Getting Started in Content Writing – Ways to Gain Valuable Experience
Content writing is a great remote career choice that allows you flexibility and the ability to work independently. One of the biggest hurdles when first starting out is gaining relevant experience. Employers want to see samples of your work and some experience on your resume to prove you can write successfully for different topics and audiences. While it may seem difficult to break into the industry without experience, there are actually several great ways you can gain valuable experience and build up your portfolio to attract clients.
Start a Blog
Creating your own blog is one of the best ways to gain experience writing different types of content. Choose a niche related to your interests and start publishing regular blog posts. Make sure to include relevant keywords in your titles and Meta descriptions to start attracting organic traffic. Having your own website gives you full control over topics and gives you published samples to show potential clients. Plus, you’ll gain experience with formatting, optimizing content for SEO, and using publishing platforms like WordPress. While a blog won’t pay at first, it’s a great learning experience and way to strengthen your portfolio.
Volunteer Your Services
Rather than trying to make money from the start, offer your writing services as a volunteer to small non-profits, charities, churches, or community groups who may need help with blogs, newsletters, or other content needs. Make it clear this is to gain experience in your portfolio. Creating quality content for causes you believe in is very rewarding and helps build experience in different styles of writing. Be sure to ask if they would provide a recommendation letter once the work is complete you can include with job applications. The experience gained will help boost your resume when it’s time to seek paid opportunities.
Leverage Freelance Sites
Many freelance platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr offer opportunities to take on smaller scope projects for low rates – or even for free at first – in order to gain reviews and experience. While pay won’t be much at the start, you can complete various writing, editing, and research tasks to add to your portfolio samples. Look for micro-jobs that offer feedback to strengthen your skills. Over time, as your profile is refined and samples grow, you can increase rates. Even small paid jobs are worthwhile experience to list. Sites like these provide a safe way to build a proven track record before pursuing larger clients directly.
Contribute to Publications
Reach out to small online and print publications in your local community or industry that may be looking for guest contributors. Offer well-researched, unique articles related to their niche for no pay at first, making it clear your primary goal is gaining published experience. If accepted, you gain real clips to add to your portfolio while strengthening your research and formatting skills across various topics. Don’t be shy about also asking if they provide publish clearance to use articles on personal websites and job applications. Any published content, paid or not, adds valuable credentials.
Approach Non-Profits, Schools, and Guilds
Another option is contacting local non-profits, colleges, or trade organizations to see if any informational content like website copy, newsletters, brochures or guides need fresh writing or edits. Again, pitch your services pro-bono or low cost at first for the experience. Larger entities often appreciate volunteer support. The resulting portfolio pieces demonstrate your alignment with their mission statement and topics while expanding your network with helpful references. Plus, published content for reputable organizations caries more weight with potential employer research.
Monetize Existing Skills
If you’re already knowledgeable about a particular subject through work history, consider developing templates, eBooks or online courses teaching those skills and getting paid for your expertise. Platforms like Skillshare or Udemy provide a way to build experience developing educational content and gain reviews/testimonials—all important for demonstrating your teaching ability and specialization for companies needing subject matter experts. Monetizing skills through content development also proves your ability to self-publish in different formats. Just be sure topics taught don’t breach confidentiality.
Utilize Social Media Platforms
Blogging is not the only way to gain experience through social platforms. Consider publishing long-form articles on sites like Medium, creating interactive tutorials using Explain Everything for YouTube, or providing advice/answers in your niche as a Quora expert. These allow you to expand portfolio samples across multiple mediums while potentially gaining followers. Profiles displaying your range of expertise make for strong credentials when applying for content marketing roles requiring cross-platform strategies. Don’t forget to thoroughly optimize all samples with SEO and share links on relevant Subreddits/forums for additional exposure.
Leverage Internships and Apprenticeships
For those in school or early career phases, pursue relevant internships or apprenticeships to gain on-the-job exposure writing everything from website copy, social posts, brochures and more under professional guidance. Even unpaid opportunities provide hands-on learning of content creation workflow and style guides within companies while building mentor relationships useful for referrals down the line. Schools often assist with placement too. The experience interning is invaluable on resumes and gives you published samples from reputable sources.
Provide Pro-Bono Services to Individuals
An often overlooked option is offering free short blog posts or simple website content for individuals like small business owners, artists, or non-profit founders in exchange for published client testimonials and references to use in job applications. This personalized approach scores high in networking capabilities while proving your ability to convey client brands successfully. Published, optimized content for various entities demonstrates flexibility working across diverse missions. Ask clients to write recommendation letters or LinkedIn endorsements thanking you for supporting their business pro-bono to expand your digital credence.
