Why Becoming a Freelance Writer Spelled Success for Jamaican-born Aaron R. Ballantyne

With the rise of the internet and social media, freelancing has become more feasible for those who are looking to work at their own place and their own pace. 

This digital revolution has allowed freelance writers like Aaron R. Ballantyne, 25, to engage in projects that are beyond the borders of Jamaica. 

By using two online applications that foster freelance work, Aaron has amassed over 700 positive reviews from clients across the world, allowing him to become an independent freelancer who forms strong relationships with clients while building a reputation of reliability, proficiency, and producing stellar results. 

From University Graduate to Freelancer

His career started a year after being enrolled in the University of Technology, Jamaica’s Urban and Regional Planning program where he graduated with honours. 

“One of the conditions of the financial support I received from the Ministry of Education in my first year of university was that I had to complete 200 hours of community service and I was placed at the Jamaica Association for the Deaf to do so,” Aaron shared.

While there, Aaron was placed in the organization’s Public Relations Department where he was tasked with liaising with representatives from other organizations to secure sponsorship for the Digicel 5K Run/Walk of that year. His duties included but weren’t limited to making multiple calls to these representatives, collecting contact information, and drafting sponsorship request letters to be sent to these organizations.

Around this time, a friend of his had introduced him to Fiverr, an online freelance platform where people across the world in need of services, could find competent and capable freelancers to provide them, regardless of their geographic location. But Aaron was uninterested at the time and focused more on his schooling.

But in December 2015, he finally decided to join. The first two services, or “Gigs”, as Fiverr refers to them, that he offered were writing Sponsorship letters and Business introduction letters.

“After I received my very first order and successful five-star review about two months after having signed up, my career snowballed into worldwide reach, working with clients as far as Australia, the United Kingdom, and Asia. My skills and capabilities have also exploded, allowing me to offer my clients a more extensive range of [writing] services than I did when I first started my journey,” Aaron shared. 

He is currently writing a book to share the knowledge, insights, and experiences he has garnered along his freelancer and entrepreneurial journeys thus far, which anyone can read, relate to and apply to their own life. 

Six Core Values Behind His Success 

Although he has learned a lot of things in his journey, Aaron has six core values that he has identified and formed into the ideal characteristics which he aspires to practice and to live by every day. These core values are sensitivity, assertiveness, veracity, admirability, generosity, and enthusiasm (SAVAGE). 

“I aim to be SAVAGE each day as I believe these characteristics have helped me to live a more fulfilling life, impact the lives of those around me in a positive way and cement the strong relationships I have with friends, family, and my clients,” the freelance writer said. 

For daily writing tips, investing tips, inspirational and motivational quotes, and significant milestones in Aaron’s life, follow him on Instagram @aaronrballantyne.

For developments and future projects, visit Aaron’s website at https://www.aaronrballantyne.com/ or connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-r-ballantyne-28a9a4170.