I’m set to make north of $3,000 writing on Upwork this month, my 4th month on the platform.
I’m running a publication, working with 100+ writers to produce daily reads, and run a digital agency in London. I’ve also published 400+ stories this year alone. And from personal data, I can tell you that some topics make more money than others.
However, the best topics are not just about money.
If you're covering human suffering and stuff you don't believe in, you might feel awful, no matter the paycheck. If you find a good niche and write about something you love, then value spill across the board.
Writers usually figure out what works best for them individually, and that is rarely the most most popular topic on the internet.
My best advice — and the most controversial— is that writing for free is the best way to determine what is the best topic for an individual writer. Simply, open a Medium, LinkedIn, or Vocal account and start churning out content like Gary Vee on Instagram. After a few months, you will have enough data to see what topics resonate with your audience.
Personal data is the key to understand the best topic for freelance writers.
Once you know what people want to hear from you, and you can demonstrate that you are good at writing in that niche, you’re one step closer to finding your dream topic.
Head out to Upwork or create a Facebook ad about your writing services.
Offer your expertise for money and don't accept cheap bids. My first story on Upwork went for $100, then my price increased, and now I have $3k months just from Upwork.
TL;DR Write for free until you know where you resonate the most, and turn that niche into a content business.