As we careen into spring 2020, in a year originally shimmering with promise as all of them do, and things couldn’t be any stranger.
We’re in the midst of a global pandemic, facing all kinds of uncertainty (to the extent that many of us never want to hear the word “uncertainty” again), and to top it all off, we have this feeling of urgent competition permeating the freelance community—a fear that there may not be “enough” work for all of us.
I’m here to set your mind at ease. Yes, times are tough and uncertain… but times are always uncertain. The difference right now is that a larger group of people are impacted by this global event, creating a more widespread sense of unease.
The good news? Freelancers are resourceful by nature. They don’t back down from a challenge, no matter what the size. And if you agree to muster up the courage to keep thriving through this bizarre year, I’ll bring all of my resources to the table for you.
Cool? Cool.
Now that we’re on the same page, listen up. There’s something I want to make clear before we dig into this epic of list websites where you can find freelance writing gigs in 2020:
First of all, freelance writing jobs have not gone away. Your clients may have (a bunch of mine did too), and that is a scary situation if it happens to you, but that doesn’t mean the whole ship is sinking.
Simply Googling “Freelance Writing Jobs” turned up a massive pool of thousands of jobs, mostly remote since much of the world is in lockdown. That means there has never been a better time to launch your freelance writing career or add some new work to your docket.
Linkedin currently boasts 200K+ freelance writing jobs with over 6k posted in the past 24 hours. And even though LinkedIn previously had a lot of on-location jobs, right now most companies are favoring remote work.
On Upwork, a search for new copywriting jobs totals 1,995, while content writing hits 14,918 and brings in 1,970 results (at the time of writing this). There are many more categories there. And we know 100% of Upwork clients are not premium quality, but you can absolutely find excellent work relationships there.
The point?
Businesses still have writing needs that are cyclical and popping up all the time. More companies than ever have shifted their operations online. There’s no shortage of work to be had if you remain optimistic and advocate for yourself out there.
If I give you guys this list o’ resources, you have to promise me that you’ll keep self-advocating and keep that optimistic energy high. Do not give up on yourself or your writing dreams.
Cool?
Here are 80+ places you can look for freelance writing jobs online in 2020:
Online Writing Jobs: General Career Sites
Traditional career websites were once reserved for full-time employment seekers, but have branched out to serve the ever-growing freelancer population. Remote jobs are becoming exponentially popular in light of the pandemic. Some, like The Muse, also offer solid career advice.| Website | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| AngelList | Start-up based job listings with "Hiring during COVID-19 verification". Must fill out extensive profile to see jobs. | angel.co |
| CareerBliss | Career "community" with job listings and resources. 15k+ jobs labeled "remote" at the time of creating this post. | CareerBliss |
| Career Builder | Compare salaries, find out what skills you need to increase your value to clients and companies, apply to jobs, and sign up for job alert emails. | careerbuilder.com |
| Career Contessa | Female-focused career success website & job listings. Extensive blog content on prepping for and advancing in your career. Plus, webinars & training. | careercontessa.com |
| Google Jobs | Google's AI pulls in jobs from all over the internet, creating the biggest database of them all. Use keywords to find exactly what you want. | jobs.google.com |
| Glassdoor | Job listings with user submitted company reviews and personalized salary tools. Upload your resume and apply directly. | glassdoor.com |
| Indeed | Tools for job search, resumes, company reviews and more. Search by industry, location or timeline (ie: "hiring immediately"). | indeed.com |
| Job.com | A modern job search site that uses blockchain technology and offers financial rewards. | job.com |
| Juju | No-fluff job search website. Use keywords to find what you want. 11k+ jobs labeled "remote" at the time of creating this post. | juju.com |
| Linkup | An expansive site full of verified job listings. Includes 20k+ jobs labeled "remote" at the time of creating this post. | linkup.com |
| LiveCareer | Resume-building tools and easy-apply. Special services for COVID-19 job search. Some resources require you to download an app. | livecareer.com |
| Monster.com | Job listings and career advancement advice. Their current motto: Don't search for jobs. Find the right fit instead." | monster.com |
| Planted | Get curated job listings that get "smarter" over time as Planted understands your needs. Get fast-tracked to companies that you're a strong fit for. | planted.com |
| Scouted | A site that matches candidates with ideal companies. Get curated job listings in your inbox. | scouted.io |
| Simply Hired | Job listings, resume builder, career advice blog. Over 58k remote working jobs listed at the time of creating this post. | simplyhired.com |
| The Ladders | Jobs that pay over $100k annually. Includes tools for building and reviewing resumes. Extensive blog content on success, productivity, confidence, and high-performance. | theladders.com |
| The Muse | Highlighting exceptional companies and opportunities. Plus, career advice newsletter. This site is known for focusing on company culture and work-life balance. | themuse.com |
| ZipRecruiter | Extensive job listings and built-in support features. Over 50k jobs labled "remote" at the time of creating this post. | ziprecruiter.com |
Online Writing Jobs: Freelance Job Boards
Listings on freelance job boards are often temporary or project-based, but you may find longer term gigs as well. A large number of jobs on these boards have switched to remote if they weren't already. Use filters to narrow your search results.Freelance job boards are a known target for scammers. Do your homework and stay safe. Don't click suspicious links or give out your personal info.
