Where I Hunt for Freelance Writing Job Leads – and You Should Too!

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My list of places to find freelance writing jobs for our daily job lists changes on a regular basis. As I learn of new resources or remove resources that aren’t working for us anymore, I make adjustments to my list. I also like to make these lists available to you from time to time so you can do your own thorough searches for freelance writing jobs. Plus, I think it’s fair to link to those people who make gigs available to us all.

Some of these places require a subscription fee, but many are free. I hope you find this list useful. Please know, this isn’t a full list of places to find freelance writing jobs, but it’s where I search on a daily basis.

Where I Hunt for Freelance Writing Jobs

1. Craigslist – I’ll state it again for the record: Craiglslist gets a bum rap. Because of its seedy personals section and haven for scammers, many freelancers write it off as a place to NOT look for work. I disagree. Most of the leads you find here come from Craigslist and they’re not all low payers. I found several very lucrative clients via Craigslist and you can too.

2. Mediabistro – I love Mediabistro for many reasons, but especially the job list. Most of their jobs are of the full time variety, but each day features a sprinkling of gigs for freelancers.

3. Indeed – Indeed, the job search engine, also provides many of the leads you see here on a regular basis. Expect to see gigs pulled for a variety of sources including Monster, Career Builder and others. The only problem is that places like Examiner and Hub Pages advertise in every town and every city in every state, so sometimes you’ll have to go through dozens, if not hundreds of entries for these places before finding unique gigs.

4. Freelance Daily – Like FWJ, Freelance Daily culls leads from a variety of sources including Craigslist, Indeed and Media Bistro. Leads are mailed to you each day so you don’t have to venture past your email to look for work. It’s a paying service and will set you back about $100 per year, but those who enjoy the convenience find it worth the expense.

5. About Freelance Writing – My friend Anne Wayman offers leads and advice from a seasoned vet. Check Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the gigs. We have some overlaps here and there, but between the two of us you’re covered.

6. Journalism Jobs -Features some general freelance writing jobs as well as newspaper gigs from around the world.

7. ProBlogger – Darren Rowse’s job board for bloggers has grown to feature freelance writing jobs as well.

8. Freelance Job Openings -This job board offers a mixed bag of opportunities. Most are of the lower paying variety, but every now and then, a surprising lucrative opportunity pops up.

9. FlexJobs: As its name indicates, Flexjobs includes a variety of flexible opportunities. Some are freelance, some are telecommute and some are simply flexible. Not all gigs are for writers and you’ll have to pay to play, but you might find stuff not found on the usual job baords.

10. Twitter: There are a variety of ways to find gigs with Twitter. For example, many of the freelancers I follow Tweet links to freelance writing jobs all the time. Also, I use Twitter Job Search and Twitter Search.

11. LinkedIn: LinkedIn’s job board features occasional freelance writing jobs.

12. Paying Writer Jobs – A Yahoo newsgroup where the members all share leads to writing gigs and contest entries. Be forewarned: If you’re not an active particpant you’ll be dropped from the list!

13. Telecommute Job List: Aggregates all the telecommute jobs from Craigslist. Some are freelance, some are full time and some are scams, so proceed with caution. However, this can be quite the handy tool. Use it to search for telecommute jobs beyond writing gigs, if you’re looking to work at home.

So there you have it. This is where I search for freelance writing jobs each day.  I also do occasional Google searches for submission pages. Also, many businesses have a page on their websites listing available opportunities and some of these are for freelancers. I’ll search for those as well.

There are so many places to find work for all types of freelance writers. Whether you want to work for a content site, a business or a publication, if you’re diligent in your searching, you’ll find plenty of work.

FAQs Answering Your Questions About the Gigs Posted at Freelance Writing Jobs

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help.wanted

We receive questions every day about the jobs we post at Freelance Writing Jobs. Since many of them are the same,  I thought I might put together some FAQ’s for you. I think I covered most of the usual questions but if you would like to know anything else regarding the jobs posted here, please feel free to ask in the comments.

Enough with the small talk:

The FAQs

Where do you search for the jobs at Freelance Writing jobs?

Jobs come from a variety of sources. Please see 43 Places to Find Freelance Writing Jobs for the places we search daily and weekly for gigs.

Why do you post so many location specific jobs? Can’t you post more jobs that are open to everyone?

It’s not that I don’t look for jobs that are open to everyone. The truth is, there are a lot of location-specific freelance writing gigs and I don’t wish to ignore them. I realize they don’t apply to everyone but if some people can apply and they turn out to lucrative, I’m down with that. My goal is to find the universal gigs but high-paying, virtual gigs aren’t as easy to find.

Why do most of the gigs come from Craigslist?

Because that’s where most of the gigs are? Seriously, I troll five to ten job boards a day. Most boards have a job or two worth posting, Craigslist has more. Many writers write off a job as “Oh. It’s from Craigslist. I won’t even look at it.” Unfortunately, they’re missing out. While Craigslist does tend to attract unsavory types, there are also very lucrative opportunities posted there, with legitimate businesses. I posted a couple of gigs from major businesses that appeared on Craigslist, even from a Fortune 500 company.

