How to make money writing blogs
As a freelance writer you’d be forgiven for thinking that in a world where print magazine and newspaper sales have dwindled, it’s almost impossible to make money writing blogs. But the truth is, the art of writing content online, especially blogs, is alive and well. Writing blogs gives you the freedom to work in a range of different spaces of the internet. Whether you’re interested in writing about holiday destinations and travel, or you’d prefer to write about the secrets to a successful house renovation, don’t let your writing talent go to waste! Monetise your blogs by immersing yourself in the world of digital content. Here’s how to make money writing blogs:
The rise of content marketing
Before we get into the ways you can make money writing blogs, it’s important to understand how we got to blogs in the first place. Since the cavemen era, people have used pictures and words to transform business. And in recent years, businesses have chosen to invest in content over traditional marketing methods. Why? Because consumers now have complete control over what they engage with. They also have the power to ignore any advertising messages that don’t interest them.
Content marketing is different to traditional marketing. Instead of promoting a brand or company, content marketing is designed to stimulate an interest in a specific product or service. In a nutshell, businesses now need to cut through the noise and tell a story worth reading. And the only way to do that is through well-written content. Thanks to that increase in demand for content, writers now have the opportunity to monetise their work in any industry they choose.
Get paid to write freelance blogs
With the rise in demand for well-written content, many businesses are after freelance writers to produce blogs for their websites on an ad-hoc or contract basis. According to Glassdoor, the average Australian freelance writer earned $90,000 in 2019, while research from indeed.com shows the average rate charged by freelance writers in Australia is around $42 per hour. Figures like that only go to show how profitable the online blogging industry can be! Getting started as a freelance blogger might be a little slow going at first. Often the work you’ll find comes from your existing contacts. However, a great place to start is by setting up your own blog to showcase your portfolio. Websites like WordPress and Wix are easy to use and customise. Once you’ve got published works to share, you can reach out to other blogs or websites and pitch an idea as a guest writer.
Write freelance magazine articles
While the print industry isn’t faring as well as they once were, there are still opportunities to guest write for the publications still going strong. These publications often require content for their websites, emails and social media channels. Some publishers will do call outs on sourcebottle.com for the type of content or interviews they’re after. But don’t wait for a job opening to be advertised. Often magazine publishers are too busy to advertise their need for content. Instead, pitch your article idea directly to them. Make sure you provide samples of similar work and show that you understand their audience and readers.
Sell your existing content
Remember that awesome blog you wrote a while back? What about those articles that are now just sitting on your personal blog as part of your portfolio? Don’t let that work go to waste! You can sell your content in an online marketplace like Partica. Partica allows you to upload your blog article and choose the price you’d like to sell it for. People looking for content for their websites will then be able to purchase your article to use on their websites, in their email newsletters or on their social media pages. Whether you have old content you’d like to earn money on or you’d like to build your portfolio of works and start writing a library of different blog articles, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be earning money on your work!
Write for content-hungry businesses
As more and more businesses jump onto the content marketing bandwagon, many are finding themselves in a position where they need content written well and fast. That’s opened up a whole new platform for content writers who are skilled at writing for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), for a specific audience, and can write more than just blogs and articles. Business content needs extend beyond their website blog to whitepapers, interviews, email newsletters and case studies. Again, your contacts are going to come in handy here but start by creating your portfolio, improving your knowledge of digital marketing (including SEO writing), and reaching out to contacts through LinkedIn.
While we’re on the topic marketing, let’s talk copywriting
Copywriting is the art of writing to make readers take a particular action. Think email newsletters, sales brochures and product descriptions. As a practise, copywriting is in its own league but it’s not too different from other forms of content marketing. Think about the persuasive writing of video scripts. Instead of shouting “buy me,” the script often tells a story. Instead of hard-selling, the writing style moves towards the conversational and emotional language we’re used to in blogs. Businesses will often hire copywriters to rewrite the content on their website, incorporating a specific tone of voice aimed at a particular audience, and of course, SEO.
Self-publish a book
Hear us out. Not all writers want to branch off into the world of content marketing which is understandable. If you find your writing has more of a creative spark, it might be time to sit down and write a book. Years ago, becoming a published author was a distant dream for many budding novelists. But thanks to advances in technology and digital content platforms such as Kindle and iTunes, self-publishing a book is easier than it’s ever been. Whether you’re interested in putting your blogging skills to work on a non-fiction series, or you’d rather flex those creative muscles and write a fiction novella, you’ll be able to earn on your backlog of writing, far into the future.
So, don’t sit around and hope that someone will contact you with a content writing contract! Start making money writing blogs now and immerse yourself in the profitable world of freelance writing.
