Why You Won’t Get Famous Blogging for Someone Else

I think I’m going to ramble a bit…

As a professional blogger and consultant, I take pride in my brand. My name, Deborah Ng, is my brand. My brand is also this blog network, Freelance Writing Jobs. I hope it doesn’t sound like a big load of ego to say that many people equate my name and my brand, with the freelance writing jobs niche. Though I didn’t set out to have a heavy web presence, once I my reputation began to build I realized the importance of my name and my brand. I worked hard to get to this point and I’m very proud of my brand and what it’s become.

As much as I will do everything in my power to help them succeed and make names for themselves, the bloggers who write for FWJ aren’t as well known as the “Freelance Writing Jobs” brand. This has nothing to do with them or me. When you write for someone else, you’re paying more attention to their brand than your own.

In the past I wrote for many brands including b5Media, Oxygen Media and About.com. It wasn’t my name that stuck in everyone’s minds when they read my work, it was the brand. That’s not a complaint, I was happy to get my start with some well-known names. However, if you want to make money as a blogger, it’s important to think about whose brand is more important – yours or the people you’re blogging for. If the answer is you, think about how you can build your own brand while still earning money elsewhere. If you’re happy building someone else’s brand without being well-known, that’s OK too.

If you want to build up your name as a writer for someone else’s brand, you’re going to have to think about ways for people to remember your name above or in addition to the name of the brand. The last thing you want to do is overshadow the brand you’re being paid to promote. You’re also going to have to consider how your employer feels about you building up your own brand while being paid to build up his. I recently experienced that very conflict.

Very few bloggers make a name for themselves on someone else’s blog. I’ve blogged for enough people and businesses to know this is true. Blogging for other people pays the bills, blogging for you builds your brand (and can also pay the bills). Blogging for other people enables you to earn some of the money coming in from that blog. Blogging for yourself allows you take control of all of your blog’s income. Blogging for myself allows me to take this blog/network in any direction I’d like. Blogging for someone else has me going someone else’s route, and I may not always agree with where we’re headed.

This blog is called (and about) “Blogging for a Living”. I’d be doing you a disservice if I told you you’ll become a household name blogging for someone else. However, you can earn very good money as a blogger for hire. Not all bloggers make thousands of dollars each month with their own blogs. Not all bloggers for hire are “A Listers”. If you want to make money as a blogger, the first thing you’ll have to determine is whether or not you want to do so building up your own brand or someone else’s. You can do both, but then you’ll also have to be prepared the people who pay you to blog won’t like you spending so much time on you. Knowing where you want to take your name or your brand will help you to determine where to exert most of your energy.

If you want to spend more time building up your own brand, think about how you’re going to reach the people you want to reach and how to create trust and build a good reputation. Just as you want your clients to trust you, you’ll also want your community to trust you. Trust breeds success. When you blog for someone else, you’re working more to create trust with your client than your community. Hopefully as a professional blogger, you’re also building trust in your byline, but the community’s happiness is secondary to your client’s happiness. I once had a client who felt comments were too distracting and turned them off. She didn’t care about community, she cared about content. You’ll work for all kinds as a blogger for hire. Some bloggers enjoy letting an employer handling all the sordid details so they can just write. I prefer having the best of both worlds.

Tell us about your brand. Is your brand important or is it your preference to build up someone else’s brand? Do you want to be famous or are you happy enough to do your job, earn your check and enjoy the incognito life?

Discuss…

Guest Blog Posts: Good P.R or Free Content?

I’ve been thinking a lot about guest blog posts lately. I used guest blog posts often in the past. For FWJ’s third anniversary we unveiled guest blogger month where each day featured another guest posting. I also had a “FWJ Idol” contest where a dozen bloggers competed for a slot on the blogging team here (and Terrece won!). I was called out for stocking FWJ with free content and I was a little angry. Don’t people understand guest posts aren’t the same as writing for free? It’s good public relations. It’s a way to get our names out there. I’m not hurting writers, I’m helping them. Right? Believe me, I didn’t sleep well for a long time after getting called out for stocking FWJ with free content – even if it was a contest and even if I had good intentions. I thought about it long and hard.

