Freelance blogging is an amazing career.
You don’t have to write about something you don’t care about to make money. There are so many niches that you’re bound to find one (or several) that is both lucrative and fun.
You can find clients that make payment arrangements work for you, and you set your own hours. It’s possible to spend time with family and friends while still working on passion projects.
However, it’s also ripe with problems and complications that can drive you mad: disappearing websites, changing regulations, unpaid invoices, ghost clients, writer’s block… you name it. And life’s regular lemons like health problems, family emergencies, and beyond can also interfere.
I’ve been a freelance blogger for about a decade now. And even though it’s a dream career, it hasn’t been a smooth ride.
2019 proved especially challenging with a loss in the family, recurring health issues, computer breakdowns, and a decent-sized collection of rejections. There were times I questioned why I was doing this, whether I should follow a less bumpy career path.
But when I think about the pros of this life, they win easily. Every period in my time of freelancing also featured great moments. In this “awful” 2019, I got to go on a fantastic writers’ retreat where I met fellow writers and hung out in New York, have a beach vacation when I wanted because I don’t have a boss, release my second book, and work with wonderful editors at some of my favorite publications.
So yes, there are a lot of ups and downs. And while it’s not possible to be prepared for everything, improving your defenses can help your bank balance, sanity, and overall health.
Here are some suggestions on what you can do to offset (or even eliminate) the bad times:
Save
Shopping is fun. Being able to afford things is a blast. You earned it in every sense of the word. But you need to think about potential problems before they occur.
Some clients may pay their invoices late or attempt to avoid paying altogether. Maybe your favorite editor left the publication, and you aren’t sure how many pieces you will be assigned this month. Clients can change business models or leave the industry.
So it’s wise to take precautions even when the money seems to be rolling in. Save a reasonable amount whenever you can, so you have a nice safety net for a potential emergency or a much-deserved vacation.
Keep pitching and marketing
Marketing never stops for the wise freelance blogger. Until you’re in a place to turn down work, keep pitching and marketing.
Where you pitch and how you choose to market your services are up to you, but keep yourself in demand. Once you are more experienced and clients are coming to you, you can afford to market a little less, but you shouldn’t stop.
Back it all up
Back up your business documents as well as your published pieces online.
Don’t just keep text copies — take screenshots. Three publications I wrote for either shut down or changed their focus. My pieces can no longer be linked to, and I can’t find some of the latest drafts even though I’m an aggressive saver. That’s why I started saving in more places, and I take screenshots regularly.
You worked hard for those bylines. Don’t let them disappear; you never know what your next pitch might need you to include.
Celebrate the good
There is a reason I talked about both the awesome and awful stuff that happened this year. When the negative seems to pile on, distract and motivate yourself by thinking of the positives. Even when you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, there is a way up, and it’s closer than you think.
Take care of your health
You can’t work if you aren’t well. And even supposedly simple stuff like moving a lot for exercise might not come easily when your job requires a lot of sitting down. As a freelancer, it’s up to you to protect and care for your assets, including your health.
You need your mind to be fit and ready to work, too! So when you’re figuring out how to stay in shape, think about your mental and emotional health as well as physical health.
Take time off work
You need me-time and social time, plus time to deal with household stuff. Schedule some time off each day and each week to make sure everything gets included, and plan to take a longer break every once in a while. Work isn’t everything, no matter how much you might enjoy it.
Experiment with other niches
No matter how much I love a niche, I’d be bored if I wrote only about that one thing.
If you find yourself itching for a change, write about something else. You never know what might come out of it, and it’ll get you out of the
funk.
Write just for you
Writing for clients isn’t always fun, even if it’s a niche you chose happily. Rewrites, the editing process, coming up with fresh ideas regularly, or keeping to a certain word count can take its toll.
So don’t neglect your own ideas and bouts of inspiration. By all means, prioritize client deadlines. But then nurture your creative juices and write whatever you want.
Keep reading and discovering
…so that you are never out of ideas, whether you’re blogging for yourself or your clients.
Live life to the fullest
(To the best of your ability, in whatever ways your health and bank balance will allow.)
New experiences will give way to more and better ideas. So grab your bucket list and start checking things off!
Learn new skills and improve old ones
Clients increasingly demand more from the bloggers they hire. Writing well isn’t enough. Can you optimize for the web? Can you upload it on WordPress? Can you edit and source images? Can you edit other writers’ posts?
Being more skilled gives you a distinct advantage. Instead of hiring two people for different tasks, the client can just hire you at a higher fee.
Keep in touch with the clients you like
Clients come and go for various reasons. Still, you never know who will end up working where, and it makes sense to be friendly with your favorite clients. Depending on your relationship, you could congratulate them on milestones, send birthday wishes or share stuff with them that they might enjoy or find useful.
Let’s roll with the pitching!
Pitchfest is a blog post pitching contest run here on BAFB every six months.
I’m psyched that I’m a guest editor for this Pitchfest! That means I’ll be reviewing and commenting on your pitches. I’ll also get to pick the three winners and runners-up.
My name is Pinar Tarhan, and I’ve been writing for the web for nearly a decade. I’m a huge fan of BAFB, and I’ve written for the site several times – some of my posts were picked as a winner or a runner-up in previous Pitchfests. I’ve also been published on CNN, The Washington Post, The Billfold, WOW! Women on Writing, Brazen Blog, and Horkey Handbook among others.
How does Pitchfest work?
You’ll pitch guest post ideas for this blog on a topic relevant to its audience of freelance bloggers and aspiring freelance bloggers. The topic of the post is up to you, as long as it pertains to freelance blogging. Then we’ll select a few winners for publication and prizes!
How to enter the Pitchfest
To participate for a chance to earn up to $150 and be published on Be A Freelance Blogger:
Step 1. Read BAFB’s guest blogging guidelines, and study the pitches and responses in previous Pitchfests to see what we’re looking for.
Step 2. Tell us your blog post idea in the comments below before 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday, September 14, 2019.
Only ONE pitch per person, please. Be sure to include everything listed below, and remember that your proposed blog post must be useful to freelance bloggers. You have actionable tips on how to get better clients? Have more time for other projects? Get paid better and faster? We’re looking forward to hearing your ideas.
What to include in your pitch:
- At least one headline designed to make freelance bloggers want to read your post.
- Between 30 and 60 words you’d use to open the post. You DON’T need to write a whole draft before pitching; we’d prefer to give you feedback first.
- Up to six key points you’ll make in the post, with a one- or two-sentence summary of each point.
- Up to three sentences about why this is a great fit for Be a Freelance Blogger and why you’re the right person to write it.
Put your pitch in the comment box at the bottom of this page, and check the little box that says “Notify me of follow-up comments” so you’ll know when you receive feedback. Your comment might get held for moderation, especially if it contains links. Don’t worry if that happens; we’ll get to it and reply!
Step 3. I’ll respond to every pitch to offer feedback to help you optimize your idea and improve your pitching skills. You might also get feedback from other readers and pitchers.
Step 4. You can revise (or completely re-do) your pitch after getting our feedback if you’d like. Just re-submit it by pasting it into a follow-up comment before 11:59pm Pacific time on Thursday, September 19, 2019.
Step 5. I’ll choose three winners and up to three runners up. If you’re chosen, we’ll ask you to send a draft of at least 1,500 words, so keep that in mind when crafting your pitch.
I’ll announce the winners via a comment on this post on Saturday, September 21. If I choose your pitch, plan to deliver your first draft to Sophie by end of October.
Here’s what you could win
I’ll choose three winners and up to three runners up. On acceptance of your final draft for publication on BAFB, winners will receive:
- 1st prize: $150
- 2nd prize: $75
- 3rd prize: Kindle copy of How to Pitch a Blog Post
- Up to three runners up: Unpaid guest post spot on BAFB
The contest starts today. Pitch on! 🙂
Suggested Titles:
How to Stop feeling like an impostor when you say “I’m a freelance writer”
Do you need more confidence when putting “Freelance Writer” on your resume?
I PROMISE you, you’re qualified to be a Freelance Writer
All of us have, at some point, felt like we shouldn’t be allowed to call ourselves a Freelance Writer. There have been a myriad of books, blogs, and articles written on the subject (All written by writers, some of whom are freelancers themselves) and yet somehow TONS of us think that we are going to be ‘found out’. It’s a strange feeling and it’s commonly called Impostor Syndrome.
Key Points:
Freelance Writing doesn’t have specific requirements on who you are
How to feel more comfortable announcing yourself as a writer
Ways to get ‘more qualified’ or at least to feel that way if nothing else
Why we feel this way, and where it comes from
Speculation on how it will be in the future (generally optimistic)
I think this would be a good fit for Be A Freelance Blogger because SO MANY writers in our sphere feel this way and there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all answer. There are LOTS of things you can do or different ways of going about things, but this issue affects all Freelance Writers at some point, especially towards the beginning. This would be a good fit for this blog because the audience is new or inexperienced Freelance Writers.
Hi Jon,
You are right about the syndrome, but there is a very good post on the blog about it called “The Simple Secret to Beating Impostor Syndrome.” I recommend reading it and making sure it isn’t too similar. And then you would want to expand your key points. They don’t include any details, so we have no idea what to expect.
“A Penny For Your Thoughts”
Have you ever wondered where the saying actually comes from? Becoming a freelance blogger can actually make that your reality. Your thoughts can become more valuable than you think.
Imagine getting paid to voice your opinion. Freelance blogging allows your opinion to become public and could influence others as well. Working from home can be very beneficial especially if you’re a parent with a family. By becoming a freelance blogger, being a family person doesn’t take a toll on any of your work. Being a freelance blogger also allows you to be able to express yourself and different aspects. By putting yourself in different situations and writing about them, you express yourself on another platform I could potentially learn more about yourself. as long as you stick the editors deadlines, being a freelance blogger can actually allow you to make your own schedule.
“A Penny For Your Thoughts,” would be a great blog for individuals to read whenever they are contemplating on becoming a freelance blogger. I believe that I made some benefiting key points in his post that could really make a difference. Even though this will be my first attempt, I have full confidence in myself and my writing capabilities.
Hi Amber,
I like the angle of getting paid for your opinion, but the rest of your pitch seems to be talking about the benefits of freelance blogging in general. So maybe combine them in a single pitch like ….Benefits of Freelance Blogging or …. Reasons You Should Be a Freelance Blogger. Alternatively, you can write about how to get paid for your opinions if you think you can feature different suggestions, like a roadmap. I’d like to see a revised pitch. You should also include a bit about yourself and your life/writing experience in general, even if you haven’t blogged professionally before.
How to Overcome Your Fears as a Freelance Blogger
Freelance blogging seems like the perfect career. You set your own hours, and can work from anywhere in the world provided there’s an internet connection. It sounds like the dream life, right? So why is it that so many aspiring bloggers don’t follow through with their goals?
The answer lies in a four letter word: fear.
Point 1:
Why Fear is So Powerful
(Explanation of the ways fear affects the brain and how crippling it can feel, briefly explaining the fight or flight response)
Point 2:
How We Let it Sabotage Our Success
(How we avoid the things that scare us, other ways we give in to fear versus facing it and acting anyway)
Point 3:
What We Can Do to Manage It and Move Forward
(Examples of activities/practices that can help with fear including meditation, self-talk and a questioning fears journal exercise)
The reason I feel like the right fit for this post is because I’m living it, and I know others have the same issue. BAFB is one of the sources I turn to for advice and a post like this would be helpful to me if I read it. One of my goals is to use my writing and life experience help others find the courage to follow their own dreams.
Hi Sam,
You make good points about fear, but only point three seems to tie to your title. If your want to pitch about overcoming fears, point 3 would have several (ideally five or 6) subheading of its own. Right now, they are not specific and detailed enough. Or, you can try pitching a more general post about why/how fear blocks freelance bloggers, and suggestions on how to improve (so your title would have to change). I look forward to reading your revised pitch.
Hi Pinar,
Thanks for the helpful feedback! Here is a revised version of the 3rd point with a new title.
Sam
How Fear Can Affect Your Freelance Blogging Career (and what to do about it)
Point 3:
What We Can Do to Manage It and Move Forward
1. Meditation
A simple routine of 10-15 minutes daily meditation can do wonders for clearing cobwebs from the mind. When there is quiet and stillness, ideas have room to flow and the negative self talk takes a back seat.
(Brief description of benefits, short exercise for beginners)
2. Self Talk
We are all guilty of beating ourselves up for failing to act on our goals. Giving in to fear is not weak, it’s our human programming for survival. When we can learn to be kind to ourselves, it gives us the courage to move forward.
(Brief self talk exercise specific to freelance blogging)
3. Questioning Fears Journal Exercise
Journaling is a great tool for dumping out all of our negative thoughts and allowing space for creativity to come in. In this exercise, fears are logically questioned and this helps to take weight away from them, making them less detrimental to pursuing goals.
(Explanation of exercise)
4. Nature
Getting outside can do wonders for the psyche. Natural light and fresh air can help us find peace when our minds are running a marathon on the hamster wheel of fearful thoughts.
(Suggestions for ways to spend time outdoors)
5. Daily Action (in small doses)
The thought of taking action can be scary, and when we expect too much of ourselves too soon we can cause ourselves to revert back to our comfort zone. Making small steps towards a goal can feel less dramatic, but steady progress creates confidence over time.
(Further explanation of taking small daily action towards freelance blogging)
Hi Sam,
This sounds good. 🙂
Thanks!
Wellness Tips That Will Banish Writer’s Block For Good
We’ve all been there — the dreaded writer’s block.
One minute you’ve got ideas flowing out of your fingertips and the next minute….nothing, nada, zilch. Your ideas have dried up and you’re staring at a blank page.
It’s a freelance blogger’s worst nightmare.
So…what do you do next?
Find Stillness – Give beginner tips on how to meditate and why finding stillness is key to getting fresh ideas.
Write More – Introduce Julia Cameron’s concept of “Morning Pages” and why freewriting will help get the creative juices flowing.
Go Outside – Taking a break and getting outside is key to being healthy in your personal life and staying sane in your professional life. Getting out of your workspace and into nature will not only clear your brain, but it will also make you feel better.
Get Creative – Instead of writing, try a different creative outlet. Learn how to knit, take a painting class or arrange some flowers. Creatively stimulate other parts of your brain and writing ideas will begin to flow naturally.
Stay Positive – Affirmations might sound cheesy, but they work. Get rid of imposter’s syndrome and choose a positive affirmation to help get over your self-doubt. (Link to BAFB’s Imposter Syndrome Post.)
Every writer, no matter how successful, has faced writer’s block at some point. While it’s easy to become dejected or to fall into bad habits, these strategies are healthy, practical, and easy-to-follow. Plus, as a wellness blogger and a yoga teacher, I have a professional background in this field and can attest to the fact that these tips really DO work.
Hi Jersey,
I like this pitch.
Me too! The only thing I’d like to see that isn’t here is a section on what to do if you can’t afford to have writer’s block because you need to meet a deadline. 🙂
That’s a great note! To address this issue I would add a section called “Letting Go of Perfectionism.” When a deadline is due and you don’t have time for any of these tips, you need to silence your inner critic and just write. Freewriting without editing will, at the very least, get some words on the page. In the end, it’s better to have something that isn’t perfect than nothing at all.
I love this addition.
