I’ve been freelance writing for more than a decade now (yes, I”m getting old!!!!), and in that time I’ve watched every “at the moment” method for landing freelance writing clients roll through the industry.
A popular method that I used back in the day was to source writing jobs from job sites.
But it’s 2026 and that method may not be the best to find quality work.
Lewis Cahil noticed job sites aren’t as effetive either. “[I]t’s amazing how quiet the job boards and freelancing sites have become these days. Feels like clients are inundated with applications now and it’s harder to sift through everything.”
So, if job sites aren’t working for you, what is?
I wanted to find out what writers TODAY are doing to find writing jobs.
Is cold pitching still effecitve?
What about branding? Does that work?
2026 is creeping up on us and if you are struggling to find writing work and quality writing clients, then let me help you out!
The market has shifted, expectations have changed, and writers are finding work in new ways that weren’t as effective even a year ago.
So in this post, I want to break down what I’m seeing across the industry.
These are the strategies freelance writers are using today to get real clients and build a consistent writing income.
So, let’s get to it!
How Writers are Finding Freelance Writing Jobs (for 2026)
Is pitching still working?
How about building a brand? Is that a thing still?
I went over to LinkedIn to find out what people are doing to find clients and writing jobs.
1. Sharing Work on LinkedIn
Juliet John is a fellow freelance writer that I’ve been following for years and just LOVE what she’s been doing to grow her freelance writing business.
Here’s how she landed her current clients and what she’s doing now.
These are the types of things that are working (and not working) for me at the moment.
Like Juliet, I’ve built a rich writing platform with articles on other blogs, being on social media and just being present online!
This is what I teach in my program!
I like how she’s focussing on posting on LinkedIn and tapping into her network to find clients.
2. Cold Email
Cold emailing still works for 2026!
While Juliet couldn’t land any writing jobs via cold emailing, Mike Straus was able to.
So, if cold emailing doesn’t work for you, it’s not that it doesn’t work; it just isn’t a strong strategy for you at the moment!
If you’re more of a goal-oriented person, then cold emailing can work for you!
Since you are in control, you can set how many cold pitches you want to send and keep track of the follow ups.
3. Referrals Win
One thing I teach in my program is to build a solid writer platform.
This is how you get in front of clients and once you have ONE client, that can easily turn into TWO clients simply by getting a referral.
This is what Jessica Hodkinson swears by to gain content gigs.
Referrals was something I still use and leaned on when I first started out. I remember asking one of my clients via X (aka Twitter) if they needed content still or had someone in mind.
Here’s the 2015 thread!
So, right out the gate I was asking for a referral because I wanted more writing jobs!
Make it casual and do it over social media and you should have no problem!
4. Their Website
One of the “tools” I swear by is your writer website. This is your service based website that shows what type of writing you do and the clients you seek.
You can then link to your websites in your pitches and all over social media.
It’s a great lead generator and Charlsie Niemiec knows it too.
While LinkedIn is her main method for finding writing jobs, her blog is a close second.
Do you need to have blog posts on your blog?
Yes and no.
I have a “static” website for my services and then I have this blog on Elna Cain.
I do link this blog on my writer website so, if a potential client wants to view my blog, they can click from my writer website to this blog.
In the past, I’ve had clients comment on my blog and I remember getting all giddy when I saw that!
5. In-Person Networking
While you can be a successful freelance writer ONLINE, it doesn’t hurt to get into your community and market your service.
I did this early on too, and went to a publishing company and my local newspaper.
From that stint, I got an offer to do some work, but I had to travel far away and I couldn’t at that time since my twins were babies.
But Michelle Eshkeri finds that in-person networking is a goldmine for client work.
6. Using Social Media (Threads)
It seems like every year there’s a new social media platform to get on.
First it was Rumble and now it’s Threads.
I haven’t used those platforms but social media in general, is a great method for finding client work.
I’ve landed writing jobs on Instagram and X.
Polly Clover found the most success on Threads.
The thing to remember is to use social media to connect over time.
Just following a brand and liking their posts isn’t enough to make a connection.
Poly mentions casually chatting. It’s as easy as answering a question.
This is what Katia Mottert did. “Literally it was me commenting on someone else’s comment helping answer a question that had them reach out.”
7. Reddit Works!
For some freelance writers, Reddit is the ONE platform that can yield dozens of gigs.
This is exactly what happened to one of my course students, Aaron Nolan.
He was helpful on Reddit and was able to find “niche” clients for steady work.
And for Afolabi Joseph Jacob, he was able to secure four gigs on Reddit.
So, don’t sleep on Reddit and make sure to read my guide on it so you can start using it today!
8. Mix of Channels
Many responses I read mentioned a mix of strategies or channels they used.
This is the BEST approach because when one channel dries up, you have others to tap into.
This is what Koba Molenaar does to grow her freelance content business.
How I Land Consistent Writing Jobs in 2026
As I mentioned, I have been a freelance writer for a decade and in that time I’ve build a strong brand and have worked with dozens of clients.
So, at this point in my journey, I have a large “digital footprint” that I leverage for writing jobs.
My number one method is lead generation.
This means clients “find” me online.
This works because it’s a quick win (most of the time) since you are showing up and are based on real-time conversations.
Most of the time it’s on LinkedIn and my website.
Just today a potential lead DM’d me on LinkedIn, saying they looked at my content on my LinkedIn page.
And the kicker?
I haven’t been regularly posting on LinkedIn but the other day I posted and now I have a lead in my inbox.
So, even if you haven’t been active on LinkedIn, create a post or two and comment on people’s posts and see what business you drum up!
I also market on TikTok, Instagram, X, YouTube, Facebook, guest posting, Medium and my blog.
Those other methods have helped me land work, but it’s not consistent.
Facebook helped me land my gig with Walmart, while Instagram helped me land email newsletter clients.
Make sure to set up your socials and be active when you can! You can follow businesses and content creators like coaches to help you set up your network!
Writing Jobs that Pay
I know, as a new writer, you’re probably thinking about how AI mixes in all of this. As you can see, many writers are still landing writing jobs in the midst of AI!
Yes, companies are using AI but they know they need quality writers to help them market their tool or service.
So, don’t think AI will take over. This is the year to be a freelance writer!
Let me know in the comments how you find writing jobs! I’ve love to know.
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