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December 17, 2024
Editorial GuidelinesAlba is a writer for SideHustles.com. In addition to writing, she has done work as an independent graphic designer and has...
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NoIf you’re interested in becoming a freelance writer, you’re probably looking for ways to land gigs. Work is easy to come by when you’re an established name in the field, but it can be tough to find when you’re just starting out.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best places to find freelance writing jobs as well as the best sites for freelance writers to access informational resources so that you can start your freelancing career off on the right foot.
Even with access to a list of the best freelance writing sites out there, you’ll eventually need to narrow down your search to a handful (or even just one) that matches your experience level, the type of content you write, your schedule, and your overall goals as a freelance writer.
First, figure out which type of freelance writing site you’re looking for. Do you want a freelancing marketplace where you can have full control over your rates and projects and establish a digital footprint and track record as an independent freelance writer?
Maybe you want a site that hires freelance workers and outsources work to them from other companies. Or maybe you want a site that compiles the best freelance writing jobs from across the web.
There are advantages and disadvantages to all these different types of sites. We’ll go over these in detail and give you a look into the highest-paying freelance writing sites and the best freelance writing websites for beginners to break into the industry.
It’s possible to land gigs without using a freelancing platform by approaching and pitching to clients directly. This has several advantages—most significantly, you won’t have to give a cut of your profits to the writing platform (something that you’ll have to do with most of the sites below). That said, pitching independently is hard work, and it’s reasonable to use a website when you’re starting out and trying to find your feet.
Freelancing websites are a great option if you want to stay fully in control of your rates and what writing projects you take on. These are among the best freelance writing sites for beginners since you don’t necessarily need any experience to get started. It can be tough to beat the competition to get those first few writing gigs, but there’s plenty of potential to grow.
Upwork is one of the largest freelance marketplaces in the world. It connects freelancers in all fields with businesses and individuals seeking talent, and it’s an ideal marketplace for content writers and other writers.
Freelancer.com is a marketplace where freelancers can bid on various job postings. It’s a lot like Upwork in that it’s not just a place to find work as a freelance writer—you can also find a huge range of other digital work-from-home jobs contracted on a freelance basis.
WriterAccess is another marketplace that connects companies with content creators. However, acceptance isn’t automatic; WriterAccess will contact you if their editors decide that you meet their criteria.
Fiverr is a lot like Upwork and Freelancer in that it’s a general digital marketplace you can use to find all types of online work as a freelancer. It’s definitely worth mentioning as a site to find freelance writing work since there are always plenty of writing gigs going, and it’s an excellent site for beginner freelance writers to get their start and gain some experience.
There are several content writing platforms out there that will serve as the middleman connecting you with clients. Often known as content mills, these are websites that pay you to write on behalf of another company.
You don’t need to pitch to businesses or apply to jobs—instead, these sites will simply send you projects from clients that suit your expertise or experience. The obvious benefit of these freelance writing companies is that it’s almost like working for a traditional employer, meaning you don’t need to do any of the hard work of marketing your freelance writing services or chasing after payments.
The downside is that pay rates are often very low, and there’s no guaranteed work. Nevertheless, registering with one of these top content writing sites is probably the easiest way to get freelance writing jobs online for beginners, allowing the opportunity to gain essential writing experience while getting paid.
ClearVoice connects writers and content creators with companies seeking talent. ClearVoice also features jobs in other industries besides writing, including graphic design. If you’re accepted into the “ClearVoice Talent Network,” you’ll get matched with assignments by the ClearVoice team based on your rates and experience.
Compose.ly is a curated content marketplace, and it’s one of the most well-known content writing sites. Writers can’t directly browse or apply for jobs; instead, Compose.ly’s editors send offers to the writers they think would be a good fit for each project.
Contently recruits content creators, including writers, and matches them with suitable brands. They are a little more selective when it comes to hiring freelance writers compared to some other websites for content writing, and you’ll need to show that you have paid writing experience before you can join their writing team.
Stellar Content, formerly known as Crowd Content, connects writers with businesses seeking content. The platform offers two ways for writers to earn:
Textbroker is a writing agency that acts as a bridge between writers and companies looking to buy content. The platform features three types of orders that all work a little differently:
Verblio provides clients with content writing services for marketing and SEO purposes. This is a beginner-friendly writing company that may consider hiring you as a freelance writer even if you have no writing experience.
nDash provides content creation software and services for businesses and agencies. It’s a lot like other content mills and writing agencies. They work with diverse clients who request many different types of writing projects, which may be ideal for you if you’re pursuing a niche type of content.
Scripted is another popular content mill that connects writers and businesses. You can find a wide range of freelance writing jobs with this site, and some pay much better than others.
Constant Content allows writers to independently brainstorm and submit articles on topics they’re knowledgeable and passionate about, then sells these articles to companies they think will be interested. Companies can also request specific content they need.
If neither using a freelancing site or working for a content mill is right for you, you could instead browse listings on the top freelance writing job boards. We’ve listed what kinds of jobs they feature, what the average pay for those jobs is, and whether the website is suitable for beginners, experienced writers, or both.
BloggingPro publishes blogging tutorials and hosts a job board for writers. The site is primarily geared toward blog writing, but you can also use it to find other freelance writing jobs.
