How to Become a Freelance Writer in the Philippines [2022]

So you’ve finally decided to start your freelance writing career. Congratulations!

If you’re reading this but still not 100% sure whether this career is for you or not, join our upcoming webinar about freelance writing for beginners. 

But if you’re ready, hop on, and we will guide you through the process on how to become a freelance writer in the Philippines. 

What is Freelance Writing?

Freelance writing is finding a writing project or clients to work with on your own. You’re not under a company or an agency, and you are considered self-employed.

Unlike working in companies, you have more freedom and flexibility when you do freelance work. It gives you the chance to choose whether to work part-time or full-time. Some even let you work anytime as long as you meet the deadline.

Plus, your rate will depend on your experience and the quality of your written work. The more knowledge you gain and the more credible you become, the higher you charge. 

Types of Freelance Writing

A vast opportunity awaits you in freelance writing. But some writing jobs are more lucrative than others. 

Consider checking high-paying freelance writing jobs before you decide which writing path you’ll take. 

But to give you an idea, here are the three most common freelance writing jobs you can try:

Content Writing

As a content writer, your job is to educate, inspire, or entertain your audience about topics that will help establish your client’s brand. 

Your primary focus is to attract readers by providing high-quality and engaging content and build enough trust.

Many clients hire content writers for long-term projects.

Why? Because having establishing a connection with the audience doesn’t happen overnight. Businesses need to provide long-form and consistent content to strengthen their relationship and connection with their audience. 

Examples:

• Social media posts
• Emails
• Website articles

Copywriting

Copywriting has a different goal from content writing. Copywriters aim to persuade readers to buy the products or services they offer. 

Some other differences between content writing and copywriting, such as length, structure, and skills needed. 

Examples: 

• Sales letter
• Ads 
• Product description 

Technical writing

Technical writing is considered one of the most in-demand yet challenging writing jobs. It requires a significant amount of effort to be a technical writer. Academical background or experience about the topic is usually needed.

Technical writing aims to explain complex information to less technical readers who aren’t deeply knowledgeable about the topic.

Examples: 

• Technical reviews/reports
• Assembly manuals
• User manuals 

Click here to view more technical writing examples from Instrktiv.com.

Is Freelance Writing a Good Career?

Some people doubt that they can get paid a decent amount of money as freelance writers in the Philippines.

The reason why is although English is our second language and some can really write well in English, we are still not considered as natives like writers in the USA, Canada, or Australia. There’s a difference when it comes to starting rate.

This doesn’t mean freelance writing is not a promising career.

You just need to learn how to market yourself correctly and to find clients at the right place. I know many writers who earn six-figures a month, and like you, they live in the Philippines. I also experience it, so I can attest that YES, it is a lucrative career.

Learn about the three ways to earn extra income as a freelance writer.

My Freelance Writing Journey

Before I tried freelance writing, I was a marketing and communication practitioner here in the Philippines from 2006 to 2015. 

Due to some circumstances, I became the bread-winner of my family, so I need to make time for my side hustles. I did freelancing gigs, online selling, and organizing workshops. 

I have been doing and juggling those tasks for years until something terrible happened. 

One rainy afternoon in 2015, I was on my way to a meeting when I slipped and hit my back near the MRT station. It was a little severe that I couldn’t work for 3 months, and I needed to undergo physical therapy for 6 months. 

That was the turning point of my life. I reflected on my situation and asked myself: “What profession would I enjoy doing and let me live out my purpose in life?” 

I pursued freelancing and became a resource speaker, coach, and writerpreneur (writer + entrepreneur). I worked with big companies in the Philippines like Ayala Land, Toyota, New San Jose Builders, Rustans, Honda, Canva, and others. 

Today, my clients, both here in the Philippines and abroad, would pay me as much as:

• $500 for three days of editing and proofreading
• $800 for two weeks of writing video scripts or workbooks
• $1595 for three weeks of book or ebook writing
• $2000 for a month of copywriting, content management, or project management

I shared my writing journey not to brag about what I’ve achieved but to inspire you and let you know that although freelance writing is challenging, especially in the beginning, it’s worth it. And it can be a lucrative career. 

