Create a Freelance Author Web site

The fact is freelance. Do you know? Through the COVID-19 pandemic, greater than one-third of the American workforce contributed $1.2 trillion to the economic system via freelance work — a 22% improve since 2019. Plus, it’s predicted that by 2027, freelancers will make up the bulk, with greater than 86 million folks freelancing in the USA. 

So whether or not you’re employed solely freelance or tackle extra aspect initiatives together with your full-time work, you’re becoming a member of an ever-growing inhabitants of profitable, untethered, and artistic craftspeople who’re looking for versatile alternate options to conventional employment. 

What’s extra, the innovation and progress of know-how have made the work atmosphere extra fruitful for freelancers: 42% of freelancers discovered work on social media. On this unpredictable nature of the economic system throughout pandemic instances, freelance work is more and more worthwhile.

And also you freelance writers, bloggers, and net content material writers — we see you. We all know you’re on the market, coloring the world together with your lovely language and lightbulb concepts. You might be wanted extra now than ever!

However as a result of freelancers should do their very own advertising and marketing legwork, it’s good to benefit from each device out there to you in constructing a prolific writing enterprise. One of many largest weapons in your arsenal? A related net presence. Neglect scouring the needed adverts to seek out work — establishing an internet presence and exhibiting off a powerful digital CV is important for getting seen and incomes $$$.

put your greatest foot—and phrase—ahead on-line? A top-of-the-class web site. For writers, a killer freelance author web site is a make-it-or-break-it device for getting you leads on high quality writing gigs. And we’re going to point out you methods to do it.

With a web site, you may flaunt your expertise and character, create sustainable gross sales, construct your writing portfolio, and join with potential and return clients, constructing your enterprise and monetary success — multi functional place. 

Why is Having a Good Freelance Author Web site Vital?

So, wait. Again up. You’re a author — you understand, good ‘ol pen and paper. So, why do you even want a web site within the first place? With a well-built freelance author web site, you may:

• Showcase Your On-line Portfolio. One of the crucial important benefits of making a contract author web site is having a residing, respiration portfolio that’s simply accessible on-line. Potential purchasers can entry your work, and thru a broad vary of content material, get a really feel to your type, voice, and writing means. As well as, they will view your earlier work and a wealth of related content material that can assist them belief their enterprise to you. 
• Enhance Model Visibility. Your web site is a visual showcase of your writing means and an important device for establishing model consciousness. With a strong on-line presence, guests don’t need to dig round to find information in your choices. Not solely do you make it doable for folks to seek out you on-line, however your web site additionally helps you construct likability. With nice content material and interesting content material, guests begin to care about you and your work and can entertain the prospect of working with you. It illustrates your legitimacy as a writing skilled and helps you place your self as an authority in your subject. By making your work accessible, you broaden your visibility and supply social proof, which, in flip, will increase your possibilities of getting rewarding freelance writing work. With the aggressive nature of freelance work throughout COVID instances, you want a leg up. 
• Strengthen Model Legitimacy. Let’s be actual. Firms and not using a web site or an web presence have a tendency to lift some pink flags within the e-commerce ecosystem, proper? Every part’s on the net. Nowadays, a dot com is a necessary requirement within the biz world. If web customers can’t discover your digital nook of the online, clients looking for out a selected services or products will immediately assume, “Can we belief that enterprise in the event that they’re not on-line in an everything-digital age?” 

It’s a no brainer that if you wish to do enterprise and market a services or products on the earth we dwell in, potential purchasers want to have the ability to discover you with simply a few clicks from their browser. So on a really fundamental stage, having a web site helps set up your model as a authentic enterprise, fairly than simply working novice or letting clients depend on what they collect out of your social media presence. What’s extra, the higher you’re at outfitting your web site with nice content material and powerful visuals, the extra that legitimacy will improve and work in your favor. So to bless your backside line and earn belief from web guests, it’s essential to display not solely your tech-savvy net abilities but in addition your means to determine knowledgeable and worthwhile net presence. 

Nonetheless having doubts? We perceive. Let’s settle any doable qualms.

We all know you’re questioning: Do I have to have a contract author web site if I’m simply getting began? The brief reply: No. BUT — having a longtime web site to your freelance writing (your companies and a showcasing portfolio) is one of the simplest ways to construct a advertising and marketing funnel and set up a authentic, cohesive, and authoritative model. It’s a transparent approach to put your greatest foot ahead and safe high quality writing jobs.

