How to Find Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners

Freelance writing jobs for beginners

Growing up, I always loved to read. Novels, magazines, anything that had a captivating title, I would grab it and spend hours reading till I finished.

In high school, English was my favorite subject.

I may not have books published under my name, but I chose the freelance writing path. And, I’m loving it.

Being able to put my thoughts, and share ideas with others with the hope of helping someone solve a problem is quite fulfilling.

Maybe you’ve been wondering how to venture into freelance writing as a beginner with no experience. If you love writing, and have a way with words, freelance writing is a career worth considering.

In this article, we are going to cover a few things, that hopefully will be a guide to help you start your freelance writing career.

What does a freelance writer do?

Freelance writing, is the art of writing content with the intent of making money out of it.

A freelance writer, is a person, who writes from the comfort of their home or co-working space and not in a company setting.

As a freelance writer, your client determines what content you are going to produce at that particular time.

As a freelance writer, you may be needed to write articles, blogs, email copy, newsletters, press releases among other things.

Is Freelance Writing Legit?

Freelance writing is a legitimate way to make money online. As a freelance writer you can choose to treat this as a side hustle or earn a full-time wage freelance writing for companies and individuals. A freelance writer can write marketing content, website content, email copy, social media posts, case studies and blog posts.

How Do I Start Freelance Writing as A Beginner?

While some careers may require one to have a degree in order to pursue, freelance writing is more about your passion.

Your skills. That go getter attitude. Being open to learn the ever-changing landscape of content writing will help you grow your career as a freelance writer.

How To Start Your Freelancing Writing Career In 4 Steps

The beauty of freelancing writing is that you don’t need a set of specific qualifications to start, neither do you need to have studied the subject you are going to write about.

Having knowledge in a specific field will give you a competitive edge in writing great copy but its not a must have to qualify and land jobs.

As long as your writing style is engaging, you should be on your way to winning freelance writing jobs for beginners.

Here are a few simple steps to help you get started as a freelance writer:

1. Choosing your niche

As much as you are freelancing and can write about anything and for anyone, niching out will make it easier for you.

A great way to choose your niche, is by looking at what you are knowledgeable about. Choosing your passion, hobby, or interest will translate to less time spent on research and more in crafting great content. Looking for ideas on what your niche can be about? Here are some few topics you can brainstorm on and make a choice:

• Crocheting
• Crafting
• Fitness
• Parenting
• Recipes
• Budgeting
• Travel

2. Your portfolio

Having a portfolio is key to finding work as a beginner freelance writer. There are several ways in which you can create a portfolio as a freelance writer. You can guest write for online magazines or other blogs.

Write your sample work and share it with friends and family and have them critique it. This will help you to grow and polish your work. You can use your work samples when pitching for paid work.

Having a sample helps your potential client to gauge on whether you are a good fit for their particular project.

3. Create your blog.

To become a freelance writer, its critical to have an online presence. Having your own blog is one way in achieving this. A blog gives you a platform to share your work and get feedback from your readers.

If you are not interested in setting up a blog, you can choose to share your thoughts on platforms such as LinkedIn and Medium.

You don’t need to spends thousand setting up a blog. There are several free options that you can start with and grow from there. This includes setting up a blog on Wix, Blogspot or WordPress.  

4. Tools

As a freelance writer, you will need to invest in a few tools to make sure your copy meets the right standards.

Grammar tools, knowing how to proofread and learning some SEO shouldn’t miss out on your list.

How Do I Start Writing an Article?

Your title. When writing an article, you should put a lot of thought into what your article title will be. Your title should be able to tell your reader what to expect from the article.

Introduction. It sounds obvious, but mastering how to write an introduction can make a big difference. Many people tend to think that an introduction is just a small detail and doesn’t really matter.

The truth is, that small detail makes the difference between having a high bounce rate and having readers who are engaged and want to read to the very end.

We all want engaged readers, so work on your intro to be as captivating as you can. Let it make the reader want to know more about the topic you are covering.

Main content. This is where you delve into the details. Add some meat to the bones. Give your reader a reason why they should come back and check out your other articles.

This is your chance to give value to your reader. Go into details. Expound on those points that you mentioned in your introduction. Support them with examples and resources so that your reader has a variety to compare.

Conclusion. Your article conclusion should be about two to three paragraphs. This is where you sum up what you’ve written in your main content. Create a conclusion that will stick with the reader. Something that has an impact. This is where you share your call to action. What do you want your reader to do?

