Even though the economy is beginning to show signs that a recovery is underway, I know lots of folks out there are still scrambling to meet their financial obligations. It's not easy to continue in your regular lifestyle when you no longer get as much overtime, are forced to take furlough days (which essentially amounts to a 20 percent salary cut), or when you have to accept a lower-paying job due to layoffs and downsizing. It seems that almost everyone is looking for a way to earn some extra cash in their spare time. If you find yourself in this boat and can string grammatically correct sentences together into a relatively cohesive whole, then you might be able to make money writing for online publications.
There used to be a time when only professionals could make money writing, but as with just about everything else, the internet has served to level the playing field in this industry. You no longer have to have a degree in English or Journalism, nor do you have to great connections or a portfolio full of clips in order to get an opportunity to make money writing. Now you can earn income from publishing a blog, creating content for someone else's website, or penning articles for e-zines (electronic magazines).
Take blogging, for instance. Bloggers' opinions are usually highly valued by their dedicated following of readers. Advertisers know this, so blog marketing has become a pretty big industry in recent years. Advertisers pay bloggers, either directly or through a third party, in return for a post talking about the advertiser's product. Pay rates vary depending on a number of factors, but even unknown bloggers can earn $5 or more per post. That doesn't sound like a lot, but it does add up in the long run, so this is definitely a wonderful way to make money writing.
There are billions of websites out there, and almost every one of them needs new content written and published on a daily basis. Most site owners don't have the time or inclination to write articles themselves, but will gladly pay others to create content for them. This presents you with another way to make money writing online, and is an avenue that every beginning writer should explore. Website owners typically want articles on a wide variety of topics ranging from weight loss tips to how to change a tire and everything in between, so chances are you'll be able to a gig in your particular area of expertise. These opportunities can be found on Craigslist or similar job boards.
And finally, you can make money writing for e-zines. These electronic magazines need just as many articles on a monthly basis as their print counterparts, which means writers are in big demand. If you want to try getting published in an e-zine, all you have to do is find one that deals with topics you're familiar with and follow the submission guidelines. The pay might not be all that spectacular, but again, this is something you can do in your free time with absolutely zero long-term commitment.
The bottom line is you don't have to be able to craft stellar prose in order to make money writing. The internet is full of opportunities for people willing to put in some hard work, so get out there and start answering ads or querying editors today!