EXPOSED: 6 Secrets that Top-Notch Freelancers Would DIE Before Telling You
Scoring a Gig. Working it out. Delivering. Repeat. If you think a good freelance carreer looks like that… oh, boy, are you up for a bad time!
There is so much more in between the gigs… and that’s your own LIFE! So check out these tips and make sure you keep your sanity in the crazy world of Freelancing.
#1 – Don’t Deliver What You’re Asked To
#2 – You are not selling your WORK nor your TIME
#3 – Any Client Can be a Long Term Gig (He just Doesn’t Knows it YET)
#4 – Laser Focus! (A.k.A. Have a Plan and Stick To It)
#5 – ABFLL: Always Be Friggin Listening & Learning
#6 – Be a Decent Human Being (Seems Obvious? You’d be amazed)
Hi Caio,
I think you should provide details on each of your points. Also, the first one’s meaning isn’t clear at all. What do you mean by “don’t deliver what you are asked”?
Oh hey I’m sorry but I didnt confirm the following so I missed the comment. I thought I had to make you curious this is my 1st pitch. The 1st tip is about understanding what the client NEEDS and delivering it along with what he asked to generate value & nee contracts. You see I’m freelancing for 90 days and i’ve reached what I thought it would take 6 month. With this tip I turned a boring $100 gig into an awesome $600 + comission that might turn into a 2k solid pay and the oportunity of a lifetime with a 1 week fair attendance with everything payd for… i’ll be b
L8r cuz I have my mba finals right now
Hi Caio,
Good luck with you finals. But this pitch still doesn’t meet the pitchfest requirements.
so no hope for me at all? even if I explain everything?
if not, I’d like to know what I missed so I don’t miss it again (sorry about my english on the last comment, I was on my phone and just wanted to get it done)
I didn’t say there was no hope, but that you had to include explanations just like everyone else. I don’t know what your pitch will look like without seeing the explanations. It is up to you to post a revised version until the deadline or not.
“A LOST EARTH INTO THE UNIVERSE”
We don’t know yet that whether there exist a multiverse or a universe only. So we don’t know how much fraction of this space is covered by our earth. Something 0.00…1, we are not sure yet how many zeroes are there at the right side of the decimal. Is it not a joke that we are looking for water on moon so that life can be exist there? On this tiny place (Earth), half a billion people face severe water scarcity all year round. And if we talk about food then according to the latest report, the number of undernourished people in the world has been on the rise since 2015, reaching an estimated 821 million in 2018. Why are we wasting billions of dollars on other planets instead of doing something for our ill planet earth? Yes there should be some researches but not at the cost of basic human needs. I think there should be some threshold of humans basic needs. First achieve that threshold and after that do as much as researches you want to do. It is something we should think on.
Sharjeel, your comment has got nothing to do with freelance blogging.
5 SEO Techniques to Improve Readership and Keep Clients Happy
The reason why most businesses hire a freelance blogger is to get people to their website. You may write the best articles on the web, but if people aren’t reading them, you could find yourself without work. Using these five SEO techniques will improve how your blog posts perform and increase your clients’ happiness with your work.
Keywords and Related Keywords: Typical keyword density for search engine optimization should be between seven and eight percent. Your keyword should be placed in the title, the meta description, and at least twice in the text in the first and last paragraph.
Meta-Description Writing: The meta-description is one of the most important pieces of blogging. This description shows up on the search engine results page and can entice users to click on the link.
Outlinks and Internal Links: Outlinks and internal links show authority; search engines read this as you having done your homework. Internal links will provide a boost for your page and another page for the website your working on while providing readers with another opportunity to read something else your client has posted.
Photos and Digital Images: If your client hasn’t provided you with images, you may want to ask them for something from their business. Alternatively, you can use free resources like Pexels, Pixabay, and Unsplash.
Writing for People: Even with all of these suggestions, it’s important to make your posts algorithm proof by writing for people. Google, Yahoo!, and Bing are trying to provide their users with the best search results; writing an article that people can’t read or use will cause your post to be ranked lower for search engine results.
Freelance bloggers need to understand the possibilities of search engine optimization and how it can affect their blog post readership. Even if they’re not writing for clients, blog posts should be optimized for their own websites. I have been researching search engine optimization and its techniques for the last year to improve my own website’s performance.
Thanks for considering my pitch. I look forward to the results.
Hi Shad,
This sounds good.
Thanks!
Collectively, journalists around the country are holding their breaths and watching as the industry declines. 26,000 people have lost their jobs since 2008, according to the Pew Research Center.
Skills developed as a journalist can translate easily to a freelance blogging can be the key to building a “brick-and-mortar business” sized salary at home.
1) Get help: Losing a job can be as emotionally devastating as losing a loved one. You’ll miss your work, your co-workers, and your way of life. If you have savings, it may be good to take a breather before diving into something like freelance blogging – especially if the industry is new to you.
2) Get legit: Some employer contracts limit where former employees can work. It’s important to be sure that writing for another publication, even as a contractor, violates a non-compete clause. You’ll also want to work on your writer site, which you’ll use to attract new clients.
3) Get connections: Sadly, ex-journalist groups are starting to grow online. If you have an active social media presence, it may be good to let your followers know you are looking for work.
4) Get specific: Chances are you found yourself diving into a lot of different topics at your previous job. Niche down to one or two areas you are comfortable. Also consider some niches are more profitable than others.
5) Get pitching: Your journalism skills will help you go very far as a freelance blogger. You’ve already mastered research, interviewing and writing skills. The tough part may be developing a portfolio of clients to work with on your own. Use resources like this blog to teach you how to find work.
This is very personal to me as I left my journalism career one year before my position (and the positions of many others) were eliminated at my dream newspaper. This was in 2006. Nowadays, layoffs of even digital media employees are happening with frightening frequency, but with tools like social media and Facebook groups (which weren’t really a thing when I was a journo) can be of tremendous use.
I’m sorry my headline was cut off. It’s “How to Transition From Journalism to Freelance Blogging.”
Hi Williesha,
Sorry you had to go through it, but this is a good pitch!
Like it, Willi! I think I’d make the title include “how” AND “why” – lots of people still aspire to become journalists, so it’s good to explain why that option’s getting tighter.
Would love to read about the how and why as well.
Gotcha. Could be reworked to:
6 Tips on How to Transition from Journalism to Freelance Blogger
Why Journalists Make Great Freelance Bloggers & How to Succeed
The Best Path to Freelance Blogger as a Former Journalist
I love it, especially two. 🙂
Hi Pinar & Sophie!
Here are a few possible headlines:
Fundamental Soup for the Freelance Writer’s Soul
Back to the Basics: Freelance Writing Edition
WARNING: If Landing Gigs isn’t Your Thing, Do NOT do these 5 Things!
Opening:
BE MORE BASIC. Nope, I don’t mean like the college girl pulling her MacBook out of a Vera Bradley backpack while trying not to spill her pumpkin spice latte on her UGGs (no judgment, of course, those are all popular for a reason!) …
I’m actually referring to the thing you’re overlooking. The thing holding back your freelance writing career. The thing (well, things) keeping you from landing the clients you’re drooling over. Basics.
Key Points:
1. Follow the editor’s PITCHING RULES.
One of my biggest pet peeves (aside from terrible grammar) is a person who doesn’t read instructions, and it could be costing you valuable clients. If you don’t take the time to read through THEIR rules, why should you expect them to take the time to read through YOUR pitch?
2. Stay away from the rabbit holes!
In a world of constant communication and endless advertisements, it can be hard to stay on track when you sit down to work. Here, I will give some time-management tips and tricks to keep you out of that dreaded writer rabbit hole and in the land flowing with pitches and clients (like keeping a note pad handy to jot down those stray thoughts for safekeeping during your writing sesh)!
3. Is that even English?
As mentioned above, grammar is a biggie for me. The time spent on grammar foreshadows the level of care you will take with future writings. If you don’t take the time to go through your pitch before submitting, you’re effectively costing yourself valuable time and money. A mistake here and there is one thing when the content is top-notch, but an editor can only hang up on a misplaced comma so many times before they exit your email and move you to “The Stack.”
4. It’s all about that “BASS”line—that is, the blogger’s baseline audience.
If you write your pitch with your own audience in mind, your work will reflect that and it won’t make the blogger/editor drool over you, which is what you want them to do. Here I will give some tips for keeping your perspective when pitching to your client.
5. Sit, Soak, SOUR.
You’ve done hours of research on your niche and search engine optimization. You have great ideas for blog posts. But if you only research and write without applying what you’ve learned by getting yourself out there, all that knowledge will sour. Just GET MOVING!
Why I hope you’ll pick my blog post idea:
Be a Freelance Blogger is all about helping freelance writers of all levels become better writers, leading them to land and retain more clients (and has provided me with a wealth of insights!). Being a novice myself, I’ve noticed there are several smaller things that get overlooked when frantically mass-pitching to clients and these simple fixes will mean less time pitching and more time writing for clients!
Can’t wait to see your feedback! 🙂
Hi Stephanie,
I’d work on the title a bit more, but your pitch sounds good.
Thanks for the feedback, Pinar!
Here’s an updated title:
5 Simple Things Freelance Writers Overlook and How it’s Costing You Clients
Hi Stephanie,
Don’t forget to focus on freelance bloggers as opposed to freelance writers (I’d change the title and some places in the pitch accordingly), and you’ll be fine. 🙂
Okay sure thing! Here’s an updated pitch focused on freelance bloggers as opposed to writers in general:
Title:
5 Simple Things Freelance Bloggers Overlook and How it’s Costing You Clients
Opening:
BE MORE BASIC. Nope, I don’t mean like the college girl pulling her MacBook out of a Vera Bradley backpack while trying not to spill her pumpkin spice latte on her UGGs (no judgment, of course, those are all popular for a reason!) …
I’m actually referring to the thing you’re overlooking. The thing holding back your freelance blogging career. The thing (well, things) keeping you from landing the clients you’re drooling over. Basics.
Key Points:
1. Follow the editor’s PITCHING RULES.
One of my biggest pet peeves (aside from terrible grammar) is a person who doesn’t read instructions, and it could be costing you valuable clients. If you don’t take the time to read through THEIR rules, why should you expect them to take the time to read through YOUR pitch?
2. Stay away from the rabbit holes!
In a world of constant communication and endless advertisements, it can be hard to stay on track when you sit down to work. Here, I will give some time-management tips and tricks to keep you out of that dreaded blog-writing rabbit hole and in the land flowing with pitches and clients (like keeping a note pad handy to jot down those stray thoughts for safekeeping during your writing sesh)!
3. Is that even English?
As mentioned above, grammar is a biggie for me. The time spent on grammar foreshadows the level of care you will take with your client’s future blog posts. If you don’t take the time to go through your pitch before submitting, you’re effectively costing yourself valuable time and money. A mistake here and there is one thing when the content is top-notch, but an editor can only hang up on a misplaced comma so many times before they exit your email and move you to “The Stack.”
4. It’s all about that “BASS”line—that is, the blogger’s baseline audience.
If you write your pitch with your own audience in mind, your work will reflect that and it won’t make the blogger/editor drool over you, which is what you want them to do. Here I will give some tips for keeping your perspective when pitching to your client.
5. Sit, Soak, SOUR.
You’ve done hours of research on your niche and search engine optimization. You have great ideas for blog posts. But if you only research and write without applying what you’ve learned by getting yourself out there, all that knowledge will sour. Just GET MOVING!
Why I hope you’ll pick my blog post idea:
Be a Freelance Blogger is all about helping freelance bloggers of all levels become better writers, leading them to land and retain more clients (and has provided me with a wealth of insights!). Being a novice myself, I’ve noticed there are several smaller things that get overlooked when frantically mass-pitching to clients and these simple fixes will mean less time pitching and more time writing for clients!
Thanks again for your feedback, Pinar! 🙂
This sounds good, Stephanie. 🙂
“Why bloggers should not blog all the time”
Are you a blogger? Do you think you need to keep blogging all the time to become a superstar blogger?
That is not the right way to approach. Blogging is an art. It is not a factory-made product that can keep rolling out.
#1 – You need a break
As I have mentioned earlier, blogging is an art. And, to produce high-quality content, you need to give your brain a certain amount of break to regroup and focus.
#2 – Top-up your creativity
When you keep writing every day, you lose the touch of creativity. It becomes monotonous, and it will not do any good for your content.
#3 – Read more than writing
Reading is an essential ingredient for a successful blogging career. Read more than you write.
#4 – Never run out of ideas
Take a break from your writing, and give your brain some space to think of new ideas that can brighten your next post you write.
#5 – Market your writing
If you want to be successful in blogging, you need to spread your work and reach an enormous amount of audience. If you keep writing all the time, you do not have enough time for marketing, and thus you are losing a lot of business opportunities.
#6 – Study your competitors
Blogging is one of the most competitive markets nowadays. Find some time to study what your fellow bloggers/competitors are doing. Learn and implement as many tricks as possible.
I think this post will engage a lot of readers, as this is an exciting topic for aspiring bloggers and who want to improve their blogging and writing career. These are very essential tips that need to be followed for a better ROI.
I am a full-time blogger and freelance writer with six years of experience. In this post, I want to share my experiences that I have learned from my mistakes.
Hi Sourav,
You make some solid points, though it might be a bit controversial to say blogging is an art and that writing every day kills creativity. If you write this post, I’d suggest backing up your points with very specific lessons you learned from blogging. Were you writing every day and you burned out? And why would you consider blogging an art form? If you have the examples, this is a good pitch.
HI Pinar
I Hate Webinars/ I’ve Wasted So Much Time on Webinars/ Do / Do Waste Too Much Time on Webinars?
I hate webinars – I have wasted far to much time trying to find the thing, listening to inane and irrelevant remarks about how good the bloke is, and then, having wasted an hour- right at the end is an offer I “can’t refuse” – but I can. It’s often not what I want or it‘s exactly what I want but far too expensive…
But after trial and error I have perfected my own technique for dealing with them:
1.) Find it in the first place – the last direction sent me to an adversarial to buy webinars
2.) Time for coffee?
a. Late (are you sitting comfortably?)
b. Irrelevant fussing and fudgy – how nice when they just say “Hello, Jon here” and
then get on with the stuff I want to hear.
c. But if you do go and get your coffee you are taking a risk of missing a key nugget
3.) Midnight feast -or indigestion?
a. Living in Europe the time is often between 1-3am
b. Is there a recording?
4.) Mutter, mumble – eh – what did you say?
a. I happen to be a little deaf and this is a real problem for me with webinars.
(Hearing aid and earphones)
b. Get a transcription if at all possible. If not – ask (I got some great ongoing work
through asking this)
c. How to use your transcription details
5.) The main advantage of a recording
a. You can get to the end at the beginning!
Conclusion
I do hate webinars – but I found there are things I can do which make them less of a trial. Occasionally they are worth the effort – what do you think?
Hi Elizabeth,
I’m not a big fan of webinars myself, for the reasons you point out. But your current pitch doesn’t seem particularly related to freelance blogging. How about focusing on either how freelance bloggers can make the most of webinars or how freelance bloggers can give good webinars? If you go this route, you’ll need to explain why we as freelance bloggers – either as listeners or makers – need webinars. And try to make your points clearer. What is the problem? How can it be fixed? Why should it be fixed? I look forward to reading your revised pitch.
