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Finding work as a freelance writer can be tough when there are so many others to compete with. But technology makes it easier to search for work and to make yourself visible to potential clients. Online platforms can help you search for work based on your talents and knowledge. Knowing how to find legitimate freelance writing jobs through online platforms can help you expand your skills and gain more experience, both of which can help you continue to find more work.

Finding legitimate freelance writing jobs

You can probably do a quick search through any online search engine and find many listings of people or companies looking for freelance writers. The issue is finding clients that are willing to pay what you’re worth and are offering legitimate work opportunities. Many writers use a platform that brings writers and clients together in one place. The platforms allow you to connect with clients and choose work that meets your needs. Clients can filter through writers based on experience and other factors to help them choose the writers they believe will be best at writing their desired content. Use trustworthy platforms that have good ratings from previous writers so you know you will get paid appropriately for your work. 

Know how to stand out

If you choose to search for work through online platforms, you need to know how to make yourself stand out from other writers. Know what your time is worth and be prepared to negotiate your pay. Some writers may choose to offer incentives to encourage clients to choose them. You may offer free revisions, quick turnaround times, and low rates to clients who wish to work with you long-term. If you don’t have a lot of experience, be prepared to work for less money just to gain some work experience and improve your portfolio for future job opportunities.

Most freelance writers find clients exclusively through online platforms. Searching and filtering based on your talents and availability make it easy to find clients. The main issue can be finding clients who are willing to pay you enough to make it worth your time. When creating a profile to showcase your talents, be sure to find ways to make yourself stand out when compared to others. Show potential clients why they should want to work with you and why you’re the right person to create the content they want. 

Knowing how to use SEO language is beneficial when you create content online. Whether you write for a blog, make social media posts, or maintain a website, understanding SEO helps you reach your audience. SEO, or search engine optimization, is a style of language that uses specific words and phrases to get attention from online readers when they use search engines to find information. 

How SEO works

Search engine optimization language is supposed to lead search engines to your blog, website, or social media account. Search engines use algorithms to provide links when someone searches for a specific topic. You can use language that makes your content easily found and higher on the list when links are generated. Many readers only look through the first few links when searching for information online so it’s important to create content that helps your site stay near the top.

Create SEO-friendly content

When you’re writing SEO content, the format is very important. You should consider the total word count, paragraph lengths, and keywords that will help search engines find what you’re writing. A good article or blog should have a brief but informative title, include headings, and use bullet points to break up long walls of text. Readers generally want to get to the point so it’s important to use language that gets the idea across in a concise way. 

Know your keywords

It’s important to understand what relevant keywords your target market searches for so you can include them in your title and sub-headings. Use those keywords multiple times in your article or blog but avoid keyword stuffing which can be a turnoff for readers. Understand what keywords relate to your content and use those words, along with related words and phrases, that make it easy for search engines to locate and promote your content toward the top of your audience’s search page.

Writing in SEO style can be challenging when you’re not used to the rules. But learning the methods behind creating content that is easily found by search engines can help you promote your work. SEO writers are in high demand from those who promote ideas, products, and services online because they know how to write in a way that reaches the target market. If you write online in any capacity, learning about SEO can help you increase your visibility. 

For some writers, the ultimate goal is to write a book. Writing a book is a huge endeavor that can be very challenging, especially if you’ve never completed such a large project before. If it’s your first book, you’re also likely working on other projects to bring in the income needed to pay your bills, so it can be hard to find the time you need to write your book. Aspiring authors who are working on their first book can benefit from learning how best to use their writing time and how to make progress towards their goal of finally becoming a published author.

Set flexible goals

Set goals based on how many words you want to write per week, or how many hours you want to spend on your project. You can make your writing a priority without letting it take over your life. Flexibility is important when you’re working on a large project like writing your first book. Know that it’s ok for the project to take longer than expected. You may make changes along the way, or experience writer’s block, which can cause your project to take longer than expected. 

