Best Freelance Writing Sites to Make a Living Online

There are many perks about being a freelance writer, and a common one that draws most people to the field is the flexibility to work from anywhere on their own schedule. Adding to that is the vastness of the world of freelance writing — plenty of opportunities are available if you know where to look.

There are countless websites and businesses looking for writers to create content for them. Whether you’re an expert in a particular field or just enjoy writing about a variety of topics, freelance writing life can be very rewarding. In this guide, we’re going to be introducing some of the best freelance writing websites to help you get started today.

1. Upwork: The Largest Freelance Marketplace

If you want to get started as a freelance writer of any kind, Upwork is a great place to start. The site is currently the largest freelance marketplace, with over 12 million freelancers and 5 million clients worldwide. For a freelance writer, it represents a goldmine of opportunity.

Upwork allows new freelance writers to create a profile highlighting their experience, skills, and portfolio of work. You can then browse thousands of jobs posted by clients looking for writers and apply to any that match your abilities. The projects available there range from blog posts and articles to white papers, case studies, and beyond.

The bidding process is simple. When you find freelance writing gigs you’re interested in, you can send a proposal outlining why you’re a great candidate, your availability, and what you charge. If the client likes your bid, you’ll be invited to interview and hopefully land the job! Rates vary but average around $10-$50 per hour depending on the complexity.

A few tips for success on Upwork:

• Build a compelling profile that showcases your writing talent and expertise. Include samples of your work that demonstrate your ability.
• Apply to new jobs quickly. Newly posted gigs get the most proposals, so you want to be one of the first in the queue.
• Tailor each proposal to the specific job. Mention details from the job listing and how you are uniquely suited. Copy and paste proposals are less likely to get a response.
• Start with lower-paying jobs to build your reputation and reviews. As you gain experience, you can increase your rates and apply to higher-level projects.
• Provide top-notch service to earn great reviews from clients. Reviews and ratings are very important on Upwork, so go above and beyond to ensure happy customers.

With consistent effort and determination, you can build a thriving writing business on Upwork. The key is finding high quality clients that need your services, delivering amazing work on time, and earning incredible reviews to keep new opportunities coming your way. While you may outgrow Upwork over time, as a new writer, it’s a very effective platform to break into the freelance writing industry.

2. Fiverr: Sell Your Freelance Writing Services

Fiverr is another popular freelance marketplace where you can start selling your services for as little as $5 per freelance writing gig. While pay may be low at first, it’s a great place to build up your experience and reviews. Once you’ve established yourself, you can start charging more. Unlike Upwork, you don’t apply to jobs that other people have posted. Instead, you publish your own services and let your clients come to you.

How to Start With Fiverr

In order to get started, create a great Fiverr profile highlighting your writing background and experience. Focus on the types of writing you want to sell, like blogs, content for social media, or newsletters.

Next, create some gigs for the services you want to offer. Be specific in your gig descriptions and outline exactly what your customers receive for their money. For example, “I will write a 500-word blog post on the topic of your choice.” Keep your gigs simple at first while you build up reviews.

You can also try promoting your gigs on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Engage with your followers and potential customers by posting updates about your writing and joining relevant groups.

Once you start getting orders, make sure to deliver great work and request reviews from your happy customers. Good reviews and ratings will boost your visibility on Fiverr. You can also upsell customers by offering additional services like editing or keyword optimization, but those are skills you must learn as well.

3. Freelancer: Find Freelance Writing Jobs Around the World

Continuing with the more popular platforms, we have Freelancer, another one of the larger freelance marketplaces. This one has over 71 million registered users worldwide. Whether you’re a writer based in North America or Asia, you can find freelance writing jobs on Freelancer.

You can work with employers from around the world without ever leaving your home office. All you need is a computer and internet connection. Many of the jobs on Freelancer allow you to work remotely on your own schedule.

