The internet is a huge marketplace for any business, and content writing is the major way of marketing.
People will learn about your business through the content you create.
Every content, it being videos, audio, and images, needs text creation. This makes it essential for online marketers to have writing skills.
However, not everyone is a good writer. Thus, if you are a skilled writer, you can be hired as a freelancer to create content.
Not only that, you can develop your website or social media accounts. Then create content to market your products or services and earn money.
All you need is grammar, research, and marketing skills. This article goes through the simple ways to make money writing online.
Types of Online Writing Jobs
There are various online writing methods to make money that can cater to everyone, whether a beginner or an established writer, including
- Freelance writing
- Blogging
- Transcription
Freelance Writing
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| Freelance writing by Andrea Piacquadio: Pexels |
Not everybody is a good writer, and even some of those skilled writers don’t have time to write. That's when freelance writing helps.
Freelance writing refers to writing content for various people without having been permanently employed by them.
There are several types of writing you can offer to clients, some of which include content writing and copywriting.
As a copywriter or content writer, you will create content for e-commerce websites, personal websites, social media, etc.
Conerning income, you can make $10–$300 for creating a 1000-word content, depending on the client, your skill level and working platform.
However, some clients and working platforms pay hourly, whereby you can make $30–$200 per hour.
Difference Between Content Writing and Copywriting
Both of these types of writing are meant to drive sales, but the difference is that content writing focuses on educating. Meanwhile, copywriting is solely meant to persuade people to make purchases.
Since content writing is meant for informational purposes, articles are usually longer than copywriting.
Besides, copywriting uses persuasive words to get readers to take urgent action. On the other hand, content writing focuses on informative content that has a long-term impact.
However, although content writing is based on educating, it still contributes to drawing clients to businesses. This is because when people get value from what`s taught, it`s easy to persuade them to buy the site`s services or products.
To be successful in both of these types of writing, you have to use the appropriate types of keywords per the audience`s search intent. This enables the content to appear on relevant searches and attract readers.
Copywriting uses words like buy, purchase, offer, promotion, etc., while content writing convinces people to subscribe, share, comment, like, and so on.
How to Write Content and Copywriting Articles
Though the intention of these types of writing is slightly different, their formats match. Here is how to create them:
Craft a Captivating Title
If you are a freelance writer, most of the time, your clients will give you the title.
However, sometimes, you might be given a keyword and told to create the title. In that case, ensure your title is compelling and aligns with the purpose of the content.
For example, if you are given “laptops” as the main keyword, and the content intention is selling the laptops. You will have to research the audience which the laptops are intended for.
If, for instance, the laptops are meant for freelance writers, your titles can be
- Affordable Laptops for Freelance Writers
- High-quality Laptops for Freelance Writers on a Tight Budget
- Durable Freelance Writers` Laptops
Create an attractive title that shows the benefit your reader should expect from the content and incorporate the keyword. This enables the readers to know exactly what to expect.
Introduction
Despite how enticing the title is, if the introduction doesn`t answer the title, readers will stay away.
To make your introduction intriguing, ensure it answers the title.
However, do not start it in a boring way, such as with a dictionary definition of the title.
Begin with a hook.
A hook is any statement that catches readers` attention and compels them to keep reading. You can start with a statement, question, quote, static, anecdote, etc.
Then, in summary, talk about how the content can help the readers solve their problems. Afterward, finish your introduction with a thesis statement, telling people what the content will cover.
The Content Body
This is where to fulfill what you promised in the title. You should extensively expound on the topic without straying from it.
To achieve that, use simple vocabulary and create short sentences and paragraphs. Short active sentences are easy to read.
Long sentences and paragraphs are hard to read and easy to make mistakes.
The longest paragraph should not be more than three sentences. However, even one sentence can make up a paragraph.
Every paragraph should have one idea, and each sentence in the paragraph should support the topic sentence.
Example: I love her so much. Just seeing her makes my heart melt. She`ll always be my love.
