Writing articles for blogs and web content is effective marketing for businesses. And every single website needs to produce relevant content to attract customers and rank in Google. Writers are now in-demand for this reason. Here are remote job opportunities you can check out.
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In-House Technical Writer for Business Process & Improvement Department Status: Project-Based Schedule: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Philippine Standard Time (Mon-Fri) / Output0based Why choose Remote Staff? 100% Work from Home. No office-based setups. Manage your time efficiently and enjoy work-life balance. 15 years in the remote work industry. ...
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Online Writing Jobs:
Online Writing Jobs:
Not too long ago, career choices for writers were limited to journalism, academia, or publishing.
However, times have changed.
E-commerce and digital marketing have opened up more opportunities for writers.
You don’t even need to work in a traditional office now.
Let’s take a closer look.
Remote jobs have long existed in the Philippines. However, the pandemic made them more mainstream.
There are now plenty of remote work opportunities—from the more popular niches, like virtual assistance to more specialized ones like online writing jobs.
However, before you start applying to online writing jobs, you should first understand what it takes to be a good online writer.
When writing for online platforms, good writing skills aren’t enough.
You must also understand specific marketing principles and trends to turn readers into paying customers.
Trends come and go, so you should stay updated.
A good content writer keeps tabs on trending stories on social media, which you can piggyback on to promote your brand.
You can also study your competitors’ strategies to see which ones you can adapt.
The bottom line is to produce content that provides value to your customers.
You don’t have to limit yourself to content writing as there’s a variety of writing jobs in the market.
Other writing jobs include copywriting, ghostwriting, email marketing, technical writing, B2B (business to business) writing, SaaS (software as a service) writing, social media writing, video script writing, and more.
If you’re unsure which niche to specialize in, start by evaluating where your interests lie.
Apart from working from the comfort of your home, what other benefits does a remote job offer?
Flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of working remotely.
You have more control over your schedule—to an extent. You can perform simple household chores while working, thereby maximizing your day.
Flexibility is extremely helpful for stay-at-home moms (SAHMs) who want to maintain some level of financial independence while raising a family.
Furthermore, this flexibility gives you more time for your hobbies and other passion projects.
Working remotely gives you access to global opportunities.
After all, jobs don’t have to be limited to your geographical location. With remote work, you can offer your services to clients virtually anywhere.
Thus, you can also earn well above the average wage in the Philippines.
Writing is generally a solitary activity, so it’s a perfect remote job for many introverted creatives.
Remote work also presents other benefits for writers, such as:
Many people used to believe that working from home can negatively affect an employee’s productivity.
However, studies show that it’s the opposite.
How could this be?
For one, there are fewer distractions at home. You don’t have coworkers who would drop by your cubicle for a chat.
This is especially important for writers who need to concentrate to get into the zone.
Sure, you might need a colleague to bounce ideas off, which would have been easier in a traditional office. However, with technological advancements, it’s nothing that a quick direct message can’t solve.
Develop a work routine so you always stay on schedule. You can also keep a to-do list handy so you don’t neglect any major work tasks.
Further, establish your home office where you’re least likely to be distracted.
A portfolio is vital when applying for any job as it showcases your skills to a potential employer.
As a writer, you can write for various businesses, especially if you have a lot of interests. This makes you more versatile, especially if you want to cater to more than one client.
However, if you want a more lucrative career, it’s better to niche down.
You’ll also have less competition and become more sought after.
One way to diversify your writing portfolio is to feature pieces from a wide range of industries and genres.
For instance, include articles as well as email copy. Add fictional short stories to your portfolio if you’re eyeing a creative writing role.
However, don’t put too many samples in your portfolio.
The hiring manager won’t have enough time to go over each one.
Thus, it’s best to pick the ones that demonstrate your strengths as a writer.
Second, organize your folders and add a brief description for each. This way, the hiring manager will understand what each piece of copy or content is for.
However, diversifying your portfolio too much can also be off-putting since it implies the lack of a niche or specialisation.
Aside from writing skills, what else does a good online writer need?
In online writing jobs, it’s not enough to string words together.
You need to understand certain principles behind writing for business.
Being an SEO (search engine optimization) content writer is one of the most common writing jobs nowadays.
These wordsmiths optimize a company’s website to make it rank on search engines.
If you want to apply for an online writing job, start learning how to write SEO-friendly articles. This means incorporating certain keywords relevant to the company’s brand.
Writing SEO-friendly content also increases website traffic and brand visibility, which can potentially turn into leads or sales later on.
In the same vein, companies need a web content management system that can host their websites.
One of the most popular ones is WordPress.Pairing your SEO writing skills with WordPress management can do wonders for your resume.
It’s also advisable to learn how to use AI tools since it can make the writing process more efficient.
You can also learn how to write for technology or software companies if you’re looking for a profitable niche.
