Wanna know how to make money writing?

I get it – I’m a content writer myself, and it’s pretty awesome.

I love writing, working from home, setting my own hours, and basically being the boss.

Good news: Content writing is in high demand!

There are tons of ways to get paid for writing.

Bad news: There’s also a ton of competition, scams, and time-wasters out there.

You could end up writing a bunch of stuff and not getting paid a dime.

But don’t worry, I’m here to guide you through the whole thing.

Just a heads up, though: making money writing takes time.

So only jump into this if you absolutely love writing.

Key Takeaways:

  • Content writers create stuff like blog posts, YouTube scripts, and website copy.
  • Essential skills include grabbing attention, SEO, and being creative.
  • Beginners can start by learning SEO, finding their niche, building a portfolio, and pitching to clients (I’ll even show you how to get clients to come to YOU).
  • Earnings depend on things like your expertise, language skills, and how much you write.
  • You can earn without clients through SEO, affiliate marketing, or selling your own products.

If you’re short on time, I’ve got a quick summary version for you, too!

Wanna earn money writing for clients? Here’s how:

  1. Figure out what you like to write. Try blogging on Medium to experiment and build up some samples of your work.
  2. Learn the basics of SEO, copywriting, and sales. YouTube is your free university! Check out my videos on SEO and sales, and this list of YouTube channels for copywriting tips.
  3. Get some paid experience on content writing platforms. Places like Scripted, Textbroker, Medium, and Copify are a good place to start. I’ve got more details in my article on getting paid to write articles.
  4. Update your LinkedIn profile and apply for jobs. Check out LinkedIn, Fiverr, Upwork, and other similar sites.
  5. Never pay for training before trying it yourself. Seriously, don’t give anyone money to teach you how to be a content writer until you’ve given it a go on your own. If you get stuck and want help, then consider a course or coaching from someone you trust.
  6. Figure out the details. Do you want to reach out to clients or have them come to you? What will you charge? What’s your writing specialty? This takes time!
  7. Never stop learning. So you know the basics, great! But what about domain authority? How good are your editing skills? Can you subtly sell things in your writing? Keep improving your skills.
  8. Keep going! Even as an experienced writer, I’m still figuring things out. It’s okay if it takes you time to find your groove. Sometimes I go back to basics, take a low-paying job on Scripted, and focus on learning something new. It’s all part of the journey!

Wanna earn money writing for yourself? Here’s how:

If working for yourself sounds good, you can totally make money writing your own content. It’s pretty similar to writing for clients:

  1. Figure out what you like to write. You don’t have to pick a niche right away. Just have fun with it!
  2. Start a website and an email list. I recommend Durable AI for a website and ConvertKit for newsletters.
  3. Learn the basics of SEO, copywriting, and sales. You’ll need SEO to get people to see your content, copywriting to keep them engaged, and sales to actually make money.
  4. Start creating content for your website and email list. Shoot for once a week for each to start.
  5. Get on social media. Pick a platform like Instagram, YouTube, or X (formerly Twitter) where you can post regularly and build an audience.
  6. Never pay for training before trying it yourself. Don’t give anyone money to teach you how to be a content creator until you’ve tried it on your own. If you need help, then consider a course or coaching from someone you trust.
  7. Figure out the details. What’s your niche? What kind of affiliate products will you promote? Will you sell a course, ads, or sponsorships? You can try different things!
  8. Never stop learning. Keep improving your skills.
  9. Keep creating! I recently started learning about affiliate marketing. It’s a constant learning process!

And hey, you can do both – write for clients and for yourself!

What even is Content Writing?

Ever wondered what a “content writer” actually does?

Loads of people google it, but it’s not always clear.

Basically, a content writer turns information into interesting stuff for a brand (which could be you!).

This stuff is supposed to grab people’s attention and make them want to check out a certain product or service.

“Content” could be anything from a social media post to a blog article. If you’re a freelance content writer, you’ll get hired by companies to create this stuff, or you’ll make it for your own website or brand.

For example, let’s say there’s a company that sells a course for beginner coders (I’ve worked with one before!).

They might want you to write articles about getting a job in coding, hoping potential customers will read your awesome advice and sign up for their course.

That’s content writing!

But it’s not just about selling stuff.

Content writers can get people excited, teach them new things, inspire them, or even make them laugh.

By writing cool and interesting content, they help build trust in a brand, make it look like an expert, and connect with readers on a deeper level.

Skills Needed to Earn From Content Writing

Being a freelance writer isn’t just about writing – it’s about connecting with readers and getting a message across. Here are some key skills you’ll need to nail it:

  1. Hooking Readers: You gotta grab people’s attention right from the start, like a good movie trailer. Think catchy headlines and interesting first sentences.
  2. Matching the Brand’s Vibe: Each brand has its own personality. You need to be able to write in a way that matches that, whether it’s formal, casual, or something in between.
  3. Paying Attention to the Little Things: Spelling, grammar, and punctuation matter! Make sure your writing is polished and error-free.
  4. Knowing a Bit About SEO: This is how you get your writing to show up in search engines. Learn how to use keywords and other tricks to get more people to see your stuff.
  5. Getting Creative: Nobody wants to read boring stuff! Bring your own unique ideas and perspectives to the table to keep your writing fresh and interesting.

How to Start as a Content Writer with No Experience

Think you can’t be a content writer because you don’t have experience?

No worries! It’s easier than ever to get started.

