Blogs – Blogging – Freelancing

Can you make money writing freelance online? What qualifications do you need and how much can you expect to make writing freelance?

A good freelance writer can expect to make as much as $50 (or 10 to 15 cents a word) writing a basic article. Really good freelancers with an established following can make as much as $1 to $5 per word and sometimes more depending on the purpose of the article or copy they’ve been hired to write. Some freelancers make “pin money” posting comments for $25 or so, or may charge a flat rate of $200 or more for testimonials or sales copy.

Qualifications? A good command of the English language and the ability to convey a message clearly and uniquely will prove to be your most important assets. As a freelancer, no college degree is needed if you can sell yourself in the marketplace. Make sure you have some sample writing to show to prospective clients who are “window shopping” for the writer of their dreams. You could be just the one they’re looking for!

Simple search phrases plugged into your favorite search engine can prove to be your number one resource for finding freelance writing jobs. Entering the phrase “get paid to write” in Google produced approximately 174,000 results. If we further refine what we’re looking for and input, say, “get paid to write articles online”, we get a return of some 234,000 results. If only 1% of those results pan out for you, you could be on your way to making some real money.

Of course, different search engines and phrases will return different results so it’s up to you to experiment and find out which methods work best for you. Sometimes taking “the road less traveled” may yield the best (for you) results. It’s your job to see what works for you.

Phrases such as “write for us”, “get paid to write articles”, or “write online, get paid” are all good choices but if you’re looking to write something specific (fishing articles, for example), include those keywords in your search to narrow it down.

Watch this video:

With the economy the way it is, most of us will need a safety net as we embark into the realm of freelancing. If you’ve already got a day job, keep it while you test the often treacherous waters of the freelancer.

The thought of striking out on your own can sound enticing but have you given thought to the fact that at least 50% of your time will be spent in collecting unpaid (and often late) debt and sending out invoices.  Don’t be hasty – you can count on the paycheck you receive from your day job but  getting paid by a client when the job is completed may not proceed so smoothly.  Don’t count your chickens before they hatch!

Check out this video on exactly what it takes to be a successful freelancer: