10 Beginner-Friendly Freelance Writing Jobs to Kickstart Your Career

by Alexander BrownSeptember 8, 20246 minutes read

Freelance writing involves creating content for various clients on a project basis, offering flexibility and a chance to work from anywhere. It encompasses a broad spectrum of writing types, each with unique demands and opportunities. Whether crafting blog posts or developing marketing materials, understanding these roles will help you choose the best path for your interests and skills.

Content Writing

Content writing is a great starting point for beginners in freelance writing jobs. It involves creating articles or blog posts that inform, entertain, or engage readers. Topics can range from lifestyle tips to industry insights. For example, you might write a blog post about the benefits of yoga for a wellness site. This job requires strong research skills and the ability to write in a clear, engaging manner.

Salary Range: $20 - $75 per hour or $50 - $500 per article

Characteristics: Content writing involves producing engaging articles or blog posts on a variety of topics. It requires strong research abilities and the capacity to write in a clear, engaging style.

Skills Needed: Research skills, SEO basics, writing clarity, and adaptability to different topics and tones.

Product Descriptions

Product descriptions are another straightforward way to get into freelance writing jobs. Crafting product descriptions for e-commerce sites requires conciseness and compelling language to highlight the key features and benefits of the products. Think of it like writing a mini-advertisement that persuades potential buyers to make a purchase.

Salary Range: $15 - $50 per hour or $10 - $100 per description

Characteristics: Writing concise, compelling product descriptions for e-commerce sites. It focuses on highlighting key features and benefits to drive sales.

Skills Needed: Persuasive writing, attention to detail, understanding of the target audience, and the ability to craft engaging yet brief content.

Social Media Content

Social media content is crucial for businesses looking to enhance their online presence. Writing engaging posts, tweets, or updates for platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn can be a valuable entry-level job in freelance writing. It’s about understanding each platform’s tone and style and creating content that resonates with the audience.

Salary Range: $20 - $60 per hour or $15 - $150 per post

Characteristics: Creating engaging posts for platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter. This role requires knowledge of each platform’s style and audience preferences.

Skills Needed: Creativity, social media trends, platform-specific writing styles, and the ability to craft short, impactful messages.

Website Copywriting

Website copywriting involves creating content for various parts of a website, including home pages, about pages, and service descriptions. This type of freelance writing needs to be clear and persuasive, guiding visitors to take action, such as contacting the company or making a purchase.

Salary Range: $30 - $100 per hour or $200 - $1,000 per project

Characteristics: Writing content for websites including home pages, service descriptions, and about pages. It needs to be clear and persuasive, guiding visitors to take specific actions.

Skills Needed: Copywriting techniques, understanding of user experience (UX), SEO knowledge, and the ability to write in a brand’s voice.

SEO Writing

SEO writing is an essential skill for those looking to improve their freelance writing jobs. It requires understanding how to use keywords effectively to help content rank higher in search engine results. For instance, if you’re writing an article about "best coffee makers," you’d need to include relevant keywords naturally throughout the text to boost its visibility.

Salary Range: $25 - $80 per hour or $100 - $600 per article

Characteristics: Crafting content optimized for search engines. This involves using keywords effectively to improve search rankings while maintaining readability.

Skills Needed: Keyword research, SEO techniques, writing for both search engines and human readers, and content optimization strategies.

Email Newsletters

Email newsletters are another key area within freelance writing. Crafting engaging and informative content for newsletters encourages subscribers to take action, whether that’s promoting sales, sharing updates, or providing valuable tips. A strong understanding of your audience and the ability to write persuasive content are crucial here.

Salary Range: $20 - $70 per hour or $100 - $500 per newsletter

Characteristics: Writing engaging and informative email content to drive subscriber actions, such as promoting sales or sharing updates. It requires understanding of email marketing principles.

Skills Needed: Email marketing strategies, persuasive writing, audience segmentation, and the ability to craft attention-grabbing subject lines.

Technical Writing

Technical writing involves creating manuals, guides, or documentation for complex subjects. While it can be more challenging due to the technical nature, it’s also highly rewarding. For example, writing a user manual for new software requires translating technical jargon into easy-to-understand language, a valuable skill in the realm of freelance writing jobs.

Salary Range: $30 - $100 per hour or $200 - $1,000 per document

Characteristics: Creating manuals, guides, or documentation for complex subjects. It involves translating technical jargon into understandable language.

Skills Needed: Technical knowledge, clarity in writing, ability to simplify complex concepts, and strong research skills.

Ghostwriting

Ghostwriting involves writing content that will be published under someone else’s name. This could range from articles to entire books. It’s a bit more advanced because it requires a deep understanding of the client’s voice and style, but it’s a valuable skill to have in your freelance writing toolkit.

Salary Range: $40 - $120 per hour or $500 - $5,000 per book or project

Characteristics: Writing content that is published under someone else’s name. It requires mimicking the client’s voice and style while maintaining discretion.

Skills Needed: Adaptability, research skills, ability to capture and reproduce different voices, and confidentiality.

Copywriting

Copywriting is about writing persuasive text designed to sell or promote. This could include ads, sales pages, or promotional materials. It requires a strong grasp of marketing principles and the ability to write compelling copy that drives conversions, making it a sought-after skill in freelance writing jobs.

Salary Range: $30 - $100 per hour or $150 - $1,500 per project

Characteristics: Writing persuasive and marketing-focused content such as ads, sales pages, or promotional materials. It aims to drive specific actions from the audience.

Skills Needed: Marketing and advertising knowledge, persuasive writing techniques, understanding of consumer psychology, and creativity.

Grant Writing

Grant writing is one of the more complex freelance writing jobs. It involves crafting proposals to secure funding for organizations or projects. This job requires excellent research skills, attention to detail, and the ability to present a compelling case for why the grant should be awarded.

Salary Range: $35 - $100 per hour or $500 - $5,000 per grant proposal

Characteristics: Writing proposals to secure funding for organizations or projects. This job requires excellent research skills and the ability to present a compelling case.

Skills Needed: Research and analysis, proposal writing, grant application processes, and the ability to clearly articulate the need for funding.