Click Here If You Know About Freelance Article Writing

32 replies
I'm trying to start marketing myself as a freelance article writer. I've been doing some work on bidding sites like Elance and Freelancer but the work is not worth the low pay.

Does anyone have any good tips or ways of attracting private clients? I am a talented writer and I hear that private clients bring substantial business.
#article #click #freelance #writing
  • Profile picture of the author serena85
    You need to look for great sites and then try and find out from where to they get their articles, even e-mail them with an article or two as a proof and after that you will have some private clients.
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  • Profile picture of the author modwilli
    Ok, thanks. I'll try that. I'll look around for different blogs that feature topics I am interested in and ask the owner's if they need content. Have you tried this personally?
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  • Profile picture of the author happyday
    Dont even think of going to bidding sites,they are just waste of time.i was bidding for freelance jobs before about 2 years ago but i realised i was missing it.
    What i will just advice you to do is to use the power of this forum,he you are ready to learn how to go about it.there hundreds of potential clients on this forum,some can pay up to $30 per article depending on the quality and lenght of the article.But you must not think you can do this overnight if you really want success.
    I wish you success.
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  • Profile picture of the author gvannorman
    I agree with Happyday. Bidding sites are a waste of your time, all they do is get you a little work at very low pay. If you want higher paying clients visit the places that they visit.

    You can find some right here on WF and you can also search Craigslist. Join LinkedIN and advertise your work on there. There are a few job groups listed. You can also look on other webmaster forums and see if they have a section for offering your services. Of course put a link in your signature. Also, set up a blog or site offering your services with a couple samples of your and and a testimonial from a few clients. Link to that also.

    I wish you all the success that you are seeking.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Coutts
    Originally Posted by modwilli View Post

    I'm trying to start marketing myself as a freelance article writer. I've been doing some work on bidding sites like Elance and Freelancer but the work is not worth the low pay.

    Does anyone have any good tips or ways of attracting private clients? I am a talented writer and I hear that private clients bring substantial business.
    I made this post in another thread recently. This is the method is used to go from earning $5 to $10 per 500 word article, to $25 and more (a lot more, actually) per article almost instantly. It quite simply works. PM me if you want any further clarification.

    John.
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    • Profile picture of the author modwilli
      Wow, this forum is so helpful. Thanks everyone. Any ideas on pricing? I don't want to scare off clients but I am a very good writer with a college education. I want to be able to make 25, 30, or even 35 dollars per article eventually. I know I probably must start start lower than that. Also, if I consistently raise y rates I might drive off regular clients. If I start off too high I might not get any work. Any ideas?
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      • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
        Originally Posted by modwilli View Post

        Wow, this forum is so helpful. Thanks everyone. Any ideas on pricing? I don't want to scare off clients but I am a very good writer with a college education. I want to be able to make 25, 30, or even 35 dollars per article eventually. I know I probably must start start lower than that. Also, if I consistently raise y rates I might drive off regular clients. If I start off too high I might not get any work. Any ideas?
        Never make the mistake of pricing yourself too low to start with. Once you associate yourself with the huge army of low paid writers, that's exactly how you will be perceived. You will attract the wrong type of clients, and when you do try to raise your prices, they will just drop you for someone else.

        Honestly, there are many people who will be willing to pay $50, $60, $75 and more for your writing. Just don't begin by positioning yourself an "article" writer; far better to describe yourself as a "content" writer.

        Far too many article writers are from counties where English is their second language, and the marketers paying them $2 - $10 per article have little knowledge of good, creative content writing themselves, and unfortunately, judge their skills on nothing more than their paltry fees.
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      • Profile picture of the author John Coutts
        Originally Posted by modwilli View Post

        Wow, this forum is so helpful. Thanks everyone. Any ideas on pricing? I don't want to scare off clients but I am a very good writer with a college education. I want to be able to make 25, 30, or even 35 dollars per article eventually. I know I probably must start start lower than that. Also, if I consistently raise y rates I might drive off regular clients. If I start off too high I might not get any work. Any ideas?
        Then start charging that amount right from the start. Trust me, it can work with the right approach. I would say not to charge any less than $5 per 100 words, and even twice that if you like.

        It's a myth that you "must start lower" in order to succeed. Work hard at creating a good portfolio of work examples. It doesn't have to be all that much, even three good quality items could be enough. Approach potential clients with all the professionalism you can muster.

        I'm going to write that sentence again, for it's very important: Approach potential clients with all the professionalism you can muster. Exude a quiet, professional, confident attitude and never beg. Proofread every message you send out at least three times; a potential client finding mistakes at this point will be put off. Never give up, but persevere with the knowledge that you will break through and get good paying writing work eventually.

        One more thing ... When you start charging clients for work completed, if you use PayPal as a processor, always charge the client for the PayPal fees. Justify this, if you have to, by pointing out that you need X amount in your bank account for doing the work, and if there are charges along the way, then the client must pay them. This link will help you.

        Good luck!

        John.
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        • Profile picture of the author modwilli
          Originally Posted by John Coutts View Post

          Then start charging that amount right from the start. Trust me, it can work with the right approach. I would say not to charge any less than $5 per 100 words, and even twice that if you like.

          Good luck!

          John.
          John,

          I would, like to take you up on your offer to PM you but WF won't let me pm until I have 50 posts. Please pm me. You sound like you really know your stuff and I would like to ask some questions.
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          • Profile picture of the author John Coutts
            Originally Posted by modwilli View Post

            John,

            I would, like to take you up on your offer to PM you but WF won't let me pm until I have 50 posts. Please pm me. You sound like you really know your stuff and I would like to ask some questions.
            I sent you a PM.

