Do you love the great outdoors and enjoy writing? Why not live the dream by combining the two? You may wonder if that’s even possible. Well, good news — it’s very possible and we know how you can get started. Here are 3 places to find outdoor writer jobs!
What is an outdoor writer? An outdoor writer is a person who produces written content about topics related to the outdoors such as backpacking, hiking, and camping. It’s a general term that can encompass writers of books, online content, copy, essays, magazine articles, and more.
3 places to find outdoor writer jobs
Many companies are hiring writers to write about the outdoors, here’s who they are and how to find them.
1. Outdoor-oriented businesses
First up is businesses with outdoor-oriented products or services.
For example, we had a writing opportunity from Patagonia on our job board. An editor associated with the company was looking for people to write stories about fly fishing.
But why?
Patagonia is a popular designer of outdoor clothing and gear that caters to people who climb, surf, ski, snowboard, trail run, and fly fish. As a result, it needs content and copy that appeals to that audience.
Here are a few other examples of outdoor-oriented companies you could target:
- Big 5
- Yeti
- Columbia Sportswear
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- REI
- The North Face
- Black Diamond
- Camelbak
- Petzl
While these are big brands, you can target companies of all sizes from local startups and small businesses to industry-leading corporations.
To expand further, here are examples of the company types you could potentially target to write about the outdoors:
- Outdoor/recreation companies (e.g. ski resorts, campgrounds, etc.)
- Outdoor tour companies (e.g. whitewater rafting, hiking, snowmobiling, etc.)
- Park operators
- Sportswear/sports gear stores and brands
- Brands that cater to outdoorsmen
- Any company with a product or service that involves the outdoors!
2. Outdoor-oriented publishing companies
Next up are outdoor-oriented publishing companies like Outdoors.com — a brand created by Bear Grylls to provide outdoor adventurers with guides and gear reviews.
The main purpose of these companies is to create a regular stream of content that attracts and engages their audiences. They often monetize through ads and affiliate marketing. As a result, they always need writers.
Here are some examples of outdoor-related publications:
3. Marketing agencies that serve outdoor companies
Another way to write about the outdoors is to get on board with a marketing agency that specializes in helping outdoor-oriented companies. If you go this route, they’ll find and onboard the clients, create a strategy, and plan out the project. Then, they outsource the writing to you!
Working with an agency has its perks. You can get a regular stream of work and gain a lot of experience. On the downside, the pay may be lower than working directly for clients because the agency will be the middleman.
Here are some examples of marketing agencies that cater to outdoor brands:
How to land outdoor writing jobs
Now that you know who hires outdoor writers, how do you land the gigs?
Well, you can search job boards, job newsletters, or social media groups for companies that are hiring and then apply. We post writing jobs in a variety of niches every Friday (join the Jobs Club).
You could also research companies through search engines/social media platforms and reach out to them via cold pitching.
Further, you can optimize your LI profile and start engaging on the platform to attract leads to you.
If you want to learn more about finding and landing freelance writing jobs, check out our blog on 28 legit ways to find freelance writing jobs.