The 5 Best Freelance Writing Job Boards in 2021 (Freebie Included!)
Many people hold themselves back from giving freelance writing a try because they aren’t sure how to find clients.
They overcomplicate the process, and think they need to have all of their ducks in a row before getting started.
But this couldn’t be further from the truth — if you have the ability to send emails and ask clients to hire you, then you have everything you need to make money as a freelance writer.
And these clients are not the hard to find — in fact, freelance writing clients are everywhere.
On average, I spend 30 minutes a day looking for work and most days, I have more work than I can handle.
I’ve gotten to the point in my business where I occasionally have to turn away or outsource writing work.
I share that to let you know that it’s completely realistic to build a freelance writing business that brings in consistent income every month.
And in the beginning, one of the best ways to find clients is by applying on freelance writing job boards.
The 5 best freelance writing job boards
Freelance writing job boards are one of the easiest ways to find new clients, which is why I continue to use them to this day.
The barrier to entry is usually pretty low, and you can apply for multiple jobs using only one job board.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to get started, here are the five best freelance writing job boards.
1. ProBlogger
Although it’s #1 on this list, I have to admit that I have a love/hate relationship with ProBlogger.
On the one hand, I really think most of the jobs listed on the site are garbage.
Yes, I said it. Complete and total garbage.
Lots of clients look for “rockstar writers” who only want to pay 2 cents per word.
No thank you!
But I continue to check ProBlogger on a daily basis because I do occasionally find a rare gem.
Like a recent personal finance client who paid me over $600 for one blog post.
A lot of writers know about ProBlogger, so it’s a pretty competitive site.
My best advice is to check ProBlogger once or twice a day, and if you see anything that looks interesting, apply right away.
Seriously, those job postings get flooded with applications so if you wait even a day or two, you probably missed your shot.
2. BloggingPro
BloggingPro is a free job board that posts a variety of different jobs.
It doesn’t have the same volume of posts posted that ProBlogger has, but I think it’s still a good job board to check regularly.
However, not all of the jobs are freelance jobs -- there are also full-time, contract positions, and internships posted.
BloggingPro is another pretty popular job board with writers, so you’ll need to act quickly on any jobs you find.
But I know tons of writers who swear by the BloggingPro job board.
3. Freelance Writing Jobs
Freelance Writing Jobs is not your typical job board -- the site posts a daily blog post with a roundup list of writing jobs.
One of the things I like about Freelance Writing Jobs is that it’s not just for freelance bloggers.
They have job postings for editors, copywriters, journalists, and content writers.
4. Journalism Jobs
Journalism Jobs is one of my favorite job boards ever.
I found my first big personal finance client on the platform.
One thing I’ve noticed about Journalism Jobs is that most of the clients looking for freelancers are bigger publications who need a lot of ongoing work.
And yes, most of the job postings will say they’re looking for a journalist but don’t let that scare you.
I’ve applied and gotten hired for multiple jobs on Journalism Jobs, and I clearly have no journalism experience.
5. LinkedIn
Did you know that LinkedIn has a job board? They do, and in my opinion, it’s one of the best ways to find new clients.
Some of my very best clients have come from LinkedIn.
And unlike some of the other job boards, it’s constantly updated so you have a lot of options to choose from.
To check it out, just head over to LinkedIn and click on the “Jobs” tab in the middle.
From there, you can enter in your search term -- I always just look for “freelance writer” or “finance writer.”
And I always edit the date posted to the last 24 hours. This will save you from scrolling through 20+ pages of job postings!
How to use job boards as a new freelance writer
Okay, now you know WHAT job boards you should be using.
But that still begs the question, how do you use them effectively?
How can you make sure you’re making the most of these job boards and starting out among other freelancers?
Here are four tips to help you get started.
Check them often
Sending proposals and looking for new freelance writing work is a numbers game.
If you want to get hired, you need to send new proposals often.
I recommend blocking out some time every day to look for work.
Check all five job boards that I listed in this article, and apply for anything you find.
Make it your goal to apply for at least three jobs a day, but the more, the better!
Apply for everything
When you’re new to freelancing, I know how easy it is to feel insecure, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience as a writer.
You may find your dream job posting, only to have your heart sink when you see the list of required qualifications.
Do yourself a favor -- ignore the job requirements and apply for it anyway.
Why?
Because most of the time, I find that clients just copy/paste those job requirements and most of them aren’t really relevant to the job.
For instance, most clients don’t care if you have a Bachelor’s degree or three to five years of experience.
They want someone who can get the job done. If you know you can do it, then you owe it to yourself and the client to throw your hat in and apply.
Obviously, there is a limit to this and you’ll have to use your discretion.
If the job is for a writer who is fluent in Russian and you can’t speak a word of Russian, then you should probably pass that one over.
Use a template
Do you struggle to know what to say in your job proposals? If so, I completely get it.
You want to make a good first impression, and give the client a reason to hire you.
But here’s the thing -- you’re probably overthinking your job proposals.
As someone who has hired freelancers in my own business, I don’t give that much thought to the job proposals I receive.
When I read them, I’m trying to get a general sense of whether I like that person and whether I think they’ll do a good job.
Be friendly, explain how you can help, and keep it brief.
And I find it can be helpful to use a template that you customize slightly for each proposal.
If you download my Freelance Writer’s Starter Guide, it has two free proposal templates you can use!
Follow up
Every week, I aim to send at least 15-20 new proposals.
Most of those clients are not going to hire me for the job or even respond to my proposals.
That’s why you have to apply for a lot of jobs.
You’re just looking for that ONE person who is willing to take a chance and hire you.
But don’t just apply for the job once and then forget about it -- you need to follow up!
I recommend keeping a spreadsheet where you track all of the jobs you apply for.
About a week after applying for the job, you can send the client a quick follow-up email.
Most freelancers are NOT going to take this extra step, so doing it will really set you apart.
Not sure how to keep track of the freelance writing jobs you apply for?
I’ve got you covered -- feel free to download my Freelance Writing Job Tracker. No email address required!
Grab a copy and create your own tracker. Click the link > File > Make a copy.
The bottom line
If you’re just getting started as a freelancer, then freelance writing job boards are going to be your best friend.
These job boards are updated frequently and provide access to a wide variety of interesting freelance writing jobs.
If you’re looking for ways to stay organized, be sure to download the Freelance Writing Job Tracker!
Happy freelance job hunting!