Blog Better | Be a Freelance Blogger

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From eyeball-grabbing headlines to irresistible endings, here's how to write blog posts your clients will be happy to pay for.

By Katherine Swarts 1 Comment — Last updated August 12, 2017

How Your Attitude Towards “Interruptions” Can Make or Break Your Freelance Blogging Career

“There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.” ~ Henry Kissinger

A “crisis” doesn’t have to mean a major war or a major accident. If you’re like me, it’s crisis enough to hear your e-mail beep when you’re rushing to finish the post you THOUGHT you’d left plenty of time to write. The freelance blogging vocation is full of emotional hells born from underestimating working time and overestimating life’s cooperation with your schedule.

Anger over that can hurt you mentally and physically. It can also hurt you professionally, if it poisons your overall attitude toward “interruptions.”

Opportunity Was Knocking, But I Resented the Noise

Have you ever had a potential high-paying client call out of the blue, and blown the opportunity because your brain was locked into a “Plan A” that brooked no alterations? I have. Silently fuming over the upset in how I expected things to go, I fumbled any show of enthusiasm and radiated the attitude “take your business elsewhere.” They usually did.

Actually, this is part of freelancing’s learning curve. The self-employed life, with its limited income guarantees and potential dozen-plus “bosses,” is a constant balancing act between doing your best at everything that needs doing, and leaving room on the to-do list for new opportunities. If you aren’t careful, overcommitting on “Plan A” can rob you of a “Plan B” that might serve everyone far better. [Read more…]

By Kelly Gurnett 12 Comments — Last updated May 20, 2017

21 Unusual Ways to Find Blog Post Inspiration

There are plenty of questions I hate fielding from people when they find out I’m a freelance blogger (such as, “Why don’t you write for a newspaper?”). But at least I’ve developed canned responses for most of them (such as, “Because print is dying and traditional jobs make me murderous, Uncle Frank.”).

The one question I’ve yet to figure out a good response to, however, is one which on the surface seems fairly innocuous: “How do you come up with ideas?”

This is is because I myself don’t really know the answer to this.

I can say it helps to have a working knowledge of the publication you’re writing for, a sense of what has already been covered (and converted well), and a healthy heaping of creative spin to make your approach new and noteworthy. It also helps if you’ve gotten enough sleep, had enough caffeine, have nothing else stressful going on in your life, and are Seth Godin. (The man is so prolific it’s unnatural).

But even possession of all the above (minus, of course, Seth Godin) isn’t enough to ward away those times when the ideas Just. Won’t. Come. Some days you’re a wellspring of potential pitches and some days the well runs dry, but if you want to succeed as a freelance blogger, you have to find ways to prime the pump no matter what condition it’s in. Because your clients want content, and their schedule doesn’t revolve around your “aha!” moments.

When you find yourself at a loss for blog post ideas, here are 21 ways to step outside your stale, obstructed brain and jumpstart your creativity. Whatever topic you’re covering or audience you’re writing for, these hacks can be tweaked to fit your needs — and the timeframe you’re working with. [Read more…]

By Mandy Gardner 8 Comments — Last updated February 18, 2017

10 Great Apps and Tools for the Freelance Blogger

There’s nothing better than a great app or computer program that makes work quicker, easier and more fun. From a simple alarm clock to the most specialized email management software, the right app can not only keep you organized but help you enjoy your time at work.

As a freelance blogger, you’re already familiar with the most essential programs and tools of your trade: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, OneDrive, WordPress and Grammarly. If you’re like most people, however, it’s easy to get stuck in a technological rut and stop trying out new things after awhile.

You’ve got a lot on your plate as a blogger, in terms of coming up with creative ideas, meeting deadlines and organizing your accounts, and chances are you aren’t making use of the some of the best tools out there. If you’re a fan of technological assistance, the following apps and tools could help you stay on top of it all. [Read more…]

By Alicia Rades, BAFB Moderator 70 Comments — Last updated January 14, 2017

4 Things Every Freelance Blogger Should Do on Their Business Birthday

You made it through another year of freelance blogging. Congratulations!

Your business birthday is a big deal. Really, it is. It serves as a reminder of everything you’ve accomplished, and it gives you a chance to reevaluate your business annually.

Each year, I like to look over what I’ve done in the last 12 months and what I want to do the following year. You can do this on your business birthday—the anniversary of when you became a freelance blogger—or for the new year. It’s your pick.

Either way, it helps to take the time to sit down and complete the following tasks once per year. Good luck! [Read more…]

By Tee R. 8 Comments — Last updated December 24, 2016

4 Sure-fire Ways to Always Find the Time to Write (No Matter How Busy You Are)

Admit it. You think about it all the time.

