Freelance Content Writing Jobs: Types Of Businesses You Should Go After
If you’ve found this webpage, you’re probably interested in freelance content writing.
Freelance content writing comes with its perks. You can:
- Work from home or anywhere you’d like
- Set your own schedule
- Choose projects that interest you
- And more
But how do you get started? How do you get these content writing freelance projects?
Instead of Googling:
“How to get content writing jobs,”
Just read on. This guide will introduce you to 17 types of businesses that would benefit from hiring a freelance content writer.
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Contents
Writing Content: Freelance Statistics
As of 2019 35% of U.S. workers are freelancing in various fields.
A survey in 2017 found the average freelance writer works less than 20 hours each week.
Bureau and Labor Statistics numbers show there are more than 123,000 writers and authors working in the U.S.
Can Writers Make A Good Living?
If you’re interested in a career in content writing, the question above is probably one you want answered.
So, how much do freelance writers make?
Unfortunately, that’s a tough question to answer.
Here are a couple of stats:
- $52,807 is the average base salary listed by Glassdoor for freelance writers.
- According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers and authors make, on average, $73,860 each year.
Writing for some industries may be more lucrative than others.
Some profitable freelance writing niches include:
- Technical/trade
- Finance
- Medical
- Real estate
When figuring out your ideal salary, you also have to consider:
- How much time you spend writing each week
- How quickly you can complete projects
- How your rate is set:
- By the project
- By the hour
- By the word
- Costs associated with running your business
Bottom line: when it comes to the question ‘How much money will I make freelance writing?’
The best, most accurate answer is: It completely depends.
17 Businesses That Would Benefit From A Freelance Content Writer
6 hours and 42 minutes. That’s how long the average person spends online each day.
Whether on their smartphones or sitting behind a computer they spend those hours consuming content by:
- Reading articles
- Watching videos
- Scrolling through pictures
If your business isn’t creating content, you’re missing out on potential customers.
Those 6 hours and 42 minutes are up for grabs.
Businesses need:
AND
- Writers to create that content
Businesses big and small can benefit from content creation, and many are looking for freelance content writers.
If you’re a writer, consider targeting these types of businesses:
- Non-Profits
- Chiropractic Offices
- Dental Offices
- Law Firms
- Doctor or Specialist Offices
- Salons and Spas
- Electricians
- Plumbing Companies
- Landscaping and Lawn Care Companies
- E-Commerce Businesses
- Nanny Agencies or Daycares
- Electricity or Power Companies
- Real Estate Agencies
- Specialty Stores
- Dispensaries
- Photography Studios
- Car Detailing and Repair Shops
Likewise, if you own or manage one of these businesses stop for a moment.
Do you have a content strategy? Is it working for you? Is your content converting to clients?
If you answered “no” to any of those questions, let Portland SEO Growth help you change that.
Start with a free SEO Audit.
After the audit, our experts will help you with:
- SEO strategy
- Keyword research
- Content creation and optimization
Continue reading to learn why businesses of all shapes and sizes need content and content writers to deliver it.
#1: Non-Profits
Nearly all nonprofit organizations are looking for:
- Donations
- Volunteers
- Brand Awareness
In many cases, nonprofits want all of those things.
Creating targeted, shareable content can drive more traffic to a nonprofit’s website.
Increased traffic to a site with content featuring specific calls to action (for both fundraising and volunteers) can result in visitors feeling compelled to contribute.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
Think of a cause you’re passionate about.
Maybe your mother or grandmother battled breast cancer. Every day you hope researchers will find a cure.
Did you spend weekends growing up volunteering at a soup kitchen to combat hunger? Or maybe a summer helping to build houses with Habitat for Humanity?
Maybe your college sorority focused on child literacy as its philanthropy project, and it really stuck with you.
Do you find yourself misty-eyed every time you see one of those commercials featuring dogs and kittens advocating animal rights?
There is a nonprofit agency championing nearly any cause you can think of.
