To Get More Writing Gigs, Learn These Tricky Skills Most Writers Hate

Then watch on as people fight to book you.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or new to the game is not a big deal.

If you want to give content writing or freelance writing a try, congratulations on your timing.

The market has never been more lucrative.

Which also means it’s becoming more saturated. Everyone wants a slice of the pie. And many writers are making the same mistake. They aren’t willing to walk an extra few metres, let alone a mile.

Because it’s too inconvenient. Or their ego is holding them hostage.

So to give yourself a higher chance of being successful, you need to differentiate.

These 3 skills most other writers hate to learn will make you stand out like a healthy thumb amongst the sore ones.

Be a chameleon on steroids

This doesn’t make you a phony. It just means you’re willing to be flexible enough to blend your work exactly into the mold the client gives you.

It’s hard.

Let’s face it. We are writers. We have opinions. Sometimes, super damn strong opinions. We won’t simply grind our teeth and put them aside. No way.

Actually, way.

Giving up your opinions is exactly what you need to learn if you want to get more writing clients. Happy clients. Clients who book you again in the future because they loved your work so much.

If you want to treat your content writing career seriously, repeat after me:

Recurring clients are the lifeblood of every business.

And the biggest reason clients come back to their favourite writers is they just get them.

Here’s how to do it:

• Become the most exceptional listener you know.
• Your opinions and preferred style doesn’t matter. Set them aside. Only offer them if the client asks.
• Ask the client to describe the vibe of their online presence. Ask for examples and snapshots.
• Ask the client about their readers. They’re the ones you’ll need to connect with, too.
• Ask the client to give you 3 non-negotiables about the piece you’ll be writing, and meet them.
• Adapt your writing to blend in seamlessly with what the client wants.

“You can have what you want if you help other people get what they want.” — Zig Ziglar

Let your darlings fly free

Literally.

Learn to give your best work away to someone else.

This might be the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do for your writing career.

But if you can do it right, it will send you flying too.

Guest posting for niche heavyweights

Guest posting is a tried and true evergreen method to get thousands more eyes on your writing.

But here’s the tricky part many writers have a problem with:

It has to be your best work. Which means you’ll have to give away some of your most genuine and precious pieces. Taking shortcuts will only lose you opportunities.

But the reach you can get through a fantastic guest post will pay off your effort times ten.

Big blogs, newsletters, and influencers look for guest posters all the time.

Your strategy can be simple — look within your niche(s), and have a near-finished draft of your post ready when you pitch. No one has time for endless emailing back and forth.

You’ll have to do some legwork to find them.

Search for influential newsletters in your niche on Substack, or look for established influencers with blog style websites. You could also contribute a valuable shortform piece to a big-name writer in exchange for a shoutout.

Or run a “guest post” advanced search on Twitter. People often tweet about their guest masterpieces. You just filter through until you find a blog or a pub that could be your fit.

Ghostwriting

Yes, as a ghostwriter, you’re getting paid. But you’re also letting someone else take credit for your work. They’ll put their own name on it.

It’s why many writers won’t give ghostwriting a go. They hate the idea of it.

That’s where you come in.

Ghostwriting often pays better. To compensate for the lost recognition, ghostwriters often increase their fees by 15%-20%.

Plus, the chance to land ongoing work is higher. People like their content to be consistent. Once they like a ghostwriter, they don’t want to risk change. They’ll come back for more.

Master the art of tasteful self-promotion

Spamming everything and everyone with links to your content is easy.

But it’s annoying af, and it leads to absolutely nowhere.

Plus, most writers hate self-promotion. It just doesn’t come naturally. And it’s most certainly not what we signed up for.

Yet, self-promotion is the key to exposure. It’s how you get discovered.

So how do you actually do it in a way that lets you keep your self-respect?

Write emails that get responses

The #1 rule: Clients and editors are busy. They don’t do long emails. So get straight to the point, using the least words possible. Substance over length.

Research who you’re writing to, and personalize your message. Copying and pasting just won’t do. They can always tell. Don’t ignore their guidelines.

Don’t be shy, and sell them on you. Include recent successes, link to your sample portfolio. Tell them what your last client loved about you. Show them what you can do for them.

Remember, many other writers aren’t willing to adapt and do the heavy lifting. Let them know you’re different. Show them you already know what their readers like.

Get it right, and you’re an email away from landing a new writing job.

Use your guest posts

Thankfully, the guest posts you’ve worked so hard over, are part of your self-promotion strategy as well.

Always provide a funnel to go with your guest post. Direct the reader to land on your content, or to sign up for your newsletter. Either include a short note in the post itself, or link it to your name at the top of the post.

Always remove all possible fraction. Make it a one-click thing. Ask for the least possible commitment. Remember, the readers have only just met you.

Your best-performing guest posts will also make phenomenal writing samples.

Leverage the power of social proof

Don’t be scared to ask for testimonials. Include positive reviews of your work in every outreach email.

Happy clients are the best advertising.

But make sure to welcome constructive criticism too. Your unhappy customers are also valuable, as a source of learning.

So don’t be afraid to include some constructive less-than-5-star feedback amongst your testimonials. They don’t always lower your score. If you can showcase how you implemented the feedback to make your writing work better for the client, these reviews can be a godsend for your portfolio.

They prove you’re adaptable, thoughtful, and honest. Which is possibly the most powerful social proof of all.

An endless sea of full-score ratings is always biased. People know that.

Here’s the truth about standing out

Standing out takes a lot of conscious work. Even when you have talent. And especially when there’s already a lot of noise with some of it standing out for the wrong reasons.

Not all exposure measures the same.

Sometimes the best way to stand out is by fitting in.

Learn to mute the inflexible part of your writer ego. Insert authenticity. Master the ability to tune in.

Then deliver exactly the vibe your client wants at their party.

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