Happy Tuesday, freelance friends!

When I worked at a fancy quasi-governmental job, I often received what my boss called “development opportunities.” In my head, I called these projects extra work beyond my job description that didn’t come with a promotion or pay increase. (can you tell by my attitude why I’m better off freelancing than climbing the corporate ladder?)

Nonetheless, as a freelancer, it’s important to create your own development opportunities so you can grow your skills AND your business.

So put on your Boss Hat and choose a few ways to improve your skills…here are some ideas to get you started.

8 Development Opportunities for Freelance Writers

1. Join online writing communities: There’s very little information available on how to actually build and run a freelance business. I love networking with other writers to learn their focus areas and pricing structures, which are often different from my own. Start with free FB groups then upgrade to some paid groups to level up.

2. Follow freelancers on SM to get inspired: I know some people get all ruffled when freelancers talk about how much money they make or killer clients they have, but I’ve always viewed this info as proof that it works. So set aside any potential jealousy and follow some writers who can inspire you to keep going.

3. Take a course: The first major financial investment I made in my freelance biz was taking a course created by another writer in my niche (no longer available, otherwise I’d share!). It paid for itself in the first month. ⚠️ Warning: If you tend to buy a TON of courses and never finish them, commit to working through one you already own that’s most relevant to your current biz goals before you spend another penny. I see you because I am you.

4. Binge on YouTube deep tracks: Listen, there is amazing content on YouTube that goes way beyond “how to become a freelance writer.” And the best stuff may only have a few hundred views. Search for areas you want to grow in, like finding leads, following up without feeling sleazy, etc. Then watch while you cook dinner and afterwards test out something you learned. Boom, you’re growing.

5. Check out some new podcasts: Similarly, there are so many podcasts out there showcasing successful freelancers we can all learn from. I myself have been on a few (check out my episode on Talk Freelance To Me). Free content that gets your gears turning on how to grow your business.

6. Attend a conference: OMG YES I’M TELLING YOU TO LEAVE YOUR HOUSE! Find a conference in your niche or a general writers conference. Here are some recommendations for you.

7. Read industry news: Follow big players in your writing world. For instance, Neil Patel publishes tons of content on SEO and social media. Or maybe you sign up for some Google alerts about the industries you cover. All of this information helps you provide better service to your clients and pitch stronger ideas to prospects.

8. Download scripts: Lots of freelancers and content creators provide scripts for things that make us feel uncomfortable. But I find using validated methods from other successful people helps boost my confidence. Here’s a blog post where my friend Sara Coleman shares her best tips for asking for referrals (it’s so good).

That’s a pretty good list! Are you ready to give something a try? I’d love to know what you plan to work on, even if you just hit reply with a number from the list!

And here's a quick question:

Thanks! And until next week, happy freelancing!

Lauren

When you’re ready, here are 2 ways I can help with your freelance business:

1. Read The Fully Booked Freelance Writer to follow my exact process for keeping a full schedule (whatever that looks like for you).

2. Organize your business with my income tracker.