Many people are looking for additional sources of income that they can do in their spare time from home. Freelance writing can be the perfect solution to this problem. In fact, many people begin doing freelance writing work for extra income and do so well that they eventually begin working from home just doing freelance writing jobs. If you have some writing skills and familiarity with the Internet, you can start landing some freelance writing jobs to bring in a few extra bucks. There are lots of different web sites and resources to get in the market so dust off your old dictionary and read the following tips to get you on your way.
Join Freelance Marketplaces – One of the best sources of freelance writing work are online freelance marketplace web sites. Some of the most popular web sites are Elance.com, Ifreelance.com, simplyhired.com and other popular web sites like craigslist.com. Most of these web sites allow you to bid on jobs. This can be a tricky way of getting some jobs but it is a great start for the entry level freelance writer. With so many people using these services, you often have to work for less than you’d hope for. New services pop up and may be a better source for getting more money but be wary of any new web sites and carefully read all the details. Some of these services require you to pay a membership fee.
Be Patient – Getting your first freelance job can be extremely difficult. You have to be very patient when looking for that perfect job. Building your portfolio of smaller, less exciting writing jobs may be required to start landing those jobs that you really want to do. After you have worked with various suppliers and have built a good relationship based on your excellent work, you will be their first choice and soon will have to pick which jobs you have time to take.
Produce High Quality Work – This may seem like a no brainer. The better work you produce, the better you will do in the freelance world. Unfortunately, many people doing freelance writing turn out less than perfect work because they are working in a hurry or don’t believe that they are being paid what their time is worth. In some cases, you aren’t going to be paid what you deserve. Especially in the beginning. You need to prove yourself first and develop good relationships. As you prove yourself to be dependable and a good freelance writer, many of your work suppliers will push higher paying work to you because they know they are going to get their money’s worth.
Create a Web Site – If you are really serious about a career in freelance writing, you should have a web site demonstrating some of your writing samples. Web sites can be created for a reasonable price and it shows your professional appearance. If you are unfamiliar with web creating, there are many free blog services that will give you the same effect.
Not everyone can be a writer, it takes skill and education. Your first tip should be to recommend researching the best writing sites and learning the fundamentals of freelancing.
Bidding sites aren’t recommended because they drive down the rates for other writers. A few years ago we could bid $50 a page, thanks to bidding sites, they want $2 a page.
You want to write? Don’t join bidding sites or Associated Content or any other places that pay low money for crappy writing. Research, see what editors look for, learn how to format a manuscript, teach yourself the fundamentals of copy editing and read a few books on the business. Quickie Internet writing ruins it for everyone.
Comment by Mel — May 26, 2007 @ 5:34 am