. What Is the Client\u2019s Value Proposition?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re writing marketing copy, especially local or city pages, knowing who you\u2019re talking to is important, but it\u2019s equally important to know how you should position the client\u2019s business, products or services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say you\u2019re writing product descriptions for a clothing store. It may position the business in one of many ways:
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