OK, however maintain up. It’s 2022, you say. Can’t I simply use social media, like a LinkedIn firm web page, as an alternative of a web site to advertise my writing enterprise? Certain. However a web site, even a easy one, is a good suggestion. With a well-established freelance author web site, you construct authority as a model and improve your possibilities of getting seen by potential purchasers. They’ll be capable of contact you simply. Plus, you’ll personal all of the content material in your web site — one thing that isn’t all the time true on social media websites.

Maybe constructing a high-performing and snazzy-looking freelance author web site looks as if an awesome job. However placing within the effort to arrange a web site is an funding with assured returns.  A web site to be admired — and get you employed.  

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Construct a Nice Freelance Author Web site in Seven Steps

Like we stated, making a great-looking freelance author web site doesn’t need to be rocket science or overly time-intensive. We’ll present you methods to arrange a web site in seven easily-manageable steps. 

1. Model Your Enterprise

Time to choose a reputation, enterprise proprietor! For those who’re branding your self and advertising and marketing your abilities, you should use your individual identify, however ask your self a number of of the next big-picture questions earlier than nailing down a moniker:

Would you ever promote your enterprise? Even when you’re not completely certain of your long-term marketing strategy, you in all probability have an thought when you ever intend to go the torch in your writing enterprise or embody others’ companies or merchandise together with your enterprise.

For those who’ve entertained the thought of promoting your model someday or partnering up, don’t model your self with your individual identify. Clearly, that’s distinctive to you and gained’t switch. Additionally, in case your identify is troublesome to spell, pronounce, or keep in mind, think about the doable confusion utilizing your identify may cost a little your enterprise. 

However then once more, your private identify may assist model you uniquely as potential purchasers can differentiate you from different common-name writing companies. So think about your choices earlier than leaping right into a model or enterprise identify haphazardly. You by no means understand how you’ll develop, adapt, and alter in your freelance writing enterprise. So that you’ll wish to select rigorously to set your self up for long-term success.

2. Select a Content material Administration System

Now that you simply’ve bought your model’s fancy new identify tag, you want a content material administration system (CMS) to facilitate the creation and publication of your content material on the net. The perfect half? You don’t need to know methods to program a single line of code to make use of one! Take WordPress, one of many net’s hottest content material administration techniques on the market (it powers greater than 43% of the web!) 

Associated: What Is WordPress? Every part You Must Know In regards to the Platform

With the WordPress platform, you may create and handle your net content material with out the stress of a deep studying curve — you will get a web site arrange with little-to-no technical know-how.

3. Register a Area and Arrange Internet hosting 

OK, you’ve determined you wish to use WordPress, and also you’re filled with nice content material concepts. Good to go, proper? Effectively, first, it’s good to discover your web site a house on the net in order that guests can really view and interact together with your content material. All these nice concepts gained’t quantity to something in case your web site isn’t out there on-line. Meaning you want two very important elements: a site and a internet hosting supplier.

A site is the distinctive net handle the place your web site might be discovered. That is what guests will kind into their browser to navigate to your web site (for instance, www.dreamhost.com). Your area is exclusive to your web site and will match your model or enterprise identify. You also needs to think about your selection of top-level area —  that means .com or .weblog or dot-whatever —  to be able to place your self as an authority in search engine rankings. No matter area identify you select, you buy it via a registrar.

Subsequent, you want a internet hosting supplier. Internet hosting corporations promote unique-to-you plans that embody house on a server in order that your web site has a spot to dwell on-line. And not using a server, your web site gained’t be out there to go to. For the most effective probability at scoring high quality gigs, you want a high quality internet hosting supplier. 

There are a whole lot of suppliers on the market, however solely DreamHost can give you the most effective of the most effective: one-of-a-kind options, high-performance tech, and responsive help. Plus, we make issues straightforward: area registration and internet hosting companies beneath one roof and one-click WordPress installs. With Shared Internet hosting, simply verify the “Pre-Set up WordPress” field throughout sign-up, and increase! We set up it for you. 

Shared Internet hosting offers formidable WordPress freshmen every thing they should create a killer freelance writing web site that will get them employed. Even higher? Our Shared Internet hosting plans begin at simply $1.99 monthly.

