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Top 3 Ways to Make Money Writing Online
So, You're A Writer?
Ask yourself the following:
- Do you have a way with words?
- Have you ever wished you could make money with your writing talent?
- Would you prefer to earn money doing something you enjoy?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then you might benefit from taking up a job writing online. There are many ways to do it, so for 3 of the top ways to make money writing online, read on.
(Remember that this article gives suggestions about getting writing jobs and earning with your writing online. To make the most of freelance writing, the real bricks-and-mortar world should not be put to the back of your mind)
Make Money Writing Online, Top Tip 1: Freelancing
Freelancing is one of the most mainstream ways of making a living out of your writing - but if you want to be a success, you're going to have to swallow some of your pride.
Freelancing involves writing to other people's specifications.
That means gone are the days where you can write what you like, and here are the days of writing what other people want you to write...
What is freelance writing?
Freelance writing is a term used to describe using writing as a way of earning a living without being employed by anybody. This means doing a whole host of different writing jobs for different people for different amounts of money. This can involve:
- Writing articles
- Writing brochure content
- Writing web content
- Writing sales letters
- Ghostwriting novels
- Constructing CV/Resumes
- Editing
- Proofreading
- The list goes on
The best way to make money with your writing, is to really find out what you're good at. If you're fairly adaptable, you'll probably have more success as the demand for freelance writers can fluctuate both in quantity and quality on a daily basis.
To see a professional writer in action, click here.
Why companies will pay you money to write their content.
It's one thing a company tapping out a paragraph or two about about themselves for their homepage. But many want to go a step further and hire a professional to make sure that visitors landing on their page are intrigued, captivated and compelled.
The truth is, some people have difficulty with words whereas others can weave an intricate tapestry of content without a second thought. If you're one of these people, consider offering your writing services as work for hire. If you find the right jobs, the payments can be high.
How do I get started?
There are many ways to go about it. If you're good with marketing, you might consider setting up a website detailing what you plan on offering potential clients, then concentrate on getting the orders in.
There are also online platforms which offer you a place to search for freelance jobs, offer a price and win the work.
These sites will generally take a fee in the form of a percentage of your job price, but they offer more consistent work and safer ways of ensuring clients pay up.
Online Freelancing Sites
- Odesk.com
- Elance.com
- Guru.com
- Freelancer.com
Each offers their own unique layout, pricing structure and benefits, so it's all about finding the right one for you. Remember though, these are sites designed to connect clients with providers, not to provide a practice-ground for amateurs. If you feel you're not ready to start selling your services, then come back when you do.
Make Money Writing Online, Top Tip 2: Successful Blogging
If you have a knack for writing content both regularly and with high quality, you might make a great blogger.
If you're blogging off your own back you're going to have to do a lot of work marketing it initially to generate an interest, but once you have a good following the traffic will become more consistent.
What is a blog?
Blog is short for Web Log, and is quite simply an online journal about anything.
People blog about sport, religion, humour, business... the list is endless.
How blogging can make you money
If blogging is your hot-spot, and you write quality content and develop a consistent level of followers, you have a lot of power to look into many money making avenues.
For example, you could get paid by companies to advertise their products on your blog because they know it generates a lot of views.
Companies like Google AdSense will analyse the quality of your blog and decide whether or not they feel it will be mutually beneficial to put their adverts there and pay you a share.
Make Money Writing Online, Top Tip 3: User Generated Content
This article you're reading right now?
It's an example of User Generated Content.
What is user generated content?
User generated content is content freely available to the public on the web, which has been written by every day web users to share and help their skills and knowledge. There are many websites you can sign up to (hubpages being one of them) where you can share your knowledge with others.
Writing articles, creative writing, how-to guides, recipes... it doesn't really matter. As long as you can write detailed quality content, you can write about whatever you like.
How does that make me money?
Whichever company you are using to post your content, the ways of making money is by receiving a share of their advertising profits.
For example, Hubpages gives its 'Hubbers' 60% of any advertising revenue generated as a result of their content. Not bad for writing about something you love?
Platforms to submit user generated content
There are a lot of platforms out there helping writers to share their knowledge. Some of the more popular ones are:
- Hubpages
- Squidoo
- Suite101
So it's that easy?
Please remember that writing online is not a get rich quick scheme. It requires patience, dedication and talent. If you have the talent to write, the patience to build up a good image and the dedication to continue, you can make a lot of money writing on line.
