How to Find Freelance Writing Jobs – The Complete Guide

How to find freelance writing jobs that pay well? 

It’s the first question that popped into my head when I was contemplating becoming a full-time content writer. 

I started my quest by running a quick Google search for some tips and insights. Unfortunately, most of the guides on freelance writing that are available online don’t offer effective practical solutions.

Have you faced this problem too? I know, it’s disheartening.

However, the good news is that the landscape of freelance writing has evolved for the better. 

The advent of freelance marketplaces and social media platforms has made it possible for writers to work with clients from across the globe. 

What’s more? 

If you continue to impress your clients with excellent work, you will likely build a long-term relationship with them.

Nevertheless, if you’re a novice writer, the thought of finding freelance writing jobs can be daunting. 

That’s why I’ve compiled a list of the techniques I used to find writing jobs as a beginner.

However, before delving deeper, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of what freelance writing entails.

So, let’s dive in.

Decoding Freelance Writing: What is it all About?

The best part about being a freelance writer is that you can work at your convenience. You get to choose your clients and work anytime from anywhere. 

And that’s not all.

You can also negotiate the payment terms and work on a diverse array of projects. However, you must consistently deliver high-quality content and adhere to deadlines.

Typically, as a freelance writer, you’ll find the following types of projects:

• Ghostwriting – You’re hired to write articles, blogs, e-books, etc. that’ll be formally credited to someone else.
• Blogging – You’re hired to write blog posts, articles, guides, etc. for a company/individual’s website and are credited for the same.
• Copywriting – This involves writing content and captions for websites, flyers, social media posts, infographics, and other marketing collaterals.

As a freelance writer, you’ll receive a mix of blogging, ghostwriting, and copywriting assignments. 

Blogging is a great way of building an impressive portfolio of published work samples. This, in turn, will help you woo prospective clients.

However, if you’re a beginner, you may not have a plethora of published content that’s credited to you. This can make it difficult to get blogging assignments. 

In such a scenario, you should consider ghostwriting to hone your writing skills and start earning money. 

What’s more? 

If you can impress these clients, they’ll likely recommend your services in their networks. In fact, till date, so many of my freelance writing projects are ghostwriting.

Now that you have a better understanding of freelance writing, you want to know where you can find high-paying clients. 

In the subsequent sections, I’ll share a detailed guide on WHERE and HOW to get freelance writing jobs. 

However, before you start looking for writing gigs, there are a few things you should take care of. 

Let’s take a quick look at them.

Prerequisites of Freelance Writing: How to Get Started

When I decided to become a professional content writer, I started out on Upwork as I wasn’t sure of what to do. 

But now that I have the experience, I know exactly what NEEDS to be DONE.

You need to start building your credibility and online presence. This is something I started doing fairly late.

But it went a long way to help me attract the right clients. 

Before you embrace freelance writing, here are a few things you should consider:

Niche

If you want to become a freelance writer, you can’t be a jack of all trades. I mean, you can, to a certain extent, but you must have one niche where you’re an expert.

You must carefully evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, and interests to select a niche you’re passionate about. 

What’s more?

You must find out whether the selected niche has plenty of high-paying clients. This, in turn, will give you a clear idea of the type of organizations/individuals you want to work with.

Portfolio

The best way to win the trust of a potential client is to give them a glimpse of the work you’ve already done. 

That’s why you must build an impressive portfolio comprising your best work. 

If you don’t have plenty of published work, you can write a few sample articles and blog posts that are relevant in your niche. 

Remember, it’s crucial to showcase your writing prowess to your potential clients. Your writing is EVERYTHING.

Website & Blog

It’s crucial to build a simple yet attractive website to showcase your services, portfolio, and other details. 

The key is to give your prospective clients a clear idea of what you can offer.

So, what should you do?

Make sure you include a brief “About Me” section and a “Contact Me” section with your contact details. 

What’s more?

If you’ve worked with a few clients, ask for testimonials and display them on your website. These work as great proofs and bolster your credibility.

I’d also recommend that you create a blog and start publishing original and insightful content.

It’ll give your website increased visibility on search engines and help establish your authority as a writer. 

This is particularly crucial for new writers who don’t have a wide array of published work. 

But I’d recommend every writer to do this.

Social Media Profiles

Whether you want to write for investment banking firms or fashion brands, your prospective clients likely already use one or more social media platforms.

You must, therefore, build a strong and active presence on all the platforms that your clients use.

Why, you may ask?

This can position you as an expert who they should reach out to for freelance writing work.

So, how can you go about it?

Start with creating a business page on Facebook as well as profiles on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Depending on your niche, you might have to be present on other platforms such as Pinterest. Additionally, you must regularly publish engaging, insightful, and creative content to woo your audience. 