Freelancer offers a variety of writing jobs from different categories like:

• Blog writing
• Copywriting
• Resume writing
• Press releases
• Ebook writing

Some of the helpful tools Freelancer provides:

• Escrow service: Ensures you get paid for the work you do. Funds are held in escrow until the employer approves the work.
• Messaging: Allows you to communicate directly with employers to discuss the details of projects.
• File sharing: Enables you to share drafts of your work with employers.
• Payment system: Gets you paid quickly and securely via PayPal, Skrill, wire transfer, and more.

Freelancer aims to make the process of finding and completing freelance writing jobs as seamless as possible. Their support team can also help if you have any issues communicating with an employer or using the website.

With the large volume of jobs posted on Freelancer daily, you have many opportunities to find freelance writing work that matches your skills and interests. Build your reputation and profile, work with employers around the world, and get paid promptly – all from a single website. Freelancer is a one-stop shop for establishing yourself as an online freelance writer.

4. Toptal: High-Paying Freelance Writing Jobs for Top Talent

Toptal is a bit different from the other freelance writing sites on this list. It’s a job site that focuses on high-paying, remote freelance writing work. Unlike many of the other sites on this list that cater to a range of skill levels, Toptal specifically targets top freelance writing talent. The application process is rigorous, but if you’re accepted, you’ll have access to some of the best-paying freelance writing jobs.

Toptal only works with the top 3% of freelance writing talent, so they’re able to charge premium rates for their services. According to Toptal, freelancers using their site make over $3000 a month on average. If you have a proven track record of success as a freelance writer, Toptal could be a great way to land high-paying freelance writing work.

All of the freelance writing jobs on Toptal are 100% remote, so you can work from anywhere. As long as you have a reliable internet connection and a computer, you’ll have access to freelance writing jobs from Toptal. For many freelance writers, having the freedom and flexibility to work remotely is a major perk.

Are You a Technical Writer?

Toptal specializes in placing freelance writers for technical writing roles, like documentation, tutorials, or blog posts on technical topics. If you have experience with technical writing, software documentation, or writing about topics like engineering, IT, or finance, Toptal could be an excellent way to find freelance work. Strong writing skills and expertise in a technical field or industry are important.

To get started as a freelance writer with Toptal, you’ll need to pass their screening process. This includes an initial screening, a short writing test, and a live video interview. Toptal uses this rigorous process to evaluate freelance writers for language proficiency and writing ability. If you complete the screening, you’ll gain access to Toptal’s network of high-paying freelance writing clients.

5. Indeed – Trusted by Companies All Over The World

Indeed is one of the largest job boards in the world with over 250 million visitors each month. As a freelance writer, Indeed can be a great place to find remote writing jobs to earn a living. While it’s not necessarily a freelance writing site only, they do have endless opportunities in that industry to choose from.

To land freelance writing jobs on Indeed, start by creating an eye-catching profile. Focus your headline on your experience as a writer. In the summary section, highlight your relevant experience, qualifications, and writing expertise. Mention any certifications or awards you’ve received. Optimizing your profile with relevant keywords will help your profile rank higher in search results.

Search and Apply for Open Roles

Indeed has thousands of freelance writing jobs posted daily. Search for “freelance writer,” “content writer,” or “writer” to find roles from those categories. Apply to any jobs you’re interested in and qualified for. When applying, be sure to tailor your cover letter and resume to match what the employer is in the market for based on the job listing. Mention your relevant experience, skills, and enthusiasm for the work.

6. FlexJobs: Freelance Writing Jobs With Employee Benefits

FlexJobs is a job board site focused on finding freelance work as well as full-time roles, so it’s a great resource for finding high-quality and sustainable writing work. You can use FlexJobs as your go-to freelance writing website for most, if not all of your clients.

To get started with FlexJobs, create a free account first. Build a strong profile highlighting your experience, skills, and portfolio of published work. FlexJobs has a very thorough screening process to ensure all jobs are legitimate, so the more details you can provide the better.