How to cultivate the mindset of an ultra-successful blogger
A dominant thought races through your mind and leaves you restless. You have always wanted to start a blog, but something always stops you.
It’s the crippling fear of the unknown. You don’t believe you have what it takes to build a successful blog.
The good news?
You can do it.
Here’s how to create the winner’s mindset:
#1. The million-dollar question: Why do you want to blog?
Maybe you want to share advice, maybe you want to start an online business, or maybe you want to blog for the money.
#2. Motivation is a slow death
Relying on motivation only isn’t enough. You need something more.
#3. You need another hobby
Don’t treat your blog as a hobby if you want to attract success.
#4. Being a good writer is an overstatement
You don’t need to be a great writer to get started.
#5. Keep that journal to yourself
Your blog isn’t your daily, weekly or monthly journal. You will need a solid blogging strategy.
#6. The perfection paralysis
You won’t have everything perfectly figured out before getting started. Just get the ball rolling.
Why l hope you will pick my blog post idea
It’s tempting to get stuck in the mechanics of blogging.
What about those people who can’t even get their foot on the blogging door?
These aspiring bloggers need someone to hold their hand and guide them into developing a winner’s mindset that puts them on the path to successful blogging.
Hi Edwin,
I like your pitch, but your title seems a bit misleading: It doesn’t tell us that your pitch will be about those who haven’t started a blog yet. So I’d modify it. Your points could use some more details. What’s the other thing we need other than motivation? If you don’t need to be a good writer, what do you need? Can you be mediocre, or being capable is enough to begin? We shouldn’t treat our blog as a hobby, what should we treat it as?
You don’t need it to make it long, just a bit clearer and more specific. And how about your background in freelance blogging and/or writing?
6 Sure-Fire ways to have an awesome start as a freelance blogger
So, you have decided to be a freelance blogger? Are you ready for the roller coaster ride? The ride isn’t going to be easy.
I had been there too and I am still on the roller coaster trying to figure out how to make the ride a little bit easier and fun.
I had made a lot of mistakes in my initial stage. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes and waste your time.
1. Do Your Research
Do quality research? Look for different types of writing styles, different niche you can write for. Look for the best tools and resources to use as a newbie freelance blogger.
2. Work on Your Typing Speed
How many wpm (Word per minute) can you type? Typing is one of the most essential skills you should have as a freelance blogger. The faster you type the faster you can finish your draft.
3. Make Reading a Habit
Be it fiction or non-fiction you should adopt the habit of reading every day. I am not talking about the reading that you will do when researching for your first draft. The more you read the more you will learn different things that you can incorporate in your writing.
4. Write Every Day
Being a freelance blogger you should be writing not less than 750 words every single day. The more you read the better you get.
5. Figure out Your Niche and Your Writing Service
If you can get this in order you will save a lot of time and energy.
In the initial stage, most of you won’t figure out your niche and your writing style.
6. Find a Mentor to Guide You
I have spent more than a year trying to figure out how to start freelance blogging on my own. The internet is overwhelmed with information. It’s easy to follow a mentor than trying to check the depth of a river by yourself.
Lots of freelance Bloggers are getting into the industry every single day. They are looking for the right information. This post will help build a solid foundation for a newbie freelance bloggers.
I’m the right person to write this post because I am a freelance blogger myself. And, I know how frustrating it can be in the initial stage of the journey. I had made lots of mistakes and I don’t want my fellow new bloggers to make the same mistakes.
Hi Krishna,
This sounds good, but you should think definitely include how to find a mentor (especially if you can’t afford one) and choose the right one (the world is full of them, how do you find the right one?). And why 750 words, and not 500 or 1000? Did this specific number work for you? How? You don’t have to revise the pitch: just something to think about if your pitch is chosen.
Thank you for the feedback, Pinar.
I had taken notes of all the points you had mentioned in the
comment.
I will provide brief details about how to find a mentor and how to choose the best one for beginners.
And the Psychology behind writing not less than 750 words a day.
Looking forward to hearing good news from you.
Thank you again, Pinar.
Sounds good.
Transition approach: From Short Term Strategy to Long Term Visionary
In the business context, every small or medium organization (SME) want to be profitable and always target to have new customers into their database. SME’s are so much into acquiring customers that they sometimes miss scanning the internal environment of the organization. As per the Ministry of Industry Report published in 2000 by Statistics Canada, the failure rate for small and medium-sized organizations in Canada beyond the initial one years remain high.
There are several reasons for their failure. As per Canada start-up organization, the number one reason for small and medium enterprise failure is lack of experience of business owner. We all agree that starting a business requires investment, courage, and commitment of a lot of time. Bringing a small or medium firm from inception to the growth requires more than money and desire to be a businessman or businesswoman.
Are there any other ways to provide the experience or the skills to the SME owners? Or are they only left with an option to try and test approach?
In my opinion, there is a need and an urgency to support the small and medium firms management by the systematic consulting approach to fill the unseen gaps. Finding and discussing the reasons for SME’s failure would not benefit either the economy nor the people or staff who work for them.
There lies a bigger challenge to provide consulting to small and medium firms in Canada and the United States of America. In my own consulting experience, I have noticed that owners of SME’s are resistant to share their insights to the external consultant due to lack of trust. Trust is hard to build and takes time. Ask any of the owners of the SME’s anywhere around the globe or their family members, the two significant challenges faced by them are lack of time and people management. These challenges lead them or better to say push them towards short term vision.
It would be an injustice to business owners to expect them to have the business skills of an MBA or vast knowledge of the industry. The only possible way for small and medium enterprises to integrate long term vision into their system is to keep themselves open to consulting skills.
Interestingly, we always hear how technological advancements are making the world better. However, there is not much media coverage about how consulting services can be beneficial for small and medium enterprises.
A fruit of us to ponder :).
This is so not relevant.
If you love to write, Quit your 9-5 after reading few tips about being a freelance blogger
Being a freelance blogger isn’t easy but neither was being a coder or surviving that 9-5 till now was but you did it. so why not consider doing and earning by what you actually love?
some points you need to know before you actually quit your job:
1. You’ll not get paid such a great amount in the start (or you can be one of those lucky people in millions, you can never tell if you won’t start) but eventually as you’ll build a strong portfolio, you’ll know you made the right decesion.
2. Try working for non-profit org, they won’t pay you but will give you a chance to build a strong portfolio, which as a new writer should be your main focus, they’ll give you quality content.
3. Do not go for apps/websites that pay you 7$ per hours. i’m definitely not saying they’re a scam but of them will take away your rights of your work and won’t let you add your clicks in your portfolio and won’t give you quality content.
4. Find your niche. it’s basically what you write about and never say “i will write what you ask for”. that may seem flexible but you look like a weak choice. no one’s perfect at everything and that’s a fact so just choose what you like to write about and that particular niche can be offered as your area of expertise.
5. for a start, make some clicks- One shorter article around 500 words
One longer article between 750 and 1,000 words. this is what’s mostly asked to have an idea of your skills.
6. It’s not always easy but hey you’re doing what you love and also are able to focus on your family and friends.
So now start searching for niche if you already don’t have one in mind. you can definitely change it later.
Hi Simran,
I think you have some of the fundamentals down, but several of the points need clearing up. You should also rework your title. No one would/should quit their jobs after reading any few tips. But how about “these essential tips will help you quit your 9-5 to become a freelance blogger?”
In your intro, you gave the example of being a coder. Why a coder specifically? If it is random, add a few more job titles. “whether you are a coder, teacher or customer rep” or simply “whatever your current job is”. Also, you haven’t given any background info about yourself. Why should people take this advice from you? If you choose to revise the pitch, try to pay attention to capitalization and grammar in general.
Hi Pinar,
“How to Find Your Blogging Voice and Stand Out Online”
So, you’ve decided to be a blogger? Congratulations…to you and millions of others. That’s right. As you may already know, you’re not the first to want to take on this blogging journey. There are currently more than 500 million blogs online, with a staggering 5.8 million blog posts published each day. All these numbers mean one thing – for you to not only survive but thrive as a new blogger, you need to stand out from the crowd. But, how exactly can you do that?
It All Starts With Your Brand (Sub-heading)
– I’ll detail how bloggers can establish a clear understanding of their brand by understanding their brand archetypes.
– I’ll provide short explanations of brand archetypes e.g. the creator, the entertainer, the maverick, etc. I’ll also give links to free online quizzes that can help you find out what your brand archetype is.
Now That You Know Your Brand Voice, How Can You Make it Heard Through All the Online Noise? (Sub-heading)
1. Be Clear on Your Blog’s Niche and Purpose
– I’ll highlight the importance of establishing a niche and purpose – What exactly is your blog for? What are you hoping to achieve?
2. Make Sure Your Content Connects With Your Brand
– Your blog posts, infographics, images, GiFs, videos, logos, topics, etc. should all connect with your brand.
– I’ll give examples of how to achieve this. For example, if your brand archetype is the “maverick”, then you like to challenge the status quo and your audience will expect this from you. This means that you shouldn’t be afraid of tackling taboo topics.
3. Guest Post on Niche Sites
– This will help to further cement your expertise in that niche.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Tell Your Story
– Remember who you’re writing for – human beings. Human beings connect to stories.
I feel this blog post is a great fit because every new blogger wants their work to stand out online. They want to be noticed. This is also a great fit because I’ll give practical steps that will help readers achieve this.
Hi Khanyi,
I like this idea, but a few notes:
– If you write this, I’d love to see the links to the stats you mentioned. (not necessary now)
– The four tips could use one or more additions. I feel like there is a bit more people can and should do to stand out as freelance bloggers with their blogs.
– I feel like the audience should get a subheading of its own. Who are you writing for? How do you decide that? How do you define your audience? How can you check if you are reaching your target audience, or if you defined them correctly in the first place?
– And lastly, why you? I like the reason for this idea being a good fit, but why are you the person to write it? Tell us a bit about your experience.
I’d love to see a revised pitch on this one. 🙂
SIX KEY POINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FREELANCE BLOGGING
Every Freelance Blogger wants to know what they need to succeed in freelance blogging, most of us need something new, something interesting and most importantly something that works.
1. Don’t get hung up on qualifications – Not having a Journalism Degree shouldn’t stop you from pitching blogs, you only need to plunge in and start writing.
2. Self Motivation – You need to step up and be your number one fan.
3. Curiosity – You need to always want to know more by exploring and asking questions, that natural curiosity will take you far.
4. Courage – First find something or someone that motivates you, then use that motivation to give you the courage to pitch and write.
5. Learn from rejection – Don’t let the rejection from a client mark the end of your career instead let that give you the strength to keep pushing.
6. Hunger – You have to need freelance blogging if you want to succeed.
This is a great fit for ” Be A Freelance Blogger” because it outlines some of the most important decisions that most freelance bloggers are not told when starting or even when in the journey.
I know I’m the right person to write it because this is a God given chance and also the fact that I want to help other Freelance Bloggers as I also continue learning.
Thank you.
Hi Scolastica,
A few notes:
1. Your title should include the purpose of the key points. Six key points about freelance blogging to achieve what? Get clients? Get more views? Be able to ask for money?
2. Points 2 and 4 seem a bit similar. And for self-motivation, you should at least hint at tips/suggestions on how to find it.
3. Learning from rejection is a good point, but will you include tips on how to deal with it? Because knowing you will be rejected a lot and actually having the tools to deal with it are different things.
4. You should open “hunger” a bit more. Do you mean you should need the money? Or should you be longing for the potential freedom to set your own schedule? Does it differ from person to person?
5. Your background might include why you started freelance blogging, and/or your experience that led you to it. This way, we can see how these points came to be and what inspired you.
5 Ways to Optimize Your Freelance Lifestyle for Productivity, Peace, and Profit
—————–
So you quit your job. Freedom is finally yours. Now you can do what you want, when you want.
But with new liberty comes new responsibility. To be at the top of your game, you’ll need to be disciplined. You need to create healthy habits that guarantee success.
—————–
1. Why You Need a Good Night’s Sleep (And How to Get It)
Getting enough sleep is the first step in ensuring a healthy, productive lifestyle. I’ll review best practices and tips for healthy sleep, as well as pitfalls to avoid.
2. How to Free Up Mental Energy and Increase Focus
We are constantly bombarded with decisions throughout the day. I’ll explain how to reduce decision fatigue and increase willpower by creating rules and values to guide decisionmaking.
3. How to Create Inspiration
You don’t have time for writer’s block. As a writer, you’ll need to come up with a steady stream of ideas. I’ll explain how to stay productive and creative.
4. How to Maintain a High Level of Mental Health
Being on your own can be stressful. You don’t have the safety net of a steady paycheck. I’ll discuss strategies for positive thinking, decreasing anxiety, and maintaining high self-esteem. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t–you’re right.”
—————–
This article will help freelance writers because creating healthy habits is one of the most important things self-employed people can do. Without the 9-5 structure, productivity can vary widely. Routines can be incredibly powerful. Freelance writers need to be sure they don’t fall into traps of burnout and self-doubt. These systems can help.
Hi Michael,
I like it but a few notes:
1. Mental health tips for people who are suffering from mental illnesses and people who are just stressed and prone to anxiety should be different. So if you write this, make sure point 4 isn’t oversimplified or taken lightly.
2. Why you? What’s your experience with all this?
I look forward to reading the revised pitch.
Hi Pinar, thanks for the feedback. I completely agree with your concerns regarding the fourth point. Please see my revised pitch below:
—————–
5 Ways to Optimize Your Freelance Lifestyle for Productivity, Peace, and Profit
—————–
So you quit your job. Freedom is finally yours. Now you can do what you want, when you want.
But with new liberty comes new responsibility. To be at the top of your game, you’ll need to be disciplined. You need to create healthy habits that guarantee success.
—————–
1. Why You Need a Good Night’s Sleep (And How to Get It)
Getting enough sleep is the first step in ensuring a healthy, productive lifestyle. I’ll review best practices and tips for healthy sleep, as well as pitfalls to avoid.
2. How to Free Up Mental Energy and Increase Focus
We are constantly bombarded with decisions throughout the day. I’ll explain how to reduce decision fatigue and increase willpower by creating rules and values to guide decisionmaking.
3. How to Create Inspiration
You don’t have time for writer’s block. As a writer, you’ll need to come up with a steady stream of ideas. I’ll explain how to stay productive and creative.
4. How to Stay Positive and Motivated
Being on your own can be stressful. You don’t have the safety net of a steady paycheck. I’ll discuss strategies for positive thinking, coping with rejection, and maintaining high self-esteem. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t–you’re right.”
—————–
This article will help freelance writers because creating healthy habits is one of the most important things self-employed people can do. Without the 9-5 structure, productivity can vary widely. Routines can be incredibly powerful. Freelance writers need to be sure they don’t fall into traps of burnout and self-doubt. These systems can help.
I’m the one to write this article because I’m obsessed with self-development. I’ve been interested in optimizing routines for years, and I’ve run experiments on myself to see what works and what doesn’t. While everyone is different, I’ll pull from personal experience and various expert resources to give a balanced view on what works.
Hi Michael,
I like this version.
Why you should shop local and…..yes spend a little more.
Shopping is local is so much more expensive. Why should I support my community?
Yes you will spend more, but your also helping yourself and family in doing so.
