How To Get A Freelance Writer Contract And Not To Get Into A Trap

Freelancing may offer a bit of freedom as far as choosing your work hours, but it is not without dangers. To secure a contract and avoid being scammed take these tips into consideration:

• Build your profile
• Take low-paying jobs
• Read the employer’s profile
• Read the job description carefully

1. Build your profile

Sometimes a person who is hiring will send you an invite, if your profile matches what he or she is looking for. Build your profile with care, list your experience, training and the things you are willing to do. An impressive profile will receive more consideration than a barely filled out one.

2. Take low-paying jobs

A freelancer just starting out will not get the pay-per-week that he or she is looking for. You may have to take one or two low-paying jobs that do not mind new writers in order to get started. The important thing is to get working, build a reputation, experience and earn some money. This will also allow you to build credibility and earn sponsorship when you start pitching for higher paying jobs, a willingness to work at the bottom and make your way up the ladder is also something future employers will take note of. Diligent work, no matter what the pay is, will receive favorable feedback from your employer, which will be read by anyone who seeks to hire you later.

3. Read the employer’s profile

Just like a freelancer needs to make a profile, the employer has to as well. You can learn all that you need to from his or her profile, just look at how long they have been offering freelance jobs, if they have been rated, how much they have paid out, etc. Avoid those employers who have no payment history but have been active for several months, they may not be legitimate. Look for feedback from other freelance writers to see what they have said about a particular employer, any problems they had you may be able to avoid.

4. Read the job description carefully

Skipping over words in the job description can lead to getting trapped. Fine details may be wrapped up amidst the description that you gloss over and then later pay the price for. Also, if the job sounds iffy this would also be a perfect time to check out the employer’s profile for legitimacy. Even if the employer has a payout history he or she could still work a job more in their favor than yours, this is why you must read the job’s description with care.