Finance is a taboo topic, but it’s one of the most important decisions that people make. Now is a great time to become a finance writer because there’s an increased interest in money. The financial crash and the recent recession began a new era of money. Here are some ways to break into the finance writing world, according to Saleh Stevens.
Write About Any Subject
Maybe you’re someone who’s interested in personal finance. Or maybe you’re interested in writing about stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrency. Whichever subject you choose, you should be flexible enough that you can write on a wide variety of topics. By expanding your niche, you can expand your portfolio and network as you learn about what it takes to be a freelance writer.
You may not even start out writing about financial topics. For your first year of freelancing, you might find yourself writing about everything from health and relationships to food and travel. You can niche down once you become successful. Even if your focus eventually leads into finance, you may want to write the occasional home improvement or beauty post to mix it up.
Start a Blog
Having a blog can eventually make you an expert on a certain subject. You can start a blog that documents your journey of getting out of debt. Or, you could start a blog on couponing and saving money. There are some financial bloggers who document about their ways of earning more money and starting side hustles.
Your blog can become a great asset to your portfolio and resume. If you enjoy writing, then it’ll be easy to do in your free time. There are several free blogging platforms where you can get started in a few minutes. Or, you can build your own website if you prefer.
Reach Out to Other Bloggers
Get your name out there by reaching out to other bloggers in your field. Send an introductory e-mail talking about yourself and your work along with a few pitches for a guest post. Getting into this habit on a regular basis helps you quickly grow your blog audience. Guest blogging has several advantages, including attracting new readers to your blog and the wine you’re writing for, fine-tuning your finance writing skills, and networking with other bloggers in the industry.
Search Job Postings Daily
Even if you’re busy with freelance work, you always want to be on the lookout for new and potential opportunities. You should search job postings on a regular basis. You can also use freelancing groups, job search engines, and freelancing websites. Becoming a finance writer means that your work is often inconsistent and unstable. It’s important to always be on the lookout for new work and to market yourself as a writer.
Contact Finance Websites
Do you have a favorite financial website that you read? Reach out to the editor and find out if they’re looking for new writers. Don’t forget to reference your blog, experience, pitch ideas, qualifications, and a given time frame that you can complete the articles. You can also find out if they’re looking for guest bloggers instead of paid writers. Sometimes guest blogging can lead to a paid writing gig.
You need to possess the following three qualities to experience any form of success. You need to consistently produce good work, the desire to move forward even after being rejected, and an unrelenting passion for the subject. If you have all of these qualities, then you’ll find success as a finance writer.
Don’t Get Intimidated
Becoming a finance writer doesn’t mean that you need to become a certified account or financial planner to write about finance topics. Most complex topics from a layperson’s point of view can be appealing to most readers. You should have the ability to explain complex financial topics to people who aren’t familiar with the technical jargon. But it doesn’t hurt to learn about common financial terms such as coinsurance, copayment, interest, and mortgage principal before breaking them down to your readers.
Eliminate the Jargon
Once you learn the jargon, it’s time to remove it from your writing. Filling your writing with complex financial terms can cause your readers to tune out. Sometimes you’re required to limit your writing to a certain reading level so it’s easy to understand. This involves writing at an eighth-grade reading level. Follow these three easy tips: Keep your writing clear, short, and simple.
The method that you use to break into finance writing will be different from someone else’s and that’s fine. There’s no need to compare yourself to others. Everyone’s different and everyone works differently. This guide from Saleh Stevens should inspire you to embark on your own finance writing journey.
