Article writing is drafting informative content for various audiences to achieve a certain goal. An article may be crafted to inform/educate, persuade, stir emotions, and open up a discussion, amongst other objectives. Article writers are needed by almost all sectors of the economy, including magazines, news websites, businesses, advertisers, personal blogs, organizational/institutional blogs, and websites like Upwork, Freelancer.  This makes any individual with article writing skills very potential to earn money online by writing articles.

Requirements for successful article writers

1. Commitment and discipline

 For a good article to be written and published, time must be invested. This is not only about typing but also about research and the meticulousness of ideas.  Some articles require facts that can be verified, while others may include narration and fantasy based on the target audience and the purpose.

For instance, have you ever bumped into a website specifically meant for jokes, and just laughing, and another is so informative and detail-oriented? Well, all these are articles and have achieved the goal of both the reader and the author.

You also need a stable network and a proper work gadget, such as a laptop, smartphone, or tablet, to work with minimal disturbance. Focusing on the topic will ensure a good flow of information and professionalism. A good network is a must while doing online research on the given topic. You also need it while checking for plagiarism and sharing the final work through email, WhatsApp, a personal publication site like WordPress, or the given platform, since mostly the work is done remotely.

2. A niche of interest

When dealing with article writing, specialization is important. This will give you the expertise in the given field, and when working as a freelancer for other individuals, you’re likely to bid higher since you have broad knowledge of that specific field. Some of the broader topics of article writing include finance, fashion and design, tourism and travel, foods and recipes, parenting, mental health and fitness, health and nutrition, games and fun, etc. Under these, you might be required to write an article, maybe about how to budget for buying a house, best exercises for the elderly, how to dress for an interview, etc. Knowing that specific industry will enable you to come up with quality content that cannot be questioned or rejected. I guess this is one of the best things about specialization. Kindly note that flexibility will be required when working under someone or when you are taking orders from several different people.

3. Time conscious

Meeting the deadlines for clients is a plus for any successful writer. Most clients hire article writers because they are working under tight schedules and need to meet the demand of their audiences. Remember, some topics are requested directly by the target audience, and their satisfaction is key.

It is also very important to take note of the word count required in the given order. This will guide you on how to project your points and provide quality work within the given time frame.

How to get work and how to earn better rates.

Getting freelance work and starting to earn is not that easy. It is a process that requires proactivity and patience. As much as there are many opportunities and platforms offering the gigs, so are the people looking for these jobs. Remember, article writing does not necessarily require someone with a given level of education, but a good command of grammar,  reasoning, and the ability to research and analyze ideas. In short, anyone, maybe from high school, can write an article and gain experience over time.

a). Understand various formats and tones of article writing. Start by writing under someone who is experienced and available to help in editing your work. He can offer some payment or agree to be a mentor. You will get orders from this person and then be able to bid from reliable freelance platforms since you will have verified samples that you can showcase from previous work.

b). Write your own samples and ensure they are free from plagiarism, and bid on various beginner-friendly platforms like Upwork, and be keen to start with simple tasks with a deadline that is not urgent, so that you can have enough time to do some research and edit your work before submission. As you become an expert, you can pick tasks with tight due dates.

c). You can build your own blog and write about your topic of interest. Ensure that you are consistent and writing factual work with detailed information and a good word count so as to attract your audience and maintain them. Loyalty can only be achieved by creating content that does not contradict itself or any other proven facts. Ensure your work is original and current, and also use SEO for your headlines. Share with your social media network to get some traffic. Blogging is usually a long-term investment since it does not earn money immediately. Some parameters are considered to start making money.

d). How much you earn through article writing is determined by your experience, reliability, and the person you work for. Some platforms have higher pay rates than others. The amount of work you can handle in a day also affects the associated earnings. If you are in a position to determine your rates, which are fair according to the market trends, then article writing is a good opportunity to make money online.

e.) Seasons also determine how much you are likely to earn from your work. For instance, someone writing about festivities is likely to earn more money during Easter festivals and Christmas celebrations than to someone whose niche is about school-related activities and handling students.

Conclusion

In my opinion, everything about article writing is flexible. This ranges from the income you are likely to earn to the kind of work orders you will receive, the complexity of the topics, and the word count. Effort and determination must be put in so as to make any kind of significant and steady income. The work is mostly done remotely, and therefore, associated costs are low, and also, micro management by the employer is rarely experienced.