Every sentence in this paragraph supports the idea that I love her so much. This makes this paragraph to be coherent.
Moreover, ensure to expound on your points by giving examples and definitions of the difficult jargon you may have to use.
Also, use a readable format to make the content scannable. This entails
Using Subheadings
Even when you write short paragraphs, your content will be difficult to follow through without subheadings.
Subheadings logically break up content and enable readers to easily move through their preferred sections.
Therefore, break up your content with subheadings, and just like the title, each subheading should be intriguing. The paragraphs below should explain the subheadings.
Also, every subheading should align with each other and be related to the main title.
Using Lists
Lists make content readable. Thereofore, ensure to use a list whenever you want to present more than three items.
There are numbered and unnumbered lists.
Use numbered lists for items with a sequential arrangement. An example is if you want to list points to follow when writing blog articles. Here is how it should be:
- Conduct keyword research
- Create a working title
- Write an introduction
- Craft your body
- Create a conclusion
You cannot write a conclusion without conducting keyword research and creating a title. That`s when you know you should use numbered lists.
Conversely, unnumbered lists are used for items that don`t have to follow a specific order. An example is when listing jobs you can do online. They can include
- Facebook management
- Email marketing
- Freelance writing
- Affiliate marketing
It makes sense to arrange these items in any order. That is how to know whether you shouldn`t use numbered lists.
Regarding punctuating lists, ensure to start every item with a capital letter, but don’t put full stops unless they are full sentences.
Furthermore, ensure the lists are consistent. That is to say, if the first item begins with a noun, verb, adjective, etc., the others should start the same way, too.
Using Bold and Italics
Bold and italics draw attention and slow readership, making the reader give the highlighted words more attention. Use them in emphatic words.
Bold is used for words with strong emphasis; for example:
To get online jobs, you have to send proposals consistently.
The phrase is bolded to stand out as the most important in the sentence, making readers give it much attention.
Italics are used in quotes and conversations or to put weak emphasis on words or phrases. Here is an example:
“Are online jobs worth it?” I asked myself. The sentence is italicized to make it emphasized.
Write a Conclusion
Don`t end your content without a call to action.
A call-to-action tells people what to do after reading your content. Make it short, clear, and compelling by using action words such as buy, purchase, subscribe, etc.
This can mean convincing people to perform actions like
- Buying products services
- Subscribing for email lists
- Signing up for services
- Sharing the content
Apart from that, use this section to summarize and emphasize the points talked about in the content. This helps the readers remember anything they might have forgotten.
Adding Images
Apart from making your blog content appealing, images make content easy to understand. It`s difficult to convince people to buy your products if you don`t have samples. And the photos are your proof.
Therefore, use clear images that are relevant to the content.
To find images, you can search on image websites where you can find both free and paid images; your budget decides. These websites include Free Images, shutterstock, freepik, etc.
However, ensure to attribute your images to avoid law penalties.
Incorporating Links
To build trust with your clients, you have to cite your information sources. That is through adding external links so people can click and be redirected in case they need to verify your claims.
Also, add internal links to enable readers to easily navigate through different articles on your website.
However, ensure to link to trustworthy, authoritative sources, and the anchor text should be relevant to the resource linked.
That is how you make content readable, in-depth, and searchable. This helps draw traffic to your site and earn you freelance writing clients.
How to Find Freelance Writing Jobs
Having freelance writing skills is essential, but it will only be helpful if you know how to market yourself.
There are various ways to find freelance writing jobs, including
Freelance Writing Websites
One of the easiest ways to find freelance writing jobs is through freelance writing sites.
To find jobs on these sites, you need to create accounts and describe your skills. If people post jobs, you can apply, and if you qualify, you get hired.
Some of the trustworthy freelance writing sites include
Not only are social media platforms for having fun, but you can also use them to find freelance writing clients.
To find clients on social media, choose your preferred platforms and create accounts. Then, in your profile, state your skills and that you are looking for clients. Then post your writing samples to showcase your skills.
When someone sees your samples and is pleased, they can hire you.