Freelance writing for nonprofits allows you to:
- Connect with a cause you’re passionate about
- Effect positive change
Reach out to a nonprofit that speaks to you and see if they’d be interested in your freelance content services. This kind of partnership benefits both parties.
#2: Chiropractic Offices
When someone breaks a leg, they see an orthopedic surgeon.
When someone has a heart attack, they see a cardiologist.
Health care providers rarely have to advocate for this business. After all, it is typically emergent.
That isn’t the case with chiropractors. Chiropractic services are often considered preventive or for pain management. Chiropractic care is not typically emergent.
Because of this, chiropractors often rely on referrals and strong marketing campaigns for new patients.
Because pain is often the reason people visit a chiropractor, informative content on preventing and treating pain can help them rank highly in search engines around those keywords.
Possible content could include:
- Chiropractic adjustments for runners
- Back pain during pregnancy
- Back and neck pain tips for office workers
- Chiropractic massage Content topics surrounding
Targeted content is especially helpful for any treatment specialties offered by the chiropractic office.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
If chiropractic services have helped you manage pain, you’d be the perfect candidate to create content for caregivers in this arena.
After all, it’s easier and more impactful to write about something you can get behind wholeheartedly.
#3: Dental Offices
The next time you make an appointment for a teeth cleaning or semi-annual dental checkup, take a few minutes to explore dental office websites in your area.
How many offer dental related content on their sites?
If the occasional teeth cleaning or cavity filling is as far as your dental history goes, you may not realize there are many different types of dentists.
These include:
- General Dentists
- Pediatric Dentists
- Cosmetic Dentists
- Orthodontists
- Endodontists
- Periodontists
- Prosthodontists
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
That’s the case for many people, who may not know offhand what a periodontist or a prosthodontist does.
(In case you were wondering, periodontists specialize in the prevention and treatment of gum disease while prosthodontists focus on cosmetic restoration and replacement of teeth.)
Many dentists and dental offices could benefit from content explaining their services and specialties in language the average person (without years of dental school) can understand.
Content writing using specific, target, keywords for these specialties and procedures could also help them rank higher in search engine results.
Additionally, general dentists may want to increase their bottom line by promoting an elective service like teeth whitening.
Informative content around this type of procedure could attract new patients who come in for teeth whitening and then make the switch to the new office for their general dental care as well.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
More than 200,000 dentists work in the United States. This means there is a great deal of opportunity when it comes to providing valuable content for these dentists and dental offices.
Think about the kind of content you’d pitch to dental offices ahead of time.
For a pediatric dentist, propose content like:
- “How to Prepare Your Child for Their First Trip to the Dentist”
- Or “The Best Foods to Promote Strong Teeth in Kids”
Not only can producing freelance content for dental offices provide a healthy income, but you can pick up some healthy dental habits along the way.
#4: Law Firms
Content creation can convert to clients.
Think about this.
Molly and her husband recently had a baby and want to update their wills. She knows this is handled by lawyers. So she Googles “lawyers in my area.”
Hundreds of results appear. But not all of these lawyers seem like a good fit for what she needs.
After all, there are attorneys out there specializing in so many aspects of the law:
- Personal Injury
- Traffic
- Immigration
- Corporate
- Real Estate
- Bankruptcy
- Estate Planning
- Criminal
- Family
- Contracts
- Taxes
- And more…
When potential clients search for legal help they can become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options available to them.
Molly adjusts her search to “how to find a good lawyer for wills.”
A local law firm website comes up with an article titled “What you should know about updating your will.”
Molly reads the article. She’s impressed. She calls the law firm and makes an appointment.
Content writing focused around a law firm’s specialty can increase its ranking in search engines like Google. Ranking higher can set them apart from the dozens of other law firms out there.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
The 2019 State of Digital & Content Marketing for Law Firms Survey found that just 25% of law firms have a documented content strategy.
What does this mean?
OPPORTUNITY. Opportunity to make your freelance content writing services available to the vast majority of law firms who aren’t investing in content creation and strategy.
70% of those surveyed cite “lack of time” as their biggest challenge when it comes to internal content marketing.
