The Best Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners: Top 12

If you’re new to freelance writing, it can be tough to know where to start. Luckily, the best freelance writing jobs for beginners are at your fingertips. Little to no experience required.

Curious about pay rates and how to choose the best option for you?

Use the below tools to explore job/client opportunities, job skills, experience, responsibilities, tasks, and pay ranges for each of these:

A general Google search
Ziprecruiter’s Salary Estimate Tool
Glassdoor’s Salary Estimator Tool
LinkedIn Salary Tool
Indeed Salary Tool
See what other writers are charging on Upwork and Fiverr

If you’re a new freelance writer, keep reading for the best freelance writing jobs for beginners…

1. Best Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners: Social Media Writing

One of the great things about social media writing is that it doesn’t require a lot of (if any) real previous job experience. As long as you can write engaging short-form posts and know how to use social media, you’ve already got a foot in the door.

Social media writers need to be comfortable writing on various platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. They also need to be able to write in various styles, from serious to humorous. It’s a huge bonus if you can write both eye-catching social content (posts, tweets, etc.) and social media ad copy.

Social media marketing and writing are great ways to get your name out there as a freelance writer.

Best Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners: Social Media Writing

If you can build up your clients’ followings on social, that’s great.

If you can build and grow your own audience on social media as a new writer, that’s even better.

If you can successfully brand yourself and grow your own social audience, client prospects can’t ignore your results. Growing your own social media following as a social writer and marketer can be an unparalleled tool for attracting new clients and businesses.

It’s the same concept as building your own website traffic and audience as a content writer.

Showing your work and results online can create an endless pipeline of inbound client opportunities and income. At very least, showing your results will make outbound lead pitching way easier for you.

So while you’re working on sharpening your social media marketing writing skills, marketing acumen, and closing your own clients –– be sure to block out time to brand yourself and build your own following as well.

The proof is in the pudding.

Show them you know what you’re doing, right on your profile.

2. Blog Writing

Another freelance writing job that’s perfect for beginners is blog writing. Blog writing is a great way to get your foot in the door of the freelance writing world.

And since there are so many different types of websites out there, you can find paying jobs in virtually any niche, industry, or interest you have.

Unlike some other types of freelance writing, blog writing doesn’t necessarily require a lot of experience. You can become a freelance blog writer as long as you can write well and pick up some basic research skills (aka- Googling).

One of the best aspects of blog writing (much like social media writing or any form of writing in this article) is that the research and writing skills involved in blogging can be transposed into any field, topic, niche, or industry.

If you get bored of specializing in one industry, you can pick up your skills and take them to a new one.

3. Best Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners: Content Writing

If you’re looking for another one of the best freelance writing jobs for beginners, content or web content writing might be a good option for you. This type of freelance writing involves creating content for websites, such as landing pages, home pages, articles, product descriptions, service pages, and other forms of website copy.

Content Writing: One of the Best Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners

Content writers need to be able to write mid-length and long-form site content as well as eye-catching headlines and short-form SEO copy. SEO is an essential skill for web content writers.

If you like the idea of writing website content, sales pages, copy, and even blogs, this could be the perfect position for you to segue into as a freelance writer.

Interested in becoming a content writer? Be sure to read

4. Ghost Writing

Ghostwriting is when you write something (usually an article or blog post), and someone else puts their name on it.

This type of freelance writing can be great for beginners because it doesn’t require a lot of experience. Once again, as long as you can write well, you can do this type of freelance writing.

Ghostwriters need to be able to write in the style of the person they’re writing for. They need to be able to capture the voice, tone, and phrasing of that person, brand, or organization they’re writing for.

Ghost Writing freelance writing jobs for beginners

If you like the idea of writing anonymously for others, ghostwriting could be the perfect career field for you.

Certain ghostwriting jobs pay absurdly well too. Check out this article on how some high-demand LinkedIn post ghostwriters are making $500-$700 per hour.

5. News Writing

If you’re looking for freelance writing jobs that require a little more experience, news writing may be a great option for you.

News writers need to be able to write quickly and accurately. They need to be able to fact-check their work, write on hard deadlines, and have a good understanding of the news cycle.

Beyond that, you really only need the 7th-8th grade reading and writing level to write for local news. This may be shocking, but that’s the average reading and writing level across the entire internet.

It’s what your audience and Google both prefer.

Once again, it helps if you’re familiar with the AP style guide, which is the style guide most news organizations use.

