How to Find Freelance Writing Jobs

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Finding good-paying clients is undoubtedly one of the biggest hurdles freelance writers encounter, especially when first starting out. Though I no longer have to market as much as when I first started freelancing, I do remember how daunting the process was.

I’d spend hours wading through countless junk freelance writing job ads, futilely tracking down editor contact information, and crafting hundreds of queries and letters – only to be rejected, ignored, or asked to work for garbage rates.

Despite what some may claim, there are no easy shortcuts when it comes to finding good clients – you have to put in a lot time and effort. There are, however, some places to look and techniques to try that may make your experience a little less intimidating. I’d like to share some of these with you.

 

 

Check Quality Writing Job Boards

While writing job boards may be one of the simplest ways to look for freelance gigs, you may have to compete with dozens, if not hundreds of other writers.

In my experience, these jobs also tend to be lower paying. It’s not uncommon to see rates like $100 for 1,500 words or .05 a word. These are not considered professional rates.

That said, some writer job boards may be worth a look, though I wouldn’t use them as my entire strategy for finding work.

Here are a few to consider.

General Writing Job Boards

Journalism Jobs. The jobs listed here tend to be higher quality, though freelance writing and editorial jobs are usually more limited. To get jobs delivered to your inbox based on your specifications, you can sign up for their Daily Job Alerts. Be sure to select Freelance under Job Status.

MediaBistro. They also tend to post higher quality jobs -including from well-known companies- and give you the option of creating a Personal Job Alert.

Niche Writing Job Boards

These can often be found through specialty writing organizations. Here are a few examples:

The Association for Business Journalists

Association of Healthcare Journalists

Financial Writers Society

Tips for Using Writing Job Boards

• For job boards without specific freelance categories, try entering search terms like freelance writer, freelance content writer, or freelance journalist. 
• Even if an organization doesn’t post ads for freelance writers, they may still use them. Study the ad for an editor’s name or an email, then send a letter of interest.

Join a Professional Writing Association to Find Freelance Writing Jobs

Writing organizations provide a great opportunity to network with other writers and potential clients – whether via online venues, local chapters, workshops, or annual events. They may also offer member benefits like specialized training, writing contests, and job boards.

Though general writing organizations are, of course, an option, I have found more value and camaraderie with niche writing organizations. Fortunately, there’s a writing organization for a wide range of interests.

Here are a few examples.

Niche Writing Associations

Dog Writers Association of America

Golf Writers Association

The International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association

Society of American Travel Writers

National Association of Science Writers

Or Find a Supportive Writing Community

Though there’s a membership fee involved (currently $119 a year) and I haven’t subscribed for years, Freelance Success is one I feel comfortable recommending. The most valuable benefit for me was their insider market guides, which did deep dives -including via interviews with hiring decision makers- into companies and publications seeking freelancers.

 

Use Email Marketing to Find Freelance Writing Jobs

When I was starting out as a freelancer, approaching editors and content managers directly was the technique that most helped me find good-paying freelance writing jobs. It takes more work than checking out a job board, but there’s also usually much less competition.

The way to approach an editor, content director, or other decision-maker is to send what’s called in the industry as a letter of introduction, or LOI. There are no set rules when it comes to crafting an LOI, and in fact you may have discovered that everyone seems to have a different opinion about what it should look like.

Here are a few tips of my own tips. Keep in mind though, that what has worked for me may not be useful in your own situation.

Keep the LOI brief, yet informative. Editors and content managers usually don’t have the time to wade through long proposals. Mine included a few paragraphs outlining my qualifications and experience (including links to my best work), and how I could help the organization achieve their goals.

Show that you have an understanding of the organization’s mission. The first paragraph should be about them. Has the company recently launched a new product or service? Did the media recently publish a complementary story about them? Do you have experience using their product?

Personalize your LOI. Avoid sending generic letters and try to find the name of the editor or content manager (and email address) for the organization you want to write for. They’ll likely be more impressed that you have the know-how -and took the time- to find a name and email address instead of sending your letter to “Dear editor” or a general slush pile.

To find an email address of an editor or content manager, or at least the email format of a company, try searching via a program like Hunter. They have a variety of paid tiers, plus a free tier that allows you up to 25 searches per month – which is adequate when you’re starting out.

Books to consider for newbie writers:

Start Your Own Freelance Writing Business (paid Amazon link)

The Freelance Content Writing Marketing Writer(paid Amazon link)

 

Work With Content Agencies

I’m not talking about online content mills that pay .05 a word. The ones I’m referring to are professional digital and content marketing agencies that have a stable of clients and who are willing to pay you respectable rates.

To search for agencies online, consider using terms like “Content marketing agencies” or “Digital marketing agency” + the writing niche. So, for example, if you write about personal finance, you might try a search term like “Personal finance content marketing agencies.” If you use this method, you’ll still have to research the agency to make sure it’s legitimate and not just another content mill.

Additionally, SEOMoz maintains a list of agencies, which you can search by industry.

 

Finding good-paying clients takes time, especially when you’re starting out. And it can be incredibly frustrating and tedious. Once you’re more established and have built a portfolio of solid work, the process will become easier. In fact, if you continually produce quality work, editors and content managers just may start reaching out to you.

 

This post contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support!