There's nothing secret about the article writing services industry - it costs nothing to start and it's easy to make money doing it. In fact, one of the most difficult challenges facing writers today is the already overcrowded state of the market. However, experienced writers understand that an established marketplace is often the most profitable one. And because the demand for writing services continues to increase as the web grows, understanding how to start your own article writing service could allow you to capitalize on writing opportunities while growing a successful company of your own.

1.) Become an Exceptional Writer

Begin without assumptions. Too many people think that they are writers because they can formulate a decent email or because they wrote a poem once in high school. Don't just think you can write - KNOW it. Test yourself by presenting your work to an experienced editor or writer and ask for honest feedback - even if you have to pay for this service. Submit a few articles to directories online or on your own blog and encourage people to leave comments and get involved.

If you believe that you have real talent, you can easily build a career as a writer. But if you produce mediocre garbage, don't waste your time. Competition for rubbish writing on the web is fierce, and offshore "writers" will be able to easily undercut your prices. Some offer 500 word articles for only a dollar or two. This means that if your work isn't exceptional, you'll likely stand no chance at building a successful article writing services company.

2.) Start Freelancing

If you can actually write and you have a computer and internet access, you can start earning money by writing today. Websites like Elance, Odesk, iFreelance, Guru and many others make this possible by bringing buyers and providers together for writing projects and hundreds of other types of jobs. All you have to do is create a profile and start bidding on jobs. Most of these websites offer free accounts, but fees are taken out of whatever you earn on the site.

You can also start freelancing locally or even on a national level by making queries directly with editors at publications and media outlets. One of the most efficient ways of doing this is to market a well-written article to related publishers and requesting inclusion. Many freelance writers are able to earn a respectable living this way.

Contact information for editors and others in the media can be obtained by calling or visiting the website of the publication you're considering, or you can pay to have a custom media contact list built for you.

3.) Use Your Skills for Your Own Benefit

Most clients will use your work to provide content where the ultimate goal is to attract more visitors to a given website. You can do this for yourself. Create a website - there are plenty of free resources to do this out there. Then, fill it with content - web pages, articles, blog posts, etc. Create one set of content for your website, and another set of content to distribute to article directories, blogs, document sharing websites, RSS feeds and more. This will build hundreds and possibly thousands of backlinks to your site, which could increase the amount of visitors to your web page and ultimately result in new business.

After freelancing writing for a time, you'll quickly understand that clients are using your content to get rich. Why not use those same principles to make yourself rich?

4.) Don't Work in Your Business - Work on Your Business

Eventually, a veteran writer will often move into an editing role - especially if they intend to take their article writing services business to the next level. By hiring experienced writers and managing their efforts, a seasoned writer-turned-managing-editor can quickly and dramatically boost their income while reducing the total amount of time spent working each week.

Starting your own article writing service is a very real possibility, and there's one way you can quickly get started: go to Elance and create a profile. Bid on an easy job. Start your new career now.