According to Inc. Magazine, the number of women-owned businesses, like women who are independent freelance writers, has risen more than 114 percent in the past 20 years. Sadly, the reasons for this phenomena are more about issues of discrimination and economic necessity rather than some positive news about empowered female entrepreneurs. A study conducted by Contently that was comprised of 82 percent freelance writers found that 40 percent made less than $10,000 the prior year.
In order to find out how freelance writers can earn more money in 2020, we spoke to Finance Solutions, a company that provides counseling and solutions for consumers struggling under heavy credit card debt. Finance Solutions provides debt counseling and financial products designed to help people recover from crippling high-interest debt.
Know the Reality
The worst place to get work as a freelance writer is with a writing mill. Those are companies that pay only $5 to $15 for a standard article. You will end up making less than minimum wage.
According to Venngage, the average writer with a publication is making .17 per word. Of course, there are many other places to work, such as working for companies creating blog content, websites and whitepapers.
The key is to work for companies that will pay you enough per word in order to have a quality lifestyle.
Network Online and In Person
One way to make more money writing is to reach out to companies that are willing to pay you more per word. LinkedIn is one of the best places to have a presence as a freelance writer. You can write about your experience and provide links to samples of your best work. You will find that you will come up in search results. It is a good idea to follow up with any company that has searched for someone with freelance writing skills.
Choose a Niche
The Penny Hoarder suggests that one may not make much money freelance writing if you are a generalist. Those who specialize in niche markets that require specialized knowledge are in more demand. In turn, they demand better pay.
Penny Hoarder writer, Stacy Sara Cohen, has found her niches in personal finance, travel and tourism, real estate and technology. She suggests that technology is the most lucrative. If you don’t have a Bachelor’s of Science in Programming, though, it is okay. You can specialize in technology as it relates to your chosen field.
Online Places to Find Work
The most consistent way to find work and build a base of clientele is to use online freelance writing job boards.
- Twitter: @write_jobs
- @WhoPaysWriters
- @JJobs_tweets
- Journalism Jobs
- LinkedIn Jobs
- Pro Blogger Job Board
- Freelance Writing Jobs
- Blogging Pro
- Canadian Freelance Writing
- Freelance Writing Morning Coffee Newsletter
- All Freelance Writing Job Board
- Contenta
Link With Web Design Companies
Web design companies have clients that are in need of freelance writers, so create relationships with them.
Be a Business
Things can change rapidly. Hopefully, the situation will resolve to the benefit of freelance writers; but, at press time in California in mid-January 2020, the state legislature has enacted a bill that has so far caused more harm than good for the freelance writers in the state. The resolution only allows freelance writers to pen less than 35 articles for a publication before they must be called an employee. The legislation has good intent. The state is trying to stop bad actor employers who are exploiting workers for less than minimum wage that they are calling “independent contractors” who are really employees. The effect has been the opposite. Many organizations employing California freelance writers are notifying the writers that they will no longer work with them.
According to the Washington Post, similar bills are in the works for the states of New York, New Jersey and Illinois. The advice here is to ensure that you register your business with your county or state. You might also consider getting a federal tax EIN number. Also, make sure you are offering your services on more than one platform. Then, you are in business for yourself and are not limited by laws that may be poorly written or conceived.
Get a Referral
If you have done some quality work and impressed a client, ask for a referral. That will go a long way towards making the next client easier to obtain.
At Finance Solutions, they know a lot of people are struggling to make ends meet as a freelance writer. The best tips are to create a business entity, find a great niche market, network and use the freelance job boards to keep the work coming. If you are struggling with heavy debt, call them. They have solutions
