Make Money on the Side with Freelance Writing

Freelance writing can be a great side hustle so long has you have a computer and internet connection.

It’s great for the flexibility it provides but also the opportunity to decide how much you earn.

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I used to be a  full-time freelance writer but I actually started freelance writing to make more money on the side. One of the reasons I love freelance writing is the ROI on your time and effort.

While you can get freelance gigs that pay more than minimum wage, it is usually not much more than minimum wage. On the other hand with freelance writing, you can make upwards of hundreds of dollars an hour.

Freelance writing does require a bit more effort than completing a survey or driving for Lyft, but it can pay better too.

I started freelancing on and off not long after starting my blog. While some people may think of freelance writing is tough to break into, if you are willing to put in the work, you can succeed.

Getting Started with Freelance Writing

The hardest part of anything is getting started. You might think the hardest part is finding freelance writing jobs but actually it’s applying to the jobs. 

So the first thing I recommend you do is to put together a resume.

If you don’t have a lot of writing experience then you can break it into parts to include your work experience and your writing experience. I promise you that you have some writing experience somewhere in your background.

Look at any writing you did for work, project proposals, newsletters, etc. You have some writing experience somewhere.

Building a Portfolio

If you are looking to build your portfolio, there are lots of things you can do. 

First, you can start a blog which would not only give you a link you can send potential clients but a home on the web that people can use to find and contact you.

You can also reach out to your favorite bloggers (it’s easier if they know you from commenting on their site) and see if you can guest post on their site. You’d be providing them with content and they’d be providing you with more credibility as a writer.

Make sure you are making it easy for them. Consider using a tool like Grammarly to act as your own editor. You can install Grammarly for free and it covers basic mistakes. If you want to make an investment you can sign up for the professional plan, but it is definitely not necessary when you are just getting started.

Related: Grammarly Review: The Free vs Paid Version

Once you have a few examples to your name and a resume it’s time to go looking for freelance work.

Finding Freelance Writing Jobs

There are several ways to find freelance writing jobs, including:

• freelance writing job boards, 
• networking, and 
• referrals.

Freelance Writing Job Boards

There are both free and paid job boards. If freelance writing is just a hobby or side hustle then you can definitely stick with the free job boards.

The reason you might what to consider a paid job board is to save you time. The one paid job board I used, Contena typically pulls together all the jobs from free job boards into one place so I’m not having to waste time checking tons of different websites each day.

It was especially great when I working full time and didn’t have a ton of time to go looking for jobs, I’d rather spend that time getting paid to write.

Free Job Boards

• FreelanceWriting.com‘s Morning Coffee eNewsletter
• ProBlogger
• Craigslist
• FinCon Media

Paid Job Boards

• Contena (what I used)
• Freelance Writers Den

Networking

Personally, I’ve found most of my recurring freelance writing jobs through networking. 

Networking doesn’t necessarily have to be those awkward gatherings, it could just be connecting with others through various Facebook groups or other online communities. Here are a few Facebook groups you can check out:

• FinCon Community (particularly for personal finance writers)
• Freelance Writing Jobs
• Another one called Freelance Writing Jobs
• Freelance Writing Cafe

Referrals & Testimonials

Referrals and Testimonials are likely the easiest way to land a freelance writing job. 

A referral is where someone who knows both you and the person looking for a writer, refers you to the job. They are easier to get because there usually isn’t as much competition.

If you have done some work with a client that has ended and it went well, ask for a testimonial you can share with others. 

You can shout that you know how to write until you are blue in the face but it will still be more powerful if someone else says you know how to write.  Share the testimonials with potential clients and on your website/blog.

Pitching Freelance Writing Jobs

When it comes to pitching, following a few key rules can go a long way….

First, always follow the directions on the job board. If there aren’t any directions then it’s a good idea to share:

1. Why you are reaching out to the contact (I saw your post on x site)
2. What experience you have (explain why you’d be a good fit for the job)
3. Some ideas for posts/articles that would work well for the site (pitch some titles)
4. A few examples of your work (share a couple specific links to posts you’ve written and a link to your website)

Keep in mind when you are sharing all those things, to talk like you are a human and be clear in what you are trying to accomplish.

I get pitches from people wanting to post on my site fairly regularly and they always read like spam. 

The most genuine pitches still do get a pass because they are unclear in what they are trying to accomplish and they provide no ideas on what they would like to post.

You can tell they are sending a template to several people and not personalizing the pitch at all. 

It’s okay to start with a template but be sure to customize each pitch to the site you are pitching.

Learn More About Freelance Writing

If you want to learn more about freelance writing then I definitely recommend you check out Gina Horkey’s 30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success Course. I took the course and it has had the biggest impact on being successful at freelance writing.

It walked me through everything step by step and prepared me to be successful.

Related: How I Went from Novice to Full Time Freelance Writer in Less Than a Year

Gina Horkey also shares her own journey to becoming a full-time freelance writer at Horkey Handbook – She gives great advice that is very applicable and helpful. 

Bottom Line

Freelance writing can be a great way to earn some extra money on the side but it does take time and effort to really get it going.

Chances are if you’re starting from scratch it’ll take you a few months before you start earning money from freelance writing.

If you want to make your start into freelance writing a little easier, I cannot recommend Gina’s course enough, it’s goal is to get you up and running and land your first client in 30-60 days.