Ultimate Guide: How to Make Money Online as a Writer

Includes a legit opportunity to make “free” money

Check the last chapter for details:

Legit Opportunity to Make “Free” Money

  

About the author

Victor Nyorani is a professional web content writer, and an admin of the 23,000+ member Facebook group called Article Writers Village.

I’ll be compiling more extensive content on writing opportunities. Like the I Scribe Online Facebook page to get updates.

I.          The Online World and Writing

The internet has grown rapidly and disrupted many industries along the way.

The print industry, in particular, has been greatly challenged. More and more people are relying on online sources for information, rather than buying newspapers or magazines.

Moreover, just about every company or professional is forced to create an online presence (websites), since their target audiences are now online.

This has created a huge demand for online writers.

How Google Changed Online Writing

During the early days, when Google’s algorithm wasn’t too sophisticated, many entrepreneurial bloggers created huge amounts of poor quality keyword-stuffed content that easily ranked on Google’s search results (a keyword is a word or phrase searched by people on Google. Including such a word or phrase in an article means it has a high chance of being brought up by Google in the list of results, when people search for that word or phrase).

This created many low-paying writing jobs and the dramatic growth of content mills (websites providing low-paying writing jobs).

The Big Change

However, Google’s algorithms became highly sophisticated.

Poor quality, keyword-stuffed blogs no longer rank high on search result pages.

Instead, websites with high reputations and in-depth quality content get higher ranking. This has led to fewer writing jobs in content mills, but an increased demand for high quality content from reputable writers.

Therefore, your goal as a writer is to produce quality content and build a strong reputation.

II.          About Written Content

Having an in-depth understanding of written content will help you identify lucrative opportunities and advance in your online writing career.

1.   Writing topics/ niches

Many online writers start their careers writing on any and every topic, usually in content mills or for content agencies. However, in bidding sites, writers who identify a specific set of niches that they are particularly skilled in, have a higher chance of getting lucrative writing jobs.

Those who move on to cold pitching find more success if they become experts in a particular topic/ niche.

Your niche selection can be based on multiple considerations, including:

-        Your educational background

-        Your professional experience

-        The past jobs you’ve done

-        A lucrative niche with high demand

-        A niche with numerous writing jobs

When selecting a writing niche, you must be sure it has sufficient clients to sustain you and how you’ll stand out so you can earn top rates.

Here are 6 viable writing niches to consider:

Arts and Entertainment

The entertainment industry is worth billions of dollars worldwide. Movies and games are two of the most prominent sectors.

Simply being a movie or game addict would automatically make you the most qualified writer. You can also hack it simply by reading through reviews from other writers.

Automotive

Considering the high value of commodities in this industry, clients seeking writers can be expected to offer good rates.

However, you’ll need to have a good understanding of technical details.

Writing and Speaking

Of course, simply being a writer makes you the default expert in this niche.

Unfortunately, you face two major challenges here:

i.      There are already millions of other writers just like you – you’re not the only expert by default.

ii.    The products offered in this niche may not be so lucrative; hence, many clients tend to offer low rates.

Healthcare

Healthcare is one niche that has constantly being lucrative, if you find the right clients and possess the right expertise.

You’re not just restricted to writing for healthcare providers, but you can also write for distributors and affiliates of healthcare products.

Business and Finance

Just about everyone wants to make money. Business and finance content is simply content to help all those people make more money and keep it.

Focusing on such a niche can potentially prove highly lucrative, especially if you’re working for clients providing valuable financial products.

Relationships

Apparently, everyone consider themselves relationship experts. Having such an overflow of “relationship experts” means the rates would often be low.

Fortunately, considering the equally high demand for such content, you’re likely to find high-paying clients, if you seek them out.

To stand out, craft unique and truly practical content for your audience. For example, couples keen on igniting the fire in their relationships would appreciate such relationship building games like this silly dress-up game.

Computers and Technology

This is another niche that’s in high demand; since computers, technology and the Internet have become necessary components of modern life.

You can easily stand out in this niche by always being up-to-date with the latest technologies before they become common knowledge.

2.   Types of content:

Within each niche, there are multiple types of content, including SEO articles, blog posts, whitepapers, website content and many more.

