Building a successful freelance career requires dedication and a strategic approach. The good news is that a consistent daily routine can significantly increase your chances of attracting clients and securing rewarding projects.

Here’s a practical daily checklist specifically designed to help you find freelance medical writing work.

Mornings

The morning is a prime time to dedicate focused energy towards prospecting for new clients.

Search for jobs on job boards and websites (30-60 minutes)

The online world is brimming with freelance job boards specifically catering to medical writers. Popular platforms like Upwork, Freelancer.com and ProBlogger offer a wealth of opportunities.

You can also look at popular job websites in your areas, as well as LinkedIn.

Spend time each morning strategically searching these boards using keywords that align with your medical writing specialisations.

Narrow your search by project type, budget and location. Set up alerts so you get notified when new jobs are posted.

And, of course, actively apply to gigs that seem like a good fit, highlighting your relevant skills and experience in your proposals.

Write cold emails (30-60 minutes)

Don’t rely solely on job boards – cold emailing to find medical writing clients is just as important. Research medical organisations, pharmaceutical companies, medical communications agencies and healthcare publications in your niche.

Write personalised cold emails highlighting your expertise and how your writing skills can benefit them. Briefly showcase relevant samples in your medical writing portfolio and offer a free consultation to discuss their needs.

Reconnect with past clients or employers (30-60 minutes)

Satisfied clients can be a great source of repeat business. Briefly touch base with past clients via email, thanking them for their business and offering your continued services for any upcoming projects. You could also offer a small discount for referrals.

Maintain your website and enhance your portfolio (30-60 minutes)

Take 25 minutes each morning to ensure your website is functioning as a well-oiled client-acquisition machine. Your website’s main function is to get clients to contact you about work, remember!

Give your website a quick review each morning. Is everything clear and up to date? Does your website clearly reflect your medical writing specialisations and the services you offer?

Looking at your site regularly with fresh eyes helps you polish your existing content and identify errors or redundant copy. Ensure your website is designed to help attract potential clients who might land on your page through online searches.

Also, your portfolio is your digital showcase, acting as a convincing argument for why clients should choose you. Spend 15 minutes daily updating your portfolio with your latest and strongest medical writing samples relevant to your target market.

Ideally, your portfolio should showcase a diverse range of your work, demonstrating your ability to adapt your writing style to different project requirements.

Afternoons

The afternoon is a good time to focus on building relationships and expanding your network within the medical writing community.

Network (15-30 minutes)

Connecting with industry professionals is vital for freelance medical writers. Spend time each afternoon actively connecting with new and existing people in your network, like old colleagues, former clients, potential clients and friends in your niche via email or on platforms like LinkedIn.

This could involve joining relevant medical writing groups, participating in or starting discussions and showcasing your expertise. Attending online or offline industry events (if you have time) can also be a great way to build valuable connections.

Work on your social media presence (30-60 minutes)

Content marketing is still a powerful tool for establishing yourself as a medical writing authority, and a professional social media presence is important for freelance medical writers.

Through social media, you can connect with potential clients and establish yourself as a thought leader in your field.

Share informative and valuable content, participate in discussions relevant to your niche and follow industry influencers.

Dedicate time daily to working on your social media presence and, if necessary, creating valuable content that showcases your expertise.

This could be anything from a blog post on your website delving into a specific medical topic to a guest article for a well-respected medical website.

You can also create bite-sized content on social media platforms like X or Instagram, offering medical writing tips or insights on the latest healthcare or freelancing trends.

The goals are to attract potential clients, be active online and network with other medical writers by demonstrating your knowledge and writing skills

Track your progress and make adjustments (15-30 minutes)

Keep a record of your outreach efforts and their results. Track the job boards you applied to, the emails you sent and the responses you received. This way, you can identify what’s working and what might need adjustment.

Analysing your data can help you refine your approach and make informed decisions about where to dedicate your time and energy for maximum impact.

Spend time on professional development (60 minutes)

The medical writing landscape is constantly evolving. Throughout the week, invest in professional development activities to refine your skills and stay ahead of the curve. Check out my health writing courses for professional development opportunities.