How to Become a Freelance Writer: Step-by-Step Guide to Score Paid Online Writing Jobs

Write for the Web

Writing content for the web is different than any type of writing you may have done in school. Did you know that the average internet user leaves a web page in just 10 to 20 seconds? This means you have just a few seconds to gain your reader’s attention and persuade them to stick around.

First, your content should be clear, simple, and effective. Readers don’t want to struggle to understand what you’re saying. Use a conversational tone that is personable, yet professional. Use short paragraphs and minimize the use of unnecessary words. Phrases like due to the fact or in order are almost always unnecessary and can usually be replaced with the word to with zero impact on the sentence’s meaning.

Get your message across in the first paragraph. Readers tend to scan pages rather than read them in full. Include your main idea or answer the question being asked in the title in the first paragraph. For example, if you’re writing a blog titled “Can Dogs Eat Bananas?”, you’ll want to provide the answer in the introduction paragraph.

Next, cover only one topic per paragraph. Using the last example, “Can Dogs Eat Bananas?”, your next paragraph may cover whether bananas are good for dogs, followed by another paragraph on how to safely prepare bananas for dogs.

Whenever possible, use lists to make your content easier to scan. Once again using my previous example, you could create a list of other fruits that dogs can eat. Lists can be created in two primary ways: bullet points or numbered lists. Need help improving your writing? Check out this book!

Create a Writing Portfolio

Before applying for any writing gigs, you’ll want to have an impressive writing portfolio prepared. A writing portfolio is essentially a collection of writing samples that you can share with potential clients. Whether you’re aiming to become a blogger, ghostwriter, copywriter, or journalist, a portfolio should put your skills and experience in the best light possible.

As a contract writer, you’ll likely be meeting the bulk of your clients online. This means that your portfolio must be available via the Internet. Creating your own website is the best option as it gives you the most control over how your portfolio appears to potential clients.

If you don’t want to shell out the cash for hosting, have a free platform host it for you. Platforms like WordPress and Wix offer free tools that allow you to make a website in less than an hour. Here’s our complete list of free platforms where you can showcase your freelance writing portfolio online.

Your writing portfolio should include a brief bio. This is where you can introduce yourself to potential clients. Consider adding where you’re from, the subjects or topics you prefer to cover, any academic writing credentials or notable publications you may have, and any awards you’ve won. You can also include a professional photograph of yourself which can make your page appear more personable.

The most important element of a writing portfolio is the samples. You want to include a minimum of three writing samples in your portfolio, but you can include more if you’d like. Ideally, you want your portfolio to show a variety of writing styles or topics. Ensure that your samples are well-written, contain proper spelling and grammar, and are highly engaging. Here we go more in-depth on how to create a winning writing portfolio.

Learn About SEO

Creating quality content is just the first step in developing engaging content. Writers must also implement marketing strategies to draw in readers using targeted terms (keywords) and phrases (keyphrases). This is essentially the idea behind search engine optimization (SEO).

SEO is the process of using keywords and keyphrases to improve the performance of a website and gain better visibility in search engines. Perform a basic search on Google and you’ll find that the results are split into two main categories: ads and organic results.

As the name suggests, ads are advertisements that people pay for, also known as Google Ads. Organic results, on the other hand, are based entirely on the quality of the content. SEO allows you to get your content at the top of the organic search results.

SEO is an excellent way to attract traffic, customers, new leads, and revenue to an online business. However, SEO is not as easy as throwing a few common terms and phrases into your content. It is essential to perform keyword research to determine a particular term’s monthly search volume and other metrics. If you’re new to SEO, consider reading up on the subject.

Choosing keywords is more of an art than a science. Ideally, you want to find low-competition terms that can be sprinkled throughout your content. Over time, you can advance to more competitive keywords to help draw in a larger audience. Check out our beginner’s guide to SEO to learn how to create SEO-friendly content.

Secure Your First Client

Landing your first client as a freelance writer is exciting. However, it can take some work and patience to find decent writing gigs. Search ‘writing from home jobs’ or ‘copy writing jobs’ and you’ll find dozens of pages of results. Unfortunately, not all jobs are worth the time or effort. The most successful online writers are selective in their bids. Choose projects that best suit your expertise and writing style to gain an advantage in the bidding war.

Writing a strong proposal can help you stand out from the competition on even the best freelance writing sites. Start by reading the brief carefully to gain a better understanding of what the client is looking for. Pay attention to details and take a few moments to learn about what the company does. Include these details in your submission to show that you’ve done your research and are willing to put in the work.

There are many ways that you can find freelance writing jobs in this day and age. With the growth of the internet, remote freelance writing jobs are everywhere but it may take perseverance to secure the best gigs. Start with a few job boards, such as the Smart Blogger Jobs Board or ProBlogger Jobs.

