If you’re like most writers, you want to turn your passion for writing into a real online business.
In today’s world, there are more options than ever. Publishing on Medium, monetizing your own blog, self-publishing books, and freelancing just to name a few.
But not all types of writing are created equal (trust me, I know from 5+ years experience). Freelance writing is the best way to make money from your laptop.
You might be thinking… you can’t possibly get paid to type words on a laptop and work anywhere in the world… Or if you can, it’s not enough to do it full-time…right?
Nope, you 100% can! All you need is a laptop, Wi-Fi, and this guide to get started.
I know because I’ve been doing it since 2017 after struggling for years trying to make money online. In my first full year, I 10X’d my income from $650 per month to $6,500 per month!
Now, I make a full-time writing online and only work a few days each week. I say none of this to brag, I just want you to know what’s possible with freelance content writing. Because if I can do it, you can too.
Here is how it works before diving into the details in this epic guide…
Freelancing 101
So what is freelance writing anyway? How is it different from getting published in magazines or the newspaper (does anyone still read those)?
A freelance writer is someone who gets paid to type words online. You get hired by a brand, blog or business to create content for their business. This is different from blogging or copywriting (which I’ll cover later in the post).
While this definition of it might sound overly simple, it’s literally exactly what the job entails. I really like this Quora answer for the best freelance writing definition:
A freelance writer is what I like to call a “Pen for hire.” In every niche that you work in, you’ll exchange your words or time for money. You work completely independently. You don’t work for anyone, but you always work with people on your projects.”
One of the best parts is that you can get paid to write about pretty much anything, too. We live in a world that can’t get enough content, which means blogs, websites, and businesses need writers in every imaginable niche.
Literally every niche needs content.
For example, I’ve gotten paid to write about pets, money-finance, golf instruction, lifestyle, and personal development… just to name a few.
Plus, each client is different, which makes it kind of fun and not repetitive like a normal 9-5. Not to mention, you get to choose your niche and decide to who to work with. If you don’t like working with someone, you can simply let them go!
Sometimes you get hired to write one-off projects, while others are weekly, and some might have a monthly posting schedule. These are all terms that are discussed before getting hired as a freelance writer.
Depending on the work that you do, you’ll have a number of different writer titles. Some of the most common ones including:
- Copywriter
- SEO Writer
- Ghost Writer
- Content Writer
- Freelance Blogger
- Content Strategist
- Freelance Web Content Writer
Why You Should Start Freelance ASAP
Now that you have a basic understanding of freelancing, what are some of the perks?
There are literally hundreds of different online side hustles, so why try this one?
Here are just a few reasons why I LOVE writing content online:
- Easy to scale
- Location freedom
- Low startup costs
- Create your own schedule
- No formal education required
- Can do it part-time or full-time
- Can get paid to write about stuff you’re passionate about
- Don’t have to learn too many new skills (compared to drop shipping, e-com, Facebook ads, etc.)
This isn’t to say it’s a cakewalk or an overnight passive income source. But compared to blogging, YouTube, and podcasting, it will yield faster income.
Plus, compared with other popular side hustles like drop shipping, e-commerce, and Amazon FBA, almost no capital is required to get started. Here are some other reasons why I think freelancing is the fastest and best way to make money as a writer.
How I 10X’d My Income in 12 Months (Only Working Part Time)
Alright…now you know what freelancing is and why it’s such a great way to make money online.
But why should you believe anything I’m saying?
You might be brand new to this website and have no clue who I am. You might be thinking, “Who is this guy telling me to write stuff online?”
Let me introduce myself…my name is Michael Leonard and I am the creator of Inspire Your Success and a full-time writer.
Since May 2017, I’ve been obsessed with all things related to digital marketing & side hustles. Specifically, freelancing, blogging, and podcasting.
My Writing Journey
On May 11th, 2017, I quit my $120,000 career at Yelp.com to figure this whole “digital entrepreneurship” aka “Laptop lifestyle” thing out. This one choice literally turned my life upside down in hopes to build an online business.
I was determined to build an online business and pursue professional golf. There was only one problem… at the time, I had made a whopping $200 from this blog #ballin.
Luckily, I was a finance geek before leaving the corporate world. I saved a lot of cash and cut expenses so I could give myself some time to figure it out.
I kept seeing all these bloggers and writers making tons of money online, so I figured…why not me!?
But I quickly learned that entrepreneurship isn’t quite that simple. The first six months I hardly made any income. I worked way harder than I ever did in corporate but I had almost nothing to show for it.
The next six months were a little better, but needless to say, I wasn’t making it rain. In fact, I knew something had to change, or my life would be turned upside down.
Blogging wasn’t paying the bills and was taking up so much time. The worst part is that most of the time I wasn’t even writing, I was doing everything else instead.
So I decided to go all in on freelance writing and it changed my life forever.
I had dabbled with it toward the end of 2017 but still never really committed. Most of my time was taken up with blogging, social media, and pursuing professional golf.
So I took a bunch of online courses, joined a mastermind, and studied the best writers in the game. Because, like Tony Robbins says, “Success always leave clues.”
And it worked.
From January 2018 to January 2019, I was able to 10X my writing income!
The best part?
I did this working on it part-time without ever going into an office!
During that time, I averaged 15-20 hours per week actually typing away at my laptop. Some weeks a bit more, some less.
Most importantly, it made me realize that I can always make money by cranking out words for other sites. It’s a skill that isn’t going anywhere (despite what some may say).
Plus, since it wasn’t full-time I kept growing this blog, started Inspire Your Success Podcast, and kept the golf dream alive!
I got my “official” start in January 2018. Here’s a quick snapshot of my income reports from Jan 2018 – Jan 2019.
How to Speed Up Success
I want to be 100% clear, I am not trying to flex some cool numbers to impress you.
Some writers make 2-3X my income every month. But some of them don’t share their methods and honestly, if you’re a beginner, it’s hard to relate sometimes.
The reason I share these numbers is that if I can go from $0 to $6,500/month working part-time, SO CAN YOU.
Again, I want to emphasize that I’m not any different from you! As long as you have a passion for writing and a good work ethic, you can find success too.
When I started, I was an average writer (at best), sucked at proofreading, and made a ton of mistakes. But I kept learning as much as possible which led to generating more income!
Not only do I continue to scale my rates, but I have been featured in big publications. Some of them include Goalcast, Fearless Motivation, Lifehacker, and more.
In fact, I became the #1 contributor to Fearless Motivation and have had hundreds of thousands, if not millions of readers on 100+ articles. Plus, I’ve done voice over work for them and received millions of views on them as well.
Since Jan of 2019, I’ve continued to make around $5,000-$10,000/month, with my best month being $20,050.
If you’re like most people, this is life-changing money. This is the type of money that can help you quit that soul-sucking career that makes you hate your life.
So how did I 10X my income in 12 months?
