This post may contain affiliate links, please read my Disclosure policy.
Content freelance writing and keywords SEO tips for beginners freelancers.
Content freelance writing jobs are plenty on the internet. The internet feeds on information and writers are providers of some of this information.
Internet writing also known as SEO writing and copywriting needs to be created so that search engines can scan it and match it with the search intent.
Who can benefit from these gigs? If you need to make extra money or just need to make ends meet because you lost your job or have to stay home, freelance writing can provide you with work.
Like creating your own blog, freelance writing is also a good source for a second income.
Whatever your situation or desire to make extra money, I want to help you land freelance paying writing jobs you can do from home.
I’ve used SEO in my blogs and when I did freelance writing as a beginner.
SEO is a complex subject and I’m not an expert. But, I’ll share what I’ve learned with you.
You don’t have to become an expert on SEO either to use it for freelance writing jobs.
This post will show you very basic SEO you can use when writing an article for the internet (on page SEO) so that Google and other engines will take notice.
It’s important to use some SEO because this will make your writing more appealing to whoever is paying for it. Also, you can charge a higher price if you show some SEO skills.
These are things you can do on your own blog too, but blogging is not the main subject here. Check this post for basic blogging SEO.
1. Understand why freelance writing needs SEO
Get Google to notice your article and drive traffic using it. SEO is used to communicate with the search engine. Keywords are one of the tools to make that happen.
This may not be so obvious, but we humans need to train artificial intelligence (the bots, search engines, Google) to respond to our commands.
When someone asks Google for “How to build credit after bankruptcy” in the search, Google will do the following.
The search engine will scan millions of pieces of writings. It will try to match the language (the words) used in the search to the words on millions of articles indexed on the internet.
This is why keywords are important when writing for the internet, they teach the engine to recognize what we’re talking about. They are only part of SEO, but an important part.
Related content:
- How to find freelance writing jobs – Includes a list of writing sites.
- 17 ways to make Paypal money – Includes easy ways to make money
- How to thrive in a recession – Includes tips to prepare for a recession
2. Make Use of the power of keywords
What are the characteristics of good keywording?
Now that you understand why keywords are important you may be asking how do I create good keywords. Keywords that will communicate with the engines.
First and foremost you have to write content that answers a question or a need, comprehensibly.
I’ve found that the pieces of writings that rank well on the engines have keywords with these characteristics.
Relevant – the keywords are relevant to the topic in the article.
Simple – just like regular human language, keywords should be simple.
Consistent – the keywords need to be used strategically throughout the text so that the engine gets it. They need to be repetitive without being spammy, a balance.
Think of baby talk. You start by saying the word once, then again and again, until the baby gets it.
Remember that you’re trying to make a connection with the search engine as well as with the human reading.
3. Find connecting keywords
Where do I fiind keywords?
There are many tools you can use to come up with keywords. These are some of the free ones; The WordStream’s Keyword Tool, Ubersuggest and Google Keyword Planner.
I find that Google search gives you the basic of what you’ll need to do SEO freelance writing.
So, the search from above “how to build credit after bankruptcy” yields these additional queries at the bottom. These are relevant searches to the reader’s questions, therefore the keywords from here are also relevant.
On your freelance writing article you’ll use some of these keywords in the text to build up SEO.
4.Place your keywords strategically
Where do you place the relevant keywords in the text?
1.You’ll craft a title that contains the main keywords and it’s catchy.
2. Use the keywords at the top of the article.
3.Use the keywords on each subtitle.
4.Use them within the text as appropriate and in natural language.
5. Use keywords in your conclusion.
5.Organize the writing in a logical manner
Now that you have a title, keywords and you have relevant text, the next step is to organize your article.
Organization of the article is also part of sound on page SEO. Read your text over and make sure it has an introduction, followed by subtitles and text under each subtitle. Include a conclusion with final thoughts and some keywords.
Keep your target audience in mind when you write. What kind of writing style do they connect with and understand?
Keep it simple, yet informative. Freelance writing for the internet, even for popular magazines is simple and scannable by search engines.
Edit your work. making mistakes is easy when you’re writing. Take some time to read and correct your article before submitting. Edit for grammar, style and over use of keywords.
6.Find good freelance writing topics and titles
Write about something people are looking for, unless you’re writing for a very specific niche. Remember SEO writing is created to meet a demand on the internet.
When I did freelance writing, I sometimes came up with my own titles and pitch it to webmasters who were paying for articles.
Once you develop relationships with some of the businesses buying articles, you can pitch for additional work that they may like.
Google search, Ask the public, Pinterest are good places to do topics and keyword research for your freelance writing.
7.Find freelance writing jobs at publications and job engines
There are many publications that pay for your writing, including blogs and e-commerce sites. These are some of the sites where you can search for writing gigs.
- Constant Content
- Contena
- Flexjobs
- Media Bistro
- Upwork
- WritersWeekly
- Metro Parent
- Listverse
- BlastingNews
- The Penny Hoarder
I hope these tips help you find freelance writing jobs you can rely on to make extra money.
Final thoughts on Best Ways to do SEO Freelance Writing
You can freelance as a writer on the internet to make extra income. There are plenty of writing gigs and you don’t have to be an SEO expert to get them.
The more proficient you become on SEO writing, the more money you can ask for your freelance articles. SEO is a skill that you can develop with time and practice.
The building blocks of this writing are keywords. However, your own creativity and drive are essentials to having a well crafted article.
The best part of these jobs is that you can do them remotely from home or from Starbucks. So, they’re ideal for stay at home moms and college students looking to make some money.
Leave a Reply