50 ideas to find a freelance writing job

Every week some of the readers of this blog contact me to tell me the following: «OK Roger, what you are saying is very interesting, but… how do I find writing jobs? Where are the clients? Can you pass me some? Well, as I have commented many times, I do not have an employment agency nor am I in favor of outsourcing to other writers. But I've been in this business for more than ten years, I make my living writing and I know what works and what doesn't. So here is a super post with 50 things you can do to find clients and sell your writing services. I hope you find it useful!

1. Create a web page

Yes, I know, I am very heavy on this topic. But I insist so much because it is true:  creating your own copywriting services website  is the best way for clients to find you and choose you to take on writing jobs.

2. Publish your own blog

Having a website is not enough: as the designer Álvaro Rubio recommended in  this interview , we must constantly work to improve it, add new content and optimize positioning. A great way to do this is to post a blog showing the quality of your work. Write about topics related to the sector in which you are interested in working so that clients will find you when they search for information in that area.

3. Work on the SEO of your website or blog

Apart from blogging, there are many other things you can do to  improve the SEO of your website or blog . It's an important job that you have to dedicate time to every week, for one simple reason: there are many sites for freelance writers on the Internet! Take a test: search for "copywriter", "freelance writer", "content writer", and so on. on Google and look at all the pages that appear. Where is yours? If you do not appear on the first page of results, it is difficult for customers to find you and contact you before your competitors.

4. Open profiles on social networks

The basic trilogy of online presence is made up of your website, your blog and your profiles on social networks. These platforms are useful to get visibility, generate visits to your site and get customers who find you through some of your publications. To start, I recommend creating profiles on  Facebook ,  Twitter and LinkedIn . Being active on social media is also essential if you want to  offer community manager services  to your clients. What company would hire someone who doesn't even have a decent profile on the main platforms of this type to manage their social networks?

5. Create your personal brand

When I started ten years ago, there were hardly any freelance writers on the internet. So the main problem was for clients to know that this type of professional exists and to find you. Now there is more competition, which adds a new problem:  differentiate yourself from other freelance writers . One way to do this is to build your own personal brand, which presents your profile in an attractive way to customers and encourages them to choose your services. Watch this video by Rosa Morel to see how a good personal brand can change everything:

6. Extend your fingerprint

Imagine that the Internet is like an immense sea into which every day you cast your net to fish for writing jobs. The bigger this net, the more chances you have of making a catch, right? One way to expand your possibilities is to extend your fingerprint, as Pedro Müller from  Soyfreelancer.com recommends  in this  interesting Quora article . It is about doing things on the Internet to multiply the results that mention and link to you.

7. Tell who you are and what you do

I love to take a look at the websites of the freelance writers who frequent this blog, but  I am often disappointed : many of you do not explain who you are, where you come from, what you do ... Sometimes you don't even put your name! and photo! I am going to tell you something that I have personally verified with several sites that I have had: what works best to generate trust in a client is to  present yourself with your name and real profile , not under an invented brand of the type "we are a team of professional writers who they offer all kinds of writing services for all kinds of clients at the best price etc. »

8. Don't look for offers, look for clients

I always put the example of the locksmith who came to open the door of my house when I forgot the keys inside. He charged me 90 euros to open the lock with an X-ray and it took longer to prepare the ticket than to do the work. Since then he became my idol in the world of freelancers!

A locksmith does not go online every day to look for orders from clients who offer him 5 or 10 euros for a job and fight with other locksmiths to see who makes it cheaper. It has your brand, your website, your ads, etc. and it is the clients who contact him and request his services. It has published rates and they are not negotiated.

That is the correct way to work! Stop wasting time looking for underpaid bids and competing in a reverse auction with other copywriters to see who gets the job done for less. Instead, dedicate your efforts to creating your website, your personal brand, your fingerprint, etc. and attract customers interested in your services who ask for a quote.

9. Specialize in a niche

At first I made a very typical mistake: thinking that I can write about anything. But it is not true! There are many topics that exceed me, others do not interest me the least and in certain cases I recognize that I am not capable of offering quality content. That is why  I have specialized  in topics that I like and that I master: marketing, technology, transport and logistics, business plans, etc. In addition, you must bear in mind that, although a few years ago generalist writers were in style, nowadays clients demand more and more specialized writers who know their sector well and can add value to the content.