Use help when you need it

A good editor can suggest changes and help you create something that you’re proud of. While some authors may choose to edit their work themselves, it can be hard for you to find all the mistakes in your own creation. An outside editor will add to the expense of writing your book, but it can be extremely helpful in creating the finished product.

Find a publisher

Finding someone to publish your book may not be easy. Publishers are constantly receiving content that must be sifted through to find the books that are worth publishing. Publishers are there to make money and to publish books that they believe will be successful. Don’t hesitate to send your finished work to several publishers to try to find a good fit. You also have the option to self-publish, which is a good option for many first-time book authors.

Writing a book is a big undertaking that can consume your life if you let it. When you’re trying to write your first book, be open to the challenges and know that everything may not go as planned. Writing the book is only the first step. Some authors may find that the editing process, and choosing how best to publish their book, is even more challenging than writing. Fortunately, many authors find that determination and the will to succeed help them reach their goals.  

When you’re working with a new client as a copywriter, it’s important to understand exactly what the client wants. By asking the right questions, you can create content that helps your client reach their goals. It’s helpful to do some research on your client before you consult with them about the job, so you know more about what they do and their target market. 

Asking the right questions

Know what your client expects of you, especially when it comes to how many articles they want and how much time you have to complete each assignment. Ask if they have samples from previous projects that they want you to emulate. Be sure to know if there is any information that must be included or excluded in each article. Your client should be able to tell you the demographics of their target audience, which can help you when you’re creating content to engage that audience. Be sure to have defined expectations so you know exactly what your client wants.

Ask for feedback

No one enjoys getting negative feedback, but learning from your errors can greatly improve your skills as a copywriter. Be sure your client knows you’re open to all feedback, whether positive or negative and give them an opportunity to provide immediate feedback, as well as a long-term assessment based on how well your content accomplished their goals. You may wish to send your clients surveys or polls with general questions about your work to better understand what they liked and what they thought should be changed. 

The goal of a good copywriter is to sell their clients’ products, ideas, or services. When working with a new client, it’s important to understand their goals and their target market. Ask questions so you’re aware of what they expect. Once you submit your work, ask for feedback, and use it to make the changes needed to improve your work. 

The frequent use of technology in everyday life has many benefits. Technology has greatly changed the way we communicate with one another, making it easier in some ways, while also creating some new challenges. Between social media and the daily use of cell phones for texting, it’s easy to reach friends and family any time of day. But this casual way of communication has also led to a very informal way of written communication. Many people disregard grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules when using digital communication methods. While this isn’t necessarily problematic, it could cause issues when you need to communicate in a more formal way.

Casual communication methods can make us lazy

If you’re sending a quick text to your spouse or a close friend, you may not worry about writing complete sentences with proper spelling and punctuation. It’s much easier and quicker to write a shorthand note using emojis, slang, and abbreviations when you communicate with others in an informal way. The problem arises when you forget the right way to construct a sentence, which is not uncommon for those who frequently use digital communication methods. 

Remember the rules of writing

Casual writing with slang and without proper punctuation and spelling is not appropriate for some occasions. When it comes to communicating professionally, it’s important to remember the rules of writing. If you struggle with those rules, don’t be hesitant to use an online program that helps you find and correct mistakes. Submitting content with spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors doesn’t present the best image to colleagues, current employers, or potential employers. 

Casual writing is used frequently during digital communication. While it’s fine when you’re writing to close friends or family members, it doesn’t present a good image in a professional setting. To keep your writing skills up to par, practice writing with good grammar, avoid misspellings, and use punctuation as needed. A digital program that helps you correct mistakes can work well for anyone who struggles with remembering formal writing guidelines. 

Freelance copywriters are frequently on the lookout for new clients to work with. But to find new clients, you need to be able to showcase your talents. One of the best ways to show potential clients what you can do is to keep a current copywriting portfolio. Your portfolio shows your creativity and knowledge as a writer. A good portfolio should contain samples of all the types of content you have experience in writing. With modern technology, it’s easy to create a virtual portfolio that you can send to potential clients with the click of a button.

