As a new freelance writer, you need to take a short-term and a long-term view of your freelancing business. The short-term view is that you need to start sending proposals and find work immediately.

Find work on social media - blog graphic.png

There’s nothing fun about being a broke freelance writer who can barely pay the bills. That’s why you want to get out there and take advantage of those quick wins, like finding gigs on Upwork and other job boards.

But you also want to take a long-term view of your freelance writing business. This is where building solid social media profiles and networking can be helpful.

How to Find Freelance Writing Jobs on Social Media

One of the things I teach in my freelance writing course is that you don’t need a huge social media following to make good money as a freelance writer. I built a six-figure freelance writing business as a social media nobody.

So this article is not about how to build a following -- it’s about how to strategically find writing jobs online. Here are the best ways to get started.

Show up consistently on Twitter

Before you start looking for potential jobs and clients on Twitter, you want to make sure your profile is on point.

When potential clients come check you out, you want them to see you as a professional.

You can immediately improve your profile by using a professional headshot instead of a selfie from your last vacation.

If your profile picture doesn’t look professional, then potential clients won’t take you seriously.

You also want to update your bio so that it clearly states you’re a freelance writer looking for new work. If you know your niche, then you’ll want to include that as well. Once your website is done, you’ll want to link to that as well.

I always follow people and companies I am interested in working with. This could include companies you’ve seen on job boards, well-known companies in your niche, and other freelance writers.

And it’s a good idea to follow these accounts so you’ll always see the latest job postings:

@jjobs_tweets
@FreelanceWJ
@Mediabistro

Spend time networking in Facebook groups

I think one of the best ways to find new work is by networking in Facebook groups.

However, you want to be selective about the groups you join.

Otherwise, this could turn into a huge time suck!

I like to network with other freelancers, and I network with people in the personal finance industry.

If you’re looking for freelancing groups, try to find groups where a good majority of the participants are more experienced than you are.

I know this can be intimidating, but it’s beneficial for a couple of reasons. First, you’re going to be motivated to push yourself more if you spend your time around freelancers who make a lot more money than you do.

But also, these writers may pass on job opportunities that they aren’t interested in. And they might be willing to refer clients to you or outsource some of their writing work to you as well.

And once you know your freelance writing niche, you can start joining groups in your industry. For instance, I’ve found a lot of great clients just by networking with other people in the personal finance community.

Finding the right groups takes some trial and error, but it is well-worth the effort. However, you really want to be aware of how you’re showing up in these groups so you make the right impression.

Here are my best tips for getting started:

Have zero expectations: If you join a Facebook group with an agenda, other people will be able to sense it. Yes, the goal is to find freelance writing work, but you do this by being helpful and offering value first.
The irony is, when you show up without expectations people will naturally be drawn to you and inclined to offer you more work. I have found this to be true over and over again.

Don’t ask questions you could easily Google: One of the biggest mistakes I see people make in Facebook group is that they ask stupid questions they could have Googled themselves. I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but it’s true.
Here’s a good example of this: let’s say I post in a Facebook group that I’m planning to attend the FinCon conference in the fall. Immediately, someone comments and asks, “That sounds cool -- what’s the website?”
That’s information that you can EASILY Google and find on your own. I know this may sound like a trivial point, but you want to show up in these groups as an authority and someone that people will turn to for help.
You can’t do that if you’re always asking really basic questions and trying to get other people to do the work for you.

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there: My final point about Facebook groups is to not be afraid to put yourself out there. If someone posts that they are looking for a freelance writer, don’t be afraid to reach out to them!
I know it can feel intimidating when someone posts that they’re looking for work, and immediately, five people comment. And all five of those individuals have more experience than you.
Don’t hold yourself back from reaching out and telling that person how you can help. You don’t lose anything by trying, but you could miss out on a great opportunity by not making the effort.

Regularly look for work on LinkedIn

If you’re a freelance writer, then you absolutely must be on LinkedIn.

It is one of the best ways to find freelance writing jobs online.

Just like on Twitter, you really want to make sure your LinkedIn profile looks professional before you start looking for work.

You want to use a professional photo and come up with a really strong title.

Right now, mine is “Freelance Writer for Hire | Freelance Writing Coach.”

You also want to come up with a strong “about” section and outline the servies you offer. Don’t overthink this, but make sure your profile is complete.

Include you experience, education, and try to start getting some endorsements for your skills.

Once your profile is up to par, you’re ready to start looking for work! Here are my favorite ways to find freelance writing work on LinkedIn:

LinkedIn job board: I have found so many great jobs by using the LinkedIn job board. When you log into your LinkedIn account, you’ll click on the jobs tab at the top of the page.
From there, you can search by keyword just like on any other job board. For instance, I regularly search for “freelance writer” and “personal finance freelance writer.” I recommend applying for everything you find!
LinkedIn ProFinder: LinkedIn also offers a paid job board, called LinkedIn ProFinder. It’s a professional marketplace that can help you find freelance writing work in your area.
However, using LinkedIn ProFinder isn’t cheap -- it costs $59.99 per month. But you can submit your first 10 proposals for free, so I recommend at least trying it out and seeing what you think.
Growing your network: And finally, you should always be trying to grow your network on LinkedIn. Connect with everyone you know, and always be looking to add new connections.
Don’t be afraid to connect with editors or business owners that you don’t know but would like to build a relationship with.
Just make sure you always add a custom message instead of just clicking “invite.” This will dramatically increase the odds of that person accepting your invitation.

The Bottom Line on Social Media

Twitter, Facebook groups, and LinkedIn are three of the best ways that freelance writers can find new work.

Taking advantage of job boards will help you find work immediately, and networking will help you build a pipeline of potential clients.

If you’re just getting started as a freelance writer, the steps I laid out can feel a little overwhelming at first.

In that case, choose just one platform to start with and master, and then you can move on to the next. The important thing is to just get started and begin building some momentum for your freelance writing business.