Top 12 Freelance Writer Skills to Put on Your Resume
Crafting an enticing resume as a freelance writer demands more than just showcasing your writing prowess; it necessitates the integration of specific skills that highlight your versatility, creativity, and ability to meet diverse client needs. This article delves into the top 12 skills that can elevate your resume, setting you apart in the competitive freelance writing landscape.
Freelance Writer Skills
- SEO Optimization
- WordPress
- Copywriting
- Proofreading
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Google Analytics
- Social Media Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Adobe InDesign
- HTML/CSS Basics
- Research Proficiency
- AP Style
1. SEO Optimization
SEO optimization for a freelance writer involves enhancing written content with relevant keywords, quality structure, and engaging material to improve its visibility and ranking on search engines, thereby attracting more readers and potential clients.
Why It's Important
SEO optimization is crucial for freelance writers because it helps increase the visibility and ranking of their content in search engine results, attracting more potential clients and opportunities by demonstrating their expertise and relevance in specific topics or industries.
How to Improve SEO Optimization Skills
To improve SEO optimization as a freelance writer, focus on these key strategies:
Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords using tools like Google Keyword Planner and incorporate them naturally into your content.
Quality Content: Produce high-quality, original content that addresses the needs of your audience. Use Grammarly to ensure error-free writing.
On-Page SEO: Optimize title tags, meta descriptions, and headers. Tools like Yoast SEO can guide you through this process.
Mobile Optimization: Ensure your content is accessible and looks good on mobile devices, using Google's Mobile-Friendly Test.
Backlinks: Build backlinks by guest posting on reputable sites within your niche. Use Moz's Link Explorer to analyze your link profile.
Social Media Engagement: Share your content on social media platforms to drive traffic and engagement. Platforms like Hootsuite can help manage your social media profiles.
Use Analytics: Monitor your site's performance with Google Analytics to understand your audience better and refine your strategy.
By implementing these strategies, you can improve your SEO optimization and increase your visibility online.
How to Display SEO Optimization Skills on Your Resume
2. WordPress
WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) used by freelance writers to create, publish, and manage their websites and blogs, offering a user-friendly platform for writing, editing, and organizing content without needing advanced technical skills.
Why It's Important
WordPress is important for a freelance writer because it provides an easy-to-use platform for publishing content, showcasing portfolios, and reaching a wider audience, thus enhancing visibility and opportunities.
How to Improve WordPress Skills
To enhance WordPress for freelance writers, focus on the following:
Content Creation and Editing: Use the Gutenberg editor for a more intuitive layout and design experience. It allows for easy block-based content creation.
SEO Optimization: Implement Yoast SEO to optimize your content for search engines, improving visibility and traffic.
Backup and Security: Secure your content with plugins like UpdraftPlus for backups and Wordfence for security, protecting against data loss and breaches.
Performance Enhancement: Use WP Rocket to speed up your website, enhancing user experience and SEO rankings.
Image Optimization: Optimize images with Smush to improve page load times without sacrificing quality.
Social Media Integration: Incorporate social media sharing buttons via Jetpack to increase online presence and audience engagement.
Focusing on these areas will significantly improve your WordPress site, making it more efficient, secure, and user-friendly for a freelance writer.
How to Display WordPress Skills on Your Resume
3. Copywriting
Copywriting is the process of writing persuasive marketing and promotional materials that motivate people to take some form of action, such as making a purchase, clicking on a link, or engaging with a product, service, or brand. For a freelance writer, it involves creating compelling content for clients across various formats like websites, emails, advertisements, and social media posts to achieve specific business objectives.
Why It's Important
Copywriting is crucial for a freelance writer as it enables them to craft persuasive, compelling content that drives action, whether it's to sell products, engage audiences, or build brand awareness, thus enhancing their value and marketability to clients.
How to Improve Copywriting Skills
Improving your copywriting skills as a freelance writer involves practicing consistently, understanding your audience, studying effective copy from various brands, and receiving feedback on your work. Here are concise steps with resources to help you enhance your copywriting abilities:
Understand Your Audience: Know who you are writing for to tailor your content accordingly. Make My Persona by HubSpot can help you create detailed audience personas.
Study Copywriting Formulas: Familiarize yourself with proven copywriting formulas that can help structure your copy for maximum impact. Copyblogger offers resources and guides on various copywriting techniques.
