Before we get started: With Contena Academy you can create everything you need to get started with freelance writing in about a weekend. With Contena, you also receive access to a database of thousands of companies that hire remote writers.

Freelance writing is quickly becoming one of the most popular and reliable ways to earn money while working from home.

If you're totally new to freelancing, there is a lot that of work that you could be doing, but what should you really be doing? 

Thankfully, there are many right answers, and it's important to know the types of content that companies need, and that they will pay you for. You know you want to make money as a writer, so don't leave money on the table by missing some of these critical types of work that companies will pay you for.

See how much you can make freelance writing with our earnings calculator

What types of writing can you do as a freelancer?

Articles

It seems a substantial chunk of freelance writing jobs can fall under the description of "article writing" and there's plenty of money to be made by writing articles! What types of articles? Keep reading...

Online

Among the most prevalent of jobs, online article writing is a popular choice for many freelancers. Sometimes called posts or pieces, online articles come in many forms. The intention behind online articles can range from informative to persuasive depending on the target audience and the clients' goals.

This type of content typically ranges in size from 500 words, all the way upwards of 8,000 words.

Get Paid to Write Online Content with Contena

Print

Print articles are mainly found in newspapers and magazines. Many times, they are longer form and are typically higher paid than online sites.

Because print publications often run on more infrequent editorial calendars than online sources, (weekly, monthly, quarterly, or even annually) they typically schedule their articles months ahead of time, making this type of work a timely expenditure.

Magazine/Catalog Writing

While article and feature writing is among the most widespread of print work available, freelancers do have a lot of other avenues to explore.

Product descriptions

Often the deciding factor in the question "Do I want to buy this merchandise?" is the product description. Companies turn to skilled writers who can tell a story and entice readers to become customers, using only their words.

Reviews

Helping consumers make well-informed decisions in the form of reviews takes careful research and concise wording.

Essays

Usually these are more think pieces than informative pieces; essays are generally a response to a question or statement. This type of writing is commonly found in magazines catering to a specific niche or target audience.

Social Media Copy

In today's age, social media is the marketing powerhouse every business needs. With so many platforms to choose from and a different style required for each, a freelancer specializing in social media copy can sure clean up.

Facebook

According to Pew Research, 79% of all the adults online are on Facebook. That figure translates to 68% of all Americans, which is a staggering number of potential clients.

Engaging copy on Facebook is often accompanied by eye-catching visuals (videos or photos). Although Facebook touts some of the highest character limits, the most successful Facebook copy doesn't utilize the whole allowance, making light work for social media copywriters.

Twitter

You can make a pretty significant impact with just 100 characters (the ideal length of a "strong" tweet, according to marketing sources.) Clients seek out writers who can make their message or brand noticed by a wide audience using well thought out hashtags and easily digestible (yet provoking) sentences.

LinkedIn

Because LinkedIn targets professional users, most copy found here is primarily B2B (Business to Business). Their decentralized publishing platform boasts large character limits and offers high visibility to an extensive professional network.

Instagram

A picture is worth a thousand words, but a good caption is worth its weight in gold. Despite being a photo-based app, Instagram captions including call-to-actions or further explanations can help promote products or brands at exponential rates.

Snapchat

Snapchat's whole platform focuses on photos, videos, and above all, brevity. Businesses looking to use this platform only have a few seconds to catch the eye of consumers and get them wanting more.

Companies pay big money to sponsor their content on this platform and are happy to pay writers to help maximize their ROI.

If you want to create everything you need to get started with freelance writing in about a weekend, check out Contena Academy.

Website Copy

Virtually all written content on a website is considered to be website copy. The intention and tone of the copy will drive the function of the text. It's also crucial to driving traffic to the site as well as positively impacting search engine rankings.

Intention

The intent behind website copy is the reason behind why companies and businesses hire freelancers. When clients hire a freelance writer to manage their website copy, they'll be looking for a writer who matches both their tone and intention.

While niching down is essential for every freelancer, it's also important to pay attention to the intent behind your portfolio. Are you an informative writer or a sales writer? Does your work primarily inform or persuade? Once you've matched with a clients' intent, you can offer two main types of copy.

Static Copy

Static copy is essentially the bread and butter of any website. Typically it aims to inform the reader and convert them into regular consumers or customers.

Examples of this type of copy are sales pages, about me sections, and other information sharing pages.

Dynamic Copy

When it comes to SEO, rankings, and traffic, dynamic copy plays a big factor. Where static copy intends to educate, dynamic copy entertains. An example of this sort of copy would be blog posts or other regularly updated written content streams.

Educational Materials

Ranging from resources aimed at teachers or students to textbook writing, educational materials cover a great deal of work for freelancers.

• Website Content
• Printables
• Resource Books
• Learning Guides
• Training Manuals

Technical Writing

Among the most profitable of niches, there are many types of work that falls under the auspices of a technical writer. Regardless of the field, technical writing work often requires expert-level knowledge on the subject, but translating it to understandable language for the readers.

Use our Earnings Calculator to figure out how much you can make with technical writing.

User End Documents

This type of work refers to any informational products aimed at consumers and users.

• Repair Manuals
• Assembly Guidelines
• Product and User Manuals
• FAQs

Medical Studies

Usually research-related, medical writing is aimed at professionals and thus requires a high level of both specialization and education to complete.

• Research Findings
• Regulatory Documents
• Abstracts
• Presentation and Promotional Content

Marketing Content

Sometimes called "corporate copywriting," marketing content can consist of things like informational and promotional content intended to help sell or publicize products, services, or brands.

• Press Releases
• White Papers
• Case Studies
• Brochures

Get Paid to Write Marketing Content with Contena

What's In A Name?

Whether online or in print, almost all writing can fall under two main categories; ghostwriting or with a by-line.

Ghostwritten

Many clients and companies want to fill their websites or publications with good content while maintaining themselves as the authority on their subject area. However, running a business and creating content can be extremely time-consuming.

Ghostwriters fill that need and there doesn't seem to be a shortage of ghostwriting work, which is excellent for those looking to fill their schedule.

However, unless explicitly stated by the client, your ghostwritten work cannot be used in your portfolio. The inability to use ghostwritten work to market yourself can be a big drawback, especially for newer freelancers.

By-line

Being credited for your work is often most preferable as you can use these in your portfolio and for self-promotion. However, be aware, some publications intend to pay less per article in exchange for the exposure of a byline.

Finding Your "Why"

Burnout among freelancers is common. It becomes even more commonplace when your workweek becomes routine, day after day. You can easily help combat the dreaded fatigue by switching up the types of work you do.

Additionally, when you offer clients a wider array of services, you may find yourself effortlessly increasing your income. After all, who wouldn't want to make more money?

Regardless of your experience level in freelancing, learning about different types of work can be eye-opening and undoubtedly rewarding. Bear in mind, trying out new revenue streams may come with a learning curve, albeit less than changing your niche altogether.

Any freelancer worth their salt will tell you, learning new skills is a vital part of freelancing success.

Want to get paid to write? Find companies that hire remote writers, and learn how to land the best clients with Contena Academy.