Job board assignments aren’t always the highest paying assignments, but they can help you get your foot in the door and provide some exposure and work samples. I know some freelancers haven’t had luck with these types of assignments while others have built their businesses with job board clients. It depends on your unique situation.
If you’re trying to get started, you might as well check all the boxes. You never know where your next freelance writing gig might come from.
Fiverr
Fiver is a freelance marketplace that was launched in 2010. The website has been ranked among the top 100 most popular sites in the U.S. and the top 200 most popular in the world.
You can find “normal” freelance services like writing, translation, graphic design, video editing, and programming, along with silly things that you won’t normally find on job boards. For example, there is someone offering to write things on their stomach and model for a photo, create puppet videos, and other random services.
Fivrr also has helpful resources, including a blog, community forums, and online classes. Here’s a link to one of their posts with tips for writers: 15 Types of Freelance Writing Jobs (Skills Needed & Mistakes to Avoid).
UpWork
An American freelancing platform, UpWork, was founded in 1998 as Elance-oDesk. In 2015, Elance-oDesk rebranded as Upwork, and the company’s full name is now Upwork Global Inc.
Billed as “the largest freelance marketplace in the world,” Upwork boasts over eighteen million registered freelancers and five million registered clients. There are three million jobs worth over $1 billion US posted annually on UpWork, so there are many options to choose from, but that also means a lot of competition. Here’s a link to jobs on UpWork.
Freelance Writing Jobs
As their website says, “Freelance Writing Jobs was developed by Splashpress Media. Their intention was to create ‘one of the leading websites for freelance writers to learn, grow, and discuss issues, questions, and more.'”
The website has freelance writer job boards, writing tips, resources, and a list of 100 websites that pay writers. Appropriate for both experienced writers and beginners, Freelance Writing Jobs has a wealth of information to help you land freelance writing gigs and build your writing career. Check out their site here.
ProBlogger
Founded by Darren Rowse (known online as Problogger) in 2004, ProBlogger is dedicated to helping writers learn blogging skills, share their own experiences and learn how to make money with their blogs.
The website has well over 8,000 articles with tips, tutorials, blogging trends, and case studies to help you hone your craft. There’s also a podcast that was started In 2015. Check out the jobs page on ProBlogger. I found a great client through the ProBlogger website and worked with them for about two years.
MediaBistro
Another website with freelance writer job boards, online courses, seminars, and other helpful resources for writers is Mediabistro, which was founded in 1999 by Laurel Touby.
The website’s original purpose was to be, “a gathering place for professionals in journalism, publishing and other media-related industries in New York City,” but has grown into an international resource for all media professionals. You can find MediaBistro’s job listing here.
CraigsList
I actually found my first freelance job on CraigsList, of all places. I answered a posting for someone with leadership writing experience and it turned out to be a vendor I’d partnered with while I worked at Starbucks. We were thrilled to be back in touch.
In addition to the classified advertisements for housing, items wanted, and items for sale, Craigslist also has sections for services, gigs, résumés, and job discussion forums.
Craig Newmark began CraigsList in 1995 as an email distribution list to friends, featuring local events in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1996, it became web-based and expanded into other categories. It started including other U.S. and Canadian cities in 2000 and is now present in 70 countries. Here’s the CraigsList U.S. homepage.
The Mom Project
The Mom Project was founded by Allison Robinson in 2016. She realized the need for this type of freelance job board when she was on maternity leave from a strategy role at Pampers. Alison discovered a Harvard Business Review study that estimated 43% of skilled women exit the workforce after having children, creating a gap in the market for those who want to move back into the workforce.
More than just a job board, The Mom Project is a community of support that also advocates for positive changes at both the company and policy level. Check out what makes #allmomswork unique here.
Get Started
There can be a lot of competition when trying to land jobs from freelance writer job boards, so be persistent and don’t give up. On the other hand, don’t focus only on job boards. There are several ways to land your first freelance writing gig and job boards should be a part of your strategy, not the whole thing.
By the way…whenever you’re ready, get your copy of the Complete Guide to Becoming a Professional HR Writer, my comprehensive guide on how to launch and grow your HR writing career. Click Here to Learn More.