For more than a decade now, I have operated a freelance content writing business. My main services are as a writer but my company is also able to offer editing services, data entry, graphic design and logo creation, social media marketing packages, social media consulting, basic web design and web creation and promotion consulting.
Getting Started
My freelance content business began as just writing, a skill I had been perfecting since middle school. I did not need very many business supplies in order to begin but a home computer with an Internet connection made it all the more easy to start earning profits immediately. Over time, I built on the business as well as the office, buying supplies as I could afford them and new tools as the need arose for them.
Over the years, as I began to add new services and employees to the business I still ran from home, I would get new equipment, software and other tools to help me perform the jobs to the best of my abilities.
Working from Home
There are many advantages to working from home but for every one, there is also a disadvantage you have to counterbalance. When working from home, you have the freedom to set your own hours but you also have to be a self-motivator. What do you do on those days where you just don’t want to work? How do you avoid being a workaholic and never separating work from home life?
My advice is to create a schedule and while remaining flexible, still try to use this schedule as a basis for your daily functions. Schedule in time for exercise, family and personal interests and hobbies separate from work tasks. You also need to learn to distinguish between those days where you really do need a break or a day off and when you are just trying to procrastinate and should keep working anyway.
Day-to-Day Operations
Your schedule falls under the day-to-day operations of the business. This will be your fallback when you need to stay on target for goals and deadlines. Since my business is very diverse with a multitude of services that I offer, my day-to-day tasks will vary but all follow the same basic schedule. Some days I need to spend time on the phone consulting or talking with a client about a project. There are other days where I spend the majority of my work hours lost in writing, researching or creating projects or delving into social media projects and I do not talk with clients at all unless it is to send an email update.
Marketing and Advertising
Another very important part of running my own business is the marketing and advertising. While I also provide these services for clients, I have to be sure that I am regularly marketing and promoting my own business as well. Over the years I have built many regular clients and they do a good job of supporting the business but the idea is to always keep your name hyped up. You want people to know your business, recognize your brand and hear about you often. You want to be found online, especially when you operate an Internet-based business as I do. The only way to do this is to keep regular marketing and advertising campaigns going on.
Since part of my business revolves around writing, I will have queries and assignment pitches out at any given time. I may also be applying for new positions, beat or column assignments with online or offline publications and more.
Another very successful method of marketing my business is article marketing and blog postings so I try to invest time into keeping these updated with fresh, informative and exciting content. I also use social media on a daily basis to reach my clients and customers, increase brand awareness and stay abreast of what is happening in my niche and to help me consult with clients who want similar services.
In running a freelance content business, I have to juggle many hats. Since I also have employees, I will have to be a manager. There is a lot to do but I enjoy the challenge and I love the freedom. There is no glass ceiling to hold me in. My earnings potential is completely in my control. When I work harder and smarter, I make more money. There is no waiting on promotions or hoping for pay increases. I directly control my future, which is one of the things I love the most about running my own business. I also love that it gives me the opportunity each and every day to help others reach their goals- by using my expertise to help grow their businesses.