The tiny grocery store on the corner that sells milk $1.50 higher than Walmart also bought all the uniforms for your son’s little league team.
The ice cream shop that’s way more expensive than Dairy Queen donated treats for your daughters dance recital last week.
Many people only look at the price and convenience and do not actually realize where their money is going and who it’s actually supporting.
This is not relevant.
How to be a successful Freelance Blogger and hidden lessons you learned from blogging.
Step 1
Knowledge is Power
Feed your brain before you write, I noticed that once I’ve read something that I like when I run out of words to write I wake up my senses and learn good quality lessons not always though but while in the process there are times where you can’t even focus and you feel that all seems lost but when I put on a great movie with subtitles and read as I watch by the time I’m done I’ve learned something new. I love reading in different locations because the scenery brings out a comfort in its own and nobody loves boring so I read what I like love to keep myself on the right track, just know that with knowledge you can pave your blogging skills into life.
Step 2
Entertaining Your readers
Everybody who reads wants to feel some type of emotional connection not everything has to black and white, feel your work and give your readers what you want them to feel, so that they can keep on coming back for more ask your readers questions that give you answers and inspire you to dig into topics that matter and impact the world we are living in, the journeys that we face in life so that your readers can find good valuable information and feel a point of achievement.
Step 3
Spend Time With Strangers
I don’t mean find yourself a serial killer, No I mean instead of driving past a hospital walk into to one, you’ll see how others suffer and realize the worth of life, you’ll find your inner peace within yourself by spending a few minutes of your life helping someone in need just by being there when there’s no one they can turn to, this will awaken you for sure than you’ll see things more clearly you’ll be a better person than you were the day before and a better person is a better writer.
Step 4
Work hard, Play Less.
Working hard to achieve your dreams is not easy in fact you might even fail altogether but failing is not the problem its giving up on even trying. When it comes to being a freelance blogger I found myself in the most hardest of times there were days were I couldn’t afford to go to school with lunch paying for school on my own was hard enough but I never gave up I still held on. My point is when the going gets tough don’t stop because you have to dig through the dirt to get to the gold.
Set your calendar draw up a time table that way you can keep yourself in order and find sometime to unwind your tired mind.
Step 5
Why am I a freelance blogger?
Ask yourself what you really want in life and what drives you, not everyone wants what you want. Most people quit their passion jobs because they would rather get a day job because a day job feels safer. You see being a freelance blogger is a like being in the wild you have to hunt in order to succeed unlike being a zoo animal you are fed and taken care of, so its hard but in order to become the king of the jungle you must earn your place or fall behind and fail.
Once I told my friends that I wanted to be a freelance blogger half of them didn’t even know what I’m talking about the other half thought I had lost my mind and started chasing fairies, but I knew I loved writing and what I wanted to do no matter who said what I wanted to be a freelance Blogger And I was willing to craft myself into one even if I sucked at it I Was Willing To FIGHT and that what mattered,over coming the obstacles that stand between you and what you are. Learn how to write being a Freelance blogger is an achievement by the time you really become one you’ll need some serious skills before you start your journey learn from the best so you amongst them its best to write and read your work out loud and then record it on your phone and listen to it that way you know that its as good as it sounds in your head.
Step 6
Relax and let go
This in fact will be your life line, relaxing and letting go of all your stress for a day and healing your inner being is essential to being on top of your game, take a day off spend sometime alone with no worries for the day let someone else take the pressure off you, do what you have to do to Relax so that when you back in the game you as ready as ever feeling fully charged and wide awake, feeling fresh and open to absorb any challenge head first.
Step 7
Being the super version of Yourself
Being healthy overall is a job on its own and writing in front of a screen whole day can torture your eyes so take a writing pad use the good old ink and paper because that’s where legends were made follow the old trails in order to be lead others in the right directions, don’t hold all the secrets inside let them out and break free finally you have less to loose and more to write about, bring out the beast in you show the world what you can do on paper and how you can make your words jump out and touch them that’s what the super you is all about read! write! feed! that’s the key of being a successful everything all the time.
Hi Genewey,
Some notes:
– Pay attention to formatting and punctuation. You should break up your sentences into smaller ones and use punctuation to make it more readable.
– You didn’t include an introduction.
– You didn’t include the “why you” bit at the end.
– You might want to rework your title. They seem unrelated. Do we need these hidden lessons to be successful as bloggers? And why are they hidden? You mean not-so-obvious or not well-known or not well-applied?
– Pay attention to consistency with capitalization.
Hi, Genewey
A few notes:
– Pay attention to formatting, spacing and punctuation. Try breaking up the sentences so it is easier to read.
– Your introduction parapraph is missing.
– Make sure your capitalization is consistent.
– Your “why me” part is missing: Why should you be writing this article?
– Rework your title: It seems like there are two unrelated titles. And what makes these lessons hidden?
– Go through your points one by one and check if the lesson is clear, applicaple, and relevant. For instance, is the hospital the only way to spend time with strangers? It might not be a logical option for a lot of people for a number of reasons. Maybe you’d like to include other suggestions.
How did my interests and love of knowledge give me more creativity for blogging?
Lately, I have a growing love of knowing things, doing new things and meeting new people from around the world. From now on try to give more time to your interests and this, in turn, will increase your creativity to generate your ideas.
Attending events and conferences: I did not believe that I would get more new ideas and increased awareness of many things around me that I was interested in a lot.
Meet new friends: Some of them have a success story to tell us, others teach a new skill, others make me laugh. I came home and I was more excited about writing a great post.
Check out magazines that increase my knowledge to understand the world: I have browsed a magazine published in China specialized in Chinese affairs but published in Arabic Help I write a blog about why it’s important to learn Chinese now and take part in a blog competition.
Hi Sana,
Some notes:
– Try to rework your intro.
– You could use some more points/tips.
– You didn’t mention why you should be writing this article or why it’d be a good fit for this blog.
– If you choose to revise your pitch, please pay more attention to formatting (esp. spacing) so it is easier to read.
– Watch out for balance when you are giving advice and talking about your experience. Are you only using “I” and not enough “you”.
Good luck!
7 Months of Triumphs and Stomach Ulcers; Lessons from My First $1,500 as a Writer
What happens when: fresh out of college you decide to ignore the forwarded job ads from family for a career as a full-time freelance writer? It takes you 7 months but you finally crack $1,500-an amount enough for a year and half of tuition in the Kenyan college you went to. After dancing, I decided to share the lessons learnt.
The Power of Broke
I made and hosted a writer’s website for $30, used LinkedIn Premium free trial to build a 200-person cold emailing list that got me my first client, dug up to 10 free/free trial versions of different online tools.
Picking a Niche
How I curated my experience writing for a lifestyle blog in Kenya to appeal to the EU & US Fintech industry and how I handled technical topics I had no idea about. Who knew credit cards could be so interesting?
Dealing with Anxiety
I had trouble setting prices (anxiety with quoting $200 for a 500-word article when that amount is almost double the monthly minimum salary in your country) …and the Skype calls (introverts know what I’m talking about).
The Power of a Good LinkedIn Profile
2 clients worth $850 (so far) got me via LinkedIn search. I share how I optimised my profile to stand out; don’t tell anyone but the secret is an attractive banner image and touting your ability to write an afro onto a bald head in your bio.
This topic is relevant as it shows how, while the writing business might take time and be uncomfortable, it’s also rewarding and anyone anywhere can do it. My experience writing lifestyle (award-winning blog), business and fintech content makes me able to effortlessly transition from writing about Banks to giving tips on picking underpants when you’re colour blind.
Hi Gabriel,
I really like this, but a few notes:
– Since you are a freelance blogger, maybe change the title to reflect that.
– Give more details about the 1500. Did you earn it consistently for a month? Did it come after one project? Breaking it down will help and inspire the readers.
– How did/do you deal with anxiety? You mention having it, but how do you overcome it? Please include some tips – hint at what you would be talking about in the full post, should your pitch be chosen.
– You mention setting prices high for your country. Were your clients Kenyan? If yes, maybe include a sentence on how you persuaded them on your worth. If they are international, mention that.
– I like your humor about the LinkedIn profile point, but maybe open it a bit more. How did your Linkedin profile stand out? Surely, it wasn’t just the picture.
– How did your lifestyle experience translate into getting hired to write about fintech? Please briefly mention how. Was it how you defined/talked about your experience? Did your lifestyle posts get so many views that people gave you a chance?
– Do you have one or more pointers? Were these 4 the only ones things you needed, or are there some other important tips you want to share with us?
– Can you mention how you picked your niche?
I look forward to reading the revised version.
7 Months of Triumphs and Stomach Ulcers; Lessons from My First $1,500 as a Writer
What happens when: fresh out of college you decide to ignore the forwarded job ads from family for a career as a full-time freelance blogger? It takes you 7 months but after 11 projects you finally crack $1,500 -an amount enough for a year and half of tuition in the Kenyan college you went to. After dancing, I decided to share the lessons learnt.
The Power of Broke
I made and hosted a writer’s website for $30, used LinkedIn Premium free trial to build a 200-person cold emailing list that got me my first client, dug up to 10 free/free trial versions of different online tools.
Picking a Niche
How I curated my experience writing for a lifestyle blog in Kenya where I’d done sponsored content for a variety of companies to appeal to the EU & US Fintech industry. I leveraged this by displaying on my writer’s site, all the fintech companies e.g. Barclays that l had written for while in Lifestyle. Even though my work for these companies wasn’t technical, the association assured freelance clients that I could do technical fintech assignments. I picked this niche after realising that my work in the lifestyle blog had a significant-unintentional-association with fintech companies that could be leveraged.
Dealing with Anxiety
I had trouble setting prices (anxiety with quoting $200 for a 500-word article to international clients when that amount is almost double the minimum monthly salary in your country) …and the Skype calls (introverts know what I’m talking about). I dealt with pricing anxiety by researching/talking to other writers and setting a minimum-walkaway price, skype call anxiety by preparing guide-notes beforehand and wearing a pair of fake glasses (yeah it helps).
The Power of a Good LinkedIn Profile
2 clients worth $850 (so far) got me via LinkedIn search. I share how I optimised my profile to stand out; included fintech keywords, services offered and filled out every profile section to highlight my writing ability. I also connected to people in fintech to increase my search appearances among their 1st-2nd-degree connections. Don’t tell anyone but the secret is an attractive banner image and touting your ability to write an afro onto a bald head in your bio.
Guest Blogging
I’ve done 4 guest blogs through which 1 client has reached out for guest posting services so far. I share how I target high traffic fintech blogs using insights from SimilarWeb chrome plugin, how-instead of submitting guest posts through submission forms-I get editors’ email addresses using LinkedIn and LeadLeaper free plugin. These guest posts have increased my clout in an industry that I’m new to and as these blogs tag me online, fintech influencers (potential clients) have followed me on social media.
This topic is relevant as it shows how, while the writing business might take time and be uncomfortable, it’s also rewarding and anyone anywhere can do it. My experience writing lifestyle (award-winning blog), business and fintech content makes me able to effortlessly transition from writing about Banks to giving tips on picking underpants when you’re colour blind.
Sounds good.
How I Hunt Down Editors’ Email Addresses
How to Hunt Down Editors’ Email Addresses
You have a brilliant idea for an article.
You know how to pitch.
You’ve read the masthead.
You’ve worked out which editor to pitch to.
But you have no clue how the fudge you’re supposed to find out their email address.
Sound familiar?
I’ve been there too. Don’t fret, there are several ways to figure them out. Let me walk you through them.
Key points:
1) LinkedIn Sales Navigator: this is a GoogleChrome extension that helps freelancers with a Google Account find the email address that people used on LinkedIn.
2) Fullcontact / Contacts+: this is another GoogleChrome extension that helps freelancers with a Google Account find any email address that people used to create an account on Social Media (such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn etc.)
3) AllmyTweets.net: If an editor has ever tweeted their email account before, here’s where freelancers may find it.
4) Email Permutator: this is an essential tool in terms of sussing out editors’ email addresses. It creates various possible email addresses; all freelancers need is the name and what comes after the @ symbol.
5) RocketReach.co: this is a cool platform that comes with 5 free ‘look-up credits’ per month. Once the credits have been used up, RocketReach is still useful because it helps find out what comes after the @ symbol.
6) And if all else fails, I’ll guess and google.
This is a great fit for BAFB because ANY freelance blogger has come across this problem before. Unless they know how to handle it, they’re stuck. This blog post will make an Email-Sherlock Holmes out of any reader.
And as for why I’m the person to write it: Because I’ve figured out how to find out editors’ email addresses. I’ve sussed out the editors of Sawasdee – Thai Airways’ inflight magazine – and found out even their email addresses. That wasn’t easy!
Besides, I’ve been published at Bootsnall.com and know how to write absorbing blog posts.
Hi Philipp,
I like the pitch. Two notes:
1. Are all these tools free? If they are, mention it.
2. Maybe include a sentence on how you guess on google. What’s the first thing you type? The combination you try?
Hi Pinar
Thanks for your feedback. Yes, all tools except RocketReach are free. I’m going to mention that in the blog post I’d like to write for BAFB.
RocketReach offers 5 free look-up credits, and it continues to be useful after those credits have been used up because it’s still possible to enter a name and then see what comes after the @ symbol.
The first thing I type when I google is firstname.lastname@example.com. If there are no results, I’ll replace @ by (at) and ‘.’ by (dot). Often, a link to either RocketReach or an old article they’ve published comes up.
If there are no results, I type other combinations according to the options the Email Permutator has provided me with. It’s all intertwined; the Email Permutator, Fullcontact, RocketReach, Sales Navigator, AllmyTweets, and Google – a collection of useful tools :-).
Does that sound alright?
By the way, it’s happened that I didn’t get any results. And then, I just sent an email and used an email address that I thought may exist, and struck gold.
The Email Permutator’s combinations are those that I try out when I don’t find any results. The worst thing that can happen is a reply from the Mailer-Demon saying the email could not be delivered.
Hi Pinar, hi Sophie
Here’s my follow-up comment, step 4:
Possible headlines:
How I Hunt Down Editors’ Email Addresses
How to Hunt Down Editors’ Email Addresses
Lede:
You have a brilliant idea for an article.
You know how to pitch.
You’ve read the masthead.
You’ve worked out which editor to pitch to.
But you have no clue how the fudge you’re supposed to find out their email address.
Sound familiar?
I’ve been there too. Don’t fret, there are several ways to figure them out. Let me walk you through them.
Key points:
1) LinkedIn Sales Navigator: this is a GoogleChrome extension that helps freelancers with a Google Account find the email address that people used on LinkedIn.
2) Fullcontact / Contacts+: this is another GoogleChrome extension that helps freelancers with a Google Account find any email address that people used to create an account on Social Media (such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn etc.)
3) AllmyTweets.net: If an editor has ever tweeted their email account before, here’s where freelancers may find it.
4) Email Permutator: this is an essential tool in terms of sussing out editors’ email addresses. It creates various possible email addresses; all freelancers need is the name and what comes after the @ symbol.
5) RocketReach.co: this is a cool platform that comes with 5 free ‘look-up credits’ per month. Once the credits have been used up, RocketReach is still useful because it helps find out what comes after the @ symbol.
6) And if all else fails, I’ll guess and google. The first thing I type is firstname.lastname@example.com. If there are no results, I’ll try the same combination with (at) and (dot) rather than @ and ‘.’ If I still haven’t struck gold, I continue with those combinations that the Email Permutator has provided me with.