Once your profile is set up, you can start applying for freelance writing jobs that interest you. Here are some of the types of roles you may find:

• Blog writer: Write posts on a variety of topics for a company’s blog. Typically an ongoing, long-term role.
• Content writer: Create content for a website like blog posts, web copy, resource guides, and more. Another potentially long-term role.
• Newsletter writer: Draft engaging newsletters to send to a company’s email subscribers. Usually an ongoing part-time job that still offers great pay.
• Press release writer: Write press releases to help companies announce new products, services, accomplishments, and more. Often project-based work.
• Social media content writer: Create social media posts for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Usually part-time ongoing work.

The compensation for roles on FlexJobs varies but tends to be on the higher end of the range for freelance writing work. Many jobs offer $10-50 per hour or $50-500+ per project. The key is finding a good match for your skills and experience.

FlexJobs does charge a membership fee to access their job listings and resources. However, they frequently run promotions offering discounted prices. They also have a generous refund policy if you don’t find work. For a lot of experienced freelance writers, the membership fee pays for itself thanks to the great jobs and compensation.

If you’re looking to earn a good living as a freelance writer, FlexJobs is a site worth investing in. They make it easy to find legitimate freelance writing work from reputable companies offering competitive pay and benefits. With persistence, you can land an ongoing role or multiple freelance gigs to keep you busy.

7. LinkedIn – Find Jobs and Build Your Network in One Place

As the world’s largest professional network with over 900 million members, LinkedIn has a large number of freelance writing job postings on its site. LinkedIn is not just a freelance writing job board, but a digital networking suite and an essential tool you need to become a successful freelance writer. They have tens of millions of active job postings, with almost 50,000 of those being freelance jobs.

Variety of Freelance Writing Opportunities

You’ll find freelance writing gigs for a variety of topics on LinkedIn – from blog posts and articles to white papers, case studies, video scripts, copywriting, and more. With many Fortune 500 companies posting jobs on LinkedIn, you have the opportunity to work with reputable brands.

Competitive Pay

LinkedIn Jobs offers competitive pay for experienced writers. As mentioned by Glassdoor, the average pay for a freelance writer in the U.S. is over $62,000 per year. On LinkedIn, you can expect to make $10 to $50per hour or $0.2 to $0.10 per word for most writing assignments. The pay will vary depending on factors like your experience level, the complexity of the work, and the client or employer.

Quick & Easy Application Process

Applying for jobs on LinkedIn is simple. You can filter jobs by keyword, location, salary, date posted and more. Once you find an interesting opportunity, you just need to click “Apply now” and either upload your resume or complete the application which typically involves inputting some basic info and a short cover letter. Many listings allow you to apply with your LinkedIn profile. You can also search for specific companies you’re interested in working with and check if and what they’re hiring .

With its huge volume of postings, competitive rates, and straightforward application process, LinkedIn is a top website for freelance writers looking to land well-paying work. Build up your professional profile and start networking to increase your chances of success. LinkedIn could be your key to a thriving freelance writing career.

What Type of Freelance Writing is Best For You?

You now know the best freelance writing sites to start your career with, let us get into the type of freelance writing that are available. In other words, we’ve covered the “where to look”, it’s time to talk about the ‘what to look for.’

There are many different writing niches and types, and the best way to find more jobs is to be as specific as possible with what services you offer. So let’s dive into the 9 different types of writing that employers look for, so that you can start practicing them.

1. Technical Writing

As a technical writer, you get to flex both your creative and analytical muscles. This type of freelance writing involves translating complex ideas and instructions into easy-to-understand language for a non-technical audience.

Some of the areas you may find work in include:

1. Software documentation: Explaining how a software application or system works. This could be with training manuals, help systems, or guides.
2. Hardware documentation: Similar to software but focused on physical products like medical devices, industrial equipment, or electronics.
3. Standard Procedures: Detailing the step-by-step processes a company uses to ensure consistency and quality. These are commonly used in manufacturing, healthcare, and IT.
4. Policies: Communicating and detailing company rules, guidelines and best practices to employees.

