By Jennifer Chait
The first step to working as a professional blogger is to have a blog. If you’ve never had a blog before try Blogger or WordPress. Then blog… a lot. Lately I’ve been considering getting help for a new blog project and if I do I won’t be hiring a non-blogger. I don’t care if you’ve read hundreds of blogs and write for the web. There are blogging quirks that experience with other writing projects just cannot provide. I’m not the only one who thinks so either. All my blog editors have always asked me my blogging history.
Step two: Know where to look.
Know where the blog jobs are before anyone else. Get up early and check job sources. Apply faster and more often than your peers. Deb created a great list a while back about where to look for freelance work. Her list and this blog are a great place to start. Some below are on Deb’s list but as someone who spent all last summer looking for new blogging jobs I have some opinions on the hunt myself.
- b5media: I have three blogs with b5media and it’s a great place to work. Pitching a new blog is rarely an ‘in’ at this network. My advice is to check the main b5 blog and Problogger religiously because both list jobs. Then apply faster than other people.
- Know More Media: Another great place to find work and they have openings right now. In fact if you apply tell them I (Jennifer Chait) sent you because one of their perks is that they sometimes reward current bloggers for referring other good bloggers to them. I don’t suggest pitching but rather applying for open positions.
- All Blog Jobs at Indeed.com: This place has random blogging jobs but is worth a look.
- Freelance Blogging Jobs: They can’t decide how they want their template to look but usually have a good mix of jobs.
- Creative Weblogging: I don’t work with them (never seen a topic I like) but I have talked with people who hire there and they seem very nice plus have positions open.
- Performancing jobs: The jobs here used to be few and far between as in one might be posted and then another weeks later. Lately they seem to update more often.
- Blog Her: Lists jobs but they never seem to be updated; that said, I know people who have found awesome work there so if you’re looking it could be worth checking out.
- BloggerJobs.biz: I hate their set-up; seriously, no-one needs that gigantic of blog font. However they do list frequently and let bloggers post profiles if you’re into that sort of thing.
- UC
- Authorlink: Not just for authors; you have to register but it’s free and has media work.
- Media Bistro : Few blogging jobs but always well paying when I do see them.
- Craigslist: Deb noted and I agree that Craiglists is a much made fun of but useful resource. In fact all my highest paid blogging gigs have come from them. When I need work — I bookmark the big cities that list a lot of writing jobs, put them all in one folder, and check it twice daily.
Step three: Have blogging friends.
Karen asked, “Is it a case of who you know?” which is not too off the map. Bloggers love to talk and if you know enough bloggers then job openings will come up in the conversation. Why you need blogging friends is a fairly in-depth topic that deserves its own post – jobs are far from the main reason to have blog pals. However, overall, in the job hunt, friends can help you.
Step four: Set yourself apart but always be yourself.
About being yourself. It won’t help anyone if you act during the job hunting process. Blogging is a daily deal so if you put on an act it could be an act you need to stick with for a long time. Personally it’s much more fun and easy to blog as yourself. As far as landing gigs, I’m far from the best writer I know yet I get lots of paid blogging gigs – likely over more skilled writers. Many times I’ve known why I got the job over the other applicants because usually editors tell me and if they don’t I’ll often ask.
Reasons I’ve been told that I’ve gotten the job and someone else didn’t:
I’m somewhat conceited. I have flaws which I readily admit to; but not to someone who might hire me. For every blog position I know that there are dozens of others applying. I make it clear that going with someone else would be a serious mistake because I’m the best ever candidate. I talk in terms of here and now; what I can offer the blog and the blog community. I sell my social skills, my web writing and blogging experience, my ability to follow the necessary news sources religiously, how I’m casual but still provide information, and anything else I think might sell me as a blogger. Don’t let modesty be the reason someone else gets that job.
I’m valuable. I’ve been offered too low of pay for blog gigs before. Twice I sent back an email that said the pay was too low and I had better ways to spend my time (I said it nicely). Both times the boss and I ended up talking back and fourth. And shockingly also both times, I was told that the pay was good because dozens of applicants emailed and offered to work for free. I told both places, “You get what you pay for” and got the job.
If you offer to work for free all you’re doing is making it harder for other bloggers to get a decent wage for hard work – that’s obnoxious. Two, someone willing to work for free does not look as professional as someone who values their own services. In some cases (like above) it might just lose you the job.
I’m persistent: After I apply for a position I always check back in. This is a good rule of thumb for any sort of writing work but I think people forget to check back for blogging positions. I’ve landed more than a few gigs simply because I was the only one who kept checking back in about the position.
I’m unique: Above I said don’t show your flaws but showing your eccentricities are not the same. Don’t be afraid to offer your unique ideas for a blog. Successful blogs are partly about standing out from the crowd so stand out more than the other applicants. For example, if you apply for a pregnancy blog mention that yes, you know tons about conventional pregnancy topics but also discuss your knowledge of homebirth, herbs, or how tattoos can stretch – the offbeat slant may be what the hiring party is looking for.
If you follow the above steps, be yourself, and apply for work consistently you will land that dream blogging position and more will follow.
Do you have a great tip for landing a blogging position? What’s worked for you? Or what hasn’t?
Among other places, you can visit Jennifer Chait at Offbeat Homes, 7 Babes A Blogging, and Tree Hugging Family.
November 24th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Wow, Jennifer. Great advice and it answers many of the questions we’re asked regularly.
November 24th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Great advice. From as far as I can figure it, blogging isn’t really a job or a style of writing, it’s an attitude, a certain level of confidence. I think if you don’t have that level of comfort and confidence to hit the tone right, it’s difficult to become a paid blogger. If a writer has the guts to step into the spotlight, I think that person can certainly learn to blog well.
