Ahh! When it comes to learning how to make money writing, the one question that EVERYONE has is, “What are the stages to learn how to make money writing?”
Many successful full-time authors are also freelancers (like me). They make a livelihood (or supplement their income) by writing and have little trouble locating clients or writing opportunities.
However, there are many more authors who are just scraping by to replace their dead-end employment. They’re battling to make a living as writers and have no clue how to break away from low-paying freelance writing gigs.
Writing for a living and getting paid to write is something you may be considering.
Let me tell you something: I used to be one of those writers.
Here’s how to make money as a writer if you want to discover how to be paid to write blog articles, magazines, and more.
How to Make Money Writing
1 Start a Blog
Blogging is a tried-and-true means of making money online for authors. With all of the established blogs currently online, you might be asking if it’s still feasible for new bloggers to generate money. The answer is YES.
Blogging takes commitment and consistency, and it will take time for your site to develop traction before you start earning money, but it is quite achievable.
Choosing a niche is the first step in beginning a blog. This is the subject of your essay. It’s important to be particular here; there are a lot of blogs out there, so if you can give your readers a unique perspective, they’ll be more inclined to stick around.
After that, you’ll need to choose a domain, create your blog, and set everything up. There are a lot of fantastic tools out there to help you with this (but remember that you get what you pay for: while there are free blog hosting companies and free themes, prominent bloggers agree that if you want to earn money blogging in the long term, you’ll need to invest a little money upfront).
Remember to update often, promote your content on social media, and communicate with your followers once you’ve created your blog. Although no blog has ever been an overnight success, with a little work and commitment, you can make substantial money from blogging.
2 Create blog posts (for others)
If you’re not quite ready to start your own blog, guest blogging is a great way to get your feet wet. Many bloggers engage other bloggers to help them develop the material, and many businesses hire freelance writers to contribute to their website’s blog area.
If you want to take it this way, make sure you do your homework beforehand. Get to know the site you’ll be writing for so you can match the tone and blend in with the existing material.
3 Self-Publish a book
Every style of book, from tiny instructional manuals to romance novels to nonfiction tomes, may be self-published. If you’ve finished writing a book but aren’t sure what to do next, consider self-publishing.
Because you have complete control over every stage of the process, self-publishing a book is a tremendously satisfying experience. However, this may be a double-edged sword. Many writers discover that while they enjoy writing, they dislike fussing about font and margin options or haggling with cover artists once they begin the self-publishing process.
You’ll need to spend money on editing, cover design, marketing, and promotion even if you utilize a free service like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing.
The expectation is that you will recoup your investment through book sales, but there are no promises. However, if you play your cards well, you may make money from your self-published book.
4 Write show notes for podcasts
Each episode of a podcast is accompanied by show notes, which are written online resources for podcast listeners. Show notes are varied for each podcast, but they are often concise, easy-to-scan episode recaps that frequently contain extra relevant resources. On employment sites, you may look for work writing show notes, or make cold pitches to podcasters you’d want to work with as a freelance writer.
5 Writing content for Social media
Large organizations usually have a marketer (or a team of marketers) committed to keeping their social media in good working order. Smaller firms, on the other hand, may not be able to afford to engage a full-time person to handle their social media presence. Freelancers are the best option and a win-win situation for all parties involved.
Consider your favorite neighborhood ice cream store, gift shop, or espresso stand, and investigate their social media presence. If you see that they haven’t posted anything in months or that they have trouble developing high-quality, engaging material, you’ve just discovered a great chance to market your writing services.
There’s no need to berate them or dwell on their social media gaffes; instead, have a courteous and cordial dialogue in which you suggest that you’ve spotted some areas where they may improve. Try to underline the benefits of partnering with you and the potential you see in their social media presence.
6 Online content ghostwriting
Do you want to know a little secret?
There’s a considerable probability that the named author of an online article or blog post didn’t actually write the content. Ghostwriting isn’t just for celebrity autobiographies; many blogs and websites use it as well.
If you don’t mind not seeing your name on the byline in exchange for a paycheck, look into ghostwriting jobs. Because these don’t work you can add to your portfolio or claim responsibility for, they generally command fees of 30% to 50% higher than bylined work.
7 Write poetry
While poetry may not be the first thing that springs to mind when considering how to make money writing online, it is feasible to make money from your poems. There are various locations online where you can submit your poetry for publication, and if it’s chosen, you’ll get paid in addition to bragging rights.
8 Create destination guides
You may turn your knowledge into a successful destination guide whether you enjoy traveling or are the go-to person for the top places to see in your hometown. This may be a comprehensive information product that you sell on your blog or website, or you could pitch it to a travel magazine or blog that accepts such submissions.
9 Write product descriptions
Some businesses spend a significant amount of money to ensure that product descriptions on their websites are clear and useful. Look for these opportunities on job sites or make your own pitch to the organization. You may also join services like Crowd Content, which pay you to write product descriptions for their clients. You can also look for potential clients on platforms like Upwork.