Pros and Cons

There’s no such thing as a perfect career. The real questions you need to answer are, do the pros outweigh the cons? And are you okay with the cons? 

Be honest with yourself. If you answered YES in both questions, follow the steps below to start your freelance writing journey. 

How to Become a Freelance Writer

1. Set a SMART goal and establish your “why.” 

Why do you want to be a freelance writer? Go as deep as you can when answering this question. It’s better to tie your “why” with a life mission, a community, or involve someone important to you. I know this might sound cheesy, but hear me out. 

When you feel like things are overwhelming, which will happen many times, especially when you’re just starting, just go back to your WHY. Sometimes, you just need to remind yourself why you’re doing something, and you’ll feel better and energize again. 

Your why can look like this: 

“I want to become a professional writer because I want to provide a better life for my family, and I also want to help aspiring freelance writers in the future.“

It is also crucial to set SMART goals as a writer because targeting an impossible thing might cause burnout. We don’t want that to happen. Setting a SMART goal will help you have a healthy relationship with what you want to achieve. 

Avoid setting a goal like this:  “I want to become a successful freelance writer.“

Instead, go for something like this: “In 6 months, I want to earn P100,000 monthly as a content writer.” or  “By the end of this year, I want to have 2 premium long-term clients.”   

Write down your goal and “why” and post them in the place where you can see them every day. 

2. Discover useful tools.

Take advantage of the tools available on the internet. They are there to help you work faster and become more productive. Here are some of my favorites. 

Grammarly

Grammarly scores your content based on correctness, clarity, engagement, delivery, and style. 

A free version of the app is available for starters. But I suggest you invest in the premium version if you want to enjoy the advanced features of the app and improve your content.

Remember, well-written content is one of the things that will make you stand out as a writer. You need to make sure that your written work is as high-quality and error-free as it can be. 

Hemingway

Another excellent editor app. Plus, it’s free! Hemingway will give you suggestions to make your content more concise and understandable, and it will also tell you the readability score of your content. 

If you don’t want to invest money in apps like Grammarly yet, Hemingway is a great option.

Google Docs

You don’t need to save your document every time for fear of blackout or sudden PC problems, thanks to Google Docs. 

It is basically like Microsoft Word, but better! You don’t need to pay to access Google Docs, and you get 15 GB of free storage. Since it’s connected to Google Drive, you can access your documents anywhere you are and on any device. You can also share it with your friends if you want to ask for their feedback, and you’ll see their comments in real-time.

Citation Machine

As a writer, it is essential to cite and give the authors and researchers credit for their effort to provide us with valuable information. Citing will also help us avoid committing plagiarism. 

This app will make citations easier for you. You don’t need to manually cite everything, and you can also choose the type of source you’ve got. Citation Machine is a free app. You only need to watch a short ad, then you can enjoy using it. It’s very convenient to use, and it also has a plagiarism checker. 

Evernote

This is a great app for taking notes and ideas. As writers, we need a tool to store our thoughts because our brains can’t remember everything. Evernote is a handy tool, and it also has a sync feature, so you can access it anywhere as long as you have an account. 

You can consider it a digital organizer because you can compile pictures, web-clippings, links, and more aside from note-taking.

3. Choose your niche

Do you want to increase your chances of getting high-paying clients? Then you might want to find a niche instead of being a generalist writer. 

Your writing niche is your writing specialty. It can either be a topic, e.g., finance, personality development, travel, etc., or the type of writing service you want to offer, e.g., article writing, ghostwriting, eBook writing, etc. 

If you feel like your chosen niche is too broad, you can still narrow it down but just be careful. You must find the balance because you might find it hard to land clients if your writing niche is too specific. 

It’s common for freelance writing newbies to struggle with finding the right niche. If you’re one of them, try to choose your niche based on either of the three or a combination of them:

A. Your expertise. 

If you have experience working in hotels and restaurants, then you can write about the hospitality industry. Were you an I.T graduate? You can offer technical writing services to software companies. There’s always an audience in every field. 

