Web writers are in high demand because Web sites' traffic and sales depend on a constant stream of fresh new content. This means that you can make money freelance writing for the Web, even if you've never been published before.
I know several bloggers who are making triple their former "day job" incomes just from blogging. Ghostwriters who write articles are doing well too. Neither of these writing jobs required any technical expertise, just the ability to write effectively and regularly.
Every week I receive several "How do I get started Web writing?" questions from new writers.
The answer is "Start anywhere, and keep writing." There's really no mystique. You need to write and publish what you write online to prove that you CAN write. No one will hire you on your say-so, you have to show that you can write for the Web, that you can follow instructions, and that you can deliver what you're asked to deliver ON TIME.
The upside of this is that when you are hired, you'll be paid a retainer of half your fee, with the remainder paid when you send in your material. This contrasts sharply with writing for print, when you're paid on acceptance or even on publication... which sometimes translates to "never." I'm still waiting for "on publication" payments for articles I wrote in the 1980s.
Writing for the Web is all about building your credibility.
If You Can Write, Just Build Your Credits Until You're Paid Well
Just as in the print world, there's a range of fees paid in Web writing. Payments depend on the success of the Web site or business which hires you. You can be paid $1 a word and more by high-traffic sites, but you need to develop your name and reputation first before such sites will hire you.
It's all about your NAME. Anyone who's thinking of hiring you online will Google your name. If your writing shows up, that's a large tick for you. People hiring a Web writer want to see your name on the Web. That's simply common sense.
So let's see how we can get your name out there so that people can find you and realize that you can help them by writing for them.
1. Create a blog
This is the easiest way. You can create a free blog in seconds. Just start posting to the blog.
You can blog about any topic you'd like to be hired to write about - parenting, tropical fish, bike riding, etc. Avoid blogging about yourself however, because no one will hire you to write about you, unless you're famous.
On your blog's sidebar, just add a link to your "Hire Me" page.
2. Promote your blog and your writing services
Keep posting to your blog, adding a few blog posts each week. Your blog will be indexed by the search engines, and you'll start to get traffic.
You can help the process along by promoting your blog, via the many online classifieds sites; by creating pages on sites like Squidoo pointing to your blog; by article marketing - there are dozens of ways you can promote your blog so that you start getting traffic and getting hired to write.
So there you have it: getting started as a Web writer just means writing and promoting yourself. The process I've outlined for you works. Just follow it - before you know it you'll get the first of many Web clients.
