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Here’s what I did to increase my freelance writing income in a year and how you can do the same.

Mar 11, 2024 12 min readFlow

Ali Luke

Freelance Writer

Are you a freelancer looking to grow your income? It can be tough to know where to start. Perhaps you’ve fallen into comfortable freelancing routines with clients you’ve been working with for months or years. 

That kind of stability is great … but it can also keep you trapped. Maybe you’ve stopped questioning your assumptions about how long writing an article will take, for instance, or you haven’t raised your rates in ages because you’re worried about losing a client.

I’m going to take you through the strategies I used to increase my freelance income from one year to the next. This isn’t a story about “how to 10x your income” or “how I went from rags to riches overnight,” … but instead, I hope, a more realistic and achievable look at how to significantly increase your own freelancing (or small business) income. 

Let’s start with the end in mind: these strategies led me to go from approximately $39,200 USD [£30,744] to approximately $70,500 USD [£55,266] in a single year. That’s a 79 percent increase. I did this around a normal, everyday life, with a spouse, kids, hobbies, and many other things I didn’t want to compromise.

Here’s what I did … and how you can do the same, whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been freelancing for years.

Step 1. Set Clear, Specific Income Goals

I’ve been freelancing for over 16 years now, and I’m embarrassed to admit that for far too many years, I didn’t have a particular income goal in mind. I was covering all my bills, and in general, I was happy to simply make the same amount I’d been making in my day job when I was in my early 20s.

Much later, I realized this is a common problem for freelancers and solopreneurs when I came across this piece by Naomi Dunford of Ittybiz. She explained:

If you can’t seem to break a certain number (and especially if that number is suspiciously close to your old day job salary), you’ve got an upper limit problem.

How to Do It

Figure out what you made last year (last calendar year or previous tax year, whatever makes sense for you). Then, set a higher goal for the coming year. Aim for something challenging but realistic: maybe a 25 percent or 50 percent increase, or even 100 percent more, if you’re going to be able to work more hours.

Let’s say you made $30,000 last year. You could aim for $45,000 this year. It’s a significant increase, but far from an impossible one.

Note: Personally, I set income goals for the calendar year, but for the purposes of this post, I’ve given my income increase here based on tax years (for me in the UK, that’s April 6, 2021–April 5, 2022, vs. April 6, 2022–April 5, 2023) as that’s how my detailed records work out.

Step 2. Know What WON’T Work for You

In my business, I could potentially make more money by subcontracting: plenty of freelancers do, and this is how Kat Boogaard achieved some incredibly impressive figures as a freelance writer, scaling her business to make over $300,000.

But for me, right now, I like the simplicity of being a one-person business. My husband works away some of the time and has much less flexibility than me: I really like being able to plan my work around just me, taking time off for our kids as needed. 

There are plenty of ways I could increase my freelance writing income … but those aren’t trade-offs I’m willing to make at this point in my life. Back before I had kids, for instance, I was happy to work on weekends; now, I avoid evening and weekend work.

How to Do It

Decide what your own “lines in the sand” are with your freelancing. Perhaps you want to keep weekends (or at least one weekend day) completely free from work. Maybe there are certain types of freelancing work you won’t take on – I know freelancers who won’t write pieces about guns, say, or tobacco. 

There are plenty of ways to make more money within the boundaries that are healthy for your business and for you as a person. 

Step 3. Break Down Your Annual Income Goal Into Smaller Chunks

Once you’ve got your income goal, you’ll need to break it down into smaller chunks so that you can figure out if you’re on track or not at any given time.

When I first started doing this, I used to split up my goal purely mathematically. If I wanted to make, say, £40,000 in a year and wanted to work 40 weeks (kids are in school for 38 weeks of the year in the UK), then that would mean earning £1,000 per week. But it soon became clear that not all weeks would be exactly the same.

Now, I tend to break down my goal by quarter, then month, then week. So, for instance, in the first quarter of 2024, I knew I’d have less freelancing work than usual, so I set a lower goal for Q1 vs Q2. 

This full-time level 4 certificate highlights the benefits of employment in the Health care industry. It comprises seven closely-connected modules which are delivered over 46 teaching weeks, which will gradually increase the student’s knowledge and skills that will be required to demonstrate when seeking employment. The course content aims to this programme is to develop collaborative Healthcare Assistants who can provide advanced person-centred care and support to people with a range of complex conditions, and have the leadership capabilities and technical skills to lead care teams in healthcare work environments.

Graduate Outcome:

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary team members, and family and whanau of a person with complex conditions to support the person’s health and wellbeing.
• Support registered health professionals by performing delegated advanced clinical tasks in a healthcare setting.
• Apply knowledge of complex health conditions and organisational processes to implement culturally appropriate person-centred care practices for a person with complex conditions in a healthcare setting.
• Communicate effectively in a culturally appropriate manner, record information in accord with organisational procedures, prepare and deliver reports, and engage in challenging conversations in a healthcare setting.
• Apply mentoring and leadership skills in a healthcare setting.

ProgrammeOutline :

The programme runs overs 46 weeks in 2 semesters of 23 weeks each. You must achieve 120 credits from 7 modules. You must successfully complete all 7 modules to graduate.