Again, this means major OPPORTUNITY for talented freelance writers to step in and produce valuable legal content.
#5: Doctor Or Specialist Offices
More and more people are turning to the internet to help diagnose whatever is ailing them. They’re also turning to the web when researching doctors and booking appointments.
This is why a strong web presence is essential for doctors and specialists.
But keep in mind, people aren’t just looking for a doctor to book an appointment with. They’re also on the hunt for information they can trust and answers to the questions they have.
Doctors’ offices with no strategic content plan are missing out.
If doctors and specialists produce valuable medical content in their fields, this content can be viewed by and shared online with potential new patients.
This is especially useful for marketing elective services or when physicians offer services or procedures no other doctors in the area provide.
Doctors’ offices also need to keep in mind that while doctors are experts in their fields, their writing styles may be too scientific and complex for the average reader.
A strong freelance content writer can take these complex medical issues and produce effective, easy-to-understand articles and newsletters.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
There’s no question the healthcare field can be a lucrative one. The same can be said for freelance medical content writing jobs.
Aside from that, freelance writing for doctors and specialists might be right up your alley if you’re interested in health, wellness, and medicine.
#6: Salons And Spas
Salons and spas are a dime a dozen in many areas of the country. Because of this, talented stylists, aestheticians, and massage therapists get lost among the competition. Most salons and spas have websites.
These websites typically have features including:
- A contact page
- A menu of services offered
- Online appointment scheduling
But many salons and spas are missing out on informative and creative content opportunities promoting the services they offer as well as the products they sell.
Here are a few ideas:
- What services make them stand out?
- Is there a service or product offered that people don’t seem to know about?
Providing this kind of targeted, valuable content helps salons and spas highlight their unique and special services (papaya pumpkin exfoliating treatment, anyone?!) outranking their local competition.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
Are you interested in the beauty industry? Do you find yourself following Instagram accounts touting skincare products and online articles featuring the latest hair and makeup trends?
If so, freelance writing for salons and spas may be a good fit for you!
Additionally, you may be able to work out a trade deal offering haircuts, manicures, or facials in exchange for your writing services.
#7: Electricians
Many people wouldn’t dare try to wire a house on their own. That’s where electricians come in.
But electricians can benefit from marketing some of their ‘smaller job’ services as well.
Between video doorbells, voice-activated lights, and music played in specific rooms on demand, there’s huge momentum right now in home automation or ‘smart homes.’
With content featuring homes that are prepared for entertaining or vacation mode with the touch of a few buttons, electricians can position themselves as the go-to source for home automation, an industry poised for big growth.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
Begin writing content for electricians, and you may put yourself in a position to expand your services to:
- Plumbing Companies
- HVAC Specialists
- Contractors
- Handyman Services
#8: Plumbing Companies
Toilet clogs and content. The two don’t seem to have a connection or go hand-in-hand, but —
Toilet clogs + content = potential clients.
When you need to call a plumber, you call a plumber. But sometimes, you just need information from a plumber.
This kind of informative content will help with brand recognition.
So, when a customer does have a plumbing emergency requiring service, there’s a good chance they’ll call the company whose article helped them unclog that toilet.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
Similarly to providing freelance content for electricians, producing content for plumbing companies may put you in a position to expand your horizons by writing for other businesses in the home service industry.
Freelance content writers can enjoy great success when creating a niche for themselves.
#9: Landscaping And Lawn Care Companies
Does your lawn care service have a blog? Do they have a website?
While landscaping and lawn care businesses do the majority of their work OUTSIDE, their customers spend plenty of time indoors on laptops and smartphones.
If those people are searching for someone to:
- Mow the lawn
- Trim hedges
- Plant trees
- Control weeds
- Create a landscape designs
Businesses need to rank for these services. Creating content around these keywords increases rank, visibility, and eventually the number of appointments each week.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
Content writing for lawn care and landscaping companies may be an untapped market.
If you:
- Reach out to these kinds of businesses
- Help them understand why content creation can bring in business
- And pitch topics for content within the lawn care/landscaping field
Then, you might find your writing business growing faster than the grass.