To be a successful technical writer, you need to build strong writing and communication skills, be able to grasp complex concepts quickly, and pay close attention to detail. While a degree in English, journalism or a related field can be helpful, many technical freelance writers get started with on-the-job experience on their way to building up a portfolio of work.

The pay for freelance technical writers varies but typically ranges from $20 to $50 per hour or $25,000 to $70,000 per year for full-time roles. The demand for technical writers is growing as companies work to improve the user experience and ensure key processes are clearly documented.

2. Website Content Writing

As a web content or blog writer, you get to show off your writing and get paid. This type of freelance work involves creating written content for websites, blogs, and brands.

You may be writing blog posts, articles, or long-form content on a variety of topics. The key is being able to research subjects and relay information in an engaging, conversational way. Some of the possibilities include:

• Travel blogger: Share stories and photos from your adventures around the world.
• Product reviewer: Try out the latest gadgets, apps, books, beauty products, and write reviews and recommendations for your readers.
• Health and wellness writer: Discuss nutrition, fitness, self-care, and holistic living. This niche is always popular.
• Career or business writer: Help people advance their jobs or entrepreneurial ventures with advice and insights.

3. News Writing

As a freelance news writer, you’ll be tasked with writing news stories and articles to be published on media organization websites, blogs, and sometimes in print. The topics can cover current events, news, and feature stories on various subjects. Here are some possible outlets for your news pieces:

To be a successful news writer you’ll need to:

• Have a degree in journalism, communications, or possibly a related field. Some jobs may accept equivalent experience.
• Excellent writing and editing skills. You’ll need to craft news stories and pieces that are compelling, accurate, and objective.
• Strong researching capabilities. Conduct interviews and find additional sources to create well-balanced news articles.
• Meet deadlines. News moves quite fast, so you need to be able to research, write, and send stories efficiently under pressure.
• Build a portfolio of published clips. Start pitching and writing for smaller outlets to build up your portfolio before applying to larger media organizations.
• Stay up-to-date with current events and news topics. Know what’s trending so you can pitch relevant stories.

4. Resume Writing

As a resume writer, you help job seekers craft professional resumes to land interviews. Many people struggle to effectively articulate their work experience, skills, and career goals in a resume. That’s where you come in.

To start, you’ll need to determine your niche. Do you want to focus on entry-level, executive, IT, healthcare, or another field? Build up your knowledge about standard resume sections, formatting, and keywords for that industry. Stay up-to-date with trends in resume writing and applicant tracking systems.

Once you have a client, the first step is an in-depth interview. Discuss their career goals, work experience, skills, education, and more. Ask lots of questions to get a sense of their strengths, accomplishments, and ideal roles or clients.

Next, review the information and draft an initial resume. Focus on quantifiable achievements and emphasize relevant experience and skills. Get feedback from the client and incorporate any changes.

You may also help the client create a cover letter, update their LinkedIn profile, or prepare for job interviews. As their resume writer, you’re a strategic partner in their job search. Provide encouragement and help keep them motivated.

Rates for professional resume writing services typically range from $50 to $90 an hour. You can charge on an hourly basis or by project. Build your business using referrals, social media, and your online portfolio.

5. Copywriting

As a copywriter, your job is to write persuasive content to help sell products or services. You craft marketing messages, email campaigns, social media post content, landing pages, and more to generate interest and drive conversions.

Skills and qualifications

• Excellent writing and communication skills: You need to be able to explain complex ideas in a simple, compelling way.
• Creativity: Coming up with fresh ideas and new angles to promote a product requires imagination.
• Adaptability: You have to be able to write in different styles and tones suit various marketing audiences.
• Technical knowledge: Familiarity with email marketing platforms, management systems, and social media tools is useful. You should also understand SEO best practices.
• Time-management: Copywriting projects often require you to meet deadlines, so you need to be efficient and be able to work on multiple assignments at once.

