Freelance writing jobs with no experience?

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Fred Allison

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Hey everyone! I’ve been seriously thinking about starting freelance writing, but I don’t have any clips or experience. It’s super overwhelming. Where do people even get their first jobs?:unsure:
 
Totally feel you, @Fred Allison. I was there last year. What helped me was rewriting content for small local businesses. I emailed a nearby bakery with a messy website and offered to rewrite their “About Us” and home page — for free. They said yes and then referred me to their friend’s café. That’s how I got my first two samples. 💡
 
That’s a smart move! I started by pitching abandoned blogs. I searched for yoga studios in my area and found one that hadn’t posted since 2021. I emailed them saying, “Hey, I noticed your blog hasn’t been updated. I can help with that — here’s a sample post idea.” They didn’t even ask for clips — they just liked the idea. Started at $50 per post, now I’m up to $150 with similar clients.
 
YES to abandoned blogs! I did the same thing but with landscaping companies. Their blogs were either full of AI content or untouched for years. I pitched a series of seasonal tips (like “Spring Prep for Lawns”) and got a 4-post package for $300 total. It wasn’t glamorous, but it built my portfolio and paid better than content mills.
 
Speaking of content mills… please skip platforms like Fiverr or Textbroker. I wasted two months there and earned maybe $60 total for hours of work. You’re competing with hundreds of writers bidding $10 for 1,000-word blog posts. Not sustainable.
 
Agreed. The problem with those platforms is you start associating writing with low pay and zero control. I used that time instead to walk through my local industrial park (I know, random). Took pics of company names, Googled them at home, and pitched rewrites for their websites. Scored my first paid job with a B2B manufacturer for $120.
 
Don’t overlook your former employers! My old company had a quarterly newsletter that was always thrown together last minute. I reached out after I left and asked if they’d consider hiring me freelance to write it. They said yes — $500 a quarter, plus I already knew the brand and tone. Easiest “yes” I’ve ever gotten.
 
Love these ideas:love:. I got my start by pitching my neighborhood's HOA newsletter. They paid nothing, but it led to writing for the local Chamber of Commerce, which DID pay. Those pieces became my first clips — and honestly, they impressed more than I expected.
 
I’ve been trying to pitch small businesses but struggling with what to offer. I keep saying, “I’m a writer, do you need writing?” and I never hear back. Is it just me?
 
@Stevie Meyer That’s the thing — you need to pitch specific projects. Instead of “do you need writing?” say something like:
“Hey, I noticed you don’t have a press page. I’d love to create one so journalists can find all your brand info in one place. Here’s a mockup of what that could look like.”
You’re solving a problem instead of offering a vague service.
 
Also, try marketing agencies in your area. Google something like “healthcare marketing agencies near me.” A lot of them hire freelance writers to help with their client load. That’s how I got consistent $200 blog posts writing for dentists — glamorous? No. Reliable? Yes.
 
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