#10: E-Commerce Businesses
When people purchase something online they’re putting their trust in a business. This is because unlike buying something in a store, they can’t:
- See
- Touch
- Or smell
the product in person.
Let’s say Lisa is purchasing makeup. If she went to a brick and mortar store she’d be able to:
- See the color options
- Match or complement them to her skin tone
- Feel the consistency of the product
When purchasing makeup over the internet, she doesn’t have the luxury to do this. For that reason information and content help to instill trust.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
There are millions of e-commerce businesses out there. Because of this, the possibilities for freelance writing work are endless.
#11: Nanny Agencies Or Daycares
When people are looking for someone to care for their children, It’s imperative these two types of businesses BE trustworthy and COME ACROSS as trustworthy.
Providing valuable content geared toward parents helps child care centers and nanny agencies position themselves as experts in the field.
This builds trust with current customers and encourages enrollment of parents in search of care for their children.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
Do you have a background in childcare or education?
Do you already have a personal blog about parenting, family-friendly adventures, cooking and crafting with kids, or something similar?
Leverage your experience and the content you’re already creating by providing freelance writing services in the childcare field.
#12: Electricity Or Power Companies
In many states, customers can choose their electricity or natural gas providers. Currently, 20 states allow some type of energy choice. That means competition.
Energy providers need a way to stand out, develop authority in the industry, and rank high on Google.
Content writing is the way to do that. After all, most people don’t wait for an electricity provider to air an ad on TV or send them a brochure in the mail to make their decisions.
When people are searching for electricity providers, the majority turn to the internet.
A consistent and calculated content writing strategy boosts search engine results rankings AND provides valuable information to potential customers. This builds authority and therefore, brand recognition.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
With a little research on kilowatt-hours, variable rates, and solar panels, you can position yourself as a freelance content writer in the energy industry.
Given the hundreds of electricity, power, and natural gas companies, types of plans, types of energy, and more there is no shortage of material when it comes to creating valuable content in this field.
#13: Real Estate Agencies
Because real estate is a hyper-local business, realtors need to rank in search engines for keywords such as:
- Homes for sale near me
- Housing market, Portland
- Best realtors, Portland
- Top real estate agent near me
1.37 MILLION – that’s how many realtors are helping customers buy and sell homes in the U.S. according to membership numbers from the National Association of Realtors.
Because the real estate industry is so competitive, realtors need to set themselves apart. In the pre-internet world that meant billboards with headshots and catchy slogans along with large ads in the Yellow Pages.
Today, this can be achieved with content marketing. And because realtors are so busy with unpredictable schedules due to home showings and closings, hiring a freelance writer is a smart move.
By creating content around:
- Market trends
- Explaining the home buying process for first-time buyers
- Home staging
- Resale tips
- And much more…
Freelance content writers can assist realtors by helping them develop a unique voice, a connection to potential sellers and buyers, and authority in the market.
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Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
The real estate market has its ups and downs. However, even in a tough market, homes are purchased and sold every single day.
The real estate industry isn’t going anywhere. Neither are the more than 1.3 million real estate agents. For that reason, real estate writing may be a lucrative niche for freelance content creators.
#14: Specialty Stores
So far this guide has focused mostly on how service-related businesses benefit from content creation. What about businesses that provide goods, the things we want to buy?
Let’s say Jennifer owns a gourmet cooking store. Her shop sells pots and pans, small cooking appliances, and utensils as well as specialty food items like olive oils, salts, marinades, and more.
Right now her website features almost no written content.
What if Jennifer featured a weekly meal, complete with ingredient lists (featuring products she sells), recipes for the main dish, sides, and dessert.
Evergreen content could also include tutorials and kitchen how-to’s, tips on planning events like dinner parties, backyard BBQs, and summer seafood boils.
Strategic content creation can help turn Jennifer’s website and storefront more of a destination for customers who aren’t just looking for a new blender or gourmet jam but also need a place to turn for entertaining ideas and recipes.
