Make Money Writing - How to Get Started Today

With the fluctuating economy, extravagant decline in employment, and reduction of corporate benefits, many people are struggling to make ends meet. Working from home is an option for most, but with all the fraudulent opportunities online it is hard to know which are truly legitimate. If you have a handle on spelling and grammar, an engaging personality that comes through in your writing, and the ambition to work without supervision, you could easily make money writing online.

Resumes are Important

A writing resume is similar to a resume that is used in the corporate world. It should list your name, contact information, career objective, and skills that pertain to writing. It should also list award-winning articles (if applicable) and a client history. If you are just starting out in a freelance writing career, you probably don’t have a client list to add to your resume. In that case, you may want to submit articles to a well-known content site such as HubPages.com or EzineArticles.com. In lieu of the client list, you can now use these samples on your resume. This lets potential clients gauge your writing capabilities and style. For more information, check out this Sample Resume for Freelance Writing by Patty Inglish.

Networking and Social Media

Writers can use social media to their advantage. By connecting with other writers, the new freelance writer will have a sense of where to look for clients, an idea of how to charge for writing services, and somewhere to ask the common questions that come up when charting new territory. Online forums are another avenue for freelance writer networking. WAHM.com, WorkPlaceLikeHome.com, and AbsoluteWrite.com are terrific resources for both new and seasoned writers.

Scoring the First Client

Some writers choose to work solely with private clients, while others prefer to get their foot in the door with a content company first. Private clients are wonderful, but without a history of published articles, bylines, and journalism awards, a private client has little to go on when it comes to making the decision of using a writer’s services. If you want to start to make money writing now, you may want to apply to a few content companies. Content companies range the gamut; some companies will hire new writers, while others require experience, a degree related to writing, and proof of published works. As with other areas of employment, writers need to climb the proverbial ladder. This is where networking contacts can be very helpful—the contacts can tell a new writer which companies will help them get a start in freelance writing. TextBroker.com, ConstantContent.com, and MerchantCircle.com are just three companies that are commonly mentioned when a beginning writer seeks advice on where to apply for a writing job.

Money, Money, Money

If you are considering breaking into a writing career, you will want to know if you can actually make money writing; enough money to actually pay the bills and put food on the table. If you have done your homework, you present a quality resume with well-written samples, and you dedicate the time necessary to sit down and work, you can expect to make at least $400.00 per week. As you grow into your new career, that number will go up. Your researching and writing speed will increase, you will gain access to higher-paying work, and your best byline-published articles will draw client attention to your skills. You may even decide to go full-throttle and start your own niche sites, where you can begin bringing in even more cash from writing.

The opportunities for a person seeking a freelance writing job are virtually endless. Clients need content that will sell a product, copy that will liven a webpage, and blog posts that will sustain readership. You can provide all of these services from the comfort of your own home while you make money from writing. It's time to make the former cubicle job a permanent fixture in the past.