What is Content Writing? 9 Opportunities for Freelance Writers

Not all content writing is created equal—here’s where the real opportunities are.

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The digital world runs on content, and for freelance writers, that means endless chances to carve out a niche, grow an audience, and earn well. From thought leadership pieces to SEO-driven articles, this space is rich with diverse and lucrative projects.

If you’re ready to elevate your freelance career, here are 9 high-value content writing opportunities that could open the door to your next major success.

What is content writing?

Content writing is about crafting high-quality content that serves a clear purpose—whether it’s to engage, inform, or persuade a specific audience.

This content can take many forms, from blogs and articles to email campaigns and web pages, all working as part of a broader digital marketing strategy. The goal is to create online content that not only captivates readers but also drives results, such as lead generation or increased brand visibility.

As a successful content creator, you will combine storytelling with strategic thinking to produce content that aligns with marketing purposes.

Good content writing skills help ensure that the material resonates with readers while meeting specific objectives, with success often measured by metrics like traffic, engagement, and conversion rates.

Ultimately, content creation is about delivering marketing content that balances value for the reader with effective outcomes for the brand.

The difference between content writing and copywriting

Content writing focuses on creating informative or engaging material aimed at educating, entertaining, or building relationships with an audience. It’s often used for blogs, articles, and other long-form content designed to provide value.

Copywriting, on the other hand, is all about persuasion—it’s crafted specifically to prompt immediate action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.

While content writing aims to inform and establish trust over time, copywriting is more direct, focused on conversions and driving sales.

What does a content writer do?

As a content writer, your role goes beyond just writing—you’ll craft material that connects with your audience and supports broader marketing goals. Here’s what you’ll be doing:

• Research topics: Dive deep into your subject matter to create well-informed content that speaks directly to your readers.

• Write articles and blogs: Develop engaging pieces that educate, entertain, or provide valuable information to your audience.

• SEO optimization: Use keywords effectively to make sure your content is discoverable and ranks well in search engines.

• Edit and proofread: Polish your content to ensure clarity, correctness, and a smooth reading experience.

• Support content strategy: Align your content with the brand’s marketing objectives, helping to strengthen the overall message and tone.

• Write for various formats: Create content across different mediums—such as social media posts, newsletters, guides, and whitepapers—depending on the audience and platform.

• Collaborate with teams: Work closely with marketing teams, editors, and other professionals to make sure your content fits the project’s goals.

• Stay up-to-date with trends: Keep an eye on industry trends and adapt your content to keep it fresh and relevant.

Types of content writing

Content writing takes on many forms, each with a specific role. Blog posts, emails, social media updates, and other formats require unique approaches to effectively engage an audience. Understanding these different types of content writing helps you target your efforts more precisely and develop the skills needed to meet client or brand goals.

Let’s explore the diverse forms of content that writers can create.

1. Articles/blogging

Articles and blogging are foundational formats in content writing, ranging from quick, informative pieces to in-depth long-form content. Blog posts often vary in length and style, from short, punchy updates to comprehensive guides or case studies, depending on the subject matter.

As a professional content writer, you may find yourself crafting guest posts for other websites or writing targeted content for a niche audience. Regardless of length, each piece of content demands thorough research (which doesn’t include reading Wikipedia), strong structure, and careful proofreading to ensure it effectively engages readers while meeting the client’s needs.

2. Website content

Website content is key to a brand’s online presence and includes a range of web pages aimed at different goals.

As a content writer, you might work on landing pages designed to convert leads. You’ll incorporate strong calls-to-action that prompt users to take action. You’ll also create informative sections like FAQ pages that address common customer questions, or write press releases to announce important updates. Interactive elements, such as quizzes, can enhance engagement and keep visitors on the site longer.

You can use templates to standardize your writing and leverage content management systems like WordPress to publish and streamline the content.

3. Email newsletters

Email newsletters are an essential part of email marketing, designed to directly engage with a target audience in a personal and effective way.

As a content writer, your role is to craft newsletters that grab attention, deliver value, and encourage readers to take action, whether that means exploring more content, purchasing a product, or staying updated with the latest news.

Strong subject lines, engaging storytelling, and clear calls to action are key components in making sure the message resonates with the audience and supports broader marketing goals.

4. Social media content

Social media content is about creating engaging social media posts that fit seamlessly into the larger social media marketing strategy.

As a content writer, you’ll work alongside the marketing team to craft posts that capture attention quickly, often using a combination of strong copy and compelling visuals like images, videos, or infographics.

The goal is to create content that stops the scroll, delivers value, and drives engagement, ensuring that each post resonates with the target audience and supports the brand’s messaging.

5. Product descriptions

Writing product descriptions is a key component of ecommerce content, designed to highlight the features and benefits of a product in a way that resonates with potential customers.

Effective product descriptions go beyond listing specs—they tell a story that appeals to the reader’s needs, solves a problem, or showcases how the product fits into their life.

Whether you’re writing for a small brand or a larger ecommerce platform, the goal is to create concise, engaging descriptions that drive sales by making the product irresistible to the buyer.