Finding work

Many businesses hire freelance copywriters on a project or retainer basis. You can find opportunities on the freelance writing sites we mentioned above. Some copywriters work for marketing agencies, either as employees or freelancers.

Building a portfolio of your work is key to landing clients. You might start by offering discounted or free services to local businesses in exchange for testimonials and samples you can show to prospective clients.

Payment

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for these freelance copywriters in the U.S. is over $61,000 per year. Freelance copywriters typically charge between $20 to $125 per hour, depending on experience. Per-project rates vary but can range from $200 to $2,000 or more for complex assignments.

6. Email Writing

Email writing is a common job that many freelance writers adopt. As an email writer, you compose engaging emails, newsletters, and marketing campaigns on behalf of your clients to connect with their customers or subscribers.

To get started as an email writer, you’ll first want to determine your niche. Do you want to focus on writing for ecommerce companies, nonprofits, software as a service (SaaS) businesses, or something completely different? Once you’ve identified your niche, you can start pitching to companies in that industry. Many businesses hire freelancers to help with their email marketing and newsletters.

When writing your emails, keep your audience in mind. Use a friendly yet professional tone and write in a conversational style. Your emails should be easy to read, with short and snappy paragraphs, simple sentences and scannable bullet points when appropriate. Provide value to your readers by sharing useful tips, insights, or resources related to your client’s industry or products.

Calls to action or CTAs are important in email writing. Tell your readers what you want them to do next, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a webinar or following your client on social media. Place your CTAs prominently, sometimes at both the beginning and end of your emails.

Effective email subject lines are also essential. Your subject line needs to capture attention and compel the reader to read the email. Use power words and a sense of urgency when possible. Keep subject lines concise while highlighting the value or main point of the email.

7. Content writing (SEO)

As a content writer focused on search engine optimization (SEO), you write blog posts, articles, and other content designed to rank high in search engines like Google. The goal is to create informative content on popular topics that leads searchers to a company’s website.

To succeed as an SEO content writer, you need to conduct keyword research to find terms people are searching for, then write content around those terms. Include keywords in your:

• Page titles and headings
• First and last paragraphs
• Image file names and alt text
• Internal links pointing to other relevant content

The content itself should be well-researched, with sources cited when needed. Keep your writing clear and concise, aiming for a scan-able structure with short paragraphs, bulleted lists, and headings. Optimize readability for both human readers and search engine crawlers.

8. Press Release Writing

As a press release writer, you draft news releases and media alerts to generate publicity for companies, products, services, or events. It’s a great freelance role if you have a background in journalism, marketing, or PR.

To start, research your employer or client’s company, product, or event well so you understand the key details and messaging. Then craft an attention-grabbing headline and opening paragraph that captures the most important and interesting information. Smooth out the details in the following paragraphs, adding quotes from company executives or spokespeople if possible.

A good press release answers the questions who, what, when, where, why and how. So be sure to write:

• The name of the organization, product, service or event
• What’s new or being announced
• Key dates (launch dates, event dates, etc.)
• Locations involved
• Reasons why this news is important or valuable
• Explanations of any complex details

Use an active and engaging writing style. The content and quotes should sound authentic and balanced. Focus on the key facts and benefits, not just the pretty language.

Once your draft is ready, it’s not a bad idea to get input from the client and make necessary revisions. Then you can distribute the release on newswire services like PR Newswire or PRWeb, and then pitch it directly to media contacts who’re likely to be interested in covering the story. Monitor for any media coverage and report back to your client.

The key qualifications for this role are:

• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Knowledge of AP style and press release formatting
• Ability to craft attention-grabbing content on tight deadlines
• Established relationships with media contacts (helpful but not always required)
• Familiarity with public relations, media relations and newswire distribution

9. Ghostwriting

As a freelance ghostwriter, you get paid to write content that will be published with someone else’s name. Many leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs hire ghostwriters to help them create blog posts, articles, books, and other content that they can then share with their networks to build their credibility and authority.

