Beyond the article

When I started freelance writing, I pictured myself writing your run-of-the-mill 1000 word articles on subjects of my choice. I still do this but mostly for my own blog and LinkedIn articles like this one. In reality though, I learned that if I really wanted to make a go of this whole freelance writing adventure, I was going to have to be willing to explore the vast and colorful array of writing opportunities that are out there. 

Basically, I needed to expand my services. Broaden my horizons. Try new things. My first writing gigs were editing books for self-publishing and writing website copy for small businesses. Opportunities to write articles are out there, but they are somewhat scarce. Why limit yourself?

As with any career transition, there’s bound to be a big learning curve. I’m just writing this article to make researching freelance writing less of an epic adventure and more of a nice, leisurely stroll in the park for you, having already done most of the legwork myself. I did it so you don’t have to. 

So, for your convenience, here’s a little compilation of types of freelance writing beyond blog posts and articles that you might not have thought of. 

1. Copywriting

Copywriting is kind of a broad term for writing content that is intended to persuade a customer or client to do something. It can come in the form of writing website content (about pages, FAQs, landing page information), product descriptions, and ad copy (like Google Ads). It requires at least some knowledge of best SEO practices. If you don’t know what SEO is yet, I’d suggest trying out the Google Digital Marketing and E-Commerce course on Coursera. 

2. Content Writing

Content writing is another very broad term for writing for blogs, websites, and guides. However, instead of trying to persuade someone to do something, content writing is more focused on educating someone about a topic. This general kind of freelance writing might be more up your alley if you really have your heart set on writing blog posts and articles. However, be aware this kind of writing is already fairly oversaturated with writers including one of the biggest “authors” out there – AI. Don’t be too discouraged though, as I still see many clients looking for human-generated work. 

3. Technical Writing

This is intended to simplify complex topics and make them more digestible for the average reader who might not already be an expert on the subject matter. It can include manuals, how-to guides, medical guidelines, software instructions, etc. I honestly don’t have much experience in this area. Yet. 

4. Ghostwriting

Oh, ghostwriting. You might be surprised but from personal experience, I’d consider ghostwriting to be an area of freelance writing that is still in high demand. What is ghostwriting? It’s not as scary as it sounds. It basically means you would be writing a story, document, article, or other piece of written work to be published under someone else’s name. 

Self-publishing and KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) are becoming increasingly more popular and most people requiring a ghostwriter still want original, non-AI writing. It could be a good way to break into freelance writing if you just want to get your foot in the door and you have a good writing voice, a creative spark, and can follow directions or an outline well. 

5. Scriptwriting

Well, this is another area of freelance writing and writing in general that I’ve yet to dip my toe in. Anyway, you probably have a general idea of what it is because, well… it’s in the name. A scriptwriter writes scripts. More and more clients seem to need scriptwriters for their YouTube channels, training videos, TikTok accounts, and social media platforms in general.  

6. Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writing

Yes, this is particularly apt for this platform. If you’re reading this, you probably know the job market is highly competitive these days and people are willing to try anything to get their foot in the door. One of the most popular pieces of advice for a job seeker is to start a LinkedIn account and create connections. How do you do that? Well, you need a great profile and resume to start. People are willing to hire freelance writers to help them get, well, hired. 

7. Editing and Proofreading

Sometimes clients have written a first draft of something already and just need it edited. This is another area of writing that I think is great for a beginning freelance writer who is interested in gaining some initial experience. If you can prove you have a good understanding of grammar and effective sentence structure, it boosts your credibility as a writer overall. 

8. Social Media Writing

Social media marketers and copywriters basically design posts for Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook, or other platforms. This kind of writing is also becoming increasingly popular and is changing constantly.  

It’s a great tool to market yourself, your brand, or your products. Most social media platforms provide analytic reports helpful in making good business decisions. Many clients look for a social media manager who can create social media calendars, schedule posts, and create marketing strategies. Keep in mind, however, that designing social media posts usually has just as much to do with visuals, videos, and graphics as it does writing. 

9. Email Marketing and Newsletter Writing

Creating newsletters and marketing emails for clients are great ways to break into freelance writing. You can provide sample marketing emails to potential clients (like real estate companies, banks, local businesses) and see if they’re interested in hiring you to make more! 

I mentioned real estate companies because a real estate company was my first client in this area of freelance writing. They mostly want to make their customers aware of market changes, local news, and featured listings, so it wasn’t difficult to make a sample template for them. After that, it was off to the races!  

Conclusion

Clearly, where there’s a need for any kind of word sorcery, freelance writers can help. We’re like little creative chameleons, able to adapt to a client’s specific needs. Except we don’t blend into an environment. Our goal is to stand out. 

Also, you should know that freelance writing extends far beyond this list. I mean, I’ve even heard of freelance writers who specialize in writing wedding speeches and funeral eulogies. 

Basically, my advice for new freelance writers is this: diversify your portfolio, try different types of writing, accept client feedback with grace, and continue to grow. This will increase your earning potential and help you to find the type of writing that you love. You might be surprised–your writing sweet spot might just be an area you hadn’t even thought of before!