Check out the graphic below for a quick snapshot:
Remember, if I can become a freelance writer, SO CAN YOU.
I want to have you start getting similar results and finally make a real income from your laptop with all the advice I think can think of in a step-by-step manner.
Freelancing as a Beginner
Before I jump into picking a niche and pitching clients, I want to talk about something most writers don’t discuss. In fact, very few bloggers and online gurus don’t talk about it nearly enough either.
But it’s vitally important to becoming successful as a writer, solopreneur and entrepreneur.
It’s not some secret strategy to keep editors happy.
It’s not some crazy pitch formula to land huge clients.
In fact, it’s nothing technical.
So, what am I talking about???
Mastering your mindset.
Sorry to get woo-woo on you early in on the article, but if I don’t mention it, you probably won’t become successful. Seriously, your mindset towards this business (or any online business) is necessary for success.
Before you pursue freelance writing and become a professional writer, this is wildly important.
Because here’s the thing…your mind will act as your best friend or your worst enemy when you’re starting a business. Your brain is designed to align your life to fit your beliefs.
Read that again…your brain creates your reality based on your beliefs.
Meaning, if you don’t believe you will become a successful freelance writer, chances are, you won’t. But if you start to believe you can make it happen, then you are setting yourself up for success.
As Henry Ford said, “He who thinks he can and he who thinks he can’t are both usually right.”
Seriously, this mental hack plus the strategies I’m about to share, are why I’ve become a successful freelance writer. Every guest I’ve had on my podcast has said the same thing.
If you don’t control your mind, it will control you.
So make sure you are committed to upgrading your mindset for lasting success. Whether you want to make a few hundred bucks a month or you want to make $5,000+/month, the right mindset will help greatly.
Alright, now that you have the mindset for success, let’s go into the tactical stuff. Because sitting around all day trying to get the Law of Attraction to work for you without doing anything won’t work.
Here are the steps to help you start off on your writer’s journey:
Step 1: Pick a Profitable Niche
Most writers start by searching on Google for “most profitable freelance writing niches.”
In my opinion, this is the wrong way to go about it.
Just because a niche pays well, doesn’t mean you will enjoy it. To me, this is like taking a career in the real world that you hate because it pays well. Eventually, the money isn’t worth it and you’re left loathing how you spend your days.
I think life is too short to do stuff you hate all day. Sure, if you’re in a money crunch this makes sense, but I don’t think it’s the best long-term solution.
Instead, when picking your niche, you should find a combination of:
- A topic you like to write about
- A topic that is in demand and can pay you well
- Something you’re knowledgeable about or willing to learn about
Not only will you enjoy it more, but studies show that being a niche writer will help you grow your revenue.
Niche Writer vs. Generalist
Finding Your Niche
As the old saying goes, “The riches are in the niches.” And it’s true.
The more you niche down your writing, the more knowledgeable you are and higher quality content you can crank out. Finding your niche and zone of genius is what allowed me to 10X my income in 12 months.
Also, brands want to work with niched freelance writers. They want to know that you are an expert in a specific subject or industry, as this will create better content for them.
This is why I consistently land golf clients. I’ve established myself as a top golf writer and attract all kinds of blogs, brands, e-commerce sites, apps, and more. They want to work with someone who is not only a great writer, but someone who is passionate about golf.
Here are some tips to give you some ideas on potential freelance writing niches:
- Leverage your current career and past jobs. What skills have you acquired and how can that help people? Use real life experiences and figure out how you can get rewarded for knowledge you have acquired.
- Use past experiences and hobbies for ideas. As I mentioned, I’ve gotten paid a lot of money to write about golf. I never would have guessed I’d make thousands a month from it! Plus, it’s a lot more fun when you write about stuff you enjoy.
- Find other freelance writers and see what niche they are in. Ask yourself, could you see yourself writing about those topics in your own writing career?
- Look at big brands that you already know and love using. Trust me, big brands have the budget to hire a freelance writer and probably already have some. This could be any industry too (fashion, fitness, sports, etc.).
Pick a few niches to break into so you can get the ball rolling. Don’t overthink this but give yourself enough to figure out what you want to write about for the long-term.
Remember, action leads to clarity, so get moving and quit pondering your niche. And don’t worry, you can always change your niche in the future as well. Don’t feel like you have to write in one topic forever.
Step 2: Create a Freelance Writing Website or Blog
Now that you have chosen a niche, it’s time to start building your brand online. More specifically, creating a freelance website that you can call “home” online.
You might be thinking…do you really need a freelance writing website to become successful?
In my opinion, the answer is 100% … YES!
Here’s why you need a freelance writing website:
Pros
- You can customize it
- You control your brand
- It’s VERY cheap to create
- Helps prospects get to know-like-trust (& hire you)
- You own the writing website (i.e. not a 3rd party platform)
- You can constantly and easily update with new content & testimonials
- Can optimize for SEO traffic, so clients find you. Thanks to search engine optimization & online presence, I get new potential clients reaching out to me regularly
Cons
- Hosting & upgraded theme costs
- Need to design (or pay for someone to do so)
Honestly, there aren’t many cons to having your own website to establish your online presence. This is an essential part of becoming a successful freelance writer.
I tell all my students inside Freelance to 5K, if you don’t have a writing website or blog, people won’t take you seriously.
While you can make money without a website, it’s going to take a lot more effort to land clients from job boards. Not to mention, these individuals won’t pay nearly as well as people that you cold pitch.
Not to mention, you control your presence online. This will separate you from all the writers who haven’t invested in their business!
A writing website is a very small investment with a ton of ROI. All you need is website hosting (I use Bluehost) and a paid theme to start crushing it as a writer.
Here’s what every writing website should include:
Custom Domain
When you sign up with Bluehost or another provider, make sure you choose the right domain name. I always recommend grabbing your full name if possible as the intended URL (mine is michaelleonard.net). If you can’t get .com, grab a .net or something else.
Paid Theme
As I’m sure you know by now, you get what you pay for in anything in life. A $10 steak at Sizzle doesn’t compare to a $50 one at Ruth Chris.
The same goes for choosing a theme for your writing website. Free themes look like free themes and clients can usually tell. On the other hand, paid themes make you look like a professional (even if you’re a brand-new writer).
I’m not telling you to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars getting a designer to customize your website like this one. But I always suggest upgrading themes.
Plus, they aren’t that expensive and a great investment in your writing business. Most non-free themes are a one-time fee and are typically around $75!
I use Genesis by Studio Press on my writing website and this blog. It looks super professional, it’s easy to set up, and very little maintenance is required.
Not to mention, when you invest in yourself or your business, you will upgrade your mindset. By spending a few bucks, you are showing your mind that you are serious about becoming a freelance writer.
If you can’t create a website, pay someone on Fiverr or Upwork to help you out. I bet it won’t cost over $50 as it’s a relatively simple task (if you’re a little savvy).
