They’re the ones who guide and shape the content experience surrounding a specific product.

Product content is fundamentally different from marketing content. For example, the text you read inside an app or software — the user interface, forms, buttons, prompts, and more — is all product content.

So is the content that helps you use the product, including user manuals, guides, walkthroughs, tutorials, and more.

Of course, this means a product content strategist has a different set of responsibilities than a marketing content strategist.

Intrigued? Then your next question might be…

How can you become one?

How much do they make and how should you position yourself for work in this role?

In this blog post we’ll explore all of these questions so that by the end of it, you will have a better understanding of what it means to be a successful product content strategist in today’s digital world.

Product Content Strategist Job Guide: Table of Contents

What Is a Product Content Strategist?

A product content strategist is someone who works with companies to create a content strategy for a product.

They develop effective ways to shape the customer experience of a product through storytelling and engaging copywriting.

To do this, product content strategists must have an in-depth understanding of the company’s target audience, as well as the product itself.

In the course of their job, the product content strategist must:

• Research customer needs.
• Develop messaging strategies.
• Create compelling stories around the product or service offering.
• Ensure all product content accurately reflects the company’s brand identity.
• Monitor how customers interact with product content, making sure it engages and helps meet the company’s goals.

Generally, the responsibilities of this role align pretty closely with those of a marketing content strategist.

The difference?

• Product content strategists are focused on the content associated with a particular product, and the audience for that content is existing customers.
• Meanwhile, marketing content strategists are worried about producing consistent content that represents the organization as a whole and will draw in new customers.

Major Responsibilities of a Product Content Strategist

The primary responsibility of a product content strategist is to strategize and create high-quality content that 1.) Effectively communicates the value proposition of a particular product or service offering, and 2.) Empowers customers.

(Your value proposition, by the way, is a summary of why customers should do business with you, including the major benefits of your product/service[s].)

In this role, you may be in charge of content like:

• Product descriptions or product pages/landing pages.
• Product blog content (such as product updates, launches, or company news).
• Onboarding content that helps a customer get acquainted with a product after purchase (emails, product registration, or “get started” guides are good examples).
• UX (user experience) content — e.g., the content you see and interact with while using a product like notifications, error messages, forms, descriptions/instructions, menus, and more.
• Help, FAQs, and troubleshooting content.
• User guides, manuals, tutorials, or walkthroughs for a product.
• Product demos.

A great example of product content comes from Semrush. Inside the tool, you’ll find helpful hints and descriptions of what you can do with various features.

This content is a great addition because Semrush is so robust — a new user could easily get overwhelmed, but this content guides you on the possibilities for what you can do.

A product content strategist made sure this guidance exists inside the tool because they deeply understand the customer experience.

Product content strategists are the driving force behind successful website and product content marketing. They understand how to create engaging content that results in fantastic customer experiences and helps businesses reach their goals.

Want to start learning a smart process that fuels an effective content strategy? Want to see how a pro creates content — with a sprinkle of AI? You need my Content Process Blueprint.

How to Become an In-Demand Product Content Strategist

Becoming a product content strategist requires an understanding of the customer experience, as well as knowledge of how to create effective content.

To become this type of strategist, you must have strong communication, leadership, project management, and content strategy skills.

What Education and Training Does a Product Content Strategist Need?

A bachelor’s degree in marketing or communications is typically required for this role.

You should also consider taking courses related to digital media, copywriting, search engine optimization (SEO), analytics, and web design. Additionally, having experience with popular software programs such as Adobe Creative Suite can help you stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs.

Finally, in our modern age, content strategists of all kinds need to understand how to use AI tools to streamline their content processes. The best AI tool out there for creating long-form content? Content at Scale.

See how it works in this in-depth tutorial, or sign up with my link to get 20% extra credits. 

Building Your Portfolio and Networking Opportunities

Aspiring product content strategists should start building their portfolio by creating sample pieces that showcase their writing style and ability to effectively communicate complex ideas in an engaging way.

It’s also important to take advantage of networking opportunities within the industry by attending conferences or joining professional organizations like Content Marketing Institute (CMI). These connections can help open doors for future job opportunities down the line.

Becoming a product content strategist requires dedication, creativity, and an understanding of the industry. With the right education and training, you can turn yourself into a valuable asset for any organization.

Pay Rates for Product Content Strategists

So, what can the average product content strategist expect to make in a year? Let’s take a look.

Average Salaries for Product Content Strategists in Different Industries

The average salary for product content strategists varies depending on industry and experience level.

For example, entry-level product content strategists can expect to earn around $50k per year while more experienced professionals may make up to $90k annually.

Those working in tech companies tend to earn higher salaries than those working in other industries such as retail or finance.

Factors That Affect Pay Rates for Product Content Strategists

A bunch of factors can affect pay rates for product content strategists including:

• Location.
• Education level.
• Job title.
• Years of experience.
• Certifications you’ve earned.
• Any additional, relevant skills you possess (such as coding).

Additionally, certain industries may offer higher salaries due to increased demand or specialized expertise required within their field.

Product content strategists are in high demand, and understanding how to negotiate your salary is key to maximizing your earning potential. With the right resume, cover letter, social media presence, and portfolio you can position yourself for success to find work as a product content strategist.

Positioning Yourself for Work in Product Content Strategy

Time to find a job.

First, let’s get the obvious out of the way:

When applying for a job as a product content strategist, you’ll need an effective application with a resume and cover letter.

The thing is, it’s really easy to create an ineffective application.

To avoid that, here are a few tips to position yourself as well as possible to get the strategist job you want:

Resume: Make it concise — nobody wants to read a long resume. Highlight your relevant experience, education, skills, and accomplishments. Axe anything that’s irrelevant.

Make sure to include any certifications or awards you’ve received in the field of product content strategy. Additionally, tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for by including keywords from the job description.

Cover letter: Mention why you’re qualified for the position, but also include how your qualifications will benefit the company.

Be sure to mention any projects or initiatives that demonstrate your expertise in product content strategy. Additionally, use this opportunity to explain why you’re passionate about working with this particular company or organization.

Social media: In this field, it’s also important to demonstrate your expertise through social media platforms such as LinkedIn or Twitter. Posting articles related to topics within product content strategy can help showcase your knowledge on these platforms while also providing potential employers with examples of work they can review before making their hiring decision.

Bonus: Join professional groups related to product content strategy so potential employers can see what type of conversations you engage in online regarding industry trends and best practices within this field.

By positioning yourself as a product content strategist, you can gain the flexibility and autonomy to work on a variety of projects with different clients, while having the opportunity to make an impact on businesses. Let’s explore further how these benefits can come to fruition in more detail.

3 Benefits of Becoming a Product Content Strategist

Becoming a product content strategist can be incredibly rewarding.

Not only do you get to work with a variety of projects and clients, but you also have the opportunity to make a huge impact on businesses through your work.

Let’s dive deeper into some of those benefits.

1. Flexibility and Autonomy in the Workplace

As a product content strategist, you will often have more freedom than other professionals for approaching tasks and completing assignments.

Many companies allow their strategists to work remotely or from home offices if they prefer. A ton of other professions don’t enjoy this level of autonomy (and if you’re suited to work from home, it can be incredible to chart your own course throughout the work day).

Often, working remotely means you’ll typically be able to choose your own hours, allowing for greater flexibility in terms of when and where you work.

If you’re super independent and thrive when creating your own work environment, this job might provide you with the opportunity.

2. Variety of Projects and Clients to Work With

Product content strategists get the chance to take on different types of projects for various clients throughout their careers.

This means that no two days will ever look exactly alike – one day might involve creating product description copy for an e-commerce website while another could involve developing a product walkthrough video.

The diversity keeps things interesting. If you love variety in your work, this might be the job for you.

3. Potential to Hugely Impact a Business’s Growth

Product content strategists can have a major impact on businesses by helping them create engaging and effective customer journeys and experiences.

This has the power to delight customers, build loyalty, and grow the brand’s reputation.

Overall, product content strategists are storytellers. They create content that enhances the customer experience, guides it, and makes it better.

Interested in Becoming a Product Content Strategist?

Product content strategists are an invaluable asset to any business.

With the right skills, knowledge, and experience, you can become a successful product content strategist with great pay rates.

Positioning yourself for work as a product content strategist is key in order to take advantage of all the benefits it has to offer.

If you’re looking for an exciting career opportunity that will give you the chance to make an impact on businesses around the world, then becoming a product content strategist might just be what you need.

And if you’re set on this path, let’s start growing your business together.

In the Content Transformation System, you’ll learn exactly how to grow your business sustainably, for the long haul.

How? Through effective content marketing and smart business systems & strategies.

I’ll teach you everything I know in this 12-month mentorship complete with coaching, community, live calls, and a full curriculum.

Apply today to get started.

The post Become an Expert Product Content Strategist: Your 101 Guide appeared first on Content Hacker.

I’m talking about tried-and-true methods I’ve been successfully using for over 10 years to build seven different brands.

The truth is, content marketing is the only marketing left. I’m about to show you EXACTLY why and how you can use it today to start making more revenue for your brand.

I’m not saying you can’t get clients through cold calls and ads. But numbers don’t lie, and ads only give you a .6% return today — yikes.

Skip the ads and sleazy marketing techniques (goodbye, telemarketing).

Instead, check out today’s easy, practical, and actionable strategies for how to get ideal clients — this spans both the short-term AND long-term.

How to Get Ideal Clients: Watch Full Video

Since over 95% of the world’s traffic comes from search, your ranking on Google is insanely important. If you aren’t tapping into this huge market, you’re missing out on a river of sales and potential clients. SEO blogging is the way to open the floodgates to these hungry leads and turn them into happy clients.

Learn How to Get Ideal Clients: My Favorite 4 Techniques

Here’s a recap of the four techniques to start implementing today to get clients.

1. Tap Into the Power of SEO Blogging

Sure, you could spend your time on other platforms besides your own (Social can be a lot of fun and robs so many business creators of their energy and focus).

But SEO blogging drives 1000% more traffic than social media, which is only a short-term strategy to land more customers.

So turn your focus into building your own platform (website) and attracting clients there. This is your personal real estate on the web (that no one can take away from you like a 3rd party could) and is incredibly important.

This is a key strategy I teach to my coaching students — building a content ecosystem where everything leads back to your own Content House.

To start, I recommend publishing a weekly 1,500-word blog post. Data shows you can do more, but I don’t want you to stretch yourself too thin. That’s a one-way ticket to burnout and as the leader of your brand, we need to avoid that at all costs.

To get that #1 spot in Google, choose your keyword wisely. First, find a term or phrase that’s low competition. That means not choosing a word where popular businesses are already ranking.

Next, you will need at least 1,000 words in your post. Long-form content consistently receives those high search spots — because it aims to truly help people, not just to sell to them.

Long-form is also the most shared content. If that long-form content is QUALITY content, you’ll build trust with your clients — which leads to long-term relationships.

Not only that, but long-form content consistently gets more backlinks than short-form does.

What this looks like short-term: You’ll need to know SEO or hire an expert content writer who does. Then, get a content marketing strategy built and start blogging consistently. If you don’t have time for this now, and you’ve got the budget, consider paying a digital marketing agency for help.

What this looks like long-term: SEO blogging is THE most powerful (and exciting, IMO) long-term strategy for getting new clients. Buckle in as your content ages and your growth compounds over time — the longer it’s out there, and the more high-quality content that exists, the more authority your domain will get from Google — bringing you to the top of search results to be easily found by people looking for answers online.

2. Build Your Own Sales & Use The Forward Flow to Find Ideal Clients

You don’t have to do all the sales yourself. In fact, that’s a recipe for failure as an entrepreneur.

Every phone call you make, meeting you attend, or email you send takes you away from other tasks that could grow your business. So instead, build a reliable and trustworthy remote team and add salespeople you love.

But don’t just hire the first person you hear from with an attractive pitch. In fact, you shouldn’t even feel like you have to hire a salesperson at all.

In my case, I hired my editor as my business’s full-time salesperson. She knows my company, clients, and how to communicate effectively. Those traits go a lot further in the era of 2022’s content trends than mere sales knowledge.

Your goal is to have a sales team so effective that they replace you. This can be done using The Forward Flow, a non-sleazy concept that instantly connects and attracts your ideal client.

What this looks like short-term: When you find that perfect person, expect to pay between $15-$25 an hour. If you are hiring inbound, it will be cheaper than outbound.

What this looks like long-term: As you build trust with your leads through authentic, helpful content + your automated ecosystem, your inbound sales will close much more effortlessly. With great content and a solid team, so much of the psychological pieces of the sale will be done by the time they get to the bottom of your lead generation funnel and ready to close — the power of The Forward Flow in action.

3. Pitch to Prospects That Are Hiring (WITHOUT Spamming Cold Prospects)

Quantity above all else is not a good tactic if you’re learning how to get clients.

You’re smarter than that — so go in with a strategy instead of being sleazy.

You may hear gurus recommending you pitch to dozens of clients through cold calls and emails.

Please, please, PLEASE don’t do this!

Not only is it very ineffective, but you could be burning bridges with potential clients. For example, I get pitches over 10 times a day — I ignore 100% of them. Some of them are so relentlessly annoying, i.e. “Julia, why didn’t you respond to my fifth follow-up??!”, that I mark as spam and report them to the Gmail federation. (Ha!)

Instead, see the people you are pitching as real human beings. They either need your services, or you’re a waste of their time.

Think about it — how would YOU want someone to pitch to you? Spam phone calls and unsolicited emails clogging your inbox are probably not your first choice.

So how do you find clients without cold spamming?

Find people who are actively looking to hire YOU.

I use Google Jobs and simply search for my area of expertise. You can do the same!

With a quick search (i.e. “content writer,” “freelance writer”), you’ll find SO MANY jobs eager to hire someone just like you.

HOT TIP: To stand out among the other applicants, pitch to the client via email instead of the job posting. I recommend using Hunter.io to find a personal email for pitching.

Next, craft a custom pitch that’s relevant to their posting and specifically targeted to their company. That means doing a little research into their business before sending the pitch to show you are SERIOUS about wanting to work with them.

What this looks like short-term: If you’re wondering ‘how can I get clients fast?’ or ‘how do beginners get clients?’ this is the way to go. I heard from nearly 77% of the pitches I made when replying to job ads (even ones that were looking for employees!).

What this looks like long-term: The more happy customers you serve, the more word-of-mouth business you’ll get. And as you’re bringing in more leads from SEO blogging for small business, you’ll need to pitch less and less.

Want to learn how to rank on page #1 of Google? Consider our Content Hacker Academy SEO writing course. Get started with this free sample!

4. Get Consistent on Instagram Reels and Attract Ideal Clients

If you’re wondering ‘how to get clients on Instagram?’ this is the tip for you.

Instagram Reels are relatively new, making them ideal for getting your pitch seen as you won’t have much competition. This generally short-term method of getting clients works because it feels so genuine — and honestly, it is! Once your website is established and you’ve unleashed a content strategy that’s targeting your long-term strategy, this is a great way to get clients online quickly.

I regularly use Instagram posts and Reels to publish content that brings in clients — targeting students who might be interested in my business coaching program and content-based courses.

Not sure where to start?

1. Be authentic and real. Brand trust matters now more than ever before, so be yourself and your people will find you. Clients are drawn to people they have a connection with.
2. Try using trending audio clips and run with it. Check out what’s popular or trending then adjust it to your niche and emphasize a potential pain point.
3. Let your audience know how you will solve that problem. Finally, don’t forget a link in your Instagram bio to bring people back to your website or a key link that shows off your skills and expertise.

What this looks like short-term: Don’t pour all your energy into creating content just for social. Consider repurposing content you’ve created on your own platform (workshops, behind-the-scenes, etc.) and tweaking it to turn it into a Reel. But have fun with it, too!

What this looks like long-term: The more followers and engagement you have on social, the more reach your account will have. So enjoy the ride as you grow! But keep your eye on your own SEO content for long-term gains. Combining these is key.

Get Serious About Building Your Brand Around Content Marketing

Experts…

If you’ve got a brand and service or offer ready to help the world, I don’t want you sitting around trying to guess how to get more clients.

And please, don’t pour all your time, money, and energy into paid ads or sleazy sales methods. They don’t work nearly as well as content marketing.

If you’re an expert, if you’re in the middle of brand-building, you need a roadmap that takes all this guesswork away.

For example, how do you hire your first employee/contractor?

How do you delegate content and pipeline the creation of it successfully (for you, and your clients)?

How do you build a website that converts?

How do you create content that draws in leads and customers without batting an eye?

I teach all of this inside The Content Transformation System, my 12-month mentorship program for business owners just like you.

Because you should be focused on getting paid for your expertise – not stumbling through and letting a lack of knowledge trip you up from direct revenue made from your passions.

Ready to get clear on how to run a sustainable online business grown from your skillsets? Apply now to my comprehensive 12-month mentorship.  

The post How to Get Ideal Clients: 4 Easy Methods to Use Today appeared first on Content Hacker.

Good question.

After all, marketing is one of the hottest fields out there right now for jobs.

The stats paint an incredible picture (via LinkedIn’s jobs report):

1. Marketing jobs have grown by 63% in the last 6 months.
2. 381,000 marketing jobs were posted within the last year.
3. 5 out of 10 marketing job postings on LinkedIn are either in the digital or media space.
4. The top industries for marketing job growth in the last six months? Arts (85.9% growth), retail (72.6%), and education (63.7%).

So why is marketing blowing up as an in-demand field?

Well, more and more companies are seeing that traditional marketing methods alone don’t work anymore.

And they need savvy marketers to lead them into the future, with real, proven ways to connect with customers.

Ways that work now, in the 21st century, versus ones that worked 20-30 years ago, when the world looked and operated much, much differently. (Slow + rare internet, no smartphones, no social media. )

The question is, what kind of training do you need to become a successful marketer these days? (Because now is absolutely the time for budding entrepreneurs and go-getters to jump in!)

Is a marketing degree really worth it?

Does your kid need to go to college to build an amazing career helping brands connect with and speak to customers?

Nope.

Let’s discuss why, then break down the incredibly affordable alternatives to a marketing degree – the training that gives you the right-here-right-now skills you NEED to become a modern marketer without the brick-and-ivy price tag.

Prefer to watch a video? If you (or your college-age kid) are struggling with the decision between investing in a diploma or branching out solo… If you want to learn exactly what it takes to build a successful business in 90 days… Get in my free training, How to Build Your Self-Sustaining Online Business in 90 Days (Without Burnout from Overcomplicating It).

But First: What Is a Marketing Degree, and What Does It Entail?

A marketing degree is a course of study that will prepare you for roles where you’ll be connecting with, persuading, and convincing people to trust, rely on, and ultimately spend money on a brand.

This is pretty broad, which is why it’s not immediately clear what you want to do when you say you want “a marketing degree” or marketing training.

Marketing breaks down into tons of different fields and roles within those fields.

What Jobs Can You Get with a Marketing Degree?

The fields you can pursue with marketing training (which may include, but is not limited to, a four-year degree) are endless:

• Sales – Convincing people to buy from a brand, often in one-on-one settings
• Public relations – Managing a brand’s public image
• Digital marketing – Promoting brands online through a diverse array of digital platforms
• Copywriting – Writing ads and copy that promote a brand or product
• Content marketing – Creating content to build trust between a brand and an audience
• Content strategy – Strategizing the planning, creation, distribution, and promotion of content to reach brand marketing goals
• SEO (search engine optimization) marketing – Optimizing websites and content to rank highly in search engine results and thus attract more traffic and leads
• Social media marketing – Promoting a brand and connecting with audiences on social media
• Market research – Gathering information about the needs and preferences of consumers for brands to use
• Advertising – Creating paid promotions for brands to influence people to buy their products/services

The Average Marketing Degree Salary

With marketing training, what you can expect to make depends on your chosen field and industry.

However, the average annual salary across industries for someone with 1-3 years of experience is about $48,000, if you work for a small business with 0-50 employees (or start your own business!).

Remember, this is an average, not an exact estimate. What you actually make in marketing could be much more, with the right skills and training.

I wrote a book about skipping the degree & saving the tuition in favor of building your own brand. Buy now on Amazon (available on Audible, too!).

Why a Marketing Degree Is NOT Worth It in 2021… and Why You Should Consider the Alternative

You don’t need a marketing degree to create a successful career or business.