4. Select a WordPress Theme

Time to outfit your web site with a WordPress theme. The theme you choose doesn’t simply dictate the general look of your web site (although it does try this), however it additionally determines what kind of performance your web site can have. The correct theme will mean you can management and customise your web site to your precise specs and area of interest. Browse the WordPress Theme Listing or search WordPress theme builders to seek out and set up your good theme.

5. Determine What Content material Your Web site Wants

So what does your freelance author web site want? What are the must-have content material and options related to your area of interest? Time to make a plan. Whilst you have the liberty to customise your web site based on your model and character, there are a number of important pages that your web site ought to need to set you up for the absolute best enterprise success:

• Homepage: A simple-to-navigate and enticing touchdown web page that may direct guests and potential purchasers to necessary elements of your web site. 
• On-line Portfolio: Your web site needs to be a strong, structured approach to display your abilities as knowledgeable author. A significant characteristic — nay, asset —  of your web site is an easy-to-find, specially-dedicated portfolio part the place you may showcase related printed work and show your capabilities as a author. 
• Companies: Web site guests have to know the product or companies your organization provides. Give potential purchasers a transparent and detailed description of the particular writing companies you concentrate on. 
• About: Don’t be a robotic behind the pc display. Display your writing chops, let potential purchasers and guests get to know you, and assist them get acquainted together with your distinctive voice with a fascinating and humanizing Get-to-Know-Me part. Showcase your accomplishments and fervour for what you do but in addition share what makes you distinctive. 
• Contact: How can potential purchasers get in contact with you? Make your contact info straightforward to seek out and use.

Now that you simply’ve bought your important pages arrange, you may go above and past to carry your freelance author web site to the following stage. Whilst you ought to keep away from non-essentials, you may think about including the next optionally available (however useful) pages:

• Shoppers: Title-dropping your present purchasers in your web site is a good way to display social proof and set up your authority within the subject. Consider it as a digital word-of-mouth advice. 

• Testimonials: The facility of a great evaluation can’t be overstated, particularly in an internet atmosphere. Confidently showcasing constructive suggestions you’ve acquired from purchasers in your subject about your writing companies might be nice fodder for snagging new purchasers and extra writing jobs. It’s OK to toot your individual horn.

• Weblog: Along with your portfolio, you may showcase your writing chops and distinctive voice with a content-rich weblog. The additional effort and worth you present your guests with related weblog content material might be an funding with wealthy returns. 
• Resume: Enable guests and potential purchasers to take a look at a bulleted checklist of your abilities and achievements with an easy-to-view CV. 
• FAQs: If you wish to reply probably frequent questions on your work or companies or present extra particular particulars to potential purchasers about what you provide, think about including a FAQ part. 
• Downloads/Freebies: Making free, downloadable goodies out there to your guests in your web site reveals that you simply’re going above and past to supply worth, demonstrating the high-quality nature of your freelance enterprise.

Lastly, think about pricing: if you wish to be specific in your web site about the price of your companies, be clear, upfront, and assured within the worth of your work. Or, you probably have adjust-to-fit service choices, you may maintain prices mum and invite guests to contact you for a quote.

6. Create the Content material 

Time to get creating! You realize the adage: content material is king. Reside by it. You have to fill your web site with wealthy content material to draw site visitors and show your worthiness as a enterprise. Fill the content material in your must-have pages first, then proceed to supply worthwhile content material usually.

Of simply as a lot significance as creating content material is creating it neatly — that means, utilizing it to get discovered by potential purchasers. How to do this? Utilizing key phrases. Take into account: what are related matters and search phrases associated to your subject? Being good about how you utilize phrasing and customary search phrases in your content material will mean you can place your self for good rankings and stronger SEO. So do your analysis and incorporate frequent search phrases into your content material. Use instruments like Google’s complete (and free!) Key phrase Planner to create high-traffic web site content material with good key phrase analysis and construct a powerful content material advertising and marketing technique.

Additionally, think about the tone of your content material. Does it appropriately and uniquely symbolize your model? Does it showcase your experience and/or character? One of the crucial marketable instruments in your author repertoire is your voice — use it neatly. Showcase what potential purchasers get together with your distinctive abilities by being acutely aware and intentional about your tone.

7. Launch

Have fun! Toast to your self, perform a little dance, pat your self on the again. You probably did it! Your web site is up and working! Try to be proud. We all know that having one thing residing, respiration on the market on the net might be nerve-wracking. Don’t fear about your web site not being good. The necessary factor is that it’s on the market. 

