7 Reasons to Consider a Career as a Paid Blogger
There are millions of blogs on the web today. Some are mediocre and others are very, very popular. They’re so popular, in fact, their owners are able to make a living as a paid blogger. While this may seem like a rather easy career path, there’s no hiding the fact that these individuals have put a ton of time, effort, and financial investment into the success of their sites. Blogging for a living is no walk in the park, but it is a rewarding career path you should seriously consider if you enjoy writing and sharing information. Here are some reasons why.
Flexibility in Scheduling
As a paid blogger, you’ll have the opportunity to set your own work schedule. This type of flexibility can be incredibly important, especially to those with young children or older family members who need assistance. You can get to doctor appointments and school functions without having to worry about paid time off or the pile of work building up on your desk. You have the room to move your schedule around – to get up early and get your work done or to get some more work done after the kids are in bed. Your schedule is in your own hands – always.
You’re an Authority Figure
As a paid blogger, you’re going to want to focus on a particular niche. No one really becomes successful writing about anything and everything that comes to mind. Your experience in the niche you choose and the valuable information you provide will cause others to view you as an authority in your field. It will then become easier for you to place focused advertisements on your page or make referrals to those who provide related services. Your role as an authority figure will help you to increase your own income.
It’s Not All About Writing
As you become more popular, you’ll begin to find that people are vying for your time. They’re interested in what you’re writing – sure – but after a bit of time you’ll find they want to meet you in person as well. Many popular bloggers are invited to speak at formal events. Take, for example, some of the people who run coupon and shopping blogs – many of them used their blogs as a platform to share information but have branched out to teach in-person classes as well. As a paid blogger, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your work into the offline world as well.
You Don’t Have to Write for Yourself
Paid blogging doesn’t necessarily mean you have to start your own website and pray for some income, either. There are tons (and tons) of website owners and bloggers who look for guest and ghostwriters to help them create content. As a guest blogger, you’d be creating content in exchange for a byline and maybe a link back to your own site. As a ghostwriter, you’d be paid for writing the blog post but you would not necessarily receive credit as the author. While ghostwriting doesn’t necessarily appeal to some writers, the need for this type of service is undeniable. Paid blogging doesn’t always mean you’re acknowledged as the creator. It simply means you’re doing the work.
Work Environment
As a paid blