Freelance writing is a fantastic way to supplement your income. But as a freelance writer, you need to know where to find work. You can try cold pitching an editor at your favorite publication, but that’s not always easy. There are also sites where clients post ads looking for writers, but these sites often charge you for posting or take a large cut of your earnings.
Some freelance writers have found great success on sites like UpWork, Freelancer, and Fiverr, which match freelancers with potential clients all over the world. However, there are lots of horror stories about working on these sites too. Are they worth trying? Here’s what I learned from my own experience:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Freelance writing sites offer opportunities to earn income independently. |
| Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr can connect freelancers with clients worldwide. |
| Success on these sites depends on building a strong portfolio and delivering quality work. |
| Freelancing provides flexibility, allowing individuals to work on their own terms. |
| It’s essential to be cautious of potential challenges such as irregular income and competition. |
The Feeling Of Independence
Freelancing is great for many reasons. You have the freedom to set your hours, and you can even decide what sort of work you want to do. You don’t have to follow anyone else’s rules or schedules; if you feel like taking a day off, all you need to do is tell yourself that it’s okay! If you want to work while wearing your pajamas at home with a cup of coffee in hand, go right ahead!
There are also some drawbacks when working as a freelancer (and we’ll cover those in this article). However, overall the benefits outweigh any drawbacks by far.
Upwork has revolutionized the freelancing industry, offering a plethora of opportunities for both clients and freelancers. If you’re new to the platform, check out our quick beginner’s guide on What is Upwork, and unlock the potential of this vast freelance marketplace.
Fewer Distractions
As a freelancer, you’ll have the freedom to work from home. This can be a huge advantage because your office is right there in your own home. You have fewer distractions and you can focus on your work.
Working at home also gives you more flexibility with scheduling because there’s no commute time or office politics to contend with. All of these factors contribute to an increase in productivity, which means getting more done in less time!
You might consider using your office space simply as a place for working on SEO copywriting projects and nothing else. Or maybe it’s an area where you do everything related to web design: coding, designing graphics, and laying out pages/articles/etcetera (or all three if that’s what needs doing).
If so then having some tools such as headphones will make it easier than ever before when trying something new like coding websites from scratch specially if they’re complex ones requiring lots of different tools like CSS styling sheets which involve both HTML coding plus CSS styling codes combined into one single file called “stylesheet” (or just CSS)
Stylesheet (or just CSS) makes it much easier than only having one separate file each containing either only HTML code or only CSS styling code alone both files must exist together within another file called “style sheet” (or just Styling Sheet).
Structure Your Work
Working from home allows you the flexibility to work whenever you choose, and the ability to set your hours can work late at night when there are fewer distractions, or get up early when it’s quiet outside. You can also take time off whenever you want, whether it’s a vacation day or just an afternoon off.
Working online means that you have access to clients from around the world so if one market dries up, it won’t affect your income as long as there are other markets available for freelancers like yourself. Working online also gives writers more opportunities: many websites will let writers work on multiple projects at once or even manage multiple clients (though this has its drawbacks).
In addition, working for yourself means that new business can come from anywhere clients aren’t limited based on location!
When it comes to freelancing, choosing the right platform can make all the difference in your success. Find out how Upwork stacks up against other freelancing platforms in our in-depth analysis on Is Upwork the Best Freelancing Platform Compared to Others.
You Can Travel And Write At The Same Time
Being able to travel and write at the same time is a great perk. While you’re moving around, you can still earn money by writing about your travels. You can write about other countries, cultures, and people. You’ll be able to share your experiences with readers from all over the world, which will help them understand new places better too!
It’s an opportunity for personal growth as well: if you feel stuck in a rut or want to learn more about something specific that interests you, traveling is an easy way to get out of your comfort zone and explore something new (and earn money while doing it).
Become Self-Sufficient
Being your boss is always a nice feeling, and it’s easier to get that taste of freedom when you work as a freelancer. You can manage your own time and set your prices, which means you don’t have to worry about answering anyone else. And there’s no overhead cost since all the equipment needed for online freelancing is already in place: computer, Internet connection,d software.