10. Sign the texts you publish

Before the rule was that freelance writers do not sign texts because the client preferred that people think that he had written them. But does anyone seriously believe that the owner of an online store has time to update his blog two or three times a week? Signing the texts you write is a good idea for your client and for you as a copywriter for  several reasons , but the most important is that it helps other clients get to know and contact you.

11. Expand your catalog of services

Another of the common mistakes of beginning writers is to focus on a very limited range of services in which there is a lot of competition: texts for the web, blog articles, ebooks ... But there is much more! Some time ago I published this list of  60 copywriting services  that you can offer to your clients. Expanding your catalog will multiply your chances of landing jobs, which are also generally better paid than undervalued blog posts.

12. Use your contacts

The first thing I did when I started working as a freelance writer in 2006 was to reconnect with all the companies I had previously worked for, explain what I was doing now, and offer them my writing services. And it worked! Some of them commissioned me because they knew and trusted me. These jobs helped me get through my difficult early years as a copywriter, and I continue to work for several of these clients today.

13. Tell everyone what you do

Aside from reconnecting with the companies you've worked for, when you start working as a freelance writer, make sure to tell everyone (family, friends, former co-workers, etc.) what you do and offer to help them. with whatever content they need. Anyone may need a copywriter at some point!

14. Hire advertising on Google

Google Ads are a great way to gain visibility and drive customers to your copywriting services page. Especially when you start and your site is not well positioned. The good thing about Google AdWords is that you decide how much you want to spend. For example, with an investment of just one euro a day, I got several new clients when I launched the first version of my page  www.redactorfreelance.es  (before I had another one called Reda

15. Post classified ads

I got this idea from my little brother, who is a freight forwarder and during a stage when he worked as a freelancer he put ads on classifieds pages to get moving clients. I thought: why not? So I  placed ads on the major classified ad portals  offering my writing services… and it worked! I got some clients who would never have considered looking for a service of this type on the Internet, but when they saw my ad they contacted me to ask if I could write them a letter, a brochure for their small business, a speech for an event they had to attend … Test it!

16. Register in directories

Directories seem a bit old-fashioned, but they are still a useful resource for clients looking for professionals in a certain field. In addition to registering in the  Editors' Directory , I recommend you also sign up for all the directories you find on the Internet for freelancers, small businesses, local businesses, etc. You will increase the chances that customers find you and also your presence in the online world.

17. Sell sponsored items

If you have a blog, you can join platforms to  sell sponsored articles such as Publisuites . It will help you generate some extra income and it is also an excellent way for clients to get to know you, see that you are a copywriter specialized in their sector and make new assignments in the future. On the other hand, you can incorporate the writing and publication of sponsored articles on other sites as an additional service to offer on your website.

18. Publish your rates

I have always been in favor of publishing the  copywriting fees that I charge my clients  because I find it a doubly useful business strategy: encourage clients to contact you, since they get an idea of ​​how much the text they need will cost them; and avoid being contacted by clients who are not willing to pay the prices you ask, so you save a lot of time and effort in preparing budgets that then do not go ahead. Also, for me putting a price on your work conveys an image of greater professionalism as a writer.

19. Offer mini-jobs

Do you know what a  commercial hook is ? It consists of offering a product or service at a very attractive price, with the aim of attracting customers. This is what supermarkets do, for example, when they offer milk or oil at prices below the average. Then, the idea is to make these customers profitable by selling them more products or services at normal prices. This also works in the world of freelance copywriters. For example, you can publish mini-jobs with adjusted prices on sites like  Geniuzz  so that they know you. Once they have tried your services and see the quality you offer, they may ask for more!

20. Create service packages

Another way to offer more attractive prices to clients is to create writing service packages at a small discount in exchange for increased volume and continuity of work. Plus, customers love the fixed prices with no surprises. For example, you can offer blog writing packages, social media posts, and more. A word of advice: make payment for these service packages in advance, because if a customer does not pay it is better that it is only for one item than for a multi-piece package!

21. Add a payment button to your website

If you offer services at a fixed price, it is a good idea to provide the client with the possibility of contracting and paying for them directly on your website. From my experience, I know that many clients get excited about an idea, ask one or more copywriters for a quote ... and when they already have the offers on the table, their enthusiasm has cooled or something else has emerged and they no longer have time for this matter . On the other hand, if they have paid for the service, it is more difficult for them to back down or choose another writer. You can see how to   easily integrate a PayPal payment button on your website here. ( Fun fact : over the years I have had several cases of clients who have paid for a service on my other website  Notes-prensa.es

 and then I have not heard from them again, not even when I offered to pay them back…).

