All Recent Posts

How to score blogging gigs in one easy step

APPLY FOR BLOGGING GIGS! That’s it. I know, it’s simple and sounds too good to be true, but when you get right down to it, applying for gigs is the number one best way to get gigs. I only bring this up because I see folks all the time at forums, in writers chats, and on Twitter who note they’re looking for work over and over. I get email questions like, “How do I get work as a blogger?” Not to sound over simplistic, but honestly you might want to try applying for gigs. Heck apply for MANY gigs. In fact I’m a big believer in the law of averages. When I need work I apply to an excess – maybe too much of... [Read More...]

Try not to suck as much as Chris Garrett

Actually I don’t think Chris Garrett sucks. In fact, I was just telling Deb today that while I browse other blogs about blogging daily, his is the one I usually stop at and read.  That said, Chris has an excellent post up – Why I Sucked at SXSW So You Don’t Have to (ha). Now, maybe he did suck there, or maybe not (I’m guessing not) but this is an excellent post to read if you ever attend writing events or conferences; plus you can see a cute picture of Deb in said post Also I was struck by how nicely across the board these tips are – even if you don’t attend an event EVER his tips make total sense if you’re... [Read More...]

Should you separate social networking from your friends & family?

Darren had an interesting post up last month at Problogger; maybe you caught it – Dear FaceBook Friends, I’m De-Friending Most of You [It's Not You, It's Me]. The post was his public rational as to why soon he’d be deleting all his work contacts from his Facebook account. Darren’s not the only one doing this either. Lately I’ve seen many folks creating their own Facebook fan pages, Twitter accounts and other work-personalized social network accounts that allow them to specifically network with work pals and contacts vs. personal real-life friends and family. Here’s an example; say your name is Bob and you have a... [Read More...]

Are Blogging Jobs Over?

I wouldn’t say blogging jobs are over exactly. I mean, that would be dumb considering I blog for a living. Many of my friends blog for a living. Deb posts blogging gigs daily over in writing leads. So no, blogging jobs aren’t over. I do however think that how you use your blogging skills to make money is changing big time. You can’t just be a blogger anymore and expect to make a living. “Just a blogger” is not meant to be disrespectful either, all I mean is when you’re just blogging for clients you’re writing posts, getting paid, and that’s that. It’s still work but it’s not the same... [Read More...]

Sneaky client tactic to avoid – more work without a raise

Here at Blogging For A Living we’re always saying, “Don’t flipping work for free people!“ WHY would you? There are many jobs to be had that do pay (actual money). Thankfully it seems like many of you are listening. We see plenty of our readers out there, scoring gigs and getting paid and it makes us super happy. That said, there’s another issue surrounding working for free that’s a little harder to catch. Not all writers plan on working for free, sometimes it just slowly happens. Here’s how… You land a gig. Let’s say that gig includes writing five posts a week, each post needs an image and... [Read More...]

On Deleted Blog Posts…

Dear Deb, I came by looking for a post called “WAHMs: Make Sure the Ends Justifies the Means” that you wrote last summer about residual writers. I know it was there and now it’s gone. Several posts in that same discussion are gone too. I think what everyone says about you, that you change your tune to suit your sponsors is true. I don’t respect you anymore. Only people with something to hide delete blog posts. I dare you to post this. Signed some anonymous emailer So I’m not posting this email because I was dared to, I’m posting it because this isn’t the first time I was asked about the “WAHM”... [Read More...]

Are Blog Contests Worth Your Time?

I used to run a heaping handful of blog contests at my client’s blogs. Contests and giveaways can be fun, improve traffic stats, connect you nicely with companies and draw in and encourage new readers, but I’ve come to realize that contests and giveaways are not worth it at every blog you write for. When it’s not worth it: If they take too much time. Hosting a decent two week giveaway at a blog requires extra time. For example, you’ll have more comments to moderate, PR reps (or the company) hosting the giveaway to deal with, and time spent making sure the winner/s get the prize/s. For every successful and easy giveaway... [Read More...]

BlogHer Looking for Green Team Bloggers!