Spend the capital upfront so you can help clients know-like-and trust you (more on that in a bit)!
Remember, all it takes is one small client and you can instantly repay the small investment.
Eye-Catching Home Page
You only get one first impression when you send potential clients to your freelance writing website. Your home page needs to clearly communicate what you do in two seconds or less.
This is NOT the time to put up random stock images or unnecessary text. Everything on your home page and writing website should be very intentional.
Here’s a quick snapshot of my home page on my writing website – www.michaelleonard.net
About Page
Your about page is another unbelievable resource when creating your online portfolio. I recommend creating an about page that isn’t solely about you and your story.
Let me explain…
People that hire you will care about you to an extent, but at the end of the day, they want to know how you can help them.
Here are two examples of what I’m talking about from my writer’s website:
- My name is Michael and I’m a freelance writer who focuses on writing epic content about entrepreneurship and personal development.
- Do you need epic content about entrepreneurship or self-improvement topics? Are you ready to finally turn readers into long-term customers? Then I got you covered. My name is Michael and I’m (……and then get going).
Notice a difference?
You want to include information about you (including a lot of pictures, especially ones with family and/or pets, as it makes you relatable). But don’t forget about the client, make it clear how your work and articles can help them.
Work With Me Page
What sounds better… using the term “hire me” or “work with me?”
In my opinion, “hire me” sounds like a desperate plea to put food on the table and pay your bills. It also sounds needy and why I don’t recommend the term to appear on your website.
But “work with me” makes it sound more like a collaboration of a client and your writing skills. It makes you sound much more professional and established in your freelance writing career. Even if you’re new, you want to make it seem like you’ve been a writer for years.
Highlight Testimonials
Social proof is so important for prospective customers!
Customers like to buy or transact based on other people’s opinions. This is why Amazon make reviews such a big part of their platform.
As a writer, it’s your responsibility to get as many positive testimonials as you can. I continue to get testimonials from editors, students, marketing groups, and anyone else I work with.
I highly suggest that you do the same. You can include them on different pages of your website and make it clear that you can deliver on the work.
If you don’t have any clients yet, ask old coworkers or use your LinkedIn recommendations. The options to getting positive social proof are endless!
Step 3a) Create Samples
In the real world, would you apply for a new career without any proof that you can actually do the job?
I’m guessing the answer is NO.
The same goes for writing online (minus the resume part).
You need to show clients that you can do the job.
To show off your skills, start by creating 5-7 samples that match your ideal client. This will help with a couple of things.
First, it will help you get into the habit of typing on a daily basis and improve your writing skills. If you want to become an awesome freelance writer, you need to write consistently.
I don’t have a hard and fast recommendation but agree that the more you write, the better you will get. Some writers say to write at the same every day, others will say to write 4-5 times per week.
I like to write early in the day, but I don’t do it every single day. If I’m not feeling creating, I don’t force myself to write (but that’s just me).
Do whatever works best for you!
Second, creating epic samples will help you land brands in your target niche. Start creating samples that your target market would use on their website or blog.
Finally, it will help you start impressing clients in the near future with your samples. Your freelance writing work is your resume in the freelancing world!
How to Write Samples
For example, if your niche is personal finance, start making samples that will attract potential finance clients. I started in finance and wanted to write for financial blogs & personal advisors.
For my sample pieces, I created samples about investing, paying off debt, millennial finance issues and retiring early. This helped people learn about my writing style and show that I could do the job. I highly suggest doing the same.
Remember, the last thing you want to do is send samples that aren’t relevant to your potential client. This is a good way to never hear back from a pitch!
Once you have written 5-7 samples, it’s time to share them with the world. Once they’re 100% edited, here are some of the best places to start sharing them.
Best Practices
On your writer’s website, you want to show off your favorite work. This again will show credibility and prove that you can do the job.
To create a writer’s portfolio on your own website, here are some best practices:
Keep It Simple
Complexity is the enemy of execution. Creating a website doesn’t have to be hard anymore.
An outstanding portfolio doesn’t need to be difficult. While you should invest ample time to make your portfolio and writer website look good, don’t get caught in paralysis analysis.
At the end of the day, prospective clients and people on a marketing team don’t care about your design skills. They know graphic website design is not your day job, instead, they want to see you’re a good writer above all else!
Also, don’t make it sloppy by posting the entire article on your site. Use PDFs and attachments by uploading into your media files. Never post full-length pieces onto the portfolio page, so the client has to scroll and scroll to view.
Finally, keep it updated as you get into more publications.
Organize Your Portfolio
On my portfolio, I have samples divided by the different topics I’ve written about. I have one section dedicated to personal finance, entrepreneurship, and self-improvement.
I even have an entirely different section on my website all about golf. As I’m an avid golfer and have published a book, I wanted to clearly separate my two niches.
This is easy to do on WordPress. You can simply divide with headers or different colors to make it easy for the client to find the right samples.
By organizing your portfolio, it will help editors find your work quickly. Plus, my target audience of golf bloggers can find me easily!
Link to Social Media
Most of the time, potential clients are probably going to look for you on social media when you reach out. It’s up to you to make sure they see social media profiles that help your cause.
Make sure your social is “client friendly” and link to your Twitter and LinkedIn from your website. You can also link to Instagram and Facebook as well (More on social media coming up).
Add Copywriting Techniques
Where possible, add a title, a short description of the clip and a link to the full article. Add some brief copy at the top of the page (1-2 sentences) to your marketing message and sell your skills as a writer. This is optional, but it can work well.
Always Update Your Portfolio
Like your writing skills, your portfolio is always a work in progress. As you start getting more clients, you might feel like it’s not as important to update.
But I promise, it is. Every time you work with happy clients or editors, add that testimonial to your website.
Create Your Portfolio For Your Niche
When creating your website or portfolio, always keep your niche and your perfect client in mind. If you meet someone new when you’re at an event or seminar, what would they think about it?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Is it easy to view and navigate?
- Does it really look professional?
- Will my portfolio appeal to prospects and clients?
- Does it include writing samples relevant to my niche?
Remember, your portfolio can help potential clients decide you’re the right fit for their specific needs.
One of the ways to do that is to create epic samples. Here’s how…
Step 3b) Build Your Portfolio
Once you create epic samples that will attract your ideal client, it’s time to post them on your website. Plus, you can also write posts on these platforms too:
LinkedIn is only growing in popularity and is one of the best ways to land freelance writer gigs. Plus, it’s not nearly as crowded and noisy as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
This gives your work a much higher likelihood of actually getting read. I recommend sharing regularly on LinkedIn, finding groups, and reaching out to new people as well. Building your network is one of the best ways to land freelance gigs.
Medium
If you don’t know, Medium is an awesome site that makes it easy to share your thoughts with the world. You can submit stories to your own personal profile or choose to submit to publications.