November 24th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Jennifer, thanks for sharing all those resources. That is quite a list! I think number 1 is super important, because even if you’ve written for national magazines or newspapers, blogging is a completely different beast. Some people can’t write short and casual, while others are used to spending several days on the same article, which just isn’t possible in the bloggingn world.
November 24th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
I also think it’s important to know blogging doesn’t stop. You can’t just submit one article and be done with it. While there is a minimum, there’s no maxium. You can always work.
November 25th, 2007 at 3:59 am
Deb ~ Thanks, that’s a good point. Blogging does not ever stop. I suppose that’s an upside or downside depending on your point of view. I like that aspect — it cuts queries.
James ~ blogging is very much an attitude. Most of the bloggers I know are fairly dynamic in one way or another. Freelance writers are too. But in my experience successful bloggers tend to like the spotlight a bit more than the writers I’ve known. Or, maybe I just know modest writers
Susan ~ Yeah, if you want to take a long time on articles blogging is not the best job. I even take too long because I was a freelance writer for years. But I have had to learn to cut my writing time down considerably or I’d never get my work done.
November 25th, 2007 at 4:57 am
I really liked this post, Jennifer, very informative. I’m a trained literature editor and so am just learning to loosen the slack a little for my blogs in terms of voice and style. Although, I’m able to tap my creative writing experience, which I think is my favourite part about blogging. The more unique and inspired, the better the blog post. Thanks!
November 25th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Niche is also important. I have three different blogs that I write for and all three are on three different topics. The good thing is that they all intertwine, which is also key.
November 25th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Jennifer,
Thanks so much for the great advice!
You said that you always “check back in,” so my question is this: how often should one check back, and how many times should one check back? I wouldn’t want them to think I’m a pest. Also, when you check back the first time, do you ask if the position is still available?
Thanks in advance.
November 25th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Amanda ~ Thanks for the nice comment. I like that in blogging I can be creative as well. With only one exception I’ve never had a boss try to edit me — not so with magazines and business copy. There’s a huge creative freedom in blogs.
Pickle ~ True; niche is important but there are only so many openings for just so many blogs so I think it helps to have a few niches you could be an expert in. I have about three or four niches right now. Some have more.
Misti ~ Hey, I think you should not be a pest for sure. Here’s what I do. Apply. Wait a day or two to a week and then email back saying something like, “Hey, just checking in to see if you still have that fab position available — as you may recall I’m interested and have so and so experience. I look forward to us talking more about how I can benefit your blog.” Not in those exact words but you see.
When I check in 1st depends on how hot I perceive the job to be (which is my own feeling I get so I can’t explain it). However, I guess it’s like if it’s a position I know everyone and their dog will apply for I check back sooner. Or if it’s a dream job I check back sooner.
If I don’t hear back I check back again about a week later. If I can’t find the right contact I will email just about everyone until I find it. I don’t consider that pest-like though. One blog I have it took me sending off about 10 emails to various places and people but in the end I got the gig.
Also, I always send thank you emails to people who helped me in my search which cuts the pest factor considerably. Wow, I also talk a lot. See what happens when you ask me a question
November 25th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Oh that’s too bad.
I wanted to pitch an idea to b5media. I knew the probability of my idea taking shape is little to none but a confirmation of that is still disheartening nevertheless.
November 26th, 2007 at 3:43 am
Mariella; I woulden’t be too down. Another b5 secret is that once you’re in it becomes much more likely that you can pitch. The issue there I think is that they sort of have set schedules for pitched stuff but if you already work for them you find that sort of stuff out. Plus I can see why they’d trust a pitch more from an established blogger there than a new blogger. It makes sense because it’s a ton of time and some cost to create a new blog. Don’t feel down just apply for an open position and do a great job — two of my blogs there were pitches but my first was not. Good luck; you can do it.
November 26th, 2007 at 8:48 am
Jennifer,
Thanks for answering my questions. I have learned from your advice and will put it in to action the next time I follow-up on a writing job I applied for. In fact, I just recently started keeping track of all the writing jobs I’m responding to in order to follow-up. So, your advice came at a time when I needed it most.
Thanks again!
November 27th, 2007 at 2:38 am
Jennifer,
Thank you! I’ll keep an eye on openings for any topic I could write about.
November 28th, 2007 at 2:19 am
This is the problem I’ve had chasing these jobs:
They are all based on the internet (duh!), and they are run by internet people. That means that they expect things like resumes and all that other stuff.
It always boils down to a list of what I call the “gots”. You may like a movie for its intricate plot or characterizations. Some people, however, rate movies on what they “got” - as in, “It’s got a car chase and 3 breasts and a really dark sex scene”.
Not me.
My clients are people that I win over one at a time. I meet with them. People who rely on what I “got” are impossible to please, because I constantly have to figure out just where to dumb down my resume to meet them. I’ve overshot, undershot, but never hit it just right.
What I “got” is an ability to write. You interested in that? I’m available to hire. But please, don’t take my long and varied life history and try to boil it down to a few little things that mechanically fit into what you think is the right thing. I’m not a robot, and I hope you aren’t, either.
To my mind, the white middle class has far too cheaply sold out its humanity in the highly competitive race for the right resume. This only gets worse when you come to a place where we can’t sit down and talk about things at a graceful pace. Only then can I tell you a story about my life that fits what you are looking for.
I don’t “got” nuthin’, I *am* somethin’. It’s a state of being.