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August 6, 2018 Content Chat Recap: So You Want to Be a Freelance Content Creator

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#ContentChat So, You Want to be a Freelance Content Creator...

This week’s #ContentChat was all about the ins and outs of being a freelance content creator. We had 10 quick prepared questions, covering things I think every freelancer needs to know, and then opened up the conversation for a freelancer ask-me-anything. Have a question about freelance content marketing work that I didn’t cover here? Ask me your question in the comments! In addition to having been a freelance #B2C and #B2B content creator throughout my career, I’ve also hired and managed a number of freelancers throughout the years. So feel free to ask me questions from either perspective.

Freelance FAQs

Q1: I want to freelance in the same field as my current job. What do I need to know before I get started?

Take a look at your current employment contract.

Identify a content creation gap only you can fill. Do your homework!

Not everyone is cut out for the freelance life. Ask yourself these questions to assess your readiness.

Q2: Can I use my full-time job’s laptop and other supplies for my freelance work?

Play it safe—purchase separate tools—incuding a computer—for your freelance work.

If your employer has a policy of letting you use your computer for personal projects, take advantage of it.

Make sure you only freelance when you are off-the-clock from your full-time job.

Q3: Do I need to pay taxes on my freelance work?

Review your state and local tax laws to understand at what point you must start paying taxes on your freelance work.

Even if you pay taxes at your full-time job, you’ll need to pay taxes on your freelance work too.

If you are dedicated to freelancing, it’s important to keep your quarterly tax payments current.

Q4: How do I find freelance jobs? Should I put up profiles on Upwork, Fiver, and Freelance.com?

While having profiles on freelance sites may be beneficial, it’s unlikely they will keep your freelance project pipeline flowing.

Look for niche freelance job posting sites and apply to relevant projects through them.

Some freelance platforms may do more harm than good when it comes to your making a living as a freelancer.

Put social media and word-of-mouth to work to find your freelance gigs.

Q5: Do I need an online portfolio or website to be a freelance content creator?

A website or online portfolio gives potential clients a feel for your work on a platform you can control.

When starting out as a freelancer, make decisions that will help your portfolio in addition to your bank account.

The way in which your ideal customers typically find you should inform how you design your website.

Q6: Can I share my current work samples in my portfolio? What if they are for things I ghostwrote?

If the work is publicly accessible and has your name on it, you can share it. But you shouldn’t add content you ghostwrote for someone else to a public portfolio.

Read your contracts carefully. Some have NDA clauses that keep you from sharing your work.

Q7: What are effective ways to market my freelance work?

The best freelancers show, don’t tell.

Network within the communities in which your ideal clients are active.

Q8: I can’t wait to write off all my expenses! Wait, what do I need to do to make that possible?

Find yourself a good accountant who can help you understand the current tax landscape for freelancers.

Q9: How do I get paid? Do I need invoicing software? And how do I set my rates?

If you only do a small number of freelance projects per year you can manually invoice.

Once you are regularly freelancing, invoicing software is critical.

To set your rates, understand your worth as an FTE plus what your peers are charging.

Q10: Is it necessary to have a written contract?

Contracts help set expectations—and get you paid.

Retainers are another way of creating an ongoing freelance work agreement.

Freelance Questions from the #ContentChat Community

Can freelancers collaborate without forming a company together?

How do you get invited to be a guest blogger?

As a freelancer, how do you handle health insurance?

Should you form an LLC for freelancing?


Talk to an accountant before deciding to incorporate or not.


What are some helpful tips for managing the administrative side of the freelance life?


What are some best practices around timelines for video content creation?

For even more conversation on the topic, browse the full conversation stream on Twitter.

About Erika Heald

Erika Heald is a content marketing expert and executive ghostwriter. As founder and lead consultant at Erika Heald Marketing Consulting, she helps organizations define and document content marketing strategies that drive business growth. Erika led and grew high-performance content marketing teams at Highwire PR, Anaplan, and Achievers. You can also find her on her blog erikasglutenfreekitchen.com or hosting the weekly #ContentChat Twitter chat on Mondays at 12 noon Pacific.

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