22. Write guest posts

Collaborating with other blogs as a guest author is a great way to make yourself known, extend your digital footprint, and get new customers. However, remember  not to confuse guest posting with writing articles for your face , as some blog editors claim. I advise looking for sites frequented by the type of clients that interest you and making a specific proposal to the person in charge to publish an article of yours on their website.

23. Attend events in your sector

The Internet is very useful, but it is not the only way to get a job as a copywriter. Outside the Net there is a whole physical world full of companies and professionals who need texts. A good way to contact them is to attend events that are organized in your city (such as  # Techday60  where I was recently) or the fairs and shows in your sector that are organized every year. Prepare a good sheaf of cards or brochures to hand out, walk around the stands, talk to people, explain what you do and offer your services. It has worked for me in events like the late SIMO in Madrid or the Mobile World Congress.

24. Offer your services to a cold door

Every day I spend a good time browsing the Internet, reading interesting news, visiting the web pages of other writers or companies that catch my attention, etc. When I see a page that needs help (it is under construction, text is missing in some sections, it has spelling mistakes, the content is not good, the blog has not been updated for a long time, etc.) I look for the contact person in charge and send a message to offer my services,  as I tell here . Works? Well, it's easier to get an answer than when you send a low-priced proposal for a copywriting job offer in which dozens of applicants compete.

25. Re-establish contact with former clients

The other day I was rummaging through the folders on my hard drive to try to locate an old document and was surprised to see how many clients I have worked for since 2006: close to 300, at least of whom I keep records. In many cases, they have been specific projects (a letter, a text for a brochure, etc.) and I have never heard from them again. But at least once a year I look for any excuse (changes to my website, a new service, an interesting link that I have seen related to their sector) to contact them again, ask them how they are doing and remind them that I am here for what that they need. More than once, his response is "It's great that I'm talking to you, because we've been wanting to launch a topic on which we'd like you to help us for a long time." Bingo!

26. Invent new services

The universe of content is so huge that we are barely scratching the surface. There are many niches and specialized services that you can offer to get new clients. These are some examples that I have seen recently and have caught my attention:

Leerenbodas : a website specialized in writing speeches tailored for celebrations.

Ecommerce content : agency that writes product descriptions for online stores.

Copywriter runner - A copywriter who has specialized in the fast-paced world of racing.

Now think ... What can you specialize in to offer a service that is original?

27. Sell old content

If you like to write, surely you have texts in the drawer that you have never published, they were rejected by other clients, they did not pay you, etc. One way to give them an outlet is to try to sell them on pages such as  Los Redactores , where you decide the price of the content. It can also be used for a client to get to know you and make new orders after purchasing content from you.

28. Recover proposals that did not come out

Approximately 60% of the proposals that I send do not go ahead: the client does not fit the price or the deadlines of my offer, he needs time to think about it or he simply does not respond. A sent quote that doesn't go through is a waste of time and money, so it is recommended that  you reconnect with customers who have not responded  and try to find out what happened. Sometimes it is something as simple as that your message did not arrive, they did not see it, the contact person has changed or they have temporarily postponed the project.

29. Collaborate with other freelancers

In the content industry, outsourcing is quite common: I have a commission from a client but I lack the time or knowledge to develop the content. So I look for another copywriter who can do it, pay him less than the client pays me, and earn money comfortably. However, I have tried it and it is not as good an idea as it seems. In the first place, with the prices that are handled in our sector, to outsource and earn a minimum margin of let's say 30%, you have to pay very little to the other writer. Second, if the client knows your style, they will notice that the text was not written by you. And third, if the copywriter fails or the customer doesn't pay, you run into a problem.

Instead of outsourcing, I recommend you seek  collaboration with other writers : I have a commission that I cannot or am not interested in doing. Instead of trying to cut a slice, I reach out to a fellow copywriter who can and pass the job on to him, or we split the task and the budget. In this way, the work goes ahead, the client is happy and the fellow editor takes me into account if another opportunity to collaborate arises. This scheme can also be applied to collaboration with other freelancers such as translators, designers, community manager, etc. Don't say no to a job - pass it on to whoever can.