What do you need? The right training & coaching – not necessarily a diploma.

Here’s why a marketing degree isn’t worth it.

1. College Marketing Curriculums Are Often Stuck in the Past

In marketing, skills and experience tend to matter more than education.

Knowledge will only get you so far.

• You can understand all the various theories about consumer behavior, but yet fail to understand a particular audience segment.
• You can memorize major marketing principles, but you’ll hit a wall when you try to actually build a business with a content strategy.
• You can study economics, but it won’t teach you how to scale your business revenue.
• And all the communication courses in the world won’t give you the tools you need to write for online audiences.

Added to all that, the marketing skills needed in each field tend to change rapidly thanks to ever-evolving technology as well as internet and consumer trends.

Textbooks, and thus curriculums, just can’t keep up.

Plus, four-year marketing degrees will throw useless courses at you, too, ones that you’re required to take but have nothing to do with your business dreams.

Here’s a curriculum sample from a typical Bachelor’s degree program in Marketing. If it sounds stuffy, boring, and decidedly impractical, it is. Yikes:

Now, let’s compare a college curriculum with a coaching program like mine: The Content Transformation System.

In CTS, you get zero fluff. I’m not going to throw in a module on classic literature and force you to read Ulysses. I’m not even going to bore you with a lecture on the “Principles of Marketing.”

Instead, we’ll get straight into the nitty-gritty. Everything I teach in this program is essential to your success as a marketing whiz, a savvy business owner, or a content star (or all three ). Nothing more, nothing less.

You’ll build incredible marketing skills. Business skills. Team-building skills. Leadership skills. Not just knowledge, skills. Real-world, real-life, practical skills you can actually USE and apply immediately.

A program like mine is not about memorizing stuffy knowledge or writing formal, academic papers. Instead, you’ll get skills you can apply to actually build your career and run your business.

See the difference?

(If your interest is peaked, apply here to get in the program.)

2. Four-Year Marketing Degrees Cost $$$ with Dwindling ROI

Did you know the return on investment (ROI) for an expensive college education has taken a nose-dive in recent years?

In my book, Skip the Degree, I discuss this exact topic along with my co-author, Dr. Ai Addyson-Zhang of Classroom Without Walls – as well as how to skip the degree entirely and build your career from scratch. Get your copy here.

Here are some stats we discuss in the book:

1. Over the last 10 years, the cost of college has skyrocketed, increasing annually by an average of 25%.
2. Federal student loan holders borrow an average of $35,000 – each.
3. In 2020, total national student loan debt stood at $1.6 trillion.
4. During the Financial Crisis of 2008-2009, and the more recent COVID-induced recession, who were the most affected in terms of lack of jobs and financial devastation? Young college graduates.

Education is only getting more expensive, but the returns on investing in that education are dwindling. You’re not guaranteed a steady, well-paying job once you graduate with a diploma anymore.

It’s more likely that you (or your child) will graduate, struggle to find a job out of the gate, and feel crushed under the weight of student payday loan debt.

Is this what we want for ourselves? Our kids?

Don’t forget: Your student loan debt also accrues interest over time.

What if, instead, you could save 90-95% of that $35k student loan and invest it into REAL life coaching and do way better for your student/budding entrepreneur?

We have had parents actually do this – invest in Content Hacker courses as well as The Content Transformation System for their students. The results were SO cool to see. These fledgling entrepreneurs got so much more out of our books and training than they would from a stuffy degree.

And they were able to enroll at 10% of the cost of a diploma.

Honestly, situations like these are why I create training programs and resources in the first place. I, too, was once a floundering college student who wasn’t thriving. When I grabbed the reins and pivoted to the career I cultivated myself, everything changed. I found my calling and built success with my own two hands – and any kid who struggles in a college environment can do the same.

That leads me to my next point.

3. For Many Modern, Budding Entrepreneurs, College Is the Wrong Path

College isn’t right for everyone.

15-20 years ago, this fact wasn’t quite so accepted. If you didn’t go to college, everyone – peers, teachers, mentors, adults – might have looked at you askance.

Today, people are generally more understanding that our varied life paths simply cannot and will not follow the same trajectories.

Everyone is different, and college isn’t for everyone.

That’s especially true for the budding creative entrepreneur.

Think: that kid (maybe your kid) with big dreams laid out in exceptional detail. That kid who knows exactly where they want to be in five years. That kid who’s motivated to get up and create a career for themselves from scratch. That kid who is bright, creative, and who will NOT thrive when placed within the constraints of an institution like college.

These types of people need space to stretch their creativity, experiment, learn, and grow on their terms.

That means they may be more suited to flexible learning environments, where they have a much bigger say in guiding their education.

For example, coaching/training programs like mine are great to take alongside or in addition to training from other experts, depending on where you need extra help or focus.

With this approach, you can essentially build your own marketing training, build necessary skills, and focus on areas in the field that really interest you, like copywriting, SEO, or building an agency – with zero fluff or time wasted.

For some of my best tips on how to start your own content business, check out this video:

Consider the Alternative to a Marketing Degree for a Bright Future

A marketing degree isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

College education is expensive as heck. It’s also mostly stuffy, impractical, and not for everyone.

When you weigh out the costs vs. benefits, it’s pretty clear that marketing training programs win over traditional marketing degrees.

They cost less, cut straight to the meat of skill-building, and provide real, practical techniques and tools to help you strive forward in your marketing career – whatever you want that to look like.

If you’re a parent and you see your kid’s potential…

If you love their entrepreneurial spirit…

But also see them struggle in formal education, where their creativity, independence, and originality may be tamped down and/or thwarted…

You HAVE to know: College isn’t the only way forward.

Your child has options. And you don’t need a traditional diploma to achieve a fantastic career in marketing.

Luckily, an alternative is right in front of you.

My all-new, powerful Content Transformation coaching system teaches you how to build a brand from the ground up.

Imagine positioning your student for a powerful marketing career OR entrepreneurial career? With my program, they’ll learn to build a digital business and harness the power of content marketing in 90 days.

Real skills, techniques, mindset, and knowledge that they can apply immediately to their marketing career– taught by a practitioner that’s been there, done that. Not an outsider in a lecture hall. The choice is right in front of you. Learn more & apply today.

The post Is a Marketing Degree Worth It? appeared first on Content Hacker.

The online content marketing industry’s worth has grown to over $400 billion since its first faltering steps 10 or so years ago.

By 2024, that number should explode by another $269.24 billion – an increase to $600+ billion!

Another big point: when Content Marketing Institute asked marketers what content activities they outsource, most of them (86%) said content creation.

That’s not all. Today, consumers read 3-5 blogs before they even think about buying.

And, when they’re deciding whether they want to do business with a brand, they think about how much they trust that brand immediately after they decide if the prices are right.

What builds brand trust best? Content.

This demand for content naturally correlates to a demand for expert content marketing writers – the people who can craft the authority-driven, engaging written content that builds the trust and loyalty necessary for results.

And, let’s be honest: They’re also the people who can drive artificial intelligence (AI) tools effectively to streamline content creation but retain the human touch it needs to succeed.

Without content marketing writers, none of it would work, and content marketing would not be as hot as it truly is.

Despite how in-demand they are, plenty of people are still confused about the role content writers play in the field: what they do as part of a content marketing team, what they write to draw in audiences, and what tools they use to do it.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of what these types of online writers do, first let’s explore a marketing writer definition – because content marketing writers are NOT like other writers.

Ready? Go!

How to Be a Content Marketing Writer: The Future of Freelance Writing

What is a Content Marketing Writer?

5 Steps to Be an SEO/Content Marketing Writer

1. Develop a Content Marketing Writer Background
2. Understand Strategic Content Marketing & Why It Matters
3. Get the Skills All Content Marketing Writers Need
4. Find Your Niche of Expertise
5. Know Your Worth (The Average Content Marketing Writer Salary)
6. Demonstrate What You Can Do as a Content Marketing Writer

5 Kinds of Content Writers and What They Do

1. Subject Expert Content Marketing Writer
2. Generalist Copywriter
3. Social Media Writer
4. Technical Writer
5. Conversion Copywriter

Who Hires Content Marketing Writers? 3 Major Sources for Content Writer Work

1. Individual Clients – Brands, Businesses, and Entrepreneurs
2. Marketing Departments for Companies and Organizations
3. Writing and Marketing Agencies

7 Types of Content & Copy You’ll Be Expected to Know as a Content Marketing Writer

1. Blogs and Articles
2. Ebooks and Lead Magnets
3. Creative Copy
4. Ad Copy
5. Landing Page Copy
6. Calls-to-Action
7. Headline Copy

How to Use AI to Speed Up the Process of Writing Marketing Content

Are Content Marketing Writers the High-Level Writers of the Future?

What Is a Content Marketing Writer?

Here’s a good, solid marketing writer definition:

A content marketing writer is an expert communicator who is responsible for creating online written content – blogs, articles, ebooks, white papers, social media copy, infographic copy, and more – that builds trust and loyalty with readers while engaging and informing them.

Before you can become this type of skilled online writer, there are a few basics to know first.

That includes an in-depth, strategic understanding of content marketing as a practice.

Let’s explore.

How to Be an SEO/Content Marketing Writer

So, you want to be a content marketing writer? Before you dive in, there are a few essentials you need to know. Start here and build up your skillset, as needed.

1. Develop a Content Marketing Writer Background

Whether you have an English or communications degree, whether you took some writing courses or have been an avid reader and writer your entire life, you need to have a writing background to get into content marketing writing.

If you enjoy writing but don’t yet have any experience under your belt (e.g. you have never written stories, blogs, articles, or even academic papers or reports before) – it’s time to sit down and practice, practice, practice.

Did you know reading voraciously is also a great way to learn to write like a pro? It’s true – so load up your e-reader with books, get an Audible account for audiobooks to listen to in the car or while you do menial tasks, and visit your local bookstore or library for fresh reads.

2. Understand Strategic Content Marketing & Why It Matters

To be an SEO/content marketing writer, you need an understanding of strategic content marketing.

Since content marketing is all about creating, distributing, and promoting amazing, high-quality, informative, engaging content to your target audience, going about it randomly won’t work.

Instead, it MUST be backed by a strategy – a game plan, a blueprint, a map that helps you put all the pieces together.

Ultimately, content strategy drives content marketing. It will make your content much, much better and your brand marketing much, much more profitable.

Why does it matter so much? Allow me to share a personal case study with you.

Case Study: Why Content Marketing Strategy Matters

I haven’t always been a successful content marketer. I had to learn the hard way how much a solid strategy matters when you’re using content to draw in leads and sales.

I started my content agency, Express Writers, with nothing more than $75. Two years in, our growth wasn’t much to shout about. I was doing content, but I had no strategy for what topics to write, what keywords to target, how often to post blogs, and how to make my audience convert on my content.

In stats, that looked like:

• 500 organic visitors to our site per day, at most
• 215 blogs published
• 141 indexed keyword rankings

We could do so much better. And we did – once I implemented a content strategy in late 2016.

After I mapped out a strategy and put it in place:

• We started seeing record income months. Each month, we broke our previous record.
• Our organic traffic doubled, then tripled, then quadrupled.
• We started ranking – not just high in the SERPs, but #1 for many hot keywords.

Today, thanks to our content strategy, we have over 1,000 blogs published. We have over 20,000 keywords ranking in Google, and our monthly income regularly reaches six-figures.

To put it bluntly, a content strategy is what separates the profitable content from the content that no one cares about.

(Read a case study on EW’s success here: A Case Study in Blogging: 21,600 Keyword Rankings and 90,000 Visitors Per Month.)

So, what exact pieces did I put in place for our content strategy? I’m outlining them below. These are essential for content marketing writers to understand so they can get real traction behind the content they create and publish. Watch a breakdown in my FREE class, How to Build a Sustainable Online Business.

The Key Pieces of a Content Strategy All Content Marketing Writers Must Know

A. Get Your Content Strategy Foundations in Place

A content strategy answers two fundamental questions about your content marketing:

• What topics will you write about?
• What is your differentiating factor, the one element that will make your content stand out from the rest?

Handily, these two questions inform each other.

Once you determine how you’ll stand out, you can use that factor to carve out your expert topic area.

B. Know Your Audience & How to Lead Them to Profitable Action

You can’t write content that hits the hearts of your readers without knowing who they are intimately. And, if you can’t speak to them on a deep level, you won’t inspire them to take action on your content: sign up for emails, download your freebie, or purchase your product/service.

This part of content strategy requires you to research your audience niche, research their search intent, understand their needs at each stage of the marketing lifecycle, and map it all to your content.

C. Learn How SEO Ties In

Do you understand how to optimize your content for search engines? If you don’t know SEO, you need to – it’s one of the major ways content gets traction. Particularly, targeting the right keywords and topics in your content can get you everywhere.

D. Learn to Build Online Authority Organically

Online authority is as much about building a brand’s reputation as it is about encouraging your Alexa rank (or Domain Authority score) to rise.

To do both, content marketing writers must champion publishing content on a brand’s owned domain (I call this your “content house”) vs. “owned” platforms a website and domain built on WordPress. They also need to lobby for quality over quantity in content.

Learn more about the content house in my free class, How to Build a Sustainable Online Business.

E. Understand Strategic Content Creation

The actual writing stage is only one part of content creation. Content marketing writers are, of course, responsible for that part, but also:

• How to create a content workflow that’s repeatable and scalable (researching, outlining, drafting, editing, collaborating, publishing, and distributing).
• Which tools to use in the content creation process, including AI content tools.
• What high-quality content looks like (formats, tone of voice to use, research & source-citing, images, links, and CTAs).
• Why quality ALWAYS trumps quantity when it comes to content.

F. Know Why Content Maintenance Matters

Content can’t exist in perpetuity without some help. If you publish content and do nothing… expect nothing great to happen.

• Content needs a little assistance to reach your audience and more eyes, so distribution and promotion are huge to any content marketer or writer and can’t be overlooked.
• Another element that needs attention is freshness. Check in on your old content pieces every once in a while, update them for accuracy and relevance, or retire them if they’re really outdated or poor-quality.
• Finally, measure your content’s success. You’ll never understand what worked unless you keep track. Use the right tools, and this part is pretty simple.

So, I’ve shown you the “why” of content strategy for content marketing writers.

If you want to know the “what” and the “how,” you need to check out my coaching program, The Content Transformation System. You’ll not only learn about the ins and outs of content strategy, but also how to create your very own and incorporate it into building or scaling your brand without breaking.

This stuff is indispensable knowledge for any content marketing writer, and is KEY to getting more clients, jobs, and money $$!

3. Get the Skills All Content Marketing Writers Need

Along with content strategy know-how, all content marketing writers need a certain set of skills to truly excel in the industry. Just a few include:

• Great listener – A great content marketing writer listens and learns as they go. They are continually on top of best practices for SEO, writing for online readers, and content trends.
• Storytelling and writing know-how – This seems obvious, but not every content writer is a great storyteller too. The best of the best knows how to spin engaging stories out of boring data.
• Research pro – To create authoritative content, researching (and showing your work through citing sources/linking) is essential.
• Audience-first mindset – In content marketing, the audience matters most, and great content writers are keenly aware of their audience and how to best engage them.
• AI writing tool know-how – In the 2020s and beyond, like it or not, the future of content creation is all about partnering with the right AI tools. The best ones streamline and speed up content production so you can effortlessly scale and see more results. More and more brands will be using these tools to make content marketing easier to achieve, so you’ll need to know how to use them.

Differentiate with AI Writing Skills

Out of all these skills, understanding how to use AI tools strategically has become more important than ever for the content marketing writer. Otherwise, your job is in danger of becoming obsolete, as most AI writer tools can write at the level of a general writer.

To stay valuable in the content marketing field, you’ll need to pivot to work with AI writer tools to produce incredible content faster. You’ll also need to be able to add your expert human touch to AI content, which is notorious for being bland and/or inaccurate.

Don’t fear, though. You can learn how to differentiate and become a valuable content writer in this new AI-powered world.

First, use the right tool. I recommend Content at Scale. Here’s an in-depth tutorial on how to use it, and here’s a blog on how to position yourself as an AIO (artificial intelligence optimization) writer.

Later in this blog, we’ll talk about exactly how to use an AI tool like Content at Scale to speed up your writing process — without losing the human touch that makes you a valuable asset to any content marketing team.

4. Find Your Niche of Expertise

To be truly profitable and successful as a content marketing writer, you need to zero-in on what you’re good at – then capitalize on it.

Content writers with a specialty are, on average, higher-earners than generalists. That’s because clients will shell out the big bucks for great writers who can explain expert topics in layman’s terms. If you have deep knowledge of a tough topic BUT can explain it clearly and understandably, you are worth your weight in gold. ??

So, if you’re still out there writing on general topics for clients, invest in expanding your education to become an expert writer in a particular area. Some ideas:

• Do you enjoy crafting headlines worthy of the front page? Why not try your hand at conversion copywriting, which requires knowledge of sales, human psychology, and marketing tactics to reel in readers and turn them into conversions?
• Are you deeply interested in a specific topic, or do you have work experience in a certain field (health, fitness, finance, tech, etc.)? Commit to learning more (take some courses, read some books), and differentiate yourself as an expert writer in that field.

5. Know Your Worth (The Average Content Marketing Writer Salary)

Another big step on the road to learning how to be a marketing content writer: Know what your skills and work are worth.

You’d be surprised at how many brands don’t understand what GOOD content writing is worth to them. When they don’t get it, you need to be the one to inform them what a fair rate looks like. (This helps set an industry-wide standard that benefits all writers hustling to pay their bills with words!)

In fact, a common question I see all the time is, “How much should I pay a freelance writer for marketing content?”

Here are some helpful averages:

• According to ZipRecruiter, the average content marketing writer salary is about $75,924 per year. This is based on ZipRecruiter’s analysis of active job postings across the U.S.

• The average range for hourly pay for marketing writers is $22 – $47, according to the same ZipRecruiter study.
• According to data from Indeed.com, the average hourly rate for content writers is a little lower – around $19.

Depending on your level of experience, skills, and background, you could make much more than these averages – or much less. That said, these rates are good to keep in mind while pricing your own services and scouting for content writing jobs.

6. Demonstrate What You Can Do as a Content Marketing Writer

The final must-do on the path to becoming a content marketing writer is keeping a record of your past work. That means a portfolio, a website, or just a cache of writing samples kept at-the-ready.

Here’s a perfect example of a good writer portfolio from Sarah Asp Olson:

Writers must be able to demonstrate their competency with the written word. You can’t just show a potential employer or client your degree or a list of your accomplishments – they need to see your work in action, and any results that work achieved.

To that end, I highly recommend measuring the stats for pieces of content you created. What kind of traffic did they draw, how many shares did they get, what was the engagement like? If you can, find out conversion stats, too.

This way, you’ll not only prove you can write, but also that your writing gets tangible results for clients.

5 Kinds of Content Writers and What They Do

Not every content marketing writer is the same. Some work in specialized niches and focus on very specific writing tasks. Here are some of the most common types of content writers, including some digital marketing content writing examples:

1. Subject Expert Content Marketing Writer

This type of content marketing writer is well-versed in a specific subject (or subjects). They’re experts on, say, finance, fashion, food, technology or medicine. These are the types of writers brands tap to lend an air of authority and credibility to their content marketing.

For example, if you’re a subject expert on web design, you might write high-level blogs for a web design company about usability, online design concepts, or setting up a domain.

Similarly, an expert B2B tech content writer would spend their days diving deep into B2B tech subjects – topics like SaaS, the Cloud, or data mining. These are topics the average writer doesn’t know well enough to write about with authority, so the subject-expert has an advantage, there.

Here’s a real-life example – a subject expert most likely wrote the copy for this infographic on cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety. It’s published on the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) website:

2. Generalist Copywriter

A generalist copywriter is a nimble scribe who can slip into most general online writing tasks with ease. Need SEO copy for your webpage? Need a great headline, or some compelling call-to-action copy? A copywriter can handle all of it.

A copywriter probably wrote this headline appearing on Panera Bread’s homepage.

This type of content marketing writer is also capable of writing up blogs for general industries such as pets, beauty, and entertainment.

