It’s common to hear people declare themselves as “freelance writers,” but did you know that there are many types of freelance writing? There is a wide range of fields for freelance writers to specialize in, in which the term “freelance writer” can mean many different kinds of writing. If you don’t see yourself writing ad copy or writing blog posts, don’t worry, you can still be a freelance writer since there are so many other kinds of writing services that are in demand.
1. Content Writing
“Content” usually refers to providing useful information that is part of an organization or business’ content marketing strategy. Content writing includes writing blog posts, social media posts, and whitepapers. Content writers are in high demand because all businesses in the present day need blogs to stay competitive, especially with their digital presence. However, not every business owner has the time to be creating blogs and social media on a regular basis, so that’s where content writers come in. There are even content writers who specialize in writing scripts for video content creation.
2. Copywriting
Many freelance writers specialize in copywriting, which is writing for conversion. You know, all the words you find on a website that explains a product or service to you and next steps? That’s copywriting. The goal of copywriting is to get the reader to make a desirable action (conversion), whether that be buying a product or subscribing to a newsletter. Even within the copywriting world, there are many different types of copywriting. Some examples include writing concise and catchy lines for advertisements, writing clean and simple product descriptions on websites or Amazon, and writing e-mail newsletters that have a clear call to action.
3. Technical Writing
A technical writers’ job is to turn complicated processes and procedures into a streamlined and easy-to-understand format. Technical writing can include writing for business procedures, contracts, user manuals, instructions, and policy documents. Some industries that need technical writers are in the informational technology, computer software, legal, and corporate fields. Technical writing is a specific type of writing that is harder to get started in, but if you have the technical background, this might be the type of freelance writing for you.
4. Ghost Writing
Ghostwriting is when you write any material for someone else, and they get the credit for it. Ghostwriting is typically heard of as something that is done for celebrities and political figures, but businesses and organizations also hire ghostwriters to help create content.
5. E-book Writing
Many businesses and bloggers write e-book as part of their marketing strategy. It’s a useful product that combines a lot of information that can be sold to make a profit or to be given for free to gain more followers.
There are many more types of freelance writing than these five types. Many writers also freelance by writing essays, long-form articles, think pieces, non-fiction, and fiction pieces. For any writing you can think of, there is probably a field for it. If you’re overwhelmed with all the different kinds of freelance writing, you can always try to experiment in one of these fields and see which type of freelance writing is most fitting for you. Once you have a better idea, you can start finding clients on Upwork or elsewhere and begin to freelance.
