He excelled in his freshman composition class, and teachers have always praised his writing skills. If he’s thinking about making the leap from writing term papers to freelance writing projects, here’s how he can start his path to making money as a freelance writer:

Gather Your Writing Samples – In the world of freelance writing, you’re only as good as your writing samples. Prepare a writing portfolio that contains short writing samples, not a 25-page term paper. Your samples should include all kinds of writing, from a story you’ve done for the school newspaper to a witty blog post and Tweets (yes, writing for social media can make you money, too). If you don’t have samples that fit what employers are looking for, starting as an intern is a great first step to a paid job.

Be corporate: Freelance writing may involve pitching to local publications or major media outlets, but it’s often business owners who need help and are most willing to hire. Don’t think that freelancing involves traditional publishing. Business owners often need help with all kinds of copy including: blog posts, social media updates, newsletters, blog posts, white papers, product descriptions, annual reports, and marketing materials.

Create a niche – When you’re just starting out, you can take any job you can get, but it’s always best to specialize in a specific area as your portfolio grows. Are you interested in writing about everything related to the environment? Look for companies that are green service providers (perhaps a local cleaning company that uses organic products) or stores that sell green products. Or maybe you’re not looking for an industry, but you’d rather write a blog post than product descriptions. Go ahead and specialize in blogging and educate yourself on SEO and blogging best practices rather than short, catchy product copy. As the saying goes, if you are a jack of all trades, you will never be the master of one.

Show off your tech skills: While writing can help pay the bills, it’s much easier to land a new freelance job when you can add tech skills to your credentials. Gain experience using blogging software like WordPress and Blogger so you’re comfortable creating posts from start to finish. If you’re interested in email marketing, get familiar with email platforms like ConstantContact and MailChimp. An employer is more likely to hire someone who can put a project together from start to finish.

Grow Your Business – As you start to grow your portfolio and niche, it’s time to grow your business by asking for recommendations and referrals. Including a client recommendation in your portfolio or cover letter can establish your credibility and instantly build trust from a clients perspective. You can also let your existing customers know that you are looking for more business and would appreciate any referrals from other business owners looking for a little extra help.

What do you think? Do you have any tips to add to this list?