Freelance running a blog is an incredible profession.
You don’t have to write down about one thing you don’t care about to earn cash. There are such a lot of niches that you simply’re certain to search out one (or a number of) that’s each profitable and enjoyable.
Yow will discover shoppers that make fee preparations give you the results you want, and also you set your personal hours. It’s attainable to spend time with household and pals whereas nonetheless engaged on ardour initiatives.
Nonetheless, it’s additionally ripe with issues and issues that may drive you mad: disappearing web sites, altering rules, unpaid invoices, ghost shoppers, author’s block… you title it. And life’s common lemons like well being issues, household emergencies, and past may also intervene.
I’ve been a contract blogger for a couple of decade now. And although it’s a dream profession, it hasn’t been a clean journey.
2019 proved particularly difficult with a loss within the household, recurring well being points, pc breakdowns, and a decent-sized assortment of rejections. There have been occasions I questioned why I used to be doing this, whether or not I ought to comply with a much less bumpy profession path.
However after I take into consideration the professionals of this life, they win simply. Each interval in my time of freelancing additionally featured nice moments. On this “terrible” 2019, I bought to go on a incredible writers’ retreat the place I met fellow writers and frolicked in New York, have a seashore trip after I wished as a result of I don’t have a boss, launch my second e book, and work with great editors at a few of my favourite publications.
So sure, there are a number of ups and downs. And whereas it’s not attainable to be ready for every thing, enhancing your defenses may help your financial institution steadiness, sanity, and general well being.
Listed here are some options on what you are able to do to offset (and even get rid of) the unhealthy occasions:
Save
Procuring is enjoyable. With the ability to afford issues is a blast. You earned it in each sense of the phrase. However you should take into consideration potential issues earlier than they happen.
Some shoppers could pay their invoices late or try and keep away from paying altogether. Perhaps your favourite editor left the publication, and also you aren’t positive what number of items you can be assigned this month. Purchasers can change enterprise fashions or depart the business.
So it’s sensible to take precautions even when the cash appears to be rolling in. Save an inexpensive quantity at any time when you may, so you’ve a pleasant security web for a possible emergency or a much-deserved trip.
Preserve pitching and advertising
Advertising by no means stops for the sensible freelance blogger. Till you’re in a spot to show down work, hold pitching and advertising.
The place you pitch and the way you select to market your companies are as much as you, however hold your self in demand. As soon as you’re extra skilled and shoppers are coming to you, you may afford to market rather less, however you shouldn’t cease.
Again all of it up
Again up your enterprise paperwork in addition to your printed items on-line.
Don’t simply hold textual content copies — take screenshots. Three publications I wrote for both shut down or modified their focus. My items can not be linked to, and I can’t discover a few of the newest drafts although I’m an aggressive saver. That’s why I began saving in additional locations, and I take screenshots usually.
You labored exhausting for these bylines. Don’t allow them to disappear; you by no means know what your subsequent pitch would possibly want you to incorporate.
Have a good time the great
There’s a motive I talked about each the superior and terrible stuff that occurred this 12 months. When the unfavorable appears to pile on, distract and encourage your self by pondering of the positives. Even once you really feel such as you’ve hit all-time low, there is a means up, and it’s nearer than you suppose.
Deal with your well being
You’ll be able to’t work when you aren’t effectively. And even supposedly easy stuff like shifting loads for train may not come simply when your job requires a number of sitting down. As a freelancer, it’s as much as you to guard and care in your belongings, together with your well being.
You want your thoughts to be match and able to work, too! So once you’re determining find out how to keep in form, take into consideration your psychological and emotional well being in addition to bodily well being.
Take day without work work
You want me-time and social time, plus time to cope with family stuff. Schedule a while off every day and every week to ensure every thing will get included, and plan to take an extended break each every so often. Work isn’t every thing, regardless of how a lot you would possibly take pleasure in it.
Experiment with different niches
Regardless of how a lot I really like a distinct segment, I’d be bored if I wrote solely about that one factor.
If you end up itching for a change, write about one thing else. You by no means know what would possibly come out of it, and it’ll get you out of the
funk.
Write only for you
Writing for shoppers isn’t at all times enjoyable, even when it’s a distinct segment you selected fortunately. Rewrites, the enhancing course of, developing with recent concepts usually, or conserving to a sure phrase depend can take its toll.
So don’t neglect your personal concepts and bouts of inspiration. By all means, prioritize shopper deadlines. However then nurture your artistic juices and write no matter you need.