When you sign up for iWriter, you’ll get access to a list of projects posted by different companies. Businesses can also send you requests directly.
You’ll select your preferred types of projects and be given the chance to submit pieces to these companies for review. Each requesting client will decide whether or not to accept your work. If they do, you’ll get paid. If not, the project will go into your “rejected” pile and you won’t receive payment.
Much like BloggingPro, ProBlogger provides blogging resources, including a job board with many listings. It’s a good place to find freelance writing gigs and access resources that can help you further your writing career.
Writers Work markets itself as an all-in-one membership platform for freelance writers. They offer writing tools and resources, as well as access to job postings. They’ll also match you with opportunities they think will be relevant for you.
These companies are a little different from the other websites for freelance writers on this list. They’re not freelance writing platforms, and they don’t connect you with third-party companies or clients. Instead, they’re sites that regularly produce large volumes of content and tend to be open to looking for freelance writers to write content for them.
These are websites that pay for articles, and they offer relatively high-paying freelance writing jobs. The catch is that it’s harder to land these writing gigs since they generally go to very high-quality content writers.
Valnet is a media company that owns several well-known sites, including Screen Rant, TheGamer, and CBR. If your dream is to write film or game reviews, then this could be one of the best freelance writing platforms for you to work for.
Static Media is another company that owns a family of websites, including Tasting Table, House Digest, Explore, and many others. There’s a huge range of different subjects you can write about, and the company is always on the lookout for new freelance writers to contribute content to their sites.
If you want to be a freelance writer, landing work isn’t your only concern. You also need to find ways to improve your craft constantly—and you need to become comfortable with the ins and outs of being an independent worker, which requires a lot of practical skills that aren’t strictly writing-related but are no less necessary.
We’ve compiled a list of resources to help you acquire these skills. These sites aren’t job boards, but you should still carve out some time to explore them. They’ll help you become a better writer, as well as a better freelancer.
Check out these sites, which feature articles, free ebooks, and even quizzes that will help you expand your writing skill set. In particular, many of these sites will help you get comfortable with writing website copy and SEO blog content—two of the biggest niches in the freelance writing space.
BecomeAWriterToday.com is a site packed with writing resources of all kinds, including blog posts and courses on writing fiction and nonfiction. These include a course on freelance writing.
Copyblogger is a website that contains a free guide on content writing, and it’s one of the best freelance copywriter websites. They have a “Copywriting 101” section with blog posts to get you started on your journey toward becoming a freelance copywriter.
Much like Copyblogger, Enchanting Marketing is a site full of blog posts on copywriting, blogging, and finding your writing voice. It also contains a free general-purpose writing course (delivered via email).
Express Writers features both work opportunities and writing resources. For example, you can access multiple free ebooks and blog posts on SEO, copywriting, and email marketing.
On the Making a Living Writing website, you’ll find an ebook that offers a 12-point plan on how to become a freelance writer, as well as pitch templates that you can use to land work.
As you’ve probably gathered, many clients will expect you to have at least a basic understanding of SEO. Moz.com offers a Beginner’s Guide to SEO that is a great resource to learn the fundamentals.
If you’re interested in becoming a freelance magazine writer, Writing Blueprints offers a course to get you started. They also offer many other writing-related workshops and articles.
Writing Revolt offers free and paid classes and resources on becoming a freelance writer. Notably, they offer a freelance writing quiz to figure out what writing niche might be a good fit for you.
On our own website, you can also find articles on how to become a freelance writer and how much freelance writers make. You can find further articles (which provide guidance on how to develop your writing skills and branch out into different niches) in our freelance writer hub.
As mentioned, you need two separate sets of skills to succeed as a freelance writer: pure writing skills, and business skills.
The websites below all feature courses that’ll teach you the skills necessary to support a career as a freelancer of any type. (This means they also have plenty of applicability if you decide you want to dip into another type of independent work besides writing, such as graphic design or proofreading.)
Coursera is full of courses (both free and paid) that are taught by professors from top universities around the world.
Some of these courses are specifically meant to teach you how to launch a freelance writing career, including Building Your Freelancing Career by CalArts.
You can also find more courses to help you develop your writing skills, such as Good with Words by the University of Michigan.
Domestika is a multilingual learning platform that features marketing, business, and freelancing courses. These will teach you how to find a niche as a freelancer, how to stay organized and find clients, and how to manage your finances (a big help given that as a freelancer, you’ll be responsible for your own bookkeeping and taxes).
Start by looking into these courses and seeing if any appeal to you:
Domestika also offers courses on writing to help you develop your craft, such as Copywriting for Social Media and Blogging 101: Tone, Branding, and Strategy.
FutureLearn is another educational platform that includes free and paid writing and business courses, such as:
Lastly, Skillshare is a subscription-based learning platform. You can explore their writing section, as well as their freelance and entrepreneurship section.
Start by looking into one particularly relevant course, Freelance Writing 101: Build A Successful Writing Career.
Be aware that on Skillshare, most courses are independently created, which means the quality can vary considerably. That said, Skillshare offers a Learning Paths section where they recommend various courses that meet their quality standards and go together (by building and reinforcing the same skills).
In this section, you’ll also find general-purpose writing courses, such as Copywriting Essentials: Write Messaging That Drives Action.
August 13, 2024
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