The moment you open your eyes, while taking a shower, before going to bed, and even in the middle of the night when you unwillingly get up to use the bathroom. You think about it with so much joy that you can’t help but smile every time.

Your article idea.

Your brilliant idea that won’t leave your mind because you know it would make a huge impact. In fact, you are certain that it will change the lives of many people in your community.

But you just can’t find the time to write it now, even though deep down you know that the burning desire to write and create something of your own will never go away.

Then why do you keep procrastinating?

Each week you find yourself back to square one, passionate to start, but you give priority to a million other things that you need to take care of first, before you can sit and start writing.

OK, I know the feeling. I’ve been there so many times.

I cowered in fear because I thought that nobody was ever going to read what I wrote.

And you know why?

Because I didn’t take my writing seriously. I thought of writing as a hobby. Something that I did occasionally but not serious work that could actually make me money.

Does this sound like you? [Read more…]

By Lesley Vos 5 Comments — Last updated November 12, 2016

Fear and Loathing in Freelance Blogging: Your 7 Techniques to Smash Them

What makes us, freelance bloggers, different from writers?

We don’t believe that same old megillah about inspiration necessary for creating lip-smacking content. (Clients would kill us twice or thrice if we sat and waited for inspiration instead of met deadlines.)

And we’ll never agree with those claiming that everyone can master a writing craft once and forever.

Because all that’s bulls**t!

To master a writing craft, freelance bloggers dive into unknown niches, research, play with words, and polish drafts statedly.

We don’t write texts.

We build them.

But, to build well, we have to overcome fears. Some prevent us from writing, some turn into loathing; but none of us denies them. BAFB readers confirm: [Read more…]

By Sef Cruz 3 Comments — Last updated October 15, 2016

How to Write a Blog Post in 8 Steps: Back to Basics

We all know that Be a Freelance Blogger is the place to go when you want to learn how to become a better freelance blogger. There are articles on how to get hired, how to “stay sane” while working, and how to get paid what you deserve.

Most importantly perhaps, BAFB is great about sharing how to write pitches that “sell” your blog posts. The quarterly Pitchfest contests are great for that – showing freelance bloggers exactly what needs to be said in order to get an idea accepted by an editor or potential client.

However, writing the best pitch in the world won’t do you any good if you can’t deliver on the final product.

As strange as it may sound, a lot of “freelance bloggers” out there simply don’t know how to write a great blog post!

We’ve gotten so caught up in what comes next – getting a raise, or what have you – that we’ve ignored the most basic element of our jobs: Writing blog posts that captivate our audiences and please our clients.

So, whether you’re a complete newbie or an established blogger, let’s go over the basics. Here are eight elements each of your blog posts needs in order to succeed: [Read more…]

By Emma-Louise Hudson 3 Comments — Last updated September 17, 2016

6 Simple Steps for Optimized Blog Posts That’ll Wow Your Clients

The hours of diligent studying have paid off; you’ve got your first gig as a freelance blogger! You know you should be excited, and you have a great idea for a post.

But your head is full of doubts. Is it enough to just write a post? Will my client’s audience be able to find it? What happens if no one reads it?

You’re scared your client will think you’re an amateur. But there is good news! Improving the visibility of web content in search results is no secret, nor will it take you weeks to learn how to do it.

In fact, you can optimize your blog posts and make them search engine friendly in six steps using some simple SEO techniques. [Read more…]

By Jedha Dening 18 Comments — Last updated February 28, 2016

5 Psychology Principles to Create More Compelling Content

Lean in closer, because we’re about to embark on a journey into the human mind to discover what makes people tick.

No, this is not whackadackary stuff. This is a deep dive into the science of our brain matter.

You see, we may think we’re captain of the ship “Me.” But science shows that, more often than not, we’re driven by mental scripts, urges, and subconscious cues.

This is interesting because as bloggers we need to continually challenge ourselves to improve our writing. We want our clients to say “WOW your writing pops,” right?

Well, one of the reasons psychologists rely on theory rather than common sense is that common sense isn’t common. That, and because theory is more reliable in producing a consistent result.

If you want to create content for your clients that always gets consistent, reliable results — but right now you lack the skills, ideas, and structure to do it — these principles could provide the answer.

Let’s delve into some brain matter and explore what science says about reaching people on a deeper level. And to make this as practical as possible, along the way I’ll share examples to demonstrate how to use the principles to create fresh, interesting and more compelling content. [Read more…]