Freelance writing is a great way to make money and have flexibility in your schedule. It’s also an opportunity for people who may not be able to find other types of work, such as stay-at-home moms or college students.
However, before you jump into the world of freelance writing there are some things that you need to know about this profession.
We’re going to give you some tips on how freelance writers can get started!
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What is freelance writing?
Freelance writing is the process of generating written content for a company or organization in exchange for monetary compensation.
This type of work, also known as “content creation“, could include anything from blog posts to articles and books. There’s an average of over $200 billion dollars spent on this industry annually.
Freelance writers are the modern day nomads, traveling from city to city with only their laptop and a backpack. They must be able to work under tight deadlines while juggling several projects at once in order to stay afloat on this unpredictable market.
The freelance writing industry is about more than just words as they often do some of the following:
- research,
- take notes during interviews or speeches;
- edit material that has been written by others-either one section or an entire document;
- produce texts such as press releases for public relations purposes;
- write articles for magazines either online or off.
Freelance writing is a career that is becoming more and more popular. There are many benefits for freelancers including the ability to work from home, find jobs easily with online job boards such as Indeed or SimplyHired, and have flexible hours.
However, freelance writing also has its cons including low pay rates on average ($12/hour), competition for jobs that can be difficult to break into, and having no company benefits (health insurance, 401k).
What are the different kinds of freelance writing?
There are many different kinds of freelance writing. Some examples include
- journalists,
- copy editors,
- content writers for websites and blogs;
- bloggers (highly specialized) who write on a specific topic such as health or finance;
- scriptwriters-who produce texts such as advertising scripts or commercial jingles that have been written by others–either one section or an entire document; producers-produce audio/visual materials including video clips and live broadcasts in order to promote products or organizations.
Other types of freelancers are technical writers who work with engineers developing instructions for users and instructional designers who develop multimedia based training programs.
Is freelance writing hard?
Freelance writing is hard work. It requires a lot of time and dedication to be successful in this career path.
Furthermore, it can take years before you are really earning enough money to live off from freelance writing alone, even if you have expertise in something like website copywriting or editing for the publishing industry.
However, there are ways to make your job easier, such as how-to books on freelancing by Michael Larsen and Rachel Aaron that show some great strategies that will ensure success when working as a writer who relies solely on their own income.
The key takeaway here is not only do you need more than one skill set (copywriter + blogger), but also multiple streams of income will help with stability and long-term growth.
The process of getting started freelance writing involves three simple steps.
- Firstly, have good ideas that you are able to clearly explain through the written word and then find publications willing to pay you for your work by pitching them.
- Secondly, spend lots of time searching out other blogs in order to understand their niche better so as not be a writer who is just trying everything on for size or going from one place with no knowledge about its content which can result in an article being too vague or unfocused.
- Thirdly-and most importantly–never give up!
Can you make money freelance writing?
The answer is yes. You can make money as a freelance writer in many different ways, but it will take time and effort on your part to get there.
There are no guarantees that the work will always be steady or easy, but for those who have the patience and skill to become successful freelance writers, they may find themselves with a lot of opportunities for success.
Freelancing as a writer offers many advantages over traditional office jobs like more vacation time, flexible schedules, less commuting costs and expenses associated with having to dress up every day at “work.”
Your income potential will also be higher because freelance writers are paid per word/hour rather than on salary–and there’s no limit (in most cases) on how much you can make.
How start freelance writing
If you’re looking to freelance as a writer, there are many different avenues for finding clients. One of the most popular methods is on freelancing websites like Upwork and Freelancer.com–you can find work based on your area of expertise (i.e., fashion or tech).
There are also writing-specific job boards where you’ll be paid more than if you were doing general “gig” type jobs because writers charge by word count instead of time spent working; these sites include
- Problogger Job Board,
- Contena’s Hubstaff Talent Marketplace,
- Journalism Jobs Online and
- Textbroker’s Clientele Listings.
You could also try cold calling companies that use copywriters and ask them what they need help with so that you can pitch your skills or services.
