How To Make Money Online As A Freelance Writer.

The purpose of this article is to enlighten you on how to make money as a freelancer writer, I’ve gotten several emails from nairalanders, making inquires on how to become a freelance writer and how to make money from their writing skills. This write-up will guide you through the process of becoming a freelance writer. I’d be glad to answer your questions, if there is any.

WHAT DOES A FREELANCE WRITER DO?

Basically, freelance writer writes on various topics, the difference being that, you’re allowed to work for as many clients as possible compared to full time writer; bounded by a signed agreement with their employer. This write-up is targeted at being an online freelance writer.

PREREQUISITES

a. Passion: This is the most important item on the list; you must have a driving force, something that keeps you going, even when the money is not coming in as expected. It’s very important to have the right passion towards whatever it is that you’re doing. I love writing; that’s my passion, that’s the only reason why I choose to be a freelance writer, not because I need the money.

b. Perseverance: You must be ready to stick to what you’re doing, just like any other venture, it’s always frustrating to make a name for yourself, the key to being successful is to keep doing what you have passion for; sooner than later you would hit the jackpot.

c. Writing and Research skills: As a freelance writer, your research skills must be top notch, you must be able to gather facts from different sources, exercise your deductive reasoning ability and come up with a single article that discuss the topic/issue from various perspective, at the same time reaching a satisfactory conclusion.

d. SEO: Search Engine Optimization (SEO), most of your clients are blogger, online marketers, webmasters, SME, e.t.c. Since the main objective of coming online is make their company visible to online visitors, writing for them requires that you understand the way search engines work. You must be able to search for popular search terms and incorporate them into your client’s article.

e. Computer and Internet connection: You need a computer with internet connection.

f. A smartphone: You’re expected to be online for at least 18hours of the day; it’s easy to stay connected using your phone, responding to important emails, and making research on topics, even when you’re outdoor.

g. Sincerity: DON’T EVER LIE TO YOUR CLIENT!!! It’s very important to be sincere with all your clients, don’t take advantage of internet anonymity negatively. Being sincere is the right way to create value for your personality online. It’s the best way to gain their trust and ensure they come back some other time.

h. Payment method: Getting paid after doing your job is the best thing ever, there are limited payment methods available to Nigerians. PayPal is the most popular payment method, I realized that Nigerians are not allowed to operate a PayPal account after my account was blocked when I accessed it from Nigeria; I had to call their customer service desk to verify my identity. I know some Nigerians have their way around the system, but I don’t know how they do it. You can explore other payment method such as; cheque (you would need a dormiciliary account to claim cheque issued in foreign currencies), bank transfer, perfect money e.t.c.

HOW DO I GET HIRED?

Since most of your work would be done online, as you’ll be working for people you would never get to meet offline, the most important thing is good reputation. Once you’re able to achieve that as an online freelancer, the problem of getting hired is completely solved. Initially, it’s very slow but as time goes on; as you gain good reputation, your client base would increase over time and you would be required to hire junior writers in other to meet up with deadlines.

WHERE CAN I GET HIRED?

Fiverr: It’s an online outsourcing platform that allows you to offer a product/service for $5, after task completion, you’re paid $4. Check http://www.fiverr.com for more information.

Elance: Create a writing profile for yourself on http://www.elance.com it’s free!
Freelancer: http://www.freelancer.com You’re expected to take an English proficiency test to prove to your potential customer that you have a good grasp of the language.

Odesk: http://www.odesk.com

LinkedIn: Create a professional profile for yourself on http://www.linkedin.com

Twitter: Create a professional profile for yourself on http://www.twitter.com

Blog: You might want to consider blogging; writing on topics you know about, sharing ideas through your blog, and offering writing services through your blog. It’s a good way to create loyal customer base.

NB: Don’t plagiarize this article, as it is protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), using it elsewhere would result into me taking legal actions against you.