Nine Promising Tips to Jumpstart Your Career as a Freelance Editor

According to HubSpot, at least 70% of marketers believe and invest in content marketing, which is just one type of content needed in this era. With the vast amount of content produced today, skilled editing is as important as great writing.

If you understand language and have a knack for perfecting content, becoming an editor can be a dream job. If you are reading this as an English Teacher you will probably have most of the skills you need already.

While many may prefer the security of being an in-house editor, there is something to be said for the freedom that online freelance work can bring you.

If you are up to the challenge, here are some tips on how to start a career as a freelance editor and put hose skills into some extra dollars

Strengthen Your Skills

It is no exaggeration to say that the freelance editing field can be very competitive. Several established freelance editors offer their services on different freelance platforms, and you must have exceptional skills to stand out.

Before you establish your presence on freelance platforms and set your editorial rates, you must be open to improving your editorial skills further. 

A common way to do so is to practice editing a variety of content types. You can also enroll on formal courses to boost your skills and stay updated on the latest trends.

Build a Portfolio

A portfolio is essentially a document that tells the clients all the information they need about you. It helps you showcase your skills and academic materials. A portfolio holds the potential to make or break your image in the eyes of a client so make sure you put some time and effort into this.

We have articles here on the site for how to create a Teaching portfolio, which can give you a start but of course you would need to adapt them for a freelance editing market instead of a teaching position.

You can showcase your editing in your portfolio to demonstrate your capabilities and highlight your editing experience.

If you already have a portfolio and have not updated it in a long time, now is the best time to add your latest samples and accomplishments to it to impress your potential clients.

Create a Network

Networking is the key for a professional who wants to offer their services to repeat business and opportunities for future projects. 

The best way to expand your network is to attend industry events, conferences, and workshops. These opportunities can help you meet potential clients and stay updated on the industry trends.

If you are unsure about leaving the comfort of your home as a freelancer, consider joining online forums and communities to build strong connections with other clients and collaborators, contact writing services to see if they keep a list of potential editors.

Specialize in Your Niche

A jack of all trades is a master of none. If you are not an outstanding professional in your field, you may not be able to market yourself properly or make yourself known among your target audience.

To specialize in your niche, you must start by identifying your strengths in editing and focusing on mastering them. A writer for a lifestyle magazine may not have the same skills as one in the Auto trade for example. 

Once you specialize in a niche you are passionate about, you can market yourself as a go-to editor in that niche.

Set Your Rates

If you are already working as an in-house editor, you cannot consider using the same rates while working as a freelancer.

Your editing rates as a freelancer can depend on several factors, including your skills, where in the world your are based, or your clients are based, experience, and market trends. 

You can seek average editorial rates to create attractive packages for your customers for different types of projects. 

Remember to always be transparent about your editorial rates and payment methods with your clients.

The best practice is to mention these important facts in writing and agree on contracts to avoid misunderstandings further down the line. Whether you do this as side hustle or aim to be full time it is important to be professional form the start.

Establish a Website

In this technology-driven world, you cannot expect the right clients to find out about you without an online presence.

Even if someone who offers exceptional services refers to you, a potential client may hesitate to contact you.

A professionally designed, user-friendly website helps you establish your online presence by showcasing your client testimonials, portfolios, and clear descriptions.

By accessing this information, clients can feel sure about hiring your editing services for their projects.

To ensure your discoverability, you can hire an SEO professional to optimize your website and attract organic traffic from your potential clients.

Boosting your search engine ranking can increase your visibility and help establish trust with potential clients.

Market Your Services

Do not wait for your target audience to reach out to you. You can also get in touch with them to promote your services. For that, you need to develop an outstanding marketing strategy to promote your editing services.

There are so many promising ways to market yourself as a go-to freelance editor. From social media campaigns to email newsletters, never say no to any opportunity to stand out.

You can also collaborate with other professionals, such as publishers, businesses, companies, and content creators in the freelance community, to boost your credibility in a competitive market. 

Aim for Complete Customer Satisfaction

Keeping client satisfaction central is the best way to win them over. Caring for your clients’ satisfaction also opens you up to more opportunities in the future.

A happy client leaves happy reviews and testimonials, which can help you become more recognized as a freelance editor in your niche.

Communicate clearly with your clients and focus on their vision and needs. Always keep their feedback in mind when providing them with revisions according to the contract.

You may also want to strengthen your interpersonal skills to not only build long-lasting relationships with your clients but also open doors for repeat business and referrals.

Continue to Learn

Although formal education is not a requirement for you to pursue a career as a freelance editor, it can be a valuable addition to your portfolio.

You can look into editing courses, workshops, and certification programs to enhance your skills.

In addition, you can also join professional editing associations to stay updated on editing trends, technologies, software, and more to streamline the editing process.

Another great way to learn is to use your clients’ reviews to refine your editing skills,improve your services, and address any areas for growth.

Approach every opportunity with an open mind to ensure that you keep gathering valuable knowledge to grow professionally.

Conclusion.

Hopefully these nine tips have been useful as a start on your journey or as a way to improve your freelance editing and if you are thinking about this as an English teacher you already have a bag full of transferable skills you can bring to the party!

Good luck!