How To Get The Best Freelance Content Writing Jobs: A Quick Guide
Making a living as a freelance writer might seem like an unrealizable dream to most, but there are plenty of people who have disproved that misconception. If you are ready to ditch all the negativity and prejudgments, then you are already on the right track. But how do you find those good-paying gigs that allow them to earn good money for their writing? To figure that out, you need to think outside the box.
- Go beyond looking at mass freelance sites like thousands of other writers. Instead, find smaller niches, with specialized jobs that not all writers can handle. It might take longer to find the exclusive gigs, but they’ll be worth it because the pay-range they offer will be on a whole different level from freelancing websites.
- Make your own advertisements. Social networking is great, but making in-person offers will get you farther then you might think. When you chase down the right lead, be prepared to market yourself. Know how to sell your work.
- Try to network with the people who really know where the best writing jobs are hidden – other freelancers. Conferences and conventions that focus solely on writing and authors are great places to meet other writers. Also, at these events you might even get the opportunity to be in the company of some publishing professionals. Being a part of these groups is bound to pay off in the end, as many of them can be a great source of the best-paying gigs.
- Keep practicing and improving your writing skills by reading relevant material, looking into your competitors’ work, attending talks and seminars relevant to your specialties, and generally staying up-to-date in the areas you're writing about. This is vital if you're looking to work in the areas that change rapidly, such as technology, media or fashion.
- Identify the markets you want to target. Most of the best freelance jobs are never advertised because successful business owners are too busy to put out an ad. Your best chance at picking out good opportunities is to go for the organizations that are making money. National and other publications with huge circulations tend to pay better than most. Try to look for companies that put out a tangible product. Avoid companies who sell online ads or ones that resell articles – they tend to not have a successful business model.
- Don’t underestimate your opportunities. Multi-million dollar companies hire writers just like everyone else. Look for longevity in general. A company that has been around for over 5 years is most likely profitable. Think big – eventually you are bound to end up with a freelancing dream-job!