I also wrote a few guest blog posts at a couple of very famous blogs and wouldn’t have even thought about asking for money. For me, that was very good exposure. If the big name probloggers are soliciting guest posts that’s not the same as writing for free, right?

Maybe some others might not agree with me, but guest blog posts are exactly like writing for free. Someone is asking writers to blog for them without offering compensation. Writing. For. Free.

Guest Blogger or Free Content Writer?

Every day we express outrage over the ads on Craigslist. How dare these scammy people promise exposure to those who write for them! How dare they take advantage of writers that way! How dare they offer low wages or promise exposure!

How is this different than writing a blog post for free?

Now, I understand favors for friends, we all do that. I wouldn’t ask my friends for money to help them move or paint their family rooms. I even wrote a friend’s newsletter because she’s a good friend and I don’t charge good friends. I won’t put out a call for content without paying writers though.

Has writing guests posts become the new “it’s good exposure” scam?

What is the difference between the Craigslist guy looking for someone to blog for free and the random blogger who is looking for guest bloggers, any guest bloggers to, well, write for free? Why isn’t it good P.R. or good networking to write for some website guy, but it’s considered paying one’s blogging dues to write guest blog posts?

Are writing guest blog posts good P.R.?

I suppose it depends on the blog. I mean, it’s a different thing to write for an unknown newspaper for free than to write a free article for Cosmopolitan, right? Nowadays, I still guest blog a bit but I won’t charge my friends or I’ll make it an even trade. I also pay for guest posts here at FWJ, it’s not hundreds of dollars but enough for me to feel like I’m not taking advantage.

Here are some things to consider when writing guest blog posts:

• Who are you blogging for? Is it a top blogger with a well-trafficked blog? If so, the exposure might be worth it.
• Are you doing a favor for a friend? We all do favors for friends.
• What are you getting in return? What are you really getting in return? Who is benefiting? If the blog doesn’t get any traffic, you’re not doing yourself any favors.
• What is the other blogger getting in return? Is he getting traffic and revenue thanks to you?

What are your thoughts about guest blogging? How is it different than “writing for free?”

What Have I Done for You Lately?

I regularly receive emails from bloggers asking me to promote a new service, review ebooks, donate to their contests and post affiliate links. Many of these requests are from very popular bloggers who I haven’t heard from since the last time they had something to promote.

I also hear from friends who haven’t had the time to chat or email in years, but now they’re wondering if there isn’t something to this making money online thing or they’re out of work and wondering if they should write.

I don’t mind helping. I enjoy promoting products I feel are a good fit for this community and I like helping my friends. I especially enjoy promoting books and ebooks from members of this community. However, the words “friend” and “relationship” indicate a two way street. I’m not saying anyone owes me anything, but sometimes I wonder about the people who only contact me when they need something.

If you’re looking to reach out to bloggers for help, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Contact your blogging friends every now and then to say hello and not because you need something.
• Become a part of the other blogger’s community. Build relationships with others and join in the conversation, they’ll be more likely to check out your product or service if you’re a friend or productive member of the community.
• When that same blogger reaches out to you for an interview, ebook promotion, or just to say hello, don’t blow him off.
• If you haven’t spoken to a blogger in years, you may want to take time to reconnect before asking for favors.
• There’s a difference between networking and using.
• If you see your blogging friend at conferences or networking events, make a point of saying hello or inviting him or her to a meal or cup of coffee. You don’t have to buy, but it’s nice karma to reach out.
• Even if you don’t have time for lots of chit chat and small talk, say hello on Twitter or Facebook now and then.
• Link to the bloggers who help to promote your stuff. It’ll make them at least feel as if you appreciate their efforts.

I know blogger outreach is important for promotion and networking. I’m all about it. For heaven’s sake, stop only contacting people when you want a stumble or ebook review. We’re all busy people and don’t always have time for online socializing, I get that. If you contact your blogging friends for other reasons than promotional requests they’ll be more likely to help you out.

I Think Blogging is Making Me a Little Lazy

While writing up a shopping list the other day, I took notice of my handwriting. I used to receive many compliments on my penmanship. Nowadays, unless I take the time to write slow and neat, it’s rather sloppy. My online writing has gotten sloppier as well. While there’s no excuse for typos (which I’m famous for!) and bad grammar, I notice that my writing has definitely gone downhill since I began blogging. Because it’s more casual, I tend not to pay as much attention to my writing. The problem is, my formal writing is suffering from my bad habits. I have to fight to avoid some slang words and, also, to keep my tone from being too conversational in my formal writing. I never really thought about it before, but it’s on my mind now.