Keep in mind, you may all the time good and tweak over time. Most significantly, folks can begin discovering you — and you’ve got one thing you can enhance on. 

Seven Errors to Keep away from When Setting Up Your Author Web site

Once you’re beginning out together with your web site, it’s inevitable to face a studying curve. Some issues simply take time to study. You’ll enhance over time. However guess what? We wish you to succeed —  as quickly as doable. So we’re supplying you with some inside data: an inventory of thou-shalt-nots when establishing your freelance author web site. Keep away from these main whoopsies, and also you’ll be one step forward in attracting high quality writing jobs. 

1. Unhealthy Visuals

Let’s speak a bit science. A big portion of our brains is devoted to processing visible content material. 80% of individuals keep in mind what they see (in comparison with 10% of what they hear and 20% of what they learn.) Lastly, know that visuals assist develop site visitors — content material creators who characteristic visible content material develop site visitors 12 instances quicker than those that don’t.

Not having visuals as part of your freelance author web site is a BIG no-no. However much more, having unhealthy visuals can torpedo your probability at constructing a profitable freelance writing enterprise. Judgments on an organization’s credibility are 75% based mostly on the corporate’s web site design, so take critically the primary impression you’re making together with your visuals. Your visuals ought to replicate the standard work you provide, proving you’re reliable to potential purchasers and their cash.

To profit from the traffic-building and interesting powers of fantastic visuals, choose high quality pictures, a sturdy visible construction, and keep in mind: white house is sweet house.

2. CTA Points

When guests come to your web site, you need them to do one thing. However when you don’t ask them to do something, they are going to click on away, and also you gained’t get any enterprise. Not supreme. Even you probably have kick-butt writing abilities and wonderful web site design, having complicated, conflicting, or nonexistent CTAs (70% of small biz web sites lack a CTA) will injury your possibilities of rising your enterprise. 

So assume: what do you want guests to do to get writing gigs for your enterprise? Whether or not it’s subscribing to an electronic mail checklist, filling out a contact type, or viewing your portfolio of labor, guarantee that your CTA is seen, clear, and centered. 

3. Sloppy Formatting

You’re not only a freelancer — you’re a model. As such, your potential purchasers count on a stage of professionalism from you, so they should see that the minute they click on onto your web site. Together with clear navigation, centered visible construction, and a frictionless contact funnel, your web site must be fine-tuned, glossy, and polished. 

Whilst a freelancer, an entrepreneurial free spirit, it’s good to channel these suit-and-tie vibes in your web site to realize the belief of potential purchasers. No sloppy formatting, no error-filled copy, or overly-casual design. Concern your self with the small print. If you would like folks to belief you with their {dollars}, it’s good to be skilled. Not solely does meticulous formatting assist your web site design make a killer first impression (keep in mind the eye-opening stats about visuals?), however it helps folks view you as a reliable enterprise.

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4. TMI (Too A lot Info)

Don’t get us incorrect; it’s nice to be personable and relatable. A important a part of your model’s success is your likability. You wish to be a individual to guests and potential purchasers, not only a robotic author behind a display. 

However your web site will not be your on-line diary. 

Chorus from sharing an excessive amount of private information or content material irrelevant to your subject. As a substitute, focus your content material and be strategic about what you select to share, all with the aim of constructing your enterprise and incomes purchasers in thoughts.

5. No Goal Viewers

You’ve gotten a brand-spankin’-new freelance author web site and are prepared to herald site visitors, and ideally, new enterprise. However who’re you attempting to succeed in via your web site? What sorts of individuals are you seeking to entice? In easy phrases: who’s your target market? 

Your success is massively decided by the way you focus your efforts on constructing a enterprise. For those who forged too extensive a web, you gained’t be capable of successfully goal the high-quality purchasers that you really want. So earlier than you begin looking for to construct site visitors, determine your goal.

6. Weak Copy

You’re a author. Expert wordsmithing is your expertise, your money-making device, and your ardour. That being stated, each facet of your web site ought to replicate your talents as a author. Weak, lackluster copy won’t earn you purchasers, construct belief, or have interaction guests. Actually, it’s going to ship potential purchasers to your rivals. 

Take particular, even meticulous care in ensuring that your copy is powerful, partaking, and polished. Whether or not you’re writing weblog posts, articles, or touchdown web page copy, don’t simply wing it — write and rewrite, search a second pair of eyes for out of doors commentary, and edit, edit, edit. The power of your copy will make or break your enterprise.

