I kept the search simple, but I could’ve also searched by language (native English, Spanish, etc.), hashtags, date range, and more. The more options you choose, the more refined your search results.
Beginner-Friendly Ways to Find Freelance Writing Jobs (2022)
If you’re a copywriter, blogger, or any type of freelance writer who wants to earn a full-time or part-time income doing what you love, this definitive, A-to-Z guide will help you do just that.
Unless you want to spend your freelance writing career slumming through content mill after content, and getting paid peanuts, you need to level up your content creation skills.
Did you ask the client to give you a testimonial? A few words declaring their undying love and/or satisfaction with your work (that you can use to help you land more writing clients)?
Most writers who do freelance work, either due to ignorance or fear, don’t ask for testimonials. Our own Jon Morrow says he’s only had a small handful of writers over the years ask him for a testimonial — even though he would’ve been perfectly happy to give one to them.
A wealthy business owner sitting in a Herman Miller chair on top of a rug made out of recycled Herman Miller chairs is reading an article you’ve written.
Because someone who’s made it to your author bio is primed. They’ve read your work and want to learn about the attractive, intelligent individual who wrote it.
A byline should shout to the world your expertise. It should say to prospective clients, “if you thought this article was great, you should hire me and see what I can do for you.”
The job seekers who are willing to do it have an edge. And the ones who are good at it — and I mean really freakin’ good at it — are never more than an email or two away from snagging a new writing job.
The legalities can seem so scary and daunting that many freelance writers choose to stick their heads in the sand and ignore them — or, worse, give up on their freelancing dreams rather than have to deal with any of it.
We’ll go over some great job board options in a moment (because they do have lots to offer new freelance writers), but first, we’ll take a trip down the road less traveled.
Freelance Writing Jobs – 20 Simple Ways to Start
Do you know cold pitching is a fabulous way to land recurring gigs? There’s much less competition and you’ll have a better chance at landing a gig when you contact clients directly.
It’s when you contact bloggers, entrepreneurs, companies, small businesses or startups and let them know how you – a freelance writer – can help grow their business.
First you need to locate businesses to cold pitch to. Maybe you noticed they don’t have a blog – but should. Or, on Twitter you see they are trying to grow their online presence and you think your content can help with that.
Some companies are huge brand and it would be difficult for a brand content writer to find a job that way. So get a Gsheet and mark some companies, but then niche down to get smaller companies that would need help with your writing. Some examples:
Tips to Help You Find Freelance Writing Jobs
Search Smart
Sure, you could do a Google search or peruse any job board and probably find at least a few freelance writing jobs. But you’ll spend far too much time sorting through all of those results to separate the wheat from the chaff.
A smarter strategy is to focus on sites and platforms that specialize in what you’re looking for—like FlexJobs or Remote.co. Focusing your search efforts on boards that specialize in flexible, freelance jobs will not only save you time, it will also protect you from things like content mills, vaguely written Craigslist advertisements, and straight-up scams!
Get Social
Many companies and publications will post calls for pitches or their open freelance positions on their social accounts—particularly Twitter and LinkedIn. You can search LinkedIn’s job page for key terms like “freelance writer” or “freelance copywriter” to see what comes up. On Twitter, use the search function to look for keywords or relevant hashtags to find any tweets related to that type of content.
Think Small
When people imagine a career as a freelance writer, they often think about writing for the big-name outlets that everybody recognizes. But that’s usually not how freelance careers get started. Like any other career, you need to pay your dues and work your way up.
When you’re launching your freelancing writing career, don’t be afraid to start small. There are likely tons of writing opportunities in your immediate area—from publications to small businesses that need writing help—that you could be missing out on if you’re too focused on those better-known outlets.
Show Off Your Reading Skills
You’d be surprised by how many people completely ignore the instructions that publications and companies give for applying to a freelance role. So, in addition to showing off your writing skills, demonstrate you’ve got good reading skills, too.
Chapter Four: Common Freelance Writing Questions (& Answers)
Still have questions? Don’t worry. It’s perfectly normal.
You should also check out our Freelance Writing Hub. From elevating your writing skills to getting paid to write, it’s a go-to resource for everything you need to know about freelancing.
What is freelance content writing?
Freelance writers are self-employed contractors who are hired by clients to create content for them. The type of content ranges from production descriptions to email copy to full-fledged eBooks — and everything in between.
What do you do as a freelance writer?
How do freelance writers find work?
How freelance writers land gigs tend to vary based on their experience writing. When you have a good body of work, you’ll get many of your blog writer jobs through referrals and repeat customers. As a result, if you’re an experienced writer, you typically make more money.
So, when you first start writing, you’ll need to be proactive. The job boards we discussed earlier will likely be where you have the most success initially. And don’t forget about the outside-the-box, under-the-radar strategies we discussed. You can find success with those too.
How much do freelance writers make?
How do freelance writers get paid?
How much do you charge for a 500 word article? How much should I charge for a 1000 word article?
How much does a freelance writer make per hour?
How do you start freelance writing? How do I become a freelance writer with no experience?
Freelance writing experience or no, if you’re willing to accept lower-than-ideal pay rates on job boards, blog content mills, or freelance marketplaces (think Fiverr and Textbroker), you can get started right away. Find freelance job postings, apply to them, and get to work.
Get out There and Find Your Dream Freelance Writing Job
Finding freelance writing jobs can be tough. But you’re the one that gets to write the story of your freelance writing career—and now that you have everything you need to find (and get hired for!) your next opportunity, we have a feeling that story is going to have a happy ending.
Freshly picked for you
about the author
Freelance Contributor Deanna deBara is an entrepreneur, speaker, and freelance writer who specializes in business and productivity topics. When she's not busy writing, she enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dog. See more of her work and learn more about her services at deannadebara.com.
References:
https://www.prwires.com/36-beginner-friendly-ways-to-find-freelance-writing-jobs-2022/
https://elnacain.com/blog/20-ways-find-freelance-writing-jobs/
https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/how-to-find-freelance-writing-jobs/
https://smartblogger.com/freelance-writing-jobs/
https://www.freshbooks.com/blog/where-to-find-freelance-writing-jobs