Submitting to publications is a great way to add some credibility to your resume. If you’re brand new to Medium, make sure to check out how this beginner guide to get published in publications.
This site made me a better writer and a great way to make more money through the MPP each month.
Personal Blog
The final spot to share your 5-7 samples is your own blog or freelance website. Depending on your overall goals, you can either create a new blog or choose to share on a personal website.
*Expert hack: To save time and energy, try to repurpose your content as much as possible across multiple platforms.
Freelance Writing Gigs for Beginners
So where do you actually get your first freelance job? Well, there are nearly endless amounts of digital magazines, job boards, cold pitching, and other ideas.
Here are some of the best ways to start:
1. Blog Guest Posts
Guest posting is one of the best places to get started on your writer journey. I used this in the beginning of my career and it led to several high-paying gigs. One of them was Fearless Motivation, a top motivational website with millions of followers.
I wanted to start doing more motivational/personal development content in 2018 so I reached out. At the time, they were accepting contributors so I followed the guidelines and submitted an article.
After creating three free posts (around 500 words), I reached out about making it a paid position. Here’s the exact email I sent:
This led to writnig work on a weekly basis, more money, and nearly a full time job.
Sometimes, blogs and websites will have incentivized guest writers but for the most part, they are free. But it’s a good way to get your own name on big websites, gain a backlink, and maybe parlay it into a paid gig.
My biggest tip is to follow the instructions! Every website has guidelines for what they want from guest post-er’s yet very few follow their rules.
If they say your piece needs to be 1,000 to 1,500 words, keep it in that range. Don’t submit a 500 word junk article or 2,500 word mega post. Clients want to see you can follow instructions!
Otherwise, there is really no downside to submitting these types of posts to grow your portfolio and freelance career. They help get your name out there and can easily parlay it into a paying position.
Lastly, for every blog guest post that is published, make sure you receive an author bio with links back to your writer website, portfolio, or social media profiles. This is how you can get “link juice” to your freelance writer’s website and gain exposure.
For more info, make sure to watch my YouTube video as well.
2. Social Media
Here’s the thing, resumes are dead.
I’m not one of those freelance writers who will tell you that you need a writing resume. I’ve never used one and never been asked for one.
Social media is the new resume. Don’t waste your free time with a formal written resume.
If you’re not showing up on social platforms, you are missing out.
Building a brand online is one of the best ways to stand out and separate yourself from so many other writers.
This doesn’t mean you have to post on every platform, do Instagram stories daily or create a YouTube channel. It just means that you need to show your face and keep your profiles up to date.
You want to control what people see online.
Remember, people buy (or in this case, hire) from people they like. It’s up to you, to make sure that your online brand helps people know, like and trust you.
I suggest getting started with LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram profiles.
You might be thinking… Instagram for freelance writers…really?
My answer…YES, YES, YES.
The world is living on Instagram, and that includes your clients. Most people spend a significant amount of their life scrolling on the gram. In fact, in 2018, they hit over one billion monthly active users.
Don’t believe me?
Look at this crazy graphic from Techcrunch about how Instagram monthly users are constantly increasing.
1. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is still one of the best places to find freelance writing gigs. I like to think of LinkedIn as Facebook for business.
The numbers don’t lie, check out some crazy facts from this Hootsuite survey:
- Two professionals join LinkedIn every second
- 3 million American jobs are posted on LinkedIn every single month
- 45% of LinkedIn users are upper management (aka decision makers)
As a freelance writer trying to land gigs, here is how you can crush it on LinkedIn:
- Optimize your profile: Add things like “freelance writer”, “writer”, “copywriter” and other search terms to your profile. This will help you get found in search results
- Have a professional photo: If you look at all my profiles, there is one photo across all of them. Do the same, so people easily recognize you on all social media. P.S. You don’t need a photo shoot, portrait mode works just fine!
- Share your content: If you get featured on big websites with your guest posts, share your content. Your followers can then like it, share it, and comment on it.
- Nail your “about” section: Make it clear in the first sentence who you are and what you do. Specify what type of writer you are and who you can help.
- Add jobs to your experience – If you become a regular contributor to a site, add it as a job experience. Share a few bullet points of what you do for the company and link to your best sample pieces.
Here is my LinkedIn profile for some inspiration to find writing work and your target client on LinkedIn:
2. Instagram
With so many people using Instagram every month, don’t neglect the platform. Here is how you make your Instagram profile attract high-paying clients.
- Have a business account: This is so easy yet few writers do it. Separate your personal life from your business account. Prospective clients don’t want to see 900 pictures of your kids (sorry). Use your full name as the handle or your LLC as well.
- Post relevant content: Remember, Instagram is a visual platform. Don’t screenshot your articles and expect people to double tap. Instead, post photos and captions (next point) that show off who you are. This will help get clients to know-like-trust you!
- Write epic captions: If you’re a writer, show it off in the captions! Post a relevant photo in your niche and then write a cool caption. Think of them as a mini sample of your style.
- Use the right #hashtags: Use hashtags that your ideal client would be searching for. Also, add hashtags like #freelancewriter #copywriter #writer #writersofinsta and others to your posts (15-20 is good).
- Optimize your profile: In your Instagram bio, make it clear what you do, who you can help, and share your writing website.
Check out my IG profile for some inspiration & follow: @iammichaelleonard
3. Twitter
Twitter is a great place to find freelance paying gigs. Plus, having a big following will help you gain leverage with clients as you can share with your audience.
There are even job boards on Twitter. I recommend following these accounts so you can see the most up to date listing on your social media feed.
Follow these job boards:
Here are my five biggest tips for Twitter:
- Add writer in your title: Use words like “Copywriter for Hire” or “Freelance Writer.”
- Link to your website or blog: Make sure to link to your freelance writing portfolio, so potential clients can see your work.
- Show off where you have been featured: I do this on LinkedIn, but recently changed my picture showcasing my podcast. Make sure to #humblebrag where your epic writing has been featured!
- Share your articles: You’re only on tweet away from sharing a viral post so link to your blog posts!
- Follow the job boards: Make sure to follow the five job boards above to maybe land a new gig.
Check out my Twitter profile for some inspiration:
For more information on dominating social media as a freelance writer, watch my full Youtube video.
3. Cold Pitching
I’m confident to say that cold pitching is the #1 way to land high-paying gigs!
Cold pitching separates writers who are making a $1,000 per month vs. $5,000+ plus each month.
Why?
Because when you are cold pitching, you are emailing (or calling) your ideal clients. You aren’t settling for the brands and websites who post on job boards or gigs on Upwork.
But for some reason, this scares the hell out of beginning writers (myself included).
But once I started cold pitching, my business blew up. I finally started finding companies that valued my work and paid me .20 cents or more per word.
So why is cold pitching so scary?
I think it’s because human beings hate being rejected. It sucks when you hear no, because most people think “I’m not good enough.”
