Freelance content writing is a good way to make money if you enjoy writing. Want to become a freelance content writer? Start finding writing gigs from these best freelance writing sites for beginners.
The best part about freelance writing is that you can start with little to no experience. All you need is a laptop and reliable internet access. And you can make a side income easily.
In this post, you will find the best websites for freelance writing jobs for beginners and strategies on how to land writing assignments.
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What is Freelance Writing?
Freelance writing is when you get paid for writing you do for other people for a short time. You are not a full-time employee for that person but you occasionally work with him. This is usually on a per-project basis.
For example, you and a person agree that you will write a blog post for him. You write the blog post and he pays you X amount. And then you look for other clients.
But why would you want to become a freelance writer? Good question. Let’s count some benefits of becoming a freelance writer.
Benefits of Freelance Writing
Almost everyone wants to become a freelance writer because once you learn the skill it can be extremely rewarding. Here are some benefits of freelance writing.
- Part-time – You don’t have to commit to a full-time position. Freelance writing allows you to work at the time you want to work. You can also work with multiple clients at one time.
- Earn more – Freelance writing makes more money than full-time writing for a company. Plus, as you grow your client base and experience you can raise your rates.
- Side Hustle – You don’t have to quit your job and become a freelance writer. You can start and grow it as a side hustle and make a good income.
- Choose the work you want to do – You get the flexibility to choose the work you want to do. If you don’t like the work, don’t apply for it. If you don’t like a client, fire him.
- Work from home – If you hate going to the office then you will be happy to become a freelancer. You decide the location and the time you want to work. You can even take breaks.
So you see how freelance writing is so fulfilling as a career. But you might wonder, is it a secure career? Let’s find out.
Is Freelance Writing a Viable Career?
In 2018, almost half of the businesses hired freelancers. Because businesses don’t have either time or skill to do simple tasks. So they outsource. And content marketing is the most efficient and promising marketing strategy. So they need your talent to create content.
Therefore, the demand for freelance writers will increase as we know, for sure, that the number of businesses will increase.
How Much do Freelance Writers Make?
The average income of a freelance writer in the USA is $63,213. But it depends on your skills and efficiency. Sure, you can make more than this as I know many freelance writers making 6 figure income annually.
So, does freelance writing pay well? Yes, you can make great money as a freelance writer.
Now that you know everything about freelance writing, let’s introduce you to the best freelance writing websites for beginners where you can get paid writing jobs.
13 Best Freelance Writing Sites for Beginners
This list contains some sites and some resources which helped me find freelance writing gigs when I started. I still use these to find new opportunities. So, you can definitely find some good quality jobs as a beginner.
ProBlogger
ProBlogger is the best and my favorite place to find freelance gigs. It mainly publishes blogging (content writing) jobs. It’s also highly credible. Agencies, businesses, and many blog owners post their jobs on the ProBlogger job board.
New jobs are added regularly. You can also create your account so you get access to your dashboard where you can track your applications.
ProBlogger is where I got my first high-quality writing gig. So, don’t sleep on it.
Angellist
Angellist is another popular site to find freelance writing jobs remotely. However, Angellist post jobs in all fields. But you can set appropriate filters to get the latest jobs for writers.
I’ve also seen some popular brands posting their jobs like Grammarly so you don’t have to worry about low-quality jobs. You can sign up for Angellist for free then from your dashboard you can manage all your applications and track responses.
LinkedIn is a great tool to find freelance writing jobs. But isn’t LinkedIn for professionals who are looking for full-time jobs? Yes, it is. But that does not mean it is not for freelancers. If you know how to use it correctly then you can find many gems there.
On the search bar, when you enter terms like “hiring freelance writers” or “content writers wanted” you will see many posts from editors or business owners looking for writers. You can change location, date posted, and many more to refine your results.
Another place is the Jobs section, apply to jobs regularly from there. Ask if you can work on a remote basis.
Do you know Twitter has a wonderful search bar that allows you to do advanced searches to refine results? You can find results based on words or phrases used, hashtags, language, accounts, dates, and more. You can also save searches.
Another method is to follow writers who tweet the latest writing jobs. Such as Kat Boogaard (she shares amazing writing tips), Paige, and Kaitlyn Arford.
Facebook Groups
You can join some Facebook groups that post regular jobs for writers. I’ve had so many writing gigs because I responded to these job requests on Facebook Groups.