Practice Writing Daily: Consistent writing helps improve your skills. Use prompts from sites like Daily Page to practice regularly.
Learn from the Best: Analyze and learn from successful copywriting examples. Websites like Swiped.co feature a collection of effective copywriting samples from various industries.
Seek Feedback: Join communities where you can receive constructive feedback on your work. Copy Chief is a community where copywriters share their work and get feedback.
Keep Learning: Stay updated with the latest trends and techniques in copywriting by taking courses from platforms like Udemy or Skillshare.
Test Your Copy: Use A/B testing to see what works best with your audience. Tools like Google Optimize can help you run these tests easily.
SEO Knowledge: Understanding SEO can enhance your copywriting by making it more discoverable online. Moz's Beginner's Guide to SEO is a great starting point.
Use Tools for Improvement: Utilize tools like Grammarly for grammar checks and Hemingway App for readability improvements.
By diligently applying these steps and making use of the resources provided, you can significantly improve your copywriting skills as a freelance writer.
How to Display Copywriting Skills on Your Resume
4. Proofreading
Proofreading, for a freelance writer, involves carefully reviewing a text to correct any errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting before its final submission or publication.
Why It's Important
Proofreading is crucial for a freelance writer as it ensures accuracy, enhances readability, and maintains professionalism, thereby building credibility and satisfying client expectations.
How to Improve Proofreading Skills
Improving proofreading skills is essential for a freelance writer to ensure error-free and high-quality submissions. Here are concise steps and resources to enhance your proofreading abilities:
Take Breaks: Allow some time between writing and proofreading to approach your work with fresh eyes. This makes it easier to catch errors.
Read Aloud: Reading your text aloud helps in identifying awkward phrasing, grammatical errors, and punctuation issues more effectively.
Use Tools: Leverage proofreading tools like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor for an initial check on grammar, spelling, and readability.
Check Formats and Consistency: Ensure consistency in formatting, styles, and voices throughout your text. Guides like the Purdue OWL can be invaluable for referencing.
Focus on Common Mistakes: Keep a checklist of your common errors and pay extra attention to these areas.
Practice Regularly: The more you proofread, the better you become. Engage in daily writing and proofreading exercises to sharpen your skills.
Professional Development: Consider taking a course or reading up on proofreading techniques. Websites like Coursera and edX offer relevant courses.
Peer Reviews: Exchange proofreading tasks with fellow writers or join writing groups. Fresh eyes can catch mistakes you might overlook.
By following these steps and utilizing the suggested resources, freelance writers can significantly enhance their proofreading capabilities, leading to higher quality work and client satisfaction.
How to Display Proofreading Skills on Your Resume
5. Content Management Systems (CMS)
A Content Management System (CMS) is a software platform that allows freelance writers and other users to create, edit, publish, and manage digital content easily without needing specialized technical knowledge. It streamlines web content creation and modification, enabling efficient management of blogs, articles, and web pages.
Why It's Important
Content Management Systems (CMS) are crucial for freelance writers because they simplify the publication and management of content online, enabling writers to focus on creating high-quality content without needing technical web development skills. This efficiency enhances productivity, content organization, and allows for easy updates and revisions.
How to Improve Content Management Systems (CMS) Skills
Improving Content Management Systems (CMS) for a Freelance Writer involves enhancing usability, functionality, and content optimization. Here are concise strategies:
Intuitive Dashboard: Opt for or customize a CMS with an intuitive, user-friendly dashboard to streamline content creation and management. WordPress is renowned for its ease of use.
SEO Tools Integration: Utilize plugins or built-in tools for SEO to ensure content is optimized for search engines. Tools like Yoast SEO for WordPress can significantly aid in this.
Responsive Design: Ensure the CMS supports responsive design for content to display optimally across devices. This is critical for audience engagement and SEO. Drupal offers themes that are highly responsive.
Content Scheduling: Use or implement features for scheduling posts and content updates to maintain a consistent publishing calendar. Joomla provides easy scheduling options.
Social Media Integration: Integrate social media directly within the CMS to streamline sharing and broaden content reach. Plugins or extensions, like Social Media Share Buttons for WordPress, facilitate this.
