Search
Close this search box.
Blog » Retirement » My Favorite Ways to Find Freelance Gigs

My Favorite Ways to Find Freelance Gigs

Updated on January 25th, 2022
Things You Didn't Know About Annuity Rates

One of the questions that I’m constantly asked is this: What are the best ways to find freelance gigs?

Everyone has their own ways of finding freelance gigs, including high-paying jobs, and I have my own favorite strategies.

Find Freelance Gigs Through Word of Mouth

My favorite way to find freelance gigs is through word of mouth. This is a strategy that is a little harder to put into place if you are just starting out, however.

I’ve been freelancing for 10 years, so there is a large body of work in my name and my networking has been pretty effective. As a result, most of my current work comes from referrals or people who have heard of me and just want me to write for them.

This is my favorite way to find freelance gigs because it usually means that I get to set my own rate — and it’s a higher rate than what I accept when I have to apply for jobs. I haven’t actually needed to apply for a gig for probably five or six years (although sometimes I do, just to see).

Building up your reputation to the point where you find freelance gigs through word of mouth takes a little more time and effort, but once you reach that point, it’s well worth it. This strategy can also include your social media efforts and your ability to build your personal brand online. The easier you are to find, the more likely you are to land gigs that can provide you with a solid salary.

Places to Apply for Freelance Gigs

If you want to find freelance gigs through websites, there are some reputable places that I like to go to look for work when I’m curious about what’s out there — and places that I used to frequent before I began seeing results from word of mouth.

First of all, I was never fond of freelance marketplaces. I don’t like bidding on work, so you won’t find those in the following list:

  • Media Bistro: This is a great site for media professional and freelancers alike. You can usually find high-quality jobs here, and there are other premium resources for freelancers.
  • Freelance Writers Den: Joining this site will cost a monthly fee, but it’s worth it, especially if you are looking for higher-paying jobs. The job board weeds out the super-low paying jobs, and there are bootcamps and other resources for the freelancer. You can read my review of the Freelance Writers Den for more information.
  • Freelance Writing Jobs: I’ve long liked this site, which makes it a point to aggregate gigs from around the web. You will find low-paying to medium-paying gigs here, and it’s a great place to go if you are just looking to try to land anything.
  • Problogger Job Board: This is another place where you will find jobs that range from low-paying to high-paying. It’s a good place to start.

There are plenty of other job boards out there, but if you start with these, you’ll probably have a wide range to choose from.

Online Publishing and Content Marketing Platforms

I’ve recently used online publishing platforms to find freelance gigs. The three that I use are Contently, Skyword and Welcome (formerly NewsCred. All three of these platforms are used by corporate clients to get content for their own blogs and sites. Depending on the client and the work, the pay can be pretty good.

The work might not be regular, but it can be well-paying, and it can be one way to fill in the gaps. Fill out profiles on these sites, and you might be able to land gigs or one-off pieces from interested clients. I’ve developed long-term relationships with clients that started with gigs on these types of sites.

Miranda Marquit

Miranda Marquit

I'm Miranda and I'm a freelance financial journalist and money expert. My specialties are investing, small business/entrepreneurship and personal finance. The journey to business success and financial freedom is best undertaken with fellow travelers.

About Due

Due makes it easier to retire on your terms. We give you a realistic view on exactly where you’re at financially so when you retire you know how much money you’ll get each month. Get started today.

Categories

Top Trending Posts

Due Fact-Checking Standards and Processes

To ensure we’re putting out the highest content standards, we sought out the help of certified financial experts and accredited individuals to verify our advice. We also rely on them for the most up to date information and data to make sure our in-depth research has the facts right, for today… Not yesterday. Our financial expert review board allows our readers to not only trust the information they are reading but to act on it as well. Most of our authors are CFP (Certified Financial Planners) or CRPC (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor) certified and all have college degrees. Learn more about annuities, retirement advice and take the correct steps towards financial freedom and knowing exactly where you stand today. Learn everything about our top-notch financial expert reviews below… Learn More