10 Copywriting
Any writing that is expressly utilized for promotion and marketing is referred to as copywriting. This can include website material, video scripts, blog articles, and emails, to mention a few examples.
Copy is used by businesses to market a product or service and to compel the reader to take action. Some businesses use freelance copywriters, while others engage copywriters from marketing agencies that work with a variety of businesses. Copywriting jobs can be found on a variety of job boards, including Indeed and Zip Recruiter.
11 Write technical manuals
Technical writing is a lucrative job because it necessitates a thorough understanding of the business for which you’re writing. Technical writers must be able to boil down complex information into clear, easy-to-understand messages.
12 Write resumes
You can obtain freelance work writing resumes for job seekers if you have a penchant for developing effective resumes. Check job boards for resume writing opportunities, and let people know on social media that you’re taking on new clients for CV makeovers.
You can specialize in LinkedIn profiles in a similar way to get paid to write. Many professionals are eager to pay for a profile that will help them get hired.
13 Write SEO content
Because they deliver the most value to their clients, SEO writers are among the highest-paid freelance writers. These SEO experts are well-versed in techniques such as keyword research and integration into websites to help them rank better in search results.
If you want to learn more about SEO, Semrush offers seven SEO Certification courses, some of which are free.
14 Write video game guidebooks
Gamers can make money online in a variety of ways, including streaming their gaming. Consider developing a manual for a video game and selling it as a PDF if you know everything there is to know about it.
You can always create freelance articles and guides for video game websites and publications if you don’t want to deal with the practicalities of selling your own product.
Best Websites To Find Freelance Writing Jobs
The websites listed below are the finest for finding and hiring freelance writers. Hundreds of freelance platforms, article writing services, and writing firms have been put to the test. Here are some of our favorite freelance writing websites.
1. Fiverr
Fiverr is one of the greatest sites for connecting with potential freelancers, with over a thousand committed writers using the site to find employment. The name Fiverr stems from the fact that all services were originally priced at $5, and the site tries to streamline the process of linking authors with clients in a way that benefits both parties.
Clients search the site’s list of freelance writers for the ideal fit by using the site’s powerful filter features. You can search for writers depending on their price range, body of work, language, writing style, and many other factors.
If you think you’ve found a good fit, you can contact a writer by simply selecting their profile. Clients pay the writer as front once the project’s terms have been agreed upon. You have three days to see the final product and decide whether to accept or reject a project submission in order to receive a refund.
2. Upwork
Upwork, originally known as Odesk, is a prominent freelancing platform that caters to not only writers but also web developers and graphic designers.
You begin by posting a job that includes all of your required parameters. Upwork then assesses your requirements and sifts through hundreds of freelancers to find the best match. You’ll then be presented with a selection of Upwork’s top prospects from which to choose.
Upwork allows you to see each candidate’s profile and overall rate, making it more easier to assess each freelancer’s qualifications. You have the ability to contact any freelancer you want, and communication via the web and mobile app is simple.
3. SEO Content Hero
SEO Content Hero is a search engine optimization content writing firm situated in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Few other content writing services have more experience delivering SEO material than our tight-knit team of writers, researchers, and marketers.
Clients choose one of three writing styles — Authority, Professional, or Elite – and then indicate the number of words they want in their piece. They can also put on more SEO tools, such as Surfer SEO, for a fee.
Clients give a set of instructions to SEO Content Hero by filling out a form or writing one themselves. They’re then emailed to SEO Material Hero, and their content arrives in 4 to 6 days. For their clients, SEO Content Hero creates SEO keywords, ensuring that each project submission is properly crafted to increase site traffic.
4. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com, allows you to post jobs and receive bids from freelancers on the site. You can view each bid and choose the best fit for your demands, or you can contact writers directly through their job board.
Freelancer.com has a dedicated list of freelance writers eager to take on any assignment, whether you own a small business or work for a huge corporation, advertising one-time gigs, or long-term projects.
To guarantee you obtain the finest possible output, you may connect and work with your writer on both desktop and mobile apps. Freelancer.com also uses its own dedicated payment system to ensure secure transactions.
5. The Writer Finder
The Writer Finder is a rapidly expanding company that matches clients with freelance blog writers to create high-quality material. Clients enter information about their website or business, and the Writer Finder matches you with three freelancer candidates. If none of the prospects appeal to you, the site will continue to look for better options.
Clients seeking authors who specialize in particular areas can use the Writer Finder in the same way they can on Upwork or Fiverr. The agency saves you time by connecting you with potential freelancers, which benefits both you and the writer. You get authors who are experts in your chosen industry, and writers get to write about subjects that they are familiar with.
Final Thought
It’s time to get out there and try your hand at being paid to write online now that you’ve learned about the greatest possibilities accessible. Remember, there’s nothing to be gained by questioning oneself, so have some trust, choose a course to follow, and start earning money. Anyone may make a living writing online if they have the appropriate attitude and enough determination.
