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Freelance writing and blogging are two popular avenues for writers looking to earn money from their writing skills.
Freelance writing involves creating content for various clients on a project-by-project basis. This can include articles, web copy and white papers. As a freelance writer, you have the freedom to choose your projects and work with a diverse range of clients.
On the other hand, blogging is about starting your own blog and publishing content regularly on topics you are passionate about. Bloggers often build a following over time and monetize their blogs through affiliate marketing, sponsored content and product sales.
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What is freelance writing?
Freelance writing is a broad field that encompasses various types of content creation for clients. As a freelance writer, you're essentially self-employed, offering your writing services to businesses, publications and individuals who require quality content.
Freelance writers produce a wide array of written materials. This can range from blog posts and articles to technical manuals and marketing copy. The scope of freelance writing is vast, allowing writers to specialize in niches that match their interests and expertise.
There are a number of ways to make money as a freelance writer:
Charging per word or per project
Retainer agreements for ongoing work
Revenue sharing from published content. Writers often set their rates based on experience, the complexity of the work and market demand.
What are the main pros and cons of freelance writing?
There are several advantages and disadvantages to consider in freelance writing.
The pros include flexibility in choosing projects and setting your schedule. This means you can work around family commitments and choose the projects you really enjoy. For some writers it means a better work-life balance. Very often experienced freelance writers earn more money than those in-house and get to work with a variety of clients.
Some of the cons of freelance writing include irregular income flow, especially when starting out. It can be difficult sometimes to build up a steady roster of clients and keeping them to maintain your income can also be challenging. You'll need to get comfortable marketing yourself and your services while also dabbling in client management and relationship building.
Start by building a freelance website for your writing business.
If you're looking for some popular writing niches to specialize in, consider:
Technology and software writing
Health and wellness content
Financial and business writing
Travel writing
Learn more:
What is blogging?
A blog is a digital platform where individuals or businesses share information, insights and stories. It's a way to connect with a like-minded audience and establish authority in a particular subject area.
Being a blogger means you're in charge of creating, publishing and managing content on your own blog. You decide on the topics, the tone of voice and the frequency of your posts. Bloggers often include personal experiences or opinions into their content to engage their readers on a more personal level.
There are a number of ways to make money as a blogger:
Displaying ads through programs like Google AdSense
Affiliate marketing by promoting products or services
Selling digital products or merchandise
Offering paid memberships for exclusive content
Use a blog maker to create your own blog.
What are the main pros and cons of blogging?
Blogging comes with its own set of pros and cons that you should consider.
With blogging you have complete creative control over your content, you can write what you want and to your own schedule. It's a great opportunity to build a personal brand and a community. If done well and consistently, blogging can mean considerable potential to earn passive income via monetization strategies.
However blogging is not without is challenges. Content creation is time consuming and you'll need to update content regularly as well. Blogs can be slow to grow and build traffic which will also slow down time to making money. If most of your traffic comes from organic search, such as Google, you're also dependent on its algorithm for your traffic gains and losses.
Learn more: Blogging vs content marketing
Freelance writing vs. blogging: which is better?
When deciding between freelance writing and blogging, it's essential to compare the two based on your personal goals, preferences and the lifestyle you envision for yourself. Both paths offer distinct experiences and rewards and understanding these can help you make a choice that's right for you.
Here are some of the main factors to keep in mind when choosing:
Your desire for creative control versus working under direction
The need for a steady income versus the potential for passive revenue
Your willingness to market yourself versus building a personal brand
Income potential
One of the most significant considerations when choosing between freelance writing and blogging is the potential for income.
Freelance writers can often command higher rates upfront and increase their income as they gain experience and credibility. Bloggers may start off earning little to no money but as their audience grows, so does their earning potential through various blog monetization strategies.
Work flexibility
Freelance writing provides the flexibility to work with different clients on diverse projects, which can lead to a more varied workday. Blogging offers the freedom to set your own schedule and work from anywhere but it also requires consistent content creation to maintain audience engagement.
Skill set
Freelance writers need to be adept at research, proficient in various writing styles, and capable of tailoring their voice to match the needs of their clients. Bloggers must have a strong grasp of SEO, social media marketing and the ability to create engaging content that resonates with their target audience.
Personal branding
For bloggers, personal branding is crucial as it helps differentiate them from competitors and attracts a loyal readership. Freelance writers also benefit from personal branding by establishing themselves as experts in their niche, which can lead to more job opportunities and higher rates.
Bloggers vs freelance writing, can you be both?
The lines between freelance writing and blogging can often blur, leading many to wonder if it's possible to successfully manage both roles. The answer is yes and here's how you can do it.
Many writers start as freelancers and gradually build their own blogs on the side, or vice versa.
This balancing both can lead to diversified income streams and a broader skill set. You can get started as a blogger or writer by making a website.
To maintain equilibrium between freelance writing and blogging:
Prioritize your tasks based on deadlines and income potential.
Develop a consistent routine that allocates time for client work and your own blog.
Use your blog as a portfolio website to showcase your writing skills to potential freelance clients.
By integrating freelance writing with blogging, you can enjoy the stability of client work while building your personal brand and exploring topics that interest you on your blog. This dual approach can offer the best of both worlds if managed wisely.