Feb
4
In recent months I’ve had the privilege of becoming a regular contributor to a few different blogs, including here at PureBlogging. This experience has been great for me in a number of ways and I’m sure many of you would get some of the same benefits from doing some paid writing of your own. Here is a look at 9 things I have found from my time as a blogger:
1. Extra Income
Ok, so money is probably the most obvious benefit or being a paid writer. Most paid bloggers are doing so on the side, as they also own and run a blog (or blogs) of their own. Take a look in the sidebar where David has listed each of the PureBlogging writers and you’ll see all of the blogs that are represented by the staff of writers. Being a paid writer for another blog is possible to do while also working on growing your own blog. Most of us would rather make money on our own blog than by writing for others, but that takes a considerable amount of time. While you’re working on building a large and loyal following of your own, you can supplement your blogging income by writing for others.
2. Name Recognition
One of the most significant benefits you will get from writing for other blogs is increased name recognition. Part of building your own readership is becoming recognized. If blog readers are seeing your name as a writer on a number of different blogs that they read or subscribe to, they’ll certainly recognize your name and you will build credibility. Think Chris Garrett.
3. One Job Leads to Another
The first paid writing job I had was at Daily Blog Tips. On a few separate occasions I’ve had other people email me, mention that they read DBT, and ask if I would be willing to do some writing for them. Each article you write becomes a part of your portfolio, and sometimes they will sell other people on your knowledge and ability without even requiring you to seek out new opportunities.
4. Earn While You Learn
By writing for other blogs you can continue to learn constantly. As you write you will probably learn more about the topics you are writing about, and just as importantly, you can learn from the blogger who is paying you. Most blogs that pay writers are able to do so because they have been successful at generating an income. In this case, these are people that you can learn from and apply what you learn to your own blog.
5. Practice Makes Perfect
Like anything else, the more you write the better you will become. As you become a better writer your own blog will benefit and you may even be able to earn higher rates for your paid writing jobs.
6. Learn to Work Under Pressure
When you are writing for your own blog you may feel the pressure to please your readers or to draw certain levels of traffic. When you are writing for money there is an added pressure that you will need to live up to the expectations of the person who is paying you. This can be a bit of an adjustment, but I think it serves to improve your ability to produce a high level of quality. In addition to quality, you may also have deadlines to work with. For a few of the blogging positions that I have, I need to publish a post on a specific day each week. This puts a little bit of pressure on me to get things done and work ahead, which is always a good thing.
7. Networking
Many of the best contacts that I have made with other bloggers have been initiated and developed by either writing a guest post or writing for pay. As a writer for another blog you will get great opportunities to get to know others and maybe even to develop ideas for working together.
8. Expand Your Horizons
By writing for a number of different blogs you will have the freedom to explore different topics and take different approaches to your articles. Each blog is unique, and the experience of writing for other blogs is sure to stretch you in many ways and provide you with opportunities to explore new ideas.
9. Preparation for the Future
If your goal is to become a Pro Blogger, you may at some point have to pay others to write for you, and you will certainly need to effectively organize a profitable blogging operation. You can learn a lot about what it takes by simply being involved as a staff writer. I know if the time ever comes for me to pay other writers I will be much more prepared than I would without the experiences that I’ve had as a paid writer.
What’s Your Experience?
Do you currently do any paid writing (or have you in the past)? Would you consider writing for other blogs, or do you prefer to only focus on your own blog?
Popularity: 10% [?]
I was a professional science writer long before I was a blogger, although I’ve been doing something akin to blogging since 1996! It just about pays the bills
db
David,
Thanks for sharing your experience as a writer. Wow, 12 years is a long time! Congratulations.
12 years is a long time, but I’d been writing purely in print for six years before that. I guess that’s revealing how old I really am now, so I’ll stop
db
I’d add that writing professionally also forces you to write. The writing muscle is one that atrophies if you don’t use it, so if you can give yourself a good reason to write every day, all the better.
(It actually dovetails nicely with Number 8, in that if you’re lucky enough to find yourself writing for a variety of clients, each of whom demands a different style, it’ll really help diversify your writer’s toolbox.)
Good point Kevin. I know when I started blogging I hadn’t done much writing for a while and it was definitely more difficult than I had remembered. But it all gets better with practice.
can you suggest the best paid review program for us?
I’ve been freelance writing for over eight years, and I expanded my writing services to include blog writing last year. Before last year, my services included article writing, ghostwriting ebooks and books and writing web content. In addition to those services for others, I also wrote my own books and maintained my own blog. Since I’ve added blog writing to my writing services, I’ve enjoyed the change of scenery, so to speak. In other words, it allows me to change to different topics. I like writing on different topics instead of spending time writing on one specific thing, which can cause burnout. Therefore, I create a writing schedule that allows me to write for more than one client — on different topics — each day. It’s fun and keeps me from procrastinating! Plus, I get to do and get paid for what I love best: write.
Misti,
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I enjoy the flexibility of writing for other blogs. Even if there is a scheduled day of the week to post, it still leaves freedom to work ahead or work on a variety of other projects as well.
Hey Steve. I do some paid writing, but most of it is offline in a newspaper column. I have done some guest posts and I’m interested in doing more, but I’m really trying to grow my blog these days.
Mark,
Yeah, I think growing your own blog should be a priority too, I know it is for me. I enjoy doing some other writing on the side to make some extra money and to keep learning knew things. Thanks for your feedback.
Writing is a flexible activity. You can do it in many forms, for many reasons. Professional copywriters that get results make big bucks. Ghost writers can make decent money, too.
Writers are given in inordinate amount of authority and expertise they probably don’t deserve, but hell, I ain’t arguing with it.
One downside to being a paid writer is that most people think it shouldn’t pay much. But by being good at what you do and showing results, you can rise above that. Don’t deal with some of these newer companies that have appeared recently claiming to pay you to write–they don’t pay beans.
Yeah, you see a lot of “paid” writing positions that offer such a small amount it makes you wonder who would ever take it.
I actually started out doing seo work for websites, but there is such a demand for content I am at the point I am writing more than ever. Of course I would rather be doing my own blog, so all the income from the site goes to me. But when people are coming to you daily with work it is hard to say no!
You did make some great points though regarding blogging for others, and I do feel that my personal blog reaps the benefit of the lessons I learn on other blogs.
Hi there Steven,
Many forms of writing is used in communication with others to inform them. Coupled with internet marketing, building a relationship so you can offer value to them whether it is a service or product and utilizing the affiliate stuucture can generate an income for you.
There is another area where learning to write is extremely profitable and that is called copywriting. A sales letter can command upwards of $10,000+. You can also write classified ads, solo ads, ezine ads and emails for a fee and make good money in the process.
I admire your love and passion for writing..above is how you can sustain a living at doing what you love.
Blessings Sean
http://www.TurnYourDreamsIntoReality.com