Meaningful relationships create effortless rewards. So effortless you forget how miraculous they seem to others.
In your freelance blogging business — in any business — a seemingly insignificant effort may blossom into something grand, much like the growth of a garden. I’m going to show you how to step up a level in your freelancing business using complementary skills and relationship-building.
Here’s how one guest blog post landed me $1,500 per year.
Step 1: Plant the Seed
Going over a few listings in Sophie’s Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs, I came across one I could dig deeply into: Read. Learn. Write. The blog has a brilliantly simple premise — to help folks gain a passion for reading and writing.
As many great blogging gurus will tell you, the first step in landing a gig is to wow them with an unusual or controversial topic.
Many people just don’t read anymore. So in November, I sent Read. Learn. Write. a query based on an old post I did for my personal blog. The subject line (and title) was Why I Stopped Reading.
[To read the exact query from this story and others that landed my first $1,000 in writing assignments, check out my new (and free!) ebook, 4Qs to 1K.]
The blog’s creator, Brandon Monk, replied with an acceptance within hours.
The post was memorable and inspiring. It generated several comments and even a “rebuttal” post entitled Why I Started Reading. Brandon was kind enough to let me know when that rebuttal post would be published.
Take Action: Take a look at the blogging opportunities in front of you. Use Sophie’s guide. Is there a topic previously not covered you can write about passionately or with authority?
Draw from your personal experience if needed and expand on the topic in a way that’s useful to that blog’s readers.
Step 2: Nurture Its Growth
I responded to all the comments on my post and commented on the rebuttal one. Because this was my first paid guest post, my excitement was so palpable, I’m sure Brandon could sense it himself.
I felt honored. So I followed Brandon on Facebook and Twitter, sharing his content and alerting him to articles he would be interested in. I wrote about him a few times on my own blog and mailed him a Christmas card.
This wasn’t a deliberate attempt to get his attention or more posting opportunities. I wasn’t doing these gestures day in and day out.
Let’s be honest: I wrote a guest blog post about how I don’t read anymore! So his “Slow Read Sunday” posts of classic works like Pride and Prejudice didn’t get a lot of attention from me.
I was just so durn excited, I wanted to show my gratitude in every way imaginable.
Take Action: Spend time thinking about the small things you’ve done to nurture relationships within the freelance blogging community. Don’t lose contact after your guest blog posts are published. Treat each host blog like the honored client they have become.
Step 3: Reap the Benefits
The hunt for recurring clients is always in the back of my mind. Even though guest blogging opportunities are typically one-offs, remember this is a new business and you have to start earning consistently.
I’m also a freelance administrative consultant and take on admin tasks for entrepreneurs and small businesses. I consider it complementary to my writing, and I really enjoy it.
So despite how much I hated “selling myself,” I took one week to post one tweet per day promoting my freelance services in August. Yep, just one.
That next week, I was floored when Brandon emailed me to ask about editing his guest blog posts. I have never advertised any sort of copy editing services, as grammar is always optional for me. (Yep, I’m a rebel.).
I started working with him that weekend, even though I never work weekends! Thankfully, he has a search function on his website, so I was able to study previous posts and see what worked and what didn’t (and learn a lot about my own reading and writing habits in the process).
When I later gave a talk on freelancing after failing in the corporate world, I asked him whether he would’ve hired me based on my spotty work history alone.
What he said was so humbling, I quoted him in my presentation:
“I hired you based on your work and reputation online. I’ve seen you market yourself and I’ve seen you manage a blog and write on your own. I based my decision to reach out to you completely on that. In fact, it appeared to me from social media that you’d found your calling so to speak. If you’d have said you could do the work then I think I would have taken you at your word based on your online demeanor, presence, and work ethic.”
Take Action: Depending on the crop, reaping is arguably the toughest step. It requires a lot of weeding and pulling, all while tenderly protecting the plant.
Do you advertise your services on a deliberate and consistent basis? Do you have skills in other areas you could build alongside your freelance blogging? Would you be willing to drop everything to work with a new client? Write down honest answers to these questions, and determine how you can make changes to improve your business style and income.
This relationship with my client took almost a year to grow into what it is today. Patience is everything.
Never lose your sense of gratitude for clients, whether you’ve been working with them for two weeks or two years. Allow relationships to grow organically, but take steps to allow small efforts to multiply into new opportunities.
Have you leveraged a one-time blogging opportunity into a recurring client? Do you have any questions about the process? Leave me a comment below.
Williesha,
Congratulations on the growth of your business!
You make a great point to not treat guest blogging opportunities as one-offs, but as the beginning of a relationship. It’s important to remember that “client”, “blog owner”, and “audience” are just words that describe actual human beings. I think you are reaping the benefits of treating people like people and genuinely providing them value.
BTW, I love the quote on your Twitter background. “Query more, worry less.” That’s something I’m working on now.
Thanks Anthony! I have made this observation SO much lately. I was just commenting on Lauren’s blog where she was also talking about relationship building. And it’s not like you have to be best friends with every one. I don’t know much about Brandon’s personal life and he only knows personal details about my life when it affects our working relationship.
But would I want to have dinner with him and his family if I ever ventured to his state? Absolutely!
Anthony, I think you are already on my list and got a peek at my new e-book, so I hope you liked it!
