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The Freelancers Union says that about 57 million Americans work as freelancers. That’s more than a third of all the people working in the U.S. This trend will only get bigger as technology keeps getting better and more people can work from home (or Starbucks). No one knows for sure how to Write Good Articles as a Freelancer, but writing has always been a job that can be done from home.
A freelancer is a person who works as an independent contractor and gets paid per job or per task. This is usually for short-term work. Since a freelancer is not an employee of a company, they may be able to work on different jobs for different people or companies at the same time, unless they are contractually required to work on only one project until it is finished.
How to Write Good Articles as a Freelancer
Identify what your freelance client wants
What makes good content for each client, editorial site, and brand we write for and work with is different. Some clients might find that video content works well for them, in which case they should put most of their time and energy into that.
For other brands, an infographic gets shared and “pinned” a lot on Pinterest, which brings people to their website and helps them make sales. Another client might know that for them, “great content” is slideshows that keep people on the page.
Know your client’s components of a good article
- It aligns with the client’s core values,
- It’s something their ideal audience resonates with wants to ‘like’ and share on social
- It’s search engine optimized. Your freelance article should answer some of their customer’s problems or questions and appear high in search
- It should be original, fresh, and have some personality.
Leverage Your Expertise
First, get really good at what you already know. For example, if you have experience as a technical writer and have worked in-house for an IT company or as a staff writer for an IT publication, you might join an industry group like the Society for Technical Communication to learn more about your options.
But if you went to college for journalism and have always liked and been good at it, and you’re a stay-at-home mom who wants to make a few extra bucks, you should check out one of the many sites that list writing jobs, such as Freelance Writing Gigs. Writers should also read Writer’s Market from cover to cover to learn more about the business.
What does a freelance writer do?
A freelance writer can write different kinds of content for clients in many different fields. Some freelance writers focus on a certain niche, while others may write fiction and nonfiction, among other things.
Most of the time, freelance writers don’t have to go to their clients’ offices to work, so they talk to them by phone, email, or video conferencing. Most writers work from home alone as independent contractors, but some may work with other freelancers and full-time professionals who work in-house.