A beginner writer has two ways to start earning from copywriting as a freelancer: work through content marketplaces, or look for clients on freelance platforms. This article briefly covers how to start earning from copywriting without leaving home.

Earning from copywriting on freelance and content marketplaces

Copywriting/rewriting marketplaces and freelance platforms are sites where both site owners (clients) and internet writers (contractors) post listings for text-writing services. Every content and freelance marketplace has its own quirks, but they share the same core: to get started you create an account, fill in your profile and specify what kind of texts you can write. After that you can take orders. Do not wait for clients to come to you - offer your services yourself.

New copywriters usually start with small, simple assignments that do not pay much. But as your knowledge grows along with the number of texts you have written, clients will trust you more and better-paid orders will appear. To succeed on these marketplaces you have to keep your reputation impeccable at all times, because bad reviews from clients can seriously damage your standing.

Where else to find clients

Listings from people looking to buy articles also appear on job boards. Those sites are used to recruit writers for permanent positions too. Beyond that, social networks have communities dedicated to article writing. In those groups you can post an ad for your services or try to reach clients who are looking for available writers themselves.

A copywriter's portfolio

A portfolio is an author's key tool for attracting new clients. Many employers will not even consider you if you have no portfolio with finished samples of your work. Your portfolio should hold more than 10 quality texts. The articles should vary in both topic and style - that way you show a potential client the full range of your strengths and professional skills.

Take subjects you know well and write high-quality, interesting articles for your portfolio. From these texts a client will judge your intellectual level, literacy, how deeply you cover a topic and how original your writing is. Format your portfolio texts nicely - all of them should look presentable. You will need a portfolio like this both for working on content marketplaces and for finding employers elsewhere.