You can also secure freelance copywriting jobs without having to bid at all. Are there websites that you frequent that commonly have misspellings or grammar mistakes? Reach out to these websites and politely offer your services. Businesses that run blogs are always on the lookout for great writers to take over some of their workloads.

Another place to find jobs includes writing platforms. These freelance writer platforms are generally free to sign up for, but you may be required to take a short test to show your skills.

Once you are a member of a freelance writing site, you’ll have access to a job board where you can either take available jobs or submit a proposal to the client. These freelance writing sites generally take a percentage of any money you earn for connecting you with their clients. Here we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the best freelance writing sites on the web.

Build Up Clientele

Building up a clientele is one of the toughest parts of becoming a freelance writer. There is no guarantee that your clients will stick around, and many will simply disappear without warning. Having several clients is critical to ensure that you always have money coming in even if you lose a client or two.

Many freelance writers have had success with cold pitches. While this isn’t the most enjoyable task, it can get results. When writing cold pitches, you’ll want to keep your correspondence short, professional, and to the point. Clients and editors don’t have time to read long emails so immediately say what you want and why.

Until you’ve built up a steady stream of clients, you’ll need to stalk freelance writing job boards and writing websites. Small businesses and companies are always posting job ads and you’ll want to ensure you’re one of the first to submit a bid.

If you haven’t already, create a LinkedIn page. With a professional LinkedIn page that describes your writing experience, background, and services, clients will start coming to you. Add potential clients as LinkedIn connections to start building a network and establish yourself as a freelance writer.

Word of mouth continues to be an effective way to get work in nearly all industries, including freelance copyrighting and ghostwriting jobs. If you have clients that love your work, ask them to refer you to other clients. You can even sweeten the deal by offering discounted content for every referral they send your way.

Develop Business Skills

As a freelance writer, you are also a business owner and must develop certain business skills. First, you’ll need to set up an email that you can use to submit proposals, sign up for writing sites, and communicate with clients. Your business email should appear professional, such as your first and last name.

Next, decide how you will accept payments from clients. Many online clients pay via PayPal. Setting up a PayPal account takes just minutes and is free. You can also upgrade to a Business PayPal account at no charge. However, it is important to remember that PayPal may take a small percentage of your earnings as a fee. You can also request that your client pay you via check.

Finally, you’ll want to set up a system for keeping track of clients and orders. This could be as simple as an Excel spreadsheet with columns for in-progress, completed, and pending projects, and another spreadsheet for sent, pending, and received payments. If you have a lot of clients or projects to monitor, consider professional accounting software like QuickBooks.

Market Your Writing

Like most online ventures, freelance writing does not follow a “build it and they will come” approach. Instead, you must continually market your services and create a name for yourself in the industry. As previously discussed, a website that showcases your experience and skills is a great start. However, there are other ways to market your writing online.

Social media has become a lucrative tool for article writers. Today, freelance writers have the opportunity to show their skills on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok. Use these free platforms to market your services or place links to your latest published blogs and articles.

You can also get your name out there by guest posting on other websites with a link back to your website or writing portfolio. Learn how to get started with guest posting with our beginner’s guide to guest posting online.

Find a Quiet Spot to Work

Freelance requires an eye for detail, creativity, and most of all, concentration. This means that you need a quiet spot where you can work and have access to the right equipment and tools.

In my new home, I have a designated office where I can close the door and work in peace. However, I wasn’t as blessed in some of my prior homes and worked at my kitchen table or even on my sofa. If you absolutely cannot find a quiet place at home to work, consider working at your local public library or coffee shop.

As far as what you’ll need before you can accept paid online writing jobs, a must is a reliable computer. This could be a desktop at home or a laptop that you can carry with you. I suggest investing in a quality (yet affordable) laptop that will last, such as an Apple MacBook or HP Pavilion. Remember that your new computer and other writing supplies can be used as deductions on your taxes!

Having the right computer software is also important for a freelance writer. You’ll be spending a lot of time online, which puts you at risk for viruses, ransomware, and other threats. Consider investing in reputable antivirus software, such as Norton 360 Deluxe.

While not essential, having writing software tools can make life a lot easier, especially if you have trouble with spelling and punctuation. I personally have a subscription to Microsoft 365 which includes Microsoft Word which I use to write every piece of content I produce. Microsoft Word offers a variety of tools, such as spell check, header styles, highlighting, and other functions that help make my content appear neat and professional.

Get Paid Writing

What is the most common question that people ask when learning about freelance writing: How much do online writers make? The answer to this question can vary considerably.

I’ll be honest and say that when I first got into freelance writing over 15 years ago, I was making just a few dollars per article. However, as I gained experience and confidence in the industry, my income significantly increased to allow me to make a comfortable full-time income.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average freelance writer’s salary is $68,690 per year or approximately $33 per hour. However, how much you make will depend on whether you work part-time or full-time, how dedicated you are to building your clientele, and the types of projects you accept. As a freelance writer, you are your own boss and are in control of your income.