Freelance writing offers flexible hours and diverse opportunities, making it an ideal side hustle for creative expression and extra income
Despite the AI gloom threatening the job security of writers, the freelance writing business remains as bustling as ever, fueled by the flux of content creators looking for high-quality written content.
There’s no better time to capitalize on your writing skills than now. There are many places to start, but don’t worry. If you feel overwhelmed by the options available, we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll briefly look at what this gig entails, how lucrative it is, and how you can start building your new freelance writing career.
Freelance writing involves creating high-quality content for websites, eBooks, product descriptions, blogs, and even social media posts. In short, it’s a gig where you get paid to write.
Gravitating towards the freelance writing business is a smart move because of its flexibility and variety. You can focus on writing about topics that align with your skills or interests, dedicate your time mastering a specific niche, or become a generalist writer and pen down pieces from different industries.
You can also set your rates and work from anywhere at any time, as long as you always meet the deadlines.
Freelance writing is one of the most popular types of freelance work around, so giving wage estimates is rather difficult.
On average, you can earn from $20,000 to over $100,000 a year through writing content. Around 24% earn more than $50,000 a year for freelance writing services, according to Zippia.
Experienced freelance writers also earn significantly more than beginners, especially in higher-paying disciplines such as copywriting or technical writing.
For example, while a beginner generalist may set their rate at $0.010 per word, a pro freelance writer could earn up to $1 per word.
For the most part, you can start without spending a single penny.
If you already know how to write, then most of your effort should go into building a good portfolio to showcase your skills, which will only cost you your time.
But, there are some potential costs you might need to consider down the line:
There are two main ways to find freelance writing jobs: independently and with gig economy companies.
Finding freelance work independently takes some time.
Creating a portfolio to showcase your skills to potential clients is the first step. There on, learning how to start a blog can prove useful because you’ll have a place to host your articles and show off your skills.
You can also spend some time cold pitching companies that might need your writing services.
Indeed is one place you shouldn’t overlook. Create a catchy Indeed profile and market yourself effectively.
Finding writing jobs online is more time-consuming but could result in long-term collaborations.
You have two options if capitalizing on the gig economy appeals more to you.
Content mills are agencies that hire writers to produce content for their clients. You get paid a portion of the total price they charge. Most of the time, you’ll have a fixed rate that depends on the quality of your work.
Usually, such agencies pay their writers from $0.007 to $0.05 per word but know that some are notorious for their low pay and low-quality work.
A couple of content mills we recommend checking out are Textbroker and Contently.
Your second option is to check out online writing sites.
The best freelance writing job board is Upwork, but other notable freelance websites include Fiverr and BloggingPro.
There, people can either showcase their talent and bid on freelance writing jobs or wait for clients to reach out to them. Most freelancers price their gigs starting at $5, but you have total control over your rates.
Whether it’s a side gig or a new career, becoming a freelance writer unlocks some key perks:
Below are a few problems that push aspiring writers away:
Not necessarily.
It’ll come off as easy if you’re a skilled writer, but there’s no denying that researching and breaking down complex topics for the average consumer while remaining engaging is difficult.
Excellent research and writing skills and punctuality are a must. Being well-versed in SEO, writing, and AI software and simplifying complex topics are pluses.