This is a losing mentality that I once had as well. You can’t think like this if you want to really crush it as a freelance writer.
This fear holds so many people back from landing high-paying clients. But you can’t let it stop you.
Like Jack Canfield said, “Rejection is a myth, you never had it in the first place.”
Instead, you need to reframe rejection and start thinking of it as a good thing. Because the more “No’s” you hear, the sooner you will find someone saying YES!
Here is one client I routinely write for and charge around .25 cents/word. In about five hours, I can write five, 1,000-word blog posts and earn over $1,000!
Cold Pitching
Start by sending out personal emails to individuals and companies related to your niche. Find sites that you want to write for and think you could add value too.
Do some research on LinkedIn so you can find the right contact person. Don’t just say address it to “Office Manager” or something generic.
In the pitch, you want to keep it short but include:
- What you write about
- How you can help their business
- Links to your great work, your portfolio or samples
- Ask for a reply
I can’t stress the last part enough. Too many freelancers are too vague here and don’t end the pitch with a question.
After working in sales for seven years, I found that you don’t get what you don’t ask for. So make sure to ask if you can set up a call or if they are looking for writers.
Here’s a sample of one of my pitches when I was a rookie writer, cranking out cold pitch emails. This ended up landing me one of my first clients and boosted my confidence big time.
All I did was introduce myself, link to some blog posts, and let them know how I could help them out. I sent 50+ emails in a day!
4. Free and Paid Job Boards
Job boards or freelance marketplaces are another great (and free) way to get paid gigs.
Freelance marketplaces usually get paid by employers or take a fraction of the amount from your payment.
They are a slight upgrade from content mills. You get to choose what type of work and the amount of income you want to earn.
Overall, there is a lot more control with freelance marketplaces than content mills.
Freelance Marketplaces Overview
- A client will post writing assignments or jobs to the marketplace.
- Freelancers can bid on them through a contact form or email form.
- Typically, you will include samples, portfolios, and other resources to the client.
- Then, clients will sift through the applications and choose the freelancer he wants to hire.
ProBlogger Job Board
A great example of a freelance marketplace is ProBlogger.com. This is one of my favorite sports to find great writing gigs, but I will say, it is competitive.
So, when you are filling out marketplace applications, make sure to send a quality pitch. Try to fit the description of what they are looking because a lot of people are applying for that gig.
You need to find a way to stand out in the crowd of other freelancers!
Make the client understand how your work help them grow their business.
But remember, it is competitive. I once asked my golf writing client how many people applied.
You know what he said…?
Over 200 applicants!
For a golf blog writing gig…
Luckily, he liked my pitch, story, and golf samples. Now, I would consider him a friend and one of my favorite clients.
The longer we have worked together, the more work he has given me too. Here are some of the paychecks I get from clients I’ve landed on job boards.
Don’t forget to share your story, people will love finding out more about you!
So even if the odds are against you, make sure to create a customized pitch. It’s worth your time so you can stand out against other writers and send a unique pitch.
There’s no sign-up process and you don’t create a profile. Just find a job that fits your skills and apply online. Another cool feature – the site includes resources that bloggers can use to improve their own blog.
Contena
Contena is another great place to find a ton of writing opportunities online. Disclaimer: This is a paid membership site but it’s well worth it.
Contena is a great site because they provide you with the most up-to-date job listing information without making you scour job boards. Because remember, when you’re searching for leads, you aren’t making money!
Plus, when you sign up with Contena, you get a ton of writing bonuses. They have their own online course, writing pitch templates, and even some coaching as well.
Your coach can review your portfolio, make recommendations, and even send pitch samples too. This is a huge bonus that I haven’t seen anywhere else!
Thanks to Contena, I landed a golf blog in the first month that paid for the entire membership alone. Not to mention, it’s been one of my favorite clients yet.
So yes, it does cost, but it will save you time and speed up the entire process. Plus, they even have writing courses to help your freelance career too.
—>Get started with Contena today!
Freelance Writing Gigs
Freelance Writing Gigs, simplifies writing gigs from Craigslist into one daily blog post. This is huge as it’s a massive pain to try and find “legit” writing opportunities on Craigslist.
Plus, you can still search for different categories and different locations, too.
While the site tries to reduce bogus listings, make sure you’re still looking into the client hiring you so you aren’t scammed. There is always some sketchy listings on Craigslist so make sure to do your homework.
I will say, I’ve yet to use Craigslist but wanted to include as a lot of writers have used it.
BloggingPro
Blogging Pro is a great job board that very easy to find new freelance writing gigs. The site gets updated almost daily with new online writing gigs for all areas of expertise.
I used this site to help land some of my first clients and have found it super helpful.
You can use their easy to search tool to find writer positions, editors, and even long-term jobs. Plus, they also have a good amount of resources to level up your skills.
All Freelance Writing
All freelance writing job board posts jobs within the last 30 days. This is helpful as it makes it easy to find the most up-to-date jobs. Some boards do 90 days, which is a huge waste of time.
Another huge perk is using its price filter. You can quickly scan the pay range and see if clicking on the listing is even worth it. The site’s very clean and easy to use as well!
Upwork Freelance Writing Jobs
Alright, the last method (and one of the easiest) to land freelance writing gigs is Upwork.
If you do a quick search on Google or YouTube, you will find there is a love/hate with the site and freelancers. Some find it helpful while, others in the industry hate it.
So is Upwork a scam?
No!
It is just a different type of freelance writing job board. Unlike others, you have to give a portion of your earnings to the company for getting to use their platform. It’s a helpful solution to wasting time submitting leads on a bunch of other platforms.
Here is their updated pricing model for freelancers:
Do I recommend Upwork then?
Yes and no. First off, I love how easy it is to get started and the navigation is simple.
You can create a profile today and start applying for gigs in just a few minutes. You can build momentum and get your first writing gig relatively easily.
The ease of use is by far the biggest perk. There is no barrier to entry, just create a free profile and start pitching!
Here is my first blog writing gig on the site. While it wasn’t life-changing money, it did help me build momentum.
The biggest downside is that there are a lot of low-paying jobs. But like I tell all my students of Freelance to 5K, don’t say yes to jobs that have super low pay!
That’s what always makes me laugh. So many freelancers whine about the site on YouTube.
So don’t take the gig if the rates are super low… It’s as simple as that! Instead, find jobs that can help you make a few bucks and further your writing career.
Set Writing Goals
Alright, at this point you should have a great mindset, an epic writing website, and the top five ways to land gigs. The next part is putting it all together and getting yourself out there.
Set Income Goals
Before getting started, ask yourself, what is your goal? Do you want to make a few hundred bucks for a car payment or another expense? Or do you want to make $5,000 or more each month?
I’ve found that when you set income goals, you will stay motivated. Having a tangible, revenue goal will help you stay focused and keep attracting new people to your brand.