In fact, you can even specialize in writing certain types of content. Having the ability to write multiple content types gives you greater opportunities.

Here are 15 common types of content every writer should know:

      i.          SEO articles

SEO stands for search engine optimization.

SEO articles are articles that are optimized for search engines/ designed to attract traffic through search engine result pages. When you go to a search engine like Google and search for anything, you get a list of results consisting of pages from multiple websites. SEO articles are designed to give the highest chance of appearing at the top of the search engine result page.

Two main features of SEO articles, based on current standards, include:

·                 Targeted keywords

·                 Long-form articles, ranging from 2,000 words or more

   ii.          Webpage content

This is content that’s published on a client’s website.

It includes: the home page, about us, as well as products and services pages. Such content is very sensitive because it reflects the actual value that a business has to offer.

Key features of such content are:

·                 Inspires targeted clients to buy

·                 Reflects the brand positioning of the business

iii.          Landing page content

A landing page is any page on a website where traffic is sent specifically to prompt a certain action or result (call to action (CTA)).

Key features of such content include:

·                 Having a specific CTA

·                 Appealing to/ resonating with the target audience

 iv.          Blog post

Although blog posts bear much of the same aspects as SEO content, they are designed with the reader in mind.

Key features of blog posts are:

·                 They are informative

·                 They create engagement

Here's a sample blog post with useful insights on the do's and don'ts of such content:

v.          Guest post

Guest posts are posts written for and published on established blogs/ websites.

Such posts are meant to provide social proof for writers who want to display their expertise, as a means of subtly promoting businesses and their products/ services, or to get high authority backlinks for websites (backlinks are the html feature that allows you to click on a text or image to open up another webpage. High authority backlinks give websites a higher chance of top ranking in search engine result pages, since they show that the website has a good reputation).

Key features include:

·                 Abides by the guest post guidelines of the website/ blog

·                 Provides unique information within the website’s niche

 vi.          Creative stories

Sometimes, if your client agrees, you can spice up an article using a story. You might also get an assignment just to write a story – maybe an entire novel.

Key features are:

·                 It has a theme

·                 It has a story line structure from beginning, climax to resolution

vii.          Magazine feature article

A magazine feature article is designed in a way that the information is not time-based, but timeless. It typically delves deeper into a story, unlike a regular article.

Key features are:

·                 Includes all facts on the story

·                 Creates a deep relationship with readers

viii.          White paper

This is an informational document issued by a company to promote or highlight the features of a solution, product or service, technology or methodology. It’s used to entice or persuade potential customers to learn more about or purchase the product/ service.

Key features include:

·                 Persuasive and factual evidence – informational not promotional

·                 A more academic writing style

 ix.          Book reviews

A book review is a simple discussion of a book plus your take on it. You recommend good ones, critique not-so-good ones, and share the value you glean from them.

Key features include:

·                 A summary of the book’s main points

·                 Your critique on the book

    x.          Product reviews

Like the book review, a product review is a simple discussion of a product plus your take on it. You recommend good ones and critique not-so-good ones, but always giving a balanced, non-biased evaluation.

Key features include:

·                 Details on the product

·                 Your critique or experience and recommendation from using the product

 xi.          E-book

An e-book is long content packaged in a different format, usually a PDF. E-books are often a downloadable product, available for free in exchange for joining a website’s mailing list.

Key features are:

·       Uniquely insightful content

·       An appealing design

xii.          Social media posts

This type of content is made specifically for posting in social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Such posts are normally short and highly engaging. They should spur audiences to react and comment.

Key features are:

·       Relatable to the target audience

·       Engaging and shareable

xiii.          User manual

A user manual is typically an e-book providing instructions on using a product.

The main features include:

·       Clear, step-by-step instructions

·       Easy to understand for the target audience

xiv.          Email content

This is any email message sent to recipients, typically subscribers to a website’s mailing list.

The main features of such content are:

·       Short and straight to the point

·       Providing content that subscribers signed up for

xv.          News articles

Such content discusses current or recent issues of either general interest or regarding specific topics such as political, trade or technology news.

The main features include:

·       Current events or breaking news

·       Information from credible sources

Check out this review of news articles which happened to be the most shared content online:

3.   Features of great content

Regardless of the type of content, particular features generally determine whether your article is great or not.

