Guest post by Jennifer Brown Banks:
Last year, when I landed a blog gig that boasted 100 bucks monthly for 300-word posts, I was tickled pink. Easy money I thought to myself.
Not only did this project seem exciting and effortless, scoring it, along with my other “regular” blogging clients, meant I could save time, effort, and angst from scouring weekly job boards and networking feverishly for potential leads.
But my joy was short lived. Not long after accepting this job, I realized that not all blogging gigs are created equally.
Blog listings are increasingly abundant on Craigslist, Freelance Writing Jobs, Blogging Pro, and Pro Blogger.net, to name a few. But what should you look for in “reading the fine print?” What makes for a profitable pursuit? Here are a few things you need to consider in assessing a blog job offer or ad:
5 Key issues to consider
1. The scope of your responsibility—This may seem like a no-brainer, but trust me, it isn’t. In other words, will you be required to do research? Will you have to make your posts Search Engine Optimized? Provide your own topics? These are things to consider. $50 per post may seem like a lot initially, but if the subject matter requires extensive research, tech troubles, and red tape, you’ll end up with very little earnings for your efforts.
2. The amount of expertise required—Some blog jobs call for you to know different content management systems to post your own work (i.e WordPress, Scrives, Blogger); with others, the blog owner does the actual posting upon approval. Additionally, some projects require you to provide your own photos, to be versed in things like anchor texting and social media. Make sure to be compensated equitably for your skill sets and your time. Just like you would in corporate America.
3. The method of payment—Will it be based upon performance metrics, like per clicks? Readership levels? Readers’ votes? Or perhaps per post? Per word? Be clear on the terms and how you’ll collect your pay. If it’s vague, steer clear.
4. What’s the standing of the blog and its owner? Is it a highly ranked site? Popular within its niche? Many ad placements? These tell-tale signs will determine how successful it is and the likelihood of future pay. For instance, I blogged for one client for a couple of weeks who decided to “close shop” because things were not materializing the way he had expected. If I had done my homework, I might have known of his struggles to stay afloat and devoted my energies elsewhere. As they say, “time is money.”
5. Interaction level with audience—Creating blog posts can also carry with it the pleasant but time consuming task of
responding to readers and answering related questions. Will you be allowed to make a general statement of “thanks”, to bypass commenting, or are you expected to address each one individually? Depending upon your time constraints and personal blogging style, this may or may not be a concern.
As with any job, the proper “fit” is important for longevity, success, and career satisfaction. So keep these tips in mind to make the most of your blogging experience, and to make the most money for your efforts.
BIO:
Jennifer Brown Banks has blogged for many of the top, award-winning sites such as PROBLOGGER, Technorati, Daily Blog Tips, and Search Engine Journal. When she’s not blogging, she’s likely in hot pursuit of a good bargain sale.
Thanks, Jennifer, for generously sharing this information!