With resources such as The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Commercial Freelancer in Six Months or Less by Peter Bowerman for guidance, you can make money online by writing for pay.
Moreover, businesses of all shapes and sizes and in all industries are looking for quality content. However, finding legitimate clients and freelance writing jobs that pay well can sometimes be a challenge- especially when you’re still new.
That’s why I’ve put together this handy list of 100+ places to find freelance writing work – both job boards where you can get a freelance job directly as well as marketplaces specifically for freelance writers.
What's Covered in This Article
Constant Content
At registration, be prepared to do a short quiz in which you must get at least 4/5. If you qualify, the next step is to provide a short 250 word writing sample on a topic they will give you. Crowdfunding’s potential, How to travel locally, One book everyone should read and (why), are some of the topics.
College Humor
College Humor is one of the biggest comedy sites on the internet. All you have to do to write to them is send an email to Articles@collegehumor.com with your pitch, and their editors will work with you to craft the perfect article. If your article submission gets accepted, THEY’LL PAY YOU MONEY. For a single page article, $35. For a larger multi-page article, $50.
Postloop
Postloop is a content exchange marketplace. Members provide content for other members in exchange for content on their website, forum or blog. Users are rated and ranked depending on the quality of content they consistently provided allowing site owners to receive only the highest quality content available.
Cracked
If you want to get paid to write the list-style feature articles that Cracked.com is famous for, you simply need to sign up for their writers’ forum. The only thing they require is that you’re passionate, creative, and respectful of the other writers. It takes zero effort to join. If you are a funny/smart/creative person, Cracked is the single best opportunity you will ever come across in your life. No experience necessary. They will pay you if it’s good.
Listverse
You don’t need to be an expert—you just need to have English equal to that of a native speaker, a sense of humor, and a love for things unusual or interesting. You write your list (10 items per list minimum), you send it in, if published, they send you $100 by PayPal. Just remember, your list should be at least one or two paragraphs per entry.
KnowledgeNuts
They pay $10 for every KnowledgeNut accepted for publication! Payments by Paypal only.
If you have something to share that is obscure or little-known, please send it to the email below submit@knowledgenuts.com. If it’s fascinating, they’ll publish it right on their front page for all other lovers of KnowledgeNuts. Be sure to submit only original work. No mshene puliizz!
SeekingAlpha
Exclusive articles earn money based on traffic, content topics and quality. Earn up to $1,000 per article
Freelance Writing Jobs
A massive freelance writer job board
Writers Department
Find freelance writing jobs for academic experts and business experts
All Freelance Writing
Founded in 2006, writers can search for jobs based on date or pay range in different categories.
Be a Freelance Blogger
You can use this job board to find writing gigs paying $50 and above.
Blogging Pro
Here you can find daily freelance writing jobs, paid blogging jobs, and copywriting jobs.
Craigslist
Try your luck and trust your gut when reading an ad.
Fiverr
Fiverr is a popular freelance marketplace where you can find a variety of freelancing writing opportunities starting from $5.
FlexJobs
FlexJobs is another popular marketplace where writers can find both full-time and part-time gigs in specific categories, such as gaming, financial or medical writing.
Fourerr
This is a micro job site almost like Fiverr. The main difference is that “you earn rewards as you buy, sell, and connect with their vibrant community.”
Freedom With Writing
This site pays $30 to $100 for list articles, depending on length; and $30 to $150 for how-to articles, essays, and other content. These articles should include real-world examples, including amounts earned. They’re especially interested in case studies of how you got a good writing gig.
Freelancer
Freelancer claims to be the largest freelancing and crowd sourcing marketplace in the world.
Genuine Jobs
This is one of the free sites to find work from home jobs which includes writing.
Guru
A paid membership site for freelance gigs.
Indeed
A great website for finding jobs based on category or location. It even has company reviews.
LinkedIn Jobs
This is the most ideal place to network with a potential client with the aim of getting a freelance gig. Remember, the freelance world is all about networks.
Mechanical Turk
This is Amazon’s marketplace where you can get paid to do pretty much anything.
Morning Coffee Newsletter
The weekly digest contains the best new writing jobs for freelancers with competitive pay rates.
Paid to Blog
This job board is a membership site only which specializes in helping writers find blogging gigs.
People Per Hour
Here you create your own “hourlies” and wait to be contacted. However, you can also respond to clients; job posts.
Problogger Job Board
For blogging jobs. Also a great resource if you’re looking to start your own blog or to monetize your current one.
Scribendi
Mainly for editors and proofreaders looking for work.
Short Task
ShortTask is based on the idea that there are still many online jobs that cannot be fully replaced by technology. Whether it’s researching detailed information, transcribing audio or video recordings, identifying objects in photographs or videos, or creating written content, some jobs are just better done by humans.
Simply Hired
Simply Hired is another marketplace like ineded where you can search for jobs by category or location.
Smashing Jobs
Smashing Jobs targets designers and developers to them find jobs and connect with great companies.
Upwork
Probably the most popular freelance marketplace.
We Work Remotely
They describe themselves as “the largest community on the web (with 130,000+ monthly users) to find and list jobs that aren’t restricted by commutes or a particular geographic area”.
Work at Home Adventures
The website lists fresh work at home job leads.