Great articles:

-        Give unique information compared to other websites

-        Provide captivating content that keeps readers entertained

-        Feature accurate and up-to-date information

-        Have an attractive format

-        Include content the target audience is eager to read about

Here's a practical guide to transform your article from good to great:

III.          How to Write

Now, this is your main task, which you should execute in the best way possible. Typically, the better you write, the more you earn.

The writing process involves these steps.

1.   Understand the client’s instructions

The first step in the writing process is reading and understanding the client’s instructions. Delivering to your client’s expectations ensures you get paid. Delivering beyond the client’s expectations can get you bonus payment or long-term work.

You must understand:

·                 The specific type of content the client wants

·                 The client’s target readers, among other requirements.

2.   Research

Once you understand the client’s instructions, start researching on the article topic. Google typically provides the content you need.

During this stage:

·                 Search for content related to the topic you want to write about

·                 Read through as many articles as possible on different websites, to get a good understanding of the topic

·                 Find out aspects of the topic which haven’t been covered extensively

Without intensive research, you'll end up writing boring content that few would want to read, like this:

3.   Choose the focus of your content

Through research, you’ll discover the most interesting aspects to focus on.

Your choice of content focus can be based on:

·                 An aspect that many of the target readers are talking or inquiring about in forums or social media

·                 An aspect that’s trending in search engine searches

·                 Something that has been recently discovered

·                 Aspects which haven’t been covered extensively in other websites

4.   Compile the rough draft

Once you identify the key focus of your content, start picking out and compiling information that expounds on the issue.

In this stage:

·                 Pick content that delivers the most comprehensive detail on the issue

·                 Select authoritative sources

·                 Where possible, include statistics and research data to back your content

·                 Organize the information in an order that helps readers fully comprehend the issue and is the most compelling to read

Although writers don't typically submit rough drafts with the final copies, clients can tell how organized the rough draft was by looking at the final article. A well-organized rough draft will inevitably produce a presentable article.

Can you tell how organized the rough draft was from this review article:

5.   Write the final copy

Once you have the content you need, write it in a clear and presentable way for your target readers.

Here’s what to consider:

·                 The content should be written in an interesting and captivating manner

·                 Include mention of the authority sources you used in your content

·                 The article should have an interesting/ captivating title

·                 Include subtitles within the content

·                 Make the sentences and paragraphs short

In short, make sure your final copy doesn't look like your rough draft, full of sprawling and run-on sentences, like this:

6.   Check the final copy

Never submit your article without first going through it twice, thrice or more times. Regardless of how keen you are, many mistakes can go unnoticed, and you might even need to hire an editor to help you.

During the checking process:

·                 Ensure your content is grammatically sound

·                 Proofread and edit the content to eliminate mistakes like spelling errors

·                 Make sure the article isn’t similar to any of your sources

·                 Ensure there’s no plagiarism by checking through a plagiarism checker like Duplichecker.com or Copyscape.com

Proofreading and editing are essential if you want to avoid simple yet irritating mistakes, as seen in this article about foods that put you in a good mood:

IV.          Who Hires Writers?

You know what writing is and how to do it, but who will pay you to write?

1.   Where to find clients

Several options exist in finding clients. Here are the main places.

i.      Content mills and content agencies

Many writers start off their freelance writing careers working for clients through content mills and content agencies. Here, clients post their writing jobs on the site; and writers simply pick the tasks they can write, submit the content and get paid.

These include:

·       iWriter.com

iWriter.com is one of the most popular content mills.

The pay varies from $2 to $100. You can just sign up on the site using your email address and start taking orders. You don’t need to fill any application form or provide any writing samples (there’s a simple easy-to-answer test to start with).

They pay writers through PayPal (to open a PayPal account, all you need is an email address). Payment is done weekly (you need to apply this setting in the profile section).

·       Other content mills and content agencies

Other content mills exist, although some may have closed down or may not be accessible to writers outside the US, Europe and Australia.

