You’ve learned a lot about being a successful freelance writer through trial-and-error. So why not make the most of your experience and help groom freelance writers new to the publishing world with a writers’ coaching business? Here’s how to get started.
Build your platform. If you don’t already have a professional website, it’s time to build one: You can show off your clips to both your writing and coaching prospects. Start a blog, either as part of your website or on a separate domain, that shares tips about writing clearly, finding gigs, pitching markets, negotiating with clients, and other aspects of the freelance life, and ask writers to chime in with questions of their own. “My main sources of business are word of mouth (one client recommends me to a fellow writer) or from writers who’ve followed my blog for some time,” says Ali Luke, a U.K.-based writing coach.
Network. In addition to sharing information on your blog, begin participating in online writers’ forums where newer writers are likely to congregate, such as the Writers’ Write and Absolute Write forums. It can also be helpful to guest-post on popular writing-focused blogs like Copyblogger or ProBlogger. Be generous in responding to questions and sharing information, always including a signature with a link back to your website.
Package your services. Instead of simply offering over-the-phone or email coaching for an hourly rate, create structured packages that include a set number of phone calls or email exchanges each month. “Almost all my clients have ongoing sessions, typically anything from four times a month to once every three months,” says Luke. Luke offers her clients a variety of options, ranging from a one-time phone consulting session to ongoing email coaching sessions, to accommodate to her clients’ needs and preferences.
Understand your clients’ pain points. Certain issues are likely to come up over and over: For Luke’s clients, “the biggest three are finding time to write, having the confidence to put their work out there, and establishing a unique voice as a writer,” she says. “To some extent, these are all linked—if you’re not very confident, you find yourself making excuses not to write, and having a strong voice can help with confidence.” Ask your own clientele detailed questions to find out what issues related to the writing business are most difficult for them, and come up with a solid game plan to help them overcome these problems.
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