B. Topic you’re interested in. 

Interested in offering writing services for B2C companies in the Philippines? Then you should be willing to spend time, effort and sometimes money to learn about it. It might take a while for you to get paid, but if you’re passionate about being knowledgeable about that topic, then go for it. 

C. Profitability of the niche.

You need to consider how lucrative that niche is, especially if your goal is to earn more than your current salary. You might love the topic and enjoy writing about it, but if you don’t have enough audience, it will be difficult to find clients who will hire you. 

If you have ZERO idea which niche is suitable for you, you can try this writing niche quiz. 

Don’t forget to do your own research before deciding, but don’t take too much time thinking about it and avoid being trapped in analysis-paralysis. Just pick a freelance writing niche, for now, create writing samples, find clients, and get paid. You’re free to change it in the future if you get tired of it or it doesn’t work out for you.

4. Start writing

Now that you’ve chosen your niche as a freelance writer, it’s time to take action! Your goal is to create two to three written works to showcase on your writing portfolio. 

Why is it important to have sample works? Because when you start marketing your service, you can leave a link or a PDF copy of your written works in the email to your target client. You can also avoid being scammed because instead of creating writing samples for your prospects, you can just send them what you have. 

Freelance writing is a long-term commitment, and to be comfortable with that, you need to build a routine around it. Choose a time and place that you’ll dedicate to writing. Do it even if you don’t have any clients. You may encounter writer’s block from time to time, but know that that’s normal, and you can overcome it. 

If you’re having a hard time because of procrastination, check out this video.

5. Create a portfolio.

One of the common questions I get from aspiring freelance writers is:

“Do we need to spend money to build a website to secure clients?”

While having a website adds to your credibility and professionalism, it’s not required, especially when you’re just starting out. If you don’t have the budget for now, you can opt to invest in it later when you’re already earning. 

There are other ways to create your writing portfolio, and most of them are free. You can use a free website like WordPress.com, create files on Google Docs, publish your blog on LinkedIn, and many more. 

But if you’re willing to pay for a writer’s website, I suggest using WordPress.org, Squarespace, or iPage. 

Another way to showcase your expertise is to create your own eBook. Publishing eBooks on Amazon isn’t as hard as it seems.

Your writing portfolio/ writing website reflects you and your brand. It is more than just an online resume. So do your best to make it as presentable as you can. 

6. Market your services.

One of the best advantages that the internet brought us is the chance to connect with people anywhere in the world. Even if you’re freelance writing in the Philippines, you can land jobs and get clients from the USA, Europe, and other countries. This is a great opportunity to earn more as a freelance writer. 

Here are some sites where freelancers from different parts of the Philippines can find clients and some of their pros and cons for freelancers: 

UPWORK

This is one of the most popular online marketplaces for freelancers in different fields. It is accessible for many countries worldwide and has over 12,000,000 registered freelancers on the platform. I’ve noticed about Upwork that it’s difficult to get your profile approved if you have no experience and you’re living in the Philippines. But nowadays, you can see tutorials on YouTube to guide you and make the process easier for you.

PROS:

• If you’re looking for one-time or short-term projects, this platform is perfect. 
• You can get high-paying clients. 
• Safer payment options. 

CONS:

• The service fee for freelancers is quite high. They will deduct 20% from your total earnings for your first $500. 
• It’s a challenge to land your first client. 
• Not all clients are high-paying. Some of them also pay low.

ONLINE JOBS

It is also a marketplace like Upwork, but clients can directly hire you. Unlike Upwork, OnlineJobs.ph is made for freelancers in the Philippines, so there’s less competition. 

PROS:

• They don’t have service fees. 
• There are many job postings, and you can find many clients from the US. 
• Easy to use and navigable. 
• You can find long-term projects. 

CONS:

• You’re more prone to scammers because you will be most likely to negotiate outside the platform. 
• You cannot attach your resumes or portfolios directly to your profile.

FIVERR

Fiverr is also a great marketplace for those who are new in freelance writing. It’s easy to use and you can set up your account in UpWork and start selling your services for free.

