Finding online writing jobs can mean a flexible schedule and the convenience of working from home. As you research writing jobs, it can be tricky to find legit writing jobs that pay decent rates.
If you’ve started to research writing jobs, you know there are a lot of options out there. Let’s go over some of the top ways to become a freelance writer.
Contents
1. Job Boards
There are a lot of job boards asking for content writers or remote writers based in the United States. Check out job postings to find the ones that offer the right fit.
It can sometimes be tricky to wade through the jobs that aren’t real offers. So always research the company to make sure it is legit before applying to a job.
2. Content Mills
There are a lot of sites that will pay you pennies per word to crank out content for brands that need a ghostwriter. Some aren’t looking for very high quality, so you can make a lot of money if you are a fast writer. Other sites expect top-quality writing with research — typically paying more per word to make up for your analytical skills and the time spent researching.
Many of the ghostwriting content sites will encourage you to build up regular clients. It can take time to build up a group of regulars who keep ordering content. Assignments range from conversational marketing to technical writer requirements or proofreading.
Some content mills will offer academic writing jobs as a research assistant if you enjoy technical writing. It may be hard to differentiate between these legit research writing jobs and the ones that are selling research papers and supplying academic papers to students. In most parts of the writing industry, this kind of research associate job is considered unethical and is frowned upon.
3. Self-publishing
If you like creative writing and feel like you have a great idea, you can self-publish a book. As an independent author, you have creative control over your writing and business decisions.
It might pay to have an editor proofread your work. People won’t take you seriously if you have typos and confusing sections in your book.
Platforms, such as Amazon, allow you to sell your book digitally or in hard copy. You can earn a much larger percentage of the royalties in many cases. You will have to build up your own following and self-promote your books since you won’t have a publishing house doing that on your behalf.
4. Start A Blog
If you want to start building your own content but aren’t ready to self-publish, a blog can be a great in-between option. Your blog can serve as a kind of gateway to bring in clients who want you to write for them. You can also get sponsored posts from certain companies if you build up a following and are willing to feature their products in a post.
Plus, once you build up your own content, it’s even easier to go from your blog to writing your own book. You may already have a social media and blog following in place, and you have content that can be slightly repurposed to create the book.
It will look more professional if your blog is connected to a personalized domain with hosting. Free blogs aren’t going to give you the same freedom and clout as creating your own website does. You can use Wordpress.org, choose a hosting company, purchase a theme, and claim a domain name to build up a professional website with a blog.
5. Cold Pitching
You may directly pitch companies that look like they need to revamp their writing or are clearly behind in their content creation. Sometimes, pitching a company will result in a nibble or job, though you may have more work involved in the process of cold pitching. You will likely be ignored a lot as spam.
It helps to have your own website to point to with examples of your writing skills. You might also spend a lot of time in billing, waiting on clients to respond and pay in full.
7. Pitch Publications
There are a lot of magazines and content sites out there that will pay for approved articles. Some want the article written in full before making a decision, but many will allow you to pitch an idea.
You may be required to submit anywhere from a few hundred words to thousands of words per article. Pay ranges dramatically among publications, with some paying $75 for an article and others paying over $1,000. You might be paid based on how many visitors the post gets.
In most cases, you won’t get paid if your work doesn’t meet specific standards.
The Final Word on How to Research Writing Jobs
You might be looking for full-time writing work at home, or maybe you would just like to find supplemental part-time income. The normal process for a freelance writer goes something like this:
- You pitch a job to a potential client.
- The client may provide details on the job.
- You agree on a price, topic and job scope.
- You’re given a deadline.
- You write! And proofread a bunch of times.
- You submit the work and ask for feedback.
- You might have a revision request to make changes.
- The job is accepted. (You may need to send an invoice.)
- You are paid!
And, just like that, you are a freelance writer!
FAQs on How to Research Writing Jobs
Who hires writers?
When a company needs a blog post written, email copy, website copy or any other form of content, it has two choices: hire an in-house copywriting team or outsource the writing work. This is true for just about every kind of writing.
From magazines to dental offices, companies need writers to craft their online content to keep their visitors engaged and improve search engine optimization, or SEO. Many freelance content writers will write for a wide range of industries, but some will choose a very specific niche. Of course, you can also publish your own books, like I do.
In that case, you will make money by selling your book to your target audience.
How much can I make writing from home?
At first, you may not make a lot as a freelancer. It can take time to build up a portfolio and a solid client reputation. But within a month or two, you can start earning a steady increase.
Some writers are able to land enough jobs for a full-time salary from their at-home freelance content creation. It can really help if you are able to find regular clients and supplement with other irregular jobs.
Can anyone be a freelance writer?
Yes. The only true requirement is to have a solid grasp of spelling and grammar. There are courses that can help you improve your writing and tools to help you proofread your work. Many writers do online research and don’t necessarily have first-hand knowledge of the topic.
Having a specialty of any kind can help you earn more money as a writer. Not only will some companies pay more for your personal knowledge, but you will be faster at writing on the topics you know about.