30. Contact marketing agencies

Marketing and communication agencies have two very interesting characteristics for freelance writers: they need a lot of content and they have little time and staff to write it. I know this because I myself worked in an agency and currently have several of them as clients. Entering this segment is not easy: every day they receive resumes from people who want to work in agencies, so if you send a general message offering your services, they may not even look at it because they will think that you want them to hire you as a staff. I recommend a more personalized approach: follow these agencies on social networks (especially LinkedIn and Twitter), make comments on their blog so that they notice you and send them a personalized proposal like: 

«I am a writer specialized in XX. I have seen that your agency works for clients in this sector such as XX and XX. I would like to offer you my services as an external freelancer in case at any time you need a reinforcement to develop content for your clients » .

Important:  agencies specialize in ignoring you until they contact you on a Friday at the last minute to request an urgent text for Monday. If you pass the test, they will possibly count on you in new projects; If you don't answer in time, you will never hear from them again. 

31. Offer yourself to online stores

Another booming segment that needs content intensively is online stores. You just have to take a look at any of them to find incomplete tabs, poorly focused sales texts, outdated blogs, etc. In this  two-chapter post  I explain step by step the strategy you can follow to contact an online store and sell it a blog or other content.

32. Sign up for freelance job sites

Agree: there are many such pages, few jobs, excessive competition and low prices. Even so, freelance job websites are another resource for finding clients, although it should not be the only one (or you will despair). I like to try all the pages of this type that I get to know and in some cases, like  the disappeared Nubelo , they have helped me to find an interesting client. To avoid wasting time, check out this updated list of  12 websites in Spanish where you can earn money writing .

33. Post comments on other blogs

How envious it is when you visit someone else's blog and see a lot of comments from clients who ask, expose problems they have, etc. Truth? One way to get visibility on these sites without being blocked for  spamming  is to participate in the comments, always trying to offer useful information without looking like you want to sell your services. For example: 

«I am a writer specialized in XX. I recommend you try XX, in a case similar to yours it has worked well for me. I hope I have helped you and thanks to XX for this great blog » .

Do not forget to register when you publish the comment so that it appears with your profile and link to your website or blog.

34. Collaborate with local media

Early in my career I worked in various local media outlets and learned two things: they are a great writing school and they have very little money. They can also help you attract customers. For example, you can publish a column in a local newspaper, make a section in a radio program or participate in a gathering, always as a specialist in your sector. Surely they will not pay you or they will give you a pittance, but it is a good showcase to publicize your profile and get them to see you and contact companies in your area that may need your services.

35. Offer yourself to the media in your sector

For two years I also worked in a specialized magazine publisher. I can tell you that these media pay a little better, although the work can be quite boring (especially if you are not interested in what the publication is about. I used to write about gardening, graphic arts, packaging, etc.). In these publications they always work with freelancers, because they have little or no writing staff. It is difficult to enter, but if you are a specialist in your area and you show up showing that you can add value, you may get jobs.

36. Create an info product

The issue of paying to access content is still quite green, at least in the Spanish market. However, if you create interesting content and, especially, that cannot be found anywhere else, and put it up for sale on your website or blog and on specialized sites, you can get some not very high, but constant income. They are the so-called info-products: ebooks, guides, training courses, seminars, conferences ... Apart from generating income, they also help to promote and position you as an expert in your field, which helps to attract customers.

37. Monetize your blog

In addition to being a good platform to make yourself known and attract customers, your blog can also become an additional source of income. There are many systems to monetize a blog but  unfortunately most do not work , unless you have millions of visits. In this  series of articles  I will tell you about all the monetization systems that I have tried, although I already anticipate that you focus on two: advertising and sponsored posts. These two methods have the advantage of allowing you to get in touch with clients who may require your services once they know how you work.

38. Contact new companies

In 2016, more than 100,000 companies were created   in Spain. A new company always needs content, in each phase of its life cycle: business plan, texts for the web, blog articles, business letters, manuals, brochures and catalogs, training content, etc. When you find out about a new company, run to contact them and offer them your services: if you are the first, it is possible that you will win a client that can last you many years.

