Believe it or not, I have been working full-time as a freelance writer for the past ten years.
I pay my bills and fund my lifestyle using the money I earn from online writing.
While it’s not technically a side hustle, I do freelance writing full-time and as a business.
If you are going to school full-time, have an offline full-time job or business, doing online writing as a side hustle can work for you at this point.
If you implement the tips I’m going to share here, I hope you will solve your financial stress or become the next big thing.
For me, I have no idea what my life would be without freelance writing.
I would be employed by the government or private firm as an urban planner (I hold a degree in urban planning from the University of Nairobi).
I’m pretty sure I would be working full-time—from 8 pm to 5 pm drafting spatial plans or reviewing infrastructure plans.
Not a bad job, but I know I wouldn’t be full-filled.
I know I would be stuck in a traffic jam every day trying to reach my workplace on time.
S0, if you feel the same way– hate waking up early in the morning to beat traffic jams or leaving your kids behind at home—venturing into online writing is a good side hustle that can help you deal with your financial stress or avoid the stress of an offline job.
Let’s get started on how to start online writing as a side hustle.
1. Equip yourself with the necessary writing skills and knowledge
If you want to work as a driver, you first need to go to a driving school to equip yourself with the necessary driving skills.
If you want to work as a hair stylist or hairdresser, you first need to join a hairdressing and beauty college.
Same thing if you want to start online writing as a side hustle. The first thing you need to do is to look for someone to train and mentor you.
Your trainer will equip you with content writing skills to help you become employable and handle various writing gigs.
There are many trainers out there offering training and mentorship. Bishop Nyams is one of the best trainers you can ever work with.
I have been doing freelance writing for more than ten years. I started training aspiring freelancer writers in 2015, and since then, I have trained more than 3,000 writers who are currently making a living from online writing.
When you enroll in my Article Writing Training & Mentorship Program, I will train you on how to write different articles and show you how to leverage different platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, LinkedIn, and job boards to find direct clients.
2. Join various Facebook groups for freelance writers
There are many Facebook groups that connect freelance writers and freelance writing clients.
These groups can help you find clients interested in your freelance writing services. They can also help you know where the freelance industry is heading.
I shared a detailed post here on how to find clients through Facebook groups for freelance writers. I hope you will find the post helpful.
Below are a few local and foreign Facebook groups that connect freelance writers and potential employers.
Local groups
1. Online Article Writers Kenya (100k members)
2. Kenyan Online Freelancers (5k members)
3. ACADEMIA RESEARCH WRITER (Original) (100k members)
4. Online Academic Writers Kenya (150k members)
Foreign groups
1. Content Writers Needed (200k members)
2. Content Writers (200k members)
3. Freelance Copywriters & Content Writers (60k members)
4. Content Writers & Bloggers (64k members)
5. Content Writers and Freelancers (142k members)
3. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile to Attract Work
Look –
LinkedIn is the perfect platform to find and build relationships with potential writing clients.
Whether you want to offer content writing services as a side hustle or do academic writing as a side hustle, optimizing your LinkedIn client can help you attract clients.
With over 500 million members, you can easily search for potential clients, send them a connection request, and pitch yourself as the perfect candidate for the job.
With effort and patience, you can find great writing clients on LinkedIn in no time.
Before you search for freelance writing jobs on LinkedIn, ensure your profile is complete and portrays you as a professional.
If you want to shorten the learning journey, consider enrolling in my LinkedIn mentorship Course, where I share tips and insights on how to find direct clients on LinkedIn.
https://thehomeoffreelancers.com/linkedin-upwork-fiver-mastery-course/
The course will help you learn how to customize your profile to attract clients, write willing pitches, and draft compelling content that drives interest in your services.
4. Start Looking for freelance jobs on job boards
There are many job boards and job sides for freelance writers.
I shared several freelance job boards essential for finding high-paying writing gigs, from blog posts and website copy to product reviews and product description writing gigs.
. If you take at least 1 hour a day to search for freelance writing gigs using these job boards, you will start making money online within a couple of months.
These job boards are perfect for both part-time freelance writers just starting and full-time professional freelance writers.
Top of the list of the best job boards for freelancers that I highlighted in the article include:
- ProBlogger
- Contena
- Writers Work
I like Contena because it notifies you of writing opportunities you can do as a side hustle instead of going to the platform to search for those jobs. Contena also has Pro Rates, which can help you figure out your rate.
Here is my special 10% discount code if you’re interested in signing up for Contena. You will get a 20% discount PLUS a coupon if pay in full you. You get 10% off each payment or 10% off any option if you use my discount code.
How much time can I devote to freelance writing when working part-time?
You don’t have to work from 8 to 5 every day. You can devote at least 2-3 hours daily during weekdays and work full-time on weekends if you are free.
The goal is to write at least 500 words per day which can translate to around $20 or more depending on the type of job and client.
The more words you write, the more money you will make.
Wrapping Up
I hope this post has helped you know where and how to start if you are planning to do freelancing writing as a side hustle in 2023.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask them in the comment section below.
Become a Highly-Paid Freelance Writer Today By Joining My Article Writing And Mentorship Program>>
