The Best Way to Find Writing Jobs as a Freelance Writer
Struggling to find work as a freelance writer? It can be tough, especially if you’re just starting out. But don’t worry — there are plenty of ways to find well-paying gigs.
Are you one of the many who are looking to leave their 9–5 for the freedom of freelance life?
While the advantages of freelance writing are many, the hardest part can be getting started.
The good news is that there are many ways to find high-paying gigs as a freelance writer.
Five years ago, I started picking up side hustles to supplement my income as a new parent. I had no idea what I was doing.
It took me months of hard work and some major trial and error to land my first paying client.
But once I did, everything changed.
Now, as a full-time freelance writer, I’m able to work from anywhere in the world (or the basement of my house) and bring in a consistent income.
If you’re just getting started, the thought of finding well-paying clients can be daunting. But trust me, it’s not as hard as you think.
Here are five ways to find high-paying writing gigs to kickstart your freelance journey:
- Get involved with online communities
- Guest blog or ghostwrite
- Cold pitch
- Use job boards
- Try content mills
Let’s take a look at each method, and see if we can find a way that works best for you!
1. Get involved with online communities
One of my favorite ways to connect with well-paying clients is through online communities.
When I first started out, I joined a number of Facebook groups and Twitter chats for freelance writers and actively participated in the discussions.
Not only did this help me build connections with other writers, but it also led to my first few clients.
By becoming involved in these groups and offering helpful advice, I was able to demonstrate my value and expertise — which led to people reaching out to me for paid work.
For freelance writers, make sure to follow writers on Twitter and join networking and training programs such as The Copywriter Accelerator.
This is one of the best ways to learn how to build and launch your career as a freelance writer — and meet some pretty incredible people along the way!
2. Guest blog or ghostwrite
Guest blogging is another great way to get your name out there and show off your skills.
\When I was first starting out, I wrote guest posts for a number of different blogs in my industry. Not only did this help me build my portfolio, but it also led to paid work down the road.
One of the best things about guest blogging is that it can be done entirely on your own schedule.
You can pitch a blog and have your post published within a week, or you can take your time and write something truly amazing that will take longer to get published.
Either way, guest blogging is a great way to get your work in front of a new audience and land well-paying clients.
3. Cold pitch
If you’re confident in your skills, why not reach out directly to companies and businesses? This is what’s known as a cold pitch, and it can be an effective way to land high-paying clients.
To cold pitch successfully, you need to do your research and target companies that are a good fit for your skillset. Then, craft a personalized email or message outlining why you’d be the perfect person to write for them.
For example, I have a friend who works for a local home buying and renovation company.
She recently told me that she wanted to write some long-form blogs for her website but never had the time. I offered to help, and she hired me to write three blog posts — which turned into a regular gig.
4. Use job boards
There are a number of different job boards out there that list freelance writing gigs, including Freelancer, Upwork, and Fiverr. This is where I got my real start in the ongoing freelance world.
While you may have to sift through a few low-paying gigs, there are also a number of high-paying opportunities to be found. Many of these clients will take you on as full-time partners.
To find well-paying clients on job boards, make sure to search for keywords such as “remote”, “full-time”, and “freelance”.
You can also filter your results by pay, so you only see gigs that pay above a certain amount.
5. Try “content mills”
If you’re just starting out, content mills can be a great way to get your feet wet and start building your portfolio.
While the pay is usually low, it’s an excellent way to get some experience under your belt.
Some people hate content mills, but I actually think they’re a great way to get started.
Just make sure that you don’t spend too much time writing for them, or you’ll get stuck in the low-paying rut.
Once you have a few writing samples to show off, you can start pitching higher-paying clients. And, who knows — you may even find that you enjoy writing for content mills and decide to make it a long-term gig.
Try It All — and Stick with What Works for You
There you have it — the five best ways to find writing gigs as a freelance writer.
While there’s no one perfect way to land clients, it’s important to try out a few different methods and see what works best for you.
And, remember — even if you don’t get immediate results, don’t give up.
It takes time and persistence to build a successful freelance writing career, but it’s definitely achievable if you’re willing to put in the work.
What are your favorite ways to find writing gigs? Share in the comments below!
