How can you transition from full-time work to freelance content strategy?

While it is extremely tough to give up a full-time job to becoming a freelance content strategist, take it from me, it is rewarding. So, the first thing that you need to do is to take a leap of faith and make yourself believe that you can do it. As far as expenses are considered, I suggest making the transition when you have enough money to pay for your rent and food for the next 2 months. Once you leave, start dropping emails and reaching out to people who could use your skills to leverage their brand. There will be rejections (so many) but keep trying. If it helps, showcase your work by writing posts on social media platforms. And one day, while trying to figure out how you'll be able to afford a life, you'll score your first client!

After assessing the skills , it's also good to assess your areas of interest. If you are going to work for yourself, might as well pick something you enjoy fully, all steps included. When working in another company, we don't have that liberty .... along with our area of interest (eg marketing) we are also expected to do stuff we might not like (admin work)

I was fortunate that my first freelance writing client provided ongoing opportunities to work with the company’s clients in diverse industries on a range of projects. I began writing weekly blog posts for one company to demonstrate my skills and expertise. I soon was asked to write weekly blog posts for another company in a different industry. My list of client companies snowballed from there. Over time, I began writing articles, e-books, and content plans and uploading blog posts to WordPress for the company’s clients. I’m often personally requested to work with my client’s employees on new projects. I’ve also been given multiple pay increases per hour and per project over the years.

Most clients prefer a project rate over an hourly rate when possible. Having a flat rate lets clients budget accordingly and avoid paying more than anticipated. Project rates typically are best when you know how long you should need to complete a project. For instance, if you know you can write a blog post within an hour, consider setting a project rate per post based on the market, your experience level, and other relevant factors.

LinkedIn is my most valuable method to secure clients. I’ve had multiple clients ask me to write for them based on the clients I work with, the topics I write about, the types of content I create, and examples of my work.

I practice yoga at home each morning and work from the library most days. I also prioritize spending time with my friends each week. These activities help me stay connected and support my physical and mental health.

You need to be mentally prepared for periods of lull....not lose hope, not get antsy. Use the lull to create content promoting your expertise eg give tips/ advice/ opinions on relevant topics. Because for freelance strategists, your content is your proof of expertise or "free sample"