woman writing at desk

How To Find Online Writing Jobs With No Experience

Do you want to work from home, make your own hours, and determine how much money you earn?

Freelance writing may be a good fit for you.

It’s a flexible, work-from-home job that’s in high demand.

If you like to write, landing freelance writing jobs with limited to no experience is completely plausible. 

Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to find online writing jobs with no experience.

Freelance Writer 101: Getting Started

One of the best parts of freelance writing is that start-up costs are low.

You probably already have everything you need to get started! 

  • A computer to write on. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, and it doesn’t matter whether you go with a PC or Mac. Just make sure you know how to use it.
  • A workspace that makes you feel productive and comfortable. Hint: invest in the best computer or gaming chair you can find!
  • A reliable email address is critical because you handle most correspondence that way.
  • Paypal and bank accounts are the most common payment options, so make sure you’re set up. 

As you build a client base and forge a career out of freelance writing, you may want to upgrade different components of your workspace.

You may even find tools or that make your life easier and improve the efficiency of your work, but none of that is necessary for beginners.

Choose a Niche

It would be wonderful if we could write awesome content about anything and everything, but that’s not realistic.

You will probably write better content about topics you’re familiar with, even if you still need to do some research.

Narrow down your field of topics and target jobs in that area. 

Nobody can write amazing content about every subject, so try to stick with what you know best.

Consider subjects you excelled at in school, past careers, and even personal experience (like parenthood, divorce, or technical knowledge).

Define Your Voice

It’s easy to emulate other writers, and that’s often how you learn, but at some point, you need to develop your voice.

You may love a sassy, off-the-cuff writer, but if that’s not who you are, then emulating that style will feel fake. 

Start a Website and Blog

Now that you have the basics, it’s time to look for your first online jobs!

A website and blog are useful ways to get your name out there, and they give you something to link back to on guest posts (more on that later). 

It is surprisingly easy to start a website and blog.

You don’t have to create anything fancy; just make sure you list your services and include a contact form for potential clients to reach you. 

Including a blog on your website is a wonderful way to showcase your writing style and expertise.

Try blogging about relevant topics to the niche you want to write for and blogging in general. 

Build a Base on Social Media

Another way to find freelance writing jobs for beginners is through social media.

From Facebook to LinkedIn, there are multiple opportunities to reach out to professionals and make connections. 

Networking is crucial to building a base.

Make as many contacts as you can, advertise your services, and don’t forget to link to your website. 

You never know when one of your followers will need a freelance writer!

Create an Awesome Portfolio

A major deterrent in landing freelance writing jobs for beginners is the lack of sample work.

Building a portfolio to showcase your skills is a start, and an important step in the process.

There are a few ways to build a portfolio to share with prospective clients.

Write Samples

Who says you need to have an assignment to write a piece?

Brainstorm ideas you could write about, do the research, and create a polished article.

You can include samples in a portfolio, showcase them on your website, or use them to cold pitch relevant sites.

Guest posts

Another way to build a portfolio and land online writing jobs with no experience is to write guest posts for other blogs.

Guest posts generally don’t pay, but it’s a great way to build your portfolio and gain exposure. 

Look for existing blogs in the niche you want to write in and submit proposals for potential pieces.

To find potential sites, do a quick Google search.

Try typing in your niche with the phrase “write for us” to see what comes up and submit to as many as you can. 

If a site accepts your submission, write the best piece you can, and ask the blog to link back to your website.

While you may not want to start out on the most popular sites in your niche, you can work your way up.

Search the Top Freelance Writer Job Sites

Perhaps the best way to find freelance writing jobs for beginners is to use freelancing sites.

These platforms may work in slightly different ways, but they all seek to connect writers and content with people who need it. 

BloggingPro

BloggingPro is a virtual job board that updates daily.

You apply for jobs that interest you, and the client decides who to hire.

This site also happens to feature valuable information, industry insights, and helpful resources to hone your skills.

Constant-Content

Do you remember those samples you wrote to build your portfolio?

You can sell them on Constant-Content, or you can write all new articles.

Basically, you write an article and upload it to the site.

Editors check the content and post it to the “marketplace” or return it to you for edits.

You set your own price for each article and can upload as much as you like.

Contena

Contena is another site that uses the job board approach, and they happen to love beginners.

They post new jobs regularly and see tons of traffic.

However, it is a membership site, so you have to pay a fee to access the jobs.

They do provide training and a plethora of helpful tools.

Craigslist

Is there anything you can’t find on Craigslist?

There are always postings for writing jobs, and you can even create a post advertising your services.

It’s not uncommon to stumble on an ad that openly says, “online writing jobs no experience necessary.”

However, the pay range may be less than you want, so be wary.

Fiverr

Fiverr is a freelance powerhouse, and it’s easy to start.

Create a profile, build a gig to show off your talents, and get to work.

Fiverr offers loads of resources to help you succeed on their site.

Freelancer

Freelancer uses a bid system, which means that clients post jobs and writers place bids based on how much they would charge for the job.

Some writers intentionally bid low, which is a fair approach, but you don’t want to give away your talent or your time for nothing!

Freelance Writing

This site serves a few purposes for writers.

First, it compiles lists of open jobs from various places, including Craigslist, so that you only have to monitor one site.

Second, Freelance Writing posts contests that you can apply for and enter to win money. 

You can also access loads of helpful information and writing resources.

They post insightful articles, and you can download free ebooks about freelance writing.

Guru

Guru allows you to create a profile and apply to jobs on their site.

It’s free to join, but the site offers a paid membership that comes with several perks, including a profile boost.

You can apply to job listings or receive requests from clients based on the strength of your profile.

JournalismJobs

There are several journalism jobs on this site, but that’s not all.

This site features hundreds of open jobs, including freelance writing jobs for beginners.

You can even register to get daily email alerts about new postings.

Peopleperhour

Peopleperhour does a little bit of everything, which means you have a lot of options.

Build a profile to gain recognition on the site and attract clients.

You can also search the job postings or create your own posting (known as Hourlies) and see who bites. 

Note: You can only submit fifteen proposals per month unless you pay for more credits. 

ProBlogger

ProBlogger is another job board, but this site tends to attract some big names.

This site may not feature as many jobs as some of the other boards, but they do daily updates and field a variety of niches.

You can also take advantage of their helpful resources, including ebooks and podcasts.

Textbroker

Textbroker offers thousands of articles on a wide range of topics, and they accept beginning writers.

Submit a writing sample to their editors, who review it and give you a rating.

Your rating determines what assignments you can take and how much you get paid per word

Since your writing sample decides your quality rating, you want to submit the best possible piece from your portfolio.

Of note, you can improve your quality rating over time.

Upwork

Upwork, formerly known as Odesk, is one of the largest freelance job sites around.

You can bid on a variety of job postings across a range of fields, including writing, web development, and administrative support.

Some jobs are paid hourly, while others pay per project.

You can sign up for free, but you have to purchase “connects” to apply for jobs and Upwork charges fees for every job.

The fees are tiered based on the amount of money you make on one client.

  • Upwork charges a 20% fee on the first $500 per client.
  • You pay 10% for all money earned between $500.01 and $10,000 with each client.
  • Once you reach $10,001 in earnings with a single client, Upwork takes 5% of your earnings.

Conclusion

As you can see, it’s possible to find online writing jobs no experience necessary.

It takes time, effort, and patience, but you can find online writing jobs, no matter your work history, if you have the desire.

Of course, it helps to be patient, learn everything you can about writing and editing, and keep an open mind when you receive feedback. 

credit: Pexels

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