As the economy tanks and people fail to get the raises they expected, more and more individuals are looking for a way of making money. While there are numerous scams targeting stay-at-home moms, there are also legitimate companies looking for freelance writers.
Ways to Make Money and Work From Home
As a freelance writer, there are several ways a person can make money. He or she can apply with companies hiring independent contractors. The rate of pay and the type of work vary by company, so it's important for a writer to have a contract identifying the specifics of the agreement with the company.
Some freelance writers use free Web sites like Blogger or other hosts to create pages where they can place ads. Google AdSense is a service a person can use to make money as long as he or she has access to the source for the Web site. By using ads, the owner of the site makes a percentage of profit generated when visitors click on the ads.
In order to work as a freelance writer, an individual does need to have education or experience with writing. Some companies want to see an educational background in English or journalism. A writing sample may help a person without the right qualifications land a job.
Things to Avoid When Working From Home
Freelance writing doesn't require an investment other than having a way to generate the content and turn it in to the client. Some companies claim to know secrets to working from home, while other Web sites host e-books designed to share inside secrets. People wanting to get into freelance writing don't need to pay to find out what to do.
While these resources can help a person with no experience form a game plan, there are many free resources designed to accomplish the same thing. Depending on the level of experience in working online, the time commitment to find reputable companies and to learn the necessary skill will vary.
Freelance writers should avoid working with a company who fails to provide a written contract signed by both parties. The contract should make several things clear, including the following things:
- The rate of pay per word or article;
- The expected word count for assignments;
- The method of payment;
- The time frame for payment;
- And source requirements.
Payment Methods for Freelance Writing
There are a couple of different payment structures for freelance writing. Companies that pay a set rate offer a one-time payment for accepted content. The benefit to this is the writer knows exactly how much money he or she will make by writing the guide. The downside is the article might generate more money than the writer made.
In revenue sharing, the company pays the writer a percentage of profit generated from the articles he or she writes. The benefit to this is the payment continues for the duration of the agreement, which has the potential to generate more income per article than a set payment. The downside is there is no guarantee of payment—if the article doesn't produce revenue, the writer doesn't make revenue.
Find Companies for Freelance Writing
When looking for a freelance writing job, individuals can use a few resources online. Publisher's Weekly runs classified ads for writing related jobs under the "Career" tab at its Web site. Freelance Writing Gigs also posts job opportunities.
Before applying, writers may want to brush up on writing in the second person, writing in third person and hooking an audience. By utilizing writing techniques, a person can create non-fiction work that appeals to readers.
Tara McClendon - Tara McClendon is a Texas-based freelance writer and editor. Aside from writing for Suite101, Tara is currently working on a YA novel ...
Join the Conversation