Writing texts for a living – what does it look like?

You have probably just finished a course in writing or are looking into it. You would like to kick start the journey of content writing and you don’t know how to go about it. Here is a break down of what to expect.

What do you need to know before you start writing texts for a living?

Knowledge and experience are the fundamentals of copywriting. You get to learn what will set your work different from the rest. A good copywriter needs to know the following essentials of a good copy:

• Copywriting standards – Encompasses tone, style, grammar and readability
• SEO optimization– To improve visibility, title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, internal linking and use of images are highly recommended.
• Marketing strategies – Designed to persuade, engage, and convert your target audience, ultimately driving results.
• Regulatory aspects – Navigating the legal landscape of copywriting requires a combination of common sense, awareness of relevant laws, and sometimes, legal advice.

Having engaged and understood the above, you are now in a knowledgeable space to start practicing writing.

What does writing the texts for money look like?

To get this career rolling, there are three steps you need to follow to get commissioned from individuals or businesses. This model is not the only one and with time you can incorporate your own links and processes but it will be helpful and has certainly worked for us.

Step one – placing an order

In the initial stages, you need to find clients and this can be done by ‘advertising’ yourself in Facebook groups, WhatsApp communities, and other social media platforms. If possible, a website would be a great start. Professional sites like LinkedIn can also be a good starting point.

Step two – arrangements

Once you have found a client, it’s important to agree on a few things that will set the tone of the job.

• the text volume
• the deadline
• the wages for 1000 characters with spaces
• the settlement arrangement
• the transfer of the texts

Have a contract template based on the above that will also include details on transfer of copyrights and when it will take place. Agree on whether changes can be part of the corrections and how communication throughout the process is paramount. Clarify if they would like to be involved in the creative process or if they will just give you a vision of what they need and you work on it alone.

Observe the highest form of professionalism and ensure that you keep your word on the deliverables. If it is not possible to deliver as agreed, engage the client on how best to proceed.

Step three – order implementation

After agreeing on what is expected from both ends, start working on the order immediately. Understand the audience and do proper research for the work you are about to do. Remember to do a good job for future references and even referrals.

Step four – “shipment”

Once an order has been implemented, present the client with the outcome of your effort. Depending on the previously specified arrangements, you can either send the text via email or post it directly on the website.

Step five – acceptance

Either the client sends the texts back so you can make the necessary modifications, or they are happy with your job and appreciate the results. That’s all there is to the first scenario. If the client objects to the messages, you will need to make the necessary changes and return the texts to the client. If the buyer is satisfied, you can move on to the next phase.

Step six – settlement

Once you are done, assemble the client’s accounts according to the settlement option you both selected. It could be an invoice, a work contract, or a contract of mandate in the event that the business is established and the portals utilized provide such options.

The best option depends on how each tax is interpreted, how the texts are organized, and how they are specified.