by Kevin Tetter

Created on: August 31, 2010

There are a number of sites on the internet where a freelance writer can make money, although most offer little in terms of compensation. There are other sites that cater to freelancers though, where writers can potentially make substantial income.

Many aspiring freelance writers are already familiar with the standard article submission sites, such as Helium, Associated Content, Squidoo, Hub Pages, and a few others. These are great sites in which to build a portfolio, hone writing skills, and to make a few dollars in the process. However, there are other sites where a freelance writer can actually negotiate a price for their writing skills, and that can work out to much more than what the aforementioned sites have to offer.

One such site is called oDesk.com. This site boasts several categories for freelance work, including writing and translation. Multiple employers post projects on the site, and freelancers bid on those projects. For fixed price projects, the compensation is clear. Hourly rate projects can be even more lucrative. The caveat is that competition is coming from around the world, including countries where the cost of living is much lower. Many employers recognize this, and it is reflected in their offers. Diligent searching can turn up decent projects though, and compensation from just one can exceed the monthly income garnered from traditional revenue sharing sites. oDesk is a global marketplace where a freelance writer can supplement their income.

Another site is Elance.com. This site works much like oDesk, and in fact, may have many of the same members as oDesk. The difference with Elance is that the projects listed have a price range as opposed to a fixed or hourly price, so when bidding, it is more difficult to ascertain exactly what the compensation will ultimately be. Projects ranging from a few dollars up into the thousands can be found on Elance. In either case, a winning bid means money.

With both of these sites the freelancer can set up a profile, add work to their portfolio, post a resume, and take tests in certain areas to show proficiently. Both offer timed tests in areas such as English (grammar, spelling, sentence structure, etc.), article writing, and proofreading skills. These tests can be added to the freelancer’s profile, enhancing the likelihood of landing an assignment.

There are other sites that offer similar services, and these are two legitimate sites. Beware of scams though. There are sites out there that appear to be offering the same kind of service, but they only want your personal information, and specifically target freelancers. oDesk and Elance are legitimate sites, and there are real freelance writing assignments to be had.

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