  1. Just start writing! Practice makes perfect, so get those words flowing. See what your audience likes and find your unique voice.
  2. Find your niche. What topics do you know a lot about or are passionate about? Focusing on a specific area can make it easier to land clients and become a go-to expert.
  3. Get online. Create profiles on platforms like Medium and LinkedIn. Share your thoughts and expertise to show off your writing chops and build a following.
  4. Build a portfolio. Even without paid experience, you can write sample articles or blog posts to show potential clients what you can do. Try different writing styles and topics to prove you’re versatile. (Medium is great for this – you can even get paid when people read your stuff!)
  5. Start pitching. Once you’ve got some samples, reach out to potential clients or publications. Tailor your pitches to each one, highlighting your skills and the value you bring. Don’t give up if you get rejected at first – keep trying!

Tips for Starting as a Content Writer

Starting as a content writer with zero experience might seem scary, but don’t worry, it’s totally doable!

Here are some extra tips to get you on your way:

  • Make friends with other writers. Go to events or join online groups (like Superpath on Slack or Medium) to connect with people who can help you out.
  • Offer your services for free or cheap at first. This can help you get experience and build up some happy clients who might hire you later for paid work.
  • Keep getting better at writing. Ask for feedback from clients or take writing classes. Stay on top of the latest trends in the industry so you can stay ahead of the game.

Remember, starting out takes a lot of hustle and a willingness to learn.

But by following these tips and using the resources available, you can totally make it as a content writer!

Earning Potential for Content Writers

Alright, so how much money can you actually make as a content writer?

Indeed says the average is $20.20 an hour (or $42,016 a year).

Here’s the thing, though: your income depends on a few things:

  • How good you are at selling yourself. A lot of great writers struggle because they don’t like to say “Hey, I’m the best person for this job!” or “Hey, check out my awesome product!”
  • How much you put yourself out there. Are you constantly pitching to new clients, applying for jobs, or emailing your subscribers? Do you follow up?
  • Your special skills. If you’re just looking for low-paying SEO writing gigs, AI is already beating you to it. The more you know about a specific topic, the more valuable you are as a writer (and being fluent in different languages is a huge plus!).
  • How fast you can write high-quality stuff. If it takes you forever to write something good, clients won’t be happy, and you’ll lose out to people who can write well and quickly.

So, there you have it!

The Future of Content Writers in the Age of AI

Now, about that elephant in the room: will AI take your job?

The short answer is no.

Being a good content writer will still be a valuable skill for a long time.

Why?

Because AI can’t really understand and copy human emotions, and those emotions are super important for creating content that people actually care about.

Sure, AI writing tools are getting better, but from what I’ve seen, they’re not even close to matching the creativity and emotional intelligence of a human writer.

AI Tools for Content Writing

Even though AI isn’t replacing human writers, I still recommend checking it out.

Why?

Well, it can:

  1. Speed up your work. Use AI for brainstorming titles, editing, adding examples, and doing research.
  2. Help you find what you’re missing. AI is great at finding patterns. Ask it what to include in an article about the best AI writing tools, and it’ll give you a good summary.
  3. Do things you can’t do. Use AI to create tables, help with coding, make cool images, and more.
  4. Keep you ahead of the game. If you’re not using AI, your competitors probably are – it helps them write faster, more in-depth, and more effective content.

How to Make Money from Content Writing

There are two main ways to make money writing content: blogging and freelance writing. Both are great for beginners, but don’t expect to get rich quick – it takes time!

Making Money with a Blog:

This is an oldie but a goodie.

The idea is simple: create a blog, get it ranking high in search results, put up ads, and get paid through AdSense or similar platforms.

You can also do affiliate marketing, where you recommend products or services and earn a commission if people buy them through your link.

Another option is sponsored content. This means working with brands to create content they’ll pay you to feature on your blog.

Freelance Writing:

This is another popular way to make money writing.

You work with different clients and projects, so it’s pretty flexible.

There are platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr where you can find clients.

Some people start by charging low rates to get reviews, then raise their prices as they get more experience.

Personally, I think this isn’t the best way to go.

Instead, build a portfolio on places like Medium, your own blog, or LinkedIn.

This shows potential clients what you can do, and you can charge what you’re worth right from the start.

Networking is also important.

Go to events, join online groups, and connect with people in the industry.

It takes time, but once you get established, it can be a great career!

Conclusion

Here’s the deal: you can totally make real money writing content, and it can be about pretty much anything.

The internet is huge, and there’s probably an audience out there for what you want to write about.

So, if you want to get paid for writing, here’s what you need to do:

  1. Find your audience. This means learning SEO, how to pitch your ideas, and how to get noticed on platforms like Medium. Be consistent, find what you love to write about, and figure out how to give your audience what they want.
  2. Learn how to make money from your writing. This means setting rates, learning about ads and affiliate marketing, and even creating and selling your own digital products.

The biggest challenge might be yourself.

It’s tough to keep going when you face rejection or failure. You might not get that job, your article might not go viral, or nobody might click on your affiliate link.

But if you keep learning, improving, and putting yourself out there, you can absolutely make a living writing online.

FAQ

So, how much can a newbie content writer expect to earn?

It really depends on your starting skills and how lucky you get. Glassdoor says the average starting salary is around $46,591 per year, but that’s assuming you land a job right away.

Realistically, you might not earn much at first. But within a year, you could be making $50,000 annually through clients or your own blog/platform.

Ready to start? Here’s how:

  1. Just start writing…and keep writing! Learn what works – what gets you hired or resonates with your audience – and adapt. I know it sounds simple, but that’s how you begin.
  2. Get paid what you’re worth. Aim for at least 10 cents per word or $50 per hour when working for clients.
  3. If you’re creating your own content, track your time and results. See if it’s paying off after a month.

Now, what kind of content writing pays the most?

Ghostwriting, hands down.

But it’s not for beginners, as it relies heavily on networking and requires you to write as someone else.

If you’re determined to try ghostwriting, take some low-paying gigs on Reedsy to get your foot in the door.

Huge Self Promo!!!

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