Gigs for New (and Not So New) Freelance Writers

If you are a freelance writer, or any other independent contractor, you've no doubt heard the advice: Never have just one egg in your basket." By eggs I mean clients. I've said it before, diversification is a good thing.

I have recently received a few emails from newbie writers asking how to get started. To be honest, that's one of the hardest aspects of freelance writing – getting that first gig that not only increases your income, but gives you the experience and writing samples you'll need as you move forward in your business.

I've noticed that one of the first places new writers are told to get started is Associated Content. There is nothing wrong with AC at all – but if you are strapped for cash like I was when I first started, AC alone won't cut it – although it is a nice way to create some residual income. If your article is accepted for payment, you'll make money, plus you can set up a system of adding more articles to receive a residual income each month according to the number of page views the articles receive. It's a good way of establishing yourself as an expert in a certain niche like gardening, fitness or whatever. Not bad for a little something on the side.

For new writers searching for paid experience, SEO writing can be the easiest way to get started. SEO stands for search engine optimization. Specific keywords are used to increase search engine ranking. You may come across ads on various job boards, forums and bidding sites where clients are seeking SEO writers to write "high quality" content at 500 words or more for $2, $3 and $5. Pass it up – that's my humble opinion. There are plenty of clients willing to pay a decent wage for quality SEO content. Seriously.

If you are looking for a way to break in to freelance writing and get some pretty steady work, here are two legitimate companies to check out: Writer's Research Group and Demand Studios. Both have one or more clients writers can write for, and they always pay their writers on time. Even if you are not a new freelance writer, these companies can round out your income, adding stability during those inevitable slower months. If you want to learn more about either of these companies, visit the WAHM.com writer's forum where you can read what others who work for them have to say, or post your own questions to be answered. Happy writing everyone.;)

SEO Copywriters: Real Freelance Writers or Not?

A few months ago, I was reading a great post by one of my favorite bloggers on the subject of keyword article writing, also known as SEO writing (for those who may not know). This particular blog is known for initiating some very thoughtful conversations among other freelance writers who visit. At the time I was just getting started freelancing full-time, but I quickly learned how many writers out there perceive SEO writing.

Insults about "lowly SEO writers" were being hurled left and right. The discussion started out innocently where writers discussed the type of writing they did on a regular basis to support themselves. Things quickly went haywire and continued spiraling out of control.

I followed the comments throughout the day. I was afraid to post in defense of SEO writing because (1) I had just started doing it a week before and (2) I saw how my fellow SEO writers were being eaten alive. It was a hot mess. By the last time I checked in that day there were 45 comments. The number grew overnight. The first thing I did when I turned on my computer the next day was check the comments of that blog to see what I had missed. There was a new post where the blogger expressed her disappointment about the discussion. She had to resort to deleting posts because things had gotten so ugly that writers had resorted to name calling. Wow.

I got my start writing for newspapers and a couple of niche magazines. But I quickly found that SEO gigs were plentiful and paid well and often over time – something I needed as the primary bread winner in my family. SEO writing is what made it possible for me to go full-time almost immediately, and I didn't start out with those $1, $3 or $5 an article jobs either.

Today, I do a decent mix of copywriting and SEO along with my print publication gigs. One thing I found interesting about that blog blood bath is not one commenter that put down SEO writing bothered to qualify what DOES make a "real freelance writer." Well shoot, I guess we'll never know now.