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.
“My current clients have come from seeing my work on other websites and also seeing my posts on LinkedIn. I’m currently on the hunt for a few clients, and I’ve tried cold email but got no responses. My current strategy is using LInkedIn, posting, and tapping into my network.”
There’s so much to pull from this.
Her clients found her because her writing was already out there working on her behalf.
That’s the power of published samples on reputable sites — they keep bringing new people back to you without you having to pitch every day.
She also mentioned posting on LinkedIn, which is something I talk about constantly because it’s still one of the fastest ways to stay top-of-mind for the people who hire writers.
You don’t need to go viral.
You just need to show up regularly enough that your name feels familiar to the founders, marketers, and editors who skim their feed on their lunch break.
And I love that she’s leaning into her network right now.
Warm connections are where so many freelance opportunities quietly come from. A former client remembers you.
A writer friend passes your name along. An editor you worked with three years ago lands somewhere new and needs content again.
Staying visible makes those “Hey, are you taking on new projects?” messages happen.
Cold email didn’t work for her this round — and that’s honest. Not every strategy works every season.
But she adjusted instead of forcing it, and that’s exactly what experienced writers do.
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!
“A couple of different ways. Referrals is one. Cold email pitching is another. You can’t control referrals, so I focus on cold email, because that’s something I CAN control.”
That one line says a lot.
Referrals are great, but you can’t turn them on like a faucet.
Cold email, on the other hand, gives you full control.
You decide how many pitches go out each week.
You decide when to follow up. You can test subject lines, tweak your angles, and improve results over time.
This is why cold email works especially well for goal-driven writers.
If you like setting targets, tracking numbers, and sticking to a system, cold pitching gives you a clear path to activity and data.
So if cold emailing hasn’t worked for you yet, that doesn’t mean it won’t ever work.
It usually means one of three things: your targeting is off, your pitch needs tightening, or you haven’t given it enough consistent volume yet.
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.
“I get the most work via client referrals. Cold outreach feels a lot harder at the moment.”
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.
“Word of mouth is huge, but over the last few months, I’ve had a surge of clients find me on LinkedIn or through a blog they stumbled upon on my website.”
That’s exactly how a writer website should work.
LinkedIn brings the initial visibility, and the website closes the loop by giving people a place to explore your work on their own time.
For Charlsie, LinkedIn is the main driver, but her blog is a very close second and it’s doing quiet lead generation in the background.
Do you need blog posts on your writer website? Yes and no.
I have a static services-focused writer website that’s built only to convert clients.
Then I have my main blog here on Elna Cain.
I link my blog directly on my writer website so if a potential client wants to see how I write in long-form, they can easily click through.
And I’ll never forget the first time a client commented directly on one of my blog posts.
I remember getting completely giddy over it — not just because of the comment, but because it showed me the system was working.
My content was being read by the exact people I wanted to hire me.
That’s what a strong writer website does. It doesn’t just sit there looking pretty. It quietly works in the background bringing the right clients to you.
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.
“In person networking is working best for me right now. Used to be Linkedin before the AI spam killed it.”
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.
“This year, I got my clients through Google (found my website), Threads, LinkedIn, and referrals. The most being Threads and referrals! I have found that chatting casually on Threads is great for making connections. And referrals have come with time of building great relationship with existing clients and also letting them know I’d love for them to share my name if they know anyone who needs support.”
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.
“LinkedIn + Reddit. I’ve gotten four from Reddit so far.”
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.
“Like a good marketing strategy, I’ve found it’s best to use a mix of channels. You’re definitely on the right platform and I’ve found some great opportunities on LinkedIn (and vice versa). Good luck!”
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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