You can also leverage paid ads to maximize your reach and visibility.

In these profiles, make sure you CLEARLY highlight what you do and HOW you can help them.

Note how I’ve specified my profession in my LinkedIn profile and put a suitable cover photo as well.

Image via LinkedIn

Pitch

Finding and attracting several potential clients isn’t enough. 

If you want them to hire you, you must impress them with a powerful pitch. 

It’s crucial to understand that these people likely receive myriad proposals from aspiring writers every day. 

Therefore, you must ensure that your pitch is unique and to the point.

But how can you do so?

I recommend that you include the following things in your pitch:

• How you came across their company/contact details
• Why you’re writing to them
• How your writing skills can contribute to the overall growth of their company/website

And that’s not all.

You should also address the recipient by their name instead of using a generic “Hi there” or “Hello.” 

Also, make sure you include links to your website/blog, portfolio, and social media profiles. Lastly, don’t forget to add your digital signature and contact details. 

You should also personalize the pitch based on the recipient’s requirements and preferences.

Generic pitches go into the trash instantly. I can’t stress this enough.

So, are you ready with an outstanding pitch and portfolio? It’s now time for us to dig deeper and find out how to get freelance writing jobs.

How to Find Freelance Writing Jobs

Finding high-paying freelance writing jobs can be challenging, especially for newcomers. 

Creating a rock-solid pitch and impressive website won’t be of much use unless you can showcase them to prospective clients. 

The key is to know where to start and look into the right platforms.

Here are a few tried and tested techniques I’ve often used to find freelance writing jobs and GET them successfully:

1. Check Job Boards Ads

Job boards are likely the first thing you’ll check when you want to find writing jobs. 

However, what’s more important is the job board that you check. 

It’s crucial to know which job boards feature a diverse array of freelance writing jobs from reliable businesses, startups, and other organizations. 

I recommend that you check out ProBlogger, BloggingPro, Contena, and FlexJobs. 

Make sure you register on these portals and upload your resume/portfolio.

Image via FlexJobs

Unlike freelance marketplaces, job boards don’t require you to bid for individual projects. 

Nevertheless, when you find a suitable job opening, make sure you respond with a remarkable pitch. 

Even if the opening is for a full-time position, you shouldn’t hesitate to apply. 

Include a link to your portfolio and mention why recruiting a freelancer would be more profitable for the organization.

Take it a step further by following popular job boards on Twitter. It’s a great way to stay updated about the latest job openings. 

What’s more?

You get an opportunity to build a rapport with potential clients before sending your pitch. 

Here are some of the job boards I recommend following on Twitter:

• @Write_Jobs
• @WhoPaysWriters
• @JJobs_tweets

Image via Twitter

2. Use Advanced Search on Twitter

When it comes to finding freelance writing jobs, Twitter offers a goldmine of opportunities. 

Many companies and individuals often tweet their requirements. You just have to know how to find them. 

But what should you do?

All you have to do is use the Advanced Search feature to find tweets that include specific phrases such as “writers wanted”, “guest post”, or “hiring writers”.

Image via SmartBlogger

You can further refine your search by including the location or language in your query. Post that, click on the “Latest” tab to find the most recent job openings. 

A word of caution.

Before applying to any of the openings, make sure you check the profile and verify its credibility. (IMPORTANT)

If a tweet mentions bulk work or a very tight deadline, it could be a potential scam.

3. Join Freelance Marketplaces

Freelance marketplaces such as Upwork and Fiverr feature a plethora of writing projects in various niches. In fact Upwork is where I started my writing career.

They’re great platforms for connecting with clients across the globe and kickstarting your writing career.

While it can be challenging to get your first project, with consistent effort, you’ll be able to rise on the platform and make decent money.

In fact, I’ve landed contracts that have lasted well over 4-years through Upwork.

All you need to do is PROVE your WORTH.

Once you’ve created your profile, make sure you write an eye-catching description that includes relevant keywords. 

Don’t forget to include links to your website, portfolio, and social media profiles.

Remember to market yourself well through your profile like I have.

Image via Upwork

It may take time for you to get your first gig. 

In fact, it can be quite disheartening. 

But don’t give up.

I didn’t and that’s helped me earn thousands of Dollars through these platforms.

You have to actively keep an eye on the latest projects and bid ONLY for relevant ones. What’s more?

It’s crucial to regularly update your profile. Once you get a few projects, request your clients to rate your profile and leave an honest review.

4. Start Cold Pitching

If you want to earn your living through writing, you can’t rely solely on job boards and freelance marketplaces. 

Instead, you must put yourself out there and let the world know what services you’re offering.

While the thought of cold pitching can be daunting, it’s an amazing way of getting recurring projects. 

