Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
Although I am quite the expert when it comes to content mills, they are not the only way to get paid as a writer. In fact, you have access to a wide variety of methods to land some great gigs. Today, I’ll go over some of the easiest ways to find writing jobs that pay well.
And I know there are much longer lists out there on the Internet. But, I usually focus on the more realistic and practical side of things.
The best method for you is the one that you find to be the most beneficial. It doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks.
How to Realistically Find Writing Jobs Online
In this post, I’m going over six viable methods to help you find writing jobs. Depending on your experience and interest, some may be easier than others.
However, I’ve found jobs available for every method below spanning across several different industries and niches.
1. Using Job Boards
Job boards are exceptionally popular, and for good reason. Some of the more well-known platforms have work available from some of the biggest names in the world.
For example, Indeed.com usually has a slew of jobs for a wide scope of work. And I constantly get updates for writing work available on the platform. Not to mention adding your resume in the event an employer is looking for someone with your experience.
This is because many businesses will use sites like Indeed, 24seventalent.com, and many others for job postings. So, the chances of legitimate work are very high. And, they’re a great place to start your search.
2. Using Job Aggregators
Job aggregator sites are those platforms that scour the Internet looking for work. Then, they combine all of this data into one massive outlet for employment. So, sites like Jooble.org can be full of various job opportunities.
One of the downsides to aggregators, though, is in how they work. A job collected by a platform may become out-dated rather quickly and lead to sites with no vacancies. So a job posted 18 days ago may be obsolete in the aggregator.
This means to find writing jobs, you might have to sift through older posts or those that no longer exist. I usually set my search to as early as the listing is possible.
The defunct job offers often leads to poor ratings for these systems. But in reality, the aggregator itself is working as it was intended. Not everything is updated in real-time.
3. Set Up Your LinkedIn Profile
The way I get most of my clients today is by having my LinkedIn profile updated. It works just like an online resume, but with a social media twist. In fact, I get brands checking my profile quite often.
Just like your resume, highlight everything regarding your skills as a freelance writer. In fact, add “for Hire” as part of your title and background. This lets brands know you’re looking for work.
In reality, LinkedIn is probably one of the most effective tools for anyone looking for freelance writing jobs. And, it doesn’t hurt to grow your influence among those who connect with you on the system.
You never know who is hiring for what in that network of connections.
4. Use Your Website and a Contact Form
If you don’t have a professional freelance writing blog yet, you should really consider setting one up. Not only is it your base of operations as a professional, but you can attract clients through a contact form on the site.
I get interested parties all the time from both this blog and MichaelBrockbank.com. This ranges from inquiries about my writing rates to adding sponsored content on the website.
Maintaining this blog has been a blessing over the long term. And I wouldn’t have a lot of the opportunities I have today without it.
5. Use Google Search
I’ve come across a slew of jobs to help other writers simply by taking to Google. However, it often depends on the terms you use. Just looking for “jobs” in certain industries can populate a lot of results that aren’t relevant to find writing jobs.
Start with the industry you want to write. Then, include specific terms.
For example, let’s say I wanted to be a psychology writer/blogger. I would start the search with “psychology writer” and then add:
- needed
- job opportunities
- for hire
- hiring
Use any terms you can think of that would appear on someone’s job page.
OK, so, now the downside. When you use Google search, you’re going to come across a slew of content mills. That’s because of how these companies are set up.
You’ll find pages from Upwork, Indeed, Glassdoor, Scripted, and a host of others.
If you decide to use any of these systems, make sure you check them out first. There’s a lot of scams out there, and you don’t want to put in the time and effort just for someone to run away with your work.
To find single job listings, you will probably have to dig several pages deep in a Google search. But, they’re there. That is as long as the website is regularly crawled by the search engine.
I was able to find several that I almost applied to on page 6 in search. I just don’t have the time to add yet another project to my daily plate.
6. Cold Pitch Emails
And lastly, there’s nothing inherently wrong with cold pitch emails to potential clients. This is when you send an email to a brand of which you want to write for in the hopes of landing a gig.
It works quite well, for the right people. Of course, it’ll probably take you quite a few emails before you find writing jobs available.
If you need help structuring cold email pitches, Megan Grant on YouTube has a lot of valuable videos to help you land clients much sooner. And if you get a few clients lined up every month, you’re well on your way to financial freedom.
Before You Apply If You Find Writing Jobs…
So, what do you need before you start applying? Well, it’s a basic list of necessities every writer should have immediately available.
- Set Up Your Professional Resume
A good resume can go a long way to landing some of those writing gigs. I know I’ve turned down a few whose resumes were less than ideal. - Do You Have a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is an introduction to yourself, highlights a few of the more prominent skills, and finishes with a meeting request to the employer. It’s best if you can make these as unique as possible for each individual application. - Have Samples Ready
Samples of your work need to be unique and demonstrate your abilities. You can probably get away by linking to published works on popular websites, as long as you’re the author. However, I’d rather have two or three samples on hand that have never been published.
Use Content Mills as a Time Filler
It’s difficult to find writing jobs for those who have no experience. Clients and employers want to know you can handle the work and write well. And this goes beyond just being able to spellcheck.
That’s one of the biggest reasons why I suggest content mills as often as I do. Sure, you won’t make as much per word. But, you will get a lot of experience in AP Style writing, client interaction, and discovering your preferred niche.
In fact, I wouldn’t be the success I am today if it wasn’t for Textbroker.
Use content mills as a way to fill your time while you’re looking for writing jobs. Instead of waiting for a client to respond to an email, you might as well crank out a couple of articles.
Use them for practice and fine-tuning your style.
How Do You Find Writing Jobs Online?
Above is just a short list of ways you can find writing jobs on the Internet. And I was able to find a great deal of work available among most of them across a few different industries.
But out of all of them, I’d say the LinkedIn method has been the most influential.
The hardest part is finding something that works best for you. Whether it’s job aggregators or cold email pitches, you have a lot of opportunities to explore.
- How I Am Balancing College While Maintaining All of My Projects - March 26, 2025
- Why You Should Consider the Weekly Writing Contests at Reedsy - March 24, 2025
- Can You Use vidIQ for Blog Ideas? It’s Not Just for YouTube - March 21, 2025