Last updated on December 30th, 2021
Freelancing can seem like heavy work and a dead-end, especially if you are just starting out. The Indian Freelancing scene has expanded tremendously, especially over the past few years. Companies are generating content on a large scale. Brands are winning customers through content marketing, which provides the opportunity for freelance content writers to take advantage of these trends.
Irrespective of growing opportunities in today’s era of Start-Up India, I often come across many freelancers struggling to find work. I, being a freelancer myself, am no stranger to these struggles. It can be intense and scary if you are wandering in the industry, asking for work without any real direction.
If you dig deep and keep peeling the onion, artists and freelance writers are the leaders in society – the people who start to get new ideas out – ****Allan Savory
But if ideas lack direction and medium, what good are they?
Let’s take a look at some of the challenges we, as freelance writers have faced at one point or another in our writing professions.
Lack of Credibility
Let’s face it, there are times when you would reconsider why you became a freelance writer in the first place. And in such times, looking for work can become exhausting and demotivating.
Especially, when most companies also prefer to generate original in-house content, rather than outsourcing work to freelance writers. Trust and credibility play a major part here.
It is always helpful to continuously build your CV, work profile and generate credible work samples that can also serve as your working profile or resume. Continuously building a portfolio will also be beneficial in the long run, especially when companies need to connect with you through social media platforms like LinkedIn, Behance etc.
What may work even better is being associated with an online platform or medium which is accredited with high-prole clients, good projects and credible resources to advance your freelance opportunities.
Delayed Payments
The biggest drawback of working as a freelance writer is the part where you don’t get paid.
Days turn into weeks, weeks into months and some months, you may not even see a paycheck. Finding credible sources of income is tough already and since there is not always a written contract, things may not always go as planned.
Working with an content writing platform can open doors to many opportunities, especially a one which is well established in the business and works with a mixed bag of clients. It also allows you to focus on your work while thorough professionals take care of payments and settlements. Also, working alongside industry leaders who pay in a timely manner can boost your creativity and you can focus on writing quality content.
Limited Opportunities
A lot of freelance writers complain about not being able to find relevant industry-specific work. Just because you are a freelancer, does not mean you take up any work or assignment that comes your way.
It is impossible to have a great life unless it is a meaningful life. And it is very difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work ****– Jim Collins
You might get an offer to write product descriptions even though you are a technical writer and a thought-leader at that. And you might consider doing a project that does not compliment your work profile or writing styles because you know, desperate times.
But soon that may become a trend which can make you question your own work ethics. Make sure you work with clients and platforms that offer you projects and tasks that suit your profile and writing skills.Constantly work to improve writing skills.
So, instead of lowering expectations, say yes to multiple opportunities where you can choose your own work and the load that comes with it.
After all, it’s all about doing meaningful work!
GST Hassle Galore
The GST regime imposed by the government last year makes every goods and service provider liable to pay 18% tax. As content writers are also service providers, the GST rate has been fixed at an 18% for them as well. Being a freelance writer, you need to register for a GST number and comply with the tax regime.
Irrespective of whether you are selling outside the state or country, GST registration and compliance is mandatory for freelancers. Also, businesses have to pay RCM even if the writer is in the same state and below the 20-Lakh slab.
As a result, businesses prefer working with credible platforms for the sake of compliance simplicity. If you are a full-time writer, you must consider applying as a freelancer with online platforms.
This will not only take a load of GST compliance off your plate but also provide you with a plethora of opportunities to design your own workflow and workload.
Freelancing seems fun but definitely takes more effort than a regular 9-5 job. With more and more people wishing to be their own boss and jump on the freelancing bandwagon, the industry is booming. This, however, does not compensate for the prevalent gaps that still loom the freelance content industry.
There is a need for freelance content writing platforms and marketplaces that enable freelancers to harbour skills, find work and get paid.
But how many credible online marketplaces exist to assist them?
Well, WittyPen definitely takes the cake, with its credible resources, client pool, a community of writers and generous pay.
Ready to Apply as a WittyPen Writer?
