I had started this post after getting more and more feedback from my readers about needing to actually divulge how I came to making money online.
So many bloggers out there, as Common Sense Millennial has recently pointed out, brag about how much money they are making from their side hustles (like I did here) but don’t provide any clear and usable advice as to how to get there.
I’m guilty of this. I mention hard work a lot, because you aren’t getting anywhere in life without hard work. I firmly believe that. However, maybe you work hard and just don’t know where to go from here to make extra money. Maybe you’re taking the wrong actions. Hard work isn’t the only factor to consider.
Here’s how I came about my side hustle of staff writing, ghost writing, and freelancing (all things writing).
I Put Myself Out There
When I first started blogging in 2010 on When Life Gives You Lemons, I posted frequently about my goals. They weren’t just income goals, but goals in general. One of my goals happened to be to find a staff writing or freelancing gig.
I posted that goal on my blog month after month, because I wasn’t reaching it. I didn’t expect anyone to come across it and hire me, but I posted all of my goals and didn’t leave this one out.
I put myself out there, and while the intent was not to have people see the posts and keep me in mind for their next gig, at least I made it known that’s what I was looking for (unintentionally).
Don’t have a blog on which to do things like this? That’s fine. There’s Twitter, Facebook, group emails. Make it be known that you’re looking for side gigs.
I Made a “Hire Me” Page
It’s amazing how many bloggers will email me or DM me on Twitter to say that they want to know how to find work online, and when I check their blogs, they don’t have a “hire me” page or even a “hire me” widget. I guess it did take me awhile to catch on as well, but I eventually did do it.
Here’s the thing. If you are a blogger who wants to make money writing for other blogs, you have an advantage because you are part of that community. Furthermore, you have an entire collection of writing samples on your blog waiting to be seen.
If you want to write for other blogs and don’t say so on your own blog, that’s like having a restaurant set up with no sign to advertise that it’s a restaurant.
I Approached People
I actually hired a staff writer on one of my own blogs because she asked if I was hiring staff writers. I was hired as a ghost writer because I asked somebody I knew who had a website whether they were outsourcing anything.
I also approached some people to ask them whether they knew of anybody who was looking.
We can’t be tuned in all the time to everyone, so we may have missed a potential opportunity. That doesn’t mean that another blogger didn’t see it and wouldn’t be happy to pass on the information.
Use the Resources Available
I know there is some disdain for Yakezie around the PF blogosphere, but it can be a very helpful community and if you post that you’re looking for a gig on the forums, you’re bound to have a little interest.
There’s also various classifieds for bloggers, and message boards. Use those resources that are available to you. It all comes down to people knowing that you want to work for them.
Bonus: Work For Less
If you are trying to break into a market, you shouldn’t be charging double what everyone else is for similar work. You need to be working fairly cheaply at first.
I know there is a ton of advice out there saying “charge what you’re worth! You’re worth oodles!” but you aren’t, not at first.
There have been quite a few bloggers who have been successful in getting a ton of work by charging $10 or $15/article for the first few months, and then increasing their rates. Many can’t even keep up with the demand.
If you are able to deliver consistent work for a low price, you’ll be able to get away with charging more when you prove yourself.
So that’s my take on how to get online writing gigs (for blogs, at least).
These are all great tips! Adding a hire me page and letting your services be known are both very important.
Agreed!
These are all great, actionable tips. I’ve been taking a step back from my writing commitments lately, but now that I’ve had a break and a chance to regroup, I think I’m ready to find my next perfect gig. This one will definitely be outside the PF blogosphere, since I want to branch out with my writing. Thanks for the tips!
I hear ya – writing about the same thing over and over again can be tiring
What an awesome post! This is really informative and I think anyone looking to get started with some side hustles (especially in writing online) can learn something meaningful from your experiences that you’ve shared here. I’ve been enjoying reading past posts of yours that cover this subject – I think you do an excellent job of getting your readers thinking in the right direction about how they can start working to be as successful as you’ve been. Thanks again for this post (and for the nod to my own post on this, much appreciated) 🙂
Thanks, Kali! I hope it’s helpful.
