One great way to get a start as a freelance writer is with sites that pay you for your content such as Associated Content. You can use this to earn income, practice your skill at writing for the Web and to get a byline and get noticed on the Web. After that, you may want to expand while you continue writing for them.
You can do this by creating your own website to send traffic to, bidding on projects on bid sites and applying for calls for content online. When you're just starting out, it's important to find the right client for you. This is how you will build your portfolio of experience and gain references. This is why bidding on projects that interest you may be a good place to start. If you have a specialty that you do, then advertise this on your website. For example, some writers write about sports, Sensor swab or parenting or do humor pieces.
If there is anything in your life that you have a degree or certification in or special experience such as if you worked in the retail industry for 10 years, you can use this as a starting point for writing by writing articles and content on that topic.
A professional looking website with samples of your writing can be very helpful. Remember that the copy on the website is also an example of your writing skills so make it look good. A blog can help to drive traffic and to show more samples of your writing and article marketing sites can help drive traffic back to your website and blog where you sell your services.
These are all part of a combined marketing effort that I suggest all writers who are serious about earning income do. You need to balance the time you spend marketing your services with the time you spend actually writing as well.
How fast the income builds is dependent on your skills and abilities, your ability to market, the current demand for the type of writing you do and other factors. It's the kind of thing where you get what you put into it, really.
In the beginning, savvy marketing will go a long way for you. If you get direct clients, treat them well, work hard to impress them and ask them for references or testimonials direct on your site. This all helps you build more clients. Try to keep repeat clients whenever you can.
Be cautious of working for free. Some new writers are so excited to get their name out there that they will work for a byline only. This starts you off on the wrong foot because you are already accepting less than what you are worth and you're inviting people to take advantage of you.
If you want to write for free, do it on your own website, blog or for article marketing that links back to your site and benefits you. You can also guest post on blogs that pertain to your subject matter and it's a great way to get noticed. Never sell yourself short by writing for free.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content in her 10+ years as a professional writer.
You can find more tips like these from Lisa's website and her writing tips blog.
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