Social media is a powerful tool for writers.

Say it with me: “Social media is a powerful tool for writers.”

As we started off in our writing journey, we didn’t start utilizing social media for jobs until we were months along. We would recommend that you add this to your arsenal quickly as it can make you money (isn’t that what most of us write for anyway). Although it is very easy to get distracted browsing posts on Instagram or reading tweets, the benefits can be realized if you follow what we have done to succeed.

With that being said, here are 5 surefire methods for finding profitable writing jobs on social media. BONUS: See our free cheat sheet Infographic here to save it on your computer or phone (we recommend printing it out)!

1. Use Instagram to Find Writing Jobs on Social Media

One social media platform that has potential for finding writing jobs is Instagram. With over 1 billion users worldwide, there are obviously a ton of writers and businesses using it. With this many users, and a constant barrage of new posts and hashtags, it can get a bit overwhelming. In order to find writing jobs, you need to have a strategy and follow the right users and hashtags.

For example, pages like @Mediabistro and @Writing_Jobs will post opportunities at times. In addition, using the search functionality and hashtags like #freelancewritingjobs, #writingjobs, #copywritingjobs, #writinggigs, #editorjobs, and similar will provide you plenty of posts that may lead you to a great writing job.

As mentioned, you will have to sift through the obvious spam or posts that are not relevant or worth your time. TIP: When searching for hashtags, be sure to click the “Recent” tab (the default shows the “Top” results which may be older posts).

Besides following users and relevant hashtag posts, it is beneficial to join the conversations and provide value. For example, find your target clients and follow their pages. Like and comment on their posts, get to know their brand, and don’t be afraid to send direct messages to introduce yourself.

With these few tips you are well on your way to finding writing jobs on Instagram.

2. Use Twitter to Find Writing Jobs on Social Media

Politicians, celebrities, athletes, and influencers are using Twitter to build their businesses and brands. Writers are too.

According to recent stats, Twitter has 330 million monthly active users and 145 million daily active users. Within that user base are journalists, editors, magazines, authors and writers. From beginners to advanced writers, this can be a proven social media site if used wisely.

How do you use Twitter to find writing jobs? Here’s our suggestions:

• Follow accounts that post writing jobs, such as @FreelanceWJ and @Mediabistro.
• Follow the pages of current clients and potential companies or clients that you would like to network with and write for.
• Use the search bar to find conversations around writing jobs, like #freelancewritingjobs, #writingjobs, and #writinggigs.

TIP: When searching for hashtags, be sure to click the “Latest” tab (the default shows the “Top” results which may be older posts and older jobs).

Although Twitter can take a while to get used to, it can prove to be valuable for writers. We found a great writing job and a repeat client by using these methods. If you see a writing job posted that you are interested in, be sure to apply quickly. Be professional and relatable, share your experience and how your writing will benefit them, and repeat that process.

We have even used Twitter for business development and finding new leads. Direct messages come in handy, just be sure to research the company or user to not sound spammy.

3. Use Reddit to Find Writing Jobs on Social Media

According to Hubspot, Reddit has over 430 million active monthly users, with roughly half of them being from the U.S. With huge communities and helpful discussions around a myriad of topics, we found that Reddit can help writers.

As an example, the writers community (r/writers), has close to 90,000 users. The community helps writers “Get critique on your work, share resources, ask questions and help fellow writers.”  r/freelanceWriters has close to 50,000 users and is “A place by and for freelance writers of all kinds to discuss and share every facet of freelance writing.”

When it comes to digging around for writing jobs on Reddit, there are a few specific communities to check out. These include r/HireaWriter, r/writing_gigs, and r/WritingJobBoard. Another interesting community is r/writersforhire. This community description states: “Sub for companies or individuals looking for skilled professional writers, willing to pay at least .8/word, and more experienced and educated writers to advertise their services, as long as it’s at least .8/word asking.”

