Types of Freelance Content Writing: Advantages and Disadvantages
Freelance Content writing has risen as a separate working field. Millions of people are attracted to it due to the nature of content writing. It gives the writer freedom to work on their terms, well, most of the time. Writers can choose which branch of freelance writing suits them best and then continue working in that field and make a name for themselves. But recognizing which branch of writing is best for you is not an easy job. Since this field is so diverse, people get confused as to what they choose. There are many things one must keep in mind when choosing a certain field of freelance writing. We asked our professional writers to provide information about their respective fields of writing, so it will be easier for you to understand and decide which type of writing style is best for you.
Types of Freelance Content Writing:
Content writing is of the following types:
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- Academic writing
- Technical content writing
- Blog writing
- Copywriting
- Transcript writing
- E-mail marketing
Academic writing:
This type of content writing has sophistication and formal language incorporated in it. No type of frankness, informality or slang language is accepted in this type of writing. Also, it would help if you based your writing on facts. Your own opinions or views don’t matter in this type of writing. Your writing must be based on facts and proof.
Advantages of academic writing:
Why academic writing is a good choice? let’s look at some advantages:
1. Flexible schedule: Since this is a freelance job, you have more control over your work hours than other office jobs. Of course, you will have to meet deadlines that require some effort, but mostly, you’ll control which time works best for you. Of course, you can negotiate with your client about your timings too.
2. Clients and job offers: Academic writing is one of those fields with high demand in the market. If you make a good name for yourself and get a good profile, you can easily expect many clients to contact you for their work.
3. No limit on money: As you progress in the field, you can easily expect your rates to go higher. With a better profile, you can increase your rates to suit your standards. Also, there is no limit to how much you earn. It all depends on the number of jobs you take.
Disadvantages of academic writing:
There’s always a dark side to everything. Academic writing, although being a good line of work, also has some disadvantages:
1. Lack of motivation: With constant work and research, you will inevitably feel unmotivated and tired of the work. You might have to push through to submit the project within time.
2. Hard work: Academic writing is not easy. It is not just writing whatever comes to your mind. It is based on facts and proven researches. You will need to be extra careful about not putting in something with a solid base. This research work is extensive and time-taking.
3. Work-life balance: Most academic articles are long and require hours’ worth of research. To complete them within a certain deadline is extremely difficult and will certainly mess up your work-life balance. You will have to make time from your personal life to complete projects.
4. Lack of professionalism: You can expect people to be unprofessional in this field. Clients who don’t understand how much work goes into writing a good academic article will constantly get on your nerves. Until you make a good profile for yourself, you will inevitably meet such unprofessionalism.
Who can work as an academic writer?
Generally speaking, anyone who has had any form of higher education can write academic articles. If you have a proper degree in any field, you can easily write academic articles in that field. If not, then there is no worry. With just a little practice, anyone can grasp the concept of academic writing and can start working as an academic writer.
Want to learn more about academic writing, head on to how to start your career as an academic writer.
Technical content writing:
Technical content writing is a type of content writing that focuses on providing information or material about a certain subject. Technical writing is done to entice people to use a tech service. It is generally done to improve the popularity of a service/product by attracting a larger audience. Technical content writing not only offers information on a topic but also instructions and techniques for using specific products,
Advantages of technical writing:
- Permanent job: As a technical writer, you can easily find a permanent job with a business or a firm. After that, you will not have to worry about finding new clients. Since there is a constant increase in the tech industry, it is comparatively easier to find technical writing jobs.
- A little creative freedom: You can use your creativity to attract people to a product/service. Freedom also develops your sense of creativity.
- Learning: Technical writing is a great way of learning too. Since you will be researching new content to write a good article, you will learn a lot of new things in many different fields.
Disadvantages of technical writing:
- Extensive research: The whole researching process is very time-consuming and can lead to exhaustion.
- Lesser pay: Even though the technical writer is a proper job, your designer colleagues will get paid more than you, which can be kind of daunting.
- More work than your colleagues: You will have to do more coding and research work than your colleagues.
- Same organizations: There aren’t many vacancies for technical writers, so there is a good chance you will be stuck at one organization.
Who can work as a technical writer?
If you are familiar with any tech-related field, you can easily grasp the rules of technical writing, and you’re set to work. If you’re a newbie, you might face a little more challenges, but it is not an impossible thing to wrap your head around. Everyone starts from somewhere.
Want to learn more about technical writing? head on to a guide to technical writing
Blog writing
Blog writing is a type of content creating that is self-published. It entails self-publishing your thoughts, opinions, and lifestyle by writing, photographing, or contributing other material to internet platforms. In addition, blog writing allows you to communicate with individuals all around the globe. You may discuss your thoughts with others and learn about their perspectives.
