Being a freelance writer now is very different than it was just a few years ago. While there is still prestige and high pay associated with being published in print magazines and newspapers, online writing has opened up a new world for writers looking to increase their income. In fact, it is even possible to earn a full time living just by blogging.
Why Freelance Writers Should Blog
Every freelance writer, from the seasoned pro to the aspiring writer looking for a career change, can benefit from having a personal blog. There are several reasons to blog that have nothing to do with financial gain, the most important being that a personal blog gives the writer an online presence. A blog is a place where other writers, editors, and potential employers can see the writer's work and get a sense of their writing style. A writer's blog can also showcase his resume and published articles.
Find a Writing Niche With a Blog
To begin, a freelance writer should base his personal blog around his niche, the area in which he has the most experience writing. For example, a writer who specializes in (or desires to find work writing about) restaurant reviews should have a blog about food. Writing regularly about cooking, restaurants, and everything related to food will not only keep the writer's skills honed and sharp, but the blog will serve as a place where editors can read his writing and appreciate for his knowledge.
Of course, personal blogs do not typically generate income, unless the blog contains ads (and even then, the pay is not usually very high). Blogging for a living also requires a great deal of knowledge about SEO. However, maintaining a personal blog is crucial to finding work as a professional blogger. It's an invaluable resource when it comes to networking with others in the industry.
Blog for Other Organizations and Companies
Once a personal blog is established, writers can begin seeking work blogging for other companies and
organizations. The pay for blogging ranges drastically from next to nothing to extremely high. Many people having differing opinions on providing the service of writing for little pay, particularly when the writer is inexperienced.
For new writers, blogging for low pay might be worth doing if the blog belongs to a respectable organization, and if the post is well written. While they may not pay the bills at first, these clips can all be used in a portfolio. Of course, an acceptable rate of pay can only be decided by the writer.
Either way, writers should be careful not to fall into the trap of writing dozens of clips a day just to earn a decent income. Save some time to write and submit articles to publications that pay well, too. New bloggers should set financial goals, upping their online writing income a bit each month while keeping the amount of time spent writing the same.
Blog for a Living
Writers should remember that the quality of their blogs, whether personal or professional, should be as pristine as any of their other published work. Like most careers, freelance writing and blogging takes time until it brings a steady income. However, it is possible for writers to earn good, steady money writing online.
Michelle Schusterman - Michelle is a musician and freelance writer just trying to see the world while doing what she loves for a living. After graduating from ...