6. Ebooks and whitepapers

Ebooks and whitepapers are long-form content designed to provide in-depth information and showcase expertise on a particular topic. Often used as part of a lead generation strategy, these content types are crafted to educate the audience, offer valuable insights, and establish credibility for a brand.

As a content writer, creating ebooks or whitepapers involves detailed research, clear organization, and a focus on providing actionable value that positions the brand as an authority in its industry.

7. SEO writing

SEO writing focuses on creating content that ranks well in search engine results through effective SEO (search engine optimization) techniques. It involves keyword research to identify the terms that target audiences are searching for, and then integrating those keywords naturally into the text.

As an SEO content writer, you’ll develop web content that not only captures the reader’s attention but also aligns with search algorithm requirements to boost visibility and drive organic traffic.

In addition to keyword integration, effective SEO writing includes well-crafted meta descriptions, optimized headlines, and content that keeps readers engaged. The aim is to balance content quality with a strong marketing strategy, ensuring that the SEO content is useful to both search engines and the audience.

8. Scriptwriting

Scriptwriting involves crafting engaging video scripts or podcast scripts that capture an audience’s attention and communicate a clear message.

As a content writer, you might create scripts for marketing videos, YouTube content, or even audio segments for branded podcasts. Effective scriptwriting requires a good sense of pacing, dialogue, and storytelling to ensure the content is both compelling and easy for audiences to follow, whether they are watching a video or listening to audio. The key is to bring the message to life while keeping it concise, impactful, and suited to the specific platform or format.

9. Thought leadership

Thought leadership content establishes a brand or individual as an authority within their field by sharing unique insights, expertise, and perspectives.

As a content writer, you might be involved in ghostwriting articles or posts for industry leaders, helping them articulate their ideas clearly and convincingly. Platforms like LinkedIn are ideal for thought leadership content, as they allow you to reach a professional audience directly.

Whether you’re writing under your own name or acting as a ghostwriter, thought leadership pieces can be instrumental in building credibility, sparking conversations, and positioning the client as a leading voice in their industry.

How to find content writing jobs

Breaking into the world of freelance writing can seem challenging, but there are many strategies to help you secure work and build your client list. As a content writer, you have the skills that many businesses are searching for, whether it’s for brand awareness, content marketing, or other writing services.

Here are some actionable steps to help you get started and build your portfolio—no matter if you’re a beginner or looking to expand your current opportunities.

• Freelance platforms: Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer are great starting points for beginners. These platforms connect providers of writing services with clients seeking great content. (That said, the rates on these websites are particularly low, so get a couple of credits and then move out of this space—fast!)

• Job boards: Search for writing jobs on platforms like ProBlogger, FlexJobs, and Indeed, which are known for listing opportunities specifically for content writing.

• Cold pitching: Reach out directly to websites, blogs, or companies with a tailored Letter of Introduction. Make sure to show them you understand their brand and offer creative writing solutions that match their needs. This is my favorite method of outreach and the one that’s been the most profitable for me over my career.

• Networking: Use LinkedIn to connect with potential clients and other professionals in the industry. Participate in discussions to boost your visibility and build relationships.

• Guest posting: If you’ve never written for publication before and need the practice, offer to write guest posts for blogs in your niche. This helps showcase your abilities, build backlinks, and gain exposure. Ideally, this should be paid work, even if it’s low-paying, but if not, make sure you don’t get stuck here. Write a couple of posts and move on!

• Content agencies: Content agencies are always on the lookout for good content writers. Apply to agencies that manage multiple clients—they can be a steady source of writing services work. Look outside of the English-speaking world, too. There’s tons of work available in translation and other languages.

• Social media: Writing groups on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn frequently post freelance gigs. Stay active and contribute to build trust and reputation.

• Company websites: Check career pages on the sites of companies you’d like to work for. Many companies post openings for content marketing roles directly on their websites.

• Specialized writing platforms: Platforms like Contently, ClearVoice, and Skyword are excellent resources. They connect experienced writers to brands looking for great content.

• Freelance communities: Join freelance writing communities online. These forums can be a valuable source of leads and insights for your career.

• Cold emailing: Research businesses that might need content—look for poorly executed pages, a lack of brand awareness, or missing results pages. Then send a professional email detailing how you could enhance their content.

• Use writing tools: Learn to use writing tools effectively, from plagiarism checkers to grammar assistants, to ensure your work is polished and original—clients will notice the difference.

• Take online courses: I’m a big believer in being a lifelong learner, and as my career evolves, my skills do, too.

It’s why I created Wordling Plus, in fact. I wanted writers to have a place where they could learn everything about the art, craft, and business of writing and publishing—from content writing tips to fundamentals of publishing a book.

All our writing courses are outcome-focused, which means that the tools we teach become a part of your business and writing process.

Oh, and did I mention? With a single monthly membership, you can get access to our entire portfolio of 20+ courses, plus live weekly group coaching, trainings on aspects of the business and craft, and so much more. You can learn more about us and what we offer here.