Similar approaches could be used for:
- Flower shops
- Craft stores
- Clothing boutiques
- Home decor shops
- And more!
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
Writing freelance for specialty stores is another opportunity to combine your writing talents with your passions!
Think about the stores you love to visit. Chances are, if you love crafting in your free time, you’d probably also enjoy writing about it.
You also may already have relationships with the owners and managers of those stores, something you can use to your advantage!
#15: Dispensaries
A strong strategy for content marketing is especially important for dispensaries. This is because:
- Quality cannabis content can increase web traffic
- Regulations are in place for dispensary advertising and marketing. These regulations vary by state.
- Although there’s been significant progress when it comes to cannabis (ten states have legalized the use of recreational marijuana and 20 states have legalized use of medical marijuana,) stigma about its use remains.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
Dispensaries are a relatively new business. The first legal sales of recreational marijuana began in 2012.
This is also a rapidly growing industry. As of 2019, there are nearly 7,500 cannabis dispensaries in the U.S. and sales for recreational marijuana reached $7.3 billion in 2019. That number is expected to triple by 2022.
This expected growth means it’s a great time to position yourself as a freelance content writer in this field.
#16: Photography Studios
Photography is a competitive business. Many photographers market their work via images on social media like Instagram and Facebook BUT while a picture is worth a thousand words, words can make a big impact when it comes to attracting clients.
Photographers likely focus their efforts in one or more of these areas:
- Weddings/Events
- Newborn sessions
- Family photos
- Landscape photography
- Photojournalist
- Commercial photography
- Stock photos
A bride looking to hire a photographer for her big day may be attracted to an article titled “The Perfect Schedule for Wedding Day Photos.”
A mom hoping to schedule a family photoshoot might find content about “The Best Colors to Wear for Family Pictures” helpful.
Think about the questions potential clients might have. Then, answer those questions with informative content.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
There are often fantastic stories behind photographs. If you’re a writer who embraces storytelling, writing for photography studios may be the perfect fit for you.
Do you have your own blog? Do you pitch freelance stories and articles to magazines or online publications? If so, improving your photography skills could be good for your own business.
You may be able to learn something by:
- Researching photography
- Writing content on photography
- Working closely with the professional photographer you’re writing for
#17: Car Detailing And Repair Shops
Henry owns a car detailing and auto repair shop. He has loyal customers who praise his shop’s work, but with so many nationally recognized auto repair chain stores in his town, he’s having trouble attracting new business.
After all, when potential customers search online for “car oil change” or “replace my car transmission” it’s the large, national chain stores that pop up first.
Henry knows his service is superior, but the big chains and brand recognition and rank high on Google. It’s difficult for his small but dependable repair shop to gain customers.
Henry (and other small auto repair shop owners) can change this by adding content to their websites.
Maybe Henry specializes in Ford Mustangs. Or he offers a special deal on detailing services to military veterans. Featured content in these areas could help set Henry apart.
Why Are These Great Freelance Content Writing Job Opportunities?
If you have an interest in the auto industry, researching and writing freelance content on subjects like:
- A Complete Checklist for Car Tune-Ups
- How to Change a Flat Tire
- Why does my Car Leak Oil while Parked?
It may not even feel like work for you.
Additionally, if you’re interested in producing video content and have skills including:
- Writing engaging scripts
- Digital video shooting
- Video editing
You’re in a fantastic position to pitch video content to car detailing and repair companies. These types of businesses are the perfect fit for providing educational video content on their websites.
These videos featuring “how-to’s” and auto tips and tricks help businesses:
- Attract customers
- Become known experts in the field
- Improve rank in both YouTube and Google
How To Become A Freelance Writer
Does becoming a freelance writer interest you?
Still not quite sure where to begin?
Online course SEO The Write Way can help you launch your freelance writing career.
This highly reviewed course offers step-by-step guidance, teaching you how to be a freelance content writer. This course features lessons in:
- Creating high-quality content
- Using best practices for SEO
- Searching for online content writing jobs
- And most importantly, landing clients
The sooner you begin, the sooner you’re on your way to becoming a freelance writer.