Why do you post such low paying gigs?

My policy is to post jobs paying $10 and above. No, $10 isn’t a lot but in some areas of the country it’s an OK minimum hourly wage. Do I prefer jobs with higher pay? Absolutely and those are the jobs I look for the most, and encourage the FWJ community to look for the most. If post a long list of jobs paying hundreds of dollars each day, that’s what I would  do. When I first started FWJ I posted all the freelance writing jobs,  but the dollar jobs bugged me. So I raised it to a $10 minimum. There were plenty of times I offered to raise the minimum even higher but the FWJ community spoke up and asked me to post $10 gigs, so I do. Really, it’s the community who decides what jobs are posted here.

Why do you post so many content site jobs?

I only post jobs for certain content sites. I don’t post the sites paying under $10, profit share, or residual sites, for example. However, it would be hypocritical for me not to. I used content sites quite a bit in the past with good results. I’m not going to pretend I don’t like them or don’t feel them to be a good opportunity. The key is to choose wisely and make sure the ends justify the means. I wrote for content sites at the same time I was writing for a newspaper, and businesses and I know what goes into that type of writing.  I used content site clips to land lucrative gigs. If I didn’t feel certain sites to be worthwhile opportunities, you wouldn’t see them here.

How long does it take you to post the jobs each day?

It takes about two to three hours to find and post all the gigs. I try and start at night so I don’t have to spend my entire morning looking for leads.  I also strive to have a minimum – say 40 to 50 jobs each day at least – but I won’t post a gig for the sake of getting it on the list if I don’t feel it to be a worthwhile opportunity. I tend to go for quality over quantity.

What jobs make the cut?

Again, I look for jobs that appear to be worthwhile opportunities. Jobs that pay enough to justify the work put into each article. I once came across a gig paying $20 per article (higher than $10, obviously) but the client wanted 300 articles per week and I felt it to be unrealistic. I don’t post gigs for term paper mills, jobs that don’t pay, jobs paying anything other than money, residual site gigs and profit shares. I guess if I wouldn’t do it myself, I won’t post it.

You posted a scam last week. How could you possibly say you look for the best jobs.

I don’t intentionally post scams but every now and then a scammy type gets through. I apologize for the inconvenience.

So? Did I answer all of your questions? If so, let me know your thoughts about the jobs posted here and if you’ve had luck landing any of the opportunities. If I didn’t answer all your questions, here’s your open forum. Ask away…

The Rates are Going Up and Other Freelance Writing Job Board Trends

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up trend

I’ve been trolling the freelance writing job boards practically every day for the past five years. All of them. I read Craigslist, use the Indeed search engine, and visit a variety of other job boards and networks including Journalism Jobs and Media Bistro. As noted in another post, even if I wasn’t looking to place leads here, I still like to check the job boards because it indicates the nature of freelance writing. I can see trends in who is hiring and who is paying.

I’d love to share some of those trends with you here.

Rates are going up for Web and Blog Gigs: When I began writing, there were many sites and individuals paying $1 to $5 per article.  In fact, it was rare to find blogging gigs earning more than $5.  While there are still plenty of clunkers out there, I’m noticing a trend in higher blog post and web content rates. Now, the lowest rate I see for most web content is $10 and I’m seeing plenty of $45 and above payers. For blogs, I’m seeing the bottom rate as being $25 to $50 per post. This was almost unheard of when I was starting out and these type of web writing gigs were very desirable. Plus, when I began freelancing, web type jobs for $100 or more were practically unheard of. Now I find at least a couple of these each day.Private clients are still the way to go for the highest paying freelance writing jobs. They’re advertising for a variety of projects, many  paying well over $250.

If there’s one area in which I’m finding a downturn it’s with resume writing. While many resume writers claim to bring in $200 for a single resume and $500 for a resume/cover letter “package,” those who are looking on the job boards to hire resume writers only seem to want to pay about $50.

More businesses are hiring freelance writers: I’m seeing more and more big name brand businesses looking for freelancers as opposed to full timers. This tells me they’re feeling a budget crunch and don’t want to pay the overhead for a full time staff writer. This, of course, is good news for us. Something to keep in mind is how many businesses are looking for writers to work on site, full time, without offering the benefits of a full time opportunity. If that’s you’re thing, cool. However since freelancers are looking for flexibility the full time, on site gigs don’t really afford that.

More clients are asking for a rate quote: One of the reasons so many newer freelancers aren’t sure how to quote a rate, is because plenty of potential clients are dictating what they want to pay in their ad, and there’s no negotiation. The clients are setting the rate. Lately I’m seeing more clients who are asking for a quote. This can be the case for a variety of reasons. For example, they might be looking for the lowest bid. Also, they might not be sure of what to pay freelancers. I find that many private clients are willing to pay for quality, so freelance writers shouldn’t be afraid to quote what they feel they deserve.