In fact, you may even get long-term projects through it.

What’s more?

It’s also one of the best ways of negotiating better rates with the client directly.

But before you start cold pitching, you must identify the companies that you’ll be pitching to. 

The first step is to find brands in your niche that might require content writers. Ideally, these are brands that have blogs. 

You could, of course, reach out to those who don’t have blogs as well and pitch an idea to start a blog. 

Approach the brand with a compelling pitch and mention how you can contribute to its growth.

How can you find these brands, you ask?

Run a quick Google search for companies/brands that are relevant in your niche. For instance, if you’re a travel writer, you can search for travel companies, tour operators, hotel reservation portals, etc. 

Likewise, if your niche is beauty and fashion, you should look for make-up, jewelry, apparel, and footwear brands.

Whenever you run a Google search, click the topmost listings to visit their websites. These companies are likely already investing in SEO and content marketing. 

Therefore, they’ll be more open to hiring new writers. Check their content including blog posts, product pages, home page, etc. 

Post that, find their contact details and send a personalized pitch highlighting how the company can benefit from your services.

Image via Writers in Charge

However, this doesn’t mean you should ignore the listings at the bottom of the search results.

While these companies may not have invested in content marketing yet, they can be open to doing so in the future. 

The idea is to identify gaps in their content strategy and show them how you can help. 

Make sure your pitch mentions how you can help fulfill these gaps with your writing skills. 

Even if a company or individual doesn’t respond to your first email, you should continue to follow up with them.

5. Leverage Your Website

Let’s say you’re a freelance writer who specializes in writing about travel and adventure. 

A small business that sells camping and hiking gear wants to start a blog. 

So, their marketing team runs a Google search to find experienced travel writers. 

Don’t you want your website to show up at the top of these search results?

If you want to attract high-paying clients, you must find a way to showcase your website in the right place at the right time. 

In other words, your website and blog need a rock-solid SEO strategy. 

How can you go about this?

First, create a website that clearly says that you’re a content writer in the niche.

Identify relevant keywords in your niche and optimize your content using these keywords. I also prefer to occasionally use generic keywords such as “writer for hire”, “freelance content writer”, etc.

Additionally, you should add a “Services” or “Hire Me” page to your website that clearly mentions the type of assignments you’re willing to take.

Note how I’ve clearly established that I’m a B2B content writer and a digital marketer who can help brands grow themselves online.

Don’t forget to include testimonials from your existing clients.

You should also add a contact page where your prospective clients can submit their queries.

What’s more?

You should also consider creating a blog on your website to showcase your authority. It’ll also help you drive traffic to the website.

It’s worth mentioning here that this technique will only be fruitful once you have a show-worthy portfolio and an authoritative blog.

6. Start Guest Posting

Guest posting is an effective way of expanding your audience and building your authority. You can also use it to lure potential clients. 

But how?

Start by identifying popular and authoritative blogs in your niche that accept guest posts.

Next, brainstorm a few content ideas before you approach the blog owners or webmasters.

Irrespective of the topic or length of your guest post, make sure it includes an eye-catching author byline.

But why?

It should entice the reader to check out your website. 

While you may not get paid to write guest posts, these can help you drive traffic to your website and also give you backlinks. 

While you won’t make money, it’ll significantly enhance your portfolio. 

I also find it to be an extremely useful source for generating qualified leads.

7. Join Facebook Groups

Facebook groups feature a treasure trove of job openings and requirements from worldwide clients across various niches. 

Just run a quick search for “freelance writer” and you’ll find a plethora of public and private groups. 

Make sure you only join groups that are active and already have a huge member count. Watch out for the latest posts and send a pitch whenever a relevant opening comes up.

Image via Facebook

These groups also provide you with a platform to showcase your portfolio and latest blog posts. 

What’s more?

You can even network with other writers and build a relationship with potential clients. 

However, I recommend that you tread with caution and watch out for fraudsters. 

Potential red flags include very low payouts, unrealistic deadlines, and bulk assignments. 

Before responding to any opening, I make it a point to check the profile of the person who has posted the requirements.

Doing a thorough background check can ensure that you’ll not be scammed.

8. Follow Successful Writers in Your Niche

The most effective way of finding writing jobs is to do what the most successful writers in your niche have been doing. And, oh yes, NETWORKING.

I can’t stress this enough but networking is the single most powerful way of getting projects.

A simple Google search will reveal the top writers in your niche. 

Head to their website and check out their portfolio to find the clients they’re already working with. 

These clients are already paying writers in your niche and will, therefore, be more open to hiring you.

So, you can send out cold pitches to these clients

Also, reading the content written by these writers will help you improve your content writing skills.

