The demand for copywriters has risen sharply as content creators seek to find the right individual to produce their content for them. Thanks to the explosion of digital media, content creators can now produce and publish content with relative ease. The demand for content – especially when paired with the various online platforms – has necessitated the need for freelancers to ensure that content is produced on time, and that all linguistic nuances are covered.
The Growing Demand for Content
Thanks to the rise of the internet and social media, people have always sought to tell stories and share information. Before online content creators, there were always authors and essayists seeking to expand their reach and those who specialized in journalistic reports or feature stories. However, the demand for content increased as soon as the ability to publish content online was made available to everyone.
The advent of the digital age has led to exponential growth in all content areas. Thanks to platforms like WordPress, which is used by millions of websites around the world, content can now be published in an instant. As a result, many freelancers have seen a spike in work thanks to the increasing demand for content. In 2014 alone, revenues from assignments and freelance copywriting jobs reached £11.3 billion.
The Rising Demand for Specific Tasks
Traditional publishers may still favor assignment work, as it provides steady earnings with little effort required. However, the rise of the click-worker has led to a shift in what tasks are most in demand. Thanks to the increasing digitization of content, specific tasks like SEO copywriting and website content curation have become massively in demand, with annual wages reaching £16,000 and £20,000, respectively.
Become a Full-time Freelance Writer
If you’re looking to enter the world of freelance copywriting, you have a variety of options that can lead you to financial stability. Thanks to the increased demand for copywriters, lots of platforms have emerged that allow individuals to generate a steady stream of income by taking on periodic assignments or by doing part-time work. The most popular of these platforms are:
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- Copyblogger
- Content Marketing Institute
- HubSpot
- Squidoo
- VimEO
- eBay
- Amazon
- iWriter
Digital Nomads and the Gig-working Boom
With most of the digital nomads having transitioned from working for others to working independently, the freelance copywriting industry has shifted from a traditional workplace setting to a digital nomad’s routine.
Thanks to increased demand and the evolving nature of content, freelancing has become a lucrative option for digital nomads who enjoy traveling the world and being available for work when needed. In fact, some digital nomads have even found the stability of freelance copywriting to be a sufficient enough reason to abandon their nomadic lifestyle, as they can now afford to buy properties abroad and establish themselves as full-time freelancers. According to Future Inc, a top-level digital marketing agency, 66% of content creators said that financial stability has driven them to pursue freelance copywriting as a career, compared to 19% who cited a passion for words and 12% who cited an interest in marketing.
Similarly, freelancing has given rise to a new breed of highly-skilled and experienced content creators who are able to generate high incomes and make a living from their writing. Content Marketing Manager at PPC Agency, James Brown, estimates that a well-written e-book can be sold for anywhere between £500 and £3000, with an average selling price of around £1500. If you can drum up enough interest in your e-book, you can then move onto the next stage and explore further monetization opportunities like licensing and sponsored posts. The demand for high-quality content has led to a surge in freelance copywriting jobs, with the total number of assignments increasing by 22% between 2014 and 2015. The freelance writing industry is continuing to grow, with the number of English-speaking freelancers expected to double by 2020.
Why Should You Be a Freelance Writer?
If you’re passionate about words and you enjoy the flexibility of freelancing, you can eventually enter this lucrative industry and build a solid career. The demand for copywriters has risen thanks to the increasing demand for content and the changing media landscape. Thanks to the flexibility of freelancing, plenty of opportunities exist in the industry for budding copywriters to establish themselves, regardless of their location.