Do you want to make some extra cash and you have writing skills? If so, then perhaps you should consider ghostwriting content for others. I didn’t always do this. When I first started writing I actually did so for print publications.
We sort of started talking about this yesterday but I thought we’d go into more detail.
I made the switch when I realized that it is actually easier to make money writing on the internet. And, an unexpected benefit of doing this kind of writing is that I “earned while I learned”. I am now an internet marketer like some of my clients in addition to ghost writing for others.
Do you want to follow in my footsteps? Here are some tips that can help you earning income fairly quickly.
Get Some Experience
There are some sites that can give you experience as a content writer and give you a place to showcase your writing to boot. One site in particular, the Yahoo Contributor Network, is a good place to start because you can write articles on a variety of topics and have them published.
What I would do is think about the topics you are most comfortable writing about. Make a list of ten topics and write and publish two articles for each topic using Associated Content. It doesn’t really matter if you do upfront payment or set it to publish right away.
Once you have about twenty articles, it is safe to say that you have a nice collection of articles that you can show potential clients!
Start Bidding at the Freelance Sites
Do you have your twenty articles published on the Yahoo Contributor Network? If so, you are ready to start bidding. When I first started, I used Rentacoder (now vworker). It took me over a month to get my first gig, and I bid on projects nearly every single day.
To give you an idea, I have placed a total of 138 bids on the site. I’ve won 52 of those bids, lost 57 of them, and had 29 of the 138 canceled entirely because the client did away with the project. These aren’t bad odds, but understand that most of these “lost” bids happened at the beginning.
Lately, I’ve won every single bid I’ve placed.
How? Because I figured out how to bid! Here’s some advice for you. Remember to adapt this to what is true for you. Don’t just copy me!
- State how much the bid is and give them a recap of the project. “My bid is $135 for the entire project of creating 10 articles about luxury cruises”
- Why should you be the one to do it? “I am an avid traveler. Over the course of my life, I have attended 5 luxury cruises.
- List your credentials. “I have experience as a content writer specializing in writing about travel. In addition to writing for clients, I also maintain my own blogs and websites”
- Thank them. “Thank you for your consideration.”
- Closing. “Kind regards, Your name”.
This is just a place to start. Remember to keep bidding. Have your Yahoo Content profile ready to show clients for samples. You can also throw it in the bid if you want even if they don’t ask. Stay the course and you should get your first client within the first month. Once you get that client, do a great job for them and get a great feedback rating. Your life will get easier after that first job!
Click for more information on how to become a ghost writer.
