Comments are closed.
Have you ever been hired to write regularly on a blog? Would you consider it if you were? I’ve been writing for Wisdump for about a month and a half now, and it has been a very rewarding experience, but it’s not for everyone. Let’s take a look at the upsides and downsides of taking a blogging position.
The Ups:
1. Opportunities to write on different topics than your regular blog. The best practice is to keep your blog to a reasonably narrow focus. If your readers are interested in gadgets and you write too many posts about widgets, they may get frustrated and leave. Writing for another site can give you the venue to explore other topics without alienating the readership you’ve worked so hard to build on your own site.
2. Exposure to a new audience. Wisdump has over 3,000 subscribers and is a PR6 site. That’s the reason I agreed to do it in the first place. Where else could I get that kind of exposure to potential new readers and even potential clients?
3. Networking opportunities. One of the best things about blogging is the chance to get to know other bloggers and to build a network of colleagues and friends. I’ve appreciated getting to know new writers and the exposure to the company that owns Wisdump. New business opportunities have already come along because of the networking I’ve been able to do. Writing for a blogging network such as B5 Media for example, can open up many doors and the chance to rub shoulders with some high profile bloggers.
4. It stretches your writing muscles. If you take a job writing for a blog that already has a large audience there will be high expectations to come up with engaging content on a regular basis. I am not a natural writer so it takes me a long time to write what I consider to be a quality post. I will not post empty, boring drivel, which is why you don’t see new posts here every day. Having to write a post at another site every week has forced me to become more methodical and focused in the writing process.
5. Cross posting opportunities. If you’re writing for a blog that is on a topic that is similar to that of your own site, the research you do for a post on one blog can provide good content for another. For example, I surveyed the top 4 mini-blogging tools at Wisdump, and then continued the discussion here with more of a personal opinion post. It was a great way to maximize the time I had spent researching the topic.
The Downs:
1. High expectations. If someone is going to pay people to produce content for their site, they expect to get a good bang for their buck. In general, when you’re hired to write for a site, your work has been evaluated and at the very least, the same level of quality content is expected. I have high expectations of myself, and anyone who is putting resources into hiring writers for sites they own naturally has high expectations too, and that can be stressful.
2. Impact on others if you fail to produce. If you write poor content for your own site, you are the only one impacted. Do a poor job writing for someone else, and you’re bringing their site down as well. They’ve invested money in the blog and are expecting a return on that investment, and if you bore and alienate readers, you’ll end up just being a drain rather than an asset.
3. Regular deadlines. I’m expected to post once a week, on Thursday. When that deadline starts to roll around every week I have to put aside whatever else I’m working on and get a post in. Though the editor is very understanding when there are delays, missing deadlines too frequently creates a terrible impression, and it’s an easy way to get fired.
4. It takes time. I think most people find that time is a precious commodity, and there never seems to be enough of it. Writing for another blog will require an investment of your time, and possibly a significant one if you’re as slow as I am, or if you’re required to post very frequently.
When deciding whether to take a blogging job, you have to evaluate whether the you’re going to get a good return on the investment of your time. You’re probably not going to get rich doing it, by the way. The money you make from writing will likely be only a small part of what you’ll gain from the experience. The main thing is to try and work with the best people you can on the highest profile site possible.
If you’ve read the above, and decided a blogging job is something you’d like to pursue and no one is knocking down your door to offer you one, check out the ProBlogger Job Board. You’ll also want to read the article at ProBlogger about how to apply for a blog job.
If you have a blogging job, chime in - do you agree with my list of ups and downs? Do you have any to add?
Get into a new career track with one of many online degrees. You can learn the tricks of making a professional website with an online degree in web design. Make sure to choose an online college that fits your learning style and get a better education for your future!
Please use your name when you comment- I would appreciate it. Using just keywords makes your comment seem spammy, and it's liable to get deleted. See my comment policy for more detail. Thanks!
September 17, 2007 3:55 pm
Wew.. u just “opened” my eyes Randa on the Ups and Downs. So far, I am afraid to take blogging job with strict deadlines. I am still trying on the offers to post that I can take or decline while improving my writing abilities.
September 17, 2007 4:07 pm
You mentioned .. “you have to evaluate whether the you’re going to get a good return on the investment of your time.” …
What constitutes a good return on your investment? Is it the exposure? Or experience? What if that site didn’t have PR6 or 3000 subscribers. What if my site was PR3 and and 50 subscribers (and assuming no other gig’s) .. are you now conditioned to always look for something better? I don’t have any blogging gigs, so I would be on the other side of the fence here - but I am curious.
September 17, 2007 5:17 pm
These are very valid points. Thanks for all the useful info.
September 17, 2007 7:35 pm
@Hart - You have to decide for yourself what a good return on your investment is. If what you need is practice writing, or the opportunity to write on a completely different subject, the exposure might not matter as much for example. You get a good return on your investment of time because you’re getting something of value to you. Depends on what’s valuable to you at the time.
September 18, 2007 8:39 am
[...] Clay has a excellent article detailing some advantages and disadvantages of freelance blogging. I agree with all her [...]
