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- I paid off $60,000 in student loans nine years ago by writing for free on the side.
- I recommend writing a side hustle to anyone trying to get out of debt.
- Focus on content types rather than niches, learn the basics of SEO and be confident.
On December 31, 2020, I paid off the last of my $60,000 student loans, nine years ahead of schedule. It was not an easy task and it took many sacrifices to make it happen, including going to South Korea to teach English.
But the Korean teaching job paid me less than $30,000 a year. And while it was enough to live on, it wasn’t enough to help me pay off my debt.
I started freelance writing in 2014 to supplement my income. Since then I have learned a lot and earned literally thousands of dollars. Thanks to freelancing, I am debt free and have traveled the world.
I have five tips for anyone considering starting a freelance writing side hustle to get out of debt.
1. Don’t worry about industrial areas; Focus on content types
As you begin to venture into the world of freelance writing, you’ll hear a lot about “shrinking” — or choosing specific industries to write about. The biggest reason for this, as “everyone” says, is that you’ll make more money presenting as a topic or industry expert to specific businesses than trying to appeal to anyone and everyone.
Personally, I think this is terrible advice for new libertarians. While it’s technically true that you can make more money by choosing one or two, I think it’s more beneficial to be open to multiple industries. Instead, focus on learning how to write differently types Content well.
There is more than one way to make money writing: you can be a technical writer, a business blog writer, a case study writer, a copywriter, or something else. By writing different types of material for different industries, you may learn that you really love (or hate!) something more than you expected.
2. Learn the basics of SEO ASAP
SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization”. This is a fancy word for how Google finds and “ranks” everything on the internet so that when you type something into the search bar, the results are directly related to your query.
No matter what content you write – and Especially If you’re writing anything that exists exclusively online – SEO comes into play to some degree.
You don’t need to be an expert, but it’s wise to have a good understanding of the bare basics of writing well-optimized internet content, such as long- and short-tail keywords.
3. Connect with other writers and freelance communities
I wish I spent more time connecting with other freelance writers and online entrepreneurs like Virtual Assistants.
Things can be lonely if you’re new to entrepreneurship. (And make no mistake, as a freelance writer, you are an entrepreneur!) Often times, your circle of friends and family don’t really “get” what you do as a freelancer. It’s helpful to make friends who have or are going through similar experiences.
Facebook and LinkedIn are great places to join communities of other writers and online workers. You can ask questions, get advice and learn about career opportunities, as well as connect with like-minded people who “get it”. And you’ll have a great source for referrals as well.
4. Have an open conversation with your customers
Spoiler alert: Every time you send something to a client, it’s never going to be perfect! If you’re asked to edit your work, it’s important not to take things personally. In fact, you should keep out To make changes.
If you want to make a name for yourself, ask for feedback often. If you feel like you’re knocking things out of the park and aren’t asked to do a lot of editing, showing your clients that you’re open to honest feedback will go a long way.
If you think customers are happy, don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials and referrals. This is the best way to build your business. If your clients are happy, they will be willing to recommend your writing services to someone in their network.
5. Be more reliable than ever
Over the years, I have worked with many clients and made friends with other online entrepreneurs. I also hired them both as a freelance writer and editor.
And no matter what position I’m in—freelancer or boss—one common complaint always comes up: It’s hard to find good, reliable help online.
I hear this all the time from my clients and other friends, and I’ve experienced it myself with other freelancers I’ve hired. If you want to be useful to your customers, you simply have to be reliable. You don’t even need to be a very talented writer. Your customers will appreciate your consistency and promptness above all else.
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