The Freelance Writer’s Atlas: 7 Steps to Build a Profitable Writing Business

Publication Date

January 17, 2023

Summary

Here’s a high-level view of starting a freelance writing business so you can see how the pieces connect and begin planning right now.

Freelance Writer’s Atlas: 7 Steps to Build Your Business

1. Pick Your Niche

A niche is a specific segment of the market you want to write for. It clarifies your audience, positions you as an expert, and makes client outreach easier.

Think of your niche as the intersection of:

What you write about (topic, services, type of business, or industry)
Who you write for (ideal client)
Who reads your writing (target audience)

Examples of niches:

B2B Hospitality Tech Sales Writer
For‑Profit Education Email Copywriter
Outdoor Industry Content Writer
Travel & Lifestyle Content Writer
Beauty Copywriter
Email Marketer for Coding Bootcamps

2. Choose a Service

Services are the types of writing you offer. Most freelancers start with content writing (most people find it’s the easiest form), but you can pick based on your skills.

Examples of services:

SEO content writing
Website copywriting
Email campaigns
Product descriptions
Grant writing
Whitepapers

Need help picking? In Pop Club, we help you choose services that align with your niche and income goals. Or you can try the free Freelance Services Workbook

3. Create Your Portfolio

A portfolio showcases your writing chops – self‑made samples or real client work.

You don’t need to wait until you have clients: create mock pieces for a fictional brand or industry to show your style, voice, and ability to solve audience problems.

⚡️ Need a free place for your portfolio? Try one of my 1-page portfolio website templates (for Notion or Canva).

4. Set Your Rates

Your rate is the price you charge for each service. It’s one of the most debated but essential parts of freelancing.

Rather than charging what other people are charging, set your rates based on how much you want and need to earn. We walk members through this process in Pop Club if you need help!

5. Set Up Your Business

This step covers the admin side that keeps your business running:

Pricing guides & proposals
Contracts
Invoicing
Client onboarding system
Bookkeeping
Taxes
Optional: website or online portfolio

Having this setup means you look professional and your business is legally sound from the start.

6. Get Clients

This is where your business becomes real. You start pitching, talking to, and booking clients.

This is what I teach in my Get Clients on LinkedIn system. In the LinkedIn Challenge you’ll get support to identify ideal clients and build consistent systems so you don’t have to rely on luck, referrals, email cold pitching, or commenting on LinkedIn posts.

FAQs About How to Build a Profitable Writing Business

How long should I follow this roadmap?

If you’re going all in on freelancing, this should take you about 4 weeks to get your business setup and then 4-8 weeks to get your first client. But it depends on your situation. If you’re doing this on the side of another job, it may take longer for you.

Can I skip steps or tackle multiple at once?

You can overlap steps – like building your portfolio while setting your rates – but make sure you complete all seven steps before scaling.

Do I need a website before I get clients?

Not necessarily! A simple portfolio page or hosted Medium/Notion sample works fine. Real relationships and outreach matter more early on.

What if I pivot my niche later?

It’s totally possible! Many freelancers shift niches over time. But starting with focus helps you build faster. I’ve got a whole guide on changing your niche right here →

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