If you are thinking about changing your career and getting into writing or you just want to exercise your writing skills to make some more money, then Online writing job is a great way to start. Freelance writing jobs are available in many different niches and for many topics.
YOU are the commodity that needs to be advertised, and your writing is what you should invest in like a tool of your trade. You must have confidence in your abilities and be able to market yourself as a valuable content provider.
Get the Right Resources
Update your computer to the most current standards you can afford. This means Microsoft Windows 2000 at least, and at best some form of Vista or XP. Be sure you have enough memory and a processor that can handle downloading large files. You may have some projects that you must rewrite entire websites, so the ability to see them all at once is vital to meeting deadlines.
Then install communication programs, such as skype, instant messengers, and/or web cams. This shows prospective clients that you are fully committed to writing, and can be contacted when they need to discuss project guidelines. There may also be some hourly work available that you can then show proof of your time spent working.
Have a Portfolio
You have now updated your working environment, so it's time to start a portfolio. Write a few articles on current events, technology, or whatever your specialty you want to promote. Find a free web page host (often your internet connection company will provide one with your service). Populate your site with information similar to a resume, and start a web log (online diary of sorts) about your area of interest, daily news information, or anything you think will inspire people to want to know more about you.
Do Your Research
Start the online planning by researching a few websites that offer access to freelance projects. Many have a system of bidding for projects that will include several articles for one particular client or buyer. Do not be deterred by the sites that have writers with all kinds of 'feedback' from clients. One great example is getafreelancer.com. They have many projects that are posted by new buyers, and these clients are more open to accept writers with little or no feedback.
So you find a few sites to create individual profiles. Be sure to work hard on making your short profile highlight your skills. Add examples of work you have already done, and be sure to note that you retain the rights to anything you post. This insures that buyers will not copy and paste your work without paying you.
Then, start the bidding! Each site will likely limit the number of bids you are allowed, either by week or by day. Be sure to understand these limits, and bid accordingly. Try not to waste all your bids on low paying projects, and use all your bids within the time frame. This will get your name out, and show your interest in committing to writing.
Use Samples Carefully
You may be asked to provide examples specific to the topic of the project. Do these on a limited basis, because there are those few dishonest buyers that will ask you to write a sample, then close the project when they get enough free samples to fulfill their project.
Remember to use spell check, and write intelligent responses within your bid. If you do not use proper punctuation, or do not capitalize, or use slang words, you are likely to be ignored as a bidder. Put your best work forward in every communication and article, everything you post is out there for the world to see. It represents you, so make it shine.
Your Compensation
As you gradually increase your portfolio of work, you will find more projects that suit your writing. Be advised that, beginning writers can expect only lower pay! Writers with proven experience within a site can demand higher pay. Accept few jobs that pay only $3 or so per article. Then you can narrow down the projects you bid on, and raise your required compensation. When you begin to see a steady influx of projects, you can consider devoting even more time to being a freelancer. Don't give up the day job just yet, though.
When Possible Hire Others
As your number of clients and projects increase, you can consider becoming your own project director, and secure writers to work with you on a team. Start by determining how you will bill new clients, and pay other team members for their contributions. Usually a PayPal account is the easiest way to go, because you can create invoices and bill an email address in one place. Be careful to keep track of billing and receiving payments, and send reminders when a client has not completed their transaction.
Meet Your Deadlines
Finally, consider deadlines as your sacred time clock. When you accept a project, or assign a project, your deadline is your guarantee of payment. If you do not meet your deadlines, the client has every right to deny payment. If you are farming out work to members of a team, make the deadline sooner than the client is requesting. This will give you time to either find another writer, write the article yourself, or edit what has been submitted so that it meets your standards of quality.
Overall, starting a freelance career is not a scary endeavor. With proper planning and commitment, it is a viable career option. It can offer you the ability to manage your time, and a living doing what you truly love.
Writing Job Market Place
- Get A Freelancer - Hundreds of Jobs are getting posted everyday by serious buyers. It provides easy payment option for freelancers.
- Get A Coder - Another good resource to get started with. Offers a free eBook that teaches how to use the site to get maximum benefit.
- DigitalPoint Market Place - Highly recommended market place. You can find article writing, content creation, copywriting, forum posting and other writing works from webmasters. No bidding system like other freelancing websites.
- SitePoint Market Place - This is also a popular webmaster forum like DigitalPoint. You can sell your writing skills to interested webmasters.
More Resources
- Search for Online Writing Job Guides
at Amazon Store
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