If you’re interested in a flexible, residual income on the side, writing articles is an excellent way to go. It’s also a great way to build up your portfolio and get your name out there.
Several sites offer freelance article writing opportunities, with some paying higher than others. But before you jump in, make sure you know where the money is.
Guest blogging
Guest blogging is a powerful digital marketing strategy that can boost SEO and drive traffic to your site. If done right, it can also increase brand awareness and help you grow your business. However, many marketers view guest blogging as a time-consuming and expensive process.
To make it profitable, you need to build a solid guest blogging program. This includes choosing topics that serve your ultimate goals – referral traffic, SEO performance, leads, or clients – and making sure you write quality content that engages readers and converts them into sales.
Another important aspect of guest blogging is finding the best sites to publish your posts. These should be established domains with high-quality, relevant content that are already generating organic traffic.
You can use analytics tools to find these websites. They will show you which of your competitors are publishing on them, where they have backlinks, and what kind of authority they have. Then, you can target them with your offer and start developing a relationship with the site owners.
If you don’t want to do the work of finding and contacting sites, you can hire a freelancer. They can provide you with high-quality guest blog posts that will get your name out there. They can also write posts about your company or your products to attract more clients and customers.
One of the main reasons why people choose to guest blog is to establish their credibility. By writing on reputable and well-known sites, they will be able to prove that they are experts in their field.
The most successful guest bloggers are those who have a strong network of industry leaders and followers. It is also a good idea to build relationships with other influencers who can help you get your blog posts published on other sites.
Whether you are a seasoned writer or just starting out, guest blogging can be an effective way to gain exposure and credibility for your business. The key is to create quality content that educates your audience and teaches them how to improve their businesses or lives. This will help you earn money through affiliate links, sponsored reviews, and more.
Getting published in print
If you’re an aspiring writer or someone looking to get your first gig, getting published in print is a great way to earn online. It can also help you build your portfolio and make it easier to land writing jobs in the future.
To start, find out if there are any publications in your field of interest that are looking for new articles. This can be done by going to the website of a magazine or journal that you’re interested in and browsing their published work. You should also look at their editorial policy and see what kind of stories they publish.
Once you’ve found some magazines that are looking for articles, write a pitch that directly reflects their needs and interests. Then, send it to the editor as soon as possible.
Some editors are very picky about the articles they’ll accept, so it’s important to do your research before you submit. You can do this by checking out the bestsellers in your genre on marketplaces like Amazon and the New York Times Best Sellers list.
Another way to find out if there are any publications in the area you want to write about is to follow the Twitter feeds of editors in your industry. These editors will post tweets about the kinds of topics they’re looking for at that time.
In these tweets, you’ll often be able to get a feel for what types of articles they’re interested in and can plan out your pitch to them specifically. Then, when you have your pitch ready to go, it’s just a matter of emailing it to the editor as soon as possible.
You may also be able to get a good idea of which editors are likely to accept your submission by asking around at literary clubs or writing groups. They can usually tell you which publishers are looking for new authors and will be able to point you in the right direction.
Getting published in print isn’t easy, but it can be rewarding and can lead to more freelance writing opportunities. It can be a great side hustle or a full-time career.
Getting published on Listverse
Listverse is a website that specializes in lists, and it pays writers to write these articles. You don’t need any experience to get published on this site, and you can earn $100 per article if your list is accepted.
In order to get published on Listverse, you need to follow their guidelines. It’s important to read these carefully before you start writing. This way, you can avoid making mistakes that may get your article rejected.
The first step in getting published on Listverse is to choose a topic that you’re interested in. This will ensure that you’re going to be able to write an interesting and well-researched article. You can find a wide range of topics on the website, so it’s easy to find something you’ll enjoy writing about.
For example, if you’re into science, you could write a list about the most interesting things that you’ve ever seen in the stars. Another idea is to write a list of 10 people who have changed the world in some way.
If you’re into scary and mysterious subjects, you can write a list of monsters or UFOs. Readers like to read about supernatural and eerie topics, so you can be sure that they’ll love your list.
You can also write about things that no one else knows, such as secret codes, ciphers or places that are forbidden to the average person. This can make your article extremely entertaining to read, and you’ll be able to make money by writing on this site.
Finally, don’t forget to include a good balance of fact and fiction in your list. This will help your readers to understand the content better, and it will also ensure that your article is authentic and unique.
You’ll need to have an active PayPal account in order to submit a list to Listverse. You can find the payment details in their author guide. Usually, Listverse will pay you a couple of weeks after your list has been published.
Getting paid to write for content mills
If you’re looking to earn online by writing, it can be tempting to try a content mill. These sites provide a fast and easy way to build up your profile and increase your earnings. But if you’re not satisfied with the quality of work you’re getting, it’s best to find an alternative.
One of the first places to look for freelance work is the freelance job boards, which often offer more attractive pay rates than the content mills. Peak Freelance’s job board, for instance, offers a range of assignments worth up to $1,400 per article.
You’ll also need to build a portfolio on these platforms that showcases your writing samples and shows clients your skill level and expertise in a particular niche. You should also create a unique URL for your profile, to help you stand out among the crowd.
Some content mills offer a variety of different projects, so it’s worth exploring them to find what suits you. While the pay is often low, it’s a good opportunity to get experience and try different topics.
Another option is to join a site like Contently, which doesn’t have a project bidding process and allows writers to build a public-facing portfolio that can be used when applying for writing jobs on other platforms. Bentley says he has found the company to be a great way to get some practice and to build up his portfolio.
Getting paid to write for a content mill can be a great way to test the waters and get some freelance writing experience, but it’s not a good long-term career plan. Many freelancers who are new to the industry struggle to make ends meet while producing high volumes of content for low pay, and a large proportion of them eventually burn out.