Have you noticed a change in your writing since you began blogging?

Blog & Web Writing Gigs for August 19, 2009

A fair amount of decent paying gigs today, although I swear people are getting less and less clear when writing these things. It’s not that hard – Location? Pay? Hours? Duties? That works. I think maybe people are trying to be too fancy. In any case, no tip today but I do think this post is worth a read – Don’t Ignore the Hidden Job Market for Freelancers.

Anywhere gigs:

Engineering Blogger

Established website seeks Editor in Chief - AND Blogger/Editor Needed for Pet Loving Startup - pay issues sounds super iffy on both gigs so approach with care

Intern for Green Social Website - some pay, not sure how much.

Blog Writer for Employment Website

Copyeditor for BlackDoctor.org

Editor w/ Internal Communications Exp.

Freelance Writer – Web Content and Printed Brochure (work from home) - (Orange County) – NOTE: Says work from home and also says location Orange County – um…

Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee business needs print and web writers

Need a writer to rewrite, edit and correct the content of a solar energy web site

Medical writers

Location specific gigs:

Are you a tech geek? Apply for Associate Tech Editor @ HuffPost - (NYC)

Coordinator, Digital Communications Fanscape – Los Angeles, CA

News reporter for web - near Austin TX

Junior Content Editor - (Bellevue, WA)

Real Estate writers – San Diego

Editor - (Vienna, VA)

UrbanDaddy Editorial Assistant - (Flatiron, NY)

ECONOMICS JOURNALIST – Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. – Washington, District of Columbia

Seeking News Editor – Hartford, CT area

Celebrity/Entertainment Writer – AOL – says NYC but might be telecommute friendly (?)

LA Celebrity News Bureau Chief For Online Site – HollywoodLife.com – L.A.

Fashion Editor and Beauty Editor for Celeb Site – HollywoodLife.com – NY

Sigma Chi Corporation – Seeking Enthusiastic Online Specialist – Evanston, Illinois

Seeking savvy Web producer in D.C. – The Washington Times

Managing Editor for Major New Site -  San Francisco

News Editor - (Philadelphia)

Creative Circle: Web Editor/ writing skills: Long-term Freelance! - (San Gabriel Valley)

ManagingEditor, start up, local family travel website - this job says telecommute but also says L.A. only. Really?

Blog & Web Writing Gigs for August 17, 2009

Jobs are back, although it does seem slim around the web re: anywhere gigs. Still, there’s some decent gigs today so check them out.

Job tip o’ the day: Now that I’m back we’ll be resuming our how to get a blogging job series. If you haven’t been following along, you can get up to speed by reading the following…

• How to get blogging jobs and web writing jobs – getting started
• Finding blog gigs – starting out with no clips
• How to get a blogging job – advice from b5media’s hiring editor
• How to get a blogging job – advice from Deb Ng of FWJ
• Maybe you’re not getting jobs because you just can’t write
• How to bomb out all the time when looking for work

Anywhere gigs:

Feature writer at voyage tv

Green Technical Writers and Editors Sought

Freelance blogger knowledgeable and interested in fashion, jewelry, accessories, etc.

Relationships blogger

Graphic Design Blogger

Writing/ ebook, blogging

Foodie/Writer/Designer/web savvy?

Location specific gigs:

Excellent writer/copy editor - (Raleigh)

Writer – Blogger, PR and Social Media Outreach – Shoreview, MN

Social media director – NY

Seeking savvy Web producer – D.C

SEO Creative Editor - (Santa Monica)

Social Media Contributor – Westlake Village, CA

New Media Assistant Editor position at Citysearch – West Hollywood

Communications Editor/Mac Technical Expert - (berkeley)

Front Page Producer – Yahoo Content Carousel – Sunnyvale, California

Web editor/manager – Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction, VT

Blog Herald is Hiring International Contributors -Priority will be given to applicants from Asian countries, the Middle East and Africa

Web Content Manager – La Jolla, CA

Free People Fashion Blogger/Communications Assistant and Free People Lifestyle Blogger/Communications Assistant – Philadelphia, PA

Blog Wars: Should You Engage?