Set Pitch Goals
Once you have a clear income goal, start setting daily and weekly goals. By chunking down your goals into smaller tasks, it’s less scary.
I’ve found that so many writers don’t ever get started because they get scared or overwhelmed. So keep it simple and break down your goals.
Schedule Time
If you’re like most writers, you will start your writing outside your 9-5, which means your time is limited. It’s important to schedule your time each day and week.
Don’t forget, time is the one thing you can never get back! You can always generate more income, but you can’t ever get your precious time back.
Whether it’s before work, at lunch, in the evening or on the weekends, schedule your business time in advance. This will help you stay accountable and committed to reaching your income goals.
7 Best Writing Tips
Alright, now that you know how to land writing gigs, it’s time to deliver on your end of the deal.
Landing paying gigs is step one, step two is delivering high-quality work. The goal is to keep them for long-term so you can get recurring work.
Remember, you aren’t getting paid when you are searching for people to work with. You are only getting paid when you submit your invoices and someone hits “Pay.”
I want to really stress this point because I lost a huge client at the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey.
After months (literally months), 10+ emails, and two paid sample posts, I finally landed this epic gig. This was back in February 2018.
It was my dream client. It was a $3,000 per month retainer deal where I was ghostwriting content for a millionaire, best-selling author in the personal development niche.
I signed an NDA, so I can’t discuss who it was, but I will say he’s a very big name in the industry. Plus, I loved his content.
Needless to say, it didn’t work out and it was hard to deal with. 99% of it was my fault as a rookie writer.
I didn’t communicate enough.
I didn’t deliver proofread enough.
This led to getting “ghosted” aka fired without knowing it. That sucked!
So I don’t want this to happen to you.
Here are some freelance writing tips and tools to avoid that awful situation. These tips will help you retain clients at a much higher rate.
1. Communicate Early and Often
This seems like a no-brainer freelance writing tip, but you would be surprised. A lot of clients tell me how other writers don’t reply for days!
If you’re just starting out, this is a recipe for disaster. If a client emails you, get back to them quickly.
That’s not to say you need to have notifications sent to your phone and respond 24/7/365. This isn’t a productive use of your time.
Instead, check your inbox 2-3 times per day for client emails. This is very important at the beginning because you are just cultivating your working relationship.
Also, if they want to set up a quick call or Zoom session, do it! If you’re a brand-new writer, stand out from the crowd.
As you become more successful, you can start charging per hour for calls/video, but you have to start somewhere.
2. Edit, Edit, & Edit Some More
Alright, now that you know how to land writing jobs, it’s time to deliver on your end of the deal.
Landing paying gigs is step one, step two is delivering high-quality work. The goal is to keep them for long-term so you can get recurring work.
Remember, you aren’t getting paid when you are searching for people to work with. You are only getting paid when you submit your invoices and someone hits “Pay.”
I want to really stress this point because I lost a huge client at the beginning of my journey.
After months (literally months), 10+ emails, and two paid sample posts, I finally landed this epic gig. This was back in February 2018.
It was my dream client. It was a $3,000 per month retainer deal where I was ghostwriting content for a millionaire, best-selling author in the personal development niche.
I signed an NDA, so I can’t discuss who it was, but I will say he’s a very big name in the industry. Plus, I loved his content.
Needless to say, it didn’t work out and it was hard to deal with. 99% of it was my fault as a rookie writer.
I didn’t communicate enough.
I didn’t deliver proofread enough.
This led to getting “ghosted” aka fired without knowing it. That sucked!
So I don’t want this to happen to you.
Here are some tips and tools to avoid that awful situation.
3. Format Like a Pro
Everyone loves articles that are easy to read. They also love it if you match the existing articles they have on their site as their readers expect a certain format.
Spacing and formatting are two big pieces to start with. Remember, most people are reading on their smartphones so write accordingly.
Big blocks of texts will make them click away quickly! This increases bounce rates (which everyone should hate) and make you less valuable as a writer.
Ideally, 2-3 lines of text on a desktop is equal to 4-5 on a mobile device. Make sure that your writing structure is short and sweet.
To structure a blog post better and make it more readable, I recommend using:
- Videos
- Infographics
- High-quality images
- Numbered lists or bullet lists
- Subheadings (H2, H3, and H4’s)
These five things can help your content breathe and allow the reader to actually read the blog post effortlessly.
Also, if you upload the blog on to WordPress for clients, make sure to preview it as a reader. You want to make sure the blog post has plenty of room to breathe.
The better reader experience, the more they will stick around and keep reading.
4. Keep it Casual
Take a look at this blog post. Is it formal or casual?
I hope you say casual!
It’s not college, it’s okay to have a conversational tone for your writing.
Simply put, dumb down your blog writing.
Use short sentences, short paragraphs, and easy to read words. According to Contently, people read at the 4th-8th-grade level!
Remember, they are using your content to attract leads and grow their business. They want content that is easy to read and understand.
I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. Make sure that you use simple words and phrases so that your post and content is easy to read.
5. Always End With a CTA
Don’t you hate it when a great blog post suddenly ends?
No conclusion, no offer, no summary, no bullet points…all of a sudden, it’s just over!? As a reader, this is super frustrating.
As a writer, make sure you always have a clear CTA when you submit your finished product work. If you aren’t sure what to include, discuss with them beforehand.
Maybe you’re linking to an ebook, funnel, paid course, or engaging in the comment box.
Don’t forget formatting, too. As far as formatting goes, I prefer to have a new subheading with a conclusion phrase. Here’s how I word it:
- Final Thoughts
- Wrapping it Up
- Next Steps
Then I write a few sentences wrapping up what I wrote. For clients, I may expand on this and summarize key points in my post.
I then turn it around and ask a question to the audience as a way to start a conversation. This helps increase engagement and generate buzz about your topic.
6. Hit Your Deadlines
I’ve mentioned this a few times, but want to say it again. Always hit deadlines and submit them early if you can! This is an easy way to get a quick win in the beginning of a partnership as well.
Don’t forget that clients have publishing deadlines and if you’re late, they will get mad. Even if you submit the best article ever, being late doesn’t look good. Of course, life happens and things can change in your schedule, but make sure to communicate with the client.
7. Ask How You Can Help
Once you have some clients and have built rapport, ask them how you can help. Maybe they need help creating a lead magnet, coming up with copy for Facebook ads or help with their email list.
Almost every time I have asked a client how I can help them more, they give me more work or even a referral. Always be of service and I promise you can’t lose.
Related: Best Writing Tools to 10X Increase Productivity
How to Make Your First $1,000
Before answering a lot more detailed questions about freelancing, I want to highlight some success stories. Most of my new coaching students I work with and students of my course all ask the same question — “How do I land my first gig?”
