What makes your freelance blogging business stand out from the rest?

You all write blog posts. You all have websites. You all look pretty much identical to prospective clients — at least until they’ve taken some time to check out your portfolio pieces and testimonials.

But you don’t have to stay that way.

Do you have a smart phone? Are you willing to learn a new trick or two?

Then video content may be just what you need to get ahead of the crowd.

The internet is an increasingly visual medium.

• Sites like Buzzfeed use slideshows as articles, with a picture and a quote on each page.
• Vines, vlogs, and YouTube channels bring their creators both money and recognition.
• Popular bloggers like Derek Halpern or Gary Vaynerchuk make a new video for almost every post on their blogs.
• Businesses are all over Pinterest, Instagram, and even Snapchat, using images and videos to get attention.

So what’s a freelance blogger to do to capture and use this ever growing demand for visual content?

Adapt.

Learn the basic skills that let you take advantage of the increasing popularity (and decreasing production cost) of video content. 

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Are you blogging your heart out, but not getting a lot of readers?

Do potential clients seem unimpressed by your blogging portfolio?

Well, here’s one way to really grab some eyeballs and get the online traction that brings clients to your door:

Deliver an exclusive, fascinating interview with a prominent person.

Wait, wait, I hear you say — how will I ever get anyone to talk to me? Worse, what if someone does talk to me and I get so nervous I blow it?

You’d be surprised at how easy it is.

As a journalist by training and a former staff reporter, I’ve interviewed hundreds of people. If one person you want to talk to won’t say yes, I can promise you, there’s someone else who will.

And with the 7 tips I’m about to share, your nerves won’t matter.

Why interviews? Having fresh information in your posts is key to driving traffic. Most blog posts just recycle things we’ve all seen 100 times before, so when you have exclusive interviews, you immediately stand out.

In fact, when writers ask me how they can earn more this year, I tell them to learn article writing. And the big thing that makes articles more interesting than the typical blog post is the interviews.

Of course, once you get someone to talk to you, you have to be a great interviewer to get some really juicy comments. Here are my tips for how to ace your interview and create an attention-getting blog post: 

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Are you a freelance blogger with a full-time job?

Wish you could write for a living but can’t afford to just yet?

If you answered yes, then here’s what I have to say: Good. 

Wait. Did she just say good? 

Let me explain. As a freelance blogger, you’re in a unique position to help your company succeed. And more importantly, help your career succeed.

Here are 5 reasons why moonlighting as a freelance blogger benefits both you and your 9-5 employer: 

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