Your Writing Bestie

If you’re a writer outside the US, Canada, and the UK, you know just how difficult it is to find clients and get paid well. Some businesses will never work with you, others only offer peanuts for payment, and the rest question your ability to write English simply because of where you’re from. It’s a living nightmare.

Don’t worry; here are six ways to find work as an international freelance writer.

1. Turn to LinkedIn

LinkedIn is my favorite place to find freelance writing jobs. While many freelance writers focus on Instagram, LinkedIn is an underrated resource.

The first step to finding jobs on Linked In is optimizing your profile.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Upload a professional profile picture. You can pay for a headshot or have a friend with a great camera take your picture in front of a plain background.
• Upload a header. You can use Canva to create a visually striking one. You can include your name and what you do.
• Edit your headline so that people can find you better. Mine says “SEO Copywriter.”
• Add your website, experience, and your portfolio to your LinkedIn profile.
• Create content. You can publish articles on the platform, a newsletter, videos, and other posts.
• Let LinkedIn know you’re looking for work by filling out the kind of job you’re looking for and other details on your profile.
• Use the search bar to find freelance jobs in your niche or location. You can easily apply for these jobs from the LinkedIn website.
• Check your messages regularly. Recruiters use LinkedIn all the time to search for freelancers and will message you if they think you’re a fit. Not everyone who messages you is legitimate, so be careful.

LinkedIn can be the best place for freelance writers. For more writing content, connect with me on LinkedIn.

2. Use freelance sites

You’ll regularly see everybody dunking on freelance websites such as Fiverr and Upwork, but they’re not that bad.

If you’re looking for experience, this can be a great place to start. You don’t have to settle for bottom-of-the-barrel prices either. I recommend having solid samples you can use. While I haven’t found any success on these sites, countless have, so it would be unfair not to recommend them.

You may also opt for freelance agencies. These are businesses that hire freelance writers and help you find clients. While the pay may not always be great, you get paid in USD and can secure regular employment. In addition, you don’t have to chase them for payment if you find the right one.

3. Keep an eye on social media

Social media, namely Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, are great places to search for freelance writing jobs.

On Facebook, there are private Facebook groups you can join where freelance writing jobs are posted. Simply search “freelance writing jobs” in the search bar, and some will pop up. You can also ask your network to recommend some groups since some are hidden and are invite-only.

Instagram is another place where you can find writing jobs. The key is optimizing your profile to let people know that you write. People will DM you with opportunities even if you don’t have many followers.

Finally, Twitter is crawling with writing jobs. You can follow the topic “writing,” follow editors, and search “writers wanted” in the search bars for jobs to pop up.

4. Sign up for newsletters

Many writers offer newsletters with writing jobs. Some are free, while others require a small fee. Signing up for these newsletters lessens your time on social media searching for jobs because the newsletter writer is doing that work for you. All you have to do is check your inbox.

Personally, I recommend Sonia Weiser’s Opportunity of the Week newsletter. Around twice a week, you’ll get an email filled with writing opportunities she compiled. The newsletter also comes with helpful writing resources.

5. Start a blog

Starting a blog can be super time-consuming, especially when you’re desperately searching for work, but it can bring work to you.

Whether you want to do it on Medium, WordPress, or another platform, a couple of well-structured blog posts can demonstrate your ability as a writer. Focusing on the value you provide and the SEO will help you.

Many people have found me through a blog I started in college as a hobby that had nothing to do with writing! It wasn’t even self-hosted.

6. Ask Around

Let people know that you’re a freelance writer looking for work. You can let people in your city know, maintain an online presence, and tell your family and friends.

I recommend following and forming relationships with other writers. They can refer you for work, and you can repay the favor. In addition, community as a freelance writer can make all the difference since it’s such a solitary job.

Conclusion

Finding writing jobs can be extremely difficult and can leave you feeling hopeless. However, the jobs are out there; hopefully, these tips will help you find them.

Originally published on Medium.

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