Advantages of blog writing:
Many people want to pursue the lifestyle of bloggers. Following are some perks if you start blogging:
- Personalized: A blog is your personal space to write, show, share or promote whatever you want. You feel a sense of peace and possession over your blog since it is from you, for you, and about you.
- Easy start: Starting a blog is very easy and doesn’t require any technical knowledge.
- Community-building: Blogs allow you to build a community filled with people who share the same interests and thoughts as you. You can talk with people on your blog, which develops a sense of community.
Disadvantages of blogging:
Not everything that shines is gold. Blogging comes with its own set of issues:
- Toxic people: Exposing yourself to the online community is a big deal, especially with many toxic people swarming the internet like piranhas. They can seriously affect your mental health and can push you towards many different mental issues.
- Regular updates: Blogging requires regular updates. You must post at least three times a week and have to interact with people if you want to keep your blog going.
- Research: Before posting anything, you must research whether it is fact-based or not. Publicizing wrong ideas or as much as saying a single wrong sentence that could offend people can get you cancelled from the internet community.
Who can become a blogger?
Anyone. Anyone willing to put time and effort in can start blogging now. If you are passionate about something, you can easily start a blog about it. You must have a little creativity in you, and you are pretty much set to take on the internet community.
Want to know more about blogging? Head on to a quick guide to blog writing
Copywriting
Copywriting is writing used to promote or advertise a product. It entails utilizing your words so that people are compelled to perform specific actions, such as investing in, purchasing, or changing something.
Copywriting is sort of similar to technical content writing. The only thing that separates it from technical writing is that it encourages a direct response from the audience.
Advantages of copywriting:
Since this form of writing is the same as technical writing, the advantages are also pretty much the same:
- Permanent employment: You may easily get a permanent job as a copywriter with a company or corporation. You won’t have to worry about acquiring new clients after that. Because there are new businesses every day, copywriting employment is comparably simpler to come by.
- A little creative license: You may use your imagination to draw customers to a product or service. Imagine also helps you to build your sense of inventiveness.
- Learning new things: Copywriting is also a fantastic method to learn. You will be able to learn many new things in various disciplines since you will be studying new information to produce a decent post that is attractive to people.
Disadvantages of copywriting:
Like technical writing, you will face the following issues in copywriting:
- Heavy research: the entire study process takes a long time and might be exhausting.
- No guarantee of money: Unless you are working with an organization, there is no guarantee if you will have enough projects to make your ends meet.
- Limitations on creativity: Since you need to write articles for clients, you will have to work according to what they see fit. Limitation puts a hold on your creativity.
Who can work as a copywriter?
If you are experienced with a specific area or business, you may quickly learn the laws of copywriting and be ready to work as a copywriter in that area. You may face a few extra obstacles if you’re a beginner, but you can easily learn how to promote products or businesses.
Want to know more about copywriting?? See a quick guide to become a copywriter.
Transcript writing
Transcript writing, often known as transcription, converts audio or voice into written text. It is used to record what is stated word for word, with no modifications.
Advantages of transcript writing:
Transcript writing seems interesting to many people because of the nature of this job. This job will give you the following advantages:
- Job security: Transcript writing is a job that has professional applications in the medical and law fields. Furthermore, You might also be able to find work in animation studies. Transcription writing promises job security as you will be working with proper organizations or businesses.
- Skill improvement: Being a transcript writer means that you’re hearing and typing skills are going to improve big-time. Also, if working within the law field, you will get improved observation skills.
- Better payment: It is one of the best content writing jobs in terms of money. You make much more money as a transcription writer as compared to other forms of writing.
Disadvantages of transcription writing:
Everything comes with a price. Transcription writing has its demerits:
- Greater workload: Transcription writers deal with a much greater workload as compared to other content writers. Since what they’re typing is mostly happening in real-time, they need to be quick with their writing speed; otherwise, they are as good as gone.
- Stressful job: Transcript writers don’t always get to work from their homes. Especially those working in the law, business, or medical fields have to be present at their allotted locations to carry out their jobs. And their work timings aren’t always the best.
- No creative freedom: The obvious thing is that there will be no creative freedom for transcription writing. Not a single word could be added or subtracted to the writing. This deviation can lead to major issues if the writing is even slightly messed up.
Who can be a transcription writer?
There is no boundary for becoming a transcriptionist, especially since it doesn’t require any technical knowledge or speciality, but you must have good listening and typing skills. Apart from that, anyone can become a transcription writer.
Want to see more about transcription writing?? Check out a guide to become a transcription writer.
Want to hire Professional content writers or see the work of professionals? Head on to the Research branch.