6. Best Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners: Email Writing

Email newsletter writing is another well-paying, low-barrier entry point as one of the best freelance writing jobs for beginners. This type of freelance writing involves creating email campaigns for clients, brands, businesses, and other organizations.

A prerequisite to becoming a master email newsletter writer is writing engaging, click-worthy headlines. If you don’t know how to write captivating headlines or subject lines, no one is going to open your email.

Luckily, that skill isn’t hard to pick up. If you want to learn how, be sure to read How to Write Eye Catching Headlines

As a professional email campaign writer, you also need to have a good understanding of email marketing and how to craft emails that convert to opens, clicks, sign-ups, and purchases for you and your client.

Email marketing writers need to be able to write engaging, compelling content that will get people to open and click through the email. They also need to have a good understanding of email marketing and how to craft emails that will convert to opens, clicks, sign-ups, and purchases.

To become an email marketing writer, you’ll need experience with email marketing software like MailChimp, Constant Contact, ConvertKit, or HubSpot. I’ve been testing out SendFox and really enjoy it as well.

7. Press Release Writing

Another freelance writing job that’s perfect for people with a little bit of experience is press release writing. This type of freelance writing involves creating press releases for businesses and organizations.

A press release is a document that announces something newsworthy. It can be about a new product, a change in management, or even an award that the company has won. Press releases are typically sent to journalists and other media outlets to get them to write about the news.

Press release writers need to be able to write in a style that’s both newsworthy and interesting. They also need to be able to format their press releases correctly and follow the AP style guide.

8. eCommerce Description Writing

If you’re looking for freelance writing jobs that are a little bit more specialized, eCommerce description writing might be a good option for you. This type of freelance writing involves creating product descriptions for online stores like Amazon.com.

eCommerce writers need to be able to write compelling, persuasive product descriptions that will convince people to buy the products they’re interested in. They also need to have a good understanding of SEO and how to optimize their product descriptions for the search engines.

9. Best Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners: Copywriting

Copywriting is a type of freelance writing that involves writing sales copy and marketing materials for businesses. Copywriting is a versatile skill that can include website copy, email content, social media posts, ad headlines, ad copy, design copy or content, and more.

It’s one of the most versatile and powerful writing skills on the planet.

Copywriters need to be able to write in a style that’s both engaging and persuasive. Great copywriters understand human behavior and consumer psychology as well as core sales and marketing principles.

Best Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners: Copywriting

They know how to craft persuasive statements, questions, and points that convince their target audience to take the actions they want them to take. Even though that sounds like a tall order for new writers, you can start writing copy at any level. I was getting paid to write copy with only 1-2 years of experience. A lot of writers do.

Copywriting, like any form of writing, is something that you can start making money at tomorrow, but you can spend a lifetime mastering the craft.

If you want to start leveling up your copywriting skills now, be sure to read

10. Technical Writing

Technical writing is a type of freelance writing that involves creating manuals, instructions, and other types of documentation for businesses.

If you are a research nerd like me, enjoy or have a knack for teaching or writing instructions, and have high attention to detail, this could be the perfect freelance writing job for you.

Skills technical writers need include

Writing skills: Technical writers need to be able to write clear, concise, and well-organized documentation.
Research skills: Technical writers need to be able to research the products they’re writing about so they can understand how to use them correctly.
Organizational skills: Technical writers need to be able to keep track of multiple projects and deadlines.

New technical writers need to be able to write clear, concise documentation. They also need to be familiar with the process of creating manuals and instructional materials.

11. Content Mill Writing Jobs

A content mill job is a freelance writing job that involves writing content for a business that works with a variety of clients and businesses. Think of it as a large agency that’s trying to pump at as much content to as many clients as possible. They can specialize in creating content like website copy, blog posts, and social media posts, ad copy, and more.

Content mill jobs are a great option for beginners who want to get their feet wet in freelance writing, but they’re typically not the highest paying. Namely, because you work for or contract with them and they bring you clients and work.

Example: They may charge a client $100 for a 1,000-word blog but only pay you $25 for writing it.

The biggest downside:

Content mills is that the pay is typically not great. It can also be a ton of writing if you don’t stick to your boundaries with the mill you’re contracting with.

The upsides:

You don’t have to reach out to prospects, sell, or close clients your own clients.
They just send work to you.
You can build writing skills very quickly in many valuable industries and niches.

