This is an exciting time to be a freelance writer mainly because of the constant need for content. With content marketing taking over as a preferred internet marketing strategy, the need for blog posts, social media writing, infographics, ebooks, etc., is never ending.

Here, we'll discuss three fast-growing trends in freelance writing, which signals where you should focus your energies if you want to make it easier to land gigs. But first, let's look at how content marketing has expanded the need for freelance web writers.

What Is Content Marketing?

For those who don't know, content marketing is:

Any form of marketing that involves the creation and sharing of media and publishing content in order to acquire customers. This information can be presented in a variety of formats, including news, video, white papers, e-books, infographics, case studies, how-to guides, question and answer articles, photos, etc. 

Content marketing is focused not on selling, but on simply communicating with customers and prospects. The idea is to inspire business and loyalty from buyers by delivering "consistent, ongoing valuable information." (emphasis added) 

Why Content Marketing Makes the Need for Freelance Writers Greater Than Ever

This last part is what makes the need for content so important. Because the web allows consumers to compare products and services so easily, companies have to work harder than ever now to get – and retain – customers.

One way companies start to build the all-important "relationship" with customers is via all types of content – blog posts, interactions on social media, infographics, video, slideshares, etc. And, they have to KEEP doing it – because if they don't, they run the very real risk of losing market share to competitors.

Now that you understand why there's such a great surge in demand for freelance writers, let's turn to three specific types of writing that – in my opinion – is growing by leaps and bounds.

FYI, I know this because every Monday I post a list of freelance job leads with readers on Inkwell Editorial, my freelance writing website. This means I spend hours every week scouring tons of outlets for job listings. Following are some ones I see popping up more and more.

3 Hot Niches in Freelance Writing

I. Social Media Writing: As discussed in the post, What Is Social Media Writing and How Does It Differ from SEO Copywriting?:

Social media (SM) writing can be defined as writing content with the specific intent of getting it widely distributed on social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn (which, by the way, are the three largest social media outlets as of this writing). One word that I would say perfectly describes this type of content is "linkbait."

II. SEO Writing: This remains a hot niche in freelance writing simply because to get found on the web, you must know the fundamentals of search engine optimization (SEO writers). Almost every type of web writing job (eg, social media writing) entail some element of SEO.

Also, firms like internet marketing companies tend to order content in volume for their clients. For example, here's a recent job I posted:

Freelance SEO Writers: We are a company located in the New York City, specializing in online marketing. As we expand our online presence, we are currently looking for experienced SEO writers for our websites who can produce large amount of quality articles. Currently we are in need of articles in the following areas: Technology, Healthcare and personal health, Fitness and equipment, Finance / Insurance, Career / Job guide, Education / Degrees. Pay: Specify your rate. Get full details on this freelance SEO article writing job.

Content Marketing: Many of these are full-time positions, but can be done from home, so are freelance in that capacity, and they pay well, averaging $55,000 per year as of this writing according to job search site SimplyHired.com.

Usually, a company needs to integrate the content marketer into their overall team because the duties are so expansive, ie:

To implement high quality content marketing strategies for an assigned portfolio of clients, and to implement these in line with their overall digital marketing campaigns.  

To interact and build relationships with influential bloggers, journalists, editors, publishers and site owners across various online platforms in order to secure coverage on high quality outlets for Fresh Egg's client campaigns. 

To analyse and manage outreach and promotion opportunities and help manage Fresh Egg's internal network of contacts to ensure best practice is observed company-wide. 

To assist with the ongoing improvement of offsite promotion strategy and best practice, utilising both online and traditional PR and marketing methodologies and contributing to the development of new techniques, tools and practices that will then evolve further over time. [Source: FreshEgg.com]

Learn more about freelance writing job trends for 2014.

Author Bio
Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com, an authority site on how to start a successful freelance writing career. She says, "Online (SEO) writing is one of the easiest and cheapest home-based businesses to start because if you have a computer and an internet connection, you can start right away" Don't know where to start? Take Inkwell Editorial's in-depth online writing eCourse – in Jamaica! You'll not only learn how to help clients drive traffic to their sites via your SEO writing skill, but how to make money promoting your own products and services online as well.