Feel free to use our Fiverr referral link. Don’t worry, it won’t cost you anything.

PROS: 

• No need for profile approval. 
• Easy to use. 
• Perfect for those who are looking for extra income. 

CONS:

• The platform takes 20% from your pay. 
• You need to offer your service at a low price. 

Social media

Online marketplaces are not only the options to get paid as a freelance writer. You can also land clients through social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Join Facebook groups like Freelance Writers Manila and Freelance Writers Philippines to be updated with job listings. 

You can also find writing jobs on LinkedIn and Twitter. Just type writing jobs on the search bar, and they will give you some suggestions. 

You can also find writing jobs through:

Friends/Relatives

You can always try to market your services to people you know. The good thing about this is if you do a good job, they’ll refer you to people they know. 

Cold pitching

If there’s a company you want to work with, try to check their website and see what kind of writing service they need. Do some research and send them a customized email about your service and how you can help them. 

7. Keep learning.

Whether you land a client after following step 1 to step 6, step 7 is not something that you should skip or neglect. As a freelance writer, you must strive for improvement. Learn more about your niche, become a better writer, and develop other skills to offer with your writing service like project management, keyword research, etc. 

It’s never a waste of money to invest in your skills and knowledge. Make sure to enroll in online courses and find a mentor who will help you grow as a person and as a writer. 

8. Ask for feedback.

This is kind of an extra tip, but it’s a great way to boost credibility as a freelance writer. Your client’s testimonials will open doors for new writing opportunities. Also, receiving feedback can help you a lot as a writer. Getting positive feedback will have a good impact on you and your confidence. While negative feedback will help you areas of improvement. 

Five Things to Remember

• Be okay with rejections. 

The hardest part is always the beginning. If you have no experience, there’s a large possibility you will be rejected but know that it’s part of the process. Keep sending your portfolios, connecting, and marketing your service. Be patient with yourself. 

• Do not try to figure it all out. 

Many freelancers quit before they even land a client because they try to do everything and learn everything right away. If you continue with this kind of attitude, you will easily be burned out. You don’t want that to happen. 

• Time management IS the key. 

You need to use your time wisely. As a freelancer, you need to wear many hats, and you might juggle different jobs every day. Learn how to manage your time and energy. Also, don’t forget to make time for other important things in your life. 

• Don’t be scared to explore. 

Successful freelance writers are risk-takers. They don’t let fear stop them from trying new things and accepting challenging projects. But, you still need to think before you act and prepare a back-up plan when needed. 

• Done is better than perfect. 

There will be times when you’ll doubt your writing skills, and no matter how much you try, the possibility of creating the perfect content for your client is slim. Just work hard, do your best, and stick to your client’s deadline.

I tried to explain and give you information the best I can, now it’s time for you to take action. 

Conclusion

Becoming a freelance writer might be a tough journey. But if you really have a passion for writing and want to build a career out of it, you need to keep moving. Stick with your SMART goal, and don’t forget to bookmark this post to easily go back and review the steps. 

If you need some extra help, check our freelance writing course, where we will teach you how to jumpstart your writing career, build your portfolio, find clients and manage your projects. 

Was this post helpful? Leave a comment below. Also leave questions about freelance writing, and we will make a Q&A post for them. 

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SOURCES:

Camp, C. (2019, January 8). Upwork Review: Pricing, Pros, Cons & Features. CompareCamp.com. https://comparecamp.com/upwork-review-pricing-pros-cons-features/.

DuPuis, T. (2020, November 25). What is Technical Writing? [A New Definition]. [A New Definition]. https://www.instructionalsolutions.com/blog/what-is-technical-writing.

Fechter, J. (2021, February 21). 5 Types of Technical Writing. Technical Writer HQ. https://technicalwriterhq.com/types-of-technical-writing/.Outsource Accelerator. (2020, March 30). Upwork vs. Freelancer vs. Fiverr. Outsource Accelerator. https://www.outsourceaccelerator.com/articles/upwork-freelancer-fiverr/.