More businesses are looking into social media: I’m finding more gigs for bloggers, community mangers, social media evangelists and more. Businesses are beginning to embrace social media as a marketing tool. Get in while the getting is good.

More job board spam: You know you’re as frustrated about this as the rest of us. More places are advertising in every single city in every single state on every single job board. Lordy. I’m good with a few strategically placed ads each week, but please, the feeds? They have to go.

Tell us…

What are some of the trends you’re noticing for freelance writing and freelance writing jobs?

5 Reasons Why Freelance Writing Job Ads are Flagged on Craigslist

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red flag

Craigslist has a reputation for being a haven for scammy types. The truth is, it’s no less scammy than other job boards. In fact, with its flagging system many of the scams are dealt with in a swift and efficient manner. There’s a problem, though. Because of the same flagging system, a lot of the good opportunities disappear too. In fact,  many of the jobs flagged on Craigslist aren’t even scams at all. Some are terrific opportunities but are flagged for a variety of different reasons.

Many of the freelance writers who use this blog network to find work each day express disappointment when they see a gig that’s right up their alley only to click and learn it’s been flagged. Most automatically assume it’s a scam. The truth is, the Craigslist flagging system is flawed. While the intentions are honorable, any old Joe off the street can flag for any variety of reasons and after three clicks the job is out. No one really comes back to check to make sure legitimate opportunities aren’t receiving flags.

Before writing off an employer or a gig as spam or a scam, consider some of these reasons why freelance writing jobs are flagged on Craigslist.

1. They’re Scams

There really are scams and spammers on Craigslist. For example, anyone who tricks you into clicking a residual link for a writing site is a spammer. Anyone who tricks you into thinking you’re applying for a job, when you’re really being directed to a paying site, is a scammer. Writers SHOULD absolutely flag unsavory leads.

2. Someone Else Has Made a Decision for You

Many writers flag jobs they don’t approve of. For example, I know of one writer who flags jobs paying under $50 because she doesn’t feel writers should be paid less than that per article. I know of another writer who flags anything from residual sites because he doesn’t approve of them. These writers are flagging based on their own beliefs and experiences, even if those experiences aren’t the same for everyone.

3. Competition Flagging

Sometimes a writer doesn’t feel confident enough to compete with others for a job and will flag a gig several times over so it will be removed and other freelancers can’t apply. It’s not that it’s a bad gig, it’s that the other writer doesn’t want anyone else to be considered for the job. Confident freelancers shouldn’t be afraid of other writers applying for the same opportunity. If you’re the best fit, you’ll land the gig regardless of the competition.

4. They’re in the Wrong Spot

Sometimes ads are flagged becasue they’re in the wrong place. For example, if an accouting or Virtual Assistant gig is in the writing section many people will flag. Many times non-paying opportunities are flagged because they’re considered volunteer opportunities and should be classified as such.

5. Disgruntled Writers

Sometimes ads are flagged because disgrutled writers want to make it more difficult for their ex-clients and employers to hire other writers. They feel they’re hurting this client by not making the opportunities available to other writers.

Have you ever flagged a freelance writign job listed at Cragislist? If so, why? What are your thoughts on some of these practices?

Craigslist Ad of the Day: The Irresponsible Student

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by Deb Ng

It’s bad enough kids are paying others to do their homework for them:

12 Page Paper Due Tuesday (Anywhere)

Reply to:
Date: 2008-11-09, 6:10PM EST

12 pages, double spaced, with an outline. Due Tuesday by 10 AM EST.

  • Location: Anywhere
  • it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
  • Compensation: 200

    • Someone didn’t do his homework. He was too busy partying or hanging out or playing PS2 until 3:00 a.m. to write his 12 page paper. When does he realize it’s not going to get done? Sunday evening at 6:10 p.m. and when is it due? Tuesday morning. And he’s offering $16 a page for his rush job.

    I ask you, do we expect anyone unethical enough to churn out dude’s homework for him by Tuesday morning to turn in an A or even a B paper? Me neither. And he deserves every bit of his F.

    Craigslist Ad of the Day: The No ByLine, No Pay… No Dice Ad

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    by Deborah Ng

    I’m not sure where to begin here. The mind boggles.

    Big Magazine Looking for Male Weekly Writers (Midtown)

    Reply to:
    Date: 2008-11-05, 8:58AM EST

    An ongoing magazine project seeks writers of all ages to keep short seven-day diaries of their relationship lives. We love women, so please feel free to respond, but we’re particularly looking for men in their 30s, 40s and 50s to tell us what they’re really thinking about their love lives. It’s a great chance to get a clip. Normal-to-boring lives are great, as are active ones. Your name will not appear. We’ll happily send you the information after you respond with your age, orientation, employment and neighborhood. Thanks! [Read more…]

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