In 2017, I quit my full-time consulting job at a Fortune 500 company, where I had an annual salary of about $40,000. At 23 and right out of college, I had no backup plan — but I knew I was unhappy working a 9-to-5 in the corporate world and needed a change.
Luckily, I had saved up enough money to buy me some time to figure out how I could turn my passion for health, fitness and writing into a lucrative career. I went back to school for a master's degree in nutrition and got certified as a personal trainer.
A year later, I noticed that world of "Instafamous" fitness influencers was booming. I found it exciting, so I created an Instagram account and posted fitness-related photos, along with my diet and exercise tips in the captions.
Six months later, my follower count grew to 10,000.
One day, a popular boxing gym reached out to me. They came across my Instagram captions and asked if I could write a few 500-word blog posts for their website about how boxers can improve their performance. The pay was $25 per post.
I ended up enjoying the process, so I decided to advertise my services as a health and fitness writer>1. Make yourself stand out
Unlike many freelancers, I had more than just a portfolio of my sample work.
What set me apart from my competitors was having a consistent presence>2. Introduce yourself in a video
According to Fiverr, freelancers who include explainer videos in their profiles get 220% more gigs than those who don't.
In an explainer video, you can talk about your products and services or topics and issues related to your industry. It also gives you a chance to break down confusing subjects that might be hard to understand.
You don't need to hire a video editor, but it's important to make sure that:
- Your video is short, informative and straightforward
- The sound quality is clear
- The lighting is crisp (daylight is preferred)
- The background is relevant and/or not distracting
- You talk about your services, background and qualifications
Lastly, don't be afraid to show some personality and humor! This is a great way to help potential clients connect and feel comfortable working with you.
3. Price low — at first
If you're new and charging a high price but have no customer reviews, don't expect to get a lot of business.
When I started>4. Keep building your credentials
There are tons of successful freelancers who have plenty of experience in their fields. But the stronger your credentials, the more business you'll get.
I'm a registered nutritionist and personal trainer with two master's degrees. I've worked at a Fortune 500 company and have a large presence>5. Always be professional and respectful
Your reputation isn't just dependent on how many good reviews you have or your success rate metrics. The way you interact with clients matters, too.
I've encountered CEOs of publicly listed companies, professional athletes, celebrities and global heads of marketing. These people don't tolerate rudeness or unreliability.
Here are my rules for being professional and attracting returning customers:
- No spelling errors or bad grammar in emails
- Replying to messages in a timely manner
- Underpromising and overdelivering (e.g., quote a 3-day turnaround and deliver in 2 days)
- If things get messy or confusing, suggest a phone call
- Never close a project until the client is 100% happy
But above all, respect yourself. If someone is disrespectful or offensive from the jump, it's probably a sign you shouldn't work with them.