Thanks for the mention! 🙂 My article topic this month for my “Freelance by Lauren” column over on A Writer’s Bucket List is actually about the importance of professional boundaries. (Should be going up soon-ish). And I COMPLETELY agree: “[the client] only knows personal details about my life when it affects our working relationship.”
Great article (and comments) as usual, Willi!
Oh, sweet, Lauren! Can’t wait to check that out. Carol Tice just did a similar post too, so this topic is extremely popular lately.
I’m really looking forward to working with you and givein my true imput on my life’s experience.
Hi Williesha!
What a totally inspiring post! I love, respect and admire your tenacity as well as your genuine concern for all writers. Your post made me realize that I do not leverage the opportunities that I’m blessed with as well as I should. Thanks for opening my eyes!
Hey Lynn! Thanks for taking a moment to read my post, and I’m thrilled it inspired you. Relationships within this community are far more valuable than bylines or cash. You should definitely take advantage of it.
Hi Williesha! I love your post. I’m totally inspired by it and I feel like you just gave me a nudge to keep on. 🙂
Yes! Keep on keeping on! Whenever I get a chance to write for someone like Sophie, it reminds me that I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing, even on my down days when I see a low balance in my bank account. Growth takes time! I’m in year two and still have a ways to grow!
“Allow relationships to grow organically, but take steps to allow small efforts to multiply into new opportunities.”
I wholeheartedly agree with this… !
It takes time to build a relationship with a client and the lines of communication need to be nourished over the long run (not ‘hit-and-run’).
That’s a great phrase – “Relationships are for the long run, not hit-and-run.” You should totally own that. Thanks for reading!
OMG, I have a similar story. This is inspiring Williesha. Relationship-building never grows old. It really shows we’ll reap what we sow.:)
Really? You should totally blog about it! Thanks for reading.
Relationships really cannot be overstated. “You only get one chance at a first impression,” is true. But after you make a good impression, you have to do something with it! People can like you all day, but if they never hear from you again, you’ll lose the ability to utilize that connection.
This was a great post. Thank you!
Thanks Alexandra! Staying consistent is really important in any healthy relationship!
Hi, Williesha: as a noob, with everything still before me, I can see from your advice how a calendar can help us nurture relationships – particularly for those of us lacking organizational gifts – so thanks for the heads up. Enjoyed it.
I would be lost without one Roy! Thanks for reading. I’m still a noob, too. 🙂
Williesha,
This is a fantastic post! I’m inspired to stay on my present path to work-from-home-freelance freedom by December 31, 2014. The point you made about posting one Tweet per day advertising your services REALLY hit home – I’m going to try that! Heading over to your blog to read/subscribe. Thanks again.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope the new e-book is useful to you. It will be nice to have you over on the MFL community. Speaking of Freelance Freedom, are you reading Linda Formichelli’s new book? You should check it out.
Wow! I am always learning something new, each and every day! I am impressed by your patience and I am striving to sow more seed! The whole point of my day has revolved around sowing seed! What an inspiration, you have been!
Thank you so much for reaching out and helping us along!
Thank you – you know, this kind of patience isn’t hard when you have such a good client to work with. Maybe at some point, I will raise my rates with him, but what I do is so simple and fun! Matter of fact, I need to go head over there now and work on this week’s post!
I love your step #1 — simply start where you are. So many new writers are grabbing in the dark saying they don’t know where to start. Simply start with what you know and use free resources like Sophie’s ebook. Just start somewhere. Great work, Williesha!
It’s so true – last year I had very little to start with except some journalism experience. It’s still not huge, but it’s much better than where I was before. Thanks for reading!
Very insightful post, Williesha! Guest blogging can open so many doors for us bloggers and your story is a great example of how beneficial it can be to put yourself out there and spread your words across other blogger’s platforms!
Thanks for sharing your story. I love hearing positive and inspiring stories like this 🙂
Willi is an inspiration to us all. 😉
Thanks for stopping by, Stacy! Glad you enjoyed the article.
Awwww thank you both!
I am so glad I took the time to read my emails and find this inspirational post. It is great encouragement to keep freelancing!
Keep checking those e-mails, Ruby! We have great posts on the blog all the time. 😉
Thanks for stopping by.
Not sure how I missed these comments. Thanks! I’m so glad you found this inspirational!
New to the community. Thank you Williesha, for an interesting post to read and learn more that will be helpful to me as I keep in mind many of the suggestions you covered . As I continue writing freelance as a blogger things will come naturally to me in time. !
Welcome to the community, Darlene! 🙂
BAFB is a fantastic place to hang out. Thanks for reading.
First off,
Thank you. I have a bit of a dilemma. My website (wordstheydance.com) was started just to prove a point to myself. I wanted to write, so I wrote. I wanted to be published, so I published myself. I fell in love with photography recently, so I photograph.
I have made short-lived attempts at changing my site to monetize as mine is merely recreational, but it just feels dishonest. By dishonest, I mean not true to myself. I have written posts on other blogs for a content mill, which were essentially advertising content. I love advertising content by the way.
Finally, what is my next step?
Thank you, very much.
Honestly for me, I don’t really ever plan on monetizing my blog. I have one affiliate link, and that’s because I contributed to the book.
Monetization is really a bigger success if you have a large audience or email list. Use your blog as a portfolio to show to prospective clients. In a way, that’s making your blog make money for you!
A portfolio?! Thank you, and quite frankly, in a way it is. It’s just part of me. As a writer, I’m sure you understand.
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Stay well.