Writing for a content mill was the highest-volume writing job I’ve ever had. I’m thankful that I cut my teeth as a writer at a content mill, but I’m also thankful I’m now making a fair wage as a writer.

To give you an idea of the scope of content mills, writing for one made me comfortable writing for hard deadlines in a variety of industries:

Electricians
HVAC technicians
Science
Medical
Chiropractic
Travel and tourism
History
Entertainment
Finance and investing
Health, fitness, nutrition, and sports supplements
Software
Marketing and SEO
Consumer products
Branding

And in all different writing capacities, including:

Blog
Web content
Sales pages
Social posts
Social ads
Blog headlines
Ad headlines
Email headlines
Email campaigns
Service and product page writing
eCommerce copy and content

Many freelance writers start their careers by writing for content mills. While they’re not the highest-paying writing jobs, they can be a great way to get your foot in the door and build your portfolio.

yellow ceramic mug beside gray aluminum iMac

Remember that when you start, accumulating experience and building your portfolio are two of your top priorities.

Those assets will get you more, higher-paying work in the near future.

Focus on getting experience and building up your skills. Once you have a strong portfolio, I recommend applying for higher-paying freelance writing jobs or getting your own higher paying clients.

12. Find Opportunities on Fiverr and Upwork

Fiverr and Upwork are two of the most popular freelance job boards. If you’re just starting out as a freelance writer, these platforms can be a great way to find work and clients.

Since these platforms allow businesses and freelancers to post jobs, gigs, and work for any budget, you can find jobs that fit your skill level and experience.

To find high-demand, low-experience freelance writing jobs on Fiverr:

Go to Fiverr.com, then click
–> Writing and translation
–> Articles & Blog Posts
–> Seller Details
–> New Sellers

This will show you all of the jobs that are available for new freelance writers.

Check out High-Demand, Low-Experience Jobs on Fiverr and Upwork

On Upwork, you can search for jobs by keyword and filter the results by experience level. Simply select “entry-level” in the experience level drop-down menu to find jobs that are a good fit for beginners.

It can take a little longer to find work on Upwork and Fiverr, because you’ll need to build a freelancer profile, confirm your identify, etc. before you’re able to offer your services or pitch clients.

But if you have the time to do that, it’s well worth it. It’s a small time investment that opens you up to two of the biggest freelancing platforms on the web.

Best Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners: Free Learning

There’s never been a better time in history to become a paid writer. You may say that’s a bold claim, but we have more, free and ridiculously inexpensive, life-changing information at our disposal than any other time in human history.

Want to learn any form of writing mentioned in this post? All you have to do is check out:

Free articles and information on Google
Tutorials, writing channels, and how-to guides on YouTube
Writers on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok
Writers groups on social media
Skillshare for inexpensive courses

Getting Started

If I was a new writer again or talking to a new writer that was starting from scratch with no experience, and they or I wanted or needed to start making money as quickly as possible, here’s what I’d do:

If you have social accounts and feel comfortable writing and posting content on social media, do that. Social media writing is one of the best freelance writing jobs for beginners on so many levels:

Low barrier to entry for new writers (or any writer).
Decent pay for new writers.
Plenty of room for income growth as you get more experience and sharpen your skills.

Getting started as a beginner freelance writer

Then, here’s what I’d do:

Build a cheap or free website using WordPress, Medium, JournoPortfolio, Squarespace, or Wix.
Join writers groups on LinkedIn and Facebook and start participating in the group.
Soak in as much information, learning, and skills as possible from the free resources above.
Read 3-5 of the best-selling books online for social media marketing.
Post 1-2 blogs per week on everything you’re learing about social media marketing.
Share those posts to your own social media channel.
When you feel ready, start reaching out to clients. I’d start with local businesses in your area who aren’t fully leveraging social media but could really benefit from your newfound skills.
Rinse and repeat.

This method lets you build your knowledge base, skills, portfolio, brand, website, network, and credibility all at once –– all while getting you more comfortable with blogging too.

Leave ‘college’ and ‘complicated’ to brain surgeons, engineers, and rocket scientists.

Keep the learning, writing, and growing process fun and simple.

In Closing

There are so many different freelance writing jobs that are perfect for beginners. These jobs will help you build your portfolio and gain the experience you need to land higher-paying gigs in the future.

So if you’re ready to start your freelance writing career, don’t wait. Get out there and start applying for these beginner-friendly jobs today.

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