Using UGC websites to generate money is good for steady, supplemental income, but working for independent clients yields better income (not to mention an honorable addition to your writing resume).  You may make $5 to $15 per article on UGC websites, but you can easily earn $20 or more by providing articles to independent business owners, web site owners or even local celebrities.

Use these five places regularly to find new writing gigs and opportunities.

2. Constant Content. You can submit your own articles for sale to their editor, who reviews the article’s quality and adherence to Constant Content’s strict editorial guidelines.  If accepted, it goes live on the site, where customers can purchase it for exclusive or display-only rights.  Customers can also post requests on the website for additional content, where many writers find potential writing gigs.  Many writers who submit articles meeting their request guidelines may be hired as a regular writer for them.

3. Daily Article. Considered the less popular cousin as Constant Content, Daily Article operates in the same way as them, minus the high editorial standards.  Writers can find new writing gigs in Daily Article’s forum, where customers regularly post requests.

4. Associated Content’s Online Writing Gigs forum. Although most of the posts in the forum are filled with writing site reviews, some people also post new writing gigs.  Some may be personal requests from the customer, whereas others are passed on by other writers.

5. Craigslist. You have to be careful when looking for writing gigs on Craiglist–many are scams–but some clients do post legitimate ads.  Rule of thumb: if they ask you to create a sample article or claim they’ll pay through a money order, skip it.  Also avoid any ads filled with affiliate links, excessively high payout rates (no one is going to pay you $200 for an article) or mention that you don’t have to have any writing or computer skills to write for them.  Remember, you’re being paid for your expertise.

Other tips: Marketing forums often have sections where marketers can post requests for articles or writers.  Although they generally do not pay as much as other clients, it’s something to keep in mind as a last resort.

Do you have any places, online or offline, that you use to find new writing gigs?  Let us know in the comments.  Viva la vida!