Careers

Guide to becoming a successful freelance writer in South Africa

Gain some valuable guidance on becoming a successful freelance writer in sunny South Africa.

Job search website, Indeed claims that the average rate for freelance writers in SA is R8000 per month, where the overall monthly income ranges from R1300 pm to R21000 pm. Here are some tips to help you fall into that higher income bracket.

  1. Educate Yourself on SEO and WordPress

Online writing is not simply about your research and creative skills. Technical skills, such as knowledge of SEO and WordPress, are imperative if you want to be a competitive freelance writer. There is a lot of contradictory information out there regarding SEO. Therefore, it is best if you take a course. Udemy courses are fairly cheap and often provide great specials.

In terms of WordPress, one way to enhance your skills and attract more lucrative clients is to set up your own WordPress blog or website that showcases your writing skills.

Furthermore, whilst joining freelancing networks such as Upwork can help you gain experience, individuals who visit your site are more likely to pay higher rates. This is because there is less competition amongst freelance writers for the same project.

Sharing your writing on various social media channels on a frequent basis is also a great way to gain visibility.

  1. Set Up Your Freelance Rates Wisely

 SAFREA  claims that one of the biggest challenges facing freelancers is the low rates. You need to set up monthly income goals and figure out how you are going to achieve this based on your current rate.

Of course, your rates should rise with your level of qualification and experience. This means that in the beginning whilst you are still gaining experience, you will probably not have the ability to make a full income. Therefore, it is recommended that you start freelance writing as a side-line project with low-end fees. Payscale claims that the average hourly rate for freelance writers ranges from R25,00 to R500, 00 per hour, so it is best to work up this scale depending on your level of experience.