Are you interested in becoming a freelance blogger? In this post, I will show you 8 tips for finding jobs as a freelance blogger. Bookmark and come back to this post when you’re ready to take action.
Many blogs need high-quality content they can post consistently to maintain and grow their following. The issue of many blogs is that they might not have enough staff to keep articles coming. Also, sometimes you need specialized writers with a particular point of view to cover a requested or trending topic. So, here’s where freelance bloggers come in.
A freelance blogger will create articles for their clients, following the directions and requirements set. In return, freelance bloggers get paid well.
Freelance Blogging: How To Get Started
Anyone can become a freelance blogger because you don’t need to have any higher education. Nonetheless, here are a few requirements to become a successful freelance blogger:
Have A Bit Of Talent.
Sure, you can’t expect to be Hemingway. However, having a solid grip on your language skills is important. Your writing skills can include grammar, syntax, clarity, tone, and others. If you can’t even tell the difference between those elements, you might not be fit for this job.
Motivation To Improve.
As previously mentioned, you might not have the strongest language assets. Nonetheless, you can always improve. This job requires flexibility in your mindset, skills, and schedule. So, you can get better as you go.
Seriousness.
Just like any job, blogging requires a great deal of seriousness. This means respecting deadlines, keeping in touch with clients, following instructions, and being polite. If you don’t have trouble with those things, you might love it.
Researching.
As any other writer, you can’t just make up things (unless it’s a purely fictitious/opinion-based blog post). You might need to research a lot before writing your article. At the same time, you can’t take forever to put a few words together because then you’d be wasting time and risking a late completion of your task.
SEO Strategies.
Search Engine Optimization strategies include all the tactics a writer can use to boost their article on the web. By choosing a keyword, meta description, hyperlinks, and other elements, your article can appear on the search page at the top. This SEO craft isn’t complicated to understand, but it might be more difficult to include in your writing.
The benefits of writing as a freelance blogger might include higher pay and less responsibility compared to traditional desk jobs. Also, it’s a remote occupation because you can do it from anywhere, thanks to mobile devices like tablets, laptops, and even phones. Lastly, you might have an increased rate as you become more and more busy, experienced, and have long-term clients.
We briefly defined what it means to be a freelance blogger, but what about starting your career? Here are a few tips for finding jobs as a freelance blogger, especially as a beginner.
01. Start From The Basics: Your Resume
You can’t apply for almost any job without a decent CV. Even for the most unconventional jobs, having at least a sneak peek of your work is crucial. Something like a portfolio, a CV, and even a cover letter can make a good impression and help you stand out over other applicants. But even when you don’t have a lot of competition, a good-looking CV might impress your clients.
So, start by writing your name, socials, contacts, and job title at the top. Then, you can continue with your work history. Mind you that your work chronology is vital. However, it’s also vital to highlight your skills.
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You might want to add a skill presentation area before your work chronology. Don’t just make a list. Try to present yourself.
For instance, you could write, “I’m an extremely creative person, and this helps me create unique work and understand other people’s visions. I’m collaborative, but I prefer to work alone if I have the freedom to do so.”
02. Be Honest
If you noticed, the second part of the previous example isn’t traditionally what you’d consider necessarily “something to put on your CV.”
You might think showing only our strengths is the key to getting hired. But it’s hard to believe that the applicant is good at everything as they claim to be on their CV. Honesty is key, so if you have preferences and “mild” weaknesses, you can add them to your CV. Employers look for honest people who aren’t desperate for a job to the point of lying about their abilities.
Lastly, a picture of yourself, possibly with a welcoming smile, helps your employer link a face to your name. You could also link some of your articles at the end of your resume as a portfolio section.
03. Start Applying For Jobs
You can start applying for jobs by contacting blogs or signing up for freelance writing websites.
The first alternative might be more difficult for a beginner, but you have a broader spectrum of blogs you can apply to, especially if you’re looking for a particular niche. Sure, in the beginning, you might not know your favorite topics, or you may find it difficult to find blogs in your area of expertise. Nonetheless, you can start trying out different styles and topics to find out.
Also, in this case, make sure you research your clients well to make sure they’re reliable.
The second alternative, applying to a freelance writing site, might be easier as a beginner, and your work is regulated more by the site. For instance, Freelancer.com, UpWork, and other sites can act as a middle man for you and potential clients. This means that your payments are tracked, and all the users are verified. Potential issues are solved by the site. In return, a small percentage is taken from your payments.
You can do both things and see if you like to depend on a freelancing site or not.
04. Take Care Of Clients
Once you obtain a job, make sure you listen to your clients. Follow their requirements and ask them if you have any doubts. Respect the deadlines and make sure your content is unique. Keep your word, be reliable, and you’ll be rewarded with loyal clients who pay you well.
Obviously, it’s essential to set some boundaries. Make sure they can contact you, but keep some set hours for messaging and communication because it’s important to disconnect from work sometimes. Make sure they respect your time and your rate. Be firm when it comes to your time and effort. But also be polite.
Once you work with one client, ask them for a referral or a good review. Also, keep in touch with them. A “Happy New Year” never hurt anyone and might set you up for a new job.
Lastly, try to be civil even with the clients who are not. Don’t talk behind their back if they left a bad taste in your mouth. Some potential clients might see or hear it.
05. Apply To Multiple Jobs
You won’t get many jobs, especially at first, but that’s ok. The key is to apply for multiple jobs. This is especially for work sites where projects have candidates. Either way, you still have to increase your proposals because it might take some time before the client actually answers.
Moreover, don’t hesitate to contact writing firms, resume help agencies, and student blogs that focus on academic assistance. These websites are part of the writing business, but their blogs might need your help.
Once you have picked your projects or blogs, try to be clear when you submit your proposal. Attach your CV but don’t write 50 paragraphs. It’s enough to touch on the most relevant things.
For instance, say you’re applying to write for the blog of a marketing company. Your proposal can include your experience as a marketing graduate in the freelance field.
06. Organize
It’s easy to lose track of your deadlines. Hence, you should try to improve your organizational skills. Make sure you note on paper or use your digital calendar to track your progress and deadlines.
Another topic is taking more work than you can handle. It’s great that you want to work, but you might miss deadlines and disappoint clients when it’s too much. Also, you might burn out.
So, be honest about your time and give your clients a heads up if you take longer.
07. Be friendly
Being polite is an amazing quality. Nonetheless, when discussing over the internet with your clients, you might come off as too formal. So, some clients might feel like you’re too serious and they don’t have a “human” interaction with you. You can crack a silly joke once in a while and ask them about the weather. It’s small talk, but it makes them feel like they’re working with a person.
08. Don’t Dismiss Adjacent Jobs
Being a social media manager might be another occupation for you, along with blogging. Also, having your own blog is a fantastic idea too.
The key is to get acquainted with freelance work in all of its shapes, which can help you become more successful.
Conclusions
If you want to become a freelance blogger, start with your CV. Then, you can apply on different freelance sites or contact directly the kind of blogs you’d like to write for. Remember to be kind and friendly to the people you work with and organize your work. Don’t forget to try other adjacent jobs that can help you discover your talents and the world of blogging.
Hope you’ve enjoyed our post on finding jobs as a freelance blogger. Bookmark this post and come back when you’re ready to take actions.