Module Descriptions

SERVICE DELIVERY AND CARE MODELS

ADVANCED CARE AND SUPPORT SKILLS 1

ADVANCED CARE AND SUPPORT SKILLS 2

CLINICAL SKILLS IN PRACTICE

COMPLEX CONDITIONS CARE

DEMENTIA CARE

MENTORING AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS

India's insurance industry holds immense potential, with 14 million people forecasted to join the middle class by 2030. Yet, it grapples with low penetration rates, standing at a mere four percent compared to the global average of seven percent. To address this disparity, there is a pressing need for increased awareness, innovative distribution channels, and enhanced customer trust in the system. According to a leading industry report, "How India Buys Insurance?" over 80 percent of policyholders, particularly those from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, prefer to research online and buy offline. Familiarity with agents is an essential requirement for this demographic. IRDAI, in a progressive step, has introduced the Point of Sales Person (PoSP) model to make it easier to sell simple insurance products and drive penetration. This model is a compelling blend of technology and a human interface that makes the insurance journey smoother and more credible for consumers.

Harnessing the power of phygital through PoSP
At the core of the PoSP model lies the empowerment of agents through comprehensive training, access to advanced technology, and attractive compensation structures. This empowerment enables agents to provide personalised guidance and support to policyholders, facilitating informed decision-making in insurance purchases. By seamlessly integrating traditional agent networks with digital tools, the PoSP model enhances distribution efficiency while preserving the human touch in sales interactions. Moreover, by equipping agents with a diverse range of insurance products and investment options, insurers can cater to varied customer needs and preferences, thereby building their confidence in the industry's inner workings. The PB Partner network is spread across 19.1k pin codes across India. All in all, Tier-II and Tier-III cities account for almost 50 percent of the incoming business.

Also read: Budget 2024: Unpacking farmer income, housing, health insurance for ASHA, anganwadi workers

Service is the future of insurance in India
The trajectory of the insurance sector is unmistakably leaning towards a service-centric approach. There's a notable shift towards crafting personalised insurance solutions that are finely tuned to cater to individuals' unique needs and lifestyles. Moreover, integrating data analytics has changed how risks are assessed in insurance. This evolution enables insurers to adopt more accurate pricing strategies, thereby optimising the balance between risk and coverage. The PoSP model is of utmost importance in this context. It gives the customers an ideal mix of all the factors one would want in their insurance experience.

Enhancing distribution through technology integration
Technological integration is pivotal in the PoSP model, enabling agents to deliver efficient and transparent insurance services. AI-driven tools, such as PB Inspect, streamline claim processes, reducing complexities and expediting settlements. Through strategic partnerships with InsurTech companies, PoSP agents leverage innovative solutions to extend insurance reach to previously underserved regions, fostering greater accessibility and inclusivity. Additionally, the PoSP model facilitates seamless online-offline integration, catering to the preferences of those who research online but prefer to buy through in-person interactions with known agents, thereby bridging the gap between digital convenience and personalised service.

While the allure of investor interest in this nascent and promising market brings substantial valuations and capital, the sector must not lose sight of the fundamental principles of good business. Balancing growth with integrity, accountability, and ethical decision-making is paramount to building a resilient ecosystem that safeguards the interests of all stakeholders and fosters innovation, knowledge dissemination, and holistic growth.

In the edtech industry, placing students at the core of the business and adopting a straightforward framework that other companies can learn from and implement is essential.

1) COMMITMENT TO TEAM EXCELLENCE  

To ensure top-notch quality, the edtech industry should maintain dedicated Quality Excellence departments for academic and operations teams. These departments diligently monitor output quality through regular training, induction, and audits. The sector should offer a comprehensive three-level Training and Certification programme (L0/L1/L2) linked to performance evaluations, ensuring team members stay updated with the latest knowledge and skills, paving the way for their career advancement within their respective organisations.

2) PERVADING COST CONSCIOUSNESS 

Embedded in the ethos of the edtech industry is a strong sense of cost consciousness. The industry should provide free access to educational content via platforms like YouTube, making it accessible to all. Paid courses should also be priced at affordable rates. Additionally, a dedicated Cost Excellence vertical should optimise every rupee spent by monitoring market rates, renegotiating contracts, and maintaining a frugal approach to expenses. From ride-pooling, room sharing, and tracking marketing spending to embracing a work-from-home/ bring-your-own-device culture, cost consciousness needs to permeate every aspect of operations within the industry.

Also Read: Is this the end of edtech as we know it?

3) AN IMPROVED ORGANISATIONAL SET-UP 

In the edtech industry, an alternative approach to building teams must be implemented, empowering a large number of capable freshers and being led by lean top-level management. Rigorous hiring processes ensure the best fit, and recruits undergo extensive training to meet the organisation's expectations. This approach will enable the swift execution of plans and ensure that recognition and compensation are based on individual contributions rather than hierarchical positions. Promising team members are identified and offered growth opportunities, fostering motivation and performance.

4) ENSURING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY 

The edtech industry must adopt a centralised decentralisation approach for backend operations across multiple categories to maintain quality and control. Avoid hiring new personnel for the same function in each new category, as it aligns differently from their way of working, ensures standardised processes, and enables scaling without bloating teams. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) work across categories, serving as repositories of best practices that are shared with new team members as needed. This agile approach allows the industry to efficiently onboard new categories while optimising resources.

5) TRANSPARENCY AND RESPONSIBILITY

In the industry, best practices are upheld through regular check-ins, meetings, and engagements with shareholders. They will keep well-informed about crucial financials, performance indicators, and essential metrics that demonstrate the link between protocol and performance. The commitment to transparent communication fosters confidence among shareholders, assuring them that their capital is being utilised responsibly.

6) EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (D&I)

Incorporating diversity and inclusion practices will be vital to the industry's success. It will bring fresh perspectives that align with India's diverse population, making outreach and programmes more relevant to students across geographies and social strata. This approach will enrich the talent pipeline and create a more inclusive and effective education ecosystem.