Additionally, there are different freelance writing groups where people post jobs. You can join the ones relevant to your niche, and whenever someone posts a job, you can apply and be hired, if you qualify.
Follow this content to learn more about how to market your business on social media.
Cold Pitching
Like any other business, not always do clients show that they need your services. But as a marketer, you need to convince them to buy, provided they have a buying potential.
Cold pitching is one of the best ways to market your freelance writing services. It refers to applying for jobs on sites that haven`t stated that they need writers.
It entails emailing them stating how your services can benefit their business. If they are convinced, you can get hired.
However, to be successful in this method, you need to create a website (portfolio) where you can publish your content. That shows professionalism and makes clients trust you as a genuine writer.
Blogging
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| Blogging by Pixabay: Pexels |
Blogging refers to creating content to be published on blogs. It`s one of the best ways to earn online. Even freelance writing jobs are a product of blogging.
There are many ways to monetize blogs, some of which are
- Affiliate marketing
- Monetizing with Adsense
- Selling products like e-books and clothes
- Selling services like freelance writing
What`s better, you don`t have to create separate websites for each of these services.
You can use only one website and incorporate affiliate links into your content. When one clicks the links and buys the products, you get commissions.
See how to do affiliate marketing here.
Plus, you can use the content to convince people to buy your e-books and e-courses or as a sample when applying for freelance writing jobs.
Moreover, you can place ads on your site so that people can view them when reading and enable you to earn ad revenue.
And if you have physical products like T-shirts, you create content to advertise them as well.
The good thing about blogging is that you don’t have to be a skilled web developer to create a website.
The web development software provide easy-to-follow steps to build websites.
This content covers how to start and run a blog that makes money.
Transcription
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| Transcription by Andrea Piacquadio: Pexels |
Transcription doesn`t require much critical thinking or research like blogging and freelance writing. You only need listening skills and the ability to understand different accents.
Transcription involves typing people`s words as they talk.
Some transcription jobs require formal training in a particular field to get hired. However, if you have good written grammar and listening skills, you can start seeking general transcription jobs.
Here are some of the major types of transcription jobs:
Legal Transcription
This helps provide concise versions of testimonies to prepare attorneys for their cases. It involves converting legal proceedings from video or audio into text.
To get legal transcription jobs, you need to acquire formal legal transcription training.
Medical Transcription
This form of transcription involves transcribing medical officials` dictation.
The purpose of medical transcriptions is for the transcripts to be added to medical records for reference in the patient`s future visits.
To get these kinds of transcription jobs, you need to have medical formal training. This enables you to easily understand medical terms.
General Transcription
No formal training is required for general transcription jobs.
These jobs entail transcribing both formal and informal conversations, which may include podcasts, sermons, speeches, etc.
Concerning payments, transcription jobs are paid per audio hour, meaning you get paid for the file longevity—not how many hours you spend working on the file.
An hour-long audio file is priced at $5–$50, according to the client or company you work with.
Where to Find Transcription Jobs
There are many platforms to find transcription jobs but to start, you can sign up for transcription sites like
These are platforms solely meant for transcription, where jobs are posted, so transcribers can pick the one they are capable of doing.
Besides, you can create accounts on freelance writing sites like Fiverr or Upwork. Then state your skills, and provide samples. When someone posts a job, you can apply and get hired.
Learn more on how to use Fiverr in this content.
Additionally, you can market your services on social media.
Create social media accounts, state your skills on your profile, and post samples on your status. If one sees and likes your samples, you can get hired.
Also, you can join transcription Facebook groups and apply for jobs whenever people post.
Market Your Writing Skills and Make Money Online
There is no magic in making money online. Just equip yourself with grammar and marketing skills.
Then create a professional website where you can showcase your business.
Later create content to promote your products or services and convince people to purchase.
However, don`t rely on one channel to get clients. Market your services on various platforms like
- Freelance writing sites
- Social media
- Portfolio website
You will attract clients and build a successful online business.
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