What to include in your portfolio

Your copywriting portfolio should showcase you as a writer. Consider your talents and some of your favorite pieces as they likely say a lot about what you’re good at. Include a variety of pieces based on word count, format, and topic. Know your strengths as a writer and include content based on what you’re good at. Be sure to include information about your capabilities and interests in a brief introduction to your portfolio.

Styling your portfolio

With a digital portfolio, the options for customization are virtually endless. It is important however to consider the clients you’re pitching to when creating your portfolio. If you work in a specific niche, cater your portfolio style to that. Otherwise, it’s best to keep things simple and more generic. Make sure all the information is easy to read and be sure to triple-check for errors before sharing your portfolio with potential clients. 

As a copywriter, you must learn to sell yourself to potential clients. One of the best ways to showcase your best work is through a portfolio. Be sure to include a variety of different types of articles in your portfolio. Start with a brief introduction that talks about yourself and your experience. You may also want to include information about professional awards or honors that you have received. Most importantly, you want your portfolio to stand out for the right reasons, showing potential clients why they should choose you. 

When you work from home, you may struggle to separate work life from home life. While there are many advantages to working from home, it’s also easy to get distracted and lose your motivation to be productive. Whether you have a dedicated office at home, or you work in an area that’s shared with others, keeping your work area organized can help you be more  productive. If you find that you’re struggling to stay on task, overhauling your work area may help.

Think about what you need in your workspace

One of the best ways to have a useful workspace is to remove anything that is not necessary for daily work. A clear work area, which includes both your physical workspace and your digital workspace, makes for better productivity. Clutter, whether it’s digital or physical, creates chaos and leads to distractions. Take time during your workday to notice what you use often and consider putting items away that you don’t reach for frequently. Keep the space around and behind your work area neat and clean so you’re always ready for a last-minute video call. Consider upgrading your desk chair and keyboard to ergonomically designed options to reduce pain and fatigue.  

Do a deep clean and organize

For motivation, consider cleaning up physical clutter first. Items like staplers, excess pens, and notebooks should be contained and put away when not used frequently. Consider switching to a mostly digital system where you take notes on a tablet or your computer, which can reduce the need for desk clutter. Go through your computer and other work devices to remove apps, files, and programs that you don’t use. Archive files that you may need in the future in a space where they don’t distract from the files and programs you use daily. 

Working from home is more common now than ever. One of the best ways to stay productive while working remotely is to keep your work area clean and free of clutter. The most important thing is to make your workspace functional for your needs.  Remove anything that isn’t used in day-to-day tasks and keep your digital files organized. A clean workspace prevents distractions and helps you get through the workday without environmentally related stress. 

Research is a big part of the job for most copywriters. No matter what subjects you write about, you need to be able to find reliable information and good sources to make your work trustworthy and useful. Researching may seem easy at first, but when you consider how many unreliable sources and how much false information is out there, you may realize that a lot of online sources are not usable, especially for professional blogs and articles. Learning how to research and find good information can help you be a better copywriter.

Know when sources are not reliable

People with ulterior motives may go a long way to put bad information out there. Bad sources are not always easy to spot, and they may seem legitimate at first. But when you dig deeper, you may find that the information is biased or even completely fabricated. Look for data and facts that back up what your source says. Good sources will usually provide links or notes that show where the information came from. Look for sources that are written by those knowledgeable about the subject and be cautious of sources with lots of ads and popups since this can mean the source author is more focused on making money rather than providing useful information.

Be open-minded

You may feel that you know a lot about something, but when you start researching you realize that you were wrong. Research is not about verifying what you know but about finding the truth. Learning more about a subject or learning that some of your preconceptions were incorrect helps you grow as a writer. Finding the truth is important even if the truth is controversial and not yet widely known.

As a copywriter, your research may involve online sources or a visit to the library. If you want to learn more about a subject before writing about it, consider using multiple sources and cross-referencing information to get to the truth. Use reliable sources that can back up information with facts and data. The key to being a good researcher is to go into the search open-mindedly with the willingness to learn.