I started freelance writing as an IT/tech copywriter.
So, I wrote everything from white papers to case studies and beyond.
I had niched down by industry and not content type.
After doing that for a while, I had a moment where I thought…
“Writing IT/Tech content all of the time actually sounds about as appealing as spending a day getting 20 root canals while being forced to watch The Real Housewives of Orange County.”
(A fate I wouldn’t even wish on my worst enemy.)
And if I was being honest with myself, I kiiiinda sucked at it.
What I DID enjoy was writing blog posts.
So I changed my niche to blog post writing, and that’s when I feel like my business really started to take off.
Probably because it’s the kind of writing I’m best at AND what I enjoy the most.
So today, I’m here to make the case for why freelance blogging is one of the best freelance writing niches.
Here’s the video version of this post if you’d rather watch/listen (but make sure you still scroll to the end of this post for 3 tips on breaking into freelance blogging!):
Reason number one…
1. It’s consistent income.
When clients want blog posts, it’s usually not a “one and done” type of thing.
Typically, they want “X blog posts per week” or “X blog posts per month” because a one-off blog post isn’t going to drive consistent results for their business.
This is good for the client AND for you – they get consistent content, and you get a consistent source of income.
2. You get to write in a conversational way.
So, this is one of those reasons that’s based on my personal preference.
I don’t enjoy writing super technical content. I like to write conversational content with personality.
And that’s what blog post writing allows you to do.
3. You work with clients long-term.
One of the toughest things about being self-employed is feeling like you always have to market yourself.
While you shouldn’t stop marketing yourself just because your niche is writing blog posts, it can take some of the pressure off when you know that you have long-term clients. This goes back to freelance blogging creating a consistent source of income for your business.
Plus, it’s just nice working with clients long-term.
You learn about their likes and dislikes.
You get familiar with their style guide and preferences – so it’s easier to write faster.
And writing faster = more time for other paid client work.
(…Or more time to binge-watch Netflix. You know, whatever.)
4. You don’t have to deal with lots of meetings and phone calls.
I won’t even try to sugarcoat it.
I’m not a big fan of talking on the phone or going to meetings.
The phone part has a lot to do with the fact that I worked at a call center for years and spent basically every day getting yelled at by angry customers. #FunTimes
What I posted on my Instagram account several years ago (inspired by my shitty call center job)
So I love that with blogging, you don’t usually need a bunch of phone calls and meetings.
The projects are often straightforward and require ONE initial phone call at the most.
I’ve worked with lots of clients where I’ve actually never spoken to them – it has all been handled via email!
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ll happily hop on the phone with a client if I need to. And you should too.
But it IS definitely nice not needing to hop on the phone very often – it means more time for me to focus, work, and make more moo-lah.
5. There are usually no big, daunting projects that take weeks.
When I write blog posts, the super in-depth ones can take a few days.
But with most blog posts, I can get them done in two days tops (that includes letting each blog post “simmer” for a day before I edit it).
Then, I get to move on to the next project.
I like shorter projects where I get to do a lot of independent work, so blogging is perfect for me.
Definitely a lot better than when I used to tackle website copywriting projects that often lasted for weeks.
Can't decide on a freelance writing niche? Here's why you should consider blog post writing.
3 Tips for Breaking Into Freelance Blogging
TIP #1: NICHE DOWN BY INDUSTRY.
If you’re just getting started as a freelance writer, you need to stand out to land good clients.
And the way you stand out is by narrowing down your niche.
So, don’t just call yourself a “freelance blogger” or “blog post writer.”
Niche down by industry too.
When you’ve narrowed your niche properly, you should be able to describe it like this:
“I write (type of content) that helps (target clientele) (what you help them accomplish).”
For example:
“I write blog posts that help health and fitness coaches grow their online presence and land new clients.”
I never marketed myself as just a general blog post writer. If I had, I doubt my business would’ve grown as quickly as it did.
First, I wrote B2B blog posts.
Then, I niched down even further to writing B2B blog posts about marketing topics.
When you niche down by industry AND content type, you really stand out as the perfect fit for a specific type of client. And that’s what allows you to become an in-demand writer.
Plus, it’s a lot easier to market yourself effectively when you know exactly who you’re marketing to.
TIP #2: POSITION YOUR NICHE EXPERTISE EVERYWHERE ONLINE.
Once you’ve narrowed down your niche, it’s time to market your expertise online.
Everything from your freelance writer website to your social profiles should clearly state what you do / who you help.
So for example, if you’re a B2B blogger, your LinkedIn headline/profile might say something like:
“Freelance B2B Blog Post Writer”
And then your freelance writer website headline would say something like:
“I help B2B businesses grow and win more customers with in-depth blog posts.”
When your target client finds you online, they need to understand RIGHT AWAY that you specialize in exactly what they need help with.
TIP #3: LEARN CONTENT MARKETING.
So many writers say stuff like this on their site:
“I’m a highly skilled writer who delivers error-free content for your business.”
But the truth is this:
“Error-free content” is NOT a selling point. Neither is being a “highly skilled writer.” Those things are basic expectations.
Want to freelance? Being a good writer isn't enough. You need to learn content marketing.
Just being a good writer isn’t enough.
You need to understand how your blog posts affect your client’s business and be able to help them get the results they want.
THAT, my friend, is what will allow you to sell your services like crazy.
If you don’t understand content marketing / how to write from a marketing perspective, you’re not going to land high-paying freelance blogging clients.
Plain and simple.
That’s because high-paying clients aren’t just looking for some nice words on a page of their website.
They’re looking for blog posts that help them grow their business.
Social shares. Traffic. Email subscribers. SALES.
That’s what they REALLY want from you.
And that’s what content marketing is all about.
Writing/promoting content in a way that gets results.
(Learning content marketing has allowed me to command $200-$400+ for a single client blog post and make $2,000-$7,000/mo from my own blog!)
If you’re ready to learn content marketing so you can land high-paying freelance blogging clients, I’ve got a little somethin’-somethin’ for ya.
My brand new course:
It’s open for pre-sale enrollment until July 14th, and you’ll save $100 on the price of the course as a founding student.
Long story short, this course is all about getting RESULTS – like traffic, social shares, and email subscribers – from your blog posts.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How to optimize a blog post for SEO
- How to pick your best blog niche and market to a specific audience successfully
- How to brainstorm endless blog post topics that your target readers can’t resist
- How to use copywriting to create crazy clickable headlines
- How to create an editorial calendar and content strategy based on business goals
- How to format/structure a blog post
- How to write some of the BEST content in your industry
- …And more.
So, not only will it help you with your freelance blogging client work – it’ll help you grow your own online presence and create a monetization plan/content strategy for your blog.