Freelance writing jobs are also an excellent way for new writers to gain valuable experience without taking on too much risk.
If you are just starting as a writer or have been working on an idea for some time but haven’t yet had success getting published professionally, then going freelance is a great option because it gives writers more control over their careers while still offering some income potential from day one.
Meet New People
As a writer, you’re going to be spending a lot of time alone. This means that it can be easy to feel like you’re the only one who understands what you do.
But when you work on freelance writing platforms, your clients are usually other people like yourself people who understand exactly what it is that you do and why that matters. And if they don’t have much experience with freelance writing or content creation themselves, they have at least heard of it and know enough about it to hire someone like yourself!
This last part is an important thing for me because I get so much value from meeting people who share my interests but also live in different countries or work in completely different industries.
I often find myself getting more out of these collaborations than any other types (like when I worked on a project where I got paid $600 per article). It’s not just about making money; there are plenty of other ways to make money online through websites like Upwork!
I’ve written before about how about feel about answers can benefit immensely from having multiple streams of income coming into their business and one great way we can achieve this goal is by working for multiple companies at once!
The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, and freelancing plays a significant role in shaping the future of work. Discover how freelancing is reshaping the way we work in our insightful article on How Freelancing is Changing the Digital Workforce.
No Commute, More Sleep
No stress at the office.
More time to relax and recover, which means you’ll be more productive.
Longer hours (if you want them). You can sleep late because your boss won’t be there to wake you up early in the morning!
Work when it’s convenient for you and only for as long as it takes to complete a project. This makes it easier to keep your rent paid and utilities on.
No more commuting costs or traffic headaches, so your paycheck goes much further than it would if you had an office job with its daily slog from home to work and back again every day.
Working from home is also great for those who have physical or mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, and PTSD because they don’t have people watching over their shoulders all day long which can make these conditions worse by adding stressors into the mix (such as feeling like everyone knows that something is wrong).
Get Paid More
One of the best things about freelancing is that you can charge more for your work. You’re not bound by a company’s hourly rate or salary, and because you’re self-employed, you’re free to set whatever rate works best for you.
You can also do multiple projects in a day as opposed to working on just one thing at a time. This flexibility allows you to earn more money simply by working faster (and smarter).
Freelancers get another layer of freedom: they can choose what kind of writing projects they want to take on or reject altogether. For example, if a client wants an article written about the history of the television show “Friends,” but it sounds like boring research, a freelancer can turn down that assignment without any consequences because he/she isn’t getting paid by the hour anyway!
Finally, as an independent writer who doesn’t have regular hours at an office job, some people like being able to arrange their schedules around other commitments such as school or family life.”
You Get To Choose Who You Work For
You’re the one in charge of your career, so why not choose your work? You can work with people you like and get paid to do it.
Upwork is a great place to start because they have an all-in-one tool that combines freelance writing sites like Fiverr with freelancer sites such as Freelancer, allowing users to post their work-for-hire opportunities alongside their search for writers. Best of all, Upwork offers new users a free 7-day trial membership!
If you’re looking for a more personal touch than what many freelance writing sites offer, then Upwork may be the platform for you. You can choose from thousands of potential customers around the world who are looking for someone just like you someone who will speak directly into their audience’s minds by crafting engaging pieces that resonate with readers and get them talking about how much they enjoyed reading them (and hopefully sharing those articles on social media).
As a freelance writer, your phone can be a powerful tool to secure clients and manage your work on the go. Learn how to effectively get freelance writing clients from your iPhone with our helpful tips in How to Get Freelance Writing Clients from Your iPhone.
You Get To Choose When You Work And How Long You Work For
When you work for yourself, you get to choose when and how much or little of your time is spent working. You can work in the morning when everyone else is at work and wait until nighttime to do your writing because that’s what’s best for your schedule.
You can take breaks whenever you want throughout the day or week if it’s needed. This means that if you’d like to sleep in on Saturdays and Sundays, then go ahead! Because when Monday rolls around, there will be plenty of other days for getting things done.
