Write Articles to Make Money Online as a Freelance Writer

With the economy and unemployment rates, many people are looking for ways to make money online. Many turn to the Internet to earn money from home. There are plenty of opportunities to earn an income online, but you have to understand that making a real income online is not as easy as many of the scams out there make it sound.

One way to make a legitimate online income is freelance writing. There are many avenues to write online for cash, but one way is by writing articles.

One way to make money is to write articles for content sites. The sites will give you a percentage of the commissions, typically based on ads that are on the site which visitors click, referred to as PPC (Pay per Click). These articles make money through website advertisements.

HubPages is one way to do this. Other sites include Demand Studios, Suite 101, Squidoo, Xomba, InfoBarrel, or Associated Content. Some Web content sites pay you upfront and others earn you residual income.

While you can make some extra cash and even a full-time living writing for content sites, it will typically require a lot of articles. Many of these sites are high-ranking, so your article will be indexed and reach the first page of search engines pretty quick.

Pros:

• Residual income
• Built-in traffic
• Relatively simple application process
• Write on topics you want
• No need to have a website
  

Cons:

• Takes many article to see significant income
• Editors can remove your article
• Google is cracking down on "content farms"
• Overall pay is low
• Lack of freedom as it is not your own site
  

If you don't want to write on a content site, but are not interested in creating an online freelance writing business, you can look into bidding for jobs online on places like oDesk and eLance.

There are also other ways to find freelance writing jobs other ways online. If you want to earn money writing articles for others, you may actively search for projects online.

Online bidding websites, classified ads, and job boards are great places to find article writing projects. With that said, there are online scams that focus on freelance writing. Do not PAY to find a writing job. While some of these may be legitimate, there is no reason you can't find jobs without paying for this service.

The most popular of these scams is writing articles for a client and not having that client pay you. Use your best judgment when working with a new client. Ask for references or request to receive a small portion of the payment upfront or once the project reaches the halfway point. This way you won’t risk losing all of your work.

Pros:

• Higher potential for income
• No need to have a website
• Income not based on traffic
• Can choose clients and work you want
• Upfront payment, no need to depend on PPC.
  

Cons:

• Clients that don't pay on time or at all
• Need to build up reputation to get good paying projects
• Lose potential for residual income
• Competition with other bidders
• Not always high paying
  

If you want to start a freelance business on your own, you will need to get clients to writer for. If you work for a client, you are on freelance terms meaning the client who hired you does not legally employ you. Instead, you are usually referred to as a contractor.

In this case, you are self-employed and will have to find your own work. The benefit is you will get paid for your work without sharing any commission with anyone else. Professional companies will hire freelance writers when they are looking for high-end writing. While there are a lot of low-paying freelance writing gigs. if clients want quality freelance writing, they are willing to pay for it.

One way you can look for freelance writing jobs is to find a third party content website. They allow you to post your articles on their website. For giving them usage rights, you may be paid. Popular forms of payment include an upfront payment or a page view bonus. There are also third party websites where you can list your articles for sale.

Pros:

• Higher pay than content sites
• Looked at more of a professional
• Your own business on your own terms
• Pick the clients you choose
• Upfront payment, no need to depend on PPC.

Cons:

• Need to build up business and clients
• Will need a website or professional blog
• Own website will not have built in traffic
• Difficult clients
• Less opportunity for residual income
  

Regardless of whether you write for a content site or a client, you will want to signup for a PayPal account. PayPal is a safe way to receive payments online. Most people are familiar with this method of payment.  However, you may have those who wish to pay by check.  BE VERY CAUTIOUS when using this methid.

If you go through PayPal, consider setting up a business account.

Also, regardless of who you write for, you need to report your earnings to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Content sites will send you a 1099 once you make a certain amount.

If you freelance on your own, you will be subject to the self-employment tax. Be sure to put money aside for this tax. Save your receipts as all business related purchases can be recorded as a business expense.

Software for Writing Articles

As for writing your articles you will want to purchase a copy if Microsoft Word or use Open Office if you are in a budget. If you opt to acquire paying clients online, many require articles to be formatted with Microsoft Word.  

Content sites will have a place you can type the articles, but it is a good idea to have a copy somewhere else. 

Be sure to use spell check and grammar check tools.

Treat it Like a Business

Freelance writing is a business and you should treat it that way.  The tips mentioned above are just a few of the basics that you need to understand to start making money as a freelance article writer.

Writing articles online is different than in print.  To help increase your chances of making money, you will want to familiarize yourself with internet marketing, search engine optimization, and keyword tools. Doing so will allow you to increase your traffic and profits.