Many business professionals dream of having an opportunity to work from home, whether it's to gain more flexibility or to be more environmentally friendly by eliminating a long commute. Many people don't realize that they may already have skills that could be put to use to build a successful career from home, or they may not know how to go about getting started.



One of the best ways for business professionals to create a successful home-based career is by putting their skills to use as a freelance marketing or technical writer. Technical and marketing writing are two specialized niches within the writing industry, and being a specialist can allow you to command higher rates. Even if writing isn't a core activity at your current job, you may have natural writing talents, or you may have learned solid writing skills in college. You can freshen up or even start from scratch by taking a writing course at your local community college or online. While it's necessary to be a good writer, your technical savvy or marketing experience will prove invaluable as you continue to sharpen your writing abilities.

What kind of background and qualifications do I need to get started as a marketing or technical writer? A marketing writer typically has a background working in advertising, marketing or business. Marketing writers should be persuasive, witty, and creative. They are frequently called upon to come up with compelling copy that will drive sales. Being a marketing writer can be great fun, but also very high-pressure at times. For marketing writing success, you'll need to get familiar with approaches like Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and other internet-based paradigms. Technical writers usually come from backgrounds in science, computers, information technology, and engineering. A technical writer must be able to write in a clear, concise, and easy-to-understand manner for guides meant for end-users, and be versatile enough to write in highly specialized language for scientists or engineers. A career in technical writing often emerges from a desire to tap into one's creative abilities, after years spent working in the scientific and technical end of an industry.

What kind of capital will I need to have to get started as a freelance writer? You should have a computer with a good word processing program, a reliable internet connection, and a printer. A phone is also an essential business tool, and a fax machine could come in handy. Since you're planning to work from home, you'll be more productive if you have a dedicated work space that will have little interruptions while you try to work.

Do I have to be incorporated to be a freelance writer? You'll want to consider setting up a formal business structure. As a writer, you may have some legal concerns to worry about, such as liability or copyright. Having your business set up as a formal entity could shield your personal assets from legal liability. Consult an attorney or a tax accountant for advice on which legal structure would make the most sense for your career. As an alternative, you could consider working with a Portable Employer of Record organization, which would simplify your tax filing process and your record keeping requirements. This is an attractive option for many freelancers, because with some organizations you may have access to group benefits, such as health insurance.

What kind of work is available for freelance writers? Writing opportunities are abundant for talented writers, particularly with the growth of the internet. Nearly every brick-and-mortar business has or should have an internet presence, and thousands more businesses are solely internet-based. All of these businesses require content, written by talented, marketing-savvy writers. Blogging is rapidly becoming a lucrative writing field for marketing writers, because maintaining a quality blog takes a significant investment of time that many business owners don't have. Marketing writers also frequently write advertising copy, product descriptions, and articles. The demand for technical writers is also increasing. With the vast amount of software now available for consumers, the demand is high for skilled writers who can translate technical information into easy-to-understand format. Technical writers typically write instructional guides, user manuals, and technology product descriptions.

How will I find clients? Marketing one's own services is often the hardest step for most freelancers who don't have a sales background. Fortunately, there are many ways to get clients that don't require cold-calling. One of the best ways to land your first few clients is by bidding on projects at online freelance marketplaces, such as Elance, Guru, or Hotgigs. Get yourself set up with a professionally designed website and logo, and then take advantage of the online social networking landscape to network with other professionals and potential clients. You could also start a blog, hosted on one of several free blogging platforms, such as Blogger or Wordpress, to showcase your knowledge and expertise. For marketing writers, this is a great way to land blogging gigs. No matter what kind of writing you do, you will want to have some kind of professional looking online portfolio demonstrating the range of your capabilities.

Many people dream of a career in writing, but often don't look past the fantasy of being a best-selling fiction author. It's possible to build a lucrative career that you can conduct from the comfort of your own home, while utilizing the skills and talents that you've built working in your former career. Freelance writing, whether in the technical or marketing specialty, is a great option for an encore career, or for a parent who wants more flexibility while raising young children. Tap into your talents to see if you can succeed as a freelance writer.