I have many faults as a blogger.  For example, I forget to proofread my work. My post and run strategy has resulted in many typo laden posts. I also am passionate about certain things – to a fault. It’s probably insecurity but ever since I was a kid I felt as if I had to defend myself to anyone who doesn’t “get” my point of view. My biggest problem isn’t in defending myself though, it’s finding the restraint NOT to defend myself…if that makes any sense.

The beauty of blogging is how you can say whatever is on your mind. Unlike newspapers and magazines, bloggers don’t have to use words like “alleged” or fill in the “W’s”. We say what we feel and sometimes that upsets people. Some bloggers even post their opposing views on their own blogs, which is another beauty of blogging. What isn’t beautiful is when words are taken out of context or things that are posted that simply aren’t true. When two passionate bloggers don’t see eye to eye it can sometimes get ugly. While there’s always room for disagreement and discussion,  I think there’s a difference between a cross blog discussion and an all out blog war.

I have a hard time not taking the bait in these situations. It kills me not to respond, especially if I feel someone didn’t get what I was trying to convey. I’ve engaged in blog wars and it’s never pretty. It’s not pretty for me and it’s not pretty for the other guy. It’s not just me either. Every time I see bloggers go tit for tat it just looks like a bunch of pettiness.  Here’s the anatomy of  a blogwar:

1. Blogger A posts
2. Blogger B posts rebuttal
3. Blogger A rebuts the rebuttal
4. Blogger B spends hours at blogger A’s blog looking through past comments and posts to find something to prove he truly is the man and Blogger A sucks just like said.
5. Blogger A posts rebuttal
6. Commentators come out on both ends in support of each blogger
7. The same three anonymous trolls commentators who come out every time there’s negativity start dredging up all Blogger A (or B’s) past sins.
8. Commenators report on every comment at the other blog giving a play by play hopping to cast the other blogger in a negative light.
9. Bloggers respond again.
10. Each blogger visits each other’s blog but pretend not to
11. Blog war dies down.
12. Two months later blog war looks petty and childish – on both ends.

Silly, right?

Before you engage in a blog war, consider this:

1. Stuff posted in anger reads like stuff posted in anger. Better not to respond until you’ve had time to calm down, think things through and decide if all the uproar is worth it. If you must write something, then by all means do so, but save in draft instead of publishing. Chances are, it when you go back a day or two later it will look like a bunch of silliness.
2. There are no winners in a blog war. People remember, especially the people who don’t like you or what you do. Every time your blog is nominated for an award or top ten list, every time you’re interviewed or your blog is in the spotlight, the same couple of people (usually anonymous) will dredge up the past. They’ll remember every little petty bit of silliness and throw it in your face every chance they get.
3. Your readers eventually get tired of the whole thing. With the exception of the aforementioned trolls, the majority of your community doesn’t care. They don’t come to your blog for negativity (except the trolls, they totally dig it). They come to learn and share.

I guess some people feel this sort of thing is fine. I find it wearying. Before letting your passion get the best of you, go for a walk. Clear your head. Wait a couple of days. When you revisit, you’ll probably think it’s a lot of pettiness too.

There’s not one job today!

Just kidding. Actually there are likely plenty of gigs out there, you just won’t be hearing about them from me. I’m totally crazed trying to move (yeah, in two days and so far I’ve got about 5 boxes packed) and trying to post ahead at my own gigs so I can actually move.

That said, I have to bail here for about a week. I’m planning on being back around by the 6th or 7th of August. Until then, you can look for gigs via these helpful links…

23 Places to find freelance writing jobs and freelance blogging jobs

50 Places that Hire Freelance Writers

I’ll be back in about a week with jobs again three times a week and we’ll get back to our how to score a gig series. Until then stay cool (it topped 100 here in Oregon yesterday), keep writing, and have a great start of August.

Blogging & Web Writing Gigs for July 25, 2009

First off sorry no jobs yesterday – what with packing to move and work, it’s a little nuts around here.