| Website | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Behance | A creative showcase and job listing site with a small evolving selection of writing-related gigs. | behance.net/joblist |
| All Freelance Writing | Writing jobs submitted by clients and listings pulled in from third party sites. | allfreelancewriting.com |
| Be A Freelance Blogger | A freelance writer job board where requirements to submit job listings are "at least $0.10 per word or $50 per post" (with many much higher). | beafreelanceblogger.com |
| BloggingPro | A job board that focuses on paid blogging opportunities, plus career tips. | bloggingpro.com/jobs |
| Freelanced | A freelancer-exclusive social network with job listings. | freelanced.com |
| FreelanceWriting.com | A job board packed with opportunities in the realm of blogging, copywriting, and more. | freelancewriting.com/jobs |
| Freelancer Map | A per-project job listing site that connects companies and freelancers. Global network of listings with a decent writing section. | freelancermap.com |
| Freelance Writing Gigs | A freelance writing website with a frequently updated job board. They also post the latest jobs on their blog. | freelancewritinggigs.com |
| Freelance Writing Jobs Canada | A Canadian freelance writing jobs website that posts listings and has resources/tips. | freelancewritingjobs.ca |
| Guru | A modest-sized job board with freelance writing opportunities (among others). | guru.com |
| Krop Creative | Build a portfolio and apply for jobs with top companies. Includes many writing opportunities. | krop.com |
| Pro Blogger | A job board that focused on paid blogging opportunities. Also a known target for scammers, so stay vigilant. | problogger.com/jobs |
Online Writing Jobs: Remote Job Boards
These websites focus entirely on remote work, and they're being updated frequently with work-from-anywhere positions. This list is getting bigger each year, which is very encouraging for the remote freelance community.| Website | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamite Jobs | Remote jobs vetted every 24 hours by the site staff. Must have an account to view jobs. | dynamitejobs.co |
| Europe Remotely | A remote job listings site that caters to a European-based freelancer and client base. | europeremotely.com |
| FlexJobs | A growing remote job directory with hand-screened positions, making it easier to find high-quality work. | flexjobs.com |
| HubStaff Talent | Remote job listings site featuring a range of writing opportunities. | Hubstaff Talent |
| Jobspresso | Remote jobs from all categories, with about 100 active writing-specific jobs at any given time. | Jobspresso |
| Let's Work Remotely | A remote-only job site with an impressive list of frequently updated writing-related jobs. | Let's Work Remotely |
| LinkedIn Remote Jobs | Did you know LinkedIn has an entire section for remote jobs? It's growing rapidly. Must have an account to view. | linkedin.com |
| Outsourcely | A site that connects remote workers with startups and businesses globally. Jobs span from SEO copywriters to email marketing and more. | outsourcely.com |
| Remote.co | An extensive website with information on working remotely as well as many frequently updated writing jobs. | remote.co |
| Remote 4 Me | A job board featuring pre-filtered 100% remote jobs including technical writing/editing gigs. | remote4me.com |
| Remote Jobs Club | A regular newsletter that delivers a hand-selected grouping of remote opportunities, including content writing jobs. | remotejobsclub.com |
| Remote OK | A remote-only job listings site. Check out the "non-tech jobs" section to find writing-related gigs. | remoteok.io |
| Remote Woman | Find remote positions at female-friendly companies. | remotewoman.com |
| Remotees | A tech-based job listings site that is regularly updated and features copywriting and technical writing jobs. | Remotees |
| Remotely Awesome Jobs | A remote jobs search engine that pulls in listings from other sites. Not packed with writing gigs yet but worth bookmarking. | remotelyawesomejobs.com |
| Remotive | A very cute website (doggo!) with a modest but growing selection of writing jobs. | remotive.io |
| Skip The Drive | A remote and work-from-home job listings site featuring 40+ pages of writing gigs. | skipthedrive.com |
| Virtual Vocations | A thorough online job listings site including writing, proofreading, and editing jobs (among others). | virtualvocations.com |
| We Work Remotely | A site that boasts itself as the "largest remote work community in the world", clients shell out $300 to post, so bottom of the barrel gigs are a non-issue. | We Work Remotely |
