We work quite hard to make sure that Freelance Parent is something that is appropriate to a variety of freelancers. Our personal concerns obviously focus a lot on writing, but we strive to make sure that we offer support to designers, coders, artists, photographers, engineers, and all of those other folks that are building their own freelance businesses. On the other hand, we are aware that the majority of our readers are most interested in how to become successful freelance writers. We also know that January tends to usher in a lot of folks who are very new at exploring work-from-home ideas.

Today’s post is aimed specifically at those who are looking for different ways to start or expand their writing businesses. Let’s take a look at some of the methods that we’ve been trying and maybe a few that we’re interested in looking into down the road. Keep in mind that you can try a combination of ideas to build a business that feels right to you. I’m hoping to expound on some of these topics this week, so if you have any specific questions about any of these ideas, please put them in the comments section or drop us an email.

SEO Articles
Writing articles that utilize specific keywords and keyword phrases is one of the biggest opportunities we’ve come across. So many folks are attempting to build their own web sites, and it seems like most of them are doing so specifically to try and sell their own products and services. As a result, they want articles that include words and phrases that potential customers will search for in order to find the information they need to buy these particular products. SEO articles are really interesting because clients have different understandings about what constitutes a good keyword article. For some is all about cramming as many keywords in as possible, while others are looking for useful information that doubles as a method for increasing traffic.

Blog Posts
Many clients who are interested in hiring bloggers are often looking for the same things as those looking for SEO articles. They want certain keywords used so that their blogs will pop up on the search engines. On the other hand, though, some of these clients are simply looking to beef up their web sites, and they feel that having a few bloggers talking about specific topics is a great way to do that. For example, someone building a site about natural beauty projects might be interested in having one blogger focus on all-natural hair treatments, while they ask another to share specific recipes for sensitive skin.

Press Releases
Nearly every organization wants publicity, and one of the tools they use to get it is the press release. Creating a solid press release really is an art form, as it requires a balance of salesmanship, creativity, and storytelling. Basically, your goal is to find a new take on a business or product that the media will find interesting enough to talk about. Most of these media outlets don’t have any shortage of things to talk about, so a press release writer needs to be able to come up with angles that will create a spark of interest. Those who are really good at press releases and find the right clientele are often able to parlay this skill into quite a bit of money once they have a proven track record.

Reports and E-Books
The world wide web is such an amazing source of information. Unfortunately, some people just don’t have the time to filter through all of the available research and distill it into what they need. This is where the writer comes in handy, because he or she can take the time to track down the relevant information and arrange it into a useful product. Whether the client just wants to learn a new skill or is interested in offering your report as a bonus to prospective customers, the writer is the one who puts it all together. You can build on this skill, too, by writing full-length e-books for clients who want to come across as experts but don’t want to do the actual research and writing.

Grant Writing
Grant writing is a really involved process that not everyone is prepared to undertake. For those that have the know-how, though, there are some great opportunities. Most of this work is done for non-profit organizations that are looking for funding to grow their established organizations. There are tons of different types of organizations and businesses, however, that are looking for funding, and therefore grant writers are in high demand. Unfortunately, most people really don’t understand what is involved in the grant process, and they believe that just filling out a couple of forms is going to get them free money to build a new house or start a new company. Like press releases, this type of writing really requires someone with specific skills.

Marketing Materials
There are so many different documents that need to be created for every business and nonprofit organization that these alone could keep a freelance writer busy. Marketing materials are a great example. Whether an organization wants to keep donors active by sending out an occasional newsletter, or a thriving company wants brochures to pass out to prospective clients, someone has to write the text. Ad copy could also fall under this category, as a writer with this type of skill can really shine.

There are tons of opportunities for freelance writers to earn money. These six are just a few that Tamara and I have tried out so far. If you’re interested in learning more about any of these particular skills, let us know; as we’ll be expounding on at least a couple of these in the upcoming days.

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