Work From Anywhere In The World That Has Wi-Fi/Internet Connection
Freelance writing sites are a bit like the Wild West. You have to be careful, but if you play your cards right you can find some great opportunities out there.
As much as I would love to tell you that freelancing is all sunshine and roses, it’s not always easy getting paid at the end of the day. It’s going to take some hard work and patience, but if you stick with it then there will be some good days ahead!
Freelance writing can be a fulfilling career, but not all opportunities are created equal. Discover how to avoid scams and find reputable freelance writing jobs in our article on Freelance Writing Jobs That Won’t Screw You Over.
Conclusion
Overall, sites like UpWork, Freelancer, and Fiverr, can be great places for newbies who are looking to build up their resumes and portfolio. The best thing about them is that they offer you the opportunity to work with clients from all over the globe in different industries on diverse projects.
If you decide to pursue online writing gigs via freelance writing sites then know that it won’t always be easy as these sites are usually highly competitive and you may have to bid for jobs quite often before landing one. But if you persist, then before long your efforts will pay off!
Further Reading
Hostinger’s Best Freelance Websites: Explore a comprehensive list of the best freelance websites to kickstart your freelancing journey.
The Balance Money – Find Freelance Work Online: Learn how to find freelance work online and grow your freelancing career effectively.
Medium – Are Freelancing Sites Worth It in 2023?: Delve into an in-depth analysis of the worthiness of freelancing sites in 2023 and how they can impact your freelance career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Freelance writing is a great way to earn extra income. You can write for blogs, websites, or even businesses.
What is a Freelancer?
A freelance writer is someone who works on a contract basis and does not have an employer. Freelancers are independent contractors and are responsible for finding their work and negotiating payment methods with clients.
This means that you don’t get paid benefits such as sick days, vacation days, or health insurance through your employer (although some companies may provide some of these things). Instead, they get paid by the hour or by the project when they complete it successfully.
How much can a freelance writer earn? The amount of money that you make depends on how much experience you have in certain fields or types of writing jobs.
What Are The Best Freelance Websites For Writers?
Upwork (formerly known as oDesk) and Fiverr are two of the most popular sites where writers can find work online.
What Types Of Jobs Do These Sites Offer?
Upwork offers more traditional contracts whereas Fiverr focuses more on short-term projects such as editing an article within 24 hours or designing graphics within 48 hours.
How Do I Become A Professional Writer?
If you have the desire and passion then there’s no reason why anyone couldn’t learn how to write well enough to start earning money doing so!
What Is Upwork, Freelancer, And Fiverr?
Upwork was formerly known as Elance-oDesk, which was created in 2005. It’s a site where freelancers can find jobs and employers can hire them. There are over 10 million registered users who use the site to find work and make money.
Freelancer is another freelance writing website that has been around since 2009. They have over 8 million registered users on their platform, which makes it one of the biggest freelance writing sites out there today!
With so many people using it though, there are often more job postings than there are available writers (or vice versa) which makes it difficult for you to find paid assignments quickly if you’re just starting with no experience under your belt yet however this also means there will be plenty opportunities available once you do get some experience under your belt too!
Fiverr is another big name in terms of finding freelance writing jobs online they’ve been around since 2010 but unlike UpWork/Elance-oDesk or even Freelancer; Fiverr doesn’t charge any fees from either freelancers or employers when posting new ads or working together online it’s free!
This means that most people who come here looking for work instead want something small like proofreading documents or editing an article before submission (which means less $$ per hour).
How Do I Get Started On Upwork?
To apply for positions on Upwork, go here and click “Sign up now!” in the top right corner of the screen. You’ll be prompted to choose a plan and enter your email address, name, and other basic information.
After that’s done, you’ll be able to set up your profile by providing some personal details about yourself (like your education level) as well as upload photos of yourself for potential employers to browse through.
Once you’ve completed those steps, it’s time to find work!
You can use the search bar at the top of any page on Upwork or look through categories like Writing & Translation or Web Development & Design at the left-hand scrollbar; when you find something interesting click “Apply Now.” After applying with all relevant materials attached (including samples), wait until someone reviews it and hopefully chooses you as their new freelancer partner!
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.