As a last resort, I just fire out the emails (one by one) and if I don’t get a reply from the Mailer-Demon, I know that the email address exists.
All these tools are free except RocketReach. RocketReach comes with 5 free look-up credits. The free version continues to be useful even after the look-up credits have been used up because it’s still possible to enter a name and then find out what comes after the @ sign. This is useful info for the Email Permutator, and for googling and guessing into the bargain.
Fit for BAFB:
This is a great fit for BAFB because ANY freelance blogger has come across this problem before. Unless they know how to handle it, they’re stuck. This blog post will make an Email-Sherlock Holmes out of any reader.
This is the fun blogger you’re looking for:
As for why I’m the person to write it: Because I’ve figured out how to find out editors’ email addresses. I’ve sussed out the editors of Sawasdee – Thai Airways’ inflight magazine – and found out even their email addresses. That wasn’t easy!
Besides, I’ve been published at Bootsnall.com and know how to write absorbing blog posts.
Hit reply and let me know if ‘How to Hunt Down Editors’ Email Addresses’ is a great fit for BAFB.
Thanks so much and I look forward to hearing from you!
Cheers
Writer Philipp Meier
‘We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect’ – Anais Nin
http://writerphilippmeier.com
Hi Philipp,
This sounds good. I really like the changes.
Hi Pinar
Thanks! Glad to hear that.
Cheers
Philipp
Possible headlines:
5 Things You Should Do Before Scaling Up Your Freelance Blogging Business
Want to Scale Up Your Freelance Blogging Business? Do these 5 Things First.
Post opener:
Working solo as a freelance blogger has its limitations. No matter how productive or efficient you are, you can only write so many words in a day and communicate with a fixed amount of clients. When you hit that limitation and you want more for your business, it’s tempting to just start hiring people to take on the extra work. But a sudden scale up could be disastrous. It could hurt client relationships, give you more stress, and distract you from the writing work you love to do. This guide will show you how to scale up successfully avoid common pitfalls.
Main points:
First I’ll list the reasons why some freelance bloggers might want to scale up (ex. less time on grunt work, make more money per hour of work, get bigger projects). Then I’ll point out that before they do this, they need to take the following steps:
1. Clarify what you want your workdays to look like. This exercise will help you know the kind of business model you need to create and which tasks you can and should hire help for. It will also prove to be a good decision-making tool later on.
2. Get projects with much higher margins. Regardless of the business model you choose as you scale up your business, you’re going to need higher paying projects if you’re going to pay more for overhead as you hire people. I’ll note the additional expenses bloggers would typically gain as they grow their team.
3. Break up your “scale up” in stages. You’ll need to adjust not just to the logistics of working with a team, but also the environment and psychology. I’ll recommend that readers start by scaling up on one project first and with one person so that they can weigh on this experience before going all in.
4. Hire for soft skills. It seems logical to hire the most skilled or most experienced people who apply. But most hard skills can be taught/learned. Instead, you need to focus on hiring people who are communicative, can take constructive feedback well, and who can overcome obstacles on their own.
5. Stay on top of quality. You need to check every single output from your team, even if they’ve already proven themselves. Otherwise, you’ll end up with sub-par work. Scaling up doesn’t mean being hands off, it means doing higher level work.
I think this post would be a good fit for Be a Freelance Blogger because it ties in with a lot of the themes/posts in the “Level Up” section and this specific angle hasn’t been tackled yet. I believe I can write a compelling post on the subject because I failed at scaling up my writing services twice, until I found success and stability on the third try. My tips won’t be abstract, they’ll be based on my practical experience.
Let me know what you think!
Hi Celine,
I like this.
Possible Headlines:
1) Scale Your Freelance Blogging Business Super Quick (A Stress-Free Guide)
2) Six Ways to Help Your Thrive in Your Freelance Blogging Business (Super Fast and Easy)
Post Opener:
Blogging is one strategy of Content Marketing that never fails to deliver. According to Hubspot, businesses who use blogging as a part of their marketing strategy get 67% more leads than those who don’t. Their chances of getting ranked high on SEO also increase by a whopping 434% (links will be included).
That is some staunch data!
So, if you’re struggling to get into the freelance blogging biz, all you need is this mini-guide.
But first, you need to understand that every brand has a different goal behind their blogging strategy.
When you are writing for clients, don’t just automatically assume their goals. Collect data so can write better blogs.
Main Points:
1) Write Every Day and Start Using These Tools to Make it Better
Think of writing as a muscle. It’s like stretching every day. The more you write, the better you become at it. (This point is about building a writing routine PLUS a list of important [free] tools that all writers should start using right now).
2) Networking is Key
Neglecting to connect with other people in your industry (and even marketers, entrepreneurs, and journalists) can pay off by building strong professional relationships which may even help you land a gig or two. (This point will focus on using networking to land new clients and promote your services.)
3) Use This Formula to Pitch High-Authority Blogs
Here I will talk about how to collect data and save it on excel sheets so you can use that and pitch to different blogs. It will also explain how often you should pitch, a cold email template that works, and how to make your pitch valuable.
4) Use Social Media to Market Your Services
In this point, I’ll teach writers how to use social media to brand themselves as a freelance blogger and give an easy everyday checklist to make sure they are networking with experts often.
5) Niche Down
This will explain the difference between niching down industry-wise vs. topic-wise and how it can make your business more profitable.
6) Work for Experts in Your Field
This is essential for beginners. Working with experts in your field (sometimes even for free) will help writers polish their skills. You can always charge high later when you have that kind of value to provide to your clients.
Why This Will Be a Great Fit for BAFB?
This actionable guide will be a valuable addition to BAFB. Writers will be able to walk away with a clear set of directions and an actionable plan that they can start working on right away.
I’ve grown my business as a freelance blogger -> freelance copywriter -> freelance social media manager with these simple but effective techniques and I’d like nothing more than others to benefit from it.
The points I’ve mentioned aren’t something that I googled up. I wrote them down from my own personal reflection on what really helped me scale my business.
Hi Hira,
I really like this.
Thank you!
Title: Don’t Sleep in Your Shoes
Subtitle: …and other obvious freelancing advice
Post Opening:
If the internet is lacking for anything, it isn’t advice. Freelancing is as accessible as ever with amazing resources (like this one) offering a stream of content teaching you everything you need to know. But with so much advice coming from every corner, how do you really know what will work for you?
Key Points:
1) Know Thyself – Every freelancer is different; we live in different cities, have different obligations, different goals and dreams. Here we would discuss honoring your personal situation and not beating yourself up that your career isn’t exactly like someone else’s.
2) Try, Try Again – Figuring out what advice to follow for your blogging career is all about trying different things. Here we discuss the process of iteration and data collection to find your personal best practices.
3) Go for the Goal – Without a clear (or even vague) goal, you’ll be lost like a person in the middle of the desert with every direction to choose and no idea which way the oasis is. Here we discuss the process and importance of goal setting for a successful freelance blogging career.
Why Me and This Post?
Be a Freelance Blogger has advice for writers in every niche of blogging, which could overwhelm the newly hatched freelancer. This post offers advice on how to absorb and put into practice all the other amazing advice your blog offers. I am a freelance blogger who loves counseling new writers into the business and help them grow their skills while maintaining balance, happiness, and health.
Hi Jeanette,
I like the message behind the pitch, but a few notes:
1. Consider reworking the title. First part sounds a bit vague, and second part makes me ask: if it is so obvious, why do we need it?
2. I love your three points, and maybe we can use several others?
Hello Pinar!
Thank you for your notes.
Additional titles could include:
-Finding Your Freelancing Best Practices
-A Practical Guide to Taking Freelancing Advice
-Overwhelmed by Freelance Blogging? Try This First.
Additional sections could include:
-Advice is Important: Too often, freelancers want to break free from the crowd and stand out by ignoring all advice and blazing their own path. Here we discuss how existing advice and best practices can be beneficial and you shouldn’t try to reinvent the wheel by ignoring it all.
-Course Correction: Every freelance blogger takes a misstep at one time or another. Here we discuss how to efficiently change tactics, niches, or practices if we find something isn’t working for us.
Hi Jeanette,
I like this version.
Hi Jeanette,
Sounds good.
First 60 words
As writers, we all have an inimitable vocation. The elation of being inspired with an idea and expressing it in great sentences, the joy of seeing our names in print, the exhilaration on our words being recorded for eternity gives and above all, getting pained for what we love to do is indeed a great gift
I will share Six Proven tactics to compound your income in ninety days
I am blind/visually impaired contestant.
On why I am the right person to write this post
I am the right person to write this post because, I am a freelance journalist. I have been writing for national magazines of India for the past four years. I have learned the craft of writing from a mentor who is a senior journalist. A large publisher of online books has commissioned an E-book on which I am currently working. Blogs, Newsletter, websites, I have written content for all above platforms and more. Proposal/Pitch
Headline, Six Proven tactics to compound your income in ninety days
1. The one quality that will make a quantum shift in your career. From my experience, I would elaborate how that quality/trait helped me take my writing to the next level and explain how it elevated my career and accelerated my rates
2. Whatever is your niche, , keep working having in mind that you have to generate multiple source of income while writing your blog post. I will explain more from my experience of how I am making use of my assignments and gigs for profitable projects that would yield income for me in the long term.
3. I will show how working on one skill impacted my earning. I intend to elucidate how to do it strategically so that you will start seeing result in your writing.
4. I will share how to tap the genie of your creative genius and how to please the muse to inspire you. I will outline the routine I follow to tap my creative brain and I will outline my daily practice for finding inspiration
5. What the one percent bloggers with roaring career do different to stay at the top? I will explain. I have just started doing the thing I am going to reveal in the post, and I am seeing great impact already
6. Finally, how to develop all your ideas into a post or project without letting them vanish in the thin air. I will share the exact framework I use as a journalist to work invariably on every inspiration and each story idea. After reading this tactic, you will start working on the book you have been postponing
Hi Pinar and Sophie,
I am writing Just to make sure if my pitch got pasted in the comments section. If I am right, there was no feedback for my pitch. It will be nice if you could please let me know if my pitch reached you or is there any issue with the same
Hope to hear from you,
Hi Sujitha,
Some notes:
1. Please reformat your pitch using punctuation and spacing.
2. You haven’t included a title.
3. Your title should be in the beginning, followed by your pitch, and lastly followed by the “why me” section.
4. Your sub-headings aren’t clear. What is the main point/tip/advice of each 6 points?
INSIGHTS INTO DIVINE MYSTERIES AND SECRETS
1. GOD’S PLAN A
God’s plan was to set humanity free from the power of Satan, That we may be freed from the bondage of hell. His plan was to give us authority to both heaven and hell; freely giving us the power to choose.
2. ETERNAL LIFE AND OUR UNION WITH GOD
There’s a legal union that we have with God that Jesus bought us into, but receiving eternal life brought us into a vital union with God. A simple way to help you understand this is a marriage between a man and a woman.
3. TWO ASPECTS OF THE CHRIST-LIFE
God gave his son and say whosoever believe in Him should not perish. That’s a legal declaration. Then, the verse concludes by stating what you would have upon believing in Him: “everlasting life”.
4. GOD SAVES THROUGH WORDS
What God has said, in order for you to be saved. That’s true confession, and principle for salvation. Salvation is all-encompassing.
5. CHOOSE TO SEE WITH GOD’S LIGHT
The word of God see and knows everything; it touches every subject in life and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. When you study the word, you receive much more than inspiration, you receive divine light, insight and wisdom to deal excellently in life.
6. CHRISTIANITY – A FELLOWSHIP
Real or authentic Christianity is God alive and functioning in a human person. It’s the pulsating life of Christ in a human body; divinity at work in humanity. This is what many have not come to understand about Christianity; the fact that it’s a living relationship with a living God.
I believe what i am sharing on this post is one of the most important topics, Yet most writers don’t write on topics like this. This is a perfect fit because our society needs to be educated on such a topic and i have more important details to share on this.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
This is the opposite of relevant.
This is not relevant.
6 Key Elements to Magnetize Soul Clients and Manifest Your 6-Figure Writing Career
The pursuit of the “right” client is the endless struggle of the freelance writer. But the reality is that the client is not the barrier, it is the writer. Once you open your mind and unleash your inner fervency, you will be a magnet for new clients who are eager to connect with and commit to you.
1. Focus your energy.
Pour your energy into your writing; do not give energy to distractions that do not nourish your mind, body, or soul. What you focus on, you attract.
2. Engage emotionally.
Decide what really inspires you and fuels the flame of passion you have for writing, then write about that. If you can connect emotionally to your writing, it will literally glow. The energy you imbue in your writing will be felt by readers and will magnetize other like-minded clients to you.
3. Meditate.
Sometimes simply quieting the mind, even for five minutes a day, can lead to unbelievable clarity and connection to your higher self. This is the way to access what your subconscious and deeper self has to offer the world through your unique perspective and writing.
4. Show gratitude.
We cannot truly connect with our essence without gratitude. There will be ups and downs, certainly, but reminding yourself to be grateful can transform your thinking and galvanize your determination to never give up.
5. Be resilient.
Rather than being positive all the time, be realistic and realize that there will be setbacks. But then engage your resilience and respond to challenging situations with new rigor and energy. We cannot always anticipate the actions of others, but we can control how we react; embracing this mindset will make you an unstoppable force in the writing world.
6. Have faith.
With a new mindset comes a new energy, one that is connected to the energetic flow of the universe. Have faith in your work and know that you are on the path to success. Stop questioning how you will achieve success and start embracing the opportunities that your new mindset reveals to you.
I am a female medical student with a passion for writing, and have numerous publications in medical humanities, historical research, and scientific literature. I believe writing for BAFB would be an excellent fit because I am adept at weaving together intricate stories from a vast array of sources in a variety of genres and topics. Moreover, I am willing to be vulnerable and draw parallels from my own insights to the problems confronting modernity, so I keep it real and raw but I love to mix in humor too – after all, laughing is fuel for the soul!
Hi Kyra,
A few notes:
– Maybe change the word “soul” in the title to right or ideal.
– Your intoduction just mentions new clients. I’d specify. After all, it isn’t about any new client, but the right clients, right?
– In 1, you recommend focusing, but you don’t mention how. How can freelance bloggers focus and avoid distractions?
– Do you have any tips on how newbies can medidate? Meditation can seem hard, if not impossible, for those who have busy minds and aren’t used to the practice. And if meditation seems daunting or not possible for now for some, do you have another suggestion them?
– Do you have any tips on how to find and practice gratitude?
– You might want to modify 6 a bit. Do you really want freelance bloggers to stop questioning how they will succeed? Questioning/wondering how you will succeed sounds like you’re looking for a strategy, which is not a bad thing. Maybe the tips is not to get stuck in the questioning part?
– How does writing about what you are passionate about tie to a well-paying niche? I’m a big believer in writing what excites you, but not everything you love necessarily pays well. I’d write a bit about that.
*
Overall, I’d try to make the pitch a bit more practical and less abstract.
How to talk to clients about content strategy
When you are pitching your services to a client, you will win when you demonstrate that you have the ability to create and execute a content strategy. Suddenly, you are not just some couch surfer with a laptop, you are a professional who commands their interest.
