Blogging For Dollars: Is That Possible?

I just realized that I’m working on a special message this month – Christmas Eve is just two weeks away, but in some respects I’m looking beyond the holiday season. This theme is something I’ve been talking about a lot lately — how to operate your freelance writing business.

I realize that the term “freelance writer” can used very broadly, but that is my intention. Some of my readers are editors, others are bloggers, yet many people are writers who are earning a living or supplementing their income by completing paid assignments from clients.

Beration Free Zone

What this article certainly isn’t about is berating anyone for whatever types of assignment they choose to do or how much they decide to charge for their work. Certainly, you shouldn’t work for a paltry amount which means commanding $25 or more per article is a good place to start.

I will share with you some tips on “blogging for dollars” which is more accurately described as writing for a blog. There are three ways I will mention, beginning with the lowest paying gig up to the most lucrative:

Your Blog – Yes, your blog can become a money machine. But, in most cases you won’t make that much money at least from the beginning. Among the ways you can make money is to write paid reviews, sell text links, feature banner advertising, and run AdSense or similar pay per click advertising.

Every one of the six blogs I own or manage makes money from a few dollars per week up to several hundred dollars per month. To get to that point I needed to bring in the traffic which means that the topics I discuss including college/career, consumer information, cars, Christian/inspirational, and writing, has to be something that people will want to read. No, I don’t make my living off of the four blogs that I own, but they offer a nice supplement to my income.

Blogging Networks – Though the pay is usually higher that what most people earn from their own blogs, I’m not a fan of blogging networks. Still, if this is the path that you choose to take, then more power to you.

I was offered a position with a blogging network (b5Media) a few years back, but I turned the job down when I learned that my income was based on page views. In other words, for every 1,000 visitors to the blog, I would receive a dollar or two. That’s it.

Don’t get me wrong – there are people who like this sort of arrangement and are doing quite well, operating a blog that pulls in thousands of people each day. What is more, they earn a small base plus commission which means that they can get several hundred dollars per month. Yet, with 20 articles posted each month that means the top bloggers get $10-$15 per article for all of their hard work. Ouch.

Business Blogging – This is my favorite blogging opportunity for several reasons: the pay is good, the work is steady, and the recognition is also something that makes this kind of blogging special.

But it is also the hardest job to find – most good paying business blogging gigs are secured directly from companies, not from Craigslist, Elance, or message board communities. My gigs came from a writing customer who realized that he should have a blog. Those two blogs have elevated his business, bringing in more traffic, pulling in customers, and attracted advertisers.

In addition to writing most of the articles (once daily, five times per week), I backup the blogs, update WordPress as needed, keep the plugins fresh, and use social networking to broadcast changes. It is a lot of work, but I make good money because a long time writing client trusted my skills and believes that there is value in what I do.

Contributing Articles

If you can get a gig where you can get paid per contribution, that might be something for you to take. I didn’t add with the three other options, because this is one area I’m not all that familiar with. Prices vary depending on article length and subject matter as well as popularity of the blog. Expect to receive $10 -$30 per article.

Please, Can We Stop The Google Whining Now?!

I’m feeling pain migrating through my stomach this morning. No, it isn’t indigestion — at least of the food kind — rather, it is all of the articles I have been taking in these past few days which are discussing Google and their massive PageRank penalty pogrom.

Some of the articles are informative and I can sympathize with those bloggers/webmasters who have been hit for no apparent reason. I am not defending Google, obviously some sort of explanation by Matt Cutts would be helpful when the smoke clears (i.e., when a full export to the Google toolbar of PageRank takes place).

PageRank Doesn’t Matter — Or Does It?

What bothers me is that there is a segment of the SEO world who is crying foul when they clearly have no reason for them to do so. After all, these are the same people who have told us over and over again that PageRank doesn’t matter. Really?! Then why are you objecting so strongly now? Have you had a change of heart?

My thinking is that we would all be better served if we were to take a step back and look at certain facts and respond intelligently to what has taken place:

Fact: Google is a public company and they can do what they want. Google answers to shareholders and they are in business to make money. As a customer, you are free to go elsewhere.

Fact: We have known for months that this day was coming. Google warned us and we talked about the upcoming changes. Sure, no one saw things unfolding the way that they have, but here we are. Now what will you do?

Fact: Google doesn’t own the internet. Yes, their influence easily outstrips the influence of any other company, but they do not own the world wide web. If Google offends you that much, then find other products to use (just like when you rejected Microsoft). Maybe it was a big mistake for you to build your business model on Google’s back in the first place.

Fact: The rise and fall of so many companies over time proves that Google’s popularity can easily be eclipsed by an unknown, future start up. Bill Gates thought that he was king way back when and a few years back Facebook was just a fun project for a Harvard student. The internet is in constant flux.

Fact: Google’s actions will make you a better business person. You knew that putting all of your eggs in one basket was dangerous, but you took the risk and are now paying for it. Let this be a lesson to you: businesses are built on the foundation of mistakes made and the lessons learned from those mistakes. If you are unable to learn from this experience, then perhaps being in business isn’t right for you.

Okay, this rant is officially over. Can we get on with what we were doing and find a way to do what we were doing better?