When you do find writing jobs that interest you, there are a few important tips to keep in mind when applying to them:

• Don’t just send a message like “Hi! Heard you need a writer,  I would love to help out!” or “Is this writing position still available?” Whoever posted the position will likely get many applications and will not chat or answer questions.
• Apply with a specific message that relays your related experience. Mention your industry experience and why you have the knowledge to handle the project. Provide information on your writing experience and portfolio, or specific links to relevant articles if available.

As with anything in business, it will take some time to learn how to effectively use the Reddit platform. However, it can pay off and you can build relationships and referrals for your writing business.  

4. Use Facebook to Find Writing Jobs on Social Media

Facebook is not just for sharing pics of your kids, food, or vacations. For writers, Facebook can be a useful platform to grow your business and find jobs. As the largest social media platform in the world, with over 2 billion (yes, BILLION) people using it monthly, Facebook is hard to ignore.

As you build your writing business, you will want to create your own business page. But even if you do not have one as of yet, if you have a personal profile you can easily follow relevant pages that can help you locate jobs. For example, @freelancewritingjobs and @freelancecontentwriters do a good job of adding new writing opportunities.

You should also check out Facebook Jobs, which began in 2018. Enter your search term in the box, such as “freelance writer,” “content writer,” “copywriter,” etc. Be sure to change your location and radius if needed. The jobs posted will be more local but you can find some great opportunities, even for remote or contract work (see Job Type section to select contract, part-time, etc.).

Lastly, Facebook groups are a great place to join writer communities that will help your grow professionally. As an example, the Freelance Writers public group has roughly 60,000 members. Its purpose is to help writers share experiences, works or job postings.

So, the next time you are scrolling through that Facebook feed for personal enjoyment, take some time to research and read relevant writing information. You might find that next big paying client that you’ve been waiting for!

5. Use LinkedIn to Find Writing Jobs on Social Media

LinkedIn is a social media network as it is an online platform connecting people. The difference with many other social media sites is that it connects people via professional preferences, skills, knowledge, and experience. With over 300 million active monthly users, and close to 40% of those visiting the site daily, it is a treasure trove of opportunity for businesses, networking, and writers.

Regardless of the type of writing that you engage in, there are a number of tips for utilizing LinkedIn to ultimately find work. For one, you must have a professional looking profile, with high-quality photos, including your headshot. Next, a great headline and profile is crucial. Highlight your experience and include keywords related to your skills and niches.

Once complete, you now have the opportunity to join relevant groups and communicate with other professionals, including your target customers. Connect with your friends, colleagues, neighbors, and anyone else you can think of. Each connection is a potential connection to someone else (like your ideal client). Although you may not know someone, it might be easier to get introduced if you have a “mutual connection.”

Once you have built up a network, you can use search filters to find look for connections in the industries that you target. For example, if you are a personal finance writer, use the advanced filters to search connections within the financial industry. You should then see results of your 1st connections in that space, as well as 2nd or 3rd connections. If you find great potential customers that are 2nd connections, have your 1st connection that knows him/her introduce you or try connecting on your own. From there, learn more about your target customers and send them a message through LinkedIn or from their company website.

Use LinkedIn Jobs to Find Writing Gigs

Finally, LinkedIn jobs can be an awesome place for finding short-term and even long-term writing gigs. Some of the biggest and most well-known brands post jobs here regularly. At the time of this post, for example, Pinterest is looking for Sales Content Writer (“We’re looking for a Sales Content Writer to join Pinterest’s Content Marketing team.”).

Use the LinkedIn job filters (All Filters) at the top of the page to narrow down the results and find exactly what you are looking for. Check the job board often and apply quickly to the best fitting job postings that will advance your career.

To Conclude

As you can see, there are many proven methods for finding writing jobs on social media. We can write a whole book on this topic but wanted to put out a guide to help people see the potential that these platforms provide. If you take the time to learn how to efficiently use them, and hone your skills along the way, you will find writing jobs that are profitable.

Which of these platforms do you utilize to find jobs? Any tips you can share with our community?

About the Authors

Hi there! We are Mike & Michelle, freelance writers, business owners, and parents to two young girls. Thanks for reading and joining us on your freelance writing journey. Whether you are beginner or a seasoned vet, we hope to help you grow your earnings and writing potential.