Many Australian freelance writers are under the impression that they need to have well-established credits in writing, or at least have completed some assignments to find writing work.
However, every freelancer needs to kickstart their career somehow, and while many come from previous experiences as staff writers and journalists, it is by no means essential.
Here, we explore some of the avenues to locate freelance writing work when you have no experience and offer a practical option you may be unaware of.
Building a basic portfolio
Creating a writing portfolio is a perfect place to start when you lack experience. An online portfolio is simple to set up with out-of-the-box options available like Journo Portfolio, Squarespace or more customisable solutions such as WordPress.
In terms of content, visit other writers’ online portfolios for ideas for pieces as well as reading company blogs and web copy. Try building a sample brief for yourself and create dummy content. Research how to write engaging articles and ensure you edit and proofread your work thoroughly.
For an extra pair of eyes reviewing your work, you can upload your portfolio pieces to sites like Grammarly for free that will check your spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Digital portfolios can easily be edited so that you can tailor applications to different employers. It is always advised to never overload writing portfolios, so for best results, stick to between three to five high quality samples. Remember that editors are busy professionals, so put your best piece first.
You can include links to your portfolio when you apply for freelance jobs too – just make sure that your portfolio site is well organised and easy to read. You can include your contact information, LinkedIn profile and social media handles to build connections and contacts.
Collect testimonials with lower rate work
If you’d like to give your portfolio site a boost, testimonials that sing your praises can be an advantage. By cold pitching companies or using personal connections, freelancers getting started sometimes offer to write articles for a lower rate to secure written approvals.
While only economically advisable to secure some glowing reviews, writing for less can be attractive to small businesses in need of copy and can secure you some early experience and the testimonials to hook bigger fish.
Leverage your personal skills and knowledge
If you have good English language skills but no experience as a freelancer, you may be able to make use of your abilities and understanding in other fields and topics.
While proofreading, SEO (search engine optimisation), marketing and editing skills can be more directly transferable, a previous role may also allow you to write niche content. For instance, engineers can approach engineering companies to write regular blogs for their websites to improve their rankings in search engines. If you have a specialist subject, you can also contact established bloggers and see if they will let you write a guest blog for free.
Apply to beginner-friendly writing platforms
While many agencies only accept people with a professional past in writing, platforms exist where new freelancers can make a start. While global options like Fiverr and Upwork are accessible in Australia, community boards like Rachel’s List and local platforms like Freelancer.com are also options.
Are you looking for a job in writing without professional experience?
At Words of Worth Australia, we supply high-quality content for our clients like web copy and monthly blogs, and are always keen to meet dedicated writers. Unlike other employers, we don’t insist that our writers have prior experience on their resume. Accepting writers at the start of their freelance journey, we offer support and feedback through our expert editing team, letting freelancers hone their skills.
We work with dependable writers who are equipped to write remotely and committed to delivering quality assignments to precise deadlines. If you’re ready to get your freelance writing career underway, apply to write with us today.