Work from Home Happiness
This site posts work from home and freelance jobs.
Writer Bay
Mostly for academic writing jobs.
WriteJobs
Great site for niche writing opportunities, such as buyer’s guides, resume writers, legal writers, etc.
Writers Weekly
Writers Weekly currently seeks articles on various ways writers can make money from their writing (i.e. unique assignments, corporate services, self publishing, marketing and networking advice, alternative products and services that writers can pursue and sell). They also seek articles on how authors can successfully market their books to the public, as well as warnings about industry scams or about businesses may not necessarily be scams, but that may be a waste of money for writers and authors.
Freelance success story terms: $40 on acceptance via PayPal (preferred) or check for first rights only ($20 for reprints)
Feature article terms: (Length: ~600 words): $60 on acceptance via PayPal (preferred) or check for first rights only ($40 for reprints).
Zeerk
A micro job site for different freelancing services paying from as little as $3 to $200.
BKA Content
This site handpick their writers for their clients’ jobs.
Boost CTR
This is a marketplace for copywriters hired to create ads for various companies. The sign up process involves answering a series of questions to test your copy-writing and specific Google AdWord skills.
ClearVoice
A content marketing platform where brands and agencies can connect with freelancers to create great content. After applying, freelancers are matched with brands based on experience and interests.
Contently
Use Contently to build your portfolio, as well as to apply for freelance writing jobs.
iWriter
This site can help you land freelance writing gigs. Main challenge I’ve heard from those who use it is that they’ve started having fewer jobs than usual. Rejection rate has also increased. Besides, there is very little wiggle room for dispute resolution unless of course a client uses a rejected article.
Listller.com
Listiller occasionally requests internal tasks. Free registration required. They also have hundreds of market listings that will pay top dollar for your submissions. But membership starts at $5 per month.
Love To Know
Interested in sharing knowledge about the things you love? Have 2 brief writing samples (400-800 words each) handy, including one that is representative of your chosen topic area(s) and if accepted, you will make anywhere from $15 to $50 per article.
OneSpace
At registration, you fill in personal details, services you’d like to provide,categories you’re comfortable working on, and a resume/CV. Once registered, if you pass qualification tests, you’re matched with writing gigs that you’re qualified for.
WritersDomain
Once you activate your account after registration, you submit a writing sample. You are given keyword and industry pairings. Using that pairing, you choose a topic, create a title for your piece, and write a sample article (at least 400 words) within the scope of the topic., and sending in a sample, you can get hired to write content in different categories.
Bless This List
You don’t need to be an expert—you just need to have great English, a sense of humor, and a love for things unusual or interesting. It works like this: You write your list (1,500 words/10 items minimum), you send it in, if it’s published you’re paid $100 by Paypal. As long as you don’t steal other people’s stuff, you can choose any topic you like. You also need to link to reputable sources for verification purposes.
BabyFit
Owned and operated by SparkPeople, BabyFit typically pays freelancers between $25 and $90 per piece, based on experience, credentials, and writing ability, and are required to carry their own professional liability insurance.
If you are interested in writing for BabyFit.com, please send an email with attachments of your resume and an applicable writing sample(s) to Rachel@BabyFit.com.
Income Diary
This website accepts submissions from freelance writers. Income Diary pays up to $200 for worthy articles of the highest standard. Their most well received articles are about:
- Creating great content
- Interviews with experts
- Buying/Selling websites
- Driving traffic to websites
- Search engine optimization
- Creating awesome websites
- Blog design features and functionality
- Creating information & digital products
- Making money from websites, blogs & forums
- Affiliate marketing and selling things through websites as an affiliate
- Social media, anything to do with Facebook & Pinterest goes down well
Money Pantry
Write about anything that has to do with earning and saving money, and get paid between $30 and $150 per accepted article. Simply send an HTML version of your post in a simple text file and email it to editor@moneypantry.com. Use “MoneyPantry Guest Post” as the subject of your email.
Starting Business
If you’re a business-savvy writer and/or experienced entrepreneur, Starting Business will pay your $50 per article for sharing your thought leadership and expertise with their audience. Articles must be at least 1,500 words in length and must be resourceful and actionable.
The Secret Place
Do you have a message from the King of the universe? Well, The Secret Place has a job for you.This is a quarterly devotional that pays $20 per accepted 150-200 word article focused on meditation. Are you interested in writing for The Secret Place? Then you should refer to the Writer and Artist Guidelines.
Glimmer Train
Glimmer Train has five submission categories from which to choose, including their standard category ($2 processing fee, and payment for accepted pieces is $700), and four contests (1st place prizes from $2,000 to $3,000 are made possible by reading fees). Contest vs. standard.
Ready to go? Submit your story here.
Are you a poet and still haven’t found something that catches your eye?
Try one of these 6 Companies That’ll Pay You to Write Greeting Cards (One Pays Up to $300!)
Reddit’s r/forhire
Reddit’s r/hiring
Reddit’s r/jobs
With millions of freelancers around the world underbidding for jobs on the major sights such as Upwork, you could try your luck on smaller less-known platforms such as these.
Outside of freelance writing, you can also make money online in Kenya doing other non-writing freelancing work like transcription, tutoring, as a virtual assistant or doing other non-specific administrative work.
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Photo by Aimen Ben Aissa on Unsplash