Security Features: Prioritize CMS platforms with robust security features or enhance security with plugins to protect your content and data. Sucuri offers comprehensive security solutions for various CMS platforms.
Customizable Permalinks: Ensure the CMS allows for the customization of URLs for better SEO and user-friendliness. WordPress, for instance, provides easy permalink settings adjustments.
Analytics and Reporting: Implement analytics to track and analyze your website's performance directly from the CMS dashboard. Google Analytics offers a WordPress plugin for easy integration.
Efficient Media Management: Choose a CMS that offers efficient management of images, videos, and other media types, facilitating quick insertion and optimization of media in content. Squarespace is notable for superior media management.
Regular Updates and Support: Opt for a CMS that is regularly updated and has a strong community or professional support. This ensures longevity and reliability. WordPress and Drupal communities are examples of robust support ecosystems.
By focusing on these aspects, a freelance writer can significantly improve their CMS experience, leading to more efficient and effective content management and creation.
How to Display Content Management Systems (CMS) Skills on Your Resume
6. Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free tool that tracks and reports website traffic, providing insights into visitor behavior, which helps freelance writers understand their audience and improve content strategy.
Why It's Important
Google Analytics is important for a Freelance Writer because it provides insights into audience behavior and content performance, helping to tailor writing topics, improve engagement, and increase website traffic effectively.
How to Improve Google Analytics Skills
To improve Google Analytics for a Freelance Writer, consider the following concise strategies:
Set Clear Goals: Define specific objectives for your content and use Google Analytics Goals to track conversions, such as newsletter sign-ups or eBook downloads.
Custom Dashboards: Create custom dashboards tailored to your needs for a quick overview of your content's performance.
Enhanced Ecommerce Tracking: Use Enhanced Ecommerce for insights on how your content drives product sales, if applicable.
Content Grouping: Organize your articles or posts into content groups to analyze the performance of different categories or themes.
Event Tracking: Implement Event Tracking to measure interactions such as link clicks, especially for tracking external links.
Integrate with Google Search Console: Link Google Analytics with Google Search Console to gain insights into search queries leading to your site, helping tailor your content strategy to what people are searching for.
Audience Segmentation: Use Audience Segments to understand different user behaviors and tailor your content accordingly.
Custom Alerts: Set up custom alerts for significant changes in traffic or behavior, so you can react promptly.
By focusing on these areas, a Freelance Writer can refine their content strategy, understand their audience better, and ultimately, enhance their site's performance in engaging and retaining readers.
How to Display Google Analytics Skills on Your Resume
7. Social Media Marketing
Social Media Marketing for a freelance writer involves leveraging platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram to promote their writing services, engage with potential clients, and showcase their portfolio to a wider audience.
Why It's Important
Social media marketing is crucial for a freelance writer as it helps to build brand awareness, engage with potential clients, and showcase writing skills and portfolio to a broader audience, thereby increasing opportunities for client acquisition and revenue growth.
How to Improve Social Media Marketing Skills
Improving Social Media Marketing as a Freelance Writer involves creating engaging content, leveraging different platforms strategically, and continuously interacting with your audience. Here's a concise guide:
Understand Your Audience: Research and identify your target audience's preferences and needs. This knowledge enables you to create content that resonates with them.
Content is King: Focus on producing high-quality, valuable content related to your niche. Incorporate storytelling to make your posts more engaging. Buffer's guide on content strategy is a great resource.
Leverage Multiple Platforms: Don't limit yourself to one platform. Use platforms like LinkedIn for professional connections, Instagram for visually appealing content, and Twitter for quick updates and engagements. Hootsuite's platform guide can help decide which platforms to focus on.
Use Visuals and Videos: Incorporate relevant images, infographics, and videos to make your content more eye-catching and shareable. Canva offers easy-to-use tools for creating visuals, even for non-designers. Explore Canva for design inspiration.
Engagement is Key: Regularly interact with your audience by responding to comments, messages, and engaging with their content. This builds a community around your brand.
Analyze and Adapt: Utilize analytics tools provided by social media platforms to track your performance. Analyze the data to understand what works and refine your strategy accordingly. Google Analytics can also provide insights into how social media drives traffic to your website.
Consistency: Maintain a regular posting schedule. Use scheduling tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to plan your content calendar and ensure consistent engagement with your audience.