When you create a content strategy and lay out the content that you will create to pursue that strategy, you show an understanding of the client’s business and at the same time demonstrate that you are able to plan and execute, both of which are valuable, marketable skills.
1. Help the client to understand that with a content marketing strategy in place, the content that is produced for them is an investment not unlike an IRA. Over time, as solid content creates a larger digital footprint in search engines and backlinks, the level of engagement and overall value of the content grows exponentially. If it is part of a well-executed content marketing strategy, the value of most content will grow. Without a plan, it is merely a haphazard collection of articles.
2. Find out what the client wants to accomplish through their blog. Are they inerested in becoming thought leaders, or educating clients or other businesses? Are they looking to generate sales or provide information? What will make the blog successful in the client’s eyes?
3. Tools for creating an editorial calendar and why it is an important component of the marketing strategy and your presentation.
4. If the client already has a content marketing strategy, you are ahead of the game. Understanding their strategy will help you to pitch better articles. In addition, you may be able to make suggestions if you find an area of weakness in their plan or feel they may be ignoring an important area. Your interest demonstrates to the client that you are interested in their business and will increase their confidence in your writing.
*
5. Providing clients with a content marketing strategy in addition to being able to execute that strategy by writing appropriate content is a valuable and marketable skill that will help you to find and work with better clients who understand the value of what you do and are not looking to hire a writer for a bargain price.
If you run your own blog, then you need to sell yourself on an appropriate content marketing strategy and create your own editorial calendar. Not only will your blog perform better more quickly, but it will serve as an example of your ability to do the same work for clients. Use your own blog as a case study and keep data and notes on what you do and how it affects your blog’s audience and income.
Hi Marshall,
I like the angle, but a few notes:
– Try to make your subheadings a bit more shorter, and make them consistent. Are you using full sentences? Where does the subheading end? What is the main tip in 4? It should be in the beginning, and then explained.
– Why should you be the one writing this article? What’s your experience with content strategy? That part is missing.
– Is number 5 a subheading, or your closing paragraph?
– You might want to rework your title. Is this about how to talk to your client about content strategy, or why you should talk to them about it? It’s not always clear.
How to improve your freelance blogging dramatically with SWOT analysis
Recent studies have shown that over eighty-four percent of freelance bloggers have never earned one hundred dollars from blogging. This is due to the fact that they start their freelancing careers without an objective appraisal of their abilities, challenges and the prevailing environment.
Fortunately, this can be remedied by the use of a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.
1. Strengths
These are the internal capabilities of a freelance blogger which can help him or her to succeed as a blogger. Such factors may include a passion for writing, Marketing expertise or experience in a related career such as journalism.
To succeed as a freelance blogger it is necessary for the freelancer to identify her strengths and see how to leverage on them.
2. Weaknesses
Weaknesses are the internal characteristics that may prevent a freelancer from attaining his or her goals. For example, the blogger may have a problem with meeting client deadlines.
She may also be sensitive to criticism and rejection. Such personal traits are likely to impact negatively on a freelancer and impede success.
3. Opportunities
Opportunities are external considerations which enable a freelancer to attain his or her objectives. For instance, a growing economy is a positive indicator that there are opportunities for a freelance blogger to get work.
A freelancer should identify opportunities when they arise and take full advantage of them fast.
4. Threats
These are the external factors or obstacles that are likely to hinder a freelancer’s success. For example, stiff competition from other freelancers in a certain niche can be perceived as a threat.
A blogger needs to clearly identify threats and come up with foolproof methods of tackling them in order to succeed at freelancing.
5. I identifying a strategy that conforms with the SWOT analysis
After doing a careful analysis of all the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, it is imperative upon the freelancer to adopt a game plan that aims to limit the weaknesses and threats while taking full advantage of the strengths and opportunities.
6. Implementation of the chosen strategy
Having adopted a strategy with smart objectives, it is necessary for the freelance blogger to act in order to realize the chosen goals.
For instance, the blogger may decide to use a strategy that aims to focus on one niche, aggressive pitching, and production top class work for clients.
Why this pitch is a great fit to be a freelance blogger
This article will help prospective freelance bloggers to decide whether freelance blogging is the right career for them by providing a framework of assessing themselves and the external factors which affect freelance blogging success,
Secondly, this article will encourage bloggers to adopt a business-oriented mentality as opposed to a hobby like an approach to blogging through an emphasis on meticulous planning and careful implementation of freelance blogging strategies.
I am the right person to write this article because I have discovered the link between painstaking planning and contentment in freelance blogging.
Regards.
Ken Mwanzia.
Hi Ken,
I like the SWOT angle. Some notes:
– The part on weaknesses will include suggestions on how to work on/eliminate them, right? Just knowing about your weaknesses isn’t enough.
– Again, with opportunites/threats/identification/implementation, will you provide tips on how? Can you include some in the pitch for each point so we have a better idea?
– Can you tell us a bit more about you? So you discovered the importance of the business mindset, but how did it benefit you? What did you accomplish?
How to break into freelance blogging
There are ways to break into the blog writing industry that are not getting pennies to write for content mills. You may start small, but you’ll get there.
1. Start with unknown places and non-paid work first.
Don’t focus on money, but on building your portfolio. This will as well develop your confidence, little by little.
2. Try to win a writing contest.
The Pitchfest from BAFB, for example! But don’t tell anyone I told you this.
3. Have some samples, even if they are not published.
Showcase these in your online portfolio. Also, craft pieces that match the site you are applying for.
4. Build an online presence.
Start a blog. Interact with other fellow writers and editors.
5. Start thinking like an entrepreneur.
Know when to stop writing for free. Calculate your fees.
6. Learn to pitch.
Enter a freelance writer’s group to get feedback.
This would be a great fit for Be a Freelance Blogger because: it tries to answer the question that a big part of the audience is looking for (me included).
I think I would be the right person to write it because: I’m honestly looking for these answers, so I’ll try to write what I would like to read that solves my problem (that is, how to break into this business), backed by writers who have done it successfully.
Hi Mariela,
– Is one really necessary? If you pitch the right publications with the right pitch, you don’t have to work for free. Why not pitch publications that are open to new writers? There are quite a few those. And how about writing for a prestigious publication – if you have to write for free – so that you will have a published sample and built credibility? I’d reconsider or modify one.
– Entering a writing contest is a good idea. But why? Also, is winning easy? Or is it more about choosing the right contest, and learning from the experience even if you don’t win? How would you choose which contests to enter? Why? Your answer doesn’t have to be long, but it needs to hint at helpful suggestions.
– Point 4 is good, but is starting a blog enough? Or the only way? What are the alternatives, or complementary strategies to build an online presence? What are some tools?
– How do you know when to start writing for free, if you go that route at all? How do you calculate your fees? Again, it doesn’t have to be long, but give us an idea.
– Is joining a writer’s group the only way to learn how to pitch? What are other methods? If you want to enter a writer’s group, how do you choose which one? Where do you find such groups?
– When you say backed by other writers, will you include links to their stories/blog posts? Will you get quotes from them? Please include some details.
*
Overall, I’d include more details and alternatives.
*
STOP PROCRASTINATING and START WRITING!
What’s one of the biggest blocks to your blogging career? Time? Talent? Clients? Nope. Procrastination.
Whenever we put off writing those draft articles, or recording those topic ideas that are floating around in our heads, we are quite literally stopping the flow of our creativity – and our work opportunities.
So here are 6 ideas about how to focus and get started.
1. Recognise what you’re doing
Procrastination is that tendency to put off what we should be doing, or allowing ourselves to be distracted by something else when we know we have a task to do. (This point outlines how we can notice what we are doing and do something about it).
2. Understanding why you’re doing it
The first thing to recognise is that procrastination is usually NOT about a lack of ability! There are two common reasons we might put off doing things: fear/anxiety (about success or failure) and perfectionism. (This point elaborates on these blocks and clarifies that it is not usually about lack of writing ‘talent’.)
3. Notice the distractions
What is it that seems more important than writing that article?
(This point will acknowledge the kinds of distractions that we have – eg social media, friends, etc and that it’s not about denying those but making time. Using them as a reward for writing time etc.)
4. Change your thinking
While there’s some debate about just how many thoughts go through our brain every day it’s generally recognised that it’s in the tens of thousands! What we DO know is that most of that thinking is negative and the same old thoughts we had yesterday!
(This point would note that this ‘wasted thinking time’ can be channelled differently. And introduce meditation – a practice of noticing our thoughts, not getting rid of them – can help.)
5. Create the time and space
Set the scene, make the time, create the space – whatever it is that makes you feel comfortable enough to start writing, do it!
(This point would expand on ways that can help you make the experience joyful/ more organised/allow the creative juices to flow).
6. Write about something you know
Chances are, that if this article grabbed your attention it’s because the issue sounded familiar to you. (This point would note that I chose the topic because I know it through my own experience and how much easier it is, and ‘confident’ it feels, to write about a topic you know/have experienced.)
Be Kind to Yourself – and Start!
(This closing section would be one of encouragement – how important it is to take the pressure off yourself, and allow creativity. I didn’t number it as I saw it as a way of concluding.)
I think this would be a great fit for Be a Freelance Blogger because I think it’s a common and familiar difficulty both to bloggers and anyone who writes.
It’s a familiar experience to me and that was the catalyst for me to write about it.
My personal experience, as someone who loves writing and is keen to do freelance blogging, and who also is a trained meditation teacher, made me confident that I could find an interesting angle to write about it. Thank you for reading.
Hi Pauline,
I like it. Two notes:
– Maybe your title can include “how.”
– How did you use these techniques to stop procrastinating yourself?
Great advice, thank you!
Yes, I could certainly include a personal angle on each of those points. Freelance blogging is a new area for me, however, so I don’t have published articles I could refer to, at this stage.
Thanks for the feedback!
Hi Pauline,
I meant how did these help you to stop procrastinating? Even if you don’t have published articles, I’m guessing you have written before. Otherwise, how would you decide procrastination was such a big problem? So even if these tips help you overcome procrastination in pitching, or helped you in the past writing for school, I’d like to hear about that.
Hi Pinar,
thanks for the additional comment! I’ve taken your suggestion re adding how I used these techniques and re-titled and re-drafted my pitch, as below.
HOW I STOPPED PROCRASTINATING and STARTED WRITING!
What’s one of the biggest blocks to your blogging career? Time? Talent? Clients? Nope. Procrastination.
When we put off writing those draft articles, or even simply recording those topic ideas that are floating around in our heads, we are quite literally stopping the flow of our creativity – and our work opportunities. Most of us have done it at some time in our life. I certainly have. I’ve been writing in some form or other for most of my life, whether as a student or in my career, and there have been many times when our old friend ‘procrastination’ has been an unwelcome visitor – but I’ve always managed to get the job done, and never missed a deadline.
So here are 6 tips that helped me get focused and get writing.
1. Recognise what you’re doing
Procrastination is that tendency to put off what we should be doing, or allowing ourselves to be distracted by something else when we know we have a task to do. Recognising what it is sounds simple enough, but acknowledging that we’re doing it – and doing something about it – isn’t always easy.
One of my shortcuts to recognising my personal delaying tactics is to take a mindful pause and ask myself: “Is this the task I REALLY need to be doing right now?” (This point can expand a bit on my personal experience, including other ways we can catch ourselves procrastinating such as not finishing tasks, choosing low-priority tasks over high-priority ones etc.).
2. Understanding why you’re doing it
The first thing to understand is that procrastination is usually NOT about a lack of ability! There are two common reasons we might put off doing things: fear/anxiety (about success or failure) and perfectionism. (This point elaborates on these blocks; clarifies that it is not usually about lack of writing ‘talent’. I would cover this from my own experience in recognising that: writing growth includes the need to take risks; this reduces the fear of not writing the ‘perfect’ piece; the value of writing practice)
3. Notice the distractions and get them under control
What is it that seems more important than writing that article? (This point will acknowledge the kinds of distractions that we have, – eg social media, family and friends, personal time etc and that it’s not about denying those but making appropriate time for them. It will include: how I use them as a ‘reward’ for writing time; how I learnt to give writing a place of ‘priority’ in my day; scheduling and “To-Do lists” which can identify what kinds of activities are demanding my time and how I am prioritising them. )
4. Change your thinking
While there’s some debate about just how many thoughts go through our brain every day, it’s generally recognised that it’s in the tens of thousands! What we DO know is that most of that thinking is negative AND the same old thoughts we had yesterday! Meditation, which is about noticing our thoughts – not trying to get rid of thoughts – can help us find the mental space to stop procrastinating and be creative.
(This point would note that this ‘wasted thinking time’ can be channelled differently. It will introduce the idea that meditation – a practice of noticing our thoughts, not getting rid of them – can help. I would include the benefits I’ve enjoyed in having a daily meditation practice, noting that while a daily practice might not be right for everyone, how even a simple 5-minute breath-awareness practice can help bring clarity to our writing activity.)
5. Create the time and space
Set the scene, make the time, create the space – whatever it is that makes you feel comfortable enough to start writing, do it! (This point expands on ways that can help make the writing experience joyful/ more organised/allow the creative juices to flow. It can include simple techniques I’ve used to make me feel good about writing eg. making an ‘appointment’ in my diary for my writing time; setting up my environment for success not failure – eg, if writing at home, telling household members that this is designated ‘uninterrupted time’)
6. Write about something you know
Chances are, if this article grabbed your attention it’s because the issue sounded familiar to you. It’s certainly a familiar one for me and that’s exactly what gave me the interest to write about it!
(This point would note that I chose the topic because of my own experience and how much easier it is, and ‘confident’ it feels, to write about a topic you know/have experienced. I’d also acknowledge that we might not have the luxury of always being an expert on what we have to write about. In these instances it’s important to take responsibility for the quality of your work and do your research – as I’ve had to do in previous jobs, including writing speech points for my bosses about topics that are new to me.)
Be Kind to Yourself – and Start!
(This closing section would be one of encouragement – how important it is to take the pressure off yourself, and allow creativity. I didn’t number it as I saw it as a way of concluding.)
I think this would be a great fit for Be A Freelance Blogger because I think it’s a common and familiar difficulty both to bloggers and anyone who writes. It’s a familiar experience to me, hence the catalyst for me to write about it. My personal experience, as someone who loves writing and is keen to do freelance blogging, and who is also a trained meditation teacher, made me confident that I could find an interesting angle to write about it.
I like this version better.
TAKING LEAP OF FAITH INTO FREELANCE
As it happens to most of us, the thought is always at the back of the mind – to be financially stable, independent, having flexibility in your job, enjoying finer things in life like traveling? I could not agree more until I discovered freelance writing online. I am all into flexibility, freedom to do whatever and whenever you want, hence I went into the internet and discovered freelance writing to be the best choice of achieving my goals.
For all who have been sitting on the idea, I believe there has never been a time like now to start and explore the journey.
1. Taking the first step
Aways the hard but most important one. It includes research, learning and more learning about freelance. Acquire as much as you can with regards to the ins and outs of freelance
2. Put the word into practice
As a freelance writer, the only way to prosper is to hit pen and paper and start writing. I find out that every day of writing even just 3 or 4 paragraphs makes a lot of difference, a way of getting my skills improved.