But how can you network with them?

For that, you should follow the writers on social media and build a friendly rapport with them. Comment on their blog posts or react to their social media posts to get their attention. 

You can even connect with them via email. 

If you’re lucky, they might pass on a few projects to you when they have their hands full.

9. Announce You’re for Hire

In today’s content-driven online world, every company and self-employed individual is on the lookout for skilled writers. 

This includes your friends and family members. But they won’t approach you unless they know you’re working as a professional freelance writer. 

That’s why it’s important to let everyone know that you’re looking to get hired. 

I started with posting on my social media profiles and personally contacting a few close friends.

10. Don’t Ignore LinkedIn (IMPORTANT)

LinkedIn isn’t just your average social networking site. 

Owing to its top-notch user base, LinkedIn boasts a wide range of high-quality job openings including freelance writing jobs. 

All you have to do is run a quick search and apply for the relevant opening. 

You could also list the various roles for which you’re open to work. This would make your profile visible to prospective clients.

Make sure you build an impressive LinkedIn profile with an impeccable description, substantial endorsements, and a few show-worthy recommendations.

Image via LinkedIn

Additionally, you should include relevant keywords in your profile description. It ensures that your profile shows up when someone searches for writers in your niche. 

You should also regularly post original, thought-provoking, and insightful content. This can help you increase your reach, and thus, profile visits. 

I also recommend that you connect with popular brands, writers, and business owners in your niche and actively engage with their content.

This method is truly very important. Trust me, I’ve got direct calls for interviews through this method.

11. Up Your Networking Game (IMPORTANT)

If you want to become a successful freelance writer, you must develop excellent networking skills. 

Networking can help you seamlessly get access to a pool of projects without much competition.

So, what should you do to network?

Attend seminars, conferences, and meetups to interact with other writers and prospective clients.

Connect with them on social media, LinkedIn, and join writing communities.

12. Build Local Contacts

Build a list of the top web designing companies and digital marketing agencies in your city. Irrespective of their size, these companies are constantly swamped with writing projects. 

And it’s likely that they may not have the writers for them.

You just have to meet the head of their content team and let them know you’re looking to take up more work. 

From websites and blog posts to e-books and script – you will find a wide range of assignments through this mode.

It’s a great way to drastically reduce competition and get regular work.

13. Ask for Referrals

If your clients are satisfied with your work, they’ll be happy to recommend your services in their networks. 

However, they won’t do it unless you explicitly ask them for referrals. 

So, what should you do?

Just let them know you are willing to take up new writing projects. 

But remember that this technique will only work when you have at least a few clients. 

Additionally, you must impress your existing clients by providing them with high-quality content that exceeds their expectations.

This will also ensure that they’ll keep coming back to you.

In fact, delivering quality work ON TIME will put you ahead of most writers. It’s helped me get freelance writing contracts that have lasted longer than a year.

14. Consider Warm Pitching

Contrary to cold pitching, warm pitching involves building a strong relationship with a potential client before sending your proposal. 

How do you go about this?

Once you’ve identified the companies/individuals you’d like to work with, follow their social media profiles. 

Check out their blog posts and add insightful comments. Don’t hesitate to include links to your blog posts whenever relevant.

Likewise, you should actively engage with their social media posts. 

You can even send them a direct message to let them know you enjoyed a particular meme or infographic. 

If the conversation flows in the right direction, ask for their contact information and email them a rock-solid pitch.

15. Google People Cards

One of the latest additions to Google are the People Cards. While this feature is currently only available in India, I hope it’ll be expanded to other countries later.

So, what do People Cards do?

Using People Cards, you can create your profile on Google. The card will show your designation, the services you offer, links to your website, and social media platforms, along with your email address.

And this card will be visible on Google whenever anyone searches for your name. This can drastically improve your visibility and help you land freelance writing jobs.

But how can you get started?

To start, you can type your name or “add me to search” in Google. This will bring up a box to fill up your information.

Once you’ve filled the information, you will be visible in the form of a People Card on Android and iOS devices. (This feature isn’t for desktops, yet.)

Note how I’ve created my People Card on Google.

Image via Google

Start Your Freelance Writing Journey Now

If you’ve been contemplating becoming a freelance writer, this is the right time to take action.

From job boards and freelance marketplaces to social media platforms and local businesses — there are a plethora of avenues to find freelance writing jobs. 

I recommend that you build a stunning website, curate a stellar portfolio, and come up with an impressive pitch before looking for writing jobs. 

It’s equally crucial to hone your writing skills and improve your networking game.

Do you have any questions on how to find writing jobs as a freelancer? Ask away in the comments section and I’ll reply to your question there. 😊

Don’t forget to share it with your friends if you found it helpful.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)