If you’re an able writer with a busy schedule and you’re looking to make extra money, you’ve probably considered freelancing. Freelancing offers many advantages. You can do work that you enjoy, and you can make money when you want. You’ll just need to figure out how to get paid for all that hard work.
A freelancer may write for various publications, websites, and blogs. The tasks can range from copywriting to editing to designing. You might be asked to research a topic, draft an article, or edit and write a press release for a client. The amount of work and the client’s demands are the keys to making money as a freelancer. You might not like doing some of the work, but you’ll enjoy the flexibility of being able to choose your own hours.
The Various Types of Freelance Work
There are many different types of freelance work available, so it’s important to understand what you’ll be doing before you begin searching for clients. Here are some of the most common types of freelance work and how to get paid for doing them.
Copywriting
The most common type of freelance writing is copywriting. You’ll be tasked with writing engaging content for websites, blogs, social media, and other online entities. You may be asked to write a sales letter, pitch a product, or give an opinion on something.
As a copywriter, you will need to consider how to write for various platforms. For instance, if the content is for a blog, you will need to consider the blog’s format, colors, and keywords. You’ll also need to analyze the target audience to determine who the intended audience is.
You can find clients with ads on Craigslist or any other online freelancing platform. You can also create your own website, or find a freelancing platform that will provide you with a professional-looking web page.
Many copywriters work remotely, so they can write while maintaining flexibility for their schedules. Working remotely as a copywriter is a great way to save money on rent, buy groceries, or pay for child care. If you’re looking to make money quickly, consider copywriting as a possible source of revenue.
Editing
If you’re an editor, you’ll need to ensure that each article, script, or audio file you edit is of acceptable quality. You’ll need to be detail-oriented and listen closely to all instructions so that the material conforms to the editorial guidelines. You’ll also need to consider the flow, the tone, and the content of each piece.
When editing, you have an opportunity to rework material and bring it up to speed with today’s standards. This could lead to significant savings in the long run. For instance, previous editions of a newspaper may have been published 40 years ago, and due to technological advances, the newer editions may not have been edited or formatted correctly. If you’re asked to edit an old piece of content, you may be able to save the client thousands of dollars by catching these errors and offering suggestions for improvement.
Some clients may even want you to rewrite the whole piece from scratch. If the budget allows, you may be able to negotiate a higher fee for this type of work. It’s important to note, however, that if the client decides to go with the original copy, they may not be inclined to pay you for the extra work. Consider this possibility before you begin negotiating and feel free to ask questions about the project to ensure that you both walk away feeling confident that you’ve got a good understanding of what the project entails.
Design
If you’re a designer, you may be asked to help create a design for a product or service. You’ll need to gather the necessary information, take measurements, and submit a bill of materials. After the product or service is built, you’ll need to ensure that it looks exactly like the design you provided. This can be a pain if the design is not built according to the measurements you provided, but it’s an excellent way to get paid. It saves the client significant amounts of money and time if the design is built according to the measurements provided by the designer.
If you’re looking to make money quickly, consider doing some design work for a company that offers a money-back guarantee. Designing a logo or creating a marketing collage for a client is a quick way to earn money online. If you’re looking to get paid for a piece of design, consider some of the smaller businesses on Etsy or handemade marketplace websites. These are just some of the ways you can make money online through freelance writing.
The Pros and Cons of Freelancing
Pros:
- You can work remotely
- More freedom than you’d have as a salaried employee
- Higher pay, depending on the level of skill and experience you have
- You’re able to set your own schedule
- You can negotiate the price with the client
- Cons
- There’s no social security number to take or provide a fake
- You may not get paid for all your work. For example, if a blog asks you to write ten articles per month, but you only be able to produce eight, you won’t get paid for the two that you didn’t finish. This is one of the downsides of freelance writing. You will inevitably lose some money unless you put in an extraordinary amount of work. The more experience you have, the better you’ll be able to guess how much you should charge and the less risk you’ll have of not getting paid. As a beginner, try to negotiate a reduced rate or offer your services on a contingency basis (you’ll get paid only if they decide to go through with the project).
- The more you charge, the more you’ll end up making. People with higher earnings tend to charge higher rates than those with lower earnings. According to the Freelancer’s Union, the average monthly income for freelancers is $2,600 (it varies depending on where you live).
- If you’re looking for steady work, consider becoming a freelancer
- Late payments are common, so be sure to set up a payment system that you can rely on.
- If you want to get paid quickly, consider doing some freelance work. It’s a great way to make extra money online without any special training. Just be sure to set up some rules for yourself so that you don’t end up spending too much time on unnecessary tasks. For example, you may want to ask clients to approve your finished work before you submit it. This checks for duplication and makes sure that everything is legitimate. It also prevents you from being fraudulently billed for completed work. An overly busy schedule can even cause you to lose money if you don’t set up automated reminders to follow up with clients. It’s a good idea to use platforms like Notify.com to ensure that you stay in contact with clients. This way, you’ll never be left in the dark about whether or not you’ll be paid for your work. Even when you’re not working, you can take advantage of the live chats and notifications which help you stay in contact with customers. This is an excellent option for those who want to work remotely and be able to respond to inquiries right away. (A paid version of Notify.com is also available, if you want to take advantage of the live chats but don’t want to be bothered with emailing notifications.)
- Make sure to factor in all the costs associated with being a freelancer. This includes things like taxes, health insurance, and transportation. All of these can add up. Fortunately, most employers offer some sort of health insurance plan for employees. Even if you’re earning enough to be considered covered under your employer’s insurance, consider purchasing a private insurance policy.
- If you’re looking for flexibility, remote work, and you want to be able to move about without having to worry about your rent, consider becoming a freelancer. Just be sure to factor in all the associated costs so that you don’t become financially burdened
Where to Find Clients
Once you’ve decided that freelancing is a viable option, you’ll need to figure out where you’re going to find the clients. There are many different strategies that you can use to find work. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best places to find clients and how to get paid.