Jessica Walrack

One thing that really helped me was taking time to reflect on my path. I made a list of all the things that I'd learned so far that I thought could be of value to others. I also brainstormed why I wanted to build my brand and the impact I hoped to make. From there, I developed content pillars and ideas that would help me achieve that impact through content. Then, it's all about experimenting, tracking the results, and making adjustments as you go!

Optimizing my LinkedIn profile has given clients a way to quickly understand my experience, expertise, and offerings. It's also attracted a steady stream of inbound job offers (both freelance and employment). I believe it's one of the best things you can do in current times to attract and land work opportunities. Along with turning your profile into the equivalent of a sales landing page, I recommend getting active on the platform by posting and engaging with the posts of others in your industry.

The more relevant your online presence and resume are to a specific role, the higher the likelihood that you'll land a position. I've heard this from countless individuals who have been hiring in the current competitive market. Many job seekers like to cast a wide net as to not exclude any opportunities. However, by doing so, they eliminate the unique advantages that make them stand out. Instead of trying to optimize your profile and resume for each job, I'd recommend positioning them for a specific type of job and client/employer, and then focusing on finding that type of position from job boards.

The big benefit of Upwork is that there are a large amount of clients there who know what they want and are ready to hire. Once you’re established on the platform, you also get invited to jobs which has become a free source of high quality leads. On the downside, it can take time, money, and dedication to get the ball rolling. I applied for about 40 jobs before I first got hired as a new freelance writer on a work platform. But it gets easier as you build a positive work history. Another con is that not all clients are high quality. You will have to sort through some low paying gigs.

Yes a detailed brief and a style guide are must-have’s. They can serve as guides throughout the feedback process, and make it less subjective/personal.

This is an important one. I track everything about each writing job I do from the time it takes and how the pay breaks down (overall, per hour, and per word when applicable) to my enjoyment level. Then, I identify what’s most cost-effective and enjoyable, and continuously try to do more of it. I find that the ongoing optimization process makes a huge difference in my profitability and happiness as a writer. Before starting this practice, I couldn’t seem to escape bottlenecks, problematic clients/projects, scope creep, etc.