| Workew | Extensive job listings site with new jobs posted on a daily basis, including copywriting, technical writing, etc. | workew.com |
| 100 Telecommute Jobs | Their mission: providing 100% remote opportunity listings to the remote workforce, free of charge. | 100telecommutejobs.com |
Online Writing Jobs: Digital Nomad/Travel Sites
Digital Nomadism is a specific-enough lifestyle that it merits a unique kind of job board. These opportunities are catered to full-time travelers. You'll see some cross-over gigs between these and remote job sites. Both are worth keeping tabs on.| Website | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad Job Finder | A European-based website that allows you to create a profile and browse remote job listings. | digitalnomad-jobfinder.com |
| Digital Nomad Jobs | A digital nomad-focused job board with resources for transitioning from desk job to remote. | digitalnomadjobs.com |
| Matador Network | While not a traditional job board, this site has travel-specific jobs that may occasionally include something writing related. | matadornetwork.com |
| NODESK | A remote working/digital nomad website that connects companies and freelancers. They also have a great newsletter. | nodesk.co/remote-jobs |
| Nomad List | A digital nomad resource website that links to the Remote OK job board. | nomadist.com |
| Pangian Remote & Travel Jobs | Browse high-quality remote jobs including copy and content writing. | pangian.com/job-travel-remote |
| Remoters | Digital nomad guides and resources, plus a frequently updated job board. | remoters.net |
| Working Nomads | A curated job board featuring the best remote jobs sourced from around the world. | workingnomads.co |
| World Nomad Job Boards | A digital nomad/travel website that features opportunities to write about different global regions. | mojos.travel/opportunities |
Online Writing Jobs: Freelance Job Market Sites
Whether you love 'em or you hate 'em, these websites are some of the hottest spots to find freelance work. And they show no sign of slowing down. The clients on market sites can get buried in proposals. Always keep communication personalized and focused on their business when you're reaching out about a project.| Website | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| CloudPeeps | Create and fully fill out a profile in order to view job listings. Clients vet submitted proposals to choose a freelancer to complete the task. | CloudPeeps |
| Fiverr | Once an absolute race-to-the-bottom, Fiverr is showing a bit more promise with the ability to create higher value packages to offer your services. | fiverr.com |
| Freelancer | Create a profile to browse and bid on freelance jobs. This site charges up-front fees. Get perks and reduced/postponed fees by becoming a "Preferred Freelancer". | freelancer.com |
| GoLance | Create a profile to apply for jobs from a pool of opportunities matched to your skills. Receive weekly payment for hourly gigs or per-milestone payments (similar to Upwork). | golance.com |
| Upwork | Create a specialized profile to show off your skills, build relationships with clients (short and long-term). This site takes a cut of your earnings. Get perks/reduced fees by becoming a "Top Rated Freelancer". | upwork.com |
| Writeology | Sign up, fill out a profile and bid for projects. When awarded a project, complete it to earn your "salary". | writeology.com |
Online Writing Jobs: Freelance Writing Agency-Style Sites
Most of these sites act as “agencies”, approving your profile, then sourcing work for you while taking a cut. Some of them are content mills (let's call a spade a spade). I'm adding them here with the following warning: Writers have mixed reviews on these sites. You may not have as much control over the kind of work you get (or how often) and it will not be the same experience as freelancing independently. Do your homework.| Website | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| EByline | A journalism-focused site that connects writers with brands who need content. | ebyline.com |
| ClearVoice | An agency-style site that allows freelancers to build a personal brand, develop their resume, set their own rates and more. | clearvoice.com |
| Contena | Perhaps one of the more controversial sites, you pay a membership fee to browse curated job listings vetted by "scouts". I found this review worrying but, as always, I'll let you do the research and decide. | contenta.co |
| Contently | A content marketing agency that leverages freelance talent to power brands' content campaigns. | contently.com |
| CopyPress | An full-service marketing and content agency with integrated software and project management system (for clients). It's not made clear how writers apply to be screened. | copypress.com |
