18 Jan How to Earn Money as a Freelance Writer

Guest blogger:  John Stone

If you enjoy writing and think you possess the needed skills, there are numerous ways you can turn it into a profitable home-based business. And the best part of it is – there’s practically zero investment needed. All you need is a laptop (which you presumably already have) and an internet connection. If you know a thing or two about Google’s SEO policies, you probably know the mantra that “Content is King.” High quality written content is a highly sought-after commodity because everyone needs it for their websites (in order to be ranked better) and not everybody has the time (or talent) to do it properly. This leads us to a conclusion that there’s lots of money to be made, and most importantly, you can do it from the comfort of your home.

How to Earn Money as a Freelance Writer

When the Internet started spreading, some knowledgeable people predicted that it will make books and writing in general an obsolete way of communication. As it seems today, the Internet has become an ally of books. It has also increased the production of texts to an unbelievable level. Today many people are looking for their own way of becoming freelancer writers on the web, as well. Tha fact of the matter is, everyone needs good content for their websites, and not everybody has the time (or talent) to do it properly. There are some strict guidelines that should be followed if you want to become a successful freelancer, but this shouldn’t scare you away from giving it a try, of course. If you enjoy writing and think you possess the needed skills, there are numerous ways you can turn it into a profitable home-based business.

Writing essentials – launch a blog

Practice makes perfect. This simple statement can be applied to many different crafts, but writing is the most demanding craft, so it requires a huge amount of practice. If you have ever tried to write a piece of poetry or a newspaper article, you know that the first few times are extremely hard. However, the more you write and search for your own style, the better is the product of your writing effort. The simplest, yet smartest thing you have to do on your writing quest is launching your own blog. Nevertheless, never take too many lanes on your writing path, but narrow down the focus of your writing interest and stick to the niche you know best. To make your blog bring you money, insert buttons such as “Contact me” or “Hire me” on your home page.

Practice in small chunks

Gradual learning is the most efficient way of expanding one’s knowledge. In this sense, writing is not different from programming or accounting. Aside from a handful of those massively talented individuals, who manage to master writing skills at a very young age, the rest of freelance writers has to work hard to become skillful writers. Practicing in small steps will not bring you money directly, but such a strategy will definitely improve your potential, which will in turn result in a higher income in the future. Mastering some generally accepted and recommended skills and guidelines is also an important part of that process. For instance, you should read and follow the Associated Press writing guidelines (the so-called AP style). It is the Bible of writing for the North-American market, so take some time to learn those rules.

Individual entrepreneurship

Like in every other business, those more successful individuals will soon realize that working for others is not a wise option for a longer period of time. The most logical step for a freelance writer who has gained some writing and work experience is writing their own book. Nevertheless, you should know that this is not an easy task. Platforms such as the Kindle self-publishing platform encourage writers from the whole world to publish their e-books. What you need to know is that they give such writers only 35% of their total earnings. If you are not ready for such an agreement, check some other self-publishing options.

Enter the copywriting zone

Content is the most important aspect of every digital marketing agenda. This is why content- and copywriters are among the most wanted web workers. Copywriting is different from mere blogging, since it requires short, concise and witty written pieces. Bloggers who want to get to the front of the copywriting crew need to invest time and money in improving their soft skills. Copywriting is also closely related to marketing, which is why copywriters have to raise their business writing skills to a higher level. Such little tweaks can give your freelancing experience a fresh boost.

Written web content can launch a website to business heights overnight or bury it in a single day. Its creators determine the destiny of thousands of businesses. Their importance is enormous for the web environment in general, so freelance writers can reach high hourly rates and salaries for their creative work.