Thinking about a career as an online content writer

Drjoenjenga

11 years ago

I have been at it for the last 5 years and its good.

Thanks

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WebCod3r

11 years ago

bro i think you should pursue this business and escalate this so that one day you hire some workers and make your own content writer team and do project for your clients.

Thanks

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WriterWahm

11 years ago

I've been at it for the past 3 years and:

1. It's NEVER been boring (except for when I had to write on facility management for weeks at a time)...Bleh

2. I have terrible back pain and my eyesight is worse...but I take regular walks and schedule regular massages.

If this is something you're passionate about and it's making you good money then go for it.

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mjoyd

11 years ago

I think it's a great idea to make it a full time career, especially if you're enjoying what you do and the advantages you get from it.

Thanks

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Lori Kelly

11 years ago

It doesn't get boring but there are times when I get writer's block.

When I write about subject matters I know well, my fingers fly across the keyboard.

I recently wrote about transformers. It was difficult because I didn't know about transformers but I spent the time it took to research, wrote a brilliant article and learned something new.

It's always good to learn something new.

WriterWahm is right, take walks. Take a break every hour or so. Get a stand-up desk.

And massages? I would love to have one every day. : )

Good luck to you.

Thanks

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aarthielumalai

11 years ago

Yup, go for it. It takes time to build a client base, burnt since you have been doing this for a year, I'm sure you have your own ways of getting clients.

It gets boring if you have to write on topics that you have absolutely no interest in. That's one of the biggest cons of this business.

You can take care of that problem in two ways though. You could hire someone to write articles in topics you've no interest in, but make sure your outsourcer is really good because your reputation as a writer is on the line here.

You could also establish yourself as an expert writer in a niche that your familiar with. Fir example, if you're comfortable writing articles in the weight loss niche, tyen establish yourself as a writer in thus niche. You can also charge more for your articles this way.

Hope that helped.

Thanks

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Alexa Smith

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by gatorx

Could anyone share their thoughts. Any experienced content writer is most welcome.

My thoughts are in this post, if they help.

Thanks

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talfighel

11 years ago

Originally Posted by gatorx

[*]Don't you feel like this is kind of a solo job, which might turn quite boring at times.

You can get a job and have to deal with office politics or you can sit at home full time and do this at your own pace without anyone telling you what to do or for how long to do it for.

If you like to be around people and need not to feel lonely, why not go each day to your local coffee shop and chat with others and make new friends.

Thanks

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Superstar88

11 years ago

Being a content writer is NOT boring. I am a part-time content writer myself. I make a lot of income from writing at least 2 hours a day and actually, I advise my jobless friends to do the same because its still extra income. If your passion is writing, then do it.

Thanks

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tpw

11 years ago

I did it for a decade, and I was paid very well for my work.

When bored, I went and did something completely unrelated for a bit, then returned to my work.

As far as health problems, I put on about 35 pounds and I had to eventually get glasses.

I am trying to drop the extra weight this summer, with more exercise and a better diet.

Thanks

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Thriftypreneur

11 years ago

Regardless of what you're doing, if you spend 8+ hours a day sitting on a computer and your idea of exercise is pivoting in your computer chair, you're going to encounter weight gain and health issues.

Thanks

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manishak

11 years ago

Yes, sometimes it gets boring. So it would be better to pursue something else also to keep you occupied and interested. Since you are a content writer, you could manage your own website.

Health issues do catch up over a period of time...

Thanks

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Richniche

11 years ago

Originally Posted by gatorx

Don't you feel like this is kind of a solo job, which might turn quite boring at times.
What about the health issues surrounding it such as back pain, eye strain, RSI( already seeing symptoms of this!!),etc.

Could anyone share their thoughts. Any experienced content writer is most welcome.

I have been a blogger and a content writer since 2007. I have been doing this full-time since 2010 and I am now in my mid-40s.

Well, yes. Sometimes, I get bored especially if I am not aware of the topic that the client wants me to write. But doing research is additional knowledge, and it becomes more interesting. I am not really a huge fan of smartphones. But since one of my clients pay me well as a ghostwriter in his tech blog, I am giving my heart to satisfy him.

Writing for money alone is not enough, it needs passion. For me, it's actually more than a career. It's more of a self-satisfaction, especially when a client praises my work.