3. Social Media Writer

A social media writer is – you guessed it – adept at penning social media posts on every platform imaginable. They’ll know the right post length, hashtags, images, emojis, and copy to use to get your posts attention and engagement. They also understand how to interact on social to boost brand awareness and connections with the audience.

Here’s a good example of social media writing from our Twitter page @content_hackers:

Publishing content written by a human *and* a bot is a smart move . Learn why the future of content means a team-up between the two on this latest blog by @JuliaEMcCoy https://t.co/vdi7fojoBj pic.twitter.com/k11XOQyviT

— The Content Hacker (@content_hackers) July 16, 2021

4. Technical Writer

A technical writer, or technology content writer, is deeply knowledgeable about dense, technical subjects, but can write about them in an understandable, easy-to-follow way.

These content marketing writers are key in industries with technical products or complicated technology. Often, these writers are called on to write how-to guides, manuals, product descriptions, and instructions.

This article on Home Computer Networks 101 is a good example of technical writing:

5. Conversion Copywriter

Conversion copywriters, or lead generation writers, are especially skilled at leading readers to take action through written copy.

They have an understanding of the marketing lifecycle, stages of buyer awareness, and sales techniques to overcome a reader’s objections, answer their questions, and persuade them to take action.

“Taking action” can mean anything that benefits your brand, whether you want readers to buy your product, sign up for your emails or your course, or take part in a special offer.

MeetEdgar‘s home page is a great example of convincing conversion copy:

Who Hires Content Marketing Writers? 3 Major Sources for Content Writer Work

In the world of content marketing writing, you’ll usually have a pool of three sources for getting content writing work.

1. Individual Clients – Brands, Businesses, and Entrepreneurs

If you’re a freelance content marketing writer, expect the brunt of your work to come from individual clients you have direct contact with, including online brands, businesses of all sizes (size depends on your skill level and experience), and entrepreneurs.

For example, if you’re a subject expert on legal topics, a small legal firm might tap you to write their blog posts. You would have direct contact with their marketing manager and would be in charge of guiding their written content.

2. Marketing Departments for Companies and Organizations

Often, another source for content writing jobs is through in-house marketing departments at larger companies and organizations.

Generally, these companies hire all of their own marketing talent on a salaried basis and maintain a marketing team inside their larger operations. In-house content marketing writers are always needed for these teams, especially as content marketing has grown into a powerful way to reach customers.

For example, Target has its own in-house digital marketing team. So does Booking.com and Verizon Wireless.

3. Writing and Marketing Agencies

When brands and businesses outsource their marketing, they turn to agencies. These agencies handle all marketing activities, including content marketing, and actively hire content marketing writers to work on those client accounts.

Usually, a team of writers will be assigned to one client, and those writers will consistently produce the content for that brand or business’ content marketing. That said, a single writer can be a member of many writing teams and take on many client assignments. There are some specialized agencies out there: Express Writers, my former agency, is focused on helping with the content creation piece of the puzzle.

7 Types of Content & Copy You’ll Be Expected to Know as a Content Marketing Writer

If you want to be a content marketing writer, you need to be familiar with the most common types of content and copy that appear online. Here’s the list:

1. Blogs and Articles

Blogs and articles are, by far, the most common types of content. You’re probably well-versed in this type already, since most people have at least a few blogs they read on a regular basis.

You’re reading a blog example right now.

2. Ebooks and Lead Magnets

Brands that want to demonstrate their expertise unequivocally turn to ebooks and lead magnets as content superstars.

Ebooks can be lead magnets, and lead magnets can be ebooks. Other types of lead magnets (high-value, gated content pieces with desirable information that people want to know) include checklists, guides, and tutorials.

Generally, the goal is to make lead magnets so good, people are willing to exchange their email addresses for them.

3. Creative Copy

Creative copy is a good name for the text you see accompanying infographics, product descriptions on product pages, snippets of text describing different elements on a page, or even blogs featuring a more storytelling, creative angle than usual.

4. Ad Copy

You know those sponsored Facebook and Instagram posts that pop up in your feed? Have you ever read the caption and wanted to click to find out more? Congrats, you just experienced the effect of great ad copy!

A good example of an Instagram ad copy via Wordstream.

5. Landing Page Copy

Landing page copy speaks directly to the reader landing on a page from somewhere else. Home pages are often treated as landing pages, but a landing page can be created specifically for traffic coming from a certain place – like for people who clicked on your Facebook ad, or for people who clicked on the link in your Instagram profile.

HubSpot’s home page is a great example of landing page copy:

6. Calls-to-Action

Even though they’re usually short-but-sweet, calls-to-action (CTAs) are big players on any page. These are short sentences that encourage the reader to complete the desired action, such as signing up for a service, subscribing to an email newsletter, downloading a free PDF, or adding a product to their cart.

If we zoom in on the aforementioned HubSpot home page, we see the simplest of CTAs (but sometimes, simple is better!):

7. Headline Copy

In the content marketing writing world, headlines can be make-or-break. A sucky headline can ruin an otherwise stellar blog post. A bad headline can make your landing pages confusing. A terrible headline will turn readers away, not draw them in.

The headline is the main title of a piece of content. It should be the only bit of text on the page that gets tagged as an H1.

Here’s an example of an enticing headline of a Write Blog post:

All these types of copy and content are good to have a handle on for generalists, in particular, who are just starting out and building their portfolios. Know your way around a content vocabulary, learn how to write a wide range of content, and you’ll get lots of work that will prepare you for the next level of content marketing writing.

Then, consider scaling and building your own business!

How to Use AI to Speed Up the Process of Writing Marketing Content

AI-powered writing tools are becoming increasingly popular among content marketers (and the brands that use content marketing).

These tools can help speed up the process of creating high-quality marketing content by automating tedious tasks such as research, editing, and even writing the first draft.

Let’s briefly touch on how to use these tools. This is must-know information for today’s modern marketing content writer.

Understanding AI-Powered Writing Tools

To leverage the power of AI in your writing process, you must first understand how these tools work.

Generally speaking, they use natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to analyze large amounts of data (billions of pieces from across the internet) and generate insights about a particular topic or subject matter.

Not all tools work the same way to create content, however.

For example, Content at Scale produces unique content every time you use it due to its proprietary technology. Not one, but THREE different NLPs (natural language processors), combined with a proprietary piece of software that crawls the top of Google in the moment of creation, work together to produce truly unique content.

Writing the First Draft for Long-Form SEO Content with AI

One very huge way that AI can power up your writing is by literally creating the first draft of any SEO content piece for you.

Want to see how this works with Content at Scale? Check out this tutorial on how to produce a first draft for long-form content.

Of course, once the first draft is written, it’s your job as the expert content writer to edit that piece for the following goals:

• Make it match the brand’s voice and tone.
• Add human emotion, experience, expertise, and thought leadership.
• Fact-check it for accuracy.
• Add both internal and external links.
• Tweak the formatting to make it easy to read.

As you can see, as long as you have writing expertise, you’ll remain a much-needed part of the content creation process for any brand — even in the face of smarter-then-ever artificial intelligence tools.

Ready to get started learning and working with an AI tool? Sign up for Content at Scale and get 20% extra credits.

Automating Editing and Quality Assurance for More Efficient Writing

Another benefit of using an automated system powered by NLP algorithms is its ability to provide quality assurance checks on written material before it goes live.

By running each piece through an automated system prior to publication, writers can ensure accuracy while saving time on manual proofreading processes which often take hours, if not days, depending on the length of the article.

Grammar and spelling checkers like Grammarly catch, flag, and correct basic errors so you don’t have to waste time poring over every word.

Additionally, some systems even offer suggestions regarding sentence structure or word choice. This is major for improving readability and overall quality control when crafting digital copy meant for public consumption.

To sum up, AI-powered writing tools can help you create content faster, more efficiently, and with better quality. The best content marketing writers will understand how to use these tools and leverage them.

Are Content Marketing Writers the High-Level Writers of the Future?

If you’re considering becoming a content marketing writer, good on you – the content marketing industry itself is exploding right now.

Content writers who can do their work with panache, expertise, and professionalism are in high demand. More and more brands, agencies, and businesses will be looking for amazing content marketing writers — especially those who can work with AI — so it’s a great idea to get in now.

As the industry balloons, as more and more people want better and better content, the future looks exciting for all of us.

The best way to secure your piece of this pie –

Consider starting your own content marketing writing firm.

Not only will you be able to step away and have more freedom, you’ll be able to scale your income, too, and assemble an amazing small core team around a brand you identify with that is 100% yours.

This is how I achieved a 13,000x ROI on just ONE investment!

Want my 1:1 help doing this? 

In The Content Transformation System, I give aspiring entrepreneurs realistic business skills, systems, and strategy they need to shift to 6 and 7-figures long-term in their online business.

This is a power-packing 12-month mentorship that gives you everything you need, including a mastermind-like network of friends and fellow entrepreneurs, to get to the next level.

Watch my free 30-minute training to get a feel of the program today.

The post How to Be a Content Marketing Writer: The Future of Freelance Writing appeared first on Content Hacker.

It isn’t a title you throw around lightly. You’re not writing crappy fiction in your spare time (or whenever you feel the “poetic urge”), and you’re not just banking on your English degree or your love for reading.

You have actual skill and enthusiasm for putting great sentences and paragraphs together.

You already practice a daily writing habit, and you want to spend your days committing words to (digital) paper – and get paid.

You’re ready to start making money putting your skill to good use for others.

You want to get a job as a writer.

Lucky you – nowadays, writers are more in demand than ever before.

The job not only pays better now vs. five or even two years ago, but it also is a legitimate way to earn a living – if you play your cards right.

And here’s the true shock – 73% of employers are now looking for the skill of writing as the TOP skill in the candidates they hire. (Inc)

This is a skill YOU need to build.

Wondering how to get paid as a writer? It’s not simple or straightforward, but the right mindset, strategy, and tips will help. In other words, follow this guide.

Inside, we’ll discuss:

• Why 2021 (and beyond) is the perfect time to get into writing for a living
• Why SEO content writing is HOT, and how much you could make doing it
• How to level up your skills if you’re not quite hirable as a writer yet, but have the passion and enthusiasm for it
• What to do to nail your first writing job

Let’s get started!

Aspiring paid/pro writers: Want to go beyond a free blog and jump into mentorship & in-depth skill-building? Get in our Learn to Write Workshop today for $27.

The Landscape: How the Pandemic Affected Remote Writing Jobs (Including SEO Writing) for the Better

2020 – the year of the pandemic – changed everything for remote work, including freelance SEO writing.

(To refresh your brain, SEO writing means writing online content that’s optimized for Google search.)

In March and April of that historic year, Google search traffic skyrocketed, shooting from 3.6 billion searches per day to over 6 billion per day, according to data tracked on Worldometers and Internet Live Stats. 

And those numbers hold steady.

More people than ever are searching online, and that means more businesses than ever need content to meet those people – potential customers – where they’re researching, reading, browsing, and buying.

If you know how to create content that gets found in Google, you have a hot, in-demand skill set. Businesses, organizations, entrepreneurs, and brands want to hire you. (Big perk: In many cases, they want to hire you to do writing jobs from home.)

Added to that, as the pandemic raged, let’s not forget how many businesses went remote in the first place…

Which meant they went digital and online, concurrently. 42% of the U.S. workforce was working remotely by June 2020. (Before COVID, only 17% of U.S. workers worked from home five or more days per week.)

71% of employers say remote work has been successful, according to a PwC survey, and executives are taking action to support and invest in a hybrid type of work (some in-office days, some remote days) for their employees.

Finally, let’s not forget one of the major drivers of customer purchases – brand trust.

It ranks only second to price/affordability when they’re deciding whether to buy or become loyal customers.

What builds brand trust better, what drives more traffic and converts more leads than SEO content?

Not much, in my estimation.

The accelerated push to move online in 2020 is still happening today. Businesses aren’t going back now that real life is reopening – instead, they’re investing in hybrid approaches to building and maintaining their profits and presences.

This is fantastic news for the hopeful, would-be writer. You CAN jump on this trend and find incredible opportunities out there. Creative writing jobs are ripe for the picking, as long as you know how to create content that gets found in Google. (More on this later.)

Has the Pay for Freelance Writing Jobs Changed, Too?

The demand for freelance writing and SEO writing has skyrocketed right along with the jump in Google searches.

That begs the question:

Has the pay increased along with the demand?

Yes, it looks that way.

According to a survey of freelance writers, in 2019, the majority of writers said they made an estimated hourly rate of $0-10. In 2020, the majority reported making $50-75/hour.

Some writers still aren’t being paid what they’re worth, but the good news is the majority are charging and getting more than a livable wage.

Does the above data suggest that writers’ jobs are more respected these days? That the people who hire us are realizing just what we can do to boost their businesses and revenue?

Maybe. Hopefully.

The important facts to remember are the trends look promising, pay rates are increasing, and the demand is there (you could start your writing career tomorrow and get paid).

Particularly, the demand is hot, hot, HOT for SEO writing.

Where to Get a Job as a Writer? Consider SEO Writing

Even before the pandemic, content marketing and SEO writing were buzzing industries.

Content marketing is a strategy that focuses on creating amazing, value-focused content that wins the trust and loyalty of your audience.

SEO writing is the act of creating written content – blog posts, web pages, etc. – and optimizing it with key techniques to rank at the top of Google.

However, SEO writing isn’t just Google-centered, but user-centered, because you can’t rank in Google without directly answering your user’s search intent in your keyword-focused content.

All of this is to say if you’re interested in getting a job as a writer in fast-growing industries, the collision of content marketing and SEO writing should be your focus.

Consider the worth of content marketing: $400 billion, and estimated to shoot to $600 billion by 2024.

And content marketing partially runs on SEO – search engine optimization.

• It just so happens 68% of all online experiences start with a search engine.
• SEO drives 1,000% more traffic than organic social media.
• When faced with a paid ad versus an organic search result, users are 20x more likely to click the search result.

Traditional ads don’t work the way they used to. More and more, businesses are relying on non-interruptive marketing to target audiences better, to build trust and loyalty in an age when those two relationship-builders are at an all-time low between organizations and consumers.

Content marketing and SEO are marketing techniques that don’t look like marketing at all. Instead, their main purpose is to provide useful content to users right where they’re looking for it.

This content should answer user questions, solve their pain points, and give them value. And that builds trust and affinity with the brand offering the content.

Want a great job as a writer? Get in on these booming industries and the future of marketing. Here are a few places to start:

• Watch my video on how to become an SEO writer:

• Hone your SEO writing skills with the right training – The Expert SEO Content Writer Course teaches you how to craft profitable, results-driven SEO content for blogs and websites in one week.

How to Get a Job as a Writer If You’re Starting from Scratch

There’s one problem you might run into with getting a writing job:

You need experience behind you – writing samples and a portfolio of work – if you want to get hired.

But what if you’ve never written for pay… ever?

What if your writing experience is limited to the stories you pen on the weekends? What if it’s limited to the writing you did for your degree? What if you’ve only ever written high school essays or college papers?

How do you get a job as a writer with zero professional experience under your belt?

Follow my four-step formula to building your skill. I call this sequence the 4 L’s: Love, Learn, Labor, Level Up.

Pssst… I explain the entire process behind these steps in my book, Skip the Degree, Save the Tuition.

1. Love What You Do: Find Your Best Niche

If you already know you love to write and would happily spend your days writing for a living…

It’s not enough. This kind of thinking is too superficial. To find the best writing job for you, to end up in a job that fits your personality and goals, dig deeper into your passion and find your purpose.

Writing, as it turns out, is a GIANT industry with dozens of ways to specialize if you’re looking to make money from your skill.

Consider these questions before diving into freelance writing jobs for beginners:

• WHAT do you love to write? Does flexing your creativity in writing make your heart sing? Or perhaps you love drilling into data or explaining complicated topics in your writing. Or are you a writing chameleon who craves the diversity of switching between different styles?
  • Don’t forget to consider content types: Do you want to write blogs? Marketing copy? News articles? Guides? Research or data reports?
• WHO do you love to write for? Keep in mind: Very few writers make money writing for themselves, especially if they’re starting at square one. Most authors you see on bookshelves and ebook platforms have spent years writing their books and building an audience (or querying writing agents and publishers) to make book writing a viable income option.
  • As you start, consider who you’d like to help with your writing skill. Small businesses? Marketing firms? Entrepreneurs? Organizations like universities or nonprofits?

• WHAT is your expertise? What topics can you write about with authority, with ease, with knowledge? Consider your background, including what jobs you’ve held in the past, your education, and your hobbies.
  • Maybe you’ve been knitting since you were 10 years old and have oodles of knowledge to share. Perhaps you have a degree in psychology and have read books on every modern school of thought. Or maybe you worked in sales in college and know all about lead generation.
  • Leverage your niche knowledge as you look for writing job opportunities. Your know-how will give you an edge if you find the right specialized role.

2. Learn as Much as You Can: Grow Your Writing Skill

Once you figure out the kind of writing best suited to your skills, do everything you can to learn and grow in that area.

• Read every book out there on that type of writing.
• Find experts who teach that skill and follow them on social media.
• Take online courses that teach new techniques or the fundamentals. (For newbies to online writing, my Unlearn Essay Writing course teaches you how to ditch stuffy essay writing in favor of writing that speaks to online audiences.)
• Network with fellow would-be writers and swap tips and job opportunities.
• Find a successful mentor who does the work you hope to do.

Never, never stop learning all you can about your particular writing niche/skill. This is how you become an unstoppable expert who earns what they’re worth!

3. Labor at It: Find That First Gig & Get Better Through Practice

If you’re fresh to the writing world, here’s a secret all good writers understand:

If you want to get better at writing, if you want to find the best writing jobs, you need to practice. You MUST write every single day.

I don’t care if you choose to practice by writing fanfiction, by writing daily emails to your sweet grandmother, or by taking bottom-of-the-barrel writing jobs on Upwork (or some other freelancer platform – here’s a list of 50 if you need a starting point).

It’s also a great idea to invest in a course or a class to level up your skills as you get started.

It’s also a great idea to invest in a course or a class to level up your skills as you get started. You don’t know what you don’t know – and sometimes it’s time to buckle in and learn. And a course from a real-life practitioner is worth so much more to a content writer than a college degree. (Seriously. Those textbooks are way outdated.)

If you need a course or a class, I encourage you to check out our Learn to Write Workshop. It’s a commitment of less than $30, takes only one hour to complete, and according to my students, is worth every penny.

I have REAL-life stories of earning serious money through content – which is more than many writing teachers can claim.

For example, just one of my guest blogs produced a $5,000 sale in a matter of weeks.

Think you need more help than our one-hour Learn to Write Workshop?

If you want to go much deeper with me on the subject of content writing, get my one-week writing course, Unlearn Essay Writing, that comes with mentorship and review on your final 1,000-word article.

Not sure my courses are right (write ) for you? Check out this free excerpt from our writing course: Unlearn Sticky Writing in 10 Minutes.

The point here is to learn – ideally with a coach to shortcut the path – and physically write with guidance and get in that practice so you get better and better. Whether the practice is paid or unpaid, and you invest in yourself or you spend a longer time going the free route, it’s all practice, and it all counts.

PRACTICE. WRITE. Then take your best samples and add them to your portfolio.

Enough said.

4. Level Up: Take Everything You’ve Learned and Level Up to Better Pay/Better Work

With some experience and practice behind you, you’re ready to level up.

Now, leveling up may mean different things to different people.

Maybe you’re ready to get your website looking professional so you can market your services to new clients.

Perhaps you’ve amassed enough experience so you can apply for that writing job you’ve been eyeing at a marketing firm, magazine publication, news outlet, small business, etc.

Or maybe you finally want to sit down and write your book.

Leveling up is all about climbing the next rung in the ladder and owning it. It’s about confidence, bravery, and finding joy in taking risks so you can climb higher.

If you’re starting from scratch, leveling up might be as simple as telling people you’re a Writer with a capital “W” when they ask “What do you do?”

That’s a huge first step, and totally worth celebrating.

How to Nail That First Writing Job

If you’re truly starting at the bottom of the staircase, that’s awesome. You’re at an enviable point in your writing career, the place where your journey begins.

From here, you could go anywhere. And it all starts with that first job as a writer.

Here are a few tips to help you nail that first, crucial job that pays actual money.

1. Don’t Be Picky

Let me lay out this tip for you in the simplest terms possible:

Find someone who will pay you to write. Do the job well beyond their expectations. Collect a glowing review. Move on.

