This may come as a surprise to some, but having a degree in journalism, creative writing or something similar isn’t necessary if you want to have a shot at an online freelance writing job in the Philippines. Sure, it’s a plus to have, but you can still get hired without it. What you do need are the five essential qualifications listed below.
Proficiency in Internet Research
Expect your client or employer to ask you to research a wide variety of topics, ranging from payday loans to parenting. Even if you’re not an authority in the requested subject, you still have to make sure you sound like one with your writing, and that means researching the topic extensively online.
Internet research is different from, say, researching in the library. There’s no card catalog to use, for one thing. Rather, you’ll have to know which keywords to use or which websites to trust. And that’s just the start.
Fluency in English
Online freelance writing jobs in the Philippines would usually require the writer to write for an American audience. As such, most clients prefer that the article sounds like it was written by another American. In rare cases, you may be asked to write for an Australian or British audience. If so, you must be familiar with the different spelling and grammar used for Australian or British English.
Proficiency in Internet Writing
Articles intended for Internet distribution are also different from articles intended for publication in magazines or journals. Grammar and punctuation are still important, yes, but equally important as well are tone and form. Internet readers prefer to read those written in a conversational tone and with short paragraphs made of equally brief sentences.
Understanding of SEO
SEO is the acronym for search engine optimization. It’s the heart and soul of Internet marketing. If you want your articles to make money for your client, then they have to be optimized for search engine use. Although it seems like a highly technical subject, it’s actually quite easy to learn on your own. You can improve much faster, however, if you undergo training with an SEO expert.
Ability to Meet Deadlines
This is very critical since most online freelance writing jobs in the Philippines would require you to work with little supervision. You’ll be given a number of articles to write about and a deadline for their submission. Sometimes, turnaround times can be in a matter of hours although you’ll usually be compensated for this with a higher pay rate per article.
And there you have it – the five essential qualifications for online freelance writing jobs in the Philippines. Keep these in mind when you polish your writing samples, and you’re sure to get the writing project you’re aiming for.
Writer: Allen T.