Whether you’ve been writing for money long enough to know what works and what doesn’t or you’re just getting started, there are several ways to earn money as a freelance writer. Below we’ll discuss some of the best methods, along with what you need to know to get started.
Get Paid to Write Articles For Other Blogs
One of the simplest and most common ways to earn money as a freelance writer is to get paid to write articles for other blogs. Some of the bigger publications definitely pay better than others, but if you’re already getting started it’s not a bad idea to look for smaller publications who may not be able to pay as much. Finding a niche, engaging audience and building a following is the best way to ensure you get paid what you’re worth. However, it’s essential that you establish a good reputation as a writer before embarking on this strategy. You can start by writing content for free and then building up your portfolio piece by piece.
Get Paid to Write For Competitons
One of the newer ways to make money as a freelance writer is to get paid to write for competitions. There are several platforms that connect publishers with bloggers who are willing to write for a competing website or product. When you write for competitions you’ll often get assigned particular topics or themes that the publisher will want to use. Sometimes you’ll even get to choose the style of the article (although this is less common nowadays). The great thing about writing for competitions is that it allows you to build up your portfolio quickly while also providing some steady income. It’s a win-win situation (or in this case, a coin-win situation).
Become A Freelance Journalist
Another good way to make money as a freelance writer is to become a journalist. As the name suggests, a freelance journalist will often be paid to write for a publication (or publications) that is not directly linked to the news organization that employs him (or her). The major difference between a traditional journalist and a freelancer is that the former is typically expected to report on events as they unfold while the latter is often expected to come up with his (her) own content from scratch. Still, even in this case, you’ll often get paid per word rather than per story so you’ll need to keep that in mind. Building up your portfolio as a journalist is also relatively simple as you’ll often be expected to pitch articles to local newspapers, magazines or digital media houses. The great thing about this option is that it allows you to travel the world and report on events as they unfold rather than having to settle for one location.
Sign Up For A Web Development Company’s Blogging Program
One of the more traditional ways of making money as a freelance writer is to sign up for a web development company’s blogging program. These programs can range from $5 to $25 per day depending on the size of the organization and the level of experience of the person (or people) who run it. The great thing about this option is that you get to choose the topics that you’ll cover and you’ll often get to decide on the style of the content as well. Additionally, if you can improve the efficiency of the blog software, you may be able to earn a little bit of money off each article that you write (the amount depends on the type of program that you sign up for). Finally, it’s always a plus to have a link back to your website or blog (if you have one) as this may lead to earned income from affiliate marketing down the line. You may also want to try out this option to have your own blog and then monetize it using a separate online store that you’ve set up (you’ll need to learn a little bit of WordPress to make this happen).
Blogging As A Money-maker For International Students
If you’re an international student and you plan on studying in the United States, you may want to consider investing in a quality blog. The great thing about blogging is that it’s always an option to monetize it (at least in theory) and many platforms offer various paid-for membership options so you’ll never be short of potential advertisers. If you can build up a significant audience and portfolio, you may find that this becomes a lucrative option.
Start A Podcast
An even better option for financially savvy international students who want to make quick cash is to start a podcast. Podcasts are all the rage these days and with the right niche and following you could potentially charge people for listening to your show (and selling and marketing affiliate products relating to your podcast’s niche). You can do this independently or join a community to connect with other podcasters who may be able to help you get your show heard by the right audience.
Create YouTube Videos
Another easy way to make money as a freelance writer is to create YouTube videos. YouTube has grown massively in the last few years and with the right content creators and audience can very easily make a living off their videos (if they decide to monetize them). One of the best things about YouTube is that it’s globally available which means you’ll be able to reach a potentially infinite audience. Plus, if you’re looking for a way to make money quickly, YouTube is one of the best online destinations to do so.
There are of course multiple ways to make money as a freelance writer, but these are just a few of the best and most common ones. If you have a specific niche and are looking for ways to make money, you may want to consider investing in a quality laptop or desktop computer along with proper office equipment (like a chair) in order to get started. Once you have all of that, the only thing left to do is to put in the time to develop your talent.