Be a Freelance Blogger

Pimp Your Photo: How to Win Freelance Gigs With a Smile

Does the thought of posing for a prim-and-proper professional photo make you feel like grinding your teeth?

Good news. Neither extreme close-ups nor cheesy “me at my desk” poses are necessary for you to win great gigs as a freelance writer.

But you do need some kind of photo to display on your website, your LinkedIn profile and so on — otherwise you’re nothing but a faceless silhouette in the online world. And faceless means forgettable.

Lucky for you, I spent a couple of years working as a photographic model before I became a freelance blogger. Here are some tricks of the trade to help you get a pro-looking photo without hiring a photographer or buying a fancy camera.

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By Mary Shaw

How to Launch Your Freelance Blogging Career [Even If Your Plans Fall Apart]

I’ve been freelancing off and on for over 20 years as a writer, user experience (UX) designer, and project manager, dipping in and out of the full-time workforce as my family requires. When I found Sophie’s blog on becoming a freelance blogger, it totally inspired me to go for it.

Here’s how I got my freelance blogging business off the ground despite some pretty big personal challenges, and how things changed from my original plan.

The Countdown Begins

On March 1, 2013, I had exactly 90 days before a long-term consulting contract ended, or so I thought.

At the end of 2012 I had quit my full-time job at an ad agency so I could spend more time with my 9-year-old daughter. I figured the consulting assignment would be a great opportunity to learn some new skills, make a steady income, and eventually make the transition to part-time freelancing.

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By Sophie Lizard

How to Write Your Way Out of the Rat Race

Are you looking for your path to freelance writing freedom from a 9-to-5 job?

I’ve got just the book for you. Linda Formichelli’s latest ebook, Write Your Way Out of the Rat Race… And Step Into a Career You Love, is packed with insights and advice to help you make the move to full-time freelance writing. I’ve read my copy three times already. 🙂

But you don’t have to take my word for its genius. Here are my favourite 3 quotes from the book; you decide what you think. [If you like what you read here, you’ll want to read the whole book — lucky for you, Linda’s donated a copy for me to give away as a prize today!]

For another 27 days, there’ll be daily posts here on the blog and more than $2000 worth of prizes to give away, including more books, training courses and other goodies.

And for today’s prize, keep reading. 🙂

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By Sophie Lizard

28 Days of Win! Prize Contests for Freelance Bloggers

The winter holidays are a famously quiet time for most freelance writing businesses. Is yours the same?

It’s no surprise. Everybody’s busy shopping for gifts, planning their family time, and figuring out their taxes — so clients tend to delay hiring a new freelance blogger until the new year.

And the blogosphere is usually pretty quiet, too.

Not here. 🙂

For the next 28 days, my fantastic guest bloggers and I will keep a fire burning for you with daily posts and more than $2000 worth of prizes to give away. Your first chance to win is just a bit further down this post!

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By Tom Ewer

7 Things I Learned About Freelance Blogging from Interviewing My Clients

During my time as a freelance writer, I’ve had the chance to speak to dozens of bloggers, entrepreneurs, and clients. Those conversations have often produced invaluable insights and taught me lessons that I would not have otherwise learned.

With the above in mind, I set about interviewing a number of people from different backgrounds for my freelance blogging guide, Paid to Blog. While I felt I could put together a complete guide on freelance blogging myself, I knew that including the thoughts and opinions of others would elevate the course to another level.

Besides many others, I ended up interviewing two of my clients. That’s right folks — I spoke to the very people who pay our bills to discover what they want from us. I thought their perspective would be refreshing and unique when complemented by my own experiences. I was right.

In this post, I’ve selected the most compelling and valuable points made in my interviews with them. Read on to see what I learned!

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YOURS FREE: THE ULTIMATE LIST OF PAID BLOGGING GIGS

The Countdown Begins