| Crowd Content | A content agency website that vets writers to on as staff. | crowdcontent.com |
| Freelance My Way | Create a free profile. Search and apply for jobs without restriction. No monthly fees or bid restrictions. | freelancemyway.com |
| Jam Jar Writing | Register as a freelance writer for free and decide where, when, how often, and for how much you deliver work. | jamjarwriting.com |
| nDash | An agency-style site that promises "higher rates, legitimate brands, and six-figure earning potential." | ndash.com |
| Online Writing Jobs | Apply to be a writer and "make up to $50 writing about topics that interest you". (Note from MC: Beware, this is a very low rate for content writing.) | Online Writing Jobs |
| PayDesk | Create a freelance journalist profile and market yourself to broadcasters and companies around the world. Take on a range of projects and build your portfolio. | paydesk.co |
| People Per Hour | Apply to be a freelancer and create "specialized offers" to pitch services to thousands of businesses. They encourage you to offer "your best work at your best price" and manually match you with projects. | peopleperhour.com |
| Quill | An e-commerce business focused copy and content agency. Promises freelancers growth opportunities, flexibility and resources. | quillcontent.com |
| SkyWord | A content marketing agency that enlists "elite" freelancers (including writers) to collaborate with clients. | skyword.com |
| TextBroker | This site offers approved writers access to thousands of writing assignments, claiming that newbies and experiences writers alike can find ideal opportunities. | textbroker.com |
| Writer Bay | Apply to be a writer and find work that fits your expertise and experience level. They boast flexible working conditions and post top-earning writers' profits on the homepage. | writerbay.com |
| Writers.Work | Create a profile and receive curated job listings in your dashboard, based on what opportunities you're deemed a good match for. | writers.work |
This is a big list of sites, and I hope it has succeeded in perking you up a bit, reigniting that freelance optimism you had before the COVID-19 days.
Just remember that relying on third-party websites for writing work means giving up your independence and putting your fate in someone else’s hands. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Even if you do use the sites above, continue to market yourself independently and seek out clients on your own terms.
I’ll be back next week with tips on how to do that—as well as some non-job board ways to find work.
For now, let’s all drop the scarcity “there’s not enough work for us” mindset. Embrace the fact that the online career pool is expansive. The internet eliminates many traditional barriers to success. YOU, the internet-based professional, are at a serious advantage right now.
Also, you’re awesome. If you believe in yourself, nothing can stop you.
FWC is rooting for you! And if you need some extra support, come hang out in our Facebook group.
You may also want to read 5 Questions to Ask Yourself if You’re Not Getting Writing Jobs if you’re having consistent trouble finding work:
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Okay. I want to give you the most gigantic hug. Writing this obviously took a long time. And a total selfless act if you ask me. This is the most helpful article I think I’ve ever come across.
From the deepest space in my heart, THANK YOU. Thank you, thank you.
I can’t wait to dig in and try out these places for work.
As a budding copywriter, I’ve felt so lost in the world of the internet. It can be scary. Mostly because it requires so much self discipline. Which many days – especially in the beginning – can feel empty and pointless.
It makes me feel so much freaking better to hear the quasi million opportunities that are there for the taking.
And I have to agree, one would think the coronavirus totally catapulted the world of freelance writing into a dimension of total promising abundance.
So, I suppose, let’s dig in.
Comments like this make the effort feel worth it! Thanks Jordyn! It’s my pleasure and I hope you’re able to find some inspiring writing work using some of these links. I completely sympathize with the feelings you describe. When you’re starting out it’s almost like too much information and not enough direction. Be sure to check out this post that I wrote especially for writers who are just getting started:
Freelance Writing 101: The Beginner’s Checklist
https://freelancewritingcafe.com/freelance-writing-101-beginners-checklist/