If you’re interested in paid blogging, you might be wondering where to find work.
Do you need to know the right people? Should you hang out at conferences, hoping to be noticed? Or do you apply to loads of blogs in the hope that one of them is looking for paid writers?
The good news is there are several easy ways to find paying blogging work. And you don’t need to leave your desk for any of them.
Whichever one you choose, keep in mind that putting a little more time and energy in up front can lead to a much better payoff in the long run. If it’s super easy to apply for a particular blogging job, chances are a lot of other people will be applying as well.
And spending a bit of extra time on your application and pitch could help you win out over the other candidates.
Here are five different methods to try when you’re looking for paid blogging work.
#1: Sites such as Upwork and Fiverr
Would-be paid bloggers often turn to sites such as Upwork and Fiverr to find clients. There’s no reason not to try this, but unless you’re willing to work for a very low rate ($5–$10/hour) you may have trouble finding work.
(Some freelancers do earn a decent hourly rate through these sites. However, they tend to have lots of experience and specialist skills.)
While the idea of setting up a profile and letting employers approach you might seem attractive, you may find that either:
- no-one gets in touch
- the people who do get in touch don’t have the sorts of jobs you want to take on.
#2: Freelancing Job Boards
Several job boards list blogging or other web writing gigs, and some sites collate freelancing positions.
Here are some great ones to start with that are free to use as a paid blogger.
ProBlogger job board – This is my personal favourite because the jobs are high quality (employers have to pay to advertise there) and tend to have a full, detailed description. And with the new job board functionality you can create your own profile and online resume.
Freelance Writing Gigs – Every weekday, Freelance Writing Gigs hand-picks jobs from around the web and presents them in a single blog post. Not all of them are blogging related, but many involve writing content for websites.
BloggingPro job board – This job board doesn’t charge as much as ProBlogger, so you’ll typically find jobs from smaller employers here, as well as jobs geared more toward copywriting.
#3: Lists of Sites that Use Freelancers
Another great way to begin is by pitching articles directly to blogs that use freelance submissions. These sites may never advertise for new bloggers. They can get as much content as they need from the writers who come directly to them.
Carol Tice’s excellent site Make a Living Writing has regular lists of websites that pay writers. The most recent (as I write this) is Monster List of Markets: 135 Places to Find Freelance Writing Jobs.
The Write Life, another great website, occasionally curates lists of paying markets that cover specific topics, such as 28 Parenting Blogs and Magazines That Pay Freelance Writers.
#4: Your Own Network of Friends
While your family may be politely baffled about your blogging, you may well find that friends – or friends of friends – can provide useful leads.
Perhaps an ex-colleague knows someone who runs a large network of websites that need content. Or maybe a friend is starting their own blog but would be willing to pay for some help editing posts.
If it feels awkward asking your network for blogging work directly, how about creating a Facebook page for your freelancing and sharing it to your profile? You might be surprised how supportive people are. You could also add a link in your email signature.
#5: Guest Posting
Another great way to find work is by guest posting. You’ll get your name out there on some big blogs (which is a valuable experience in itself), and you can use your bio to advertise yourself as a freelance blogger.
Guest posts can also lead directly to a paying gig. This happened to me several times at the start of my blogging career, when I was hired by sites I’d initially guest posted for. Even if the sites you’re writing for don’t currently have the budget to pay, they may well grow larger. And if you’ve written some great guest posts for them, you’ll be at the top of their mind when they’re considering who to hire.
Becoming a paid blogger might seem like a big step. But all it really takes is one website that’s willing to pay for your work.
There are plenty of ways to find blogging gigs. So give some of these ideas a try this week, and let us know how you get on in the comments.
For more information about how to get paid blogging jobs there’s ProBlogger’s Ultimate Guide to Freelance Writing. Written by Ali Luke this ebook is your guide to the world of paid blogging – covering getting started, finding jobs, deciding how much to charge, producing your posts, tracking your income, and more. Once you’ve read ProBlogger’s Ultimate Guide to Freelance Writing, you’ll know everything you need in order to become a paid blogger.
Image credit: Christian Wiediger
