With so much of the skilled trade market shifting to remote online work, writers are taking their talent online to make money from the comfort of their homes. There are countless writing jobs available online, whether you want to make it a full-time career or earn some extra cash alongside your full-time job.
It is easy to get a writing job online if you know where to look and how to market yourself, even if you’re a beginner. This article will share all the tips you need to find a writing job online today!
Earn Money From Home
The biggest draw of online writing jobs is that you can make money from the comfort of your own home. Whether you are a stay-at-home mom looking to make some extra money or considering becoming a full-time freelancer, there is a place for you as an online writer.
All you need to get started is a computer, a stable internet connection, and some time to write. Full-time freelancers can make over $50,000 annually, while part-time freelancers can easily make several hundred or even a few thousand dollars per month.
Most online writing jobs are freelance positions to make your schedule. You decide how many hours per day you want to write, set your rates, and start looking for work!
Your rates will vary based on the complexity of the topics you’re writing about, the amount of research required, and your experience.
You will typically see freelance writing pay rates calculated hourly or by word. Either is appropriate, but do the calculations to ensure you are being paid fairly for your work.
New freelance writers can expect to earn $25-30 per hour, while more experienced writers can command upwards of $80-100 per hour.
Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com
Make a Writing Portfolio
The most crucial step when looking to get an online writing job, or a writing job of any kind, is to have a portfolio. A writer’s portfolio should include writing samples of your best work.
The samples you include in your portfolio should represent the niche(s) you want to write about and should showcase various writing styles and tones. Your writing portfolio should show your talent and versatility as a writer.
Anyone looking to hire you should clearly understand what kind of work to expect after flipping through your portfolio.
If you have never written before, you may need to write some sample articles, blogs, or other content pieces to get your portfolio started. If you are more experienced, you can select some of your best details to feature in your portfolio.
Start Blogging
When you are applying for writing jobs, it can be helpful to have a blog to show prospective clients. Your blog is an extension of your writing portfolio in that it showcases samples of your writing style and ability. Still, it is more dynamic because it is content that you are continuously updating.
If you intend to use your blog to attract prospective clients, make sure that the content you post is appropriate and matches the writing that you hope to do professionally.
Make sure you update your blog consistently constantly to showcase relevant work.
Having a blog is also an excellent way for newbie writers to get used to writing consistently. Use your blog to hone your craft. Writing is a skill that improves the more you do it, so set yourself a goal to post a certain amount of blogs per week or month and stick to it.
Try out different blog posts to see what resonates with your audience, learn SEO, and practice different writing styles. While working on your blog, your skills will help you be more marketable to future writing clients.
Join a Freelance Talent Network
Once you are confident in your writing skills and feel ready to start looking for a writing job online, consider joining a freelance talent network website like Upwork, Fiverr, or ProBlogger and start looking for work!
These websites allow companies or individuals to advertise for freelance work that needs to be done, including countless writing jobs. You can find jobs writing anything from website content to blog posts and everything in between.
Setting up a profile is usually free or inexpensive on these sites. You may need to pitch or apply to several writing jobs before you get one, but if you stay consistent, you will find plenty of jobs available.
Many clients on these websites are happy to take a chance on a beginner, which helps you build your portfolio. Although you may have to take lower-paying writing jobs to start, work on building a good rapport with your clients and produce quality work so that you can charge more over time.
Pitch Articles To Your Favorite Online Publications
If you are confident with your writing and are ready to get recognized on a larger scale, submit some of your best work to online publications like websites or blogs.
Websites like Refinery29, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more are always looking for new bloggers and writers to feature. You may need to start with smaller publications initially, but once you get published, you will gain the necessary credibility to be considered for these more prominent media outlets.
The key to getting paid to publish your work online is to hone your unique voice and write things that stand out. Most online publications look for controversial opinions, relatable content, and unique outlooks. Focus on bringing something fresh to the table with your writing.
Although it will likely take time and many pitches before you get featured, once you do, you will have the credibility of that publication that you can use for future rises. It goes a long way to say you were published on a website, so it can only help your overall career as a writer.
Find a Writing Agency
If you’d prefer to take some of the guesswork out of finding online writing jobs and would like to line up consistent or full-time work, connect with a writing agency to represent you.
Make sure you have a strong portfolio and a good idea of the type of writing work you are looking to do so your writing agent has a clear picture of your goals.
Writing agencies have essential connections with companies that regularly use freelance writers, so they can help you find stable work with reputable companies. They vet all the companies (and writers) they work with so that they can create strong, mutually beneficial partnerships for both their clients and their writers.
Working with a writing agency is usually most beneficial to experienced, full-time writers looking to advance. They can help you reach the next level in your writing career, whether your goal is to get published in a particular publication, get a book deal, or freelance at a high level.
Some writing agencies will only work with published writers, whereas others will take a chance on newbies, so do your research and find an agency right for where you are in your writing career.
References/Further Reading
The Do’s and Don’ts of Freelance Blogging
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