3. Follow the others in the industry
We are one another’s a strength, hence is very important to take a page of knowledge fro the ones before us. I joined my local association of freelancers for more insights regarding the industry
4. Getting paid
This makes it more fulfilling to learn that one can actually get paid to write. Very exciting and inspiring to use passion or hobby and turn it into a full-time career
I wrote this post for all those who have been thinking of going into freelance but then would have this voice inside the head telling otherwise like I did, the only thing stopping us from reaching our full potential is our mind. We become paralyzed by our own thoughts thinking about whether this will work or not. It is possible, with hard work, dedication and yearning for more, the best is yet to come.
Hi Dimakatso,
Some notes:
– Your title might include how and/or why. Also freelance what?
– Learning is important, but how do you know when to stop? How would you help readers not get stuck in constantly learning and never taking action?
-Will point three include other ways of connecting with other freelance bloggers?
– I’d try to focus more on freelance blogging as opposed to freelance writing.
– Pay more attention to grammar and spelling.
– 4 makes me confused. Are we talking about why we should freelance, or how we can get started? And if it talks about how we can started, you can talk about how and how much.
– You’ve taken the leap yourself, and it is great. So where are you in your journey now?
*
Overall, you could include more specifics and clarity.
lauren@beafreelanceblogger.com
How to get into the Paying Areas of Blogging and Grow There
How to Build the Six Pillars for a Paying Blogging Business and Still Grow Further:
This is what I am doing now and every aspiring blogger needs to do. Best work does not just out of plain hard work, you need to have an intelligent and realistic strategy that works wonders. I am just suggesting some steps to reach your goals as envisaged
1. Research: Do Continuous mining for new niches which need effective content. Then look for a specialization in the field you have a lively interest. There are no country limitations – just work on the subject you need. This will give you an extensive coverage. I did this for the Solar Panel industry and have started now with an Australian website.
2. Know Your Client’s Audience: How do you do it, you need to explore related websites, blogs, Facebook pages, forums and Linked In. Mine the data and store it in a simpler way so that you can retrieve and then work on it thoroughly. This will also help you to understand your client’s audience. Also research the SEO keywords that attract the audience.
3. The Daily Jig: Develop a routine that gives you daily results, if you do not have any work on a day use your time to make new contacts and honing your skills more and more. The routine should be tested as to both dimensions – time and the number of words. Make a fixed routine for your growth.
4. While aspiring get Inspired: Follow your mentors and guides – on how they have reached the place they are at now by watching their Youtube / Vimeo videos. Jot down the points in your journal along with a mindmap – free tool available is Freemind. You can also get inspired by the top authors – study how they developed their creative and language skills.
5. Nitty- gritties: You must have a website and a blog to support and showcase your work along with a business email id, not the free ones. Make sure your web opens fast on mobile and is responsive. Also, make sure you have a solid writing support system consist of people who will deliver the goods.
6. Learn continuously to spread your word: This is related to the point 2 above, but you need to know how to grow. Still businesses run with a brick and mortar structures, so if you could talk to actual businessmen who are also interested to grow – help them on how to develop traction in their business with their online business presence. You will be surprised how much can you learn and grow by just talking to them. You may not learn much about writing or blogging, but you will definitely learn what drives people to buy.
Hi Sudhir,
A few notes:
– You might want to rework your intro; it sounds more like the “why me” part you should have included at the end. And you need a closing stament. Why should you be writing this post?
– I think you could work on making your points a bit more clear.
– Take advange of white space and leave some blanks so your pitch is easier to read.
– Try to include more specific details. How do you research the SEO keywords your client needs? How do you find their readers on social media sites? You don’t have to keep it long, but give us an idea. For instance, what do you suggest about finding new contacts? How should one develop a routine?
–
How to Write when You Have Small Kids at Home
As a stay-at-home mom of two, I notice that new acquaintances are almost always excited when they find out that I’m a writer.
“Oh good!” they say. “You can work from home.”
If only it were that simple.
Although neither of my children are babies, they both still require a whole lot of attention that makes working at home difficult, to say the least. Free time is limited, which means if I want to write, I have to use my time wisely. In the past year, I’ve managed to complete three entire drafts of a novel-in-progress as well as dip my toe into the freelancing game. Here are some of the strategies I use to get work done, even when I only have a little bit of time.
1. Routine—Working at the same time each day helps me get into the flow of writing with less resistance. Having a routine in place makes it so that even on days where my energy is low, I still sit down to work—and usually end up working through the block.
2. Break work into chunks—Breaking the writing up into small tasks helps me avoid feeling overwhelmed by the entirety of the project and to feel like I’ve accomplished something at the end of a session.
3. Pomodoro timer—Using a system of thirty or so minutes of focused work paired with a small break helps you complete more work in less time.
4. Quiet time—Establish some sort of quiet time with your children so that you can work while they are busy.
5. Babysitter—Sometimes the kids just need attention. Find someone—a spouse, a family member, a neighbor you can trade with, or even hire someone—to watch your kids when you need to get something done.
6. Sacrifice—Time is finite, and you can only do so many things in a day. So in order to write with kids in the home, you will probably have to sacrifice something. For some people, waking up before the kids makes sense. I am absolutely not a morning person, so instead, I use my free time in the evening when the kids are in bed to get more work done.
7. Turn off distractions—Leave your phone behind. Don’t get caught in tangents during research, turn off the internet when you’re writing.
“How to Get Writing Done when You Have Small Kids at Home” would make a great article for Be a Freelance Blogger. Many people seem to think it’s easy to write from home because you can be with your children instead of working in an office, but the children’s needs are often distracting, making work hard. These tips, however, can help a parent complete more writing in less time and manage their time well to actually get work done.
Hi Mette,
I like this. Two things:
– Maybe you can emphazie the freelance blogging part, but it is good.
– I’d also include suggestions on how to establish quiet time with kids. How do you keep them busy?
Hi Pinar, here’s an updated pitch, with more of an emphasis on the freelancing and a little more about where I would go with the quiet time section.
How to Freelance When You Have Small Kids at Home
As a stay-at-home mom of two, I notice that new acquaintances are almost always excited when they find out that I’m a writer.
“Oh good!” they say. “You can work from home.”
If only it were that simple.
Although neither of my children are babies, they both still require a whole lot of attention that makes working at home difficult, to say the least. Free time is limited, which means if I want to write—and therefore, get paid—I have to use my time wisely. Here are some of the strategies I use to get work done, even when I only have a little bit of time.
1. Routine—Working at the same time each day helps me get into the flow of writing with less resistance. Having a routine in place makes it so that even on days where my energy is low, I still sit down to work—and usually end up working through the block. Sometimes the most daunting thing is starting an article, but if I begin the session by looking for freelance gigs or researching for a post I’m writing, the writing begins to flow faster than if I’m just staring at a blank Word document.
2. Break work into chunks—If I’m writing a blog post, the first stage might be drafting an outline with each point I want to make. Next, I write one section at a time. Some sections might be quite rough, but that can be fixed during revision. Breaking the writing up into small tasks helps me avoid feeling overwhelmed by the entirety of the project and to feel like I’ve accomplished something at the end of a session, even if I haven’t completed the entire thing.
3. Pomodoro timer—Using a system of thirty or so minutes of focused work paired with a small break helps you complete more work in less time.
4. Quiet time—Establish some sort of quiet time with your children so that you can work while they are busy. When my kids were babies, I wrote during naptime, but now that they have (unfortunately!) both stopped napping, I have had to incorporate a daily quiet time into our routine. Some families I know send their children into their room for an hour or so, giving them special books to read or paper to draw on. I use the TV strategically, letting my kids watch while I write. It’s not a perfect setup, but it guarantees me at least some time to work.
5. Babysitter—A few years back, when my oldest was one and a half, I had to conduct some phone interviews for an article I was writing. Even if I scheduled the interviews during naptime, there was no way I could guarantee my daughter wouldn’t disrupt, so I paid a neighbor to watch her. And sometimes, that’s the only way to get the job done when you have kids. Find someone—a spouse, a family member, a neighbor you can trade with, or even hire someone—to watch your kids when you need to get something done.
6. Sacrifice—Time is finite, and you can only do so many things in a day. So in order to write with kids in the home, you will probably have to sacrifice something. For some people, waking up before the kids makes sense. I am absolutely not a morning person, so instead, I use my free time in the evening when the kids are in bed to get more work done.
7. Turn off distractions—Leave your phone behind. Don’t get caught in tangents during research, turn off the Wi-Fi when you’re writing.
Sounds good. You didn’t include your “why” in this one, but you already did in the first, so it is okay. 🙂
Good deal! 🙂
Everything you need to know about writing for a Top Ten article site
Top Ten article sites like Listverse can provide quick and easy money for seasoned professionals looking for a nice fluff piece or aspiring freelance writers (especially students) looking for the validation and confidence boost that can come from someone actually paying you to write. But while these types of articles are, in theory, simple to write, there are a number of pit traps waiting to turn a breezy one-day affair into a total stress-fest.
1). Being original in an over-saturated field
It’s no secret that Top Ten articles sites are becoming a slightly over-done concept, with the distracting advert bar relentlessly taunting us with enticing titles like ‘Top Ten Scariest Murder Cases’, or ‘Ten Things You Forgot Were In The Bible’ while we’re trying to work. So how can you keep coming up with fresh content ideas when it feels like everything has already been said and done? Well, this is actually the case with many niches in today’s world – with the increase in blogs, finding something new to say is always going to be a challenge. Try to find a topic close to home, and draw inspiration from your personal life, as not all experiences are universal.
2). How to research properly and avoiding accidental plagiarism
Changing the angle and the writer of an article can cause two pieces of writing on a very similar topic to sound completely different – but, unfortunately, this isn’t always applicable when it comes to Top Ten lists. Research can be difficult to do, as simply Googling something like ‘Ten World Leaders Who Were Secretly Gay’ is probably going to lead you to an article that someone else has already written. And while there’s nothing wrong with having the same concept, using someone else’s Ton Ten list for research will most likely just lead to accidental plagiarism and over-lap (and will not be a credible source to reference). Instead, try setting the Google search to ‘News’ to see fresh topics that might not have been covered yet, or using Google Scholar to give it a more knowledgeable and academic approach.
3). Importance of tone
Scrolling through a Top Ten site, it can be very easy to see an article and think: ‘Well, no offense, but I could definitely write something better than this.’ But, you know what they say, pride cometh before the fall – it’s still incredibly important to research the blog you’re thinking of writing for, to get a sense of tone and voice. Do they like humour, or is it simply fact based? Is it formal or informal? Are you writing for adults, or teens? These things need to be taken into consideration.
4). Is it worth it?
And finally, is it worth it for you? Writing for a Top Ten site can be a lot of work for a small pay –Listverse offers up $100, if they accept your article. It’s a low risk, low reward situation, but rewards are relative – if you’re looking to build your portfolio, or treat yourself during college, or just fancy something lighter for a change, then writing for a Top Ten site may be perfect for you. But if you’re a hardened professional with years and, more importantly, dollars under your belt, then it’s not something you should trouble yourself with.
Why this is a great fit for Be a Freelance Blogger
While there is a lot of wonderful content on Be a Freelance Blogger for new and aspiring bloggers, it would be great to see more content geared towards younger bloggers, especially students. With the changing times and technology, the way in which we research and write articles has changed rapidly, and it can be hard to know if we’ve done it effectively. A lot of people also aren’t always taught how to research things properly in school, making the writing process difficult at times – doing academic research for a dissertation is very different to researching an article or a blog post, so the same techniques can’t always be used. Reading people’s advice and experiences of being a freelance blogger is always fascinating and useful, but does not always contain actionable advice, and often contain a lot of overlap.
Hi Tasha,
I like this. One note: Did you write any listicles yourself? If you have first-hand experience, you should include it.
And it is not necessary now, but should you write this, it would be useful to feature some well-paying list-article sites, including advantages/disadvantages specific to that site.
Inspirations to Avoid Being Stumped
I am a beginning blog writer intent on getting past a serious case of writer’s block and understand blogging as it relates to my pursuit of continuing writing as a profession. I like writing and getting others motivated about writing.
Step 1: Follow experienced bloggers whom you can learn from and gain a following of writers who carry across a specific niche you like. BY following other bloggers who have experience in the niche you currently write for, you can gain a different perspective about the niche itself.
Step 2: Write with a goal in mind. Define your niche precisely by addressing the most specific problems you are looking to solve for a specific audience. You can’t go wrong by detailing every “how” to solve the problem.
Step 3: Read about your niche and how you plan to seek answers from others. Read, research, brainstorm, walk away and return to your niche. Having a clear researchable niche can keep you from feeling like you have nothing to write about.
Step 4: Do inspirational reviews of bloggers in the niche you choose. When you study what others are writing, it is more than enough to get your creative gears in motion.
Step 5: What gets you adrenaline going when you write about your niche? The facts that interests you may very well pique the curiosity of a few other hundred, even thousands of others as well. If a frustrating subject matter makes you want to delve further into that issue then write about it to share your knowledge as well.
Step 6: Meet other bloggers in person when you feel like your projects inspiration is dwindling. Seek out a mentor, a motivator in your circle who can help you navigate troubled waters. You can overcome that “stumped” feeling by stepping away a moment and taking a breather. Get out, get known, and get involved.
I am great at writing at this stage of my development and writing this information helps me to get more inclusive about narrowing down my delays and procrastinations. I plan to grow my audience slowly by not bogging myself down too deep in overwhelming parts of writing that I must learn because being stumped is a way that can be overcome. I do appreciate the fact that many are reading this post.
Hi Olabisi
– I’d work on the title. Work on Inspirations to avoid being stumped? Who is the advice for? What sort of inspirations? Make the title more specific.
– Step 2 needs a bit clearing up. What do you mean by detailing every how to? Is it really possible to detail everything? It would be quite time-consuming.
– Step 3 needs clearing up. Do you mean quit this niche, and come back to it later? Or do you mean just walk away, clear your head and continue writing? The meaning is also off. I’d rewrite this entire step to make the meaning more clear.
– In step 4, you mention inspirational recviews. Do you write these? Where? How long are they? Do you post them online? Do you share it with others?
– In step 5, pay attention to your subheading. Whatis the main point, and what is the explanation?
– Pay more attention to language.
– Pay attention to formatting and space.
*
Overall, the pitch needs some work to have better focus and clarity, as well as better specifications.
From a Freelance Blogger to Published Author: Why You Should Publish Your Own Book
I get it. Having a consistent stream of clients is every freelance blogger’s dream.
To do that, you need to constantly market your services. But there is a way to do that on autopilot — publishing your own book.
In this post, I’ll show you how to do exactly that. Write a book that markets your freelance blogging services and builds your authority in your niche.
1. Advantages of writing and publishing your book
List of several advantages of publishing your book as a freelance blogger
2. Topic
Why this is important and how to nail down your topic for better client targetting
3. Keywords
Finding the right keywords for your chosen topic, how to insert keywords on your title and subtitle without sounding spammy
4. Your author bio
How to write an author bio and why this is important
5. Budget
Which part of the publishing process you can skimp and which part should you shell out money
6. Your book launch
How to successfully launch your book to reach potential clients
This is a great fit for BAFB readers because this will help them publish their own book and level up their blogging career. I want to write this post to share my experience (and mistakes) in publishing my own book.
Thanks! 🙂
Hi Joy,
I like this.
