It wasn’t long ago that working remotely was the stuff of science fiction. But post-pandemic, remote content writer jobs are a distinct reality for anyone who wants to earn a living at home.
Perhaps you’re stuck at home, unable to go out to work? Or maybe you want to earn a living from writing?
This article is all about remote content writer jobs. I’ll explain how to get started and develop a client base that helps you become financially self-sufficient.
Ready? Let’s go.
What is remote content writing?
When we talk about “content,” we mean creating:
- Blogs
- Articles
- Video and audio scripts
- Marketing content
- Product descriptions
- Newsletters and client correspondence
- How-tos and instruction manuals
When you buy a product, the words printed on the label were created by a content writer (aka copywriter). When you click on a link, you’re sent to a website – and a content writer wrote those words.
Heck, a remote content writer wrote this very article.
So, remote content writers help businesses put legible and coherent written content together to help them increase:
- Their audience
- Their customer loyalty
- Their online (and offline) visibility
In essence, you’re the marketing voice of whoever hires you as a remote content writer.
How do I start content writing from home?
It’s pretty straightforward to become a remote content writer. But before you begin, there are some valuable things to know.
SEO best practices
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. That means writing content that is:
- A) Interesting, helpful, scannable, and easy to read
- B) Easily identified by search engines
For example, if you’re writing blog posts about “knitting a jumper,” it’s crucial to include valuable content that helps someone find out how to knit a jumper. If your article doesn’t satisfy that question, the reader will swing back to the search engine, and that can damage your rating.
But it’s not just about the usefulness, although that’s a BIG essential. You need to write your content in a way that allows search engines to find that article.
I’m not going to go into SEO best practices in a particularly detailed way here. Still, finding words and phrases that people might use to discover your article is essential.
Rely on writing conventions
So, there’s writing to be found and then writing to be understood.
No one’s going to hire you if you can’t write in complete sentences or if you can’t differentiate between “your” and “you’re.”
Sure, some apps do some of the work for you, but remote content writer jobs are often high-pressure – you have to turn content around to a deadline.
And if you’re struggling with your writing conventions and mechanics, it will slow you down.
How do I get paid to write content from home?
So, you feel confident about your writing mechanics and have some idea about using SEO best practices. Now it’s time to find someone to pay you!
Develop a portfolio and discover your niche
You might already write for your own blog or work in some capacity in communications for an employer. But chances are, you probably don’t have an existing portfolio of work.
No problem. Create a WordPress site or set up a Medium account. Pick a topic you feel passionate about (it’s likely to become your niche), and write an article about it. Aim for at least 500 words, and share your article on your socials.
Set up an account with a freelancer site
There are lots of freelancer sites out there that help you – the remote content writer – connect with hiring clients. You can work full-time or part-time – it’s your job, so you’re in control.
Some of the best freelancer sites are:
- Upwork
- People Per Hour
- Fiverr
- Working Not Working
- Freelancer
Setting up an account can be a bind, so be patient. Most of these services have a team who can help get your account up and running.
Once you’re running with your chosen platform, check out the job alerts and apply for a position that makes use of your technical know-how in your specific niche. It’s all about finding jobs related to your broader skills.
Persevere – it can take a while to get established.
What is the best style of writing for online content?
It depends on the employer and the type of company you create content for. Probably the most common writing style for online content is conversational.
What is conversational tone?
Conversational tone reads like your pal is giving you help or advice. It tends to be informal and friendly. Lots of companies want a conversational tone – even corporates.
The conversational tone feels approachable.
Check out our article about five writing styles to engage your audience.
What is a good hourly rate for a remote content writer?
Many remote content writers work on a fixed-rate basis. This means you agree on a project, and the client agrees to pay you a specified amount to complete that task.
When you start, you’ll probably begin with fixed-rate contracts – and you’ll find that as you build your client base, you’ll probably work for fairly low rates.
Always make sure you get feedback after each piece of work. That way, you develop the portfolio you need to charge higher rates.
However, a decent hourly rate is $20 an hour, but it’s helpful to start at $10 or $15 to develop your initial client base.
What skills do content writers need?
A full-time content writer needs to be versatile first and foremost. It’s helpful to be able to adapt your writing voice to suit your particular remote employer. And ultimately, even though you’re working from home, being good in a team is beneficial.
So, be comfortable writing formally AND informally. And use a tool like Grammarly to help drive your tone.
Can I be a content writer with no experience?
Yes. Everyone has to start somewhere. Just get yourself out there – find a job alert that interests you, and apply.
Have you thought about ghostwriting?
Relay Publishing is looking for great creative writers for a range of ghostwriting jobs. So if you think you have what it takes to adopt a writing voice and tell unputdownable stories, we want to hear from you.
Check out our recruitment pages for more details.
Thanks for reading!
Harry Wallett is the Founder and Managing Director of Relay Publishing. Combining his entrepreneurial background with a love of great stories, Harry founded Relay in 2013 as a fresh way to create books and for writers to earn a living from their work. Since then, Relay has sold 3+ million copies and worked with 100s of writers on bestselling titles such as Defending Innocence, The Alveria Dragon Akademy Series and Rancher’s Family Christmas.
Harry oversees the creative direction of the company, and works to develop a supportive collaborative environment for the Relay team to thrive within in order to fulfill our mission to create unputdownable books.
Relay Publishing wants you
If you think you have what it takes to become a brilliant writer, editor, or storyliner, Relay Publishing has a range of exciting opportunities.
Find out more about us, and get in touch.
We can’t wait to hear from you!