On Being a Professional Blogger
September 22, 2009 by Cherie
Filed under Misc. Ramblings
One of the questions I get asked pretty often is how to get a paid blogging job. I think a lot of professional bloggers get this question. Blogging can seem like the perfect way to make a little extra income from home. You write about something you enjoy, you make money from the comfort of your house… what could be better?
There are many ways to get a paid blogging job. I’ve outlined ten ways I’ve used which include pitching to corporations and applying at blog networks. The thing to be careful about when accepting a blogging job, however, is thinking about your pay. Blogging used to be a great gig where you brought in tons of bucks. While there are still opportunities to make good money, you have to be a little bit more careful these days. Blogging professionally isn’t the same as posting your thoughts when the mood strikes you like you may do on your personal blog. It isn’t rambling or ranting like you would do at your personal blog.
Moreover, the nature of writing a blog post has changed. For example, before I write a single word on any of my blogs, I have to do research. This can be a short amount of time if I’m writing about a subject I know well, or much longer if I need to get supporting documentation. I need to quote sources, taking even more time. I may need to interview someone. This is all before I actually sit down to write.
Writing, editing, and publishing the blog post come next. Many blogging jobs have a word requirement per post that you must meet. It isn’t the same as rambling away at your own blog. You’ve got to get the word count down, put the proper SEO practices in place (which means writing SEO-rich titles, subheads and sentences – much more than just putting a few keywords on your post tags), and you’ve got to edit the heck out of your posts. No lengthy thoughts and run on sentences. (Notice I don’t do that here! This is my personal blog – I don’t need to. But for a client? I need to be on my best writing behavior.)
Most blog posts require photos today. In some cases, a blog network might have a source for you to find pictures, but not always. Most of my clients require that I use pictures, but if they don’t provide an outlet for me to use I’ve got to find them on my own. This means making sure I am using free pictures legal to use. I need to re-size them, find and credit the photographer, and post them. More time. (More time means you essentially get paid less.)
Then comes managing comments, responding to comments, and on some occasions writing to related forums. Blogging and networking go hand-in-hand these days, so in addition to writing posts you’ve got visit other blogs, comment, be a part of their community. You’ve got to use social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter. (And by “use,” I don’t mean post a link and log off. You’ve got to be a part of the community there too.)
All this takes time, and it needs to be accounted for when considering a position. Given all this, a blog job may still be worthwhile for you. But be sure to think it through before accepting. Blogging is one job that can easily bring on burn out, so be sure the topic is good for you and the pay worthwhile. If you’re looking for a job, don’t forget to check out my Working Writers blog where I post new freelance jobs every weekday. Here are some additional resources:
- How to Write for Multiple Blogs
- The Downsides and Benefits to Working for a Blog Network
- How to Find Prizes and Make the Most of a Blog Contest
- How to Use Twitter to Find Freelance Writing Jobs
- How to Create a Resume to Apply for a Blogging Job
