The Best Freelance Writing Gigs and How to Get Them

As of 2019, there were over 55 million people working in the gig economy, or in freelance positions. Now, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, that number has undoubtedly grown. That includes freelance writers who are either working as contractors as a side hustle or trying to build a full-time career.

Because there are so many freelance writers within the gig economy, trying to find regular, steady gigs can be a bit overwhelming. But, if you know where to look, you’re willing to build up your resume, and you know how to market yourself, you can stand out from your competition. People hire freelance writers for a variety of reasons. Finding your niche will help you to find steady clients that can lead to a successful career.

So, what are the best freelance writing gigs available, and how can you make sure you’re getting them consistently?

What Types of Writing Jobs Are Available?

One of the best things about being a freelance writer is that there are so many different types of jobs available. That can make it easier to find gigs, but it’s important to know the difference between these jobs. For example, there is a difference between being a copywriter and a copy editor. A copywriter is tasked with creating content for companies that transforms a message into beautiful, compelling content. A copy editor, on the other hand, reviews the text from a copywriter and corrects any grammatical errors or issues with flow.

Understanding the differences between writing jobs will help you to decide where you’ll fit. Some other types of writing gigs include:

Blogger
Book coach
Author
Journal article writer
Manuscript writer
Resume writer

Speaking of resumes, you’ll need to make sure yours reflects the type of writing you want to do. To create the perfect freelance resume, you’ll need to include both your skills and your experience for a particular type of writing. Start with your hard skills or things that are related to the job. Then, follow up with soft skills like “an effective listener” or “flexible”. Having a resume that is laid out correctly will help you to stand out from your competition and can make a big difference in finding different types of writing jobs.

How to Find the Best Gigs

If you’re searching for freelance writing gigs online and something comes up that sounds too good to be true, it’s worth it to hit the ‘pause’ button. One of the drawbacks of the gig economy becoming so popular is that there are a lot of people out there who want to take advantage of those trying to start a successful freelance career. So, it’s important to seek out gigs that are legitimate. Some positive indicators to look for include:

The job listing includes a phone number you can call
If you research the company, they have a strong online presence
It’s an established business

If you can’t find any of those indicators, it might be best to keep moving on your search. When you’re looking, always use legitimate, trusted sites to find gigs, like:

Upwork
iWriter
FlexJobs
BloggingPro

It’s also a good idea to do some networking via social media marketing. We’ll talk more about how you can market yourself as a writer in the next section. But, utilizing social media is especially unique, because it allows you to connect with people who may be able to hire you right away.

Be sure to optimize your social media profiles for your career, and when you reach out to someone via a social platform, they may be more likely to hire you based on your presence. You can try ‘cold pitching’ on social media, and the potential client can instantly get more information about you based on your profile. It’s a great way to find gigs more personally, and it can help you to develop more trusting, lasting relationships with clients.

Growing Your “Brand” as a Freelancer

When you’re a freelancer, you have to think of yourself as a business. Better yet, think of yourself as a brand. Everything you do online can have an impact on the growth of your career. Like any brand, it’s important to market yourself the right way.

The simplest way to do that is to build a website that features some of your work. An online portfolio will make it easy for potential clients to decide if they want to work with you. It will also give them some insight into who you are, as well as your writing style.

You can take it one step further by utilizing platforms like Instagram to reach a wider audience. As a freelancer on Instagram, you can use these tips to help your profile stand out:

Create a unique bio
Let your followers get to know you
Look at your data/analytics to see what and when to post

Remember, you offer a service that you want people to buy, even if it’s only a one-time gig. Branding yourself the right way might include things like creating a logo for yourself, or a color scheme for everything you do. Because there are so many writers in the gig economy, focusing on your brand, rather than yourself as an individual, can help you to see more legitimate and professional.

There is a lot of competition in the world of freelance writing. Use some of these suggestions to find the best gigs, and to build lasting relationships with your clients so you can consistently grow your freelance career for years to come.

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