How to Get Remote Freelance Writing Jobs as a Beginner

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So, your BIG Goal is to be a freelance writer?

Well, I don’t blame you, freelance writing is just about the greatest gig ever!

It comes with some pretty awesome perks. As a freelance writer, you can:

And the best part is, you don’t need any experience, special degrees or insider connections.

You can break into the field with nothing more than a love for writing and the determination to succeed.

If you’ve got those two things, you’re well positioned to become a successful freelance writer!

Here are a few ways to get started:

Start a Blog

If you have a blog, you can get your content out there without having to make any pitches, comply with any requirements or meet any deadlines.

You simply write articles and post them to your blog!

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But if you want to make money freelance writing, eventually you will probably need to write for someone other than yourself.

Clients typically want to see samples of your writing (a portfolio). Each time you publish an article on your blog, you are building your portfolio for potential clients!

Having a blog not only provides your potential clients with an easily accessible collection of articles that you wrote, but it’s also a great way to market yourself in order to get remote freelance writing jobs as a beginner with no experience or connections.

An About page lets potential clients learn more about who you are and what you have to offer.

You should also have a Work With Me/Hire Me page so they know how to contact you.

Make sure to clearly state that you are a freelance writer for hire, what type of writing you do and what unique qualities/skills you bring to the table.

Be sure to actually list your email address (don’t just use a contact form) – you want to make it as easy as possible for them to hire you.

Once you’ve gotten a few freelance writing jobs under your belt or you’ve done some guest posting on other blogs, consider including a page or a section on your homepage for Testimonials.

Social proof is extremely powerful and can have a huge impact on your ability to land freelance writing jobs.

Content Mills & Online Job Boards

Content Mills

These are notorious for offering “penny-per-word” assignments. Some popular ones are:

They charge you a percentage of what you earn, and the pay is usually ridiculously low. Like they’ll pay you $5 for 1,000 words when you should actually be making $500.

So, definitely not a lucrative option.

BUT you may still want to consider taking some of these gigs. It’s an easy way to get remote freelance writing jobs as a beginner.

And it’s a great way to practice writing, develop your confidence and build your portfolio … and get paid to do it!

Because you’re just starting out, you’re probably feeling nervous about putting yourself out there – getting paid any amount of money for your writing is an incredible self-esteem booster.

And once you’ve landed a few gigs, it will be easier to get higher-paying assignments.

Online Job Boards

Online job boards usually have better paying gigs than the content mills and they also tend to have more long-term assignments.

Some popular ones are:

I landed one of my first freelance writing jobs through ProBlogger and I think it’s the best online job board out there for freelance writers.

There are also some paid online job boards that specialize in remote and freelance jobs like FlexJobs.

But, I don’t think they’re worth it because you can find the jobs yourself on Google for free.

Cold Pitching

Another way to get remote freelance writing jobs as a beginner (or even as a seasoned freelance writer) is to cold pitch.

If you’ve made connections with potential clients on social media (Twitter, Facebook groups), you’ve got warm leads.

Pitching to people with whom you’ve already established a professional relationship can increase your chances of landing an assignment exponentially.

Before you pitch to anyone though, you need to know your:

Choose a Niche

When choosing a niche, think about what your passions are and what you would like to write about.

Come up with several options and then pick the one that will likely make the most money or one that you will at least be able to monetize.

Some niches are more profitable than others – make sure yours has jobs that pay well. Here’s a great article that lists some high-paying freelance writing gigs. 

But usually, you can find a way to profit from your passion.

For example, let’s say you love to do DIY crafts (don’t we all?!), like crocheting.

You could start a blog, write “how to” crotchet articles and be an affiliate marketer for the people/companies who sell yarn and crochet hooks.

You could even sell your finished crochet creations on your website.

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Writing for crotchet magazines and guest posting on other blogs in your niche which would drive more traffic to your website, thereby increasing your exposure.

Eventually, you would be known as an expert in your niche which would garner you more, higher-paying freelance writing gigs and more merch sales.    

Establish Your Personal Brand

Clients will be more likely to hire you if you have a unique selling proposition.

A unique selling proposition is what makes you stand out from the competition.

So, tell the client who you are, what makes you unique and why they should hire you.  

But, don’t just talk about yourself.

Focus on what you can do for them and how your services will benefit them. Think about it from the client’s perspective.

What do they want in a writer? What effect do they want the articles to have?

Show them that you are exactly the writer they’re looking for.

The more specific and narrow you are, the better chance you have of standing out against the competition and getting a freelance writing job as a beginner.

Decide what you want to be known for and make a stand. You will develop a reputation around your unique selling proposition and be more memorable.

When making your pitch, be sure to:

Most importantly, be confident. Don’t sound desperate.

Trust me, I’ve been there. Sometimes, you’re having such a hard time landing a job, you just want to offer your services for free or say things like, “please just give the opportunity to show you what I can do.”

THIS IS THE WRONG APPROACH. You will never get remote freelance jobs as a beginner that way.

Instead, you want to come off professional, confident and in demand. Know what you bring to the table and what your services are worth. Don’t sell yourself short.  

Target Your Ideal Client

Once you’ve decided on a niche, it’s important to know who your ideal client is, so you know where to look for jobs and who to send your pitches to.

Do you want to specialize in B2B writing? Do you want to write for tech companies, other bloggers/authors, law firms, medical journals, crochet magazines, etc.?

Whoever your ideal client is, be sure to research them before making your pitch.

Showing the company that you know about them and what they do goes a long way.

If you have a background in any marketable field, consider using your knowledge and experience to land freelance writing jobs in that specific niche.

It’s easier to get remote freelance writing jobs as a beginner if you can present yourself as an authority on a certain topic. 

I started out writing for law firm blogs because of my background in law. Now, I also write articles on personal development and online entrepreneurship/ blogging.  

So, just use what you’ve got to begin with, you can always branch out to other niches you are interested in later!

You CAN Get Remote Freelance Writing Jobs as a Beginner

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t land something immediately. Competition can be fierce, especially when you are just starting out. Use your fears as fuel for success. 

Just keep writing and applying and eventually you will get hired. Once you get your foot in the door, it will be easier from there on out.

“He conquers who endures”. -Persius

What’s been your biggest struggle when it comes to getting freelance writing jobs? Let me know in the comments!

Share this & help someone else!