If finding freelance writing clients was easy, we’d all have full calendars by now. But it isn’t. Especially not in today’s market.
When I started writing more than eight years ago, job boards and sites like Upwork were a viable way to quickly fill your time with easy jobs. That isn’t the case anymore.
Job boards are overcrowded. LinkedIn posts have 100 replies an hour after they go live. Marketplaces like Upwork are a race to the bottom.
That doesn’t mean great freelance writing gigs aren’t out there. They are. You just need a more creative approach to find them.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to land new writing gigs.
1️⃣ Local Networking Events
Many writers picture their dream clients as massive brands or online tech startups. But in reality, small, local businesses are the bread and butter of many freelance writers—especially when you’re just starting out.
Small businesses often have bigger marketing budgets than you’d think. Data shows that local small businesses often spend about 10.6% of their budget on marketing, which can range from $10,000 to $50,000+ per year. And they’re willing to spend it on marketing that converts.
Fortunately, many of these businesses have regular local meetings where owners can network and form partnerships. They’re often hosted by chambers of commerce, co-working spaces, or government-run business centers.
Who attends?
- Small business owners
- Local entrepreneurs with real budgets
- And YOU
A quick Google search for “small business networking in [your city]” will get you on the right track.
From there, don’t just show up. Bring a few business cards, a focused pitch for your services, and a plan to follow up. That last part is essential.
The day after an event, send an email to the people you connected with. Reference something specific you discussed and include a concrete example of how your writing can help drum up new traffic or drive more sales.
This isn’t cold pitching. It’s warm, real-world connection building. As an added bonus, referrals in local markets are common. When you help one business owner, their friends usually come knocking.
2️⃣ Ghostwriting for LinkedIn Influencers
LinkedIn is ground zero for personal branding and now has over 1.1 BILLION registered users. The people dominating the space? CEOs, founders, and thought leaders with something valuable to say.
But they barely have time to type, let alone write great content. That’s where you come in.
In fact, those high-profile individuals with tens of thousands of followers almost never write their own posts. Freelance ghostwriters are making $200-500 per post writing personal stories, insights, and industry deep dives to grow their audience.
Here’s how to break in:
- Find Influencers: Look for professionals with 5k+ followers with solid engagement but inconsistent posting. Bonus points if you already have experience writing for their industry.
- Send a Value-Packed DM: Don’t just say you’re a writer and ask if they need help. Instead, offer them a curated plan that lays out how you’ll help and why they need it. Remember, the less work they need to do the better.
- Offer a Free Sample: This isn’t tying you up for a week of free work. You can write a great LinkedIn post in under an hour. Show your prospect what their content could be, and even one great sample can get you hired.
This niche is perfect if you love storytelling, branding, and matching a client’s voice. Since LinkedIn professionals network like crazy, doing good work for one client often leads to more.
3️⃣ Industry Conferences and Summits
You don’t have to be part of a big company to attend an industry conference. Whether it’s a landscaping summit or a medical device expo, industry events are full of companies that:
- Are actively promoting their brand
- Want to stand out
- Have a marketing budget ready to go
Most of these events are now virtual, making it easier than ever to attend without spending a dime on travel.
Just as with local events, it’s important to show up with a plan and follow up. Make as many connections as possible, then reach out to your warm leads after the event is over.
Many industry events also maintain a directory of company contact info for attendees, which is a great way to expand your network.
When companies spend thousands to attend a conference, they’re already in growth mode. That’s your cue to offer writing services that solve their growth problems.
Go Where Others Aren’t
These three avenues aren’t saturated like job boards. Yes, you’ll need to put in a little more work than posting in a job thread. But that’s why these methods work. Not everyone is willing to go the extra mile.
If you are, you’ll find that these client-finding strategies offer much better returns than chasing algorithm-filtered job posts.