            John.
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  • Profile picture of the author Eleanor
    I spent most of 2008 working as a copywriter in the UK...

    The trick is to contact medium/large SEO companies and see if they require article writers. Google the top seo firms in your area and send them a professional proposal.

    These firms are willing to pay a much higher premium than Joe Bloggs who needs content for his blog

    Hope that helps

    Thanks
    Eleanor
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    • Profile picture of the author John Coutts
      Originally Posted by bubbins1987 View Post

      I spent most of 2008 working as a copywriter in the UK...

      The trick is to contact medium/large SEO companies and see if they require article writers. Google the top seo firms in your area and send them a professional proposal.

      These firms are willing to pay a much higher premium than Joe Bloggs who needs content for his blog

      Hope that helps

      Thanks
      Eleanor
      That's exactly how I did it (detailed in this link I gave in the post above). The SEO companies have clients with deep pockets who want the best quality, and they will happily pay whatever it takes.

      You can, of course, go directly to the clients, and you just might make more money that way, but the SEO companies have done all that hard work for you.

      Furthermore, the client trusts the SEO company, as well as whoever the company outsources the work to (you), so initially at least, this is the fastest way to get up to speed earning a sensible amount by writing SEO web content that I know of.

      John.
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  • Profile picture of the author igrowyourbiz
    right now you are on the right site to write

    there are tons of people here who buy writing on a regular basis (including myself)

    have you set up a blog? put up samples, put out a wso, set up a warrior classified ad...you can feed yourself quite well from this forum alone.
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  • Profile picture of the author Richard Tunnah
    Here's another way to get work (borrowed from Chris Ramsey and proven to work by myself) is to approach top copywriters that are getting clients already. If you can come up with a great email to them and offer to do work at a small percentage of their fees then the chances are high they'll look at giving you their excess work. You can find copywriters in your country by simply using google.

    Rich
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  • Profile picture of the author littledan
    Forums like this one are a good source, just don't be pushy or too self promoting. Also I would use places like elance to offer a really cheap cost effective price for a clients first job, in excahange for a testimonial, you need to build up a client base . If your work is good enough you could get repeat work at a more realistic price.
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  • Profile picture of the author modwilli
    Thanks for all the great tips everyone. This was really helpful.
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    • Profile picture of the author catang
      It seems to very useful post about Freelance Article Writing.
      Thanks for sharing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zabrina
    The way I started to get work was by first creating a Blogspot portfolio, then contacting people on Craigslist. It takes some searching, but you can find decent writing jobs. If you contact at least three people per day until you get work, it won't take too long.

    Once I got some income, I used that to create a professional .com portfolio site with Wordpress, then started to reach out to people on forums and in small communities. I made a Warriors for Hire post here and got quite a bit of work through that.

    The key is to retain your clients. Keep following up with them, and if you don't hear from them for a few months, get in touch again.
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  • Profile picture of the author modwilli
    $75 an article to start? That sounds great. I'll try that out.
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  • Profile picture of the author cashp0wer
    Pm me I am always looking for new writers and I tend to find most of my writers on here when I have got chatting to people in a similar field.

    I do agree though, when I have put ads in for writers in the past they do bid really low and I don't hire them because I think if they work for 0.60 per 100 words there must be something seriously wrong with their work.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Coutts
      Originally Posted by cashp0wer View Post

      ... when I have put ads in for writers in the past they do bid really low and I don't hire them because I think if they work for 0.60 per 100 words there must be something seriously wrong with their work.
      Don't just think it - believe it!
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  • Profile picture of the author adammaxum
    If you need help freelance writing, I'm always of assistance.

    While it's true that writing for clients on freelance websites oftentimes involves reduced pay, you can still find work that pays a justifiable price for your time. I pay a lot of my bills doing it every month.

    As others have mentioned, the warrior forum is a great place to advertise your talents through a WSO or warrior for hire section. Since a lot of people here have businesses, they are all going to need some type of writing service if they don't want to do it themselves!
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgR.
    Originally Posted by modwilli View Post

    I'm trying to start marketing myself as a freelance article writer. I've been doing some work on bidding sites like Elance and Freelancer but the work is not worth the low pay.

    Does anyone have any good tips or ways of attracting private clients? I am a talented writer and I hear that private clients bring substantial business.

    Private and repeat clients WILL bring in substantial business - but it is important that you establish some reputation first.

    IMO, the best place for such services are webmaster forums since the freelancers sites are SWAMPED with those ultra cheap 3rd world writers.

    When i am going on those freelancer sites it always looks like i am bidding "in line" with 50+ other people where everyone is underbidding anyone else.

    I think this is a silly way to do business, i avoid those freelancer sites like the plague.
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  • Profile picture of the author vvsingh
    We rank (seocorporation.net) #5 for SEO Content an we can recommend your name to clients whose orders we can't take. What are your charges?
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  • Profile picture of the author topgold
    If you have some lull time in between your $75 article gigs, then the bidding sites are a great way to build your portfolio. I hired a few writers on odesk that use their work solely for portfolio purposes only.
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  • Profile picture of the author savvybizbuilder
    Try to use social media like Facebook and Twitter, send some direct message regarding with service you offer.
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  • Profile picture of the author flipgrind
    Banned
    You can also offer your skills here. Go to Warrior for Hire and once they like your writing skills, you may get a long term work.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sara Nightingale
    Try vworker, it may be beneficial. Best of luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Sara Nightingale
    try vworker, it's another option that you might find beneficial. Best of luck!
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