Anybody can slap up a website and claim to be a freelance writer, but clients want proof that you can do what you say you can do. Samples go a long way toward that, but for all a suspicious client knows, they could be plagiarized.  Yes, it seems silly that a writer would go to that much trouble just to get a freelancing job and screw it up, but hey, look at the finance industry right now.

So, to drive your credibility home, add testimonials to your site. How do you get testimonials? You do good work. For a freelancer trying to find her first job, this could seem like a chicken and egg scenario. “I haven’t had any clients, so how can I get testimonials? But how can I get clients without testimonials?”

There are a couple of things you can do in this situation:

1.)    Mine your network. If you are thinking of becoming a freelance writer, I’m willing to be that somebody out there has told you that you are a good writer. Maybe it’s an old boss or a college professor. Ask them to write up a general statement about the quality of your writing. The best testimonials show measurable results (more about that in tomorrow’s post), but it’s okay if you don’t have any measurable results just yet. Think of yourself as the equivalent of entry level right now.

2.)    Start a blog. This is a great idea and something you should probably do anyway. It keeps you out there, keeps you connected, and helps with SEO when someone Googles your name. The blog does not have to be about freelance writing. In fact, unless you are experienced, that might backfire. (On the other hand, a “My Journey into the Deep Dark World of Freelance Writing” might make a great blog. People have written great blogs about odder subjects.) I suggest picking a topic you love and know a lot about.

3.)    Take a low paying job or work for free. Do this as a very, very, very last resort. There are so many reasons not to work for free. It undervalues you, it deflates the market, and it gives clients the expectation that they can get something for nothing. For that reason, if you absolutely must work for free, I suggest you do it as a labor of love or something you really care about. I recommend checking out last week’s Worthy Wednesday pick and volunteering in some sort of writing capacity for a local nonprofit. It’s good for the soul.

Now that you are in a position to ask for a testimonial, how do you go about getting one? Check back tomorrow to find out! 

Further Reading:

Testimonials: A Freelance Writer’s Evidence, Part 2

Testimonials: A Freelance Writer’s Evidence, Addendum