If you have good writing skills
and still don't know where to find trustworthy clients, you are in the right
place. Many talented writers have let their capability go to waste just because
they simply don't know how they can find good clients. While many strategies of
earning money as a writer exist, none can outsmart ghostwriting in terms of
convenience and speed of results.
There are many platforms on the
web that hook up clients and writers. Some of them are scams while others are
complicated may not have enough clients. Reputable platforms include:
- oDesk.com
- Freelancer
- Elance
Although I had registered for all
these platforms, my personal experience is on oDesk. I have worked here and
earned money. I still work for oDesk clients. Sometimes, I write on a part-time
basis and other times I work on a full-time basis. I will highlight on the
advantages and challenges of working on oDesk.
How to Register For an Odesk Account
Signing up on oDesk is simple and
quick just like any other site. At this juncture, you should fill in as many of
your details as possible. If you like, you'll then be re-directed to register
for a Payoneer debit card, so as to receive your funds with ease. The major
drawback for registering from here is that you will later have a hard time
applying for a Updating Your Odesk Profile
When you apply for a job at
oDesk, the first thing that a client will look for is your work history, what
you have been paid by other clients, and your skills. As a newbie, you may find
it difficult to get a contract if you have not taken any skills tests. The best
thing to do is to start with the Basic English tests. Two or three of them will
be sufficient. You can also choose between US/UK. Later on, you can do other
tests that you feel comfortable with.
One of the major challenges on
this platform is what they call the ‘oDesk readiness test’. This is a critical
test that aims at testing for your grasp of their terms. If you don't pass this
test, you will still be able to apply for jobs. However, clients will see on
your profile that you are not ‘oDesk ready’. I'd advise you to get a firm grip
of the rules before attempting the test. The terms are not complicated. They
concentrate on client/contractor agreements and dispute resolution.
Applying For a Job on Odesk
Since there are so many clients
looking for contractors, oDesk has categorized jobs according to their
similarity. In the writing section, you will find various sub-categories. Just
select one of them, like ‘blog and article writing’. You'll
then be able to view a list of fresh job descriptions. If you click on any of them, you will access info about the client. This will include their payment history. You may also choose between hourly jobs or piece-work contracts. The later is more convenient to many beginners.
Another challenge on oDesk
concerns receiving payments on piece-work contracts. Unlike other platforms
like Elance, oDesk does not hold clients’ money if they have a contract unless
it is an hourly job. This being the case, a contractor has to rely on the
client’s trustworthiness before they can apply for the job.
Before you can begin applying for
jobs on oDesk, it is a good idea to have at least one article sample. Many
clients will not trust an applicant who has no sample(s). For even better
credibility, you can have your articles published in an article directory, your
blog or website.
Last but not least, do not apply
for expensive jobs if you are fresh. Being ambitious is nice, but in this case,
it can lead to frustration. As a general guide, you may start by applying for
writing jobs which offer $1 for 500 words. As you get some experience and have
at least some earning history, you will stand a better chance of getting better
rewarding jobs. If you still get stuck somewhere, contact me via the contact
form at the bottom of every page. I’ll reply to you within 24 hours. I wish you
happy writing.
