Top 3 Things That Will Land You a Job on oDesk

So there you are… sitting and searching for a freelance writing job online.

Where do you start? How do you get some to notice your writing skills? How do you compete with the foreign writers that will work for extremely low pay? These may just be a few of the questions that are running through your head.

To become a successful freelance writing you need to keep three main things in mind when looking for work:

Don’t Sell Yourself Short

Common freelance job boards like oDesk are often bogged down with writers that are willing to write 500 words for $1-$2. If you are a Native American speaker and can produce a high quality article than this is a ridiculous price. You are better than that. Patience is the key. It will take time to find that perfect client that is willing to pay the right amount for the services you provide. Remember, “You get what you pay for.”

Patience

When I started my freelancing career I got onto these common freelance job boards and bid for every writing job out there, regardless of the pay, topic or type of project. I found myself writing articles about things I despised and didn’t even agree with. It didn’t take long before I found myself dreading the thought of sitting down to work on one of my writing projects. So take it from me, if you are searching through freelance job boards remember not to waste time on bidding jobs that don’t even interest you- it’s pointless and a huge waste of time.

It’s all about the Interview

When you finally catch the attention of a potential client don’t attempt to impress them with big words or call them “sir” or “ma’am.” To someone that is looking for a down to earth writer, this is a huge turn off. The most important thing is to be sure you don’t spell any words wrong. Sometimes when people try to use big words they use them in the wrong context because they don’t truly understand the meaning of the word- this is a HUGE turn off to the client. I have had many writers write content for me and I always automatically reject the ones that start their cover letter of with “Madam or Sir.” Just communicate with them like you would a business associate via e-mail.

These are just a few tips to help you land that freelance writing job you have been waiting for!