Unfortunately until novel writing starts to pay the bills, I need to earn an income through freelance writing. As I said before, a few of my projects are fabulous and I have the chance to build a good working relationship with a repeat client. However, since article writing projects can enter slow down periods, it's good to find a source of new clients. Elance is a good place to find freelance writing clients.
After creating a profile on Elance, you are given a certain number of connects used to bid on freelance jobs. The scope of the job decides how many connects are used for the bid with long-term projects requiring more. You decide on a rate that you feel is fair for the project and report your credentials to the client. If chosen, you payment is funded through an escrow account and you begin work. If the client is happy, escrow is released and you receive payment via Paypal or check. Clients give you ratings and these reviews help build your Elance profile.
Showing posts with label article writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label article writing. Show all posts
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Skype-The New Norm When Interviewing for Freelance Writing Jobs?
I plan to do a longer piece on Elance, but for now I want to discuss a new trend I’m finding while interviewing for freelance writing jobs-the request to do a Skype interview with a potential employer. Am I the only who is slightly put off by this practice?
I had previously installed Skype since this seemed to be the norm. But now I decided to uninstall the software. I just don’t get why someone who wants to hire you for article writing or copywriting needs to speak to you face to face. I’m fine with phone interviews. I understand wanting to get a feel for the person and discuss your project expectations.
I had previously installed Skype since this seemed to be the norm. But now I decided to uninstall the software. I just don’t get why someone who wants to hire you for article writing or copywriting needs to speak to you face to face. I’m fine with phone interviews. I understand wanting to get a feel for the person and discuss your project expectations.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Building Your Freelance Writing Portfolio
Freelance writing was a career I kind of randomly fell into. I was working at a travel agency after my college graduation and was in charge of tour itineraries. The job was pretty much a yawn and I found myself with tons of downtime. To keep myself busy, I started to look into writing jobs I could do in my spare time. Unfortunately, my first freelance writing gig was working for a college essay website (I would not recommend this).
I began to apply for more article writing jobs and although most paid an embarrassingly low fee, it was a good way to build my freelance portfolio. No matter how talented you are, better paying freelance writing jobs are not likely to come your way if you've never been published before. Even if you feel your work is worth $0.25 a word, it's not going to happen for a newbie.
The first way you can build your portfolio is to submit work to a revenue share article submission site. Since most of these sites provide little to no editorial guidance, recheck your work to make sure you're highlighting your talent with the written word. Website examples include Suite 101, Triond and HubPages.
The next thing you can do is to sign up for an account through a freelance job website. Sites like eLance and oDesk allow you to fill out a profile and submit examples of your writing. You can then view and bid on writing jobs you're interested in. Once you land a few jobs, customer feedback will help you get more work and increase your bid amounts.
Lastly, consider a blog. Start a free blog through Wordpress or similar site. You can always submit the link to potential employers if they're looking to get a feel for your writing style.
As a new writer, you're not likely to make a ton of cash. However, taking a few low-paying jobs that give you a byline will help build your network and add more published articles you can use for future employers who wish to view samples of your work.
I began to apply for more article writing jobs and although most paid an embarrassingly low fee, it was a good way to build my freelance portfolio. No matter how talented you are, better paying freelance writing jobs are not likely to come your way if you've never been published before. Even if you feel your work is worth $0.25 a word, it's not going to happen for a newbie.
The first way you can build your portfolio is to submit work to a revenue share article submission site. Since most of these sites provide little to no editorial guidance, recheck your work to make sure you're highlighting your talent with the written word. Website examples include Suite 101, Triond and HubPages.
The next thing you can do is to sign up for an account through a freelance job website. Sites like eLance and oDesk allow you to fill out a profile and submit examples of your writing. You can then view and bid on writing jobs you're interested in. Once you land a few jobs, customer feedback will help you get more work and increase your bid amounts.
Lastly, consider a blog. Start a free blog through Wordpress or similar site. You can always submit the link to potential employers if they're looking to get a feel for your writing style.
As a new writer, you're not likely to make a ton of cash. However, taking a few low-paying jobs that give you a byline will help build your network and add more published articles you can use for future employers who wish to view samples of your work.
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