How Much Do Beginner Freelance Writers Make? 

Whether you are a beginner freelancer writer who wants to know how much they will earn or you are just interested in knowing what your competitors are making, there’s one question that’s on every freelancer’s mind.

How much do writers get paid?

The answer is, it depends.

Freelancer writers get paid in different ways, and there’s no single one fit all formula to come up with an exact figure. There are freelance writers who charge per hour, per word, per page, project basis, etc.

How much do you charge for a 1000 word article?

We have a few numbers that can help guide you.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, writers and authors earned a median pay of $63,200 per year in 2019. This translates to $30.39 per hour.

At Payscale.com the rates go down a little with the pay ranging from $24k – $113k, with an average hourly rate for a freelance writer at $23.44

As mentioned earlier, there’s no single figure that can be used and the rates keep fluctuating as witnessed from the two websites above. However, if you choose to niche, you may earn more or less depending on your niche.

As per the BLS website, reporters earn less, while public relations and fundraising managers and technical writers have a chance of earning more.

The Editorial Freelancers Association has some interesting data too. According to their data, writers in Medical/STEM and business/sales earn more than those who write fiction. The rates range between $.09 – $.50 per word, with the hourly rate ranging between $51-$70 per hour.

How Do I Get My First Freelance Writing Job?

As a newbie freelance writer, your biggest worry might be, how to land your first client.

If you are a beginner freelance writer, we are going to cover a few ways in which you can actually start and make money as a freelance writer, and turn this into a steady side hustle.

1. Cold Pitching.

This may sound scary and a hard way to go about landing your first freelance writing gig, but trust me if done right, it’s worth it.

What is cold pitching?

Cold pitching is about reaching out to your prospects who have no idea who you are. These could be small business owners, start-ups, bloggers, and companies, letting them know how your freelancing writing can help them grow their brand.

How to conduct a successful cold pitch

Before you sit down to write that amazing email to send out, you need to have leads. You need email addresses or names of people you are going to reach out to.

Where to find business to cold pitch.

Look for companies that don’t have a web presence. Or their website content needs some updating. Think about your local brick and mortar store that could benefit from selling their products online. Reach out to them and offer your services, detailing how your copywriting will bring some life to their business.

In your pitch, don’t forget to mention how you found out about them or their business, who you are and what it is you are offering their business.

2. Search on Twitter

This social platform can turn into a goldmine if used correctly.

If you are looking for freelance writing jobs, don’t ignore twitter. If you don’t have an account over there, you need to create one. Search on Twitter using hashtags such as #writingjob and filter through the results to find those looking to hire.

Another great way is following twitter accounts for freelance writing job boards as they often update their feed with new listing. Here’s one account you may want to check out and follow @FreelanceWJ

3. Talk to Family and Friends

Your family and friends may not necessarily be your target market, but that shouldn’t stop you from talking to them and letting them know you are venturing into freelance writing.

As a new writer, working on your friend’s resumes can help you jump start your career as a freelance writer. And, getting the word out there through them can help you land gigs and get testimonials that you can share in future.

4. Set Up Your Website

As a beginner freelance writer, you may be tight on funds and not in a position to create a professional looking website. This should not deter you from giving it a try.

You can try the DIY route and start with a simple website where you can offer your services as a freelance writer and work on it over time. As your audience grows and you establish yourself, a self-hosted website on WordPress will be a good choice for creating a professional website.

5. Guest Posting

Guest posting is another great way to market yourself as a freelance writer. The beauty of guest posting, and especially if you go for well known brands, is that you’ll have hundreds if not thousand of people reading your content.

And out of this, you are likely to land a quality client. Someone who already saw your content and loved it.

Where do you guest post? Google is your best bet in finding who is looking for a freelance writer to guest post. If you go to Google and type in your niche + write for us, you should come up with a few leads. Before reaching out, make sure to read their rules of engagement.

Here are the results for “freelancing + write for us”

6. Job Boards

Pitching on job boards is another good option to finding freelance writing jobs especially if you are new to freelancing. Job boards provide a great place to find quality jobs. There are free and paid job boards. As a beginner, I would recommend you go for the free job boards for a start.

Problogger, Contena, and Blogging Pro are good job boards you can start checking out.

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Start Freelance Writing Today

I’ve covered some of the basics that you need to start freelance writing as a beginner. Find some well-paying jobs and earn that freedom that you have been craving for a long time.

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