Don’t be picky when considering your first writing job. There will be plenty more after it and tons of opportunities to make good money writing.

Just know: the first job usually isn’t it. So, take whatever you can get, do great work, collect your pay, and move onto the next.

The first job isn’t a measure of your worth as a writer. It’s a stepping stone. Nothing more.

2. Demonstrate What You Can Do

This tip applies to both getting hired and completing your first paid writing assignment.

One key to getting hired as a writer is having samples ready for prospective employers. Samples demonstrate your ability as well as your experience.

Past successful projects are arguably the best samples to have tucked in your portfolio, but you can also include personal writing projects, projects you did pro-bono, and even samples you created specifically FOR the job you want.

Yes, if you have zero professional writing experience behind you, you can and should write up samples tailored to the jobs you’re applying for.

Example: Are you applying to write email newsletters for a candy company? Research the company, their brand voice, and their audience, then write up a sample email for them.

This shows a prospective employer that A) You know how to write. B) You can do the job they need you to do, and do it well.

That’s all they need to know.

For more, check out my guide on How to Write Content Writing Samples.

3. Respect Deadlines & Communicate Well

Want to get a good job as a writer? Want to keep getting good jobs?

Respect deadlines. Communicate well and often with clients and the people you work with.

Turn in your application and samples on time.

Turn in your assignments on time.

Respond to emails in a timely fashion.

Check your notifications religiously.

If you’re a great writer who can turn a pretty phrase, that’s one thing. If you’re a great writer who ghosts your clients for days at a time, who doesn’t reply to emails, who misses deadlines constantly…

The “great” part disappears.

Because no one will want to work with you. #truthbomb

4. Leverage Each New Experience

When you become a writer, each new project or assignment has something to teach you about your profession.

That means every job is a potential learning experience. If you pay attention, you’ll collect a TON of wisdom and expertise this way, and possibly level up faster.

Maybe that one-off writing gig you did was a masterclass on how to communicate well with clients. (The brief wasn’t clear, you had to do two re-writes for which the client refused to pay extra, and you learned that clarification at the outset is KEY.)

Perhaps those baking blogs you wrote for a small business finally taught you how to craft engaging content. (You had a tight deadline and researched millions of similar blogs to get the hook and the structure right – but it totally paid off.)

Maybe your very first writing job went horribly wrong, and the client rejected your work.

Yep, HUGE learning opportunity there, too.

As long as you leverage each new experience and use them to become a better writer, it doesn’t matter.

Because, eventually, the knowledge you gain will hone you into a professional. And professionals get paid.

Ready to Get a Job as a Writer?

Becoming a writer isn’t a pipe dream. It’s not a profession limited only to people who write hefty books.

You can do it, too.

It just takes skill, patience, persistence, and perspiration.

Know where the opportunities lie in writing (hel-LO content marketing and SEO writing!) and strike where your passion and skills collide.

Write every day, continually take risks, and keep learning.

That’s how to get a job as a writer.

…..And then, after THAT?

When you’re a fully-fledged online writer ready to take the next big step (i.e. build a writing or content business)?

There’s a proven pathway for that, too.

Inside my Content Transformation System, I teach creative entrepreneurs just like you how to build and scale their businesses with a content focus. 

From hiring your first contractor and delegating to getting clear on your services, to building a content strategy, to building your blog presence and raking in web traffic while building your audience…

We teach it all in this 1:1 coaching program.

(By the way — we also have a full, in-depth curriculum, a template library, a student community, and so much more.)

If it’s time for you to transform from “freelancer” to “business owner,” my team of expert coaches and I are here for you. Check out my free training today to get started.

The post How to Get a Job as a Writer: Today’s Landscape + 4 Steps to “Hired” appeared first on Content Hacker.

You’ve always loved writing.

…After you graduate college, you immediately set out to take the world of online writing by storm.

You craft a beautiful, in-depth piece that would do your professor proud, confidently thinking of all those A’s you got on your writing assignments in college.

You polish that piece until it shines.

You publish it on your brand-new site. Then, you wait confidently for the legion of readers who will like, comment on, and share it.

No one comes.

You wait a day, a week, a month.

But even the readers who do land on your site bounce the minute they see your content.

You decide to try applying for a writing job…

And after the tenth position, you realize there’s a pattern.

Your potential writing clients have stopped emailing you back after they saw your writing samples.

Radio silence.

What’s going on? Didn’t you rock college writing back in the day?

Well, here’s the thing.

Being a rockstar college essay writer and being a rockstar online writer are two COMPLETELY different things.

In this blog and YouTube video, I’ll teach you how to “unlearn” the essay writing style that’s driving your readers away, and then learn the online writing standards that will earn real results.

Want in-depth help unlearning sticky, bad writing habits, and learning online writing skills that work? After a successful beta launch, my Unlearn Essay Writing program is now open and enrolling.

The Online Writing Standards You Need to Know (Video)

7 Rules for Online Writing that Pulls in an Audience

Follow these rules, and you’ll never again scare your online audience away.

1. Stick to Typo-Free, Well-Polished, High-Quality Online Writing

Online writing doesn’t mean sloppy writing.

Before you publish, make sure to go over your content with a fine-toothed comb. Get rid of typos and grammar mistakes.

Remember, you want to gain your audience’s trust and it’s impossible to achieve this with careless writing. 

2. Throw Out the Styling Nuances Your Professor Taught You in College: They Don’t Work in Online Writing

We all know what a college essay looks like. Wordy, stuffy writing that will put the stoutest reader to sleep.

Here’s an example of the essay style vs. what good online writing should look like.

On the left, we have heavy paragraphs and big words. Imagine your distracted, time-pursued online readers. Would they stick around to wade through all that text? You got it: nope.

On the right, we have shorter paragraphs. The sentences are direct, the words simple, and the content broken up by subheadings. The flow is easier on the eyes, and you can imagine online readers sticking around for this one. (I bet you would too. )

3. Never Double Space Between Paragraphs in Online Writing

If your college professor taught you to hit that enter button twice between paragraphs, you need to unlearn that formatting habit and stick to single spacing. Always.

4. Keep Your Online Writing Paragraphs and Sentences Short

An online reader is different from your typical reader.  

She doesn’t have a quiet corner, a cup of tea, and hours of time to dive into beautiful, spellbinding literature.

Instead, she’s inundated with distractions. There are pop-up ads. Social media notifications. Demanding emails from her boss. Instant messages from friends. 

To keep her attention, you need to be as brief as possible. Cut the fluff and tell her immediately what she needs to hear. And then stop.

5. Stay Updated on Changing Internet Grammar Rules for Accurate Online Writing

The scary part is internet grammar is always changing. For example, did you know that the word “internet” was once capitalized?

To maintain authority online, you need to walk the thin line between uneducated and outdated in your writing.

One way to achieve this is to grab great resources that deal with writing and grammar rules.

Here are three I recommend.

#1. How to Write Copy That Sells: The Step-By-Step System for More Sales, to More Customers, More Often, by Ray Edwards

This book highlights the use of bullet points in your content, capital case for email subject lines, and a host of useful tips for strong online writing.

#2. The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr.  (Author), E. B. White (Author)

This book dives deep into the details of good grammar in a simple, readable way. While some of the rules don’t apply to online writing, you can find a ton of great advice to help you shape powerful, engaging, readable content. (For example, they’re pro Oxford comma.)

#3. Grammar Girl’s Podcast and Resources

Grammar Girl has been around for a while, and her resources are top-notch. Plus, she’s always sharing new info to help you stay on top of current trends.

6. Unlearn the Habit of Writing Sticky Sentences

A sticky sentence has bloated, useless, meaningless words. If you stuff your writing with these sentences, your reader will feel exhausted simply trying to get what you’re saying.

Here’s an example of a sticky sentence (and how I rewrote it to be better).

Follow these four steps to quit writing sticky sentences once and for all.

#1. Read Your Content Aloud

Does it sound natural? Does it flow well? Do you feel like you’re talking to a friend?

If not, there’s something wrong with it. 

#2. Go over each paragraph 3x

That’s right! Three whole times. You’ll be surprised to find how much you can improve even after two rounds of serious edits.

#3. Cut Icky Words and Phrases Relentlessly

Scrutinize each word or phrase and ask yourself, “Is this crucial to the meaning of my sentence?”

If it’s not, cut it.

#4. Rewrite Your Sentences to Flow Better

Once you’ve removed the fluff from your writing, rewrite your sentences so they flow smoothly into each other.

7. Stick to the Right POV

In online content, the second person point of view is the most important. This is because you want to connect with your readers and make them feel like they’re the heroes of the story.

How to Wow Your Audience with Your Online Writing

Sadly, being a rock star college writer does nothing to prepare you for the world of online writing.

The good news?

Where you are is a great place to start.

You already have a passion for writing. You know the basics of good grammar.

Now, all you need to do is “unlearn” the sticky styling nuances of essay writing…and absorb the standards of online writing.

Soon enough, you’ll have your own legion of fans.

If you want to truly go in-depth on “unlearning” the bad habits of essay writing (and learning how to craft content your audience will devour), check out my course, Unlearn Essay Writing.

The post Unlearning ‘Sticky’ Essay Style Writing: What You Need to Know to Switch Gears to Online Writing (Video Recap) appeared first on Content Hacker.

You might be on the hunt for home-based jobs, and making a life change you never dreamed you’d have to. Or, you may have been working from home all along, and you’re just having to change to accommodate kids at home.

No matter the changes, it’s been tough for everyone. We’ve all had to deal with the brunt of it in one way or another.

Some worse than others.

In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics:

• 31.3 million people reported they were unable to work because their employer closed or lost business due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 6.5 million people not currently in the labor force were prevented from looking for a job due to the pandemic.
• Only 13% of employees received pay from employees for hours not worked.

It’s disheartening, to say the least. But, for now, let’s take a deep breath…

…and see where we can go from here.

Remember one thing:

The COVID-19 pandemic may have stolen your job, but that’s all.

It can’t steal your talent, your skills, and your determination.

Now, all you have to do is take what you have and find amazing home-based job opportunities to match it.

In this blog, I’ve compiled a list of the top home-based jobs for people from all walks of life.

Ready to dive in?

Let’s go!

41+ Home-Based Jobs for Today’s Changing World – Table of Contents

1. Home Based Jobs in Writing

2. Home Based Jobs in Editing and Proofreading

3. Home Based Jobs in Typing and Transcription

4. Home Based Customer Service Representative Jobs

5. Home Based Jobs in Content Strategy

6. Home Based Marketing Jobs

7. Home Based Jobs in Website Optimization

8. Home Based Jobs in Teaching

9. Home Based Virtual Assistant Jobs

10. Bonus: The Best Freelance Marketplaces to Take Your Talent

41 Legitimate Home-Based Jobs to Match Your Skills

Maybe you were a savvy corporate marketer pre-pandemic.

Or a profitable sales representative at a large company.

Or maybe you simply have a hobby you’re extremely good at:

• Editing your vacation photos into IG-worthy images
• Writing about your funny/sweet/touching parenting experiences on Facebook
• Tutoring your kids after school

Surprisingly (or not) there are home-based jobs to fit every talent, skill, hobby, or experience you have.

Let’s get into them right away.

1. Home-Based Jobs in Writing

You don’t have to be a Shakespeare or Dickens to make a good living writing.

If you’ve ever convinced a friend to try your favorite restaurant or written a blog post that got a ton of shares, you can nail one of these great writing jobs.

1. Express Writers

Write search optimized blogs, web pages, emails, product descriptions, and more. Pay is between $10-$40 for 500 words, depending on your level (general, expert, authority). Plus, you get a ton of free resources to up your content writing game.

2. Online Writing Jobs

Dive into the world of blog writing, SEO writing, subject matter expert writing (medical, automotive, travel, science, and academia). At Online Writing Jobs, you get to choose the assignments you feel are best suited to you. They also pay weekly, which is great. (Note: They’re only open to U.S.-based writers.)

3. Constant Content

Have content you wrote for yourself saved on your computer? Sell it on Constant Content’s platform and get 65% of the sale. You can set your own rates, starting at a minimum of $7. Aside from selling your own pre-written content, you’ll also find client orders available.

4. Wise Bread

If you have experience in personal finance and credit cards, Wise Bread is looking for you. What they need is a writer who can adapt to different styles (i.g. commentaries and how-to guides). They want easy-to-understand, insightful writing. To apply, you need to submit three 500-word sample posts and five ideas for new posts. 

5. The Freelancer by Contently

Build your writer’s portfolio on The Freelancer and connect directly with paying clients. How it works is editors sift through writers’ portfolios to find “matches” for clients ordering work. If you’re really good, you can get an amazing match…think writing for HSBC or American Express!

2. Home-Based Jobs in Editing and Proofreading

Have excellent grammar skills?

A sharp eye for errors and spectacular attention to detail?

Check out these jobs in editing and proofreading,

1. Cactus

At Cactus, your job will be to proofread and edit academic and medical works. Some of these include humanities & social sciences, physical sciences & engineering, and medicine & life sciences. They offer contractual, full-time, or freelance options.

2. Gramlee

Gramlee offers proofreading services to professionals. If you can proofread fast (for example, a 3,000-word document in 24 hours) this job is the perfect fit for you! Don’t worry. Gramlee doesn’t task its proofreaders with making drastic changes in writing (that’s the work of editors). All you’ll be doing is checking for typos, grammar mistakes, and punctuation gaffes.

3. Scribe Media

Scribe Media is a self-publishing platform for authors, and as an editor and proofreader you’ll be working directly with them to polish their work. The best part? You don’t need a degree or specific education to nail the job (although proving you know what works and what doesn’t in the world of literature is a plus).  

4. Polished Paper

Polished Paper is always looking for talented editors. A tad more advanced than the other editing jobs mentioned above, it requires you to have an editor’s basic know-how. For instance, knowledge of the different writing styles will help you pass their 35-question entrance test. At Polished Paper, you’ll be “polishing” a ton of different types of writing – essays, dissertations, business documents, resumes, and more. (You can also apply as proofreader, where you’ll be checking for grammar and typos instead of deep-editing a piece of writing.)

5. Domainite

This company offers both writing and editing jobs. To start, upload a sample of your own writing to prove your excellent grammar and perfect proofreading skills. One thing to remember: This company is referred to online as a “great way to jumpstart” your editing and proofreading career. Since their pay is low, you’ll want to upgrade to another platform as soon as you gain a few months’ experience.

3. Home-Based Jobs in Typing and Transcription

If you have excellent listening and typing skills, a typing and transcription job is something you can do on the side to make extra cash.

Here are three to start with.

1. TranscribeMe!

On TranscribeMe! you can work on your own schedule 24/7. Plus, you don’t need to worry about transcribing hour-long interviews. Most clips you get will be between 2-4 minutes. Since they don’t require experience and you can apply no matter where you’re from, it’s an excellent place to start your sideline career in transcription. (If you have background in medicine or law, you can earn more than $2,000 per month.)

2. GMR Transcriptions

You don’t need any experience to apply for a transcription job at GMR Transcriptions. If you’re interested, translation jobs are also available. Both these jobs, however, are only open to U.S. citizens and you need to have your own foot pedal to get started.

3. Rev

Rev offers work transcribing audio and video files into text, writing captions for videos, and crafting subtitles for foreign videos. What’s amazing about Rev is their huge base of clients, some of which include Google, Amazon, and Facebook! They pay weekly and don’t require experience or a degree from applicants.  

4. Crowd Surf

At Crowd Surf, your job will be to craft video captions to help foreign viewers and the hearing-impaired understand video content. Pay is relatively low compared to other transcription platforms, but you can always try it out if you’re just getting started and want to know if you’ll enjoy transcription. 

5. Atheron

If you have experience as a transcriptionist and are an industry expert (doctor, lawyer, police officer, etc.) you can apply for a job with Atheron. At Atheron, you’ll be required to transcribe 500 lines a day, five days a week. Pay is competitive compared with other transcription platforms, but you need at least two years’ experience as a transcriptionist to get a job here. 

4. Home-Based Customer Service Representative Jobs

Have experience in the communications field?

These jobs may be a good fit.

1. Apple At-Home-Advisor

As an Apple At-Home Advisor, your job will be to provide support for Apple customers. What you’ll do is answer their product-specific questions via phone, email, or chat.

2. Concentrix

Join a savvy work-from-home team, connecting with customers and giving them a stress-free experience. The work you’ll be doing is for sales, minor troubleshooting, and programming.

3. Alorica-at-Home

With Alorica-at-Home, you help create amazing customer experiences as you sit in the comfort of your own home. What’s more, you get paid training and a bunch of freebies when you start.

5. Home-Based Jobs in Content Strategy

As a content strategist, your job will be to ensure that every piece of content a brand publishes works together to achieve content marketing goals.

If you have excellent organizational skills, you’ll be perfect for these jobs.

1. Coinbase

As a Coinbase content strategist, your job will be to oversee the creation of long-form SEO-driving content. You’ll oversee social media content and create editorial calendars.

2. Hopin’s

At Hopin’s, what you’ll do as a content strategist is to collaborate with a team to create content that builds engagement and drives sales. Working for Hopin’s, you’ll reach hundreds of thousands of people with the mission of educating them about the company.

6. Home-Based Marketing Jobs

If you’re a talented marketer, you don’t have to leave your home to get the job of your dreams.

Check out the home-based marketing job options on FlexJobs. Here are a few positions as examples:

1. Digital Marketing Coordinator

This job is all about analyzing metrics and creating campaigns, but done on a completely home-based basis. If you know how to use Google Ads and Excel, these skills will be a plus as you apply for the job.

2. President of Marketing

A top-tier job, this one is about managing marketing campaigns and testing ads. This isn’t an entry-level job, as it requires you to have at least 6 years of experience in marketing.

7. Home-Based Jobs in Website Optimization

Do you know a tech thing or two? Experienced with optimizing websites for SEO?

Check out these opportunities.

1. EY

If you know what it takes to optimize a website for SEO, this might be the job for you. Experience using Google Search Console and Ahrefs is a plus. No, this isn’t an entry-level job, but it offers great rewards and benefits (like 401(k) matching, medical plans, and retirement packages).

2. Verizon

At Verizon, you’ll coordinate with the CMO team to drive the right SEO strategies for the company. This isn’t an entry-level job either, requiring either a bachelor’s degree or four years of experience in SEO.

8. Home-Based Jobs in Teaching

If you’re in the communications field but you’ve never taught anything to anyone in your life, don’t worry. There are teaching jobs which don’t require anything but mastery of the English language.

1. GoGoKid

Based in Beijing, GoGoKid connects Chinese students with native English speakers. If you’ve never created a lesson plan before, don’t worry. The company has their own well-developed curriculum, and all you need to do is go along with it.

2. DaDa

The requirements for working with DaDa are a little higher. You need TEFL certification, a bachelor’s degree, and at least one year of teaching experience. Give DaDa a shot if you have those. They pay up to $23 per hour and you can pick the schedule that suits you best. 

3. LatinHire

LatinHire is a growing community with tutors from across the globe. It offers tutoring services in English, math, and science. To begin working with LatinHire, you’ll need reliable internet connection and a background check. What’s great about it is they pay for both working hours (when you’re actively teaching students) and waiting hours (when you’re simply staying online waiting for students to drop in your “classroom”).

4. Lingoda

Know another language besides English? Lingoda is hiring teachers who know French, German, or Spanish to teach their native language to online learners. If you want to teach adults instead of kids, Lingoda is the place to work. You’ll get a fully-structured curriculum, small classes (up to four students only), and a fully flexible schedule you can design around your life. 

5. Magic Ears

Want to teach younger kids aged 4-12? You’ll love Magic Ears, where you can earn up to $26/hour. They offer excellent training resources you can use to polish your teaching skills, a superior curriculum design, and flexible hours.

9. Home-Based Virtual Assistant Jobs

A virtual assistant is like an online secretary. What you’ll be doing is assisting your boss with tasks assigned to you daily, weekly, or even monthly.

Some of these tasks include calendar management, CRM, taking phone calls, and email management.

Here are some job ideas for virtual assistants.

1. Boldly

At Boldly, you can get a job as a virtual assistant, marketer, or writer, depending on your experience. What Boldly does is to match your skillset with employers looking for talent online. You’re paid on an hourly basis with no contract, which is great if you’re looking for freelance-based work.