Very good set of ideas, and motivating, thanks. I certainly respect your success, but I think when you’re willing to “work for cheap,” that sends a message to the buyer about the quality–or your own perception of the quality–of what you’re selling. I think I’d try charging at least the market rate–ideally a bit more–and then come up with a marketing strategy to support my rate. But, like I said, your success speaks for itself, so what do I know!
I definitely disagree. If you have no experience in something, you shouldn’t be going and trying to charge above market rate. That’s just going to scare away potential clients because you are asking them to take a risk on you with no experience to back up your ability. I don’t think you should always sell your work cheaply, but in the up and coming period, yes. But that’s just me 🙂
Great tips~ I’ve only been casually thinking about getting side writing gigs but never really thought it through seriously. I need to start letting my intention known.
For sure. But it does take a lot of time commitment so I’d say only do so if you have the time to give!
Outstanding tips!
Network, Network, Network! People recommend people they know or have worked with.
Two, when you get your first client, do such an outstanding job that their jaw drops (okay, that’s exaggerated) and more often than not, you’ll have a constant stream of work without knocking on so many doors.
Word of mouth sells gloriously and well, costs nothing.
Thanks Simon. I agree with networking and all of your advice. You can only benefit from it.
THANK YOU for that info, as a new blogger, I’m slowly inching my way around the web..eventually I’d like to do the same.. make some $$ of a blog BUT, we must start at the beginning. awesome post! happy three day weekend =)
Yup you definitely have to start at the beginning. With hard work, you’ll get there!
Thank you, Daisy. I really had no idea how people got paid to write for other bloggers, so this is very helpful. It’s hard to imagine getting paid $5 to write a post because I take a long time to write mine. If I did the math, it would amount to pennies per hour! Ha! But I definitely see your point about getting your feet wet and then asking more especially when there are so many blogs and writers from which to choose.
Oh, definitely! You’ll, of course, be paid substantially more than that once you get more exposure, I just think it’s a great way to prove yourself. But yeah, it does take a long time to write a post!
Great post, which reminds me I need to make a hire me page for my blog!
Yes! Go do it! lol
Daisy, this is so great. Thanks for breaking it down. Utility is something that’s been lacking in posts along this theme, and I have a feeling this is going to help soooo many people…myself included hopefully!
No problem! I’ve got my fingers crossed for you 🙂
For me, it’s the fact that I have free time now, but I won’t when I work, so I don’t like committing to big things and building a side business when I won’t be able to deliver a certain level of service.
Otherwise, I’d do this in a heartbeat.
Side hustling isn’t for everybody 🙂
Thanks for sharing these tips. I’ve been so caught up in reading other blogs, sharing, networking, etc that I completely forgot to add a “hire me” button to my page. Adding that one to the “to do” list.
All of those things are SO IMPORTANT as well, if you want your blog to be successful; this is just a whole other ball game 🙂
If you have no experience in something, you shouldn’t be going and trying to charge above market rate.
Yes. Yes, yes yes.
SEems to me like the takehome message here is: Don’t Be Afraid. Just like you said, you gotta put yourself out there, you gotta approach people, you gotta talk to other bloggers, you gotta get a “Hire Me” page. you basically gotta not be afraid and just put yourself out there!
I’d have to agree, TB, that’s a great message.
Straightforward and sensible post! I particularly like the “Hire Me” widget advice and I definitely agree on approaching people and using the resources available to you. These are really helpful tips.
Thanks Marissa 🙂
Kudos for the awesome post! I am with you on this. Ask and you shall receive! It pays a lot to put yourself out there and be very resourceful.
So true. Being resourceful is so important to success.
Thank you for sharing your tips. I know one of my biggest questions was what to ask for when I wanted to hang my freelance writer shingle. I like the idea of starting out with discounted rates and then moving on from there.
I didn’t realize there was some disdain for Yakezie – oh well, it looks like it could be a helpful resource in some cases. Cheers!
It’s definitely a helpful resource, there are just some people that don’t like it.