The internet today offers a lot of job opportunities for people from almost every walk of life. Whether you’re a student looking for extra income, a stay-at-home mom looking for a home-based job or a full-time employee searching for a second job, the World Wide Web is the right destination for you.
Want to be a freelance blogger? Follow these tips and land your first writing job.
A freelance blogger is particularly in demand nowadays. Many webmasters and business owners often do not have the time or skills to write blog posts on a regular basis. Instead of hiring full-time bloggers, these employers prefer to outsource the work and look for a freelance blogger. If you wish to make the most of these opportunities, here are some tips to help you get started.
1. Create a powerful resume.
The first thing you need to do to get started on becoming a freelance blogger is to create your resume. A longer resume is not necessarily more impressive. Instead,
An employer looking for a blogger won’t care if you’re a hotdog eating contest champion or if you were the chess club president in high school–unless the employer runs a blog about hotdogs and chess. Stick to details that are relevant to your writing skills instead.
2. Build a portfolio.
A portfolio is a sure-fire requirement that you will need if you want to have a career as a freelance blogger. Employers would want to see your writing style and capabilities first so make sure you have your writing samples ready. If you have works that have been published online then it will be easy for you to refer potential clients to these web pages through links. You can also refer them to your blog if you have one. No portfolio to show yet? No problem. Simply write a couple of articles about general topics to show off your writing style.
3. Join an online marketplace for employers and freelancers.
For most starting freelance bloggers, the best place to find your first clients would be an online marketplace. Marketplaces such as oDesk connect employers and freelance contractors in one place, making it easier for both parties to find the people they are looking for. All you need to do is to create an account and an online profile to get started. After this, you can start applying to various writing jobs.
4. Secure your payment method.
Since freelance blogging is mostly an outsourcing job, chances are you will have clients from various parts of the world. This means you need a secure payment method through which employers can send your compensation for writing assignments. Consider opening a Paypal account. It’s easy, convenient and is a highly secure and trusted online payment method. Never start scouting for jobs unless you’ve secured a payment method first. Once you’ve scored a job, be sure to inform your client about your payment method.
5. Keep applying.
Landing your first job as a freelance blogger can be challenging but if you work hard enough, it’s almost a sure thing that you will get clients sooner or later. Keep browsing job posts and keep applying to gigs that you are qualified for. Chances are you will get a couple of responses for every ten applications but this is how it is for every beginning freelance blogger. Once you land that first job and you start gaining experience, your portfolio will grow as well and landing jobs will become easier and easier.
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