As a writer, the learning never stops.
You get to learn about a wide range of topics since research will be part of your job.
When writing about the same subjects gets too boring, take it as a sign to upskill.
This way, you can expand your current skill set, which allows you to apply for another—perhaps, more challenging (and lucrative)—writing role.
Technical skills aren’t the only qualifications a hiring manager looks at.
It’s important to hone your soft skills too.
As a writer, your communication skills must be top-notch.
After all, you’ll need it to craft compelling pieces for your clients.
You’ll also need good communication skills so you can get your point across without coming off as rude or arrogant online.
This can be especially tricky since remote jobs rely on written text without any intonation or non-verbal cues, leaving messages open to misinterpretation.
Excellent time management skills and self-discipline are also a must-have since your managers or colleagues aren’t physically around to remind you about deadlines.
Making connections with other professionals can often feel awkward, especially if you don’t know them beforehand.
However, networking is part of any job.
Granted, it can be a lot more difficult if you’re working remotely, but with technology, you can easily reach out to experts and key opinion leaders.
One of the platforms best suited for networking is LinkedIn.
You can look for professionals in your industry and connect with them.
Who knows?
Apart from leveraging their expertise and knowledge, they might also be able to offer a helping hand should you need a job in the future.
So how do you find a job in the increasingly competitive online writing industry?
You can start your job hunt with a quick search online and receive hundreds of results instantly.
However, not all job platforms are made equally.
Before signing up for any employment portals, do your research first. Find out what previous and current users have to say.
Once you’ve signed up to your selected job site, look for a role that best suits your qualifications. Don’t forget to do your due diligence and read reviews from former and current employees.
If you’re having trouble finding and landing clients by yourself, you can register with staffing agencies—like Remote Staff, for example.
These companies will be in charge of matching you with the right employer. Plus, they already vet each client, which lowers your chances of getting scammed.
All you need to do is sign up and make it through the application process.
You can land a job on social media accounts if you do things right.
Use your LinkedIn account, for instance, to connect with hiring managers relevant to your industry.
This way, you can get first dibs on open roles.
Landing clients often starts with a well-written proposal or cover letter.
Why should a client consider you for the role?
Writing a proposal takes time and effort.
Sure, you can churn one out using AI tools, but it’ll sound generic. (It would also lack a unique voice only a human writer can have.)
Thus, customize your proposal for each position you apply for.
Start with a brief introduction and then explain why you’re the right fit for the job. You can also mention previous relevant experiences to illustrate your skills (as these anecdotes don’t fit within a resume).
If you’ve got a portfolio with output that your prospective client might find useful, include a link to that as well.
Calculate rates appropriate to your skills and experience.
If you have a hard time doing so, you can evaluate the tasks listed in the job description and estimate how long it would take you to complete each task. Evaluate whether the tasks are within your current skill set or not, however.
When you receive a job offer, you can still negotiate your rate, especially if you feel that you deserve more.
However, if you find negotiating with clients intimidating, being part of an agency takes this load off your shoulders.
At Remote Staff, our team of Client Relations Executives (CREs) will act as middlemen and negotiate your rates, ensuring you’ll receive nothing less than what you deserve.
While it’s a great career, being an online writer isn’t always a walk in the park.
What are some of the common challenges when you’re a remote writer? How do you overcome them?
Working from home can feel pretty isolating, especially if you’ve experienced working in a traditional office.
Unless you’re living with your family members, there aren’t really people you can chat with during a lull.
Many remote workers are also concerned about how remote work can be unstable since your client can terminate you at any time.
It can be taxing (both physically and mentally) to repeat the job-hunting process all over again.
Lastly, working from home can be pretty distracting. Yes, you might not have the usual culprits (coworkers who want to chitchat, communal office noise, etc.) but you might have to contend with noisy neighbors and rowdy family members. Or the temptation to check your phone and social media accounts every so often.
If you’re working remotely, try to be proactive in making plans with your friends. You can also pick up a new hobby now that you have more time.
During weekdays, you can schedule video calls with your family and friends, if only to interact with someone for the week.
This way, you lessen the chances of feeling isolated and you get to explore the outside world once in a while.
As for job insecurity, you can reduce this risk by applying to agencies instead.
For example, Remote Staff has a dedicated team that will find you another client in case your current one goes MIA or if they’ve decided to terminate the contract.
Being a part of an agency also reduces the effort of finding a client all by yourself.
Lastly, set up your workstation in a quiet corner at home. Or, you can also invest in soundproofing.
Most of the time, you’d hear people say it’s not necessary to make friends at work.
It doesn’t matter if you like your colleagues or not, so long as you’re getting paid.
However, is this sound advice?
Fostering a sense of community at work can make employees feel secure in their jobs.
