I feel you.
Freelancing is hard.
It’s so hard that I almost gave up a few times.
Here’s a quick story.
A couple years ago, I remember staring at my blank Google Docs screen, completely drained after another round of low-paying gigs.
Talking to people added more to the doubt – “Am I even on the right path? Is this sustainable?”
I always imagined writers earning hundreds of thousands if not millions, and writing for the dream brands like Hubspot, DreamHost, DigitalOcean, etc.
Back then, it all seemed so far fetched.
But today, luckily, I can say it’s not as difficult as it seems. Of course, you need to upskill yourself, but it’s not an unreachable goal.
That’s why I’m writing this—because I’ve been there, and if you’re reading this, you probably have too.
The trap of low-paying gigs
Let’s get real for a second.
Many freelancers, including myself, get caught up in the idea that any gig is a good gig because, hey, bills need to be paid.
I spent years saying “yes” to everything—content mills, ghostwriting, NDA projects—just to keep things going.
In fact, my lowest paying work, EVER, was something that paid $0.0012 per word!
Thats $1.2 per 1000 words (WTF, right?). Now that I look back at my accounts, I feel terrible just wondering how I thought that could ever turn into something full-time.
And that work didn’t provide me with bylines, no notable clients, nothing to give me the credibility I needed to pitch higher-paying gigs.
That’s when I realized the cycle I was in wasn’t going to break itself.
I had to be strategic about how I was going to build my credibility.
This wasn’t just about getting work anymore—it was about getting the right work.
How guest posting changed the trajectory
Guest posting wasn’t something I had considered initially.
I mean, who wants to write for free, right?
But then I started talking to other freelancers who had broken into high-paying clients, and almost all of them had one thing in common: they used guest posting as a stepping stone.
They didn’t see it as working for free—they were investing in their future.
I still remember my first guest post.
It wasn’t glamorous.
In fact, I just hit a lucky strike where they even decided to accept the post. (I couldn’t find it online anymore, but will add it if I see the piece floating around)
Nevertheless, I went all in.
I treated it like it was my big break because, in many ways that I couldn’t see at the time, it was.
That post gave me something tangible to show to prospective clients—something with my name on it that I could point to and say, “Look, I did that.”
Once I had that, everything started to shift.
I was able to pitch better clients because I had a credible piece in my portfolio.
And the best part? That one guest post led to another.
Each time, the clients and platforms got bigger, until I finally had the portfolio I needed to land those dream clients.
So, how does this all work out?
Let’s talk about the actual process of using guest posts to build credibility.
I didn’t just wake up one day and decide to pitch some random companies.
I was methodical about it, and that made all the difference.
Here’s the process I still use today—broken down step by step:
1. Define your dream clients
The first step is identifying who you actually want to work with.
This seems obvious, but so many freelancers skip this part.
If you don’t know who your dream clients are, how will you ever land them?
For me, it was companies like DigitalOcean, DreamHost, and a few others—SaaS companies that had a reputation for valuing content.
Make a list of your top five or ten dream clients.
These are the companies you’d love to write for someday, even if it feels out of reach right now.
Keep them at the top of your list, but don’t pitch them just yet. We’re working up to that.
2. Map out your credibility ladder
Now, work backwards from your dream clients.
If you want to write for HubSpot, who do you need to write for first?
You’re not going to land a guest post with them right off the bat, so look for mid-tier companies or blogs in your niche that are easier to pitch.
They might not have the name recognition, but they’re a stepping stone.
I’ve heard freelancers call this the “credibility ladder.”
Each rung of the ladder gets you closer to your top-tier clients.
The key is to land guest posts on sites that are respected in your niche, even if they’re not household names.
Once you have those under your belt, you can use them to pitch bigger and better clients.
3. Find irresistible topic ideas
When it comes to guest posting, the topic is everything.
If you pitch a generic topic, it’s going to get ignored. But if you pitch something highly relevant and timely, you’ve got a much better chance of getting a “yes.”
Here’s how I approach it: I look for gaps in the content that’s already out there.
What’s everyone else writing about? More importantly, what’s no one writing about?
4. Craft an unignorable pitch
Your pitch needs to stand out, and the best way to do that is with a great topic.
But you also need to be concise and professional.
Don’t write a novel—just explain why your idea is valuable and why you’re the right person to write it.
Include any relevant work samples (even if they’re small), and always offer to tailor your pitch to their needs.
When I was starting out, I didn’t have a lot of work samples to show, so I would go into extra detail about the post I was pitching.
I’d include an outline and explain exactly how I’d approach the topic.
This helped editors see that I was serious and had put thought into my pitch, even if I didn’t have a ton of high-profile work to back it up.
5. Nail the work
Once you land a guest post, your job isn’t over.
In fact, this is the most important part—nailing the actual post.
You want to make sure the work you deliver is top-notch because this is going to be part of your portfolio.
Think of it as your calling card for future clients.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard from editors that the difference between good writers and great writers is in the execution.
A great writer doesn’t just deliver something that meets the brief—they go above and beyond.
This means strong communication with the editor, delivering on time (or early), and writing content that flows well, is clear, and provides value beyond the basics.
6. Leverage the brand logos on LinkedIn
Once your guest post is live, don’t just let it sit there.
Leverage the heck out of that logo.
Add it to your LinkedIn, portfolio, and website.
Mention it when you pitch other clients.
The point of guest posting is to build credibility, so make sure you’re showcasing that credibility wherever you can.
7. Repeat the process
The beauty of this system is that it’s repeatable.
Once you’ve climbed one rung on the credibility ladder, you can use that experience to pitch the next level up.
Each guest post builds on the last, helping you land bigger and better clients as you go.
Before you know it, you’ll be pitching your dream clients with confidence—and they’ll be saying yes.
Why strategic free work isn’t actually “free”
I know what some of you are thinking—working for free sounds like a terrible idea.
And you’re right—most of the time.
But here’s the thing: strategic guest posting isn’t really “free” work.
It’s an investment in your portfolio and credibility.
When you do it right, you’re not just writing for exposure—you’re writing to land better clients.
That said, I’m not an advocate for doing free work indefinitely.
You need to be strategic about it.
Only do it if the guest post is going to give you something valuable in return—whether that’s a byline, a great portfolio piece, or a connection with a potential client.
The Long Game
Freelancing is a long game, and building a reputation doesn’t happen overnight.
But if you’re stuck in a rut, working for content mills or low-paying gigs, guest posting can be the ladder that helps you climb out.
It worked for me. Maybe it will for you, too!
