Freelance writing can be an exciting opportunity for many, whether they are looking for some additional income or to replace their full-time job. Like any opportunity to make money from home in Canada, it does come with its own set of pros and cons.
Pro: Set your own hours and work from home
For those curious about how to make money from home in Canada with freelance writing, you should first consider what is actually required to start freelance writing.
Outside of a laptop and stable internet connection, very little is required in terms of equipment, which makes freelance writing so appealing for so many. It can easily be done at any time of the day and in any location. Whether you want to write at two in the morning in your bed or while travelling the world, it does not matter if you meet the deadlines you agree to with your clients.
Con: Finding and managing clients
Like any freelance work, finding clients is part of the struggle. Not only do freelance writers need to identify potential clients that they would like to work for, but they also need to negotiate rates and convince them that they are a good fit for their organization.
To successfully land clients, it is essential to have a portfolio of past work to show your writing style. In addition, developing a client onboarding form can also be beneficial to document what kind of writing style they prefer, the form and frequency of contact, the agreed-upon rate, and any feedback they have given you on past projects so they can be applied to future ones.
It is also imperative to track which projects clients have paid for and follow up, if necessary, for payment for outstanding projects.
Pro: Potential earnings
Unlike traditional 9-5 jobs, freelance writing can give you the ability to set your own income rate.
As a freelance writer, you can set your own rates and determine how many clients you take on when you make money online in Canada. Being a freelance writer gives you more control over your income than in a 9-5 role, where your employer sets your income rate.
For those just starting out within freelance writing, it may be beneficial to partner with a content writing agency to help ensure regular monthly pay for regular monthly writing work as you build your client base.
For any freelance work, whether in writing or another opportunity, it is important to carefully track your expenses and income, and talk to an accountant to determine how much of your income should be set aside for taxes. The rate ranges depending on how much income you make per year and what region of Canada you reside in.
Con: Job insecurity
When managing your own client base, it is important to keep in mind that only some clients will have work for you every month. Planning ahead for dips in writing work is essential – it is part of why freelancers are encouraged to build a diverse client base to help mitigate this.
On the flip side, having a diverse client base can also mean having too much work to handle. Remember, when you manage your own client base, you have no guarantee that they will require your services the following week or month, so it is important to constantly be looking out for new clients, and keeping in contact with your current network so as not to miss out on any opportunities.
Pro and con: Alternative technology
Technology like AI (artificial intelligence) has been gaining a lot of traction in recent years, and is an understandable concern for many freelance writers.
It is vital to adapt your writing process to consider new technology like this and how it can be used to help your writing process and not hinder your ability to find clients.
There are many ways AI can be used to expedite the writing process, such as helping with research, but remember what you are selling to your clients is your ability to write, so while AI can help with research and summarising documents, it should not be used to write for you – doing so could result in losing your credibility as a writer.
Enjoy the positives and ditch the negatives of freelance writing
Freelance writing is filled with a wide range of opportunities and positive work experiences, but like any form of work, it does come with its own negatives. Some of these can be eliminated by partnering with a content writing agency.
One of the benefits of writing for Words of Worth is that they manage clients, payments, and deadlines so you can focus on what you do best – writing.
Ready to try your hand at freelance writing? Then apply to join the Words of Worth writing team today.