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FREELANCE CONTENT WRITING
There are close
to 8 billion websites on the World Wide Web. Each website competes for
search
engine ranking. To do this, they all need to have a regular supply of
fresh new
content.
Each webmaster
owns an average of four websites and each of those has an average of 27
content
pages. Where will they be able to get the content they need? The freelance work at home
writer is the
answer.
There are less
than 20,000 content writers today, but the demand is too great. 20,000
content
writers try to write 2.7 million new pages of information each and
every month.
The shortage is very apparent.
Content writing
is a freelance work at home opportunity that is very accessible. And
with the
high demand for fresh content coupled with the low number of writers;
you do
the math. There is
ample opportunity to
make your mark as an article or copy writer.
The Internet is
a writer’s paradise. If you have some writing skills, then
it’s guaranteed that
there’s a job waiting for you on the Web.
The Internet is
fueled by information. People are continually searching for information
on
websites.
And how is this
information conveyed?
That’s right!
Through words… words which are put together by writers who
often conduct
thorough research on a topic and present it in an easily digestible
format for
the hoards of users hungry for such information.
This is the very
reason why content writing has always been a lucrative freelance work
at home
opportunity. The demand for fresh content is not slowing down but is
increasing
as Internet use increases. Therefore, the demand for content writers is
equally
ceaseless.
Most webmasters
can write their own content, of course. But if they’re
maintaining more than 5
websites, coming up with new content will be very difficult. It will
consume a
lot of their time, and it will tire them out eventually.
They’d rather find a
writer who will do the work for them.
Additionally,
with the popularity of private label rights (PLR) membership sites
these days
offering community content that will be shared by a limited number of
people,
the demand for content writers has increased. If
you can find a client that maintains that
type of membership website, you might even get orders of up to 500
articles per
month. And that’s just one client.
Yes, we used the
word “article.” An article is the basic piece that
you will write. A good
article must have the following characteristics:
It is
keyword-optimized,
meaning, it is written with the correct density level (usually 3%,
or 3 mentions of the keyword or key phrase for every 100 words of
text). The
keyword or key phrase is often provided by the client.
It is unique, meaning that there is nothing like it in the
offline or online
world. It is an article that is original, specifically written for your
client.
It is structurally
sound, meaning
that there are no grammatical errors. This is pretty
basic. If you want to earn money as a writer, you have to make sure
that you
can write properly.
It is highly
readable. Your
clients will use your submissions as traffic bait. To achieve
this end, you must make sure that you will submit intelligently written
articles that will capture the interest of the readers, articles which
will not
bore them to death. For example, reading an article with title
“iPods In
Today’s Generation” is not really as interesting as
reading an article entitled
“Where To Find The Cheapest
iPods
On The Planet.”
It must be written
for an
online audience.
There are some significant
differences between writing for print and writing for Web readers. The
latter
makes good use of negative space, or the space between clusters of
words, to
allow the readers’ eyes to relax. Since your readers will be
reading from their
computer screens, the process is more taxing for them, so you need to
help them
out a bit. Keep your sentences and paragraphs short. Use numbering and
bulleting as much as possible, so that your article can easily be
scanned for
pertinent information.. Also, avoid using heavy words. You’re
not aiming to be
the next literary giant, after all. You have to write articles which
will be
Looking For Work?
Ideally, you'll
want to find a client with whom you can establish a long term
relationship..
Expect to get orders of up to 200 to 500 articles per month, depending
on the
needs of such a client. But you must first establish your reputation as
an
excellent content writer. To do this, you must build up your portfolio
with
works that are of excellent quality. Everyone has to start somewhere,
after
all. You can try creating an account with any of the freelancing
websites
suggested by this report. Begin by viewing projects which are open for
bidding.
As a beginner, do not hesitate to bid lower than what you believe is
your
worth. Remember, the ultimate aim is to establish contact with a client
that
will learn how to trust you in the long run, and you must first offer
an
attractive package that will win such a client’s attention.
So win those bids
first, and higher price.
Your work should
be accessible to the most number of people possible, regardless of age
and
reading comprehension level.
As a content
writer, you are expected to respect certain things. Remember that your
client’s
business success rests on your shoulders. The quality of your work and
how fast
you can submit it play crucial roles in determining the profit that
your client
will receive from his partnership with you.
Guidelines that a content writing:
Respect deadlines. Before accepting a job, inform your client of
the turnaround
period you need. If your client will agree on the delivery date, do
your utmost
to deliver his order by that date, or earlier, if possible. Most
important, as
with any job or contract, you must deliver or complete the work as
promised.
Many content writers have gone out of business for failing to observe
this
rule.
Transfer all the
copyrights to the work.
Once the transaction is
completed, you will retain no rights over your work. You cannot claim
ownership.
Your client will have exclusive ownership over the articles, just as if
he had
written them himself.
Provide accurate
information in your writing.
In other words, do
your research, that’s what your client is paying you for. Your client’s
name is at stake, so if you do
not exercise responsible writing, you can potentially ruin your
client’s
business. Eventually, you’ll be bombarded with orders. This
is a certainty.
Don’t
take more work than
you can complete.
Sometimes, the lure of more pay
coming from more orders will be hard to resist. Do
not hesitate to turn down some offers if
your hands are full. Try to keep your current clients happy and you
will be
rewarded with long term benefits later on.
FINDING CLIENTS:
Since your target
clients are webmasters, other places where you can advertise your
services are
forums dedicated to your market. There are many webmaster forums that
have
specific categories where content writers can seek some work:
forums.digitalpoint.com
www.webmasterworld.com
FEES CHARGEABLE FOR WORK:
Based on the
current average going rates that content providers charge these days,
here are some
suggestions:
Articles with 400 words minimum - $5
Articles with 600 words minimum - $7
Articles with 800 words minimum - $9
Articles with 1,200 words minimum - $14
You can whatever
you want, but it all depends on how valuable a brand you have
established for
your service providing business.
This is an ideal
freelance work at home opportunity for anyone with writing skills. You don’t have
to be an expert on any
particular subject, but you do need to do research and present credible
material content.
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