Personally, I got my first paid client through Upwork. And I made my first $1,000 from a free guest post that turned into a paid client. If you want to learn how I made $7,000 in one month, watch this YouTube video.
Below is an interview series I did with a ton of different bloggers, writers, and entrepreneurs to show how they got started. Plus, how they made their first $1,000 as a freelance content writer, so new writers can get inspired:
Kelan & Brittany
“We landed our first writing client after we reached out to a brand about a possible sponsorship deal. At the time they were not offering any sponsorships so I asked about possibly writing for them.
Francesca
“I landed my first writing client by simply reaching out to them via email. I wanted to pitch to a site that I knew was doing really well and would therefore perhaps be looking for writers. It worked!
I then reached out to another blog in the same niche and secured that client too. It wasn’t too long before I had earned my first $1000 writing finance articles for others in my niche. I love writing and
could do it all day, every day!”
Francesca @ Pennies to Pounds
Drew
“I landed my first writing client from a thread in a Facebook group where someone had commented that they were looking for someone to write an article about their experience as a proofreader (and that the article would be paid).
After I completed that assignment and had made a few hundred dollars, I did some writing on a literary site and ghostwriting for a blog client, which helped push me over the $1k threshold. Worth noting that I achieved that working for $0.10 and $0.20/word and that those are approachable rates for beginning freelance writers. Freelance writing is a great side hustle to pursue and complete in just a few hours per day.”
– Drew @ Drew DuBoff
Arfa
“I got my first freelance writing client through networking or ‘word of mouth’. I also created an account on a freelancing site, Upwork. I made sure my profile was complete enough with relevant samples, and a winning pitch.
I strongly believe that a good pitch, and a website portfolio, can get you a well-paying gig. Fortunately, a client from Upwork booked me straight for 3 months and paid me more than $1000. But, I only got this client when I strictly narrowed my freelance writing niche, and managed to send few excellent samples.”
Arfa @ She Means Blogging
Tom
“I actually landed my first freelance writing gig when I was still in college. I was lucky to have a 4 month internship at a digital marketing company in my second year, and as I approached the end of my term, I realized that their remote writing team was in need of another writer for some upcoming projects.
I pitched the concept of me working remotely as a part-time writer to my boss, and he agreed to keep me on as a writer while I finished school. The role was different than that of my internship, but it was able to provide me with steady part-time work while I finished my degree.
The work wasn’t always glamorous, and I started out earning roughly $15/hour, but the path lead me to reach my first $1,000 in freelance writing income and got me started with paid writing in general. Never be afraid to ask for opportunities!“
Tom @ This Online World
Emma
“I landed my first client when my mom told her neighbor about my new writing business. She needed help with her realtor business’ social media and emailed me straight away. My first $1000 happened when I landed a gig I found on Craigslist for a cookbook–it’s the largest check I’ve received to date!”
Emma @ Emma Write Now
Jamie
“As a new writer, I found my first client on Upwork. I figured if I just kept sending proposals, eventually someone would hire me and I was offered a writing gig within a couple of days.
Once I started getting positive reviews and had some samples to show potential clients, it was easy to begin slowly raising my rates. My goal was to earn $250 per week and I earned my first $1,000 within my first full month of freelancing.”
Jamie @ Jamie Johnson Writes
McKinzie
“My first freelance client was someone that I had already been doing freelance social media work for (this client was referred to me by a family friend). I had been blogging for years and explained to the business owner how much of an impact relevant quality content could have for their e-commerce site.
Based on my previous work he took my word for it and allowed me to start writing the first blog posts for his brand. “
McKinzie @ Moms Make Cents
Veneta
“I landed my first writing gig through the ProBlogger job board. It was a low-paying gig (only 3 cents per word) but it taught me a lot about SEO.
I didn’t start making good money until I took an excellent course on becoming a freelance writer and narrowed down my niche. When I started networking in Facebook groups, at conferences, and in person, I quickly made my first $1,000. I ended up quitting my full-time job and replacing my salary in three months with freelance work.”
Veneta @ Becoming Life Smart
Thomas
Gina
“My first writing client was referred to me by a fellow freelancing friend in one of my facebook groups. She had a lot of projects and wanted to know if I’d want to help, which of course I did.
I completed a couple of projects for the client. Meanwhile, I started pitching to money-related online publications and reached out to contacts for which I had become an expert source and asked if they were looking for freelancers.
Turns out they did and I’ve been working with them and others ever since, earning my first $1,000 as a freelance writer and have been growing my revenue each month since then.”
Gina @ The Frugal Convert
Khanyi
“I landed my first writing client through ProBlogger. It was a pregnancy site and I had very little writing experience with no live links to published work at the time. What worked for me was that I shared a little bit of my personality and writing style when pitching.
To reach my first $1,000, I set up my website, started guest posting, and changed my niche to something I also enjoy but pays better (I now write content for online businesses and entrepreneurs).”
Khanyi @ Iconic-Writing
Debbie
“I found my first freelance client by attending a local blogging group. As members learned that I knew how to do SEO, some of them hired me to do some work for them and others hired me for 2 hour training sessions. This is how I got my first client and that gig was for $1,000.
Freelance Writing FAQs
At this point, you’re probably thinking…“How much money do freelance writers make?”
This depends on so many things like:
- Your work ethic
- Monthly income goals
- Which niche you choose
- Number of hours per week
- Technical writing vs. casual writing
- SEO writing vs. more informational content (the better your SEO writing skills, the more you will get rewarded by new clients)
If you’re motivated and willing to get better, pitch more, and write more, you can make great income.
As I mentioned, I earn between $5-7K per month (sometimes more) depending on my work load. Most of this weekly blog writing, eBooks, and lead magnets.
I would spend more time on it, but my goal isn’t to scale. I am focused on helping more people learn how to get paid to write and growing my podcast.
With entry level writing jobs, you can make a few hundred dollars per project. But some freelance writers make huge amounts of income who do it full-time and put in a ton of hours.
With more experience, you can charge up to a $1 per word and can make $200,000 or more. When you start out and don’t have any experience, I wouldn’t expect these results overnight.
But while there is no freelance salary, there is an unlimited opportunity if you are willing to put in the work.
How can I make $100,000 writing?
There are tons of ways to become a freelance writer who earns six figures per year!
Here is an exact breakdown of how you can make a life-changing $100,000 per year as a writer:
Are there any easy freelance writing jobs to get started?
In general, I think that job boards are the best place to get started. But they aren’t “easy” since so many freelancers apply.
Crafting a compelling pitch is key to landing gigs in a crowded market. I recommend trying a mix of Upwork, cold-pitching, and job boards.
If you can land a gig as a recurring blog writer, you can easily make $1,000+ per month with paid writing opportunities.
What is the difference between content writing vs. copywriting?
Many aspiring writers don’t understand the difference between these two writing services so don’t worry about it.
Check out the graphic below for a quick breakdown of the two:
What are the best freelance jobs with no experience required?