2. 24/7 Virtual Assistant

No experience? No worries. At 24/7 Virtual Assistant, all you need are basic skills like research, email, and PowerPoint. Since this company has clients all over the world, make sure to update your resume if you speak other languages besides English.

3. Fancy Hands

Fancy Hands has thousands of clients looking for virtual assistants who can do simple tasks like making phone calls, tracking down the cheapest price of a product or service…or even making restaurant reservations! Since they’re looking for staff who can be online 24/7, you can pick a schedule that’s perfect for you (whether that’s 9am, 4am, or whatever time you’re free).

4. Vicky Virtual

Love spending time on the phone? At Vicky Virtual, your job will be to answer the phone for small business owners who are too busy to pick up themselves. You’ll be answering customer questions, upselling, delighting callers so they convert into fans, and using your empathy and great communication skills to build strong customer-brand relationships. Requirements don’t go beyond U.S. residency, a good computer, and stable internet connection.

5. VaVa Virtual Assistants

VaVa Virtual Assistants is great if you have an extra set of skills like web development or digital marketing. If you have experience in management, you can also apply for their account manager position. (Knowledge on using Google Suite, Microsoft, Slack, and Basecamp is a plus.)

10. Bonus: The Best Freelance Marketplaces to Take Your Talent

If you have a special talent and want to market yourself on your own terms, here are excellent freelance marketplaces to try.

All you need to do is create an attractive portfolio, and you can negotiate with potential clients directly.

1. Upwork

Upwork is the perfect place to land freelance-based gigs with real clients, if you’re just starting out. Don’t stay here long-term, because the project fees the platform takes from your paychecks are 20% of what new clients pay you – rather steep for a platform cut. However, the trade-off is that it takes five minutes to complete your profile and begin searching for paying gigs.  

2. Fiverr

On Fiverr, you can find all kinds of freelance jobs from data entry to logo design, translation to SEO. Simply create a profile and list your “gigs” and buyers will contact you if they’re interested in what you’re offering. Note, though, that Fiverr takes 20% off whatever clients pay you. It’s great if you’re just starting out and building experience, but again, don’t plan to stay here unless you’re okay with that deep cut.

3. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is a huge platform serving over 49,000 companies worldwide. There are over 50 career categories, so chances are you’ll find the job to match your expertise. The platform does require monthly membership ($14.95 per month), but that’s to ensure they have a staff of hardworking professionals spending 100 hours a day weeding out scam postings.

4. Indeed

Indeed has been around since 2004, and it’s available in 60 countries. To get started on Indeed, simply post your resume on the site and wait for your ideal client to contact you. You can also use the search bar and use keywords to find jobs posted by employers.

5. Glassdoor

Glassdoor has a wide variety of tools for job seekers. You can use it to search average salaries, read reviews written by company employees, and search job posts. However, Glassdoor doesn’t provide a way for employers to find jobseekers, so it’s up to you to reach out if you’re interested in applying for a job.

6. Guru

Guru has hundreds of thousands of jobs available. You can find categories like sales and marketing, writing and translation, and design and art.

7. Freedom with Writing

Freedom with Writing is a resource for more advanced writers. When you sign up, you get email newsletters delivered straight to your inbox. These newsletters list writing gigs for magazines, short story contests, and more. (Payment for each gig depends, but there are gigs that go up to $5,000).

The Best Home-Based Jobs for the New World

Yes, the world has changed.

A large number of savvy professionals have lost their careers.

But this doesn’t mean you’ve lost your talent and skills.

And when you further hone them and take them to the online world, you’ll be surprised to find how many jobs match what you can do.

Now is the time to level up your skills so you can seamlessly transition to the world of home-based, digital jobs. Invest in your SEO content writing skills and become an in-demand freelancer by enrolling in the Expert SEO Content Writer course.

The post 41+ Home-Based Jobs for Beginners: Get Paid in Today’s Changing World appeared first on Content Hacker.

More and more people are turning to online work, including learning how to write and get paid online. They’re finding ways to turn their passions into a career.

From 2005 to 2018, online work grew by 159%. And during the pandemic, over half of the U.S. population worked from home, with 70% of companies transitioning to hybrid work models for the foreseeable future.

If becoming a freelance writer and writing online for income is at the top of your list, this guide is for you. I’ll teach you everything you need to know to start getting paid to write quickly, even if you have little to no experience.

I’ll cover:

• The hard and soft skills you need to succeed to become a working online writer
• How to create a portfolio even if you’ve never landed a writing client in your life
• A few things I learned the hard way (that would have made my life easier if I knew them before)

By the time you’re through, you’ll know exactly what you need to do to get started. You’ll learn how to get paid to write online.

Let’s go!

How to Get Paid to Write Online: What’s Inside

Part 1. Learn the Skills You Need in the 2020s to Get Paid to Write

Part 2. Create Your Writing Portfolio (Even If You Have No “Experience”)

Part 3. Places to Look to Get Paid to Write

Part 4. Getting Paid to Write: Why the Riches Are (Still) in the Niches

Part 5. Other Tips, Tricks & Things to Be Aware of When Getting Started Writing & Freelancing

Part 1. Learn the Skills You Need in the 2020s to Get Paid to Write

The beauty of the internet is that anyone can teach themselves skills and build a career from scratch. In fact, people sit down every day and figure out how to get paid to write online.

You can be one of them. It’s totally possible.

If you’re approaching writing online as a career for the first time, and have little or no experience, that’s all right! Freelance writing is a viable, thriving career even in the 2020s.

Of course, a big part of getting paid to write online involves understanding the skills you need. Here’s a closer look at the soft skills and the hard skills that you must develop to succeed.

First: Do You Have What It Takes to Freelance? A Word About Soft Skills

I’ve worked with freelancers for over a decade, so allow me to let you in on a little secret:

Despite the fact that 36% of the U.S. population works as independent contractors, not everyone is cut out for the freelance life.

There are a lot of people out there who frankly shouldn’t go into self-employment as a writer or as anything else. 

Freelancing is not a walk in the park. You’ll need certain soft skills to succeed, including:

• A solid work ethic. Do you have follow-through? Will you meet deadlines without fail and always present your best work? A lot of freelancers don’t. Guess what? Clients and agencies also stop sending them work before long. This is by far one of the most important skills you need to keep in mind as you get ready to get paid to write online.
• Good communication. From comments in your writing to emails with clients and editors, you’ll need to know how to present yourself professionally and communicate in a way that moves the project forward. (Here are some great tips for professional communication for freelancers.)
• Research skills. How do you write authoritatively on a topic you know little to nothing about? Simple: Have stellar research skills. You don’t necessarily need to know everything about a topic, but you DO need to know where to find the information you need.
• Active listening and asking questions. Interviewing clients is hard. So is discerning what the client really means when they type something out in a creative brief. You’ll not only need to develop the ability to understand what’s really before you but also to ask the right questions to get the information you need.
• Networking. Finding clients presents its own challenges (we’ll look at that below), but do you know how to find other professionals? Editors? Subcontract writers? A business manager? There are all sorts of ways to network, from LinkedIn to joining skills academies where you can connect with other like-minded professionals.

The Hard Skills You’ll Need to Get Paid to Write Online

It’s often said that success is half sweat, half skill. If you’ve got the soft skills above, then you’ve got the mindset you need to thrive as a freelancer. But if you really want to get paid to write online in 2020 and beyond, you need some specific technical expertise:

• SEO. You may not necessarily specialize in SEO writing, but you must be aware of the best practices surrounding it. In the 2020s, SEO remains a major feature of writing. I recommend that you learn basics like keyword research, identifying good quality links, and how to use keywords in your writing so that you rank while sounding totally natural.
• Content types. Not all content is the same, and you’ll need to master the various types that exist.
• Content strategy and marketing. It’s all but taken over the online writing industry. Again, you don’t need to be a guru at it, but you should be familiar with how and why online content is most effective when it aligns with a brand’s business goals.
• Digital marketing. You should have a solid grasp on digital marketing topics. This will help you if you write landing pages, social media content, or similar advertising copy.
• Writing for the web. You probably learned a very distinct way of writing in school – but it won’t help you get paid to write online. Consider reviewing the basics of writing for the web, or even taking a course.
• Storytelling. Angles aren’t just for polygons and journalists. Knowing how to tell a good story will amplify the effectiveness of your writing, especially if you choose to specialize as a growth-focused content writer.

If you want to dive into top resources to follow and learn from, check out my free Content Hacker educational resource list.

Part 2. Create Your Writing Portfolio (Even If You Have No “Experience”)

So, you’ve been studying the skills you need to get paid to write online. You may even already have most of them, which brings us to our next step: putting together your portfolio so you can start winning clients. At this point, you may be asking yourself:

How on earth do you do that without any experience?

I hear you. In fact, a lot of my students have asked me this exact question. Here’s what I recommend you do.

(In my Content Transformation System, I walk you through EVERY step of creating a brand content strategy, step-by-step. I also teach you the skills, systems, and strategies you need to start, grow, or scale your biz successfully and sustainably. Ready to make the leap from freelancer to business owner? Learn more about CTS and apply here.)

1. Collect 3-5 of Your Best Pieces From All Sources

A wealth of tutorials and information exists about learning how to write for money online. As you research, you may even come across courses you decide to take. You’ll notice that good ones will usually have assignments and “homework” for you to do.

This isn’t just to keep you busy. It’s supposed to help you create presentable pieces that you can use early on to promote your services.

Remember: It’s okay to use mock-ups and “samples.” Just make sure that you label these as such in your portfolio.

2. Write a Bio

Create a simple bio for yourself that highlights your professional interests, skills, and experience. Make sure to include your position (“freelance writer” or “copywriter” or “SEO writer”) and sell yourself. A photo is also a good idea to help potential clients get a sense of your vibe.

While it’s okay to include interesting factoids about yourself, I would caution you against things like how many pets you own or your favorite flavor of tea unless they directly relate to your writing or specialty. Including things like how you live in northern Vermont with three cats, your spouse, and two kids simply isn’t relevant, interesting, or polished.

Pro-Tip: It’s a good idea to create a “longer” bio for your portfolio and a shorter version for things like blog posts and social media. You can always link to your portfolio there and drive interested people to your site.

Your professional bio is an opportunity to showcase your personality. Source: HubSpot

3. Pull It All Together in a Simple, Modern Portfolio

Armed with writing samples and a bio, you’re ready to create a site.

It doesn’t need to be a complicated one – in fact, at first, it shouldn’t be. Your focus should be telling your potential clients who you are, what you do, and how they can contact you.

If you’ve got the skills and gumption to build it yourself, you can get a web host and download WordPress. I only recommend this route if you’re able to build a site with a modern, professional presentation.

Otherwise, plenty of resources exist that make it super easy. Consider one of these hosts specifically designed for writers who need portfolios:

• Clippings.Me. Easily create a customizable portfolio and upload an unlimited amount of “clips” (online links or PDFs of your work).
• Journo Portfolio. This site is free, lets you choose from a variety of cool, customizable themes, and is easy to use. It’s mobile-friendly, too!
• Pressfolios. This journalist-friendly site lets you organize your body of work in a quick and easy way.

Part 3. Places to Look to Get Paid to Write

You’ve got the skills and you’ve got a portfolio to prove it. You’re now ready to hit the keyboard and find your first clients. YAY!

If you got onto Google and searched “freelance writing jobs” you probably came across something like this:

Cool! But then you clicked on it and saw things like this:

And not just one. There are dozens of jobs that pay less than what you’d make waiting tables for tips only.

Low-paying gigs are a reality of the online freelance writing world. And if you’re just starting out, it’s easy to believe that you have to settle for this because you’re “a beginner.”

You can not only get paid to write online, but you can – and deserve to – be paid well.

There are two routes you can consider: working with an agency or going solo. I’ll look at both right here.

Working with an Agency

An agency can be a shortcut into getting paid to write online. Many hire writers as subcontractors to handle gigs, and they can be a great place to start. I’ve written a guide on how to apply for jobs for you to consider.

There are numerous pros to working with an agency:

• They handle clients for you. That can be a load off your shoulders if you’re just starting out or don’t want to deal with it.
• They can mean steady work quickly. Agencies pick up freelance writers to handle overflow that their own writers can’t take. They can hire you and hand you work that day.
• You might be able to work with a local agency. Look on Indeed for content marketing, branding, digital marketing, SEO, or writing agencies in your area.
• Many will train you into other areas. Many agencies help their writers develop skills because it’s a win-win situation when they do good work.

There are also some disadvantages:

• Some don’t pay well. In general, expect them to charge between 40 and 60% above what they’re paying you.
• You need to be careful with NDAs. It’s not unusual for agencies to forbid you from using anything you create for them in a public-facing portfolio.

Going at It Solo

Many people also get paid to write online by going at it solo. This can be a great option if you truly value freedom. But the onus is wholly on you to bring in the dough.

There are advantages to going at it alone:

• More freedom and flexibility. You have much more freedom with what you charge, how you work with clients, and you choose to work with.
• Unlimited earnings potential. You don’t have an agency taking a cut.
• It’s a good option if you want to build a reputation. You’ll have a byline and be able to advance your own authority.

But there are also some disadvantages:

• Greater vulnerability to scams. It’s an unfortunate reality that some people will try to scam you. I’ll look at some common ones in section five.
• It can be a lot more work. All marketing, client attraction, and project management will fall directly onto your shoulders.

Going solo is right for many people, and neither option is ultimately better or worse. As you’re just getting started, you may want to try doing both to see which you like better.

Looking for clients and gigs can also be more challenging. In general, there are two things you can do:

• Cold emailing. Spend some time researching companies you want to work for and approach them. You’ll need to learn how to pitch yourself, and those networking skills will come in handy. Be careful not to spend too much wasted time here. Some freelancers swear by cold emailing, but as of this year I think it’s getting overly saturated. It doesn’t work for me — full disclosure.
• Working on a platform. Many platforms exist where writers (and other freelancers) can sign up to access clients. This makes the marketing easier, but there’s more competition. Additionally, most platforms take a cut as payment for connecting you with clients. Here are 50 places for you to look for work.

Part 4. Get Paid to Write: Why the Riches Are (Still) in the Niches

Ever hear that saying?

Conventional wisdom holds that you’ll make more money if you specialize, rather than become a generalist. In writing online, that’s true.

Although you should be able to write competently on a wide range of topics, developing a specialty lets you delve deep into a particular topic.

The better you know the topic, the more likely people will seek you out for your expertise in it.

If you don’t already have a niche, don’t worry. Many writers start out as generalists. This can be a great way to identify interests and hone your skills early on. However, you should keep your eyes peeled for lucrative, interesting niches that you would be interested in pursuing.

When it comes to writing online, there are three ways to niche down:

1. Niche by Industry

Specializing by industry is perhaps one of the most common ways to niche down in the writing world. In fact, most job listings that you see will prefer writers with specific industry expertise.

One advantage of specializing by industry is that it allows you to niche down further. For example, if your industry of experience is cybersecurity, you might niche down further by:

• Working with cybersecurity startups
• Ghostwriting for cybersecurity
• Specializing in content strategy for cybersecurity firms

When you first get started with getting paid to write online, keep your eye open for industry niches that interest you. You can always go more specific from there.

2. Niche by Content Type

Another common way for writers to niche down include specializing in content types. This is a great way to develop expertise in specific types of documents, many of which frequently have technical requirements that you must master. This allows you to raise your rates far beyond what a generalist would be able to do.

Some common examples of niching by content type include:

• Ghostwriters. These are writers who craft documents or content where someone else gets the byline.
• SEO writers. These writers specialize in SEO content.
• Grant writers. These writers only do grant writing.

Like with industry, content-type niches can go further. For example, you may specialize in grant writing for a specific type of non-profit, or niche into executive ghostwriting. Other content-type niches include:

• Resumes
• Product descriptions
• Emails and e-newsletters
• Scriptwriting
• Speeches
• Proposals
• eBooks

3. Niche by Approach

Niching down by approach is a new philosophy that’s appearing in online writing. In essence, rather than specializing in an industry or content type, you’ll brand yourself based on your approach to writing.

For example, I consider myself a growth-focused content writer. That means my approach is designed to grow your brand and its reach.

Other approaches include:

• Conversion-oriented. That’s a writer whose approach emphasizes conversion. Copyhackers is perhaps the most well-known voice of this niche.
• Investigative. Although you typically see investigative writing in relation to journalism, this is a writer who focuses on original research and uncovering original stories.
• UI or UX focused. UX content, or content meant to enhance the user experience, qualifies as a content type. It’s also a philosophy that suggests good content is good UX because it’s rooted in user needs.

(Want more ideas about how to get paid to write online? Check out my book: So, You Think You Can Write.)

Part 5. Other Tips, Tricks & Things to Be Aware of When Getting Started Writing & Freelancing

At this point, you should have a pretty good sense of what it takes to get paid to write online. Hopefully, you’ve also been able to compare where you stand and think about the next steps you need to take.

I’d like to round out this guide with a few tips and tricks that I’ve learned from being a freelancer for over a decade.

Here are four things you should absolutely do as early as possible in your freelancing career to maximize success, ones you might not have considered:

1. Set Up Your Office for Comfortable Functionality

You’d think that working from home is a cakewalk – after all, your commute is 20 seconds and you get to spend all day in your PJs, cozied up with your pet and favorite mug.

And you can. They don’t tell you how sore you might be from it, though.

Working from home catches people off-guard with how stressful it can be. However, part of that stress occurs because we’re rarely set up with ergonomic solutions. Forcing your body to lounge on soft pillows without the proper support will take its toll.

You don’t need to rush out and buy a whole new office, but you should put some thought into your workspace.

Check out this guide on creating your dream home office with ergonomic solutions to stay happy and productive.

Setting up your office is an opportunity to establish physical boundaries for a work-life balance… something freelancers are notoriously bad at! Source: deMilked

2. Get Familiar with Tools but Don’t Overdo It

Feeling overwhelmed by the number of tools and apps out there? If you check out my Content Hacker starter kit, you’ll find close to 40 of them.

There are tons. And yes – your clients will expect you to know at least a few of them.

Many of these tools come with pricey subscriptions, and that can prove daunting if you’re just starting out. However, as much as possible, I highly recommend that you take a moment to play with some of the major tools used by writers in your specific niche or industry. That may include even the free trial versions. This way, you aren’t blindsided when a client suddenly starts referencing metrics in Ahrefs or rankings in SEMrush.

Here are the big ones I recommend you review:

• Ahrefs. It’s an SEO tool set that’s most commonly referenced when it comes to link-building.
• SEMrush. It’s a go-to for SEO, content marketing, and competitive research.
• Google Analytics. Almost anyone who has a site uses Google Analytics to track traffic and content performance.
• Google Office. From sharing documents to collaborating on creative briefs, expect to use it. A lot.
• Alexa. Yes, the service by Amazon is a great way to check out site performance and research content.
• Slack. A collaboration tool, it’s becoming more common for teams to keep in touch with each other.
• CoSchedule. A leader in the content strategy industry, it’s great for topic planning as well as learning how to make the most out of your content.

3. Learn About Taxes A.S.A.P.

Another common subject that blindsides new freelancers? Taxes.

In case you didn’t know, freelancers in the U.S. fall into a special tax category with the IRS. You must follow certain rules, but you also have certain privileges that traditional employees don’t. In particular:

• Get in the habit of saving money. You’re responsible for both the business and personal taxes from everything you earn. You’ll pay a self-employment tax, plus federal and state income taxes. Your tax bill will be somewhere between 15-25% of your annual income every April.
• Learn if you need to file quarterly. Check the IRS website for guidance on this.
• Understand what it means to be an independent contractor. The IRS lays out an exact definition of an independent contractor. This includes what clients can and cannot force you to do.

Working with an accountant can help you get the most out of your tax deductions – but be careful with them. Freelancers are more likely to be audited than other professionals. Source: Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

4. Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Scammers

It’s an unfortunate reality with online work that scammers exist everywhere. I’ve come across many as a freelance writer over the last decade (and even fallen for one or two!). Many are quite clever and experienced at what they do. Keep your eyes peeled and your wits about you. If it feels wrong, it is!