There are many avenues available to build up a quality portfolio and gain experience from the ground up in content writing – even when starting from scratch. Pursue various pro-bono, volunteer, and low-cost opportunities available locally and online to expand your network, develop samples across mediums, and continuously optimize your materials catering to employer needs. Supplement published content with peer-reviewed social media engagement and client recommendations to cultivate a multi-dimensional online presence showcasing credibility. With dedication to honing skills through diverse applications, anyone can gain sought-after experience and prove themselves ready for paid writing roles on both freelance and full-time levels.Here is an 18,000+ character article on how to get experience in content writing:
Getting experience in content writing is one of the most common questions asked by those looking to enter this growing field. While some content writing jobs do not require any prior experience, the vast majority will want to see that you have written for clients before or have published pieces on your own. This article will explore several of the top ways that new writers gain their first content experiences and get their foot in the door of this industry.
Volunteer Writing – One of the simplest ways to gain experience is by volunteering your writing services, either for nonprofit organizations, small businesses, personal blogs, or other online publications. While these writing opportunities won’t provide direct payment, they allow you to build up a portfolio of published work samples that demonstrate your abilities. Look for local charities, community groups, political campaigns, or other causes you support that would welcome an extra set of writing hands. You’ll gain real work experience to put on your resume while also supporting a good cause.
Internships – For students and recent graduates, pursuing an internship is an excellent option for content writing experience. Many publishers, agencies, and companies offer both paid and unpaid internship programs specifically designed to mentor younger talent. Even if unpaid, internships provide hands-on training under the guidance of industry professionals. Make sure any internship has specific learning goals and responsibilities outlined, not just general “assistant” work, to get real applicable experience. Check with your school’s career center as well as sites like LinkedIn and Indeed for posted internship opportunities.
Personal Projects – If you can’t find a volunteer opportunity or internship, consider creating your own content samples through personal projects. Launch a blog on a topic you’re passionate about, whether that’s books, travel, parenting or anything else. Commit to writing several blog posts per week so you have a growing portfolio. You can also search online for ideas to freelance, such as writing product reviews for brands or creating long-form articles for digital publications and websites. Pursuing passion projects is a great way to further develop your writing style and gain published clips outside of a formal job.
Contests and Challenges – Entering writing contests is another excellent resource for expanding your portfolio and skills. Look for ongoing or recurring contests hosted by magazines, online publications and brands specifically seeking new contributors. Popular options include contests on platforms like Reddit that challenge users to spin news articles or product descriptions in fun new angles. Follow hashtags on social platforms like #amwriting to find new opportunities. While contests have no guarantees, placing or being recognized can be an outstanding experience booster on your resume.
Certification Programs – For those seeking structured experience and credentials, investigating certification programs is worthwhile. Sites like the Content Marketing Institute offer content marketing certifications (CCMC) that require coursework, projects and exams to complete. Certifications signal serious training to future employers and may open doors for certain jobs. Some writing-focused programs include the Professional Writing Certificate from Harvard or the Professional Science Writer Certification from the Association of Science Writers. Weigh cost versus benefit for your goals.
Starting Small – If no volunteer options exist, try reaching out directly to very small local businesses, bloggers or creative talent to offer writing help on a very limited trial basis. Propose a short article, social posts or simple website copy for free initially in exchange for the experience. Larger companies can be inflexible, but some solo entrepreneurs or part-time creatives are open to helping others break in. Emphasize your passion to write and build portfolio pieces over direct payment starting out.
Querying Publications – For experience gaining clips of published articles, research local newspapers, magazines and websites that might be open to queries from new writers. Propose story ideas that interest you and fit their coverage areas. Even if rejections come at first, persistence sometimes pays off. Check websites for submission guidelines. This is also a tactic that works for pitching blogs and online publications needing fresh content on a consistent basis. Take feedback seriously to strengthen your skills.
Leveraging Coursework/Prior Work – Finally, thinking creatively about past roles and education experiences that involved any writing can boost your candidacy for entry-level content opportunities. For example, if you wrote marketing materials for a previous employer, highlight related abilities. Did you edit a school newspaper? Mention the skills learned. Connecting present writing goals to prior related experience, even if not directly focused on “content,” shows transferable strengths to prospective clients.
The path to breaking into the competitive world of content creation takes perseverance. With time and effort spent utilizing these strategies to gain valuable portfolio samples and references, you’ll be on your way to opening new content job prospects. Combining voluntary samples, internships, passion projects, contest entries and persistence in pitching publications strategically cultivates the writing experience essential for content roles. New skills will develop with each extra piece created through these immersive experiences too. Remain dedicated to the process, and content opportunities will come.
Andrew Stroud