September 19, 2007 1:29 am
Personally I don’t prefer people to do blogging job for people as there are many shortcomings listed above. Of course if you have your own blogs, you can build a network connectivity on your personal blog too. Why not starting to make your own blog and making money by yourself
September 19, 2007 6:41 am
Hmm… Lines are blurring between blogs and regular websites (Slate, MSNBC, etc.).
Blogs, I thought, were more about personal expression. Is there a difference between a ‘hired blogger’ and a journalist who writes for news websites?
September 19, 2007 6:52 am
You could probably say blogs were mostly just about personal expression a couple of years ago, but that has all changed. That is still the perception of some, but it is not the case. You are correct in saying the lines are blurring, and I suppose you could easily make the leap from hired blogger to a more mainstream journalist on one of the news sites.
September 19, 2007 8:25 am
[...] If you think that blogging is “your thing” and it would be a really cool way to make money, then you really ought to read Randa’s excellent post on “What you need to know before taking a blogging job“. [...]
September 19, 2007 8:29 am
Another really good post Randa! I love to play computer games, but many years ago, when I became responsible for the gaming part of our company’s business, suddenly, it was no longer fun. I actually stopped playing for the 2 years that I was placed into my “dream job”. I then learnt that what I enjoyed doing as a hobby, might not necessarily be what I enjoy doing for a job!
September 19, 2007 4:03 pm
I don’t think I’d fancy the pressure or deadlines of blogging for someone else. One of my favourite things about blogging is that you’re on your own timetable and get to avoid the pressures you get in 9 to 5 style jobs.
September 20, 2007 5:53 am
good balanced article, yes it does that time and there is alot to learn but i never feel under pressure to post, although i try to do so regularly.
September 20, 2007 3:24 pm
Great List. I think a lot has to do with prioritizing what is important to you, or what your goals are. I have had to do a lot of that lately. Backing out of some things I really wanted to do, but didn’t fit my goals as well. When you are doing a job that you are passionate about doing and you are qualified I believe that it doesn’t neccesarily feel like a burden. But when you have to much on your plate you quickly see what opportunities you should be involved in and which you shouldn’t.
Great post.
Also, I have a group writing project going on i would love for you to participate in on one of your many excellent blogs
God Bless!
Elizabeth
PS we really should grab coffee with the boys sometime and go to a park, we could meet in the middle?
September 20, 2007 7:57 pm
[...] What you need to know before taking a blogging job [...]
September 21, 2007 4:05 am
I’ve been a co-author at connectedinternet.co.uk since June.
Everton runs a very relaxed policy. There are no strict deadlines, but if you want to earn a bit from your work, you have to post.
I agree that writing on several blogs (I run three + co-author) is very time consuming, especially when the co-author “job” is the one that is paying the most
I sometimes feel drained after writing a post or two for either my own blog or Connected Internet, so you have to be prepared for that.
I agree with you, Randa concerning the ups and downs.
September 21, 2007 12:39 pm
Don’t forget the up of steady income and high pay, and the down of low pay for steady work.
September 21, 2007 2:11 pm
Your pros and cons look pretty spot on to me. I have been contacted to do a bit of paid blogging, but at the moment am scared it would mean I would stretch myself to thin and my own blog would suffer. If only there were more hours in the day.
September 23, 2007 8:28 am
I do not have a blogging job by now. But I do blogging too. I do blogging just for a record of my life. I do blogging just for my own interest. But I agree with you. Although I’m just a common blogger, I know that it is not easy to create a good blog. Anyway there are “Ups” of blogging. To do a blogging job, I think the most important thing is the techniques you use to get reader’s attention and interest on it.
September 24, 2007 10:49 am
I haven’t taken any outside blogging jobs, but I have considered it. I’m going to consider even MORE seriously, after reading your article, because it’s given me a few things to think about.
I like the independance of writing only for myself, so I’m not sure I’d like the pressure!
September 24, 2007 11:07 pm
You didn’t mention the money. hmmmn. I do 35-40 posts a week, and the part that sucks the most is working on Sundays. (or the weekend) I have yet to catch up and do like 50 posts in advance so i can take a week off. lol. I do like it though and my niche is fun. There is never a shortage of material within the green living arena.
I would also mention that a good chair and a fast PC are a bloggers best friends. hehe.
September 25, 2007 2:40 am
@Missy - well, I did say you probably aren’t going to get rich doing it. However, if I were doing as many posts as you maybe I would get rich!
September 30, 2007 7:14 pm
Thanks Randa for the great resource and helpful tips. I’m still new to the blogosphere, so do you have any suggestions for helping to improve my chances of finding a blog writing job on the side, or even full-time?
September 30, 2007 7:47 pm
There are tons of blog owners looking for great writers. Obviously the first step is to have some good, well-written content on your own site that will represent you well. You can check out the Problogger job board I linked to, and here’s another site that has listings. Good luck!
October 1, 2007 11:32 am
Thanks again. I did follow your link to Pro Bloggers yesterday, but unfortunately the link was dead. It now apparently is working again though, so I plan to take some time today and go through it.