Here are some of the types of ghostwriting you can do:

• Blog posts: One of the most common types of ghostwriting. You’ll write blog posts on various topics to be published on the client’s blog or website. The client provides the topics and key points they want to cover, and you turn that into a polished blog post in their voice and style.
• Guest posts: Similar to blog posts but the content you write will be published on other websites and blogs as a guest post. This helps the client gain more exposure and backlinks to their own website.
• eBooks: You can ghostwrite short eBooks or white papers on a topic to help establish the client as an expert in their industry. The client provides an outline and you handle researching and writing the content.
• Memoirs: Some ghostwriters work with individuals to help write and edit their memoirs or autobiographies. This involves conducting interviews, organizing memories and stories, and crafting it all into a compelling narrative.
• Speeches: Some public figures, politicians, or executives regularly hire ghostwriters to draft speeches for them. You’ll have to ensure the content and messaging align with the client’s key talking points and values, and also employ a persuasive writing style to engage audiences.

Ready to Start Freelance Writing? We’re Here to Help!

After reading this blog, you’re probably excited to start your new freelance writing career, or at least make some cash on the side. Either way, you should prepare yourself for how difficult and competitive the freelance writing industry can be when you first start. For some people, it may take a few weeks or even months before they can start earning a full time income. Don’t Worry — We’ve got you covered

Whether you’re trying to transition into a career in freelance writing, or you’re starting from the ground up, the beginning is often the most challenging part. Your funds may be low and the experience may get frustrating. Furthermore, you’ll need a few things to get yourself started: a laptop or desktop computer; mobile phone for interviews, calls, and to keep up with clients and work on the go; a reliable internet connection or mobile data; and last but not least, determination.

While the last part is something you’ll have to develop on your own, the rest are something that EASY Wireless can help with. When you sign up for government benefits through initiatives such as Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with us, you may qualify for a series of FREE benefits that can help you get started with your freelance writing journey!

Want a FREE Smartphone, FREE Unlimited Data Plan, and More?

With programs such as the ACP, EASY Wireless is providing more and more Americans with access to FREE connectivity. We’re here to help connect people to their loved ones, essential resources, and to potential WRITING CLIENTS. If you qualify for ACP, here’re what you’ll receive:

EASY Wireless Unlimited Plan

• FREE Unlimited Data
• FREE Unlimited Talk
• FREE Unlimited Text
• FREE SIM Card Kit and Activation
• Choose to Keep Your Number or Get a New One

Are You Eligible For The ACP?

There are two ways you can qualify for ACP: either by your household income level or by taking part in certain government programs.

You can qualify for the ACP if you’ve participated in one of the following government assistance programs:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
• Tribal Head Start
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
• Pell Grant Awards

The second criteria is your income level. You may qualify if your income is under the amounts on the chart below.

How do I Apply For EASY Wireless Benefits?

When you come to one of EASY Wireless’s retail stores, our customer service agent will help you apply for the benefits.

The first step is to provide proof of identity with a government-issued ID. This is so you can confirm your participation in one of the qualifying programs or that you meet the household income requirement.

We accept the following U.S. Government Issued ID:

• U.S. Driver License
• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
• Certificate of Naturalization
• U.S. Passport
• U.S. Government, State or Tribal issue-ID
• U.S. Military ID cards
• Permanent Resident Cards
• Permanent Resident Alien Cards

You can show the following documents to prove that you are taking part in a government assistance program or use them as proof of active benefits:

• Statement of benefits from a qualifying Program.
• Notice letter of participation, such as an award letter
• Program participation documents, such as a screenshot from an online account.
• In order to show income, you can provide any of the following proofs:
• Unemployment Documentation
• Copy of your State or Federal income tax return.
• Three months’ worth of current pay stubs.
• Veterans Administration or SSI benefits letter.
• A divorce decree or child support document that states income.
• Retirement or pension statement.

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