Some common scams that exist in freelance writing online:

• Extensive “samples” to “test” you or “determine writing quality.” A portfolio is your first line of defense against this. Legitimate clients will never ask for free articles, product descriptions, or anything else. Some agencies might, but this should never be more than a paragraph or so.
• Clients who want to take you off-platform. If you’re working on Upwork or another platform, you may come across clients who want to take communications off the site. Be very careful doing this, as some clients will ghost you after taking the final product. And since you violated Upwork terms by going off the platform, they won’t do anything.
• Clients who want you to deposit checks, purchase certain things for a project, or otherwise send money to places. Although it might sound obvious when stated like that, similar scams have successfully conned people out of thousands of dollars in 2020 alone. If they’re asking for money from you, look twice!
• Fake job posting scams. You’ll find them most frequently on Craigslist, but they exist everywhere. The job doesn’t actually exist. They just want your information.
• Tax document phishing scams. Be wary of clients that want you to submit tax documents to them. You should never hand over anything other than a W2 or a W4 – and you should definitely never do it on a platform like Upwork, where the platform handles that information for you.

Summary: You CAN Get Paid to Write

If there’s anything you took away from this, I hope it’s this one thing: You CAN get paid to write online and you CAN turn your passion for writing into a career.

I’ve covered everything you need to know, from skills to things to beware as you set out on your new career.

Freelance writing is a fun, challenging, and fast-paced career that demands a commitment to constant learning. It’s been a wild ride of the past decade, and I’m looking forward to the next ten years.

So, don’t be shy!

Get started today as a freelance writer and get paid to write online.

…Or, if you’re ready to move beyond freelancing altogether…

If you’re looking to start your own writing/content business…

Good on you! You’re in the right place. 

I built my Content Transformation System with YOU in mind.

I’m here to coach creative entrepreneurs on how to build their businesses sustainably using proven systems, skills, and strategies — the exact same ones I used to build a 7-figure business through content marketing.

You’ll get 1:1 help on building an entire set of creative/business skills, but also a complete roadmap to growing your business and getting your marketing running like clockwork.

Ready to get more out of your life by building a powerful digital business through content, and leading a business and marketing plan that DOESN’T suck you dry?

Apply today!

The post How to Get Paid to Write Online (Quickly & with Little to No Experience) appeared first on Content Hacker.

You’ve finally found your DREAM JOB.

You know the months of searching and questioning what you really want are over.

Your career can take off and every day will now be exciting, inspirational, and successful (because it’s true—success is 1000% about doing what you love).

But suddenly a roadblock jumps out and hits you in the face.

It’s just two words, but it changes your horizon from sunny to bleak.

WRITING SAMPLES.

Every dream employer you want to write and get paid for is requesting one.

What are writing samples?

What if you don’t know how to write content writing samples your future employer will even look at?

In a panic, you dig through your computer’s folders for pieces you wrote in the past.

There’s nothing you can use. All you find are:

• The stuffy papers you created for that cheap academic writing platform you used to work for
• The half story you wrote when you were young and in love
• The academic paper your professor graded A, but doesn’t feel right for the online writing world. (Hint: It’s not.)

What do you do?

Walk away with dragging feet? Let go of your dream job?

Of course not.

Remember: you might not have the perfect sample to stun your interviewer right now. But you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

If you don’t give it a try, you’ll NEVER get the job you want.

The good news?

I’ve put together this guide to help you craft the perfect writing sample from start to finish. This guide will help you stand out in a crowd of applicants, even if you don’t have credentials or experience. Ready to get started?

How to Write Content Writing Samples that Nail Your Spot (Every Time) for a Writing Job Opportunity: What’s Ahead

What Are Writing Samples and Why Are They Important?

How to Write Content Writing Samples: Be the 1% Companies Hire

The Four-Step Process Big Brands Use to Sort through and Hire the Best Content Writers

Step 1: Review Initial Writing Samples

Step 2: Send the Interviewee the Guidelines of Creating Content

Step 3: Send the Interviewee the Final Test

Step 4: Evaluate Your Final Test

How to Write Content Writing Samples: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #1: Do Your Research

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #2: Brainstorm Ideas for Your Sample

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #3: Select One of Your Ideas

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #4: Write Your Sample

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #5: Edit Your Sample

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #6: Submit Your Sample

How to Write Content Writing Samples that Win You Your Dream Job

What Are Writing Samples and Why Are They Important?

Writing samples are pieces of content you submit to a company you want to work with. They demonstrate your skill in a certain discipline, especially disciplines which require extensive communication skills.

Why is it important to nail your perfect writing sample?

Because that sample is a sneak peek of the work you’re capable of doing. If your ability matches what an employer or client is looking for, you’ll be hired in no time.

How to Write Content Writing Samples: Be the 1% Companies Hire

A quick background before I go in-depth on how to write content writing samples.

I used to run a content agency, Express Writers, and it always amazed me how many applicants we got per year (think thousands!).

A ton of these people came to us with all the right credentials:

• A bachelor’s degree
• Writing experience
• Certificates and badges from workshops and courses they completed

The only problem?

They didn’t know how to write.

Let me clarify. They DO know how to write. In fact, a ton of them have great GPA scores and even degrees in writing-related courses.

But their writing was simply not the kind of writing I was looking for.

They DIDN’T KNOW how to create the content I sold: engaging, quality content created for a web-based audience.

That in itself is enough to turn away 99% of applicants (we only hired 1% of the people who wanted to work with us!).

Sound intimidating?

It’s not.

Actually, it’s super simple.

Create the kind of writing I’m looking for, and you’ll be part of the 1% of applicants I hire.

It all starts with the writing samples I get from applicants. These alone tell me whether or not people will fit in my team.

Not their education. Not their GPA scores. Not even their experience.

So, how do you write these winning samples?

What are interviewers thinking as they go through your work?

The Four-Step Process Big Brands Use to Sort through and Hire the Best Content Writers

Before we go into the step-by-step process of creating winning writing samples, let’s get into the minds of interviewers as they sort through piles of samples and decide who to hire.

This will help you prepare for what’s coming and get an idea of how you’ll impress them.

Step 1: Review Initial Writing Samples

In this step, interviewers sort through tons of samples and choose the ones that catch their attention. Here’s what they’re looking for:

• Clean writing free of grammar errors and typos
• An interesting and stimulating topic (for example, they’ll choose “The Little-Known and Surprising Benefits of Getting a Mortgage” over “All there is to Know about Mortgages)
• Engaging writing style crafted around a deep knowledge of the topic and audience

Yes, they might also ask for your resume. But don’t worry. In most cases, they’ll overlook your lack of education and experience if you can prove you can do what they need you to do (create amazing content).

Step 2: Send the Interviewee the Guidelines of Creating Content

If you make it to this stage, give yourself a pat on the back!

Your writing samples stood out from A TON of noise and now you’re onto the next step of the hiring process.

At this stage, take extra care. Your interviewer will send you a handbook of rules and guidelines to follow when you take the next test. These include:

• Formatting guidelines
• Style guidelines
• The kind of content they’re looking for

Remember, pay close attention to this. If you follow everything to a T, you’ll show your interviewer that you won’t be hard to train and work with.

Step 3: Send the Interviewee the Final Test

The final test is usually a writing sample based on real work you’ll be doing if you get hired.

If you’re applying for a content agency, you’ll likely get a brief describing exactly what you’ll create. This brief contains:

• The topic of your writing sample
• Your target audience
• Word count (although usually you don’t have to write the whole thing)
• A background of the client you’re writing for
• The point of view and tone of voice to use

At this point, you want to get into your interviewer’s mind and know exactly what they want to see. This will help you pass the test and get the job.

Step 4: Evaluate Your Final Test

Follow the instructions on sending in your final sample.

After it’s sent, your interviewer will decide if your content is what the company is looking for.

If it is, congratulations!

If it’s not, give yourself a pat on the back. Failure is the first step towards success, and you’re now one step closer to the job of your dreams.

If you’re a creative entrepreneur, you’ve probably considered building a brand around your writing skill and scaling up. Maybe you’ve even considered hiring writers, yourself! Get the pathway you need to make it a success in my free class: How to Build a Sustainable Online Business. Watch now.

How to Write Content Writing Samples: A Step-by-Step Guide

Before we get started, I want you to remember one thing.

If you finish reading this guide with only one takeaway, let it be this.

All companies are looking for JUST ONE THING: the ability to do the job.

Everything I talk about, all the steps I mention in this guide all boil down to this.

You can have half-a-dozen degrees and 20 years of writing experience. But if you can’t write the kind of online content the company is looking for, all these bells and whistles mean nothing.

Want proof?

Here are three job descriptions on LinkedIn.

This is for a content writer at Ten Square Games.

Source: linkedin.com

This one is from Mondo.

Source: linkedin.com

And this one from Info Tree Global Solutions.

Source: linkedin.com

Any of them mention a bachelor’s degree?

Nope.

It’s all focused on the skill these companies need. That’s it.

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #1: Do Your Research

“Gain in-depth knowledge on the company you want to work for before your interview.”

You’ve heard this tons of times.

And it’s true.

Before going in for an interview, it’s important to find out exactly what this company does. What it believes in. Its goals, mission, and vision.

Why?

• You’ll show your interviewer your passion and attention to detail.
• You’ll know how to approach the job. For instance, if the company’s vision includes sustainable marketing, you can showcase your knowledge and skill in that area.

The same is true when crafting your perfect writing sample.

Before you type in the first sentence, you need to dig deep and find out what the company WANTS. You need to help them envision how great it will be to work with you.

1. Dig Deep into the Company’s Website

When I say “deep” I mean it. Dig deep.

Don’t content yourself with browsing the company’s homepage and coming up with something like, “Yeah, OK. They offer content writing services.”

Sink deeper. Study every page on their site.

Let’s imagine you’re applying for a job at Express Writers.

Here’s content you’ll see on one of the pages.

Source: expresswriters.com

From this page alone you’ll learn:

• The kind of writing done for “content mills” just won’t work at my agency
• A writing sample with grammar or spelling errors will never pass
• This is a company that values writing passion and lifetime learning

But don’t stop there. If the site has a blog, go ahead and steep your mind in it.

Take note of titles they publish.

But don’t stop there! Read the posts and absorb:

• The point of view
• The writing style
• The word choice
• The tone

Source: expresswriters.com

Notice the tone of voice? It’s:

• Fun but not lightweight
• Authoritative but not yawn-inducing
• Creative but not fantastical

Why is this important?

Because you can be the #1 dissertation paper writer in the world, but never get hired because you simply can’t write the kind of content a company is looking for. So, be aware of what content they do publish and love. This will give you a huge bump up in their hiring process.

2. Study the Job Ad Carefully

A company’s job ad will give you a ton of clues on how to craft your content writing sample. 

Let’s look at a job ad posted by The Corporate Agent.

Source: directresponsejobs.com

What insights can we grab from this ad?

• A skillset for promotional email writing is a plus
• They’re looking for a writer who can create engaging conversion copy
• Grammar errors and typos are big no-no’s
• They’re looking for writing with a sense of urgency

About to send off your first round of samples to this company?

Don’t dig into your computer files and send them your best how-to article (even if it really is the best you’ve ever seen).

Create a writing sample that’ll make the interviewer say, “Hey, I can see myself working with this person!”

Idea: your sample can be a zero-fluff, urgent, well-polished, engaging email.

Sound good?

Here’s another example from Guru.

Source: directresponsejobs.com

What kind of writing are they looking for?

• Well-researched
• Creative
• Centered around big ideas

To get the interviewer’s attention, sit down and create a writing sample that fits all these criteria.

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #2: Brainstorm Ideas for Your Sample

It’s time to sit down and let your creative juices flow!

The trick here is not to hold yourself back. Don’t go for the perfect idea. Perfect ideas don’t exist.

You simply let ideas flow, get them all down “on paper,” and you can refine later. Perfect ideas are created, not found.

So, let’s begin!

1. Think of Your Audience

All GREAT writing needs to have at least one outcome for your audience.

• They’ll learn a new skill.
• They’ll solve a nagging problem.
• They’ll buy something.
• They’ll feel a certain way.
• They’ll enter into a certain belief system.

To figure out what you’ll write about, you need to know your audience and what they want.

Let’s say you’re applying as staff writer at an auto repair company.

When you start your job, you’ll be writing to people who have car problems.

Now, let the brainstorming begin!

Do research on the common problems car owners face. By “common” I don’t mean generic. Go deep. Enter these people’s car nightmares. Be part of their car goals and dreams.

Write down all your ideas.

If you’re feeling stuck, you can always go online for inspiration. Type in a keyword on Google like: top car problems.

Check out the top websites and scour their content for topic ideas.

Source: moneymax.com

You can also check out Google’s suggestions based on what people searched for.

You can spark up hundreds of topic ideas with these suggestions. Write them all down without refining them for now.

Examples:

• How often should I replace my spark plugs?
• 10 ways to solve a dead starter problem
• How much air do my car tires need? A complete guide on PSI (plus, 10 gauges you can use)

You can also visit Reddit and Quora to see what your audience is talking about.

Remember, write your ideas as fast as you can. Slowing down will stem the flow of your creative power.

2. Think of Your Employer’s Goals

When you start writing for a brand, you’ll need to understand what your employer wants to achieve from your content.

Is it:

• Increased site traffic?
• Higher rankings on Google?
• Sales?
• Brand awareness?
• All of the above?

Go back to the job ad and try to figure this out.

Let’s say the auto repair service put something in their job ad about well-researched, authoritative content.

This means they’re goal is probably to set themselves up as an authority in the industry.

To gain traction with them, your topic should be built on insider auto industry knowledge.

Did they mention something about SEO?

You’ll want to optimize your content to be found on Google’s search engines.

Write all your clues and ideas down.

3. Find the Best Format

You can always be creative about structuring your writing sample, but it’s best to stick to proven formats industry experts love.

Here are three every content creator (and reader) adores:

• The how-to format. This format is super attractive because it guarantees your audience they’ll gain a new skill after they’ve read your content. (How to Make Kimchi Like a Korean. How to Gain a Natural French Accent.)
• The listicle. This is a list-based format that’s compelling and easy-to-digest. (13 Texts Guys Can’t Resist. The Top 100 Watercolor Artists to Follow in 2020.)
• The ultimate guide. This is an in-depth piece teaching people valuable knowledge and skills. (The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Landing Page that Converts Like Crazy. The Ultimate Guide to Content Strategy.)

Now, take your topic ideas and create as many titles as possible.

• How to Find the Best Spark Plugs for Your Car
• 30 Ways to Keep Your Tires Healthy
• The Ultimate Guide to Maintaining Your Car at Home

4. Discover Amazing Pieces on Your Topic Using BuzzSumo

BuzzSumo is a paid tool (which I absolutely love, by the way), but the great news is you can use it for free if you’re just starting out and simply want to brainstorm a few ideas.

Just type your keyword into the search bar.

Here are the top three results for “car trouble.”

These can spark up ideas on what to write about.

Examples:

• What Is a Belt Check?
• 10 Steps to Do a Belt Check Like a Pro
• How to Fix a Leaky Boot

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #3: Select One of Your Ideas

By now, you’ll have a ton of ideas listed. 

The next challenge is to pick one of them to use in your writing sample.

Follow these steps to make it easier:

• Eliminate all the ideas that don’t excite you (if you’re not excited about a topic, you’ll never convey passion and energy to your audience).
• Eliminate low-quality ideas.
• Eliminate obvious ideas (for example, The Benefits of Regular Car Maintenance)
• Eliminate overused ideas (for example, How to Make Your Car Last Longer)

Go over your list again.

• Are there any topics that excite you?
• Are there any topics that can be blended together?
• Which topics will help your audience most?
• Which topics will you enjoy writing?

Let your list sit for a couple of hours. Then, go back to it with fresh eyes. Run the ideas through the criteria mentioned in the brainstorming stage:

• Choose a topic your audience cares about
• Choose a topic that’ll help your employer reach his/her goals
• Choose a topic that’s exciting to you

Voila! You have your perfect topic and you’re ready to get writing.

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #4: Write Your Sample

Here comes the fun part!

It’s time to sit down and actually create your sample.

1. Do Your Research

Let’s say your chosen topic is: Five Signs a Guy Is Interested in You.

What are those signs?

Hit Google and find out. Watch YouTube videos. Sign up for email lists.

Remember, don’t stick to the obvious (think deep eye contact and other over-used signs). Dig out signs not everyone knows about.

2. Write an Outline

This isn’t hard if you’ve already chosen a format.

For example, if you chose the listicle format you can create an outline like this.

Your outline doesn’t have to be fancy. It’s simply a guide to the flow of your content.

3. Write a First Draft

Start typing! Just go with the flow and get your ideas down.

Don’t stop to edit. Just submerge yourself in your topic and keep your creative juices flowing!

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #5: Edit Your Sample

Always remember. Good writers write. Great writers edit.

Follow these steps to come up with a perfectly polished writing sample.

1. The First Read-Through

Read what you’ve written once, quickly. Don’t stop to edit or criticize your content. Simply come up with a first impression of it.  

Is it interesting? Engaging? Trite and boring? What will your audience feel about it? Can they get anything out of it that isn’t obvious or overused?

2. Check if Each Paragraph Supports the BIG IDEA of Your Sample

Let’s say your piece is titled: The Top 50 Science Fiction Books of All Time.

Let’s say you find a paragraph in your content that’s about the history of science fiction.

Now, that’s OK. But the editing process needs to be brutal to be effective. Ask yourself: do you really NEED this paragraph? Really?

Cut out all paragraphs that don’t support your BIG IDEA, no matter how beautifully they’re written.  

3. Attack How Your Sample Is Organized

As I mentioned, good content needs to have a single desired outcome. And all the paragraphs must flow smoothly towards that outcome.

Look at your sample again and ask yourself:

• Do the sentences and paragraphs flow naturally and smoothly?
• Can you organize the content better?
• Can you break sections into lists or bulleted points to make them easier on the eyes?
• Does the whole piece flow naturally towards your content’s goal?

4. Read Your Sample Out Loud

Borrow a little time from a friend or family member. Read your sample out loud to them.

Do they smile and nod, entertained with what you’re reading? Or do they give you puzzled looks?

Reading your sample out loud to someone will tell you if it’s engaging, interesting, and conversational.

5. Brutally Cut Your Word Count

This can be painful if you’re trying to reach a required word count. But it’s essential if you want a high-quality sample.

You need to cut out all useless words and sentences.

Remember, less is more with great content. Your readers aren’t here to ooh and ahh at beautiful wording. They’re here to accomplish a goal (like how to unclog the sink or how to beat writer’s block).

Here’s an example of redundant writing.

Source: writedone.com

Notice that sentence #2 and #3 (plus paragraph #4) all say the same thing?

To polish your piece, cut and combine sentences until you have fluff-free, succinct writing.

When you cut down on fluff, you’ll notice your word count diminish. Not to worry! You can always do extra research to add additional (and better) words to your content.

For example, instead of writing four sentences saying that the best person to edit a manuscript is the author herself, you can:

• List the reasons why the author is the best editor.
• Find stats showing authors who edit their work are more successful.
• Pull a great success story from a writer/editor who rocks.

When you cut the fluff, you’ll find other ways to make your content magical.

6. Check Your Formatting

This step won’t feel as weighty as checking the content itself, but never leave it out.

Formatting can mean the difference between whether you get the job or not.

Sounds harsh, but interviewers are keen on hiring someone with a keen eye for detail (I know I am).

Why?

It means less work for them. They won’t need to constantly correct and edit their writer’s work.

So, make sure you get it right from the start.

Here’s an example of a formatting guide.

Source: coschedule.com

Follow. It. To. A. T.

Trust me.

7. Check for Grammar Mistakes and Typos

To do this, read your content from the bottom up. This will train your brain to focus on typos and grammar mistakes instead of the meaning of your content.

8. Do a Final Read-Through

Put your work aside for at least a day. Then, come back to it for a final read-through.

Doesn’t it look amazing?

How to Write Content Writing Samples, Step #6: Submit Your Sample

Well done!

You’ve put together a writing sample that’ll wow your employer. Reward yourself with a chocolate ice cream (or whatever makes you happy)!

The last step is to submit your sample.

Remember, don’t relax at this point yet. Check and re-check to make sure you’re submitting it right.

• Do you email the sample?
• Upload it on a platform?
• If you’re sending an email, do you need to write something in the body?

