Many writers and editors have found success in pursuing freelance copywriting and content editing as a way to earn extra money online. But, just like any other job, there are ways to go about finding freelance writing work and making the most of it. With a little bit of research and planning, you can nail your first freelance writing job and start building a portfolio that will impress future employers.
Decide What You’re Looking For
You might decide that you want to try your hand at copywriting for businesses, corporate clients, or even brands. Each of these have their perks and quirks as far as editorial work goes, so you’ll have to decide what you want out of the gig.
Where To Start?
While there are no exact statistics on freelance writing and copyediting jobs, there are plenty of places of business that need someone to take care of their copy for them. You can find these jobs in a variety of places, mostly online. Places like Upwork, Fiverr, and Amazon Mechanical Turk are just a few of the many freelancing platforms out there.
How To Make The Most Of It
Depending on what you’re looking for, you might decide that a few hundred words a day is too much, or too little. You might even want to try your hand at copywriting for SEO purposes or to improve the flow of some web content. Whatever your reasons may be, you’ll want to make sure that you tailor your writing assignments to fit your strengths. For example, are you most effective at developing interesting anecdotes or breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand bits and pieces?
To find the perfect job for you, take some time to visit as many of the above-listed platforms as possible. Look for those businesses and brands that need some additional help with copy, or those that just need someone to take care of their daily correspondence for them. This is a great way to build a portfolio and gain some experience writing for various platforms. When you find a job that suits you, be sure to submit your application quickly—you wouldn’t want to be scrambling to find work just to make ends meet, now would you?
Get A Good Portfolio
A nice thing about pursuing a copywriting career is that it’s relatively easy to put together a portfolio. All you need is a few good samples of your work to show off your skills. Make sure to get samples from different platforms so that you can show off your versatility. If you’re worried about how to get started, simply ask for samples of existing content. Ideally, you want to have a portfolio that can convince potential employers that you’re the right person for the job. Create a small collection of samples that will do the trick.
Get Employed
Now that you have a good portfolio, it’s time to start looking for freelance writing gigs. Don’t worry, this is where the fun begins. If you’re doing this for experience or to make some extra cash, then the work will likely be easy to find. You can search for keywords like “copywriter” or “content editor” and look for those that need some additional help. Most of the work will be concentrated in the vicinity of major cities, so if you live in one of these areas, the opportunities are endless.
Building a freelance writing portfolio will only get you so far. To really make the most of this opportunity, you’ll have to get some experience—volunteer or do some informal writing for free. The more you write, the better you’ll become at pitching specific pieces to specific clients. Remember to treat this like any other job—you will get paid for your work, but you’re also working to build your reputation. With a little bit of hustle and some trial and error, you can put together a successful copywriting career. Good luck out there.