39. Train continuously

When social media emerged, I had no idea how it worked. But it seemed like a good opportunity to expand the community of  The Freelance Writer's Blog , so I trained on the subject. In the end it has also helped me to  be a community manager for some clients! Expanding your training will allow you to improve as a copywriter and find new business opportunities. Here are some courses for writers and copywriters , some of them free

Some topics that I think are worth training on right now are: SEO positioning, e-commerce, mobile marketing, community management,  inbound marketing with Hubspot ,  marketing automation with MailChimp ,  easy reading , etc. There are opportunities there for writers!

40. Follow the influencers

Currently there are many experts, gurus, influencers or whatever you want to call them from whom you can learn a lot to improve your work and find new business opportunities. Check out this list of some of the  most influential freelance writers  and look for leaders in your industry to follow, connect with, and get acquainted with. You never know, something interesting may come from there!

41. Learn from other professionals

Apart from writers, there are freelance professionals in other sectors through which you can learn very interesting things to enhance your work. For example, I especially  like the way dentists do it , who in general make a lot more money and live more relaxed than most of the other freelancers I know. But I've also learned some really useful things from lawyers, translators, medical writers, designers, ebook writers, etc.

42. Boost your networking

Networking is the art of making professional contacts not with the aim of selling them something, but of establishing a relationship that may be profitable in the future. Whenever I see a writer, entrepreneur or professional that I find interesting, I follow him on social networks, make a comment on his blog and send him an introductory message by email. In this way, job opportunities have arisen that I would not have been able to access in any other way. Being well connected is essential for a freelancer!

43. Go to coworking spaces

If working at home bores you or the right conditions are not given and you don't have the resources to rent an office or office, coworking spaces are an excellent option to work as a copywriter,  as María-Christina Ru from Coworking On explains . In addition, in this type of space you will meet other freelance professionals with whom you can collaborate on joint projects.

44. Participate in communities

The freelance copywriter's job is very lonely and when you are isolated you tend to lose perspective. Participating in professional communities such as  Foro Freelance ,  Copywriting in Spanish on Facebook  or  El Blog del Redactor Freelance on LinkedIn  allows you to be in contact with other editors to answer questions, share information and collaborate. You can also make yourself known, make contacts and access job opportunities.

45. Join associations and schools

Professional associations and sector associations are interesting forums to share experiences and find opportunities, because many have their own job bank. They also often organize trainings and events for their members. In addition, belonging to these groups gives prestige and transmits confidence to customers. For example: the  College of Journalists , the  Union of Correctors  or the  Association of Medical Writers .

46. ​​Make new contacts on LinkedIn

Generally, when we talk about social networks we refer above all to Facebook and Twitter. But I have to say that I have almost never found a job opportunity in these channels, which are useful for other things. Instead, in recent years LinkedIn has provided me with some interesting client contacts, since I started to take my presence seriously on this social network and learned how to  create a professional profile on LinkedIn  with experts like Ivo Fiz.

47. Found a digital medium

Do you think you write quality content but they don't pay you enough? So, stop complaining and take the next step: found a digital medium specialized in your sector, instead of continuing to sell your work to other publishers. It is for example what the Recycrafts girls have done   and it seems to me a logical evolution for any  blogger  or specialized writer.

48. Sell content marketing

If you approach a company to offer your writing services, they may not understand what you want to sell to them. On the other hand, if you talk about "content marketing" they will surely pay attention, because it is fashionable. At the end of the day,  content marketing  is writing content for companies that helps them position and sell; what we have been doing all our lives. But sometimes how you present a service is just as important as its actual features, so it pays to familiarize yourself with the philosophy and terminology of content marketing. You can do it by following the great teacher  Eva Sanagustín .

49. Get inspired by what others do

I'm not talking about copying: it's a bad idea, because when you imitate others you are always behind. But at all times you have to keep an eye on the competition, analyze what they do and apply to your work as a freelance writer what can serve you. For example, this is the reason why I have started to take more care of the photos of the articles that I publish in this blog and I make sure that they include the name of my page, descriptive tags, etc. because it improves the positioning in Google Images.

50. Open a writing services store

Finally, an idea that has been in my head for years: to open a shop for writing services at street level. I think of a small office in a commercial premises, which anyone can enter to request the writing of a text that they need (from a letter of claim to a speech when receiving an award or a brochure for their business). And in the moments in which I do not have to serve clients, I could work on the orders that come to me from the web. How about? I think it would work, or at the very least it would be an excellent story to offer to the local media and get some free promotion for my personal brand.