As a freelance writer, you are a one-person business. As such, you need to treat yourself and your ventures as a business. This is a good point to refer to if you are ever stuck at any point in your writing career. Just ask yourself what you would do if you were in charge of a business in that same situation.
Because the truth is – that’s exactly how it is! The main difference, of course, is that in this business, it’s just you. This makes it even more important to take every aspect of your business seriously.
Building a website is one essential step you must take early on in your career. Websites are an essential marketing tool, and every business should have a web presence. Drawing in significant numbers of people and promoting your existing work are two of the main benefits of having a site.
Also, having your own space to display your portfolio is a precious thing. Here is how to go about doing that, step-by-step.
Choose Your Name
The name of your website needs to reflect you as a writer as fully as possible. In an ideal world, you would choose your own name. If your pen name is available as a domain, then that’s fantastic – go for it.
For most people, however, some compromise will need to be made. That’s fine. This is a good opportunity to put your natural creativity to work. You want your domain name to reflect the kind of writer you are, which depends largely on the type of writing you do. Just make sure it is relevant, memorable and clickable.
Learn Some Basics
It is a good idea for anyone with their own website to learn some basic HTML coding. If you have never looked into this before, don’t worry; it’s not very complex. Learning basic HTML knowledge is important because it will make the process of designing your site quicker and easier in the long run. Fortunately, there are plenty of DIY Sites which tell you exactly how to use HTML.
Choose A Stylish Design
The look of your website is very important. It is a reflection of you as a person and as a business. So it is important to choose a design which makes sense – and is stylish. If you have the resources handy, it is a good idea to hire a professional web designer. This way, you can be certain of a good-looking website.
Promote, Promote, Promote
Once your site is all set up and running, it’s time to put it to good use. The key here is to promote your work at every possible opportunity. It’s a good idea to have your portfolio linked on your site, as well as any contact information. Then it is just a matter of spreading the word about your website. With any luck, you will have clients flooding in in no time.
Image credits: Pete O’Shea, Wikpedia, Roger H. Goun