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5 Benefits of Having a Freelance Writer Website

While a freelance writer website isn’t necessary, it’s an investment that can pay dividends.


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Dan Marticio

2 years ago | 4 min read

As a freelance writer, you may think it’s enough to just list your writing samples in the email body. After all, you’re busy and a freelance writer website just adds more work, stress and maintenance, right?

However, your website is more than a home for your portfolio — it can showcase your brand and professionalism, among other things. If you’re on the fence about creating your freelance writing website, keep reading to learn the advantages of securing digital real estate for your freelance writing business.

5 Reasons to Invest In a Freelance Writer Website

Here are five reasons why a freelance writer website is a valuable addition to your toolkit:

  1. Showcases your brand
  2. Markets your past work and clients
  3. Own your corner of the internet
  4. Positions you as a professional
  5. Increases efficiency

1. Your website showcases your brand.

Your website is yours to tailor to your brand — from the layout and font to the homepage copy and mission statement. How you present yourself professionally can distinguish you from all the other freelance writers who may be excellent writers, but may be lacking in their branding.

As a freelance writer, you do more than sell your services —you sell the experience of working with you. Smaller startups, especially, may resonate with your About Me page and want to work with you specifically because of your background and personality. On the other hand, busy editors from larger enterprises may want to work with freelance writers whose brand promise is no-fuss-easy-communication-gets-the-job-done.

2. Your website markets your past work and clients.

Your website serves as a natural home for your freelance writing portfolio. Yes, listing writing samples is recommended when cold emailing prospective clients, but you can also include a “You can find more writing samples on my portfolio” link to your website.

While your client skims through your other work, they may start clicking on around on your website. If you set your website up properly, they will stumble across valuable testimonials from prior clients and case studies you posted, helping validate your credibility.

3. Your website is a corner of the internet you own.

You have control over how you display your brand and services. You can customize menus, create different pages and switch up the font and colors. You own it.

A website may have some upfront costs, but it can be a long-term investment. It will evolve as your portfolio grows and you gain experience. Also, imagine ranking on Google as the go-to freelance writer within your niche, like “cryptocurrency content writer”? Those are tons of potential leads sent your way.

Social media and job boards aren’t enough. Instagram and Twitter can be useful auxiliary tools in your marketing toolkit, but you do not own these platforms. The same goes for boards for freelance writing jobs. These platforms may change their search algorithms, change their interface or shut down without notice or your consent.

4. Your website positions you as a professional.

Owning your own domain name (johnsmith.com, not johnsmith.wordpress.com) adds a professional touch to your business. It helps position you as a business owner that has the capital and foresight to invest in long-term marketing.

Again, your website is a tool that can increase your credibility and authority — both are buying triggers that can convince clients on the fence to want to work with you.

5. Your website increases efficiency.

The best freelance website works for you. You can create different pages where the client can learn more about you without ever sending an email. For example, an FAQ page with your rates and workflow process can reduce back-and-forth emails.

Your website can also “prime” the right types of clients for working with you. For instance, here’s how a prospective client may reach your inbox:

  1. The client stumbles on your website and browsers your portfolio. They like that they see and click on your Contact page.
  2. Your Contact page shows your rates and availability. They can afford your services and enter their email address into your contact form.
  3. Upon submitting their information, they receive a PDF summarizing everything they need to know about working with you (rate breakdowns, testimonials, processes, etc).

Next, you reach out to learn more about their blogging needs.

With these systems in place, you save time and communicate only with clients who meet your budget.

You May Not Need a Writer Website Immediately

Let’s not confuse “useful” with “necessary.” Your freelance writer website is a tool — while it can certainly boost your marketing services, it is not essential for securing clients.

“After I started freelancing, it took me four months to set up a website. I found tons of clients and earned thousands of dollars in the meantime,” Jamie Johnson, a six-figure freelance writer, shared on The Write Life.

When starting, don’t feel shame about being scrappy. You can get by with a bullet list of writing samples or attaching a stylized PDF version of your portfolio. After gaining traction in your freelance writing career, you can revisit the idea of investing in a website.

Freelance Writing Website FAQs

Do freelance writers need a website?

A freelance writing website is not necessary for building a freelance writing business. Your freelance writer website is a marketing tool — while it offers no guarantees, it can certainly improve your results. A polished website encompasses your brand, markets your services and helps onboard prospective clients.

How do I start my own freelance writing website?

After deciding on a website name, you will need to select a web host, such as Bluehost or SquareSpace, to house your website. Next, you’ll want to write the copy for each page you want (homepage, about me, contact, etc.). Finally, you can design your website — WordPress offers free and paid themes that make it create the look you want.

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Dan Marticio

Dan is a freelance writer specializing in small business and personal finance. He works with FinTech and B2B companies and has written extensively about small business, from startup guides to payment processor reviews. Hire him to write for YOU at danmarticio.com.


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