Follow your interviewer’s directions with care and precision.

How to Write Content Writing Samples That Win You Your Dream Job

Remember, following this guide doesn’t 1000% guarantee you your dream job.

But it DOES guarantee:

• You’ll have a beautiful, engaging, well-polished writing sample ready to send in to your dream company.
• You’ll hone your writing skills so you’re one step closer to your dream career.
• You won’t feel like a failure (because failure is only the inability to try!).

Ready to rock the content world with your samples?

And, once you have conquered the freelance content writing world, maybe you have dreams of growing even further, higher, and better.

If you’re a creative entrepreneur with lofty goals of expanding into your own writing biz — maybe even an agency?? — it probably seems scary and intimidating. What should you do first? How do you start, grow, and scale?

Well, my friend, I have the answers.

You are exactly the type of person for whom I created my mentorship program, The Content Transformation System.

This powerful program is all about helping you launch your brand successfully, including the skills, systems, strategies, and support to boost you to that next level.

An in-depth, 5-phase curriculum. 1:1 coaching from me. An entire library of templates. Guided brand-building exercises with expert feedback. A bustling student community.

It’s all inside. Ready to grow? Apply today for your Content Transformation.

The post How to Write Content Writing Samples that Nail Your Spot (Every Time) for a Writing Job Opportunity appeared first on Content Hacker.

Are you a freelancer, writing your way to steady paychecks? Are you interested in breaking into wordsmithing to stay independent and self-employed?

Good on you: The freelance writing landscape has come a long way over the past decade, and it’s getting better every year.

Content marketing is skyrocketing to a worth of $600 billion soon…

And content creation is the #1 outsourced task!

Freelancers are rising to the occasion.

Today, there are 4 million more freelancers today than there were in 2014. That’s wild!

More people than ever are working as freelancers, typing away behind their computers to earn a living. That’s because freelance writing jobs from home are a possibility for anyone with an internet connection.

According to the most recent research sourced by Forbes and Upwork, one-third of the U.S. workforce is now freelancing. The stats also show that when in need, 25% of freelancers can find work inside a day or less! Freelancing is not only a growing economy, but a stable one at that. In 2019, freelancing contributed $1 trillion to our economy in the U.S. Facts show that on Upwork alone, freelancers earn $1 billion per year.

The bigger news is more people are choosing to freelance because they want to, not because they have to.

Well-paying, quality work is out there for the taking. You no longer have to consider yourself a starving artist if you’re a freelance writer –

You just need to know how to find the writing jobs you want.

For example, there are tons of freelance job sites out there – but which ones include freelance writing and copywriting jobs? Which ones cater to remote writers, specifically? Which are worth your time, and which should you ignore?

These are all questions I’m answering in this post. Consider this your complete, no-nonsense guide to finding writing gigs, including the best freelance writing jobs, platforms, job sites, and more.

Your Guide to 50 Best Freelance Writing Jobs, Opportunities, and Platforms to Find Remote & Contract Work

What Are the Pros/Cons of Remote and Location-Based Freelance Jobs?

1. Remote Freelance Jobs: Work in Your Pajamas (It’s True!)
2. Location-Based Freelance Jobs: Steady Paychecks and Peace of Mind

Remote Freelance Writing Jobs Online: Your Quick Guide

1. How to Find Remote Freelance Writing Opportunities
2. What’s the Average Pay for Remote Freelance Work?

Location-Based Writing Jobs: Everything You Need to Know to Nab a Position

1. How to Find Location-Based Writing Work
2. What’s the Average Pay for Writing Employees and Contractors?
3. Top Cities Hiring Writers and Freelancers

Get Paid to Write: The 50 Best Freelance Writing Jobs, Gigs, Opportunities, and Platforms Out There

Freelance Writing Gigs, Opportunities, and Platforms
Freelance Writing Job Boards and Search Engines
Freelance Writing Groups, Networking, and Lead Sources

How to Level Up with Freelance Writing Training and Get More Work

What Are the Pros/Cons of Remote and Location-Based Freelance Jobs?

Every job has pros and cons. Let’s look at each side of writing for a living.

1. Remote Freelance Jobs Online: Work in Your Pajamas (It’s True!)

Overwhelmingly, one of the top perks of a freelance writing job is the ability to create a schedule that works for your personal needs.

As long as you meet deadlines and communicate well with clients, you can work whenever (and wherever) you want. For some people, that means burning the midnight oil. For others, it means rising with the sun and working in their pajamas until noon. The sky is truly the limit.

Another benefit of remote freelancing: independence. If you like working on your own, the solo life of a freelancer will suit you to a T.

Now for the negatives: Every job has them, and work-from-home freelancing is no exception.

In the beginning, you’ll have to hustle for work – hard. That’s because you have a reputation to establish. Since it can be harder to earn people’s trust online, getting new gigs will be an uphill battle until you have some experience under your belt.

Another con is the flipside of one of the perks – working solo. If you’re a creative introvert who chafes under restrictive leadership, it’s freeing to work alone, but it also gets lonely from time to time.

Granted, there are easy ways to mitigate loneliness while working remotely, such as heading to a coffee shop to be around people, using co-working spaces, developing friendships in online writing communities, and networking.

2. Location-Based Freelance Jobs: Steady Paychecks and Peace-of-Mind

Freelance writing jobs aren’t limited to the kind where you need to hustle for clients. If you want a steadier position (and steadier pay), working as a contractor for a single client or company is a good bet.

Often, these positions are location-based, which means you’ll work in an office with your peers while remaining a freelancer. There are also remote contractor positions, which means you’ll be collaborating with your team digitally. Either way, it’s slightly different from the independent freelancer life.

The best part for many writers is they don’t have to worry about client acquisition or marketing themselves. The company who contracted them is in charge of that, so it frees up the writer to focus entirely on their creative powers. For us introverts, that’s a major stressor off the table.

The worst part of contracted freelance writing jobs? If the contract is long-term, and the company wants to keep you around, it’s easy to get complacent or stuck in a rut. You may forget to push yourself to further your career, find new clients, or branch out of your comfort zone.

Overall, there are good and bad parts of every type of work. The key is to know when a job requires a change of mindset or a total overhaul.

Remote Freelance Writing Jobs Online: Your Quick Guide

Are you new to freelancing? Here’s an overview of freelance jobs online for beginners, starting with how to find work.

1. How to Find Remote Freelance Writing Opportunities

If you are solely in charge of your freelance writing business (i.e. you aren’t contracted with a company or agency and deal with your clients directly), these are the top ways to find work:

1. Applying

Many clients will post open calls for freelance writers on platforms around the web. If you have your finger on the pulse of many different platforms and resources (see below!), you’re more likely to find writing opportunities.

2. Pitching

Sometimes, you can’t expect the right clients to find you – YOU need to find THEM. That’s where pitching comes in. When you find a client or company you’d love to work with, scour their website for an editor to contact, or a submissions page. If you follow them on social media, a DM to the right person might not hurt.

To that end, always keep your resume and writing samples fresh and ready to show to prospective clients.

3. Marketing

If you do all the client-gathering yourself, you must have a grasp on marketing your writing. Start with a website portfolio and branch out from there. Consider blogging to pull in organic traffic from people searching for writers on Google. (Need motivation? Businesses that blog get 67% more leads than those that don’t!)

2. What’s the Average Pay for Remote Freelance Work?

According to data from PayScale, remote freelance writers earn an average of $23.44 per hour.

Of course, the way this shakes out in yearly income depends on the work you do and the hours you work in a day.

The most profitable freelance writers get paid more money for shorter assignments. For instance, a high-earner might get paid $23 for a short line of copy for social media. A median-earner would get paid this amount for one 500-word article.

Location-Based/Contract Writing Jobs: Everything You Need to Know to Nab a Position

1. How to Find Location-Based (Contract) Writing Work

Looking for a longer-term position, or steady work with one employer? Keep these search tips in mind:

1. Use the Right Keywords

Especially if you want a writing job in a specific location, using that location as a keyword is important. Google, LinkedIn, Craigslist, and job boards are your best bet for this type of search. Use relevant titles (freelance writer, freelance writing jobs, remote writing jobs, content writer, etc.) PLUS your desired city or state.

2. Search Job Boards

Contract and location-based positions often can be found on job boards. Keep your eye on your favorite sites (again, see below) and make sure you have alerts set up so you get an email when a job close to your preferred location is posted.

2. What’s the Average Pay for Writing Employees and Contractors?

For freelancers with a steady income and a contract or staff position, the median salary is around $42,000/year, according to Glassdoor.

However, this data is based on a survey of nearly 250 freelance writers in the U.S. That’s not a very large pool, so my guess is the average is lower than $42K.

3. Top Cities Hiring Freelance Writers and Contractors

Unsurprisingly, the top cities for freelance writers are large ones, where opportunities are plentiful and employers/clients are willing to pay more for high-quality work.

ZipRecruiter has compiled a list of the highest-paying cities for freelance writers – some of the top places include San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, L.A., Chicago, Minneapolis, and Houston. This list of top cities for freelancers compiled by NerdWallet echoes these findings, although it’s more general in nature and about the quality of living for the freelance lifestyle.

If you can’t relocate to find the right writing job, the good news is you can work remotely out of top cities for most companies.

Get Paid to Write: The 50 Best Freelance Writing Jobs, Opportunities, Gigs, Job Boards, and Platforms Out There

Ready to get to work and write? These are the best freelance job sites and platforms to check out right now to find those coveted remote writing gigs. (You’ll find zero content mills on this list, because nobody deserves to be paid pennies per word.)

Let’s get to the good stuff!

Freelance Writing Gigs, Opportunities, and Platforms

1. Fiverr

Fiverr is a unique online freelance jobs marketplace where you can set up flat-rate gigs, market yourself, and draw in clients through the platform.

Setting up an account is free, as is posting gigs and gig packages. Once you book some work, Fiverr takes a 20% cut of whatever you earn.

On Fiverr, the key is to create optimized, well-worded gig posts that will catch your ideal client’s eye. Once you start racking up work and building your reputation, your account starts getting listed higher in search results on the platform. Best of all, you’ll find every type of writing work under the sun on Fiverr – freelance copywriting jobs, article writing, blogging, scriptwriting, email copywriting, creative writing, and more.

2. Kolabtree

Are you a research writer, an academic writer, or an authority writer in a specialized niche like social science, biology, or economics? Kolabtree might be a great fit for you to find more freelance work.

Create a profile on the platform (it’s free), then start searching for jobs that match your expertise. There are opportunities for scientific consulting, academic writing, statistical analysis, scientific editing, technical writing, and more.

3. Cloud Peeps

Cloud Peeps is a unique platform that combines a few essential features. When you sign up for free, you get to create both a freelancer profile and a storefront, where you can promote your services. In addition, you can search for available jobs and pitch to potential clients to get hired.

Similar to other freelancer-client platforms, Cloud Peeps advises that the most successful people on their site spend time building out their profile and submitting pitches. If you don’t have time to market yourself, this might not be the best tool for you to find work.

4. Freelance Writing Gigs

Freelance Writing Gigs, or FWJ (Freelance Writing Jobs), is run by Deb Ng who devoted five years of her life to building this into a leading website for freelance writers styled like a forum so they could discuss and build their portfolios together. Whether you’re brand new or an old hand at freelance writing, learning how to be a successful writer and scrolling through active gigs is all a part of Freelance Writing Jobs.

5. Freelance Writers Den

This well-regarded community for freelance writers has a waiting list for a reason. Once you’re in the Freelance Writers Den, you get access to the Junk-Free Job Board and community forums, where you’ll find job postings, networking opportunities, job leads, and more.

The Den only opens to new members twice a year, but those on the waiting list get first dibs.

6. Express Writers

Another great opportunity for freelancers looking for steady work: Express Writers. This is my own content agency with a deep focus on producing quality content that gets results for clients.

Most of the work that comes in is expert-level and pays much higher than the average bottom-rate job on the Upworks of the world. We’re always on the lookout for amazing expert writers with a dedication to client needs, so submitting a writer application is a great idea!

7. Writers Weekly

Writers Weekly has been around since 1997, but it’s still one of the most respected resources for freelance writing out there. Particularly, the Paying Markets & Jobs section will help you find publications paying writers for stories and articles, and open jobs for freelancers.

8. SolidGigs

SolidGigs is an indispensable tool for finding freelance writing jobs. Sign up for their email list and you’ll get their daily newsletter including the best freelance jobs available (according to them, the top 1% of gigs).

It’s not free, but it’s affordable if you’re serious about netting quality client leads. You can start with a 30-day free trial for $2. After that, it’s $19/month.

9. nDash

For freelance writers with a bit of experience under their belts, nDash is a good platform on which to maintain a profile. It’s not a great job board, but it IS good for pitching articles, blogs, and content to clients who are willing to pay fair rates.

Use nDash to pitch content ideas to clients, take some time to do so, and you’ll more than likely earn a new client or two. It all depends on the work you’re willing to put into pitching and how well you’ve presented yourself on your profile.

10. Skyword

Skyword is a totally unique freelancer platform you might want to give a try. When you sign up, you create a “contributor profile” that showcases your skills and experience. The team at Skyword uses this profile to match you with content channels where industry-specific writing jobs are posted.

You can’t start applying for work until the Skyword team adds you to a channel, but once you’re in, the work is steady and fairly priced. Another plus: the client roster includes lots of household names (Angie’s List, Lowe’s, Purina, and IBM are some past examples).

11. Monster List of 161 Markets for Freelance Writers

This blog from Make a Living Writing is chock-full of legit, paying writer’s markets. It’s kept updated, too, so there are no dead links here. If you’re prepared to pitch content ideas, look here to find good potential clients.

12. 34 Travel Magazines and Websites That Pay Freelance Writers

If freelance travel writing is up your alley, take a look at this blog from Writer Life including 34 paying markets, all with a travel bent.

13. Aerogramme Writer’s Studio

Creative writers, good news: There’s paying work out there for you, too. If you dabble in fiction or just want to stretch yourself, Aerogramme Writer’s Studio keeps track of writer contests, paying fiction markets, and open calls for submissions from paying publications.

Freelance Writing Job Boards and Search Engines

14. Google Job Search

While you’re searching for freelance writing jobs, don’t forget Google. The search engine is a powerful way to find job postings across multiple platforms.

As you can see from the screenshot, the filtering options give you tons of power to find the exact writing job you want. Just enter a relevant keyword (“freelance writing jobs” or “remote writing jobs” are good bets – I searched for “freelance writing jobs nyc”), then narrow down the results by category, location, date posted, company type, and more.

15. BloggingPro Job Board

If searching on individual job sites gets tedious, turn to a curated freelance job board like BloggingPro. The editors comb through current writing jobs available in blogging, editing, online content, publishing, and more, and post them here. You can even search the job board and filter results to find the right position.

16. LinkedIn Jobs

Another hot spot to find great freelance writing gigs online is LinkedIn Jobs. Companies of all stripes are posting open positions exclusively on the networking site, so it’s a good place to find job opportunities you won’t see elsewhere.

Plus, if you already have a LinkedIn profile, applying for jobs is super-easy. Just click “Easy Apply” on the job post and your profile information will automatically populate the job app.

Final tip: Don’t forget to search for hot keywords besides “freelance writer” like “content writer”, “copywriter”, or “creative writer”.

17. Freelance Writing Jobs

Another curated job board worth your time is Freelance Writing Jobs. The editors do the job searching and post all relevant writing and blogging jobs, including part-time work and internships.

18. Jobspresso

Jobspresso is a remote jobs database devoted to posting work-from-home, online positions. You can browse open positions by category or enter keywords to find different writing jobs. Make sure to check the location details – some of the jobs are international and available only to those living in certain countries.

19. College Recruiter

College Recruiter is a job database that focuses on entry-level, part-time, or seasonal jobs/internships for college students and recent graduates. This is a perfect place to find freelance writing jobs for beginners, or the writing job that will get your foot in the door.

20. FlexJobs

Flexjobs isn’t just for freelance writers – it’s for anyone who freelances. That said, this board is a worthy addition to the list because the job listings are curated by a team of researchers who essentially comb the web for you.

One caveat: You have to pay to access the full job listings and descriptions. If your job search is short-term, the $14.95/month plan might make sense. Before you sign up, do a quick test search to make sure this tool will provide results robust enough for your needs. (You can view the search results for free.)

21. Journalism Jobs

Looking to do some freelance writing for the media? Check Journalism Jobs, a job board specifically for journalist-leaning writing. A few general writing jobs are here, too, so don’t be afraid to check this board even if you don’t have a media or news-writing background.

22. Media Bistro

Another job board that’s exclusively for writing and media positions is Media Bistro. This one isn’t limited to one niche – it includes creative writing, news writing, marketing, copywriting, and freelance editing jobs, too.

Just check out the range of specialties in current job listings on the site:

Whatever industry you want to write for, you have a good chance of finding work through this platform.

23. ProBlogger Job Board

This long-standing writing job resource, ProBlogger Job Board, is a trusty place to turn to for the best freelance jobs in the content marketing and writing industries. It’s been around for over 10 years and has helped reams of remote writers find great blogging jobs.

24. Freelance Writing

From the same team who brings you the Morning Coffee eNewsletter, Freelance Writing is the central space where all the jobs they scout are posted. Check this board for both short-term and long-term positions, including contracts and one-off projects.

25. All Freelance Writing

All Freelance Writing is another reliable job board specifically posting remote and freelance writing jobs. You may see a bit of crossover here from other job boards, but generally, it’s a good idea to check different sources to find those niche jobs.

26. Indeed.com

Don’t forget to check major job sites like Indeed.com during your quest for remote freelancing work. In particular, large platforms like this will have advanced filters and search options so you can dig in and find the exact type of position you want.

Big Tip: Remember to search for various hot keywords to find all the writing jobs in the database. To find jobs by location, fill in the “where” search box with the city of your choice. Here are some top keyword suggestions:

• Freelance writing jobs
• Remote writing jobs
• Writer
• Freelance writer
• Content marketer

27. Virtual Vocations

Virtual Vocations hand-screens all of their job listings, so you’ll never find ads or scams here. You have to sign up for a free membership for limited access to the jobs database, but it’s full of relevant jobs with potential. For full access, you’ll need a paid membership.

28. Glassdoor

Glassdoor is another popular job site you may have heard of. It requires registration to use, but once you sign up, it’s a tailored job searching experience that will definitely help make your hunt easier. Plus, along with job hunting, you can also research companies, average salaries, and more using their database.

Just answer a few questions to set up your profile, and Glassdoor will customize your job search and send jobs alerts to your email inbox based on your preferences.

29. SimplyHired

Similar to Glassdoor, SimplyHired offers a customized job search and resources for finding the remote freelance writing jobs you’re looking for. Additional tools include a Salary Estimator and a Resume Builder.

30. ZipRecruiter

ZipRecruiter is a highly-rated job board and app. It has an astounding 4.9-star rating in the Apple App Store, probably due to functional features like the “1-click apply” and instant notifications the moment your resume is opened or favorited by a potential employer.

Filling out your resume and including references is essential to success, here – that way, both recruiters can find you and you can apply for freelance jobs with a tap.

31. iHirePublishing

A solid job board dedicated to posting work opportunities in the publishing industry is iHirePublishing. It isn’t just about traditional print publishing, though – you’ll also find jobs that focus on publishing online in areas like marketing and content writing. If you’re willing to branch out, check out the opportunities for freelance editing jobs, too.

32. Canadian Freelance Writing Jobs

Don’t be fooled by the name of the Canadian Freelance Writing Jobs blog – the jobs posted are mostly remote and open to anyone. Follow the RSS feed for this blog to get daily job listings sent to your feed reader you might not find elsewhere.

33. Remote.co

Remote jobs are the bread-and-butter of Remote.co. If you want a work-from-home writing job, check this board. There are freelance job listings from various industries that need writers like healthcare, customer service, design, teaching, marketing, and more.

34. Working Nomads

This job board isn’t updated the most regularly, but Working Nomads may have a few opportunities that other boards lack. To get the most out of this freelance job site, subscribe for job alerts.

35. Be a Freelance Blogger

Be a Freelance Blogger is a regularly updated board featuring freelance blogging jobs that pay $50/post or $0.10/word at a minimum. If you’re sick of weeding through the bottom-rung jobs on Upwork, look at this board for some higher-paying opportunities.

