This blog post is an excerpt from The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course Workbook.

Professional freelance writers are always blogging about these sweet gigs they’re working on that pays $100 to $2,000 per article.

Where the heck do you find these fantastic jobs everyone’s talking about?

After years, I have honed a way to find great paying gigs quickly. Here are my secrets.

Hit Up Social Media

One of the easiest ways to find gig gems is to search social media. Often, businesses will post their need for a blogger, copywriter or ghostwriter on their pages. All you have to do is search for relevant hashtags.

Put these hashtags into a Facebook or Twitter search bar to find awesome gigs:

• #bloggerswanted
• #writerswanted
• #copywriterwanted
• #bloggerjob
• #bloggingjobs
• #writtingjobs
• #publishingjobs
• #journalismjobs
• #freelancewriterwanted
• #remotewriterwanted
• #fbloggerswanted (Fashion bloggers wanted)
• #healthbloggerswanted 

Search Google the Smart Way

Searching for writing jobs on Google can bring up job posts from 2005 or jobs that are five states away and require on-site work. You can avoid all of the crappy job posts by searching smart.

If you want to search a certain site, put site: in front of the site name, then add keywords in quotation marks. For example, I’ve had a lot of luck with this search:

• site:craigslist.org “remote writer”

Some other sites other than craigslist you can try are:

• site:problogger.com
• site:freelancewritinggigs.com

Some other terms you can try are:

• “content writing companies”
• “freelance writing companies”

To get newer job posts, add the date:

• site:craigslist.org “remote writer ” July 15th 2018
• Now the secret to finding high paying jobs: add the type of payment you’re looking for.
• site:craigslist.org “remote writer ” July 15th 2018 pays $220
• site:craigslist.org “remote writer ” July 15th 2018 $50 per hour
• site:craigslist.org “remote writer ” July 15th 2018 .50 per word

Successful writer Jennifer Mattern recommends this combination:

writer and “compensation: * per article” site:craigslist.org (Replace the * with the monetary amount you want to be paid.)

If you want to search everywhere, just leave off the site and type in the rest of the search. This will bring up high-paying gigs from company job boards that most people never look at.

Search LinkedIn

Another great way to find jobs is by searching LinkedIn. No, I’m not talking about the job section. Here are the details to a special way to search:

1. Go to the Home page
2. In the search bar type “looking for writer” or “looking for freelance writer”
3. When it takes you to the page, click on the option menu on the left side
4. Choose Content
5. Find the menu above the results labeled Sort By
6. Choose Latest

Posts by companies and individuals looking for writers will pop up.

Get Jobs Delivered to Your Inbox

Now that you know the search criteria, set up Google alerts so you can get these great jobs delivered right to your inbox every day.

To set up a Google Alert follow these directions:

1. Go to https://www.google.com/alerts
2. Type your search term into the box at the top of the screen
3. Click on the “Show Options” dropdown menu
4. Set it up to send you an email every day and to send you “all results”
5. Click “Create Alert”

Sign Up to Get Daily Job Newsletters

There are some great sites out there that scour the web for freelance writing jobs, then bundles them up into daily emails. I’ve rounded up a selection that provides links to gigs that pay well. Here are my favorite daily and weekly newsletters you need to sign up for:

• http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com
• http://www.freelancewriting.com/newsletters/morning-coffee-freelance-writing-jobs.php
• http://www.bloggerjobs.biz/
• http://writersweekly.com/find-paying-markets

Search the LinkedIn Job Section

You have a fantastic LinkedIn page that you can use to show off your chops, but you can also use LinkedIn to find the best, most high-paying jobs. Click on the Jobs icon at the top of the screen. Then, in the search bar, type in (your niche) freelance writer.

Bada-boom!

You’ll be presented with a smorgasbord of awesome jobs that pay well. You just need to find one that allows you to work from home.

On the right side of the screen you’ll find a “Create Search Alert.” Fill out the search criteria below the button, then click on it. Every time a company posts a new job that’s a good fit for you, it will get delivered right to your inbox.

Never Stop Searching

The key to finding gigs is volume. Apply for 20 solid gigs per week until you start bringing in the clients you need to pay the bills. Once you’ve got your clients, don’t stop. You’re never done searching when you’re a freelance writer. Simply trim your search down to 12 gigs a week. Remember, a dozen in play keeps the bills paid.

Start searching for clients that pay more to replace your current clients when the gigs end. Eventually, your name will get around and clients will search you out. That’s how you know you’ve made it to the big time. Even then, don’t stop searching. Just be super picky about who you take on as a client.

If you would like more great tips like these, order your copy of The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course Workbook today.

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Author: Alina Bradford is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience. She currently coaches new writers who want to become successful in the business. You can learn more about Alina at AlinaBradford.com.

 

 

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