Last Friday, we left you with the question “What are your freelancing dreams?”  In general, the responses seem to have a lot to do with making some money and improving quality of life for you and your families.  Something I noticed, however, was that nearly every person who has responded so far has mentioned both freelancing and blogging.  I’ve been blogging for about four-and-a-half years myself, so I definitely understand how it gets under your skin and becomes really important to a person.  

First of all, most of us are writers.  And most writers really do want some sort of an audience.  Blogging gives us not only a space to compose paragraphs, but also the chance that someone out there will read them.  In our world, blogging is pretty much an addiction waiting to happen.  (Even those who aren’t necessarily “writers” can benefit from having their own blogs, but I suspect that is a post for another day.)  

So, is it possible to combine freelancing with blogging to earn money doing what we love?  Actually, it is.  

Freelance blogging is still relatively new, but the field seems to be growing.  If you look at freelance job listings around the internet, you will discover more and more blogging opportunities popping up all the time.   

• b5media is currently advertising for an Eco-Beauty Blogger.
• College and Beyond wants to hire bloggers in a variety of areas to write on topics that would interest college students.
• A “luxury and lifestyle ezine” out of Manhattan is looking for bloggers to join their team.

OK, that’s really just a very quick-and-dirty list of a few jobs currently available to those interested in getting paid to blog.  For more in-depth lists, check out the ProBlogger Job Board, Freelance Writing Jobs, or even just do a quick Google search for “blogger wanted.” 

Some things to keep in mind when you’re considering freelance blogging: 

1. Apply for jobs in areas where you really do have an interest.  Writing five to ten posts a week on something you don’t care about can become really, really difficult.
2. The pay is often kind of low for blogging jobs, especially when you consider how much time you have to spend researching topics and possibly interacting with other bloggers to grow your own site.
3. Create a contract up front that states who owns the rights to the posts you create, and make sure you’re comfortable with the details of this contract.
4. It can be helpful to have an already-established blog to show the prospective employer that you write well and update often.  If your blog’s traffic is good, this might give you an advantage over other writers applying for the same position.
5. Determine if you are allowed to use the blog to promote your own interests, such as talking about your personal blog, advertising your freelancing services, or even including affiliate links in your posts.
6. Blogging is generally a long-term commitment.  While some freelance jobs require you to turn in a project and move on, these types of opportunities mean you will be involved on a continuing basis.  Make sure that is appropriate for you and your schedule.

When you think about it, Tamara and I really are freelance bloggers employed by Wendy Piersall; so I can speak with a reasonable amount of confidence on this subject.  Why do I think Wendy asked us to join the eMoms at Home team?  I suspect it’s because I already had a year-old, decently-updated blog and because she knew Tamara and I would have plenty to say about freelancing in general.  Also, I’ve been interacting with Wendy for several months, so she knows I’m likely to stay involved with the project, rather than getting bored and flaking out on her.  

If you are a writer looking to start freelancing, then perhaps finding a blogging job is a good approach.  Take a look around the internet to see if there’s a position being offered in an area that really appeals to you.

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