The more you build up a freelance writing portfolio, the easier it’ll be to find work and get paid what you’re worth. It’s best not to take on clients that don’t have established guidelines.
These are just an easy way for them to save money by having writers do all of the work but not pay for anything other than their time (most articles require research and copyediting).
If you decide to write content for someone who doesn’t want any sort of payment in return, make sure they at least give you credit as one of the authors!
Freelance writing and copywriting
Copywriting is a type of writing that may take the form of advertising, marketing materials, or other forms.
Copywriters are often in charge with creating persuasive text to sell people on an idea and/or ideology- whether it be through sales material for products, public relations work like event invitations or press releases via email newsletters; social media posts (e.g., Tweets) used as content strategy for company Facebook pages, etcetera.
The ultimate goal is always to get their target audiences fascinated enough by what they say so as to lead them into purchasing something from the copywriter’s business at some point down the road!
The greatest distinction between copywriting and content writing lies in its purpose: while one seeks primarily just buy your person into purchasing something, the other is focused on providing valuable information to those who are already interested in what they have to say.
You might think of it as a content-based sales pitch versus marketing advertising and copywriting designed to persuade with persuasive language.
From this standpoint alone, content writing can be seen as more honorable than even being labeled “sales” because one’s intentions are not about tricking you into buying or using their service but rather inform you so that you may make an informed decision for yourself.
What exactly does a copywriter do?
A copywriter writes marketing content, which can be anything from advertisements to sales letters or product descriptions.
Copywriters are sometimes responsible for their company’s social media presence and blog posts as well. As a copy writer you might write blogs, articles, brochures, ads and other promotional materials that introduce your business to the public or promote new products.
You may also edit transcripts of interviews with key people in your industry so they sound more polished before publishing them on the web site or print publication of your employer.
Copywriters spend their days writing prose for the purpose of advertising to promote and sell goods and services.
Some call them “creatives” because they make up slogans or copy that drive ad campaigns at agencies like DDB Worldwide, JWT London, WPP Group (or Ogilvy & Mather).
They are tasked with coming up with different ways to get more people interested in a product without making it seem too overbearing so as not lose interest from potential consumers.
What does a Content Writer do?
The distinction between these two often boils down primarily to intention: While one seeks primarily just buy your person into purchasing something (sales), the other is focused on providing valuable information about a product or service (marketing).
Content writers may produce creative, compelling text for a company’s website and social media presence.
They might also write brochures, white papers and articles that help sell a client’s products or services to the desired audience.
In addition, content writers are often responsible for editing videos of interviews with key individuals in an industry so they sound more polished before publishing them on the web site or print publication of their employer.
Content Writing is a profession that’s quickly becoming sought after and Content Writers are responsible for content on websites, articles, social media posts etc.
They play an important role in the search engine optimization process which helps drive traffic to their employer’s website as well as sales by attracting potential customers with clearly written explanations of topics.
What skills do you need to be a copywriter?
Copywriters are the people in charge of writing commercially appealing content, so you need to have a good grasp on grammar and spelling.
You also need some knowledge about how businesses work as well as what kind of messages will resonate with readers.
Most importantly it’s important for Copywriters to be able to find solutions for clients even when they don’t know exactly what they’re looking for.
What skills do I need?
- To become a freelance writer you’ll first want to learn everything that there is to know about your industry or niche: from topics related directly with your line of expertise all the way down to marketing strategies specific companies use within their space.
- Next up are those copywriting skills we were just talking about which should come naturally to you if you’ve pursued a degree in the field.
- Finally, there’s your communication skills: being able to clearly articulate what it is that you’re trying to say without sounding like an arrogant douchebag.
- Copywriters are responsible for creating content that includes not only the words, but also images and video. Clever copywriting is a surefire way to make your company stand out in an increasingly competitive market.
What do I need?
If you want to become a freelance writer then all that’s really needed from one person are their brains and some basic writing tools such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs for making documents look nice.