SEO for Social Media: Optimize your content with relevant keywords to improve visibility on social media searches. Moz's Beginner's Guide to SEO offers foundational knowledge on how SEO works.
By implementing these strategies, you can significantly improve your social media marketing efforts, increase your online presence, and engage more effectively with your audience.
How to Display Social Media Marketing Skills on Your Resume
8. Email Marketing
Email marketing is a strategy used by businesses, including freelance writers, to communicate with their audience directly through electronic mail to promote services, share content, or build relationships.
Why It's Important
Email marketing is crucial for a freelance writer because it allows direct, personalized communication with their audience, helping to build relationships, enhance brand loyalty, and drive traffic and sales by promoting services, sharing valuable content, and engaging subscribers consistently.
How to Improve Email Marketing Skills
To improve email marketing as a Freelance Writer, focus on these concise strategies:
Segment Your Audience: Tailor your emails to different segments of your audience for more personalized communication. HubSpot offers insights on how to effectively segment your list.
Craft Compelling Subject Lines: Your subject line is your first impression. Make it count to improve open rates. Mailchimp provides tips on crafting effective subject lines.
Use a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Each email should have a clear goal, whether it's visiting your website, booking a consultation, or reading your latest piece. Campaign Monitor has guidelines on designing effective CTAs.
Optimize for Mobile: Ensure your emails are mobile-friendly, as a significant portion of users check their email on mobile devices. Litmus offers a comprehensive guide on mobile email optimization.
Test and Analyze: Use A/B testing for different elements of your emails (like subject lines or CTAs) and analyze results to understand what works best. OptinMonster provides a beginner's guide to A/B testing in email campaigns.
Provide Value: Always ensure your content is valuable and relevant to your audience. Share insights, tips, and useful content that positions you as a thought leader. Content Marketing Institute discusses strategies for content that provides value.
Implementing these strategies can significantly improve the effectiveness of your email marketing efforts as a freelance writer.
How to Display Email Marketing Skills on Your Resume
9. Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is a desktop publishing and typesetting software used by designers and freelancers for creating and formatting documents such as flyers, magazines, brochures, and books, offering advanced layout, typography, and graphics manipulation capabilities.
Why It's Important
Adobe InDesign is crucial for a freelance writer because it offers professional-grade tools for creating and publishing complex documents, such as books, magazines, and brochures, with sophisticated layout, typography, and graphics. This enhances the presentation and readability of their written content, making it more appealing to clients and readers.
How to Improve Adobe InDesign Skills
To improve your Adobe InDesign skills as a freelance writer, focus on these concise steps:
Learn the Basics: Start with Adobe's official tutorials to grasp the fundamentals of InDesign.
Use Templates: Expedite your workflow by using free and premium templates tailored to various projects.
Master Text Formatting: Enhance readability and design by mastering text formatting features. InDesignSecrets offers invaluable tips and tricks.
Incorporate External Links Effectively: Understand how to add hyperlinks to your documents for interactive PDFs or online publications.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Learn and use keyboard shortcuts to improve efficiency.
Join Communities: Engage with the InDesign community on platforms like Reddit’s r/indesign for advice, critiques, and inspiration.
Practice Regularly: Like any tool, proficiency comes with practice. Regularly challenge yourself with new projects.
By focusing on these areas, you'll enhance your InDesign skills, making your work as a freelance writer more professional and efficient.
How to Display Adobe InDesign Skills on Your Resume
10. HTML/CSS Basics
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language for creating and designing web pages. It uses tags to structure content, such as text, images, and links on a webpage. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a stylesheet language used to describe the presentation of a document written in HTML. CSS defines how elements should be displayed, including layout, colors, and fonts. Together, HTML provides the basic structure of web pages, while CSS specifies their visual layout and style, essential for creating visually appealing and functional websites. For a freelance writer, understanding HTML/CSS basics can enhance the ability to create content that is both engaging and properly formatted for the web.
Why It's Important
For a Freelance Writer, understanding HTML/CSS basics is crucial because it enables them to format and present their content attractively across websites, ensuring it is accessible and engaging to a broad audience. This knowledge also enhances their marketability and capability to manage content directly on web platforms.