I don’t post gigs much here anymore – honestly, I’m not sure how useful it was, what with Deb posting them at the main Writing Leads page. However, I adore green so here you go… The BlogHer Green Team is back this year and they’ve opened up a handful of new positions for BlogHer ’10. Here’s what they’re looking for in a committee member: Passion: You do not have to be a “green blogger,” but should be passionate and knowledgeable about green issues Practical Ideas: Can you tell us not just what isn’t green, but also help us find our way to what would be greener? Time Commitment: This... [Read More...]

What is Bounce Rate?

Bounce rate is a measure of how many people visit your blog and continue on to the different pages. For example, if your stats show visitors land on your site and leave without hitting any blog posts beyond the entry page, your bounce rate will be relatively high. If visitors stick around and visit several pages before moving on, your bounce rate will be on the low end. The lower the better. Different blogs and websites have different purposes and therefore will experience differences in bounce rates. In essence bounce rate is the equivalent of walking into a store.  A low bounce rate means the customer is looking around at the different departments... [Read More...]

Are blog comments working for you or against you?

No matter if you run your own blog or write a blog for a client, your blog comments at other blogs are a good way to network. I myself will click on the name of someone who leaves a good comment and have found some of my favorite reads this way. That said, your comments can also work against you; it all depends on how you play it. What kind of comments may entice people to click your link… Comments that contain personality. I usually click on comment links if the comment makes me laugh because I assume that person’s blog might make me laugh too. Comments that stay on topic. Comments that are nice. Nope, nice is not a weak work IMO. Comments... [Read More...]

Is Your Blog Traffic Down? It Could Be a Good Thing

I pay careful attention to blog traffic. I religiously read my stats and keep a close eye on the search terms and keywords bringing folks to the Freelance Writing Jobs blog network. While we have been enjoying a steady rise for years, a few weeks ago we experienced a brief dip in traffic. At first I was concerned; what could be causing folks to stay away? After a careful analysis of my stats, I realized people weren’t staying away. In fact, more people than ever were reading blog posts from this network. So why the drop in blog traffic? Because more readers are choosing alternative methods of viewing this blog. For example, during the time... [Read More...]

Average Pay for Blog Posts

// Here’s a recent email question from a Blogging For A Living reader… I’m currently blogging for free for a startup business. I’ve been writing for about 6 months for this site. I think now I should at least get something for each article posting, having proven myself a valuable commodity to bring in regular traffic. What is the average fee for writing one blog article? Is $25 – $50 reasonable? Thank you for your help. I’ll break it into parts. 1) Six months, in my opinion, is far too long to write for the same client for free. Technically I’m leery to even call this set-up a client since no pay is... [Read More...]

How to keep your cool – getting over freelance blogger slumps

// First up, a little disclaimer… To be honest, I hadn’t planned on posting about the b5media issues. I’ve worked for b5media for a long time and at this second still do. However, I’m involved because I’m knee deep in emails and Skypes and now I’ve even got a direct comment at b5media asking me if I’ve been fired, so I suppose I’ll comment here. If you’re a blogger, I’m sure you’ve by now heard about the b5media shenanigans. But just in case you’ve been living in a cave… Yesterday with zero notice b5media fired all of the bloggers who had been writing for their entertainment... [Read More...]

Make Money Fast – Start Your Own Blog (ha ha ha!)

// Ok, I’m diverting from my usual topic here at Blogging For A Living; making money blogging for others, because I saw a blog post recently at Coupon Sherpa titled Quick Cash: 24 Ways to Make Money While Unemployed and part of it irked me, hence the diversion. The post isn’t terrible. In fact there are many gigs listed that could theoretically make you some quick cash but the blogger also notes on number 15, “Monetize Your Web Site or Blog. You’re already spending a ton of time on your blog or Web site. Why not earn some money from all your labor? Google AdSense and nine other sites listed on MoolaDays require little... [Read More...]

How long is too long – when to give up freelance writing

// Only you know when you’ve tried freelance writing or blogging long enough and when it’s smart to throw in the towel. It’ll vary for people. There is a difference between an impossible situation and an iffy situation though. For example, there are almost always feast or famine periods when you’re a freelance blogger or writer. The key is knowing if you’re experiencing a typical famine or a never ending drought. Have you had well paying blogging or writing gigs in the past? Yes? You can get jobs again. Try applying more often and apply for gigs that relate to gigs you’ve had in the past. Have you been applying... [Read More...]