Last Updated on 5 months by Christopher Jan Benitez

If you want to get hired, you need experience. And as an SEO freelancer, you can’t get the said experience if you aren’t hired – it’s a catch-22 situation. One that’s many freelance writers sadly is all too familiar with.

Without a doubt, gaining credibility is the No; 1 priority of a freelance SEO writer (or any writer). And make no mistake, it’s hard work. You can’t just kick out a few nice posts & hope clients will notice your talents and hire you–you need to do more (a lot more!).

So here’s the big question: “How to establish credibility in writing – even when I have no prior experience?”

Well, keep on reading our “freelance writing how-to” guide to find out…

Why is Credibility Important in Writing?

The client wants the best possible results. However, they often got no time to do interviews, which in turn leads them only to hire risk-free pros & not freelancers, even if they offer a better deal overall. Add to this the sheer toughness of the freelancing business & the pain to find paid work; it’s easy to get discouraged and be tempted to call it quits.

Well, if this sounds like you, we got one thing to say: don’t throw the towel just yet.

Why? Because all is not lost. Why? Because the “pro” SEO writers of today, they too were once beginners, meaning that you too have a shot at stardom as well, provided you work hard and take the right steps.

Building writer credibility: the top 5 killer strategies you need to follow

Below, find top strategies that can help establish you as a reputed SEO writer without spending decades working for it;

1) Setup a nice portfolio (a website, a blog, etc.)

Being a freelancer, having your own blog, or a website for presenting your work is important as it will be the first place clients look to evaluate your work & contact you if satisfied. 

Think of this as your very own billboard – the better it looks, the more the chances of you getting hired. 

So, the answer is simple: build a site & make it better!

Think of this as your very own billboard – the better it looks, the more the chances of you getting hired. 

So, the answer is simple – build a site & make it better!

Think of this as your very own billboard – the better it looks, the more the chances of you getting hired. So yeah, the answer is simple – build a site & make it better!

Think of this as your very own billboard. The better it looks, the more the chances of you getting hired. So yeah, the answer is simple – build a site & make it better!

Creating a website is both easy & cheap. Put effort into it and make the site look as professional as possible. After that, fill it up with your finest work, top-rated articles and, most importantly, an effective portfolio detailing all that is you & what you do. You can also add a few good testimonials and some glowing writer certifications if you got them.

It’s important to be regular with the site updates, as clients will take notice of that. Show your creative side as best as you can.

2) Set the prices conservatively

While you might know how good your SEO writing is & want the right price for your talent, being on the lookout for any freelance writing gigs, it’s never a good idea to quote a high (or even equal to pros) price as this can adversely affect your chances big time.

As you gain more credibility and clients, bigger paychecks WILL come – that’s a promise. In the meantime, try to offer freelance article writing skills at conservative prices, preferably lower than what the pros charges – not by much, even a few $$$ difference will do. Naturally, this will lead to you landing more jobs. Over time, as you gain more credibility and your writing skills improve, you can quote higher prices and land these jobs.

Wondering how to set your rates and adjust it? Start by thinking like a marketer. Don’t discount your base price; instead, raise it for a bit and discount that so you are not exactly losing income. Sure, this might be a sneaky move, but it works!

3) Say yes to all jobs (Only for a while)

While it’s true that taking up every job that comes your way is a recipe for disaster for a freelancer, however, this strategy could be a blessing. After all, the more jobs you take, the more chances you’ll get to build credibility, right?

Even as a freelancer, taking jobs outside your comfort zone is crucial since that’s where the actual money is. Besides, it can also serve as a chance to test your own mettle. While you should aim for significant results, it’s okay to consider these as “practice” jobs while preparing for the bigger fishes. Freelance web sites like freelancer.com are a great place to find such jobs.

It’s not without its risks, mind you. If push comes to shove, you may need to bow out of a few jobs, and that’s ok; it happens. Don’t forget; you won’t know what you’re capable of unless you will push the envelope.

4) Submit your tasks on time, every time!

Being a freelance blogger, nothing can eviscerate your credibility faster than a missed deadline. Missing the submission date can easily make you look unprofessional & untrustworthy. Indeed, it’s one of the fastest ways to lose good clients.

Therefore, always – and we mean always! – strive to submit your work on time, or if possible, earlier than the deadline (extra points for this one).

Also, make sure you are not sacrificing speed for quality because that just won’t do. Always be sure to proofread your work, keep it original (plagiarism is not allowed, even if you’re rehashing your own earlier works), well-readable, and of course, try & keep it valuable to the readers.

Keep the editors happy and try to earn their respect (which breeds credibility) as they can recommend you for more gigs using their connections and referrals. To keep your writing quality higher, indulge in top writing tools like Grammarly, WhiteSmoke, etc., be it for any niche writing. 

5) Stay updated (This is important!)

People only want the latest information, and by providing them at the right time, Freelancers can observe a massive jump in their credibility.

To ensure this happens, it’s crucial you – the freelance SEO writer – keep up to date with all the latest market trends.

This can not only help you write vastly better contents but will also reveal to you where to find more good work, what to write about, and how much you can realistically charge for the same.

Also, keep yourself engaged, both in social media and your own writing circles. Comment on blogs & Twitter/FB posts, and share good articles.

The more engaged you are in the industry, the better your chances of landing good gigs.

How to Establish Credibility in Writing: Conclusion

Building credibility as a freelance writer… now it’s all up to you!

Even with these strategies helping, building solid credibility as a freelancer can still take a big time and effort. So yeah, don’t be discouraged if things are not going exactly your way because eventually, it will – we promise!

In the meantime, keep on writing and writing. The more you write, the better writer you’ll become, and the more opportunities will open before you. Consistency is key, so is quality. Keep yourself ready and become an expert in your niche as it will get you to where you want to go, like getting more high-profile assignments, better pay… all that good stuff.

Be determined, keep working, and stay focused. Even though you’re a freelancer now, you won’t be the same for much longer. Look forward to that…