Most Facebook groups are not great when it comes to finding jobs. Some even have frauds. So before giving away any information to anyone make sure to verify the job posting. Or join reputable facebook groups.
Here are the groups that I recommend:
Indeed
Indeed is a great place to find high-quality freelance writing jobs. However, most jobs you will find are for full-time writers. But again, by setting some filters you can get some remote jobs too. You can also download the mobile app.
I love Indeed. It is so easy to apply and track your applications. Plus you can send your Indeed resume if you don’t have one professionally made.
MediaBistro
Do you want to get published in digital magazines? Or do you love creative writing? Then MediaBistro is the best place to find such jobs. You will also find normal freelance writing jobs, it’s just that they have journalist jobs more.
Newsletters
Another great method is to get writing jobs delivered to your inbox. Many established writers send weekly newsletters with writing jobs. So, you can go through the list regularly and apply for the jobs that interest you. Here are some of the newsletters I recommend:
Google Search Bar
Yes, Google is one of the best sites to find freelance writing jobs. You can search keywords like “writing jobs” or “freelance writing jobs near me” for writing jobs location-wise and apply many filters to customize your search. Here’s how you can find remote jobs on Google.
Sites that Pay Writers
The best freelancing sites for content writers to build a portfolio are websites that pay writers to guest blog. This way, you get published as a content writer, that is, you get a byline to showcase to potential clients. You get paid, and if you have a website then you can get a backlink too.
Reddit is another place where business owners post job requests. All you have to do is to keep an eye on the latest job-related posts and apply. You should apply quickly because Reddit is a populated channel so you will have competition.
What I do is follow some subreddits that post writing jobs. Then I apply as soon as I find a job suitable for me. Here are my top subreddit suggestions for you:
We Work Remotely
Just like Angellist, we have We Work Remotely. The portal connects freelancers with companies. Similar to Angellist, you will have to set filters to find writing jobs. Try different filters to find new opportunities. Remember, you are looking for remote jobs so you’re not bound to any location.
I hope these ways will be enough for you to find freelance writing jobs. My point is that these sites are much better than Freelancer or UpWork. There is so much competition and you can get burned out. So avoid those sites at all costs.
Moving on, you have the list of best sites for finding freelance writing jobs. Now let’s tell you how you can land your first writing job.
How to Land a Freelance Writing Job?
To land a writing job you need to follow a process. Here are some important things to consider to land a freelance writing job.
Master the Skill
If you want to get paid as a freelance writer then you must master the skill. Because your clients will only be interested in your services if you can bring them results. Here are some posts you can start learning writing:
- SEO writing: how to write an SEO-optimized blog post?
- How to structure a blog post?
- Creating viral headlines: 3-step formula
Choose a Niche
The first thing is to find a niche to offer your writing services. You should not be a generalist writer but an expert in a niche. This way you will be taken way more seriously. And people prefer to hire expert writers rather than generalists.
For example, I am an SEO copywriter for B2B SaaS and the marketing industry. I don’t write everything but on these topics only.
Similarly, you need your niche.
Have some Samples
Once you have a niche you need some samples to showcase to your clients. For this, you can write guest posts for websites for free. This way you will have published articles for their review. Here are 101 guest blogging sites you can apply to.
You don’t need too many. Just write for 2 to 5 websites.
Create a Portfolio
Now, you need one place to display your services, samples, pricing package, and more. So the best way is to create a website. After that, you can create a services page to display what services you offer. Don’t spend too much time perfecting it because you will keep redoing it as you learn.
Now you have everything to start applying for freelance writing jobs. So, check out the above-listed sites and start applying for jobs.
Conclusion: Does Freelance Writing Works?
So these were the best freelance writing sites for beginners. You know how to land your first writing job too.
Freelance writing is a great way to build writing skills and monetize them. Just get started and you will keep learning and improving your skills.
So go on and create your portfolio, add some samples and start applying for freelance writing gigs. I’m sure you will land writing jobs soon.
Which site are you going to start with?
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Hi Ekta! The information in this post is very helpful. Especially since I decided last year to never go back to an outside office job again. I’m currently researching ways to consistently earn income working from home. I’ve held a contract position since 2020 that will soon be ending, so your tips could not have come at a better time. Thanks for sharing!
That’s wonderful, Cheri. I am so glad that you found these resources useful. I’ve had tried many of these writing sites. And honestly, it may take some time but you will find that once you understand the system it will get easier for you to get writing gigs from there. Thanks for reading the post.