Kimberley Rogers

Kimberley Rogers is a freelance writer who loves to escape to her keyboard whenever she can to create engaging content for small businesses around the world. She writes regularly for businesses such as HubSpot, Pardot, and Hello Fresh. When she’s not busy editing business blogs, she enjoys spending time with her family and travelling. She is based in London, but loves to visit other cities such as New York, where she grew up, and Paris, where she currently resides. She is passionate about fashion, style and luxury, so you’ll often find her writing about these subjects when she gets the chance.

Become A Freelance Writer

It can be a lucrative career to become a full-time freelance writer, but you’ll have to be prepared to work hard to make it happen. To get started, begin by establishing yourself as an expert in your chosen field. Start by getting involved in associations such as the A.S.I. (Association of Science-Industry Professionals) and the F.A.I.P.E.S. (Federation of Freelance Professional Economists). Both organizations provide freelancers with opportunities to network and gain experience. Once you’ve established yourself as an expert, start applying for writing assignments. Most large corporations and media companies need content on a regular basis, so it’s a great opportunity to get your foot in the door. While you’re at it, establish a social media presence. Your blog isn’t the only place you’ll post, so make sure you have accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, and other platforms.

With a little bit of luck and a lot of determined effort, you could end up as a full-time freelancer. Then what? Well, that’s up to you. You might consider setting up your own business or joining an existing one, taking on clients, and continuing to grow your earnings. This is a promising career path that can provide financial security, flexibility, and the opportunity to travel the world and live life to the full. Let’s just say, it’s not for everyone, but if you’re looking for a change, it’s a viable option.

Why HubSpot?

If you’re unfamiliar, HubSpot is a business management tool designed for companies of all sizes. Essentially, it’s a CRM system that allows an administrator to track emails, calls, and other interactions with customers. It also offers content planners and marketers the ability to create highly targeted emails that are automatically sent to specific groups of people.

As a freelancer, you’ll most likely interact with business owners, marketers, and planners on a regular basis, so it’s imperative to have software that can smoothly and efficiently interact with all relevant contacts. HubSpot can (and does) integrate with a variety of other systems and applications, so you can be sure that you’re providing the best possible service to your customers wherever they are in the world.

The Rise Of Virtual Assistants

Emerging technologies like AI and machine learning are changing the way we work. Virtual assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri are taking the place of receptionists, customer care managers, and even some of our fellow coworkers. While the benefits of having a virtual assistant in your corner are countless, one of the major driving factors is likely to be time management. Why? Because we all have a lot more to do than we can reasonably accomplish alone. That’s why businesses are shifting towards an outsourcing model, where they outsource some or all of the tasks that a virtual assistant could do.

When you work remotely for a business, it’s essential that you have everything you need to get your job done. Whether you’re in the office or at home, you’ll be expected to complete tasks and handle interactions with customers and internal colleagues with equal effectiveness. Establishing that you have the capacity to do so takes some convincing, so make sure that you’re equipped with the right tools to do the job.

As a freelancer, you’ll be asked to write blog posts, create social media content, and engage with potential customers on social media. Having a virtual assistant that can take care of routine tasks, such as responding to emails and scheduling meetings, means you can focus on content that provides value and builds trust.

The Pros And Cons Of Working As A Freelancer

Now, let’s face facts. Freelancing has its perks. You get to choose your own hours, you get to meet new and interesting people, and you even get to travel the world and pursue your hobbies. The downside is that you’ll have to do almost all the work yourself. You can’t outsource all your administrative tasks, so you’ll have to figure out a way to be efficient with the time you have. It’s also important to note that you won’t have any backup if you do happen to run into problems. You’re on your own, basically.

Aside from the fact that you’re likely to encounter issues with clients and customers (more on that later), establishing a freelance writing career is a challenging task. It requires a lot of patience and determination, not to mention the ability to put in the hours. If you’re looking to take the plunge, here are some important things you need to consider.

Taxes

One of the major perks of being a freelance writer is that you get to choose your own tax status. If you decide to become a contractor for Microsoft, you’ll have to make sure you declare the correct amount of earnings. In the UK, you’re expected to pay income tax on your earnings. How much you actually have to pay depends on your personal circumstances. Most people who write for a living end up being classed as employees, rather than contractors, so it’s important to keep that in mind if you decide to go down that path. Employees have to pay payroll tax in the UK, as well as NICs (national insurance contributions) on top of their earnings. Contractors don’t have to pay any income tax or national insurance contributions, as well as don’t have to make any statutory payments into a pension fund.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is extremely important if you’re going to be freelancing. You’ll be expected to provide your own healthcare, so it’s essential that you’re covered. There are various options available, whether you want to go with a private or public provider. It’s important to find a policy that fits your needs and budget. For example, if you’re single, it’s a good idea to look for an individual policy that doesn’t require you to be covered by another person’s healthcare. That’ll make it a whole lot easier to get treatment if you need it. If you’re in a group, it’s important to look into what benefits you’ll receive as a member of that group. Do the math and see what’s in it for you.

How To Be A More Effective Writer

As a freelance writer, you’ll no doubt encounter various challenges. One of the major ones is that you’ll be working remotely for various businesses, with very little to no face-to-face interaction. That can make it hard to establish and maintain relationships with clients. To be more effective as a writer, use the following techniques.

Curate News Content For Online

If you’re writing for an SEO, make sure that you keep up to date with the latest news and trends. This way, you’ll have something new to write about when a particular story breaks. You can find curated content for online use in a variety of ways. You can start by looking at recent news articles in your chosen area of expertise. For example, if you’re a healthcare writer, look at the latest news articles relating to that subject area. You can use news articles to flesh out ideas for blog posts, fact-checks, or letters to the editor. Make sure you look for stories that are both relevant and use appropriate language. The tone of the content you use will affect how your work is perceived by your audience. Be mindful of your language when writing for an online audience, so you don’t come across as too informal.