Looking for easy ways to earn some extra cash online? One can easily start as a freelance writer and start generating a steady revenue (full-time or part-time). You can make money writing how-to articles, useful tips or just anything on your favourite subject for various websites. Here’s a quick guide to tell you how.
Get Your Own Website
One of the ways for making money online by writing articles would be to set up your own website or blog and write useful articles about things that people are searching for on the Internet.
Once you have created a website with a reasonably good number of quality articles, and you have traffic, it’s time to monetize the website. You can join any good ad network such as Google Adsense to earn through advertisements or start affiliate marketing. That’s how most websites and blogs make money.
However, earning money though advertisements on websites requires lot more effort in terms of maintenance and search engine optimization.
There are numerous ways to make money online, legitimately. For a detailed list of ways to make money online, check out our article (originally published in 2011 and recently updated).
Work as a Freelance Writer
An alternative is to freelance for any established website or blog in your niche and get paid a fixed amount for each article or a share in the advertising revenue.
If you have good writing skills and some understanding of the subject you want to write about (and some researching skills), it won’t take you long to land a gig.
Start by identifying the websites in your niche that are looking for contributors. Follow their instructions and send them a mail explaining how you fit in their requirement and how you can add value to their blog.
Where to find freelance writing or blogging work? You can scour through freelancing websites such as Elance, Upwork and Fiverr. Try joining Reddit and Facebook groups related to content writing, freelance writing and blogging work or journalism assignments.
If you can provide quality articles, you should have no problem finding writing assignments & content writing work. There are so many websites and blogs on the Internet and all of them need content.
If you are interested in writing for any website or blog, get in touch with them directly using the contact methods mentioned on their websites and check if they are looking for freelance/content writers. Try contacting with your resume and writing samples.
Also, try to look for listings in the Writing/Editing Jobs section on Craigslist. Do not restrict yourself to the Craigslist website for your city or country. Now, most websites are open to hiring contributors who telecommute or work from their on places. So they don’t mind if you are located in the US or in some small town in India.
Academic reports, homework and thesis reports are in high demand from various segments, including school & college students.
Using LinkedIn for Freelance Writing
LinkedIn is a powerful platform for professional networking. As a freelance writer, you can use it to attract writing assignments. Here are some tips on how to attract freelance writing assignments via LinkedIn.
- Optimize your profile: Update your LinkedIn profile and optimize it for freelance writing. Highlight your writing skills and showcase your writing samples. Add relevant keywords to make it easy for potential clients to contact you.
- Network with others in your industry: Connect with people with whom you want to work. You should also grow your network in your industry and participate in relevant LinkedIn groups. This will help you build relationships and establish yourself as an expert in your field.
- Share your work: Share your writing on LinkedIn so that prospective employers may assess your writing style. Share articles and content that showcase your knowledge and expertise in your field. Don’t forget to include a call-to-action inviting potential clients to contact you for writing services.
- Relevant hashtags: Use relevant hashtags when you share your writing on LinkedIn. This will help potential clients find your content and increase your visibility on the platform.
- Reach out to potential clients: Use LinkedIn’s search function to find potential clients in your industry. Send them a personalized message introducing yourself and your services. Be sure to highlight your experience and share your writing samples.
Join Medium’s Partner Program
Many popular websites are always looking for contributors/writers for a wide range of subjects. These websites work on a revenue-sharing model. You get a portion of the money generated by ads shown with your content, without the hassles of owning and maintaining a website. Also, it’s easier to get web traffic if you write for a popular website.
Medium is a popular platform for freelance writers to showcase their work, attract new clients and also earn money writing on the platform. It’s absolutely free to get started on Medium as a write. Create your account and start writing.
Here are some tips on how to attract freelance writing assignments via Medium:
- Publish content: High-quality content is the key to success. Use Medium to showcase your writing skills and expertise in your field. Establish yourself as a credible writer.
- Use relevant tags: Medium allows for adding tags while publishing articles. Use relevant tags when publishing your content. This will help your content increase your visibility on the platform.
- Engage with other writers: Don’t just write. It’s important that you engage with other writers on Medium. How? Leave comments on their articles and share their content.
- Promote your content: Promoting your content on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook helps you gain some immediate readership from your existing network. This also helps you reach a wider audience and increase your chances of attracting freelance writing assignments.
- Utilize Medium’s Partner Program: Medium has a Partner Program for content creators. As part of Medium’s Partner Program, you get a share of the revenue based on the engagement your content receives. For successful writers, this revenue can be a few thousand dollars each month. This allows you to earn additional income as a freelance writer and attract potential clients looking for writers with a proven track record.
Freelance writing can allow you to quit your job if you work hard and keep looking for new and better opportunities. Many website owner and blogger make a living online, but it requires some time to build a website that generates enough revenue to quit job. All the best for your endeavour.