Freelance Writing: Finding Online Jobs With Flexible Working Hours
Finding freelance work online is often just as hard as finding a new job that isn’t work from home. Sometimes you get one right away, and sometimes you go a few weeks without hearing back or there isn’t any work available at the time you need it. If you know what to look for and how to approach prospective clients, you’ll be better equipped to find online jobs for your schedule. Being a freelance writer is nice when you need something to fit around another job, but not all jobs online will work well with your particular hours.
When you’re searching for jobs, there are a few ways you can increase your productivity. It’s no use looking for work where you won’t be able to complete it. For example, if you are writing for magazines and pitching to journals or newspapers, you have a lot less flexibility and more risk. On the other hand, writing for a site where clients can meet freelancers offers you the security of a writing topic that’s in demand, as well as a chance to do more diverse work. The risk of not selling your piece is bypassed, too.
How to Find Good Freelance Jobs
There’s a few things you should know about freelance writing in general. Just because it seems nice and that it’d work around your schedule, doesn’t mean it always will. Some jobs are paid by the hour, and clients want them done at certain hours, which isn’t very flexible. Other jobs are paid by flat rate, and these are the kind to go for if you want to do the work at any time that’s good for you. It might be less money than an hourly job if you aren’t a fast writer, but some clients will pay well for your skills if you can find them.
- You should decide what you’re looking for first. Do you want a flat rate or an hourly wage job? Do you want a recurring or a one time job? Are you willing to write about topics that you don’t like or have to do a lot of research for?
- What does your schedule look like? You need to figure out how many hours you have per week to dedicate to your freelance projects.
- Look for jobs that are relevant to your expertise. Don’t go after writing a press release if you specialize in grant writing, for example.