Skip to main content

Site navigation

  • University of Technology Sydney home
  • Home

    Home
  • For students

  • For industry

  • Research

Explore

  • Courses
  • Events
  • News
  • Stories
  • People

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Study at UTS

    • arrow_right_alt Find a course
    • arrow_right_alt Course areas
    • arrow_right_alt Undergraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Postgraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Research Masters and PhD
    • arrow_right_alt Online study and short courses
  • Student information

    • arrow_right_alt Current students
    • arrow_right_alt New UTS students
    • arrow_right_alt Graduates (Alumni)
    • arrow_right_alt High school students
    • arrow_right_alt Indigenous students
    • arrow_right_alt International students
  • Admissions

    • arrow_right_alt How to apply
    • arrow_right_alt Entry pathways
    • arrow_right_alt Eligibility
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for students

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Apply for a coursearrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Scholarshipsarrow_right_alt
  • Featured industries

    • arrow_right_alt Agriculture and food
    • arrow_right_alt Defence and space
    • arrow_right_alt Energy and transport
    • arrow_right_alt Government and policy
    • arrow_right_alt Health and medical
    • arrow_right_alt Corporate training
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Tech Central
    • arrow_right_alt Case studies
    • arrow_right_alt Research
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for industry

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Partner with usarrow_right_alt
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Explore our research
    • arrow_right_alt Research centres and institutes
    • arrow_right_alt Graduate research
    • arrow_right_alt Research partnerships
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for research

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Research centres and institutesarrow_right_alt
  • University of Technology Sydney home
Explore the University of Technology Sydney
Category Filters:
University of Technology Sydney home University of Technology Sydney home
  1. home
  2. arrow_forward_ios ... For students
  3. arrow_forward_ios ... Experience UTS
  4. arrow_forward_ios ... Communication experience
  5. arrow_forward_ios Career advice
  6. arrow_forward_ios Tips for freelancing in Communications

Tips for freelancing in Communications

explore
  • Communication experience
    • arrow_forward Zara Horton: UNITE 2030
    • Career advice
      • arrow_forward 11 inspiring students share why they chose a career in Education
      • arrow_forward Finding your career path
      • arrow_forward The in-demand communication roles of today
      • arrow_forward Double major, double the possibilities
      • arrow_forward Pathways to Communication
      • arrow_forward Tips for freelancing in Communications
    • arrow_forward The parents' guide to ATAR results
    • arrow_forward The parents' guide to university
    • Internships & placements
      • arrow_forward 10 things I wish I knew about before going on prac
      • arrow_forward Insights from a UTS Journalism Intern at Guardian Australia 2022
      • arrow_forward Why every Education student should undertake professional experience in their first semester
    • arrow_forward Life on campus
    • arrow_forward Student life
    • arrow_forward From UTS to global marketing leader
    • arrow_forward A journey of perseverance from UTS to CNN
    • arrow_forward Seref Isler: from UTS Housing to global newsrooms
    • arrow_forward Emma Watkins: singing and dancing her way to inclusion and a PhD
    • arrow_forward Championing disability rights and inclusion
    • arrow_forward Jamie Lipsham: from UTS to VFX trailblazer
    • arrow_forward Brooke Boney: breaking barriers on breakfast TV
    • arrow_forward Rebecca Hatch: harmonising cultures through music
    • arrow_forward Polina Pashkov: stitching together a unique career path
    • arrow_forward Phillipa McDermott: paving the way for Indigenous representation
    • arrow_forward Han’s vision: turning passion into a career at 10 News First
    • arrow_forward Amani Haydar: transforming trauma into advocacy and art
    • arrow_forward Empowering First Nations voices through media and business
    • arrow_forward Alice Rummery on innovating for a better future in government
    • arrow_forward Alana Valentine: illuminating the human experience through theatre
    • arrow_forward Maya Newell: capturing children’s voices through film
    • arrow_forward Julia Holman: the thrill of the chase in journalism
    • arrow_forward Pioneering reconciliation through social justice and community leadership
Two female students with laptops on the UTS Alumni green

The Communications industry is both diverse and demanding, allowing room to express your ideas and creativity into writing and explore your niche within the profession. If you are a passionate and have a desire to work for yourself, here are 5 tips for starting out as a freelancer.

Collaborating around a laptop at a cafe table

A website is quite a sight

Blogging allows exposure for the content you publish and will make you easily visible online. Your work will be showcased across the platform and will demonstrate your knowledge on the topics that you may want to focus on and get contracted to work on in the future. This will attract attention and stir interests from businesses which will help you start your freelancing journey. By building a portfolio and identifying your specialisation, your style and personal flair will add value for your clients.

Ensure that your website is well written and free of grammatical errors. To have the confidence to publish your refined work is the first step, so polish your online presence!

Networking will keep you working

Setting up a Twitter account and a profile on LinkedIn will keep you on the loop for opportunities, forums and to connect with like-minded individuals where you could foster relationships and get referrals and clients as a result of online activity. Being active on these networks, joining communities and building connections in the industry will assist your freelance career in the long run.

Arranging contacts and directly marketing your services through email pitches that link to your work or website also allows more exposure and if you are keen to get contracted, visiting relevant job sites might be the avenue for the next big thing!

Be realistic, that’s part of the logistic

Doing work for potential clients requires commitment. You must be clear that you can take on the project and complete the job with best quality that you can produce. You must set out what you can deliver and make sure to adhere to deadlines. Know your strengths and limitations so that you will be prepared to accept projects that you are comfortable on fulfilling. Remember, it is better to turn down work than fail to deliver it.

Stand out by thinking out loud

Freelance work can be quite spontaneous, coming up with good strong and original pitches will catch an editor’s attention. New and bold ideas that are yet to be uncovered is definitely a plus. Similar to capturing photos, you’d have to find the angle that works the best. Write for different clients and constantly come up with fresh ideas and avoid relying on what you’ve done in the past. This distinguishes you from the rest – ‘An original is worth more than a copy’

Lastly, know your worth

If you are at beginning of your freelance journey, you may take on some projects that are low paid as you work your way on building your client list. Depending on the size of the publication, freelance rate varies so it is worthy to do your research to know that you aren’t being taken advantaged and that your time and effort is being paid the right price. As you want to get a reputation, your ideal price or rate at the start will not be set as high as you would want to earn in the longer term. Make sure that you accept a respectable rate that reflects the amount of work you would put on the project and that will give you satisfaction given the financial considerations.

Jibriel Perez is a third year Public Communications student. A self-proclaimed dancing queen, who loves to sing and enjoys a good cuisine.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Boorooberongal People of the Dharug Nation upon whose ancestral lands our campuses now stand. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. 

University of Technology Sydney

City Campus

15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007

Get in touch with UTS

Follow us

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Facebook

A member of

  • Australian Technology Network
Use arrow keys to navigate within each column of links. Press Tab to move between columns.

Study

  • Find a course
  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate
  • How to apply
  • Scholarships and prizes
  • International students
  • Campus maps
  • Accommodation

Engage

  • Find an expert
  • Industry
  • News
  • Events
  • Experience UTS
  • Research
  • Stories
  • Alumni

About

  • Who we are
  • Faculties
  • Learning and teaching
  • Sustainability
  • Initiatives
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Campus and locations
  • Awards and rankings
  • UTS governance

Staff and students

  • Current students
  • Help and support
  • Library
  • Policies
  • StaffConnect
  • Working at UTS
  • UTS Handbook
  • Contact us
  • Copyright © 2025
  • ABN: 77 257 686 961
  • CRICOS provider number: 00099F
  • TEQSA provider number: PRV12060
  • TEQSA category: Australian University
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility