Freelancer Growth in Serbia: A Content Writer’s Improvement Strategy
LinkedIn remains one of the primary ways of finding valuable connections, keeping up with industry changes, and communicating with people in your niche.
Highlights
Balancing AI with Human Skills: While AI tools can assist, human intuition and precision are essential in content writing.
Effective Job Applications: Discover strategies like cold-pitching and networking.
Importance of Skills and Portfolios: Learn about building a strong portfolio, keeping skills updated, and using courses to stay competitive.
AI's arrival and swift expansion had content writers shaking in their boots—but not for long. Quickly, we realized that robots, as advanced as they are, lack the human factor and depth that quality content requires. Today, we can spot AI-written content easily, and many experts claim that it simply doesn’t rank as well as well-researched human-written content.
But is accurate, natural content all it takes to stay ahead in content writing? While we can’t entirely rely on AI to do our work for us, it doesn’t mean it can’t or shouldn’t be implemented. A part of improving your portfolio is keeping up with innovations and taking full advantage of them while constantly evolving and acquiring new skills. In this article, we’ll review the critical elements of a content writer’s improvement strategy.
Finding Opportunities in the Content Production Field
The painful truth about applying for jobs or projects in 2024 is that many applications are discarded before someone can review them. Many companies choose AI and automated systems to sift through applications; as expected, these systems aren’t always accurate or fair.
Compared to old-school applications, cold-pitching seems to be a more effective strategy. The roles are often filled internally, and ads are only posted for research purposes. With cold-pitching, you show interest in a company, as well as drive and motivation to take matters into your own hands.
Another important factor is networking. The majority of decent jobs I landed over the last decade came from referrals, as clients are naturally more inclined to hire writers who have good recommendations. Work ethics, ability to meet deadlines, and communication skills, in addition to quality content, also play a vital role in this process. When you have someone to vouch for your excellence, everything else falls into place much more quickly.
Many people hate it with a passion, but LinkedIn remains one of the primary ways of finding valuable connections, keeping up with industry changes, and communicating with people in your niche. It also allows you to stay in touch with past clients and co-workers who can contact you in case of an open position for which you’d be a good fit.
Good Ol’ CV or Portfolio: What’s the Verdict?
When applying or cold-pitching, is a good CV all you need? While a simple resume can be a good entry card for some positions, portfolios seem to be a more appropriate solution when it comes to content writing. Having to discard numerous applications for exciting opportunities due to a lack of a portfolio finally motivated me to create one in the form of a website. The benefits include:
Professional look—Your application will immediately stand out in a sea of CV forms and cover letters
Having essential info in one place—The website allows you to include all relevant details, including your bio, experience, and, most importantly—examples of your work that can also be hyperlinked
Transparent interface—Clients don’t have to spend too much time doing their research or deciphering your applications—everything is visible and just a click away
Form a team of freelancers who align and share a domain to present a unified brand—Another upside of a website portfolio is that you can split the expenses with your friends or fellow freelance writers—each can create a separate landing page that you can later share with prospective clients, or you can motivate them to hire you as a team
Updating and Expanding Skills
Changing how you apply for jobs and updating your online presence and networking skills is just the tip of the iceberg. The landscape of SEO, content writing, and copywriting constantly evolves, and those who fail to adapt are left behind.
Content Strategy for the Web by Kristina Halvorson and Melissa Rach is an excellent addition to your content writing arsenal. It offers vital principles for developing a comprehensive content strategy that will align with your client’s needs and business goals. In addition to strategy and planning, they also cover other key aspects of content development, including research.
On the other hand, Northwestern University's Content Strategy for Professionals Specialization course on Coursera COUR 0.00%↑ represents an excellent opportunity for content writers to learn more about audience analysis and communication strategies. This course may be an excellent improvement tool if you aim to produce relevant, compelling content.
Finally, The Complete SEO Content Writing Course For Web Promotion course on Udemy UDMY 0.00%↑ provides insights into the latest SEO practices, focusing on creating content that ranks. In addition to theory, the course offers practical tasks, allowing you to work on your skills in real time and address any weak points you encounter in your content.
Navigating Digital Innovation Challenges: Final Thoughts
As intimidating as AI innovations in writing can be, the silver lining is that most clients still favor human-written, high-quality content. Many companies strictly forbid the use of AI in writing, encouraging writers to rely on their own voices and research.
That being said, AI doesn’t have to be the enemy. To ride out “the storm,” it is necessary to embrace the change and use it to your advantage. Tools such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor will improve readability, reduce wordiness, and ensure impeccable grammar. An occasional ChatGPT prompt can shorten research time and aid with structure. However, remember that your intuition and precision can never (and shouldn’t!) be replaced with technology, and that’s your upper hand.