7. Rare Updates

Actuality verify: making a money-making freelance author web site isn’t a one-and-done affair. Identical to software program wants common updates, so does your web site. Not solely do periodic refreshes aid you out Search engine marketing-wise, however they maintain issues related {and professional}. Replace weblog content material, take a look at plugins, solicit suggestions and use web site analytics ceaselessly to regulate the way it operates for max UX. Know that you simply gained’t all the time get issues proper the primary time — frequently be seeking to enhance all points of your web site.

Associated: The Full Information to Cleansing Up Your WordPress Web site

Helpful Sources for Beginning a Author Web site

Don’t fear — we’re not going to only throw you out to the online’s wolves and not using a few extra top-tier instruments to your burgeoning freelance author web site. Right here, we give you a well-curated roundup, a well-stocked toolbox of helpful digital sources destined that can assist you attain your targets.

Net Internet hosting

We all know we’ve talked about this earlier than, however a great webhosting supplier could make all the distinction for the success of your freelance writing enterprise. It’s true. Not solely can a dependable internet hosting supplier assist make creating content material straightforward, however it could actually make the administration of your web site a snap, leaving you to give attention to essentially the most essential points of working your writing enterprise. 

With DreamHost Shared Internet hosting plans, we give you these advantages and extra — together with 24/7 help, high-performance tech, and budget-friendly choices. Selecting a internet hosting supplier is likely one of the first selections you’ll make in your journey — make it a sensible selection with DreamHost. 

Brand

Like we’ve stated, your freelance writing enterprise is simply that: a enterprise. And most corporations on the market are simply recognized by a singular marker — their brand. Take into consideration any well-known firm: Nike, Apple, McDonald’s — you may shortly consider their brand simply by seeing the identify, proper? Otherwise you’d be capable of decide it out simply when you simply noticed the emblem’s telltale visible? Having your individual brand is an integral a part of establishing and constructing your model. It’s important for consistency, visibility, and progress. However don’t fear; making one which your guests will love isn’t onerous to do.

Model Colours

Along with your brand, you need to set up a coloration palette that’s distinctive to your model. This can assist your web site and supplies really feel cohesive {and professional} and may even aid you develop your enterprise by highlighting related sections or CTAs with particular colours. Choosing your model colours is as straightforward as 1-2-3, however keep in mind to be intentional about your private branding selections.

Inventory Pictures

We’ve already emphasised how important visuals are for serving to usher in site visitors and interact guests. So the place do you get professional-looking pictures and different visuals? Strive Pexels or Unsplash for high-res, royalty-free photographs, or discover a photographer to take some for you. For those who’re formidable, comply with a DIY at-home pictures information to snap your individual for affordable. And keep in mind, copyright guidelines rule, so maintain issues authorized. Give credit score the place needed and don’t steal.

Photograph Enhancing

You don’t need to be an Adobe Photoshop grasp to present your pictures that additional oomph. Crop, regulate, and improve your photographs to enhance composition and make your web site visuals a strong device in incomes your enterprise. Strive a number of easy picture modifying tips on the software program of selection.

Icons

As one other kind of visible, icons or symbols in your web site could make it straightforward for guests to seek out precisely what they’re on the lookout for — whether or not or not it’s your social media pages, your portfolio, or contact type — with out even having to navigate menus or copy. They’re a common language! Get great-looking icons on websites like The Noun Mission, Artistic Market, or totally free on Flat Icon.

Design

Your freelance author web site ought to have its personal distinctive really feel. In spite of everything, you’re your distinctive model. Your design incorporates not solely your structure, however the type of your copy, visuals, and navigation. A well-designed web site is rigorously thought-out for final performance and aesthetic, and we’ve bought the information that can assist you make it look snazzy. 

For those who don’t have a watch for design, DreamHost can assist. We’ve partnered with the specialists at RipeConcepts, a number one net design agency, to supply skilled net design companies to our customers.

The Closing Phrase

Now, we’ll reveal the outcomes of our crystal ball studying: we see a vibrant (and prolific) freelance writing profession in your future! Getting high quality writing gigs could take some website-building legwork, however with a well-built web site, you’re properly in your approach to new purchasers and a rising portfolio. 

As a result of your success is our success, DreamHost provides you the right beginning-of-the-journey internet hosting packages to get you in your ft. Take a look at our complete Shared Internet hosting plans to begin taking your profession to the following stage with a contract writing web site.