Before cold pitching clients, I’d recommend job boards like Problogger or Upwork. If you don’t have experience or a freelance portfolio (yet), it’s hard to get clients initially.
This is why it’s so important to build your portfolio, guest post on blogs, and get your name out there. And the most important thing is to just start.
Once you start making writing a habit and land your first gig, you will get motivated to keep going!
How do I get my first freelance writing job?
The best way to get your first gig is to start applying. Quit thinking about it and start doing it!
Action creates clarity and helps build momentum.
Being a freelance writer is just like sales, it’s simply a numbers game. You have to put yourself out there, quit fearing rejection, and simply keep pitching/applying.
The more you pitch or apply for gigs, the higher the likelihood you will snag your first paying client.
How do freelance writers get paid?
If you’re like most people, you’re probably thinking to yourself…“How do you actually get paid.”
Every client has a different invoicing and payment system. If you use Upwork, you must get paid through them. Otherwise, you could get kicked off the site.
But when you land clients any other way, it’s up to you and the client to decide. For 99% of my writing jobs, I either use Freshbooks or PayPal Business.
Payment schedule differs as well. Some of my clients pay the same day I submit my work while others do weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.
Personally, I’ve found bi-monthly invoicing to be the most convenient.
Is freelance writing is still a good way to make money online?
Yes, the good news is that this is a booming industry. Robots won’t replace writers anytime soon.
In fact, Upwork and Freelancers Union released an impressive study that found quite the opposite.
Do I need a degree to start a freelance writing career?
Absolutely not! This is one of the many reasons I think freelancing is great for college students.
You can start writing regardless of your education. Whether you’re a high school dropout, college student or have your masters, you can start.
I will say I have my bachelor’s degree, but I’ve never once told that to a client. Because it doesn’t matter, your niche experience and writing skills matter much more!
While almost anyone can become a freelance writer, you still need to learn the basics of creating content. You can’t expect to make money if you don’t email clients back, hate writing and spell awful. Sorry, this just isn’t the right fit for you.
But, if you find writing fun, you have the passion, motivation, and persistence to really do it, then you can absolutely succeed.
How much time does freelance writing take?
The time depends on where you’re at in your writing journey and what type of freelance goals you set. When you start as a writer, it will take longer until you learn the ropes.
When I first got started, I probably spent 20-30 hours each week (or more). This was because I was creating samples, guest blog posts, and hadn’t nailed my writing routine yet. Plus, I had to do a lot of research on some topics.
But after a few months, I was able to drastically speed up my writing routine. Since then, my time has reduced to 15-20 hours. Some weeks have more hours, some have less, depending on client deadlines.
Plus, different projects take different amounts of work. For example, video scripts might take a lot less time than white papers or a short ebook.
The more you work as a writer, the quicker and easier projects, research, and editing will become.
What is the difference between freelance writing vs. blogging?
This is a great question to ask as a new freelance writer!
Owning a blog (like this one) vs. being a writer for clients is very different. There are some similarities, but some major differences as well.
As a freelance writer, you write someone else’s content and get paid one time for your work. But you are also trading your time for a set rate (hourly or per project).
With a blog, you are writing your own content. It usually takes longer to monetize than freelancing but you can scale your income if you understand how to monetize your brand.
Watch this YouTube video about writing vs. blogging to learn which is the best option for you. (or click the image below).
Next Steps in Your Freelance Writing Business
Hopefully you enjoyed this epic guide and found clarity on the next steps. While it took some time, to write, I’m happy to talk about my story, give advice, and to help your career.
Remember, you can become a freelance writer!
Even if you don’t have any experience building a freelance writing business yet.
If you have made it this far and apply what has been discussed, I know you can get paid to write. As I’ve said time and time again, if I can earn an income as a writer, you can too!
Being a writer isn’t rocket science, but it does require the right mindset plus strategies and tactics. There are so many great freelance writing jobs from home if you know where to look and how to land them.
Once you get it down, it’s simply rinse and repeat. In my opinion, freelance content writing is the best and easiest side hustle / online business.
Being a writer has changed my life and I want to help you get these types of results as well.
What other business can you 10X in one year, working part-time, with skills you already have?
Here is a quick recap of how to start living the writer life:
- Start taking action
- Set all types of goals
- Believe you can pull it off
- Build a writing website/blog to build authority
- Write samples and build your portfolio & expertise
- Pitch clients and apply for gigs to get your first client
- Deliver high-quality work and always hit your deadlines
- Keep setting income goals, don’t get complacent, and learn new skills with each writing assignment
- Cold Pitching Tutorial For Freelance Writers – 5 EASY Steps to Land Clients! - March 25, 2021
- Upwork Proposal Tips For Copywriters - March 11, 2021
- Upwork Profile Tips - February 2, 2021
Absolutely incredible post Michael. This is definitely the most comprehensive guide I’ve ever seen on how to get started with freelance writing, and I appreciate being able to contribute a small blurb on how I reached my first $1,000 in writing revenue!
Thanks so much Tom, really appreciate that! I realized it took like a month to finally finish but think it’ll be helpful for years to come. Thanks again for helping contribute.
Great post. Thanks for the feature. This one’s going to be bookmarked as I’m sure I’ll keep coming back to it for reference.
No problem, thanks for helping contribute! I really appreciate it 🙂
This is an incredible post, Michael! Such a masterpiece on freelance writing. The way you’ve broken down this guide into different sections and even, the most asked questions is awesome. Definitely a go-to guide for any beginner freelancer who’s looking to get started and make some real money. Also, I would like to thank you for featuring me in your post and sharing how I made my first $1000 😉
Thanks so much Arfa, I really appreciate the nice comment. I’ve tried to make it a step by step guide to freelance writing to help others get started. Thanks again for contributing to this freelance writing post 🙂
All great tips, Michael!
I have been thinking for a while to create “hire me” page and introduce my services to the audience. And then somehow I landed here today and got a push for myself to get started with that. I am going to refer this article while creating the page on my blog, you’ve just helped me 🙂
Thanks, have a good day!
Awesome – glad it was helpful. Thanks so much for reading!
Michael,
This COVID-19 pandemic greatly encourages the remote jobs – especially freelance writing and proofreading professionals are on high demand.
Couldn’t agree more!
This is a great post, it is super informative and helpfully breaks down SEO for beginners. Thanks for sharing
Awesome thanks for reading!
That is a great piece of writing Michael. Freelance Writing is one of the best ways to get work even in lockdown during pandemic. I have been working as a content writer for so many companies and found it quite impressive job . Initially, i find it difficult to get the freelance work but after 3 months of struggle and i am getting the work frequently. Thanks for sharing your story as well.
Regards,
Ovais
Great to hear, thanks so much for letting me know. Congrats on the success!
This is such a great post, and was thinking much the same myself. Another great update.