{"id":4134,"date":"2017-04-21T11:38:40","date_gmt":"2017-04-21T18:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/?p=4134"},"modified":"2018-03-27T08:18:44","modified_gmt":"2018-03-27T15:18:44","slug":"how-i-added-800-in-freelance-writing-income-in-2-weeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/uncategorized\/how-i-added-800-in-freelance-writing-income-in-2-weeks\/","title":{"rendered":"How I Added $800 in Freelance Writing Income In 2 Weeks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Shelcy Joseph<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s to increase your savings, pay off your debt or backpack through the West Coast, a few hundred dollars a month can make a big difference – even if you have a full-time job. Who wouldn\u2019t want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, pad their bank account and reduce their financial stress?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s one thing to know how to write, but it\u2019s another to make money from it. I love finding creative ways to use my skills to earn additional income. This month, I set a goal to make $1,000 from writing on the side. I made $800 in the first two weeks of April, and I\u2019m confident I will meet or exceed my expectations by the end of the month.<\/p>\n

Here are three tried and true ways to make more money writing:<\/p>\n

Post an ad on Craigslist – $150<\/strong><\/p>\n

The thought of using Craigslist makes a lot of people cringe. \u201cScams\u201d \u201cCon artists\u201d fake postings\u201d are a few of the things that may come to mind. There are in fact deceiving people on the platform (just like everywhere else), but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not worth using. Regardless of your personal feelings about the site, Craigslist is a legitimate way to make money. Just read Jeff\u2019s story<\/a> about making $565 from it in one month. I can also speak to that as I once earned $310 in a week<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Try posting an ad on Craigslist and see how many email inquiries you can get! Believe me, it works! It\u2019s free of charge and you can renew it every week. I use it to promote my writing services and it has helped me in ways I didn\u2019t think possible. I found half of my returning clients through Craigslist. All it took was publishing a compelling ad.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a template you can use:<\/p>\n

Creative Writer Looking to Contribute to Blogs or Magazines<\/u>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Need more content for your blog and someone to write it in a compelling way? I can help!
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

I have 3 years of experience blogging for different websites such as XYZ. I cover personal finance, entrepreneurship and career development. You can find some writing samples below:<\/em><\/p>\n

Link 1<\/em><\/p>\n

Link 2<\/em><\/p>\n

I charge (insert rate) per word or a flat rate per project. I am willing to work with your budget, so feel free to email me and we can negotiate. <\/em><\/p>\n

Serious inquiries only!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The key is to be direct and focus on the value you can provide. Give enough details and throw in some numbers (or share some writing samples) if possible.<\/p>\n

I made $150 from writing a short story for a video producer who emailed me after seeing the ad. She wanted me to write the script of a project she was putting together. It was a one-time gig, but we exchanged contact information.<\/p>\n

Advertise on a Facebook group – $200<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you didn\u2019t know, you can create exclusive gatherings on Facebook that cater to a particular group of people. We\u2019re talking comic book, music, fashion, makeup or travel enthusiasts; every single interest you can think of! These communities give you access to like-minded individuals while providing unique career opportunities.<\/p>\n

I recently joined a few blogging groups in the hopes of connecting with other writers\/freelancers, promoting my work and meeting potential clients. If you\u2019re wondering where to start, here are some great ones to consider:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Bloggers Supporting Bloggers<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Online Business BFFs<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Blogging Boost<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Be sure to read the rules of each group before you start posting. They don\u2019t allow everything as they each have their own set of rules. For example, you can advertise your services on the wall of some groups, but can only post in the common threads of others. Once you are accepted, become an active member. Monitor the conversations and participate when you can. Ask and answer questions, and build genuine relationships with people.<\/p>\n

    If you have the chance to post about your services, write a highly targeted ad (similar to my Craigslist template) that lets people know you\u2019re available for hire. Posting ads in Facebook groups is an effective strategy because it reaches people in your niche. If you tried to sell car parts in a group about gardening, you would certainly not get positive results. By focusing on people who share an interest in what you do, you position yourself for success.<\/p>\n

    Soon after posting an ad in one of the groups, the founder of a career startup reached out to me. A few conversations later, I was hired to write 8 blog posts a month at $400. I am $200 in already.<\/p>\n

    Pitch corporate blogs – $450<\/strong><\/p>\n

    If you want to play it big, go after corporate clients. They usually have more resources and can pay you more. As you can imagine, you will be competing with more people if you go that route. So you have to master your approach! The step-by-step method looks something like this:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Research the company and their blog<\/li>\n
    2. Draft a few blog post ideas to pitch<\/li>\n
    3. Send a warm email<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Here is a template you can use when cold emailing:<\/p>\n

      Hi (Editor\u2019s name),<\/em><\/p>\n

      My name is Jessica and I am a freelance writer with 2 years of experience covering startups and new tech products for Tech Crunch, The Verge and Venture Beat. I have been reading Startup Life for a few months and I am a big fan of your content. It perfectly aligns with my area of expertise. I was reaching out because I\u2019d love to be considered to join your team as a staff writer. <\/em><\/p>\n

      Below are some ideas for posts that your readers might enjoy:<\/em><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. This startup is changing the coworking experience. Here\u2019s how.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        (Short Blurb)<\/em><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. 3 Ways Virtual Reality Will Disrupt the Travel Industry<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          (Short Blurb)<\/em><\/p>\n

          I have a solid portfolio and below are some writing samples:<\/em><\/p>\n

          Sample 1<\/em><\/p>\n

          Sample 2<\/em><\/p>\n

          Sample 3<\/em><\/p>\n

          I look forward to hearing from you!<\/em><\/p>\n

          Best regards,<\/em><\/p>\n

          Jessica<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

          The takeaway? Be specific and show that you\u2019ve done your homework. Offer a new perspective or tell the same stories from a different angle.<\/p>\n

          Often, your next big writing client is only an email away. I\u2019ve learned that from landing my first one after sending a cold, personalized email to a company. They pay $150 per article and I\u2019ve written 3 for them so far.<\/p>\n

          So, what are you waiting for? Make your moves and reach your financial goals faster with these strategies!<\/p>\n

          Your turn! What has helped you land gigs and earn more writing income? Share them in the comments!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Written by Shelcy Joseph Whether it\u2019s to increase your savings, pay off your debt or backpack through the West Coast, a few hundred dollars a month can make a big difference – even if you have a full-time job. Who wouldn\u2019t want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, pad their bank account and reduce their…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":2860,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-case-studies","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4134"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4136,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4134\/revisions\/4136"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}