How to Improve HTML/CSS Basics Skills
Improving your HTML/CSS skills as a freelance writer will enhance your ability to create more engaging and visually appealing content. Here's a concise guide:
Practice Regularly: The more you code, the better you get. Set aside time each week to practice HTML/CSS. Codecademy and freeCodeCamp are great places to start with interactive lessons.
Learn by Doing: Take on small projects like creating your own blog or website. This practical application of your skills reinforces what you've learned. Websites like GitHub allow you to host your projects for free, providing a platform to experiment and showcase your work.
Utilize Online Resources: There are countless tutorials and documentation available online. W3Schools offers comprehensive tutorials on HTML/CSS. Similarly, MDN Web Docs is a reputable source for learning and reference.
Join Communities: Engage with online communities on platforms like Stack Overflow or Reddit. These communities can provide support, feedback, and inspiration.
Stay Updated: Web standards and technologies evolve. Follow blogs, forums, and news sites to stay informed about the latest trends and updates in web development. CSS-Tricks is a fantastic resource for learning and keeping up with CSS.
By following these steps and consistently dedicating time to learn and practice, you’ll find your HTML/CSS skills improving, making you a more versatile and marketable freelance writer.
How to Display HTML/CSS Basics Skills on Your Resume
11. Research Proficiency
Research proficiency for a freelance writer refers to the ability to efficiently locate, evaluate, and accurately incorporate relevant information and data from various sources into their writing to enhance the quality and credibility of their work.
Why It's Important
Research proficiency is crucial for freelance writers as it ensures accuracy, enhances credibility, and enables the creation of well-informed, engaging content tailored to specific audiences, thereby increasing the value and impact of their work.
How to Improve Research Proficiency Skills
Improving research proficiency for a freelance writer involves honing skills to gather, interpret, and use information effectively. Here are concise steps with relevant resources:
Understand the Basics: Familiarize yourself with basic research methodologies and tools. The Purdue OWL offers comprehensive guidance on research and citation.
Advanced Search Techniques: Learn to use advanced search operators on Google. Google's Advanced Search page allows for more precise queries.
Use Scholarly Databases: Access scholarly articles through databases like Google Scholar for credible sources.
Evaluate Sources: Develop the ability to critically evaluate the credibility and relevance of your sources. The Cornell University Library provides criteria for critically analyzing information sources.
Organize Information: Use tools like Zotero or Evernote to keep your research organized and easily accessible.
Practice Writing and Summarizing: Enhance your ability to summarize research findings clearly and concisely. Resources like Hemingway Editor can help improve your writing's clarity.
Stay Updated: Regularly read journals, articles, and books in your field. Platforms like Medium offer a range of articles on current topics and research practices.
By systematically applying these strategies, you can enhance your research proficiency, ensuring the production of well-informed, credible, and engaging content as a freelance writer.
How to Display Research Proficiency Skills on Your Resume
12. AP Style
AP Style, or Associated Press Style, is a standardized writing guideline used primarily in journalism and news writing. It covers grammar, punctuation, and principles for clear and consistent writing. For a freelance writer, adhering to AP Style ensures their work meets the standards expected by most news organizations, magazines, and public relations firms.
Why It's Important
AP Style is important for a Freelance Writer because it ensures consistency, professionalism, and clarity in writing, making their work credible and accessible to a wide audience, particularly in news and media-related content.
How to Improve AP Style Skills
To improve your AP Style as a freelance writer, focus on these concise tips:
Familiarize with the AP Stylebook: The primary source for AP style rules. Regularly consult it to stay updated (AP Stylebook).
Practice Consistency: Apply AP Style rules uniformly across all your writing to maintain professionalism and readability.
Stay Updated: AP Style updates annually. Follow their official site or AP Style Blog for the latest changes and clarifications.
Use Online Resources: Websites like Grammarly can help catch common AP Style mistakes in your writing.
Read AP-Sourced Content: Regularly read news articles from AP-affiliated outlets to see practical applications of the style (The Associated Press News).
Practice and Feedback: Write daily, using AP Style, and seek feedback from peers or use online forums like Reddit's r/writing for critiques.
By consistently applying these strategies, your proficiency in AP Style will improve, enhancing your versatility and marketability as a freelance writer.
How to Display AP Style Skills on Your Resume