I feel back pains and my eyesight is not as normal as it is before I decided to be a writer. But since I am free to take a rest anytime I want (unlike when I was employed), I don't force myself if I don't feel 100% Ok.

Thanks
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LilBlackDress 11 years ago

Try to diversify so you write for yourself and for private clients. Write for yourself eBooks and for residual income sites that pay over and over.

Make sure you invest in good seating and take breaks often to help avoid some health issues. You can even pop a mincycle under your desk.
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- BeckyF3506 11 years ago
  
  I've been writing content for a few years, and I can't say that it's ever "boring", but there are days when it's hard to get started. In my case, I also create digital art, so if I'm having a hard time getting started on the writing on any particular day, I just switch to art for awhile.
  
  Others have already mentioned the two biggest challenges that I've found: increasingly poor eyesight from staring at the screen all day, every day, and weight gain.
  
  It's very easy to sit down and start a project first thing in the morning, get all involved in your work, and the next thing you know, you look up and it's ten o'clock at night. It seems like that's the way the days fly by anyway.
  
  I have a Fitbit Ultra (glorified pedometer) that I wear every day. I've set myself a minimum amount of daily steps I want to take, and if I'm not approaching at least that minimum as the day wears on, I know I have to force myself to get out of my chair and do a little walking.
  
  I've also found it helpful to allow myself short breaks here and there during the day where I'll just go take a peek at a news site, check out my grandchildren's photos on Facebook, or something like that.
  
  Thanks
  
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Tess D

11 years ago

"Regardless of what you're doing, if you spend 8+ hours a day sitting on a computer and your idea of exercise is pivoting in your computer chair, you're going to encounter weight gain and health issues

This is important to remember. I do not put the phone newar me, I do not put any food near me and other similar steps to make myself remember to get up and stretch and walk around on breaks - otherwise, shoulders and neck and eye pains set in.

I have a question for the writers here - How do you take payments?via paypal, direct merchant accounts, cash / checks (physically mailed). I am moving back to writing more and doing less design work, and am not sure how to set it up. Right now I am paid by check from my gov't client (and get a 1099) but I don't know what is best for working on smaller clients. I would love any input.

Thanks
2 replies

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andreas3 11 years ago

Originally Posted by AnneHouse

I do not put any food near me

I'll disagree on this one. I keep snacks close always, but they're super-healthy. Raw vegetables, nuts, maybe a hardboiled egg, some peppers, etc.
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Lori Kelly

11 years ago

Originally Posted by AnneHouse

. . . I have a question for the writers here - How do you take payments?via paypal, direct merchant accounts, cash / checks (physically mailed). I am moving back to writing more and doing less design work, and am not sure how to set it up. Right now I am paid by check from my gov't client (and get a 1099) but I don't know what is best for working on smaller clients. I would love any input.

I use Paypal for most clients. It's the easiest, no merchant account (keeping overhead down). It's also easy to create an invoice on Paypal, send it to client. Before I send the invoice through Paypal, I send an email to the client letting them know the content has been completed.

When I get paid, I get an email from Paypal and I send the content to the client.

I ask my local clients to send me a check. I'm not in that big of a hurry to get my money and with a check, I keep 100% of the income.

[ 1 ] Thanks
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Patrick Brown

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Lori Kelly

I use Paypal for most clients. It's the easiest, no merchant account (keeping overhead down). It's also easy to create an invoice on Paypal, send it to client. Before I send the invoice through Paypal, I send an email to the client letting them know the content has been completed.

When I get paid, I get an email from Paypal and I send the content to the client.

I ask my local clients to send me a check. I'm not in that big of a hurry to get my money and with a check, I keep 100% of the income.

You seem to be doing really well. I have a good command of the English language too and would love checks coming my way...but I dont know where to find the writing gigs..can you hook a brother up?

Thanks

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gatorx

11 years ago

Thanks for sharing all your opinions. They really shed light to some issues that I have with writing.

Thanks

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writeaway

11 years ago

I make a decent living at it. I love to write. Writing is like breathing to me. As for the hassles you mentioned, I take care of that by eating healthy and exercising in the morning. Plus, a long jog in the morning helps me get my creative juices flowing.

Thanks

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Thinking about a career as an online content writer

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