They include:

CrowdSource

Greatcontent.co.uk

About.com

Textmaster.com

The Content Authority

Content Corp

Contently

Content Current

Developer Shed

Distance Web

Edit Fast

Freelance–Writers

Green Light Articles

Han n Mod

Independent-Publishing

Letter Rep

London Brokers

Love to Know

Mturk

Need An Article

Next Wave Advocacy

Student Experts

Scribendi.com

Scripted.com

Vivilia.com

Wise Geek

World Start

Zemandi

ii.   Content marketplaces

With content marketplaces, writers submit their already-written content and get paid once clients pick and buy their articles.

These include:

·       dotWriter

dotWriter is one of the most popular content marketplaces. Clients can also place custom content orders.

·       Other content marketplaces

Other content marketplaces exist, but some may have closed down.

They include: Article Sale, Constant-Content, Daily Article, and Ghost-Bloggers.

iii.Bidding sites

As you continue working through content mills, you can also set up your profile on freelance bidding sites.

Here, clients present their job offers and all interested writers submit their bids/ proposals to be selected for the job. The client picks writers from those who presented their bids. 

To be selected, you should present a powerful pitch. Use this quiz to test your bidding ability:

These sites are good for working directly with clients due to the escrow system, which ensures safety and trust between client and writer.

Some of the major freelance bidding sites include: Upwork.com, guru.com, freelancer.com, ifreelance.com, and peopleperhour.com

iv. Gig sites

Such sites allow writers or other freelancers to post any kind of service they can offer (gig). Clients then search through the services on offer and hire writers offering the service they need.

One popular gig site is Fiverr.com

v.    Pitching sites

These sites are a variation of bidding sites. Instead of a collection of clients presenting their writing job offers in one site, writers approach individual clients in each of their websites. You simply go over to the website and read the client’s requirements for guest posts (if the site provides such details), and submit your proposal for a specific type of article you wish to write for the site.

Some pitching sites include:

·       King Tutz

They accept Photoshop tutorials. You have to pitch an article and wait for approval before going ahead to write the article, according to their writer guidelines. Pay varies from $50 to $300 per article.

·       Other reputable sites

You can search online for any reputable sites to pitch your article ideas.

Legit Opportunity to Make “Free” Money

As you write or spend time online, you can make a bit of money – free money – just by clicking on Bitcoin faucets.

IMPORTANT – READ THIS PART

HERE, I’LL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE LEGITIMATE BITCOIN FAUCETS I HAVE USED.

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THE BITCOIN FAUCETS GIVE YOU VERY TINY FRACTIONS OF BITCOIN, BUT THE VALUE OF BITCOIN HAS BEEN GOING UP DRAMATICALLY AND SOME KNOWLEDGEABLE EXPERTS EVEN EXPECT IT TO BE WORTH MILLIONS OF US DOLLARS IN FUTURE.

THAT MEANS, HAVING EVEN A TINY FRACTION OF BITCOIN COULD BE WORTH HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF US DOLLARS IN A FEW YEARS.

The Bitcoin faucets

MAKE SURE TO CLICK THROUGH THE REFERRAL LINKS, WHEN SIGNING UP TO THE BITCOIN FAUCET SITES. AND SEND YOUR EMAIL TO VICTORNYORANIVICTOR@GMAIL.COM SO I CAN UPDATE YOU ON THREE OTHER LEGITIMATE BITCOIN FAUCETS.

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(MAKE SURE TO CLICK THROUGH THE REFERRAL LINKS, WHEN SIGNING UP TO THE BITCOIN FAUCET SITES. AND SEND YOUR EMAIL TO VICTORNYORANIVICTOR@GMAIL.COM SO I CAN UPDATE YOU ON THREE OTHER LEGITIMATE BITCOIN FAUCETS.)

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(MAKE SURE TO CLICK THROUGH THE REFERRAL LINKS, WHEN SIGNING UP TO THE BITCOIN FAUCET SITES. AND SEND YOUR EMAIL TO VICTORNYORANIVICTOR@GMAIL.COM SO I CAN UPDATE YOU ON THREE OTHER LEGITIMATE BITCOIN FAUCETS.)

FAQs

What's Bitcoin and Bitcoin faucets?

Bitcoin is one of the most popular forms of digital currency. It’s created and held electronically.

A Bitcoin faucet is a website or app reward system dispensing incredibly small amounts of Bitcoin in exchange for clicking on a captcha. You typically get a few Satoshis (one Satoshi equals a hundredth of a millionth of Bitcoin).