36. Paid Write

Paid Write is another curated jobs list culled from freelance writing opportunities all over the web. You can check the site daily for new jobs, sign up for the newsletter to receive a daily digest, or follow Paid Write on social media for daily job updates.

37. Enago

Looking for freelance editing jobs or freelance translation jobs in the academic publishing world? Head straight to Enago. They’re constantly looking for highly-qualified, highly-educated editors (Master’s, Ph.D., or post-doctoral research experience are preferred).

If you have the education and currently limit your talents to writing, consider adding freelance proofreading jobs to your repertoire.

38. We Work Remotely

We Work Remotely is a remote jobs community and listing resource. The emphasis is mostly on freelance copywriting jobs and the industries of sales & marketing, business, finance, and design. Make sure you look under all the categories for relevant opportunities.

39. AngelList

If doing some freelance work with a startup sounds interesting to you, consider looking on AngelList. You need to sign up to view job listings, but once you’re in, you’ll find opportunities you won’t see on other job boards.

40. Power to Fly

This next freelance job resource is pretty cool. Power to Fly is both a career helper and a job board, but its main mission is to connect “highly skilled women with leading companies committed to diversity and inclusion”.

If you’re a self-employed woman looking to build her career and community, joining Power to Fly might help.

41. Hubstaff Talent

Hubstaff Talent is a service that works two ways: Post a profile to get discovered by job recruiters, or search their job board to find remote freelance opportunities. The best part? It’s free.

42. Genuine Jobs

Genuine Jobs is another niche job board that’s updated regularly. Add it to your list of little-known sources to check for unique writing job listings not found on major sites.

43. Krop

For a fresh crop of freelance creative writing jobs in the design, marketing, and sales industries, check out Krop. On top of job listings, the site offers free portfolio creation as well as tools to build your own portfolio website.

44. Craigslist

Good-ol’ Craigslist is probably your number one pick to search for used furniture and apartments to rent, but did you know they also have a pretty robust job board for your local area?

As a default, Craigslist will search the area nearest your location for relevant jobs. If you want to broaden your search, look at the Craigslist hubs for other cities or nearby areas. Remote work is listed among the location-based positions, so keep your eyes peeled.

Freelance Writing Groups, Networking, and Lead Sources

45. LinkedIn Writing Groups

Another option for finding freelance writing jobs online is following related LinkedIn writing groups. Connect with fellow freelancers who share open positions, leads, and networking opportunities. Some good groups to check out include:

• The Freelance Writer’s Connection
• LinkEds and Writers

46. @write_jobs

Don’t forget to use your social networks to look for freelance copywriting jobs. One account you should follow is @write_jobs – they post current opportunities with links to apply multiple times per day.

Remote Copywriter wanted | pay: negotiable https://t.co/kPQExOqohp

— Write Jobs (@write_jobs) April 9, 2019

47. @WhoPaysWriters

Report: Civil Eats – $0.37/word for a 1500-word News Story. More details at: https://t.co/OARizxZIPT

— Who Pays Writers? (@WhoPaysWriters) March 29, 2019

Another good Twitter account to follow for freelance job opportunities: @WhoPaysWriters. They regularly update with publications (online and off) you can pitch to and submit to. All pay good rates for articles, stories, blogs, and content.

48. r/writingopportunities on Reddit

For hot leads on writing jobs, paying markets, and more, follow this subreddit, r/writing opportunities. You can also post questions and network with fellow writers.

49. Morning Coffee eNewsletter

Want the best freelance writing jobs delivered to your inbox each morning? Subscribe to the Morning Coffee eNewsletter and you’ll get a hand-picked digest of the top remote writing gigs open for applications.

50. Facebook Writing Groups

Networking is one of the best ways to get referrals and leads for new writing jobs and opportunities. On Facebook, there are lots of writing groups you can join for all of the above, plus community.

A few good Facebook writing groups:

• Binders Full of Writing Jobs – A group exclusively for women freelancers
• Freelance Content Writing Jobs – A closed group with new posts almost daily

How to Level Up with Freelance Writing Training and Get More Work

So, you’ve scoured the job boards, signed up for job alerts and newsletters, checked Craigslist and LinkedIn, applied for positions…

But you’re still not getting work?

Your experience and skills might not be there yet. If so, you’ll be at a disadvantage while applying for work and pitching to potential clients.

Does this describe you? It’s time to think about freelance writing training.

First, start on the internet. Drink up all the information you can find. I have a few primer videos that may help:

How to Make Money Freelance Writing – An overview of the steps to take to start making money writing:

How to Write 7 Types of Online Content – An overview of the major content types and what you can earn for each:

Finally, if you really want to invest in freelance writing training, my course, The Expert SEO Content Writer, has all the tools you need to nail those writing jobs. It’s a perfect resource for those of you looking for freelancing jobs for beginners, AND those of you wanting to level-up.

When you have the right tools and training at your fingertips, finding remote writing gigs is no problem.

Save this post and come back to it as needed, and you’ll never want for freelance writing jobs again.

Over to you.

Which opportunity will you try first? Have you had any specific experiences with any of these opportunities?

Let us know in the comments below.

The post 50 Best Freelance Writing Jobs and Platforms to Find Remote Contract Work appeared first on Content Hacker.

You need a hub where your best work is on display, where potential clients can review your credentials and reach out to you – a one-stop-shop to learn everything there is to know about you as a professional freelancer.

Enter the portfolio website.

Think of it simultaneously as your career landing page and an invaluable tool that may help you earn more work.

Rather than providing a list of your accomplishments, a portfolio website shows them in action. It tells the world, “Hey, I did this awesome thing – and this and this and THIS – and I can do more.”

If you’re now asking yourself why you don’t have a portfolio yet, you’re in the right place.

Let’s get into how to build a portfolio website, one you’ll be happy to share with everyone, including clients, peers, employers, and even your mom.

How to Build a Portfolio Website: Table of Contents

How to Build a Portfolio Website from Scratch: Templates, Tools, and What to Include

1. Start with a Template for Personal Portfolio Websites (Free & Paid Recommendations)

2. Include Necessary Information and Pages

3. Showcase Your Best Work

4. Include Paid and Non-Paid Gigs

5. Present Your Value to Potential Clients/Employers Up-Front

6. Create a Simple Brand Logo

7. Keep It Fresh and Updated

Leveling Up: When to Build a Portfolio Website and Turn It into a Personal Brand

1. It’s About Building Your Reputation

2. It’s About Consistent Messaging

3. It’s About Leveraging Your Experience and Authority

High-Level Portfolio Case Study: Content Hacker

3 Examples of Portfolios Turned into Personal Brand Websites

How to Build a Portfolio Website from Scratch: Templates, Tools, and What to Include

Ready to build that portfolio website? Start at the ground level.

Need a domain/hosting? Bluehost is a great provider.

1. Start with a Template for Personal Portfolio Websites

Before digging into building a portfolio website, you first need a web address and a tool to build your site. Each of the following providers offers basic hosting as well as templates and tools to get the job done.

Free Portfolio Website Providers:

• WordPress – WordPress has both free and paid options for building a portfolio site. With its range of templates and sheer customizability, WP is perfect for any freelancer (designers, content strategists, marketers, writers, web developers, etc.). 

• Behance – Are you a freelance designer, artist, photographer, or creative? Behance is one of the most-used portfolio sites for showcasing everything from product design to UX.
• Weebly – A free portfolio website on Weebly’s platform includes a range of templates to choose from and a super-easy drag-and-drop website builder. Great for any type of freelancer who wants more options and customization for the look and feel of their online portfolio.

• Wix – Another option for those who want to create their portfolio to their specifications, whether you want to code it or build it with Wix’s website builder. A Wix portfolio is a good place to start if you are just beginning to build your client list.
• Journo Portfolio – For freelance writers and journalists, Journo Portfolio allows you to collect your published work from around the web and showcase it all on one clean interface.

Paid Portfolio Website Providers:

• Squarespace – If clean, minimalist design, as well as buildable pages (no HTML code required), are your thing, Squarespace offers affordable paid plans for your portfolio.

• Strikingly – One of the simplest website builders out there. A good choice if you’re not tech-inclined but want a professional-looking portfolio. A free option is available, but the limited paid option is worth it for more features.
• Hostinger – Hostinger offers a web page builder that allows AI to generate a website in minutes. The Website Builder & Web Hosting costs $2.99/month, complete with the hosting resources you need for a portfolio website and a custom domain name.
• Format – This website provider exclusively caters to people who need to build digital portfolios. The cheapest plan is $6/month with lots of features, and the templates are minimal, modern, and sleek. Format even offers a client portal with your website where they can proof and approve your work at a custom link.

Misc. Portfolio Website Alternatives

• Google Docs – Really, really intimidated by the prospect of building your own site? Create a beautifully formatted Google Doc with your work examples, credentials, and testimonials. (Templates here. Look past the resumes – for example, the report templates would make nice portfolios!) Share the link and you’re good to go.

• Visualize.me – This isn’t a portfolio website, but rather a tool to use to enhance your site. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could create an infographic of your career, interests, and work experience? Enter Visualize.me.

How to Choose a Portfolio Website Template

Once you choose a provider, the fun part begins. It’s time to choose the overall look and feel of your portfolio website with a designed template you can customize.

Most of the above providers offer templates specifically for portfolios, but you don’t have to limit yourself to them. Think about the work you want to showcase and your objective for your portfolio website, and choose a template based on those considerations.

In general, make sure the template you choose has options for creating and formatting pages, including:

• Feature images for displaying client work and projects
• Text blocks for describing your work
• The ability to add new pages as needed

Lastly, unless you plan to blog on your new portfolio website, steer clear of templates with a heavy focus on blogging.

2. Include Necessary Information and Pages

Some of the most important pieces of information on your portfolio website will not include your work.

Instead, your contact info, your social media links, and a solid bio are some of the most important pieces of the puzzle.

A few good places to include your necessary details:

• On the homepage – Include a blurb about you, your social handles, and your email address.
• On a separate contact page – Make a page dedicated to getting in touch with you! This is a perfect spot to include a form, which is super-easy to set up using one of the providers we mentioned above. The drag-and-drop website builders all will have options for inserting a contact form on your page. Don’t forget to include your social links and email address here, too. Give prospective clients and employers every chance to contact you.
• On your about page – Create a separate page with a professional headshot, a longer bio, and all your contact details.
• In your website sidebar – If your portfolio website template includes a sidebar in the design, add your contact details there, too!

Remember, if somebody visits your portfolio and loves what they see, you need to give them the opportunity to take the next step and contact you. The more opportunities you provide (within reason), the easier it will be for that client/employer to hire you!

For example, check out the portfolio website of copywriter John Espirian. On his about page alone, he has three places within the copy where he offers his email address & social links. Note ALL of these instances are calls-to-action:

#1:

#2:

#3 (the static footer that appears on every page):

No matter where you are on John’s website, he provides opportunities to learn more and connect with him. That’s a key part of any online portfolio, no matter your industry or field.

3. Showcase Your Best Work

Even if you have a large back-catalog of client work, you shouldn’t include every single piece you have ever worked on in your portfolio website.

Why?

Because potential clients or employers faced with sifting through your mountain of work will back away slowly. They don’t have time to weed through everything you’ve ever done – they just want to see the best of what you’ve done.

Make it easy for them and only include your best samples. 5-7 is good. 10-15 is plenty. Anything more than 20-25 is really pushing it.

The exception: When your work spans various industries, fields, genres, or categories.

For example, on the following portfolio website, Jennifer Fernandez has showcased her writing in various digital publications by subject: design, travel, and lifestyle.

Another example: If you’re a web developer with portfolio projects galore, whittle down your work to the stuff that makes you the proudest, then categorize them by client type or type of website.

In the end, always use common sense. Think of what clients and employers expect to see from someone in your line of work. Include the samples that show off your best work and your range of skills.

4. Include Paid and Non-Paid Gigs

“Your best work” doesn’t just include gigs for which you were paid. Include non-paid work on your portfolio website, too, especially if you don’t have a ton of work samples yet.

For example, say you took on a project for free just to get some experience under your belt. Or perhaps you did a friend or family member a favor and lent your expertise to help them. These are all fodder for your portfolio!

Present them as case studies, explain the problems you solved and the benefits your “clients” received, and include examples.

Just because you received no compensation for these jobs doesn’t mean they weren’t valuable experiences.

5. Present Your Value to Potential Clients/Employers Up-Front

This point can be summed up in a few words from a famous movie: “Show [them] the money!”

What does this mean?

Simply, show your potential clients or employers the value you bring to the table right up-front. Don’t beat around the bush. Show them the money.

• Tell them what you do and why they need you.
• Explain the benefits of hiring you.
• Show them the results you are able to achieve with your work.
• Know your objectives for your portfolio; know your clients and what they’re looking for in a freelancer.

For example, take a look at freelance writer Jay Crisp Crow’s homepage for her copywriting business, Crisp Copy. Right off the bat, she tells you what she does and why you need her:

She writes “mouthwatering words that open hearts (and bank accounts)” and “crisp” copy (a play on her name) that’s never stale.

In one fell swoop, she tells you what she does and why you need her. She shows you the money right away.

• Similarly, think of your value in your profession and what you bring to clients who work with you.
• Know backward and forward what clients who need your services are looking for in a freelancer.
• Show them that money when describing your services or offerings on your portfolio website.

6. Create a Simple Brand Logo

To take your portfolio website from “run of the mill” to outstanding and unique, put a cherry on top – get a logo made with your name or brand name to stand out.

This doesn’t have to be complicated. For instance, find a nice font you love that meshes well with your portfolio design (you can download tons of cool fonts for free – try 1001fonts or dafont.com). Then type up your name in that font in your image-editing app of choice.

Crop it, save it in different sizes. Put it everywhere: your portfolio, your business cards, your email signatures, you name it.

Done.

Great examples: Successful women like Marie Forleo and Amy Porterfield just use their name as their logo.

Another option: Hire a graphic designer from Fiverr or Cloud Peeps to design your logo. There are a ton of college students out there who need extra cash and experience. Find a designer with samples you love for the best results.

Another example: One of my students, Mariana Norton, has a clean yet professional logo that’s simple and effective:

7. Keep It Fresh and Updated

Once you have a portfolio website up and running, don’t let it gather dust in a forgotten corner of the internet. Instead, make sure you review it and update any outdated information regularly.

For instance, let’s say you add various projects to your portfolio. You call it “done” and move on. BUT, your volume of work increases after that, so the work you did 6 months ago is no longer an accurate representation of what you can do or who you typically work with.

In this case, you might want to review your portfolio and update it every 3 months (quarterly) to ensure it accurately and fully represents your work.

On the other hand, maybe you are in a steady flow with work and always take on projects with similar clients. In this case, you should perhaps review your portfolio yearly and update it with new work as needed.

The point is, nobody’s “best work” remains that way for long. The more projects you do, the more you’ll evolve as a freelancer. You’ll probably improve your workflow, tweak your style, or shift your client base over the course of your freelance career.

Your portfolio should always accurately reflect you as a professional, at this stage in your work life (whatever that looks like for you).

Remember, if it’s out of date, it’s no longer a tool you can use to get more work – instead, it becomes an archive.

Leveling Up: When to Build a Portfolio Website and Turn It into a Personal Brand

Let’s shift gears and look toward your future as a freelancer (or, if you’ve been in the game and winning for a few years, your present).

When you have a steady stream of clients, when you start making enough money to not just live, but invest…

It’s time to think about turning your free portfolio website into your personal brand platform.

1. It’s About Building Your Reputation

Building a personal brand is all about taking your reputation sky-high.

As a freelancer, you’ve probably already built a name for yourself among your client base. Personal branding takes that foundation and elevates it so you won’t just be known among your clients, but also generally in your industry or field.

That means other experts and pros will know you, and their audiences will know you (ideally, many of them will merge with your own audience).

The power of personal branding means you’ll have the clout of a company while attaining the trust level of an individual. (According to Nielsen, 92% of people trust advice and recommendations from individuals, not companies.)

2. It’s About Consistent Messaging

When you invest in personal branding, you invest in a consistent look, feel, and style for your communications across whichever channels you use.

Your portfolio website becomes your branded personal platform. Your social media accounts get a similar look and feel. Your posts (including blog posts) have the same tone, voice, and style, and if you use imagery, it all has the same vibe, colors, and personality.

This is HUGE for your business because consistent branding increases revenue by 23% on average (Lucidpress).

3. It’s About Leveraging Your Experience and Authority

The contributing editor for Inc., John Brandon, made a salient point when he said: “Defining who you are is the most important differentiator you can make.”

This differentiator is what you’ll take with you as you build your personal brand. Most importantly, it will help you leverage your experience and authority as you create a name for yourself online, because both factors will be baked into what differentiates you from everyone else jostling for the same space.

What do you want to be known for? Who do you hope to reach? Your unique personal brand will answer these questions.

Finally, your personal brand is an opportunity to cash in on the years of experience and clout you’ve built over time. To understand what I mean, let’s look at a personal example.

High-Level Portfolio Case Study: Content Hacker

When you have the budget for a higher-level portfolio, it’s totally worth it. How do I know?

I did it myself.

Case in point: Content Hacker, my personal brand.

Before I launched Content Hacker, I had 8 years behind me working in the content marketing industry and running an agency. I wrote books, created a podcast, and blogged a LOT. I had all the necessary experience and had built a reputation before I approached building a personal brand. That made it easy to see it blossom right away.

First, I put in the work. Here are just a few of the pivotal steps I took to build out my personal brand:

• I mapped out and leveraged connections to my agency, Express Writers.
• I bought the domain for my personal brand name and even started the process to trademark it.
• I keyword researched and ideated blog topics for launch that would eventually win rankings and traffic.
• I made a commitment to creating long-form content.
• I strategized list-building and created a meaty lead magnet.
• I launched branded social media profiles for Content Hacker.

Some of the results from launching my personal brand website:

• After a mere 2 months, we achieved a top 10 spot in the Google rankings.

• After 3 months, we were ranking for 2,500 organic keywords, bringing in 345+ visitors monthly.

• Finally, after mere months of going live, we have begun ranking for our focus keywords.

That’s the power of leveraging your reputation and authority with content and pouring it into your personal brand. Down the road, once you have a steady stream of clients and have the opportunity to invest – invest in yourself!

3 Examples of Portfolios Turned into Personal Brand Websites

To round out this guide, here are some kick-a$$ examples of portfolios turned personal brand sites:

1. Tarzan Kay

As Tarzan Kay explains in her bio, she hustled for work for years before finally cashing in on her skills as a copywriter and launch strategist. She’s a hyper example of how to turn a hard-working portfolio into a personal branding dream.

2. Proof Mango

Proof Mango is the personal brand of Monique, one of my Practical Content Strategy & Marketing Course students! She took her years proofreading educational content for the likes of Adobe and Microsoft and spun it into a unique brand and services.

3. Mariana Norton

As I mentioned earlier, Mariana Norton is one of my students. Her website is another prime example of leveraging a portfolio into a personal brand as a digital strategy consultant.

Don’t Wait to Build Your Portfolio Website and Get Noticed

If you want to know how to build a web design portfolio, a writer portfolio, or even a web developer or computer science portfolio website, it’s best to just dig in.

Don’t wait until you feel confident in your website-building, portfolio-creating abilities. Just start.

Once you take those initial steps of finding a website provider, choosing a template, and picking from your work samples, it should fall into place pretty naturally.

Give yourself enough time to build a thoughtful, informative, cohesive portfolio website, and you’ll be okay.

Best of all, once it’s out in the world, you’ll feel ready for whatever new work opportunity comes your way. You’ll also have a better understanding of your body of work, your professional strengths, and where you could grow in your industry.

Win, win, win.

By the way…

If you’re thinking about building your website, have you also considered growing your brand, taking it further than ever — perhaps even turning it into a business?

If so, this is your sign that it’s time to go for it.

Ready to get more out of your life by building a powerful digital business through content, and leading a business and marketing plan that DOESN’T suck you dry? My coaching system for creative entrepreneurs, The Content Transformation System, will get you OUT of the grunt work and INTO the delight zone.

The post Freelancers, Here’s How to Build a Portfolio Website (An Ultimate Guide) appeared first on Content Hacker.