While it can be tricky for remote workers, there are ways to establish camaraderie with your colleagues.
For instance, the manager can have daily or weekly meetings where they check on employee progress. It’s also an opportunity to discuss any issues encountered at work and then brainstorm possible solutions.
These virtual meetings can also serve as a way to build camaraderie.
Further, if you want to advance your career, try connecting with senior employees.
They usually share their work experiences, where you can pick up valuable lessons that could be helpful later on.
The first place to look for support and guidance should be your workplace.
Find a senior that you can trust and talk to them. With this simple act, you can get to know more about them and their journey in their respective careers.
Done right, you’ll find yourself creating friendships—with a vast network being a bonus.
What’s in store for online writing jobs and how can you prepare for it?
The remote work industry has become fairly saturated after the pandemic.
Many traditional office employees now want to work remotely, especially if they get to earn more without leaving the house.
So, how can you stay ahead of the game?
Artificial intelligence (AI) made a lot of buzz in the past year, especially as it threatens many jobs for creatives.
In fact, companies have been churning out AI-generated content for some time now.
Cost efficiency is one of the reasons why many businesses would rather use AI, along with its speed at churning out content.
However, AI is still lacking in several areas.
For one, it tends to be repetitive. After all, it learns from what it is fed. If there’s no new information, it will keep consuming what remains in the system, which leads to AI cannabilism.
AI content can also feel sterile. It takes a human writer to add warmth and empathy that really makes a written piece stand out.
Lastly, AI isn’t always factually accurate. For instance, if a company releases an AI-generated article filled with inaccuracies and non-existent sources, readers will question their reliability.
With AI evolving, however, is there still a place for human writers today?
Yes.
However, learning how to use AI tools can give you a competitive edge in the job market. So, you might want to learn how to maximize them to upskill.
You should also learn how to be a better editor because companies still rely on humans to tighten up AI-generated content.
If your interests don’t lie in technology, then perhaps you can choose another niche.
Becoming an expert in a specific field can be quite lucrative too as it means less competition -and more prospects willing to pay a premium.
Having a strong personal brand can bring in more clients and set you apart from other writers—both veterans and newbies.
There’s a right way to go about this, however.
Start by truly getting to know yourself. What are your defining characteristics? What are your long- and short-term career goals? What are your strengths as a writer?
Next, think about your target audience or clients. Who do you want to write for? You might be interested in lifestyle stories or talking about the latest technological advances.
Work on a convincing elevator pitch afterward. You’d want to combine your answers from the previous point into one compelling narrative. This way, it’s easier for you to persuade potential clients.
Lastly, don’t forget to generate a portfolio that exhibits your best work as a writer.
If you’ve been a traditional employee for a long time, working remotely can
take some getting used to.
However, there are ways you can adjust faster.
As you’ll be spending most of your time in your home office, it’s best to
invest in reliable equipment so your work goes smoothly.
Place your desk in a quiet area to reduce the risk of getting disturbed
and distracted during work hours.
Having to constantly update your skill set to remain competitive in the
writing industry can be tough.
As a result, it can be difficult to balance your professional growth
and your personal well-being.
How do you go about this?
First, set realistic and achievable goals. The reality is, you can’t do everything
you want in a day.
So, be smart with the projects you take on. Prioritize the projects that will boost
your growth so that your time and effort are worth it.
Next, plan your steps. You can’t dive into anything without a solid plan because
you risk losing sight of your goals otherwise.
Make it easier for yourself by breaking your professional and personal goals
down into more manageable steps.
Then put your goals into action as much as you can to see noticeable results.
Lastly, enjoy the process. Remember, you’re not seeking perfection,
but rather, balance and progress.
We’ve compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions about online writing jobs:
Don’t overthink it and just write, write, write! However, you also need to cover your basics. Brush up on basic and advanced grammar rules and work on your sentence structure.
Your next step is to build a portfolio. If you’re a newbie, try writing an article on a topic that interests you and start from there
There are many ways to land clients. Do note that it’ll take time—think months, not weeks.
If you want to shorten your waiting time, register with a staffing firm like Remote Staff instead. They’ll take great care to match you with the right client.
Most of the time, how much you earn as a writer largely depends on your skill and experience.
People who have been writing for years can leverage their experience to earn above-average salaries.
Online writing jobs are perfect for creatives who want to produce meaningful and relevant content – and get paid for it.
While the advent of AI hurt the current writing landscape, not all hope is lost.
Writers can stay ahead of the game by leveling up their writing skills and learning how to maximize AI.
If you’re ready to launch your writing career and work online, check out Remote Staff’s job listings. It’s always updated and has open roles in several industries.
Remote Staff has also been in business for 16 years (and counting)! Remote workers generally don’t have to worry too much about marketing themselves to clients because our CREs will shortlist you whenever something suitable comes up.