Preserve studying and discovering
…so that you’re by no means out of concepts, whether or not you’re running a blog for your self or your shoppers.
Stay life to the fullest
(To the very best of your capacity, in no matter methods your well being and financial institution steadiness will enable.)
New experiences will give solution to extra and higher concepts. So seize your bucket checklist and begin checking issues off!
Be taught new abilities and enhance previous ones
Purchasers more and more demand extra from the bloggers they rent. Writing effectively isn’t sufficient. Are you able to optimize for the online? Are you able to add it on WordPress? Are you able to edit and supply pictures? Are you able to edit different writers’ posts?
Being extra expert provides you a definite benefit. As an alternative of hiring two individuals for various duties, the shopper can simply rent you at the next payment.
Communicate with the shoppers you want
Purchasers come and go for varied causes. Nonetheless, you by no means know who will find yourself working the place, and it is sensible to be pleasant together with your favourite shoppers. Relying in your relationship, you might congratulate them on milestones, ship birthday needs or share stuff with them that they may take pleasure in or discover helpful.
Let’s roll with the pitching!
Pitchfest is a weblog put up pitching contest run right here on BAFB each six months.
I’m psyched that I’m a visitor editor for this Pitchfest! Which means I’ll be reviewing and commenting in your pitches. I’ll additionally get to select the three winners and runners-up.
My title is Pinar Tarhan, and I’ve been writing for the online for almost a decade. I’m an enormous fan of BAFB, and I’ve written for the location a number of occasions – a few of my posts had been picked as a winner or a runner-up in earlier Pitchfests. I’ve additionally been printed on CNN, The Washington Publish, The Billfold, WOW! Ladies on Writing, Brazen Weblog, and Horkey Handbook amongst others.
How does Pitchfest work?
You’ll pitch visitor put up concepts for this weblog on a subject related to its viewers of freelance bloggers and aspiring freelance bloggers. The subject of the put up is as much as you, so long as it pertains to freelance running a blog. Then we’ll choose just a few winners for publication and prizes!
How you can enter the Pitchfest
To take part for an opportunity to earn as much as $150 and be printed on Be A Freelance Blogger:
Step 1. Read BAFB’s guest blogging guidelines, and examine the pitches and responses in previous Pitchfests to see what we’re in search of.
Step 2. Inform us your weblog put up concept within the feedback under earlier than 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday, September 14, 2019.
Solely ONE pitch per particular person, please. You’ll want to embrace every thing listed under, and keep in mind that your proposed weblog put up have to be helpful to freelance bloggers. You’ve actionable tips about find out how to get higher shoppers? Have extra time for different initiatives? Receives a commission higher and sooner? We’re trying ahead to listening to your concepts.
What to incorporate in your pitch:
- At the very least one headline designed to make freelance bloggers wish to learn your put up.
- Between 30 and 60 phrases you’d use to open the put up. You DON’T want to write down an entire draft earlier than pitching; we’d want to provide you suggestions first.
- As much as six key factors you’ll make within the put up, with a one- or two-sentence abstract of every level.
- As much as three sentences about why it is a nice match for Be a Freelance Blogger and why you’re the suitable particular person to write down it.
Put your pitch within the remark field on the backside of this web page, and test the little field that claims “Notify me of follow-up feedback” so that you’ll know once you obtain suggestions. Your remark would possibly get held for moderation, particularly if it comprises hyperlinks. Don’t fear if that occurs; we’ll get to it and reply!
Step 3. I’ll reply to each pitch to supply suggestions that will help you optimize your concept and enhance your pitching abilities. You may also get suggestions from different readers and pitchers.
Step 4. You’ll be able to revise (or fully re-do) your pitch after getting our suggestions when you’d like. Simply re-submit it by pasting it right into a follow-up remark earlier than 11:59pm Pacific time on Thursday, September 19, 2019.
Step 5. I’ll select three winners and as much as three runners up. In case you’re chosen, we’ll ask you to ship a draft of not less than 1,500 phrases, so hold that in thoughts when crafting your pitch.
I’ll announce the winners by way of a touch upon this put up on Saturday, September 21. If I select your pitch, plan to ship your first draft to Sophie by finish of October.
Right here’s what you might win
I’ll select three winners and as much as three runners up. On acceptance of your ultimate draft for publication on BAFB, winners will obtain:
- 1st prize: $150
- 2nd prize: $75
- third prize: Kindle copy of How to Pitch a Blog Post
- As much as three runners up: Unpaid visitor put up spot on BAFB
The competition begins at the moment. Pitch on! 🙂
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