How to Locate Paying Blog Gigs
- 1). Build a reputable blog. Whether you choose to use a free blogging service like Blogger, or a paid service like Wordpress, you must own and operate a blog of your own. This is the first step towards building credibility with potential clients—you can always drop your blog once you have too much business to keep up your own blog. Your blog should focus on the niche you want to write in. It should be free of grammatical errors and use some of the latest technology. Think of your blog as your portfolio. It’s what you present to potential clients to show them that you have what it takes. List this blog whenever you leave a comment on another blog or in a forum.
- 2). Write an online resume. Create a simple website designed to sell your services as a freelance blogger. Include an “about me” page, a “rates” page, a “testimonies” page and a “samples” page. Link this site to and from your blog. List this website on all your communications: email, print letters, business cards and forums.
- 3). Chat it up. Find out where potential employers hang out online and get involved. Listen to forum chatter and reply only when you have something beneficial to say. Read blogs in the industry you want to write for and leave comments that show you not only understand how the business works, but that you have insights that could improve the business as a whole. Don’t spam forums, chat rooms and blogs with your online addresses, but do leave those URLs in your signature line.
- 4). Join social networking. Social networking is fast becoming the new “who you know” tool for getting your foot in the doors of many prominent businesses. In fact, it has been said that 60 percent of all online jobs now come from social networking. So find out where those in your industry hang out and join those social networks. For instance, MySpace caters to teens, ShoutLife caters towards Christians, Facebook caters towards college students and LinkedIn caters towards white-collar or business professionals (see Resources below).
- 5). Start a micro-blog. Micro-blogs are great for tying everything together. In less than 140 characters, you can network, build trust with those within your industry and showcase your talents via link feeds.
- 6). Visit “lead” sites. Lead sites are places dedicated to listing paying blog gigs. Lead sites such as Freelance Writing Gigs, ProBlogger and Craigslist share the wants and needs of companies and individuals looking to pay for blogging services. These sites are updated daily, weekly and monthly—depending on how many requests they have for bloggers (see Resources below).
- 7). Send letters of introduction. While companies hate unsolicited mail and spam, if you happen to discover “through your networking grapevine” that a company may be in need of a professional blogger, don’t hesitate to send a letter of introduction to the guy in charge. While you wouldn’t want to say, “I hard it through the grapevine that…” you would want to mention that you’ve been to the company’s website and/or blog and feel that your skills would be a good match. Discuss what you have to offer the potential client and how you can help the company succeed it its goals. If, however, you’ve noticed that no blog is in place. You may want to suggest the company implement a blog by explaining how it can increase revenue and visibility and why you’d be the perfect blogger for the job.
- 8). Get out there, physically. Sometimes, online networking isn’t enough. Attend conferences, participate in workshops, join local organizations, join national organizations and give speeches.