If you are considering taking the leap into the freelance world, it’s time to have faith in your abilities. There are plenty of freelance writing jobs on the Internet today. With some investigation you can find jobs where you will make more money in your pajamas at home than heading to an office everyday.
Getting Started as a Freelance Writer
Just getting started as a freelancer can feel daunting. You’ll need to know what your skills are before you begin searching for a job that’s a good fit for you. While most people can write a 500 word piece of content, it is the length of time it takes you to write plus your compensation that will determine your hourly rate.
Careful Working at Low Rates, Even if It Means More Work
Some clients will pay you a penny a word. That means five dollars for a standard article. If this article takes you an hour, you aren’t even making minimum wage. Sites that pay a penny per word promising you no shortage of work might not be worth the investment of time for you.
On the other hand, you can double, triple or even make five times that amount if you work for a client that will pay closer to .05 cents a word. This is more standard, and you will make $25 for a 500 word article. If you’re a fast writer and can write two pieces of content an hour, this translates into $50 an hour.
Know What You’re Making Per Hour
When you are ready to let go of your day job, make sure that you have the writing skills and a few clients lined up where you are going to get the work from. Take the time periodically to determine how much you are making per hour. If the amount is too low, you need to either work faster or find more profitable work.
Avoid Burnout
The bottom line is, you can make money as a writer, but to avoid burnout you can’t work for less than minimum wage. As you hone your writing skills and learn the ins and outs of content marketing, don’t be afraid to charge what you are worth to those buying your original content.