However, getting access to clients can be difficult without some sort of website which requires additional software like WordPress so it might be necessary for someone just starting out to invest in hosting space with Bluehost (affiliate link) and hire somebody on Fiverr ($20 per hour!) who knows how build a WordPress site.
Can you make a living freelance writing?
Yes, freelancing is a great way to make money. But it’s not easy and you need to be ready for rejection which can be tough on your self esteem.
It also takes time, so if this sounds like something that might interest you then I recommend reading up about how the freelance writing process works before diving in head first. When considering freelance work try to remember:
- You don’t have health insurance unless you buy individual coverage or join an exchange program
- Freelancers pay income taxes quarterly (income tax rates are lower than wages)
- Get paid monthly! Paychecks come every other week at my day job but only once per month with freelance work. If there weren’t deadlines looming all around me I’d probably be broke.
- Don’t forget to save some of your money for taxes and retirement
- Freelancers have no access to 401k Matching or other benefits typically associated with day jobs
If you’re considering freelancing, there are a few things that set it apart from the traditional work world: deadlines, pay-per-project rather than salary, lack of employee benefits such as health insurance.
Once again when considering freelance work try to remember not only what is unique about freelancing but also all the positives! You get paid on time (generally), can do whatever you want, and do not have to deal with office politics.
Freelance work is becoming more and more common. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the number of freelancers will rise from 53 million to 77 million in 2020, thanks to many workers searching for alternative careers or ways to supplement their income.
Even so, there are a lot factors which affect how much an individual can earn as a freelance worker–ranging from skillset and experience level all the way down to location (not everyone has access).
That said, I would say yes you could make good money – even great! But it depends on what your goals are exactly; some people just want enough side cash each month while others really need financial freedom.
Is Fiverr a good place to start freelance writing?
Fiverr is a great place to start freelance writing. There are many benefits of using Fiverr, such as the ability to find different types of jobs in your area and being able to work with talented people from around the world.
The main downside is that it can be difficult finding clients for projects that you are passionate about.
What can freelance writers do to make more money?
Freelance writers should try and find niche markets that are not saturated. This will allow them to charge higher rates for their services, which in turn increases the amount of work they have to choose from.
They also need to be prepared for a lot of rejection at first until they build up a reputation. Freelancers may want to consider looking into freelancing full-time if they are serious about making enough income.
The key element is having great skillset with unique experience – whether it’s writing long form blog posts or articles like this one!
That said, I would say yes you could make good money–even great!–but it depends on what your goals are.
Writing press releases for small businesses
- Writing copy for advertisements and promoting a business on social media platforms.
- Hiring freelancers to complete various tasks such as editing, designing, or programming assignments from home.
- Freelancing is one of the easiest ways for people with limited professional skills to make money at their homes.
- Freelance writers can earn anywhere between $12 per hour up to well over $100 per hour depending on their experience level and how much they want to work!
That said, some may be more interested in doing it every once in awhile just for fun than making it into your full-time gig (and that’s ok too!).
Other Questions people ask:
What do you do as a freelance writer?
Freelance writers are independent contractors who work from home, renting office space or working as a virtual assistant. Freelancing is an excellent opportunity for those looking to make it in the world of writing without having to commit full-time.
Writers have control over their own schedules and deadlines, making it perfect for moms hoping to maintain a family life while still finding success on this path!
How much should I charge for a 500 word article?
Articles have a wide range of pricing and there are many factors that can effect the cost. For example, if you’re writing an English article for someone and your at native-level proficiency, then you should about $60 per 500 words on average.
How long does it take to start making money as a freelance writer?
You’ve probably heard of “content mills,” but are they really worth the effort? Textbroker is one such mill that will let you start making money as early as day 1.
But your earnings may be delayed up to 10 business days while you work through their testing phase—depending on how good a writer and what tier level or package type (basic vs pro) you choose for yourself.
Other resources relating to What is Freelance Writing All about:
How Does Freelance Writing Work?
Definition & Examples of a Freelance Writer
What Is Freelance Writing (And How Do I Become …
How to Become a Freelance Writer
