You’ve heard the buzz about freelance writing and how it can earn you a pretty penny. But wait a second…who pays writers? Where do you find the people who are willing to hire you, send you assignments, and (most importantly) pay your invoices?
Who pays writers in 2024?
While it can seem elusive at first — there’s no shortage of potential clients out there. From fellow writers to industry-leading corporations, here’s a quick overview of 6 types of clients that often hire freelance writers.
>>Want to check out dozens of people and companies paying freelance writers now? Head over to our job board!
1. Fellow freelance writers
First up, fellow writers.
But why would other writers pay you for writing? Well, many writers reach a point where they have more work than they can do. It’s a great milestone to hit, but it creates a bit of a problem.
What do you do with the overflow?
Some writers subcontract the work to other writers and take on an editing role. So, you may be able to get in under the wing of another writer who’s thriving.
? Working under another writer can be helpful because you won’t need to get clients directly — the writer will take care of that part. You can also learn a ton!
? Your rate will need to fit into their pay structure, which will often be less than you could get directly from a client. Work may also ebb and flow.
2. Digital/content marketing agencies
Digital and/or content marketing agencies help clients build brands and market their products/services online. As a result, they need an ongoing supply of writing and typically have a team of writers (in-house, freelance, or a mix). If you get on board, you can receive a regular stream of writing assignments.
? On the upside, going this route can help you gain a lot of experience, see how to run a marketing business, and enjoy a steady workflow.
? On the downside, the agency will be managing the project so will take part of the total fee charged to clients (and rightly so).
3. Solopreneurs
Solopreneurs are people who run one-person businesses. For example, they may be coaches, consultants, designers, hair stylists, or e-commerce store owners.
They need to continuously market themselves — which requires a lot of writing. As a result, they’ll often pay writers to help.
? A benefit of working for a solopreneur is that you’ll speak to and work directly with the decision-maker. If you find someone you jive with, it can be a great partnership with a lot of collaboration. There also won’t be any middleman so you can collect the full rate for your services.
? A drawback is that there may be a lack of established processes/systems. Further, if they get too busy or are otherwise unavailable, projects can get delayed.
4. Online media companies
Online media companies build websites full of content. The primary way they earn money is by publishing content, attracting traffic, and monetizing through ads and affiliate sales. With the primary product being written content, they are always in need of more to keep the engine running.
Tip: The larger the media company and the more traffic a site gets, the more they’ll typically pay writers. You can check a site’s traffic and domain authority using a tool like SEMrush (10 per month are free). That link will give you an extended free trial for 14 days!
? The pros of working with media companies are high volumes of work, bylines, and well-established systems that streamline workflow.
? A con is they typically have hard limits on the amounts they’ll pay. I’ve seen rates range anywhere from 5 cents per word up to $1 per word, but they often land somewhere around 20 to 50 cents per word.
Examples: Red Ventures, BuzzFeed, DotDash, Hearst
5. Executives and employees
Many executives and employees are investing in their personal brands. They want their names to be recognized independently of any position or company they are affiliated with. This can help to open up opportunities and safeguard their professional future (especially amidst massive layoffs and a challenging economy).
However, many don’t have time to create an ongoing stream of content. As a result, they’re turning to ghostwriters for help. They may hire you for help writing email newsletters, ebooks or books, blogs, social content, and more.
?? The pros and cons here would be similar to working with a solopreneur.
6. Pretty much every other business and organization
All businesses and organizations need to market themselves. In today’s world, most do that online through written content and media. From mom-and-pop shops to industry-leading corporations, most are publishing social posts, blogs, website copy, emails, and more on an ongoing basis.
The pay, structure, contact person, and partnership experience will vary greatly depending on the size and development stage of the company. Smaller companies will often have smaller budgets and will look to you to take the lead. Larger companies often have larger budgets and established processes/systems.
? A pro here is if you make the deal directly with the business, there’s no middleman taking part of the service fee.
? A potential con is that it’s all on you. You’ll need to prospect or attract your ideal clients, figure out their needs, present a proposed solution, provide your contract, and manage the relationship from end to end.
Examples: A local coffee shop, a medium-sized tech start-up, a household brand like Sealy or Dove
Where can you find the people who pay writers?
You can find people who pay writers in many places:
- On LinkedIn and other social platforms
- By researching business decision-makers and emailing them
- On job platforms like Upwork and Clearvoice
- Through job boards and jobs email newsletters
- By networking in business/marketing social media groups
- By networking in-person
If you’d like specific guidance on where to look in 2024, check out our blog: 28 legit ways to find freelance writing jobs this year.
Have any questions about who pays writers? Drop them below.