Encore!
Want more writing advice..?
Related
Comments
I wouldn't recommend that any serious writers work for Interactmedia--new or experienced. Here are a few reasons why:
1.) After grueling over the keyboard for hours to write an obscure topic, a client can flat-out reject your content for no good reason at all, without requesting any revisions.
2.) Clients can BLOCK you from leaving any feedback (comments) after they have rejected your work. This hurts other writers as they should be privy to knowing which clients are difficult or scammers.
3.) Rejected content = time totally wasted: $0
4.) Many of the topics are obscure, instructions are vague, and can take long periods of time to write. We're talking hours here. That equals less than minimum wage for most titles on the site.
5.) The company has poor support that sends form emails with vague answers. Support staff do not seem to support the writers.
6.) The pay rate is not good ($.01 to $.03 per word generally)
7.) Several clients seem to be on the site to take advantage of the "rejection loophole." In other words, you write an article (or other project) and if they don't "like" it, they reject it.
Not only is that lost time and effort for the writer, the client can actually keep your work and NOT PAY A DIME.
- Author
Thanks sjwigglywoo - and nice name :)
Being quite new to writing online your article is perfect, clear and concise. Great information about writing online and is definitely going to be very useful.
- Author
Glad to hear. What do you do for a living at the moment?
Good hub. Thanks. I am trying to transition to full time income from writing. Your hub is encouraging.
- Author
A bit of both! In fact it was actually a mistake, but that's a great way to rectify it - adding in a couple more. Thanks :-P
I just realized the URL for this hub says the top 5 ways...was that a mistake or will you be adding to this hub in the future?
- Author
Thanks so much for the lovely feedback :)
This is such great and direct information! Thank you!
This is a good hub for writers and they need to look into the many aspects of writing online for money. http://www.micoequipment.com
- Author
Thanks :-)
I like all your information here. I think it's a great resource for anyone wanting to start freelancing the right way.
I am a writer on interactmedia, they are legit, but they are a content mill, not a revenue-sharing site. In my experience, they do not have a lot of titles available for writers and the pay is also not that great.
The thing that worries me, is that a lot of budding freelance writers tend to get sucked into 'content mills' such as Interact Media and Demand Studios. It is so easy for writers to use them to start off their career and then rely on them for income. Some of them are better than others, yes, but still dangerous for new writers.
Yes, I too, appreciate your information as well at the format. It's concise but with enough detail to get one started pursuing those avenues. Your first comment gives a lot of information as well.
Thanks!
- Author
I'll check the site you mentioned too :-)
- Author
Those comments are very kindly appreciated. Thanks :-)
Hubber Athlyn Green recently asked a question about the best revenue-sharing sites for writers, and hubber JenPaxton answered and described her experience so far with a site called InteractMedia.com. I checked it out and it looks credible, but I haven't signed up. You might want to add that to your list.
I also want to say you do a great job of making an article skim-able and easy to read. Plus the info is spot on. I will definitely be following you and looking forward to more great hubs.
- Author
You don't have to work for such low rates. I make my full time living out of freelance writing. When I first started, I took one or two low paying article writing jobs for 5 dollars an article, but the good work is out there. Helping companies to write brochure content is a good way of earning money (you can make a couple of hundred dollars if you're good at it for just a few paragraphs). I understand what you say about work being plagiarized, however if you're agreeing to sell your writing to them in advance, it's classed as work for hire not plagiarism. Plagiarism would be if they were to take content which you have not sold or released the rights for and passed it off as their own.
I never sell the rights to my creative pieces such as poetry and short stories - they are personal to me. But as far as my career goes, I'd much rather get paid to sit and write words all day even if I'm not keeping the rights to them, than sit in a call center.
I guess it's all a matter of perspective.
You make a very good point though Cheryl - nobody should offer their professional writing services for $3 an article. I rarely write articles any more - though I do have a few clients willing to pay between $30 - $80 for a single blog post, so once your name is out there, the money can be made.
I guess there's 2 sides to it:
Writing for pleasure.
Writing for a career.
I do both.
Your comment is appreciated - thanks for reading :-)
Well as a writer I do not want my work plagerized which is exactly what these companies do. I don't think any professional writer would want that. It's okay for those who want to make money just for the sake of making money but I do not want what I take the time to write have someone else get credit for it. Not for 3 or 4 dollars per article.
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