One of the biggest challenges that will face brand new freelance writers is developing a portfolio. It does not come overnight. For those who have started freelancing as a necessity versus a career choice, this obstacle can be hard to overcome. It does not have to be a massive undertaking to create a portfolio but, it is definitely a requirement if you are going to establish yourself. Here are some possibilities.
Helium – Freelance writers use online writing sites in various ways. My personal opinion and experience with many of these sites has been frustrating at best. Many people have elected to use Helium in conjunction with other sites and if that works for you, then go for it! I bounced around through several sites and tested the waters at a few. For me, Helium offered variety, a supportive community, a marketplace and money making opportunities. Learning how to use Helium effectively might take you some time, but it’s worth the investment. Take some time to look around, familiarize yourself with what works and does not work. Remember, once you place an article on Helium it’s there forever (at this time). Carefully review the terms of service so you are not caught by surprise. You can get a steady income flow from Helium if you pay attention, devote the time to it and follow the rules. The variety of topics available make a great showcase for your skills.
Guest Writer/Blogger - Many freelance writers overlook the value of being a guest writer or blogger.Do not let this opportunity bypass you if it comes up. This is especially true if the website or blog is ranked well in Google. Not only does it add to your credibility, but it adds to your knowledge base. Guest blogging or writing could be unpaid work but in the long run, it will pay dividends.
Hub Pages – Another Web 2.0 site, Hub Pages allows you a lot of flexibility plus the opportunity to earn as you go through a variety of affiliate programs that are built in. At HubPages, you pick the topic, you pick the keywords and you provide the information. The plug-ins are provided for a variety of affiliate programs and other “modules” to spice up your hub. If you are lacking ideas, go to their “requests” area and you’ll find people looking for specific Hubs about specific topics. One word of warning. While you can use this to build up your portfolio, ignoring it does make your rankings drop. The good news is that you can create a hub in about an hour and your earnings continue even if you ignore the site. It is also good to note that you can add RSS feeds to your blog (or links) or website. It is strongly recommended you sign up for an AdSense account before using HubPages.
Squidoo – Squidoo is similar to HubPages in that it allows you to create “single page” topics. These are known as “Squids” or “Lenses”. Like HubPages, you decide on the topic and the content, you plug in the various modules available and publish. Squidoo lenses are fun and easy to create and take less than an hour. They offer a variety of template options as well. Like HubPages, you can add links to your blogs, websites and use your own AdSense account. Earnings trickle in whether you do anything or not.
Summary
These are just a few of the options that are available to you to help you get started creating a killer portfolio. They will help you establish your credentials as a freelance writer. There are many more options, these are the ones I have tried and use.
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RSS feed is not working in chrome, Kindly fix it.
I tested this in Chrome and it seems to be working fine.
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