Writing online attracts many people who want to work from home, decide their schedules and avoid long commutes to go to the office every day. However, it is difficult to enter this market. You have to work hard to gain experience and find stable employment on the internet.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare for the Online Marketplace
Step 1. Customize your style for each website
There are general rules to follow, but you should always meet the expectations of each page you write for - the target readers. An academic audience has different needs than the fans of a sports team. To increase the chances of getting published, please the site's readers.
- Try to be concise. Writing for the web means reaching out to a mass audience, so long pieces generally aren't successful. Websites want articles a few hundred words long, at most 1000. If you're a verbose writer, reverse the trend. Write concisely.
- Make interesting introductions. Reporters would tell you you need a "good attack". A general audience has a low attention curve, so if you want your pieces to be read from top to bottom, you need to attract readers right from the start. Regardless of what topic you're dealing with, win the reader over with an original introductory sentence. Encourage him to continue reading the entire article.
- Break up articles with bulleted and numbered lists. Large blocks of text can dull the interest of readers. Break them down into points or paragraphs. This attracts the reader from a graphic point of view and stimulates his attention.
Step 2. Start a blog
The most effective way to make yourself known to others is through a blog. It will demonstrate your professional skills and make it clear that you are capable of producing desirable content for websites and businesses.
- Make sure the blog talks about the topic you'd like to cover professionally. For example, if you want to review movies, you shouldn't start a food blog. You need to show potential customers that you are an expert in a certain field.
- Correct the blog carefully. It shouldn't be overlooked. Remember that you present your work to the whole world. Make sure it's neat, clear and, in particular, grammatically correct, otherwise you risk not finding a job.
- Blogging could also be a means of making money. If you have a lot of readers, companies may contact you to advertise on your site. It is another important stimulus to create a high quality product.
Step 3. Try to have an active presence on social networks
Just like blogging, being featured on social networks is a good way to promote yourself. Open accounts on the most important social networks, including LinkedIn. On these sites, be sure to link to all of your work, so potential clients can read samples.
Step 4. Sign up for websites that post jobs for freelancers
Most freelance jobs are advertised on the internet. Keep an eye on these sites to find leads and potential jobs.
- For example, you can sign up on the UpWork site to find jobs as a freelance writer or journalist.
- Some sites charge a membership fee for viewing job postings. While this can discourage people who can't afford it, the rewards of this investment could be high if it gives you a profitable job.
Part 2 of 3: Creating Website Content
Step 1. Write for a site that publishes online guides, such as O2O
There are several web pages that specialize in these types of articles. They usually look for experts in a certain sector who can enrich existing pieces and publish new ones. If you specialize in a certain field, you could apply for one of these sites: it will be an opportunity to earn money by writing about a topic you know.
You may not need to have special knowledge to write on one of these sites. The employer may require you to cultivate effective research skills and acquire a good grasp of certain topics. If you are good at finding information, you can write articles on different topics
Step 2. Publish articles on a travel site
Several web pages are devoted to publishing articles on travel to exotic or nearby destinations. If you love to travel, want to share interesting stories and experiences, visit various sites to find out if they are willing to pay you for your articles.
For example, you can write about Trivago, Online Countries and Travels Mania (the salary is not always monetary, sometimes you receive points that can be redeemed for travel or for various products)
Step 3. Publish Reviews
Some sites pay for reviews of movies, plays, music, and products. Earn money online by writing reviews for these web pages. To gain experience in this area, consider Ciao and Dooyoo.
Step 4. Be a ghost writer for bloggers
Independent and corporate bloggers who can't keep up with the demand for regular posts are willing to pay well for a ghost writer. These jobs can be occasional or turn into regular employment if the blogger likes your work.
- Keep an eye on job posting sites to find this type of employment. You can also send your application directly to a ghost writer agency.
- Ghost writers are not recognized for their work. If you are only involved in this profession, it could harm you, because you will not be able to make a portfolio. Ideally, this employment should be added to other writing projects.
Part 3 of 3: Writing for Businesses
Step 1. Manage a company's presence on social networks
Social networks are key when it comes to advertising and marketing. However, many entrepreneurs have a hard time understanding how to use them and are more than happy to hire a specialist who can do it for them. By managing a business's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, you can secure a steady job and income, an advantage web writers rarely have.
Step 2. Write for a company's blog
Businesses also need to update blogs. As with social networks, it is difficult to use such a medium correctly, so companies usually hire professional writers and marketers to do it. If you are an experienced blogger, it can be a great opportunity for you.
Step 3. Write press releases and advertising materials
Large companies have real advertising offices, but smaller ones can only count on one or two writers. For this, they often outsource promotional projects by entrusting them to freelancers. Try applying to smaller businesses or a freelance agency to enter this niche.
