This week’s video is great for those of you looking to start your freelance writing business or if you’re an established freelancer writer looking for new sources of leads. I share three of my favorite spots for landing high-value jobs and tips on how to make the most of these. As a bonus, here is a link to a free resource I created listing 12 Hot Spots for Freelance Writers to Find Paid Writing Gigs. Good luck!
Transcript:
Hello, current freelance writers and those hoping to jump into the field!
I want to talk to you today about some of my favorite places to find paid writing gigs. That’s right; places where you can actually make money as a freelance writer. And if you check the description below, thereās some information about a great freebie I have for 12 places where you can find paid writing work online that you can fit into your schedule whenever you want. That means if you are a student, a stay-at-home parent, or someone with fulltime job, you can make this career work around your schedule and work for you. That’s exactly what I did launching my career as a freelance writer, and it was an amazingly powerful way to build a side business all the way to the point where I didn’t need my day job anymore.
Upwork – A great tool for networking
Letās talk about my three favorite places to find paid writing work. My favorite place, and I’m always going to recommend it as long as it’s a great source of leads, is Upwork. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again ā you say the word āUpwork,ā and you get some very controversial responses in the freelance writing community. People assume that there are only low paying jobs there, and honestly, the more people who think that, the easier it is for us writers who are using the platform successfully, because the competition drops off immediately.
There are some really well-paid contracts on Upwork. I’ve landed $25,000, $50,000, and other projects on Upwork, including $2000-$4000 monthly retainers from Upwork alone. Thatās more than $300,000 in business in the last couple of years alone that I never would have gotten if Upwork didnāt give me the opportunity to connect with those leads. You have to ask yourself whether it’s worth it for you. I have a lot of great materials on my blog about how to use Upwork, and you can gain access to my free report on my top tips for landing business on Upwork below. I also have a course all about killing it on Upwork and really making a living through it and using it as your primary pipeline for freelance writing leads.
Ask Your clients for referrals
My second favorite place to find freelance writing jobs is by asking for referrals from your current clients. If you’re brand new to the game, you might not have referrals yet. However, you might know people who need content and are already familiar with you personally and therefore more likely to work with you directly. Local businesses, nonprofit organizations, or entrepreneurs that you already know are a great way for you to get your foot in the door. Thatās similar to a referral, even though you don’t have an existing database of clients.
Join Facebook Groups to find potential clients
My third favorite place to find freelance writing gigs these days is in Facebook groups. Hang out in Facebook groups where entrepreneurs or your ideal clients are spending time regularly. You will see the opportunity to build a relationship with them and take it from just a digital connection to a phone call or a Skype chat where you can talk more about the services that you offer. Many different freelance jobs are posted directly in some of these Facebook groups as well, and I can strongly recommend Kerry Smith Nicholson’s Careful Sense Club on Facebook. You’ll also see collaboration threads in the Online Business BFFs Group with Melyssa Griffin, and you can check out some similar groups as well. When you join these groups, you’ll see other groups pop up on the side. Freelance writer groups and copywriting job boards exist all over freelance sites. So take a look at those, see if they’re a great opportunity for you to get your foot in the door, and start building a relationship.
In the beginning of your freelance writing career, having conversations with people and seeing the demand in your specific industry can help point you in the right direction when crafting your own pitch and generating packages for your future clients.