Cook, Clean, and HomeSchool: How to Build a Successful Blog When You Have Mom $#!t To Do.
Here is a general intro for my idea:
I have been a full time WAHM for over 4 years now and in that time we made the decision to home school our kids. This was totally unplanned and just sort of happen and honestly I was completely freaked out about it at first. I mean I already have a TON on responsibility on my shoulders as a WAHM …. and now homeschooling?
I currently work as a VA but have this burning desire to kick off my own thing and become a real life Freelance Blogger. I say real life because in my mind, I am already doing it. IRL.. not so much. Post here, post there on social feeds. I have always worked outside the home after becoming a mother, and had the typical challenges that working moms face: cooking, cleaning, weekly errands, sick kids, extracurricular sports and clubs… all that stuff moms know about and try to figure out how to manage. But for some reason this just seemed to be so much more difficult to figure out: cooking, cleaning and home school…. oh and lets not forget about building a successful blog too.
Here are the key points I will discuss:
Time Management – scheduling my time for writing just as if I was scheduling doctor appointments for the kids. Picking chore days vs write days..and sticking to it. Allow myself 20 minutes of uninterrupted writing time..even if it means I am missing the latest Real Housewives of Something or Other.
Have an Idea Book – I carry the prettiest green journal around with me, in my purse wherever I go. It’s got a lot of scribbles but fit also has some good ideas. I got some of those while waiting at the dentist’s office or shopping for groceries. When the idea hits, I write it down. Might have a blog about a new book I am reading or the best canned tomato sauce. Who knows.
Use the blog in our home school lessons. – I let them read and critique what I write. I mean let’s face it, kids are brutally honest and if it sucks they have no problem telling me so. They also like pointing out my misspelled words, grammatical errors, or some other common mistakes.I find when they correct me, it helps them write better. Also I use the Creative Writing lessons I build for them as the perfect review for myself. I am teaching them basic concepts but as adults we get so caught up in the fancy and impressiveness .. we simply forget the basics.
Use the day in/day out as part of my inspiration – not being afraid to write about the everyday stuff. The feelings I had about that day or something that happen. Looking through my past couple of weeks at the events we had planned/things that happen and sometimes finding inspiration.
Get over yourself – Stop worrying so much about being judged or ridiculed. I am probably harder on myself than someone else would be. If you like to do it, and you have the desire to do it, then why are you not doing it? Just plan on wrapping up here and reviewing the overall theme which was finding time to write during a busy day as a WAHM.
Even though blogging has been around for a while now, there are still so many folks who would really like to make a living or a hobby of doing this on a regular basis. It is me.. I am many folks. I can speak from real life experience, in the moment, and talk about some of the steps I am just starting to make to get my own blog off the ground and going.
Hi Tracie,
I like this, but it is a bit similar to another post about how to be successful freelance blogger while you have kids, with the main difference of yours being homeschooling. And the title could use reworking like: How to Build a Successful Blog When You Have Mom $#!t To Do (or How to Build a Successful Blog When You Are A Homechooling Mom).
Hi Pinar & Sophie,
3 Rockstar Bloggers Reveal 1 Powerful Secret for Freelance Blogging Success
Sometimes treasures are hid out in the open. Recently, I found one as I read through the work of three Rockstar bloggers. They are creative, display writer-business savvy, published on Bucket list corporate sites and have a continuously growing social media following. Let’s look at how their 1 secret to keep clients/followers coming back, works:
1: Mind your ego/alter-ego
Henneke Duistermaat is a marketing and writing guru, who uses Henrietta, her self-declared alter-ego, to cartoon-ly illustrate her content. She’s now sought after and chooses her clients, yet her testimonials are littered with accounts of how approachable she is.
2: Show your humanness
Everyone wants someone who can relate to their reality. Henneke has also openly shared her initial uncertainty about the direction things would’ve taken as a non-native English speaker. But she stayed open to the possibilities as she moved away from the employee burn-out she no longer wanted to starting her own writing career.
3: Mind your manners
Another seasoned blogger and marketer, Elna Cain uses a charming, slick personal marketing tactic of transparency about her journey from freelance newbie to steadily advancing in the freelance blogger society. She still kindly asks her readers to take the time to read and share her content.
4: Leverage community-power
Greatness is not intimidated by greatness. Draw on the insights of other talented writers to improve your blogging skills and business approach as you share your own.
5: Be yourself
A brilliant and feisty copywriter and web consultant, Gill Andrews seemingly has new content shares on auto-pilot. She offers colourful, insightful assessments that help others better engage their readership and boost conversions.
6: Do your homework
Effectiveness not only comes from applying relevant past experiences. Experts command authority because they go further than most others to check the facts and translate what they mean into actionable answers for others’ needs and desires.
Rationale
This pitch is a great fit for BAFB because from the headline to the last point, it is relevant for freelance bloggers and highly actionable. The exemplars are authoritative because they’re real people with verifiable success as esteemed and accomplished bloggers. I’m your writer because this reflects a real, personal experience as a newbie freelance blogger who’s learning from these Rockstar bloggers.
Hi Marsha,
I like the concept, but the execution needs work:
– Make sure the subheading/main pointer and its example/explanation are a good match. Point 1 needs a bit expanding. What is it about Heneke’s ego/alterego that makes her approachable?
– Are you point 2 matches its description/example? Also, what do you mean by “she stayed open to the possibilities as she moved away from the employee burn-out she no longer wanted to starting her own writing career.” She has a writing career. She is an established copywriter and blogger, right?
– Point 3: Elna is indeed very polite and friendly, but are you sure asking for shares nicely is a relevant example?
– Will point 4 show how to draw insights from other writers?
– Are you sure point 5’s title and desription match? Also, if she is seemingly sharing content on autopilot, isn’t it more an example of her productivity? Can you give example of her being colorful and insightful – as you say this is her being herself? Or can you think of better, more specific examples of this writer being herself and this showing in her writing?
– Will point 6 include tips/examples? You don’t need to go into detail, but it looks like readers might need more from it.
– Will you get a quote from these three writers, or will you link to specific posts from them? Both/either work, but we need to know.
Hi Pinar,
Thanks for your critique. As for your questions:
1. The idea is that Henneke’s accomplished and still remains approachable. That extends her blogging effectiveness beyond her content by showing that your demeanor is part of your persuasion as an influencer in blogging.
2. The follow-up is about how Henneke’s relatable to persons experiencing or close to experiencing burnout from a corporate job. She shows that success in blogging is possible for people who want to transition from that into a writing career despite their uncertainties. They can overcome potential limitations as well (she’s a non-native English speaker teaching persuasive copywriting to thousands!)
3. The 1st point with reference to Elna is about using soft skills in marketing in addition to technical tactics like SEO that tends to get a lot of push.
4. Elna has an exclusive FB group but that’s just one example. This point easily extends to other writer communities, such as Freelance Writers Den.
5. I’ve mentioned Gill’s success with content sharing not from the perspective of productivity but how her feisty personality is infused in the actionable advice she offers her readership. Her language gets the point across with effectiveness without offensiveness. I can give examples but not in two sentences (I was really trying to comply with the sentence limits you gave as guidelines).
6. Here, examples would be given of how these experienced bloggers illustrate their points very effectively, drawing on credible examples.
And yes, I will link to these writers’ work to illustrate these respective points.
Hi Marsha,
Thanks for the revision. Looks much more solid now.
Hello Pinar,
How to Get the Most from Freelance Blogging Tips
As more people enter into Freelance Blogging, advice from experienced writers in the field become an essential part of starting out. However, anyone who seeks advice from the Internet has almost infinite sources of information, some repetitive, some unique. So, how do you navigate this sea of tips to find the best that work for your Freelance Blogging career and maximize on them?
Customize the advice
From the onset, there is a certain vision you have for your upcoming career in writing. Every time you are reading through a tip online, think about how it aligns with what you want to achieve. Not all good advice will guide you to the direction you desire, so be selective about the information you choose to use.
Create your own list
To narrow down this vast amount of information further, select a few of this pointers on how to manage a writing career and note down the ones you think you will keep coming back to. It helps you focus on specific skills you want to develop so they can help you in the long run.
Note the freelance bloggers who give you the best advice
This part, is totally subjective because a blogger’s advice may appeal to you because you have similar goals or background. Take time to look through these people’s careers and follow their ideas, but do not be obligated to follow one person because he/she said one good thing. Change the type of bloggers you follow as you see fit, and stick to the people who have made your dream happen before you so you know how they did it and apply it to your situation.
Do not avoid change
People often get into new things with a plan in mind, but sometimes the reality of the field make it clear that this plan will not work. If you realize you were getting into Freelance Blogging with the wrong goals after reading through the advice offered online, do not be opposed to changing up your strategy and working towards something attainable.
Attempt everything
While this is not feasible taking into account all the tips available, this works with the list you created above. It helps you to understand the scope of your abilities and to discover interesting things you can incorporate into your new career so you can move forward.
Have Fun
Your job performance and personal life will suffer when you enjoy what you do. Therefore, do not put too much pressure on yourself to do everything outlined by online experts. Push forward with your career goals and do what is necessary to succeed, but keep part the process engaging to your personality so you look forward to a few things when trying out certain pieces of advice.
About me: This is my second time pitching for an online blogger and the first time I’m doing it for BAFB. I am just starting out, and I believe this piece in important to BFAB’s audience because it helps them take advantage of all the advice on the blog. Please forgive the lengthy pitch, and I hope to hear from you.
Hi Nthambi,
I like your pitch in general, but some notes for you to consider:
– Point “Attempt Everything” might be a bit misleading and confusing. Are you sure you don’t want to just say “try new/different things to see what works”? Because attempting everything sounds illogical and time-consuming, if not impossible.
– “Your job performance and personal life will suffer when you enjoy what you do.” Do you mean it is a bad thing to love what you do? Are you sure? You might want to revise this part to make it clearer.
Thank you Pinar for the correction. The changes I would make to the subtitle you mention would have it read:
“Attempt anything you believe is important”
And for the statement you highlight, I meant for it to read:
“Your job performance and personal life will suffer when you do not enjoy what you do.”
Please tell me more about your thoughts on this pitch.
Thank you
Much better.
Thank you. I hope I’ll hear from you and move to the next stage of the contest
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
That means no new entries will be accepted – but if you’re responding to feedback on an existing entry, you can still post your revised pitches. Deadline for the revised versions is 11.59 pm Pacific on Thursday, September 19th.
I’ll go through all of the entries and will announce the winners next weekend.
Thanks, everyone, for joining in this Pitchfest!
Thank you Pinar & Sophie for such brainstorming and exciting Pitchfest.
You guys are doing a great job. Waiting for the winner announcement until next weekend.
Headline: Is Ghost Blogging Ethical?
Introduction: There’s a whole army of unseen bloggers working quietly in the shadows, weaving the words that others claim as their own. But is ghostwriting ethical?
I. What’s Ghost Blogging?
If there’s no author byline or the person whose byline appears on the piece is very active in the idea, content, dictation, and editing of the piece, you’re a copywriter—not a ghostwriter.
II. A History of Ghost Content
Would it surprise you to learn that Donald Trump’s book “The Art of the Deal” and Michelle Obama’s book “Becoming” were ghostwritten?
III. Why Do People Participate In Ghost Blogging?
While there’s a lot of reasons people “ghost”, the two most common are that writers are trying to earn a living and blog owners don’t have the time or ability.
IV. The Downsides to Ghost Blogging
Undisclosed guest blogging can ruin your relationship with readers and often relies on the same gene pool of generic information. You also can’t use these pieces in your portfolio or mention them to clients without permission.
V. Informational Blogs are About Getting the Job Done
Informational blogs focus on accurate and useful information, not on how your readers feel about you. So they might turn to ghost bloggers to get the information out.
VI. Is Ghost Blogging Unethical.
It’s definitely not illegal. A 2013 Public Relations Journal study found that 76 percent of PR agents believed that as long as the idea came from and was approved by the stated author, undisclosed ghost blogging was fine.
Why this post is a good fit for BAFB?
If you unwittingly commit an ethical faux pas, you could put your freelance blogging career at risk. While ghostwriting is a somewhat controversial practice, Be A Freelance Blogger doesn’t have any post on the subject.
Sorry, Pinar and Sophie. I thought the deadline was Thursday, September 19, 2019. But at least, I got some pitching practice in. 😉
No worries. 🙂
Thank you all for your inspiring pitches! Lots of great ideas here; deciding wasn’t easy. I loved being as a guest editor for BAFB for this contest, and I hope that you’ll pitch again at the next Pitchfest.
THE WINNERS ARE:
1st prize ($150*):Williesha Morris :“How to Transition From Journalism to Freelance Blogging.”
See: https://beafreelanceblogger.com/emergency-prepare/#comment-249309
2nd prize ($75): Jersey Griggs: “Wellness Tips That Will Banish Writer’s Block For Good”
https://beafreelanceblogger.com/emergency-prepare/#comment-249293
3rd prize: (Kindle copy of “How to Pitch a Blog Post”):
Gabriel Onyango: “7 Months of Triumphs and Stomach Ulcers; Lessons from My First $1,500 as a Writer”
https://beafreelanceblogger.com/emergency-prepare/#comment-249402
If you didn’t win a prize this time, don’t go away yet!
If your name’s on the list below, then I liked your pitch. If you’d like to have it published as a traditional unpaid guest post here at BAFB, write up your first full draft and email it to teambafb@gmail.com.
Runners up (unpaid guest post on BAFB)
Philipp Meier: “How to Hunt Down Editors’ Email Addresses”
https://beafreelanceblogger.com/emergency-prepare/#comment-249420
Celine: 5 Things You Should Do Before Scaling Up Your Freelance Blogging Business
https://beafreelanceblogger.com/emergency-prepare/#comment-249423
Mette Angerhofer: How to Freelance When You Have Small Kids at Home
https://beafreelanceblogger.com/emergency-prepare/#comment-249684
*Reminder, prizes are awarded upon acceptance of your final draft for publication on BAFB. Please work with Sophie toward publication, and plan to deliver your first draft by end of October.
Congrats Willi, Jersey, Gabriel, and runners-up!
Please email your first drafts to teambafb@gmail.com anytime before the end of October — I’m looking forward to reading them. 🙂
And thank you to everyone else who entered… you’re awesome just for joining in, even if we didn’t choose your pitch this time around. xxx
Congrats to all of the winners and honorable mentions. 🙂 I can’t wait to read your posts.
Thank you Cherese.
Please leave feedback once my article is live.
Cheers
Philipp
Thanks
OMG I can’t believe I won Pitchfest! This is so cool. Thanks Pinar and Sophie!
Thanks, Pinar and Sophie for the opportunity.
Wow! Thank you for the amazing opportunity and pitch feedback. I’m honored to be a runner up and I can’t wait to write for BAFB!
You’re 2nd, Jersey, not a runner-up. Want to swap? 😉 Kidding.
Congrats!
Well, I realise runner-up means 2nd, but here the runners-up are behind the first 3.
Thank you Pinar and Sophie for this opportunity! I’m honored to be one of the runners-up!
Thanks for the opportunity and the practice!
Thanks, Pinar, thanks Sophie. Congrats to the winners, and I look forward to writing a guest post for BAFB.
I’m convinced my post will help you fellow bloggers hunt down editors’ email addresses.
Cheers!
Philipp