Secondly, congrats to Marye, who scored a KILLER gig via a job posting I listed here at Blogging For A Living AND actually tweeted to me about it so I knew. It’s double nice in this case because Marye’s a good friend, but even if I don’t personally know you, it feels much more productive when I hear someone gets a fly gig. So, if you score a gig from one of these lists leave a comment, tweet, or email and let me know. I like to hear about your successes. It makes it seem much more worth it when I’m lackadaisically browsing the job boards at 5am.

Anywhere gigs:

Blogger and online campaigner full time for the Global Campaign for Climate Action – oooooo! Cool!

Blogger/Social Media – Part Time

Green Blogger

French Property & Lifestyle Newsletter Writer

Editor/Writer – Dowser

Looking for Guys to Blog About Dating

Business & Finance Bloggers Needed – low pay alert – I suppose if you work fast it might be okish.

Organic Gardener blogger

Freelance Writer- Parenting – AOL

Origami and Paper Craft writer – Love To Know

Blogger on lux travel and goods

Social Networking/New Media Manager for Energy Services Firm - (TriBeCa) NOT sure if this is telecommute friendly or not.

Content Writer- eco-vacation topic

Green Blogger Wanted

Blogging job for techie mommies – As always be leery of pay at places advertising for “mommies” – just obnoxious; although, in this case, it does look like they really are looking for a mama’s perspective.

Freelance Technology Marketing Writer

SEO Content Writers (Freelancers)

Location specific gigs:

New Media Operations Manager – Aflac, Columbus, GA

Fashion Website Content Writer/Blogger/Facebook Promoter - (East San Diego)

geeksugar Associate Editor — Sugar Inc. - (downtown SF / civic / van ness)

Healthy Living Blogger – Santa Ana

Community Manager – SelectMinds – NY

Communications Coordinator – Canopy, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Grassroots Communications Coordinator – RESULTS Educational Fund – DC

Professional Communications Writer - (McLean, VA)

Digital Editor, Martha Stewart Weddings – Martha Stewart Living Omnimeida – NY – wow – bling position!

Blogging & Web Writing Gigs for July 22, 2009

Well, it looks like I was wrong about gigs picking up mid-week. Still not much out there. However, just because it’s not on a job board doesn’t make a gig invisible. Deb has put together two new excellent resources…

• 40 Freelance Writing Markets Paying $100 or More (Much More)
• 50 Places that Hire Freelance Writers

You can get a gig – you just need to keep your chin up and keep on truckin’.

Anywhere gigs:

Parent community blogger – too low of pay IMO BUT also super PT

2 positions – Article Writer/Web Content Writer

Environmental Website writer – I’ve seen this job posted WAY too much, it’s making me think they pay for crap or don’t pay. Get it now because it’s the last time I’ll be posting it unless I hear from some folks who have been hired and paid by them.

Staff/FReelance Writers

News Editor

Quiz Writers Wanted: Part-Time

Bloggers needed - low pay if they really want a ‘page’ but I think they might be looking for ‘posts’ not full pages.

Website Content Writer Needed ASAP-Project

Seeking writer with a passion for food

Location specific gigs:

Producer, Internet Media – Travelzoo – L.A.

Social Media Coordinator for Houston Press

Medical Writer – Marketing Communications - (San Diego)

Social media/marketing manager for Dell – Austin, TX

Writer wanted - (Toronto)

Reporter/Blogger- Organic Healthy Living – Santa Ana (this job looks cool!)

Social Media Manager – Confidential, Santa Ana, CA

Web Editor – Jet Propulsion Laboratory – Pasadena, CA

Marketing writer/Ghostwriter for Blog (SOMA / south beach)

Social Media Manager – EMC Corporation, Pleasanton, CA

New Media Marketing Specialist – UBM International Media – Princeton

Freelance Travel Writers Needed - (London)

Web Editor – Dolan Media Company – Portland, OR

Writer With Investigative Skills Needed – Website for Multinational Software Vendor – Ardmore, PA

Web Producer – RadarOnline.com – L.A.

Host Needed for Green TV Show - (Los Angeles) – it is a writing gig btw

Consumer Marketing Manager – Food Network – NY

Web Writer - (Central London)

Community Manager - (Santa Monica)

BEAUTY WRITER - (Los Angeles, CA)

Writer for web articles needed - (Vancouver, BC)

Next Page »