Every company that launches a product, builds a website, communicates with customers, attracts investors, or manages its public reputation relies on writers. Much of that work is taken on by independent professionals who understand not only how to write, but how to reach business goals with that writing.
This kind of work is known as freelance commercial writing.
What is Freelance Commercial Writing?
Freelance commercial writing includes any writing created for businesses and organizations other than for traditional publications like newspapers and magazines, including digital ones.
This includes sales copywriting, other marketing copywriting, public relations writing, technical writing, and other forms of business writing for both for-profit and nonprofit clients.
The term “freelance commercial writing” was coined by Well-Fed Writer founder, and author of The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Commercial Freelancer in Six Months or Less, Peter Bowerman.
What do Freelance Commercial Writers Do?
If you’re thinking about pursuing freelance commercial writing, the opportunities are practically endless. But before we look at specific project types you might take on, it’s important to understand what freelance commercial writers actually do.
Freelance commercial writers help organizations:
- sell products and services;
- generate leads;
- convert prospects into customers;
- strengthen customer loyalty;
- educate customers and other stakeholders;
- build credibility and manage reputations;
- secure media coverage;
- attract investors
- support internal communications;
- clarify complex information;
- launch new offerings and expand into new markets.
Freelance commercial writing is about much more than the writing itself. It’s about driving results by fixing what isn’t working, strengthening what is, and creating new opportunities for growth.
Types of Freelance Commercial Writing Projects
Here are some examples of projects you might take on as a freelance commercial writer:
Sales & Marketing Copywriting Projects
- Landing pages
- Sales letters
- Email marketing copy
- Lead magnet copy
- Website copy
- Advertising copy
- Brochures
- White papers
- Case studies
- Product descriptions
- Product packaging copy
- Advertorials
- Direct mail pieces
- Sales scripts
- Slogans and taglines
- Commercial scripts
Public Relations Writing Projects
- Press releases
- Media advisories
- Media kit / digital newsroom copy
- Profiles
- Backgrounders
- Fact sheets
- Speeches
- Public service announcement (PSA) scripts
- Media statements
- Organizational newsletters (internal and external)
- Op-eds
- Trade features
- Presentations (scripts, decks, etc.)
Technical Writing Projects
- User / instruction manuals
- Help desk / knowledgebase content
- Product guides
- Technical spec sheets
- Development guidelines
- Training manuals
- Safety manuals
- Technical white papers
- Software release notes
Other Freelance Commercial Writing Projects
- Blog posts
- Social media content
- Scripts for YouTube / TikTok / etc.
- Evergreen web content
- Reviews
- Comparison content / shopping guides
- E-books
- Other long-form digital content
- Podcast scripts or show notes
- FAQs
- Industry / survey / trend reports
- Course content
You’ll also find overlap between these categories. For example, case studies and white papers are often created as sales and marketing tools, but they’re also used in both PR writing and technical writing. Sometimes a single case study or white paper serves multiple purposes. And projects like blog posts, social media content, video scripts, and long-form digital content can fall into all of these categories.
Pretty much anything outside of strictly journalistic reporting can fall under the umbrella of freelance commercial writing, leaving you plenty of opportunities to specialize in something you love (that also happens to pay well–$75-150 / hr and even more).
What determines your income potential isn’t the label. It’s your command of the craft and your ability to apply it to real business needs.
Need help mastering the craft of freelance commercial writing? Peter Bowerman’s Well-Fed Craft will guide you through a variety of project types, helping you build real-world skills to attract commercial writing clients.
