If you're starting out as a freelance writer, it's no longer enough to ring up a few editors and distribute a few business cards. You need to make sure you have a place that showcases your writing talents and makes it easy for editors to find you. Here are four reasons why you need a website.

1. Branding
Your name is your brand. People will like or hate your writing, trust or distrust your opinions. Your job is to build editors' and readers' trust in your writing and the brand of you.

2. Business
Every reputable business has a website that showcases its products and services. You should too. Show off your writing skills. Include a resume, references, services (types of writing) and samples of work.

3. Efficiency
Think of your website as an online writing portfolio. Instead of lugging around a case full of writing samples, you can upload examples to your site and link to other places where your work has been published.

4. Skills development
The discipline of editing your writing for your website will be invaluable in showing off your talents. You can also upload any unsold material - articles, short stories, poetry, novel chapters and so on - so that visitors to your website can see the full range of your creativity. You never know when someone might get in touch to find out about publishing something you've written.

So what are you waiting for? Get your writing on the net and start building the brand of you.