There's a lot of talk about earning online these days. However, most people don't know where to start. Generally, they end up getting scammed or working for pennies. Certainly, very few people actually write for a living by just using the interwebs. But, there is a way to do that and without worrying about getting scammed too. The best way to earn and at the same time to build a portfolio is by writing. As long as you can put together grammatically correct sentences together, there is work for you.
Firstly, let us understand the websites that you should completely avoid. Low-paying content mills such as iwriter and textbroker are a definite no-no. Those two websites are like online sweatshops and pay less than 1 cent per word when you start writing for them! So, you'll have to write a thousand words just to make $10, which is absurd. Anyone who pays a writer that deserves to be jailed for exploitation. I would also avoid "freelancing" websites because they make writers compete for minimum wage too.
Secondly, there are some irregular but reliable websites like Fiverr. Initially, you'll make something like $50 in the first month. But, as the reviews roll in, you'll easily make $50 a week and then maybe $50 a day. However, it's not regular work. It's just a website where you don't bid for projects, people who require writeups, essays, blog posts, reports, or scripts contact you. Plus, unlike those low-paying content mills and freelancing websites, Fiverr will always support the artist or writer. And disputes get resolved quickly.
Lastly, let us look at some decent websites. Hubpages pays you next to nothing, but it is a good place to blog about things and build a portfolio to show people what you can write. You get reviewed and receive a score, which conveys how well you write. I have a score of 81 out of 100, despite writing some controversial pieces on American politics. In any case, you need to be available on HubPages because that's where people will recognize you for your writing. Also, try to get published on some ezine or maintain a blog on the side. You'll see why HubPages and published articles are so important in a bit.
Now is the time to understand how to earn better than most writers.
Firstly, register on two websites: Skyword and Clearvoice. These two websites connect you(the writer) to clients(the webmasters and corporations). All you need are writing samples related to the kind of writing you want to do. This is where those published hubs on Hubpages will come in handy. And you can charge the moon if you think that's what you should charge. So, essentially, you set the price for your work. When some work pops up, they'll email you. I would recommend asking for at least $60-100 per hour if you're starting out. I know writers who charge $700 per hour for finance articles. These are actual fortune 500 and fortune 1000 companies or genuine webmasters, who'll pay for great content.
Secondly, write one mail a day, to some online publication. Offer five topics you want to write about. And explain why you believe you're a great fit for the job. Again, use your portfolio of writing to convey your writing style and approach. Simply google "write for us" and "earn $2000 for writing online" to obtain a list of websites that pay that much. Then, see if you can write the kind of content they require. The goal is to get published online, hopefully for a major publication. But, even a minor one would do.
Lastly, once you get published, scout for your own clients. This isn't difficult. Suppose you write about business or entrepreneurship, contact business and community websites that publish articles about those topics. Ask them if you could write for them directly. Contact startups that have terrible websites or brochures, and ask them if you could improve their content for a price. For my first gig, I did something like that for $45 per 700-word article. The webmaster needed new content and he needed as many articles as possible. Little did he know that I would churn out tens of articles in a week- all original and impeccably written. Build a website(even a free one) that has testimonials from a few clients. Use all of your content to obtain bigger clients.
Paypal is your friend in all cases. When in doubt, ask for half payment up front. Generally, though people don't chicken out. For you, $100 per hour might be a lot, but for a billion dollar corporation it's nothing. Simply pay your taxes on time and enjoy the good life. Oh and if you're wondering where the heck have I mentioned those websites that pay $2000, well the list exists elsewhere on the interwebs. It is the process mentioned above that writers don't get, otherwise there are plenty of people out there who can create amazing content. Good luck writing :)
Firstly, let us understand the websites that you should completely avoid. Low-paying content mills such as iwriter and textbroker are a definite no-no. Those two websites are like online sweatshops and pay less than 1 cent per word when you start writing for them! So, you'll have to write a thousand words just to make $10, which is absurd. Anyone who pays a writer that deserves to be jailed for exploitation. I would also avoid "freelancing" websites because they make writers compete for minimum wage too.
Secondly, there are some irregular but reliable websites like Fiverr. Initially, you'll make something like $50 in the first month. But, as the reviews roll in, you'll easily make $50 a week and then maybe $50 a day. However, it's not regular work. It's just a website where you don't bid for projects, people who require writeups, essays, blog posts, reports, or scripts contact you. Plus, unlike those low-paying content mills and freelancing websites, Fiverr will always support the artist or writer. And disputes get resolved quickly.
Lastly, let us look at some decent websites. Hubpages pays you next to nothing, but it is a good place to blog about things and build a portfolio to show people what you can write. You get reviewed and receive a score, which conveys how well you write. I have a score of 81 out of 100, despite writing some controversial pieces on American politics. In any case, you need to be available on HubPages because that's where people will recognize you for your writing. Also, try to get published on some ezine or maintain a blog on the side. You'll see why HubPages and published articles are so important in a bit.
Now is the time to understand how to earn better than most writers.
Firstly, register on two websites: Skyword and Clearvoice. These two websites connect you(the writer) to clients(the webmasters and corporations). All you need are writing samples related to the kind of writing you want to do. This is where those published hubs on Hubpages will come in handy. And you can charge the moon if you think that's what you should charge. So, essentially, you set the price for your work. When some work pops up, they'll email you. I would recommend asking for at least $60-100 per hour if you're starting out. I know writers who charge $700 per hour for finance articles. These are actual fortune 500 and fortune 1000 companies or genuine webmasters, who'll pay for great content.
Secondly, write one mail a day, to some online publication. Offer five topics you want to write about. And explain why you believe you're a great fit for the job. Again, use your portfolio of writing to convey your writing style and approach. Simply google "write for us" and "earn $2000 for writing online" to obtain a list of websites that pay that much. Then, see if you can write the kind of content they require. The goal is to get published online, hopefully for a major publication. But, even a minor one would do.
Lastly, once you get published, scout for your own clients. This isn't difficult. Suppose you write about business or entrepreneurship, contact business and community websites that publish articles about those topics. Ask them if you could write for them directly. Contact startups that have terrible websites or brochures, and ask them if you could improve their content for a price. For my first gig, I did something like that for $45 per 700-word article. The webmaster needed new content and he needed as many articles as possible. Little did he know that I would churn out tens of articles in a week- all original and impeccably written. Build a website(even a free one) that has testimonials from a few clients. Use all of your content to obtain bigger clients.
Paypal is your friend in all cases. When in doubt, ask for half payment up front. Generally, though people don't chicken out. For you, $100 per hour might be a lot, but for a billion dollar corporation it's nothing. Simply pay your taxes on time and enjoy the good life. Oh and if you're wondering where the heck have I mentioned those websites that pay $2000, well the list exists elsewhere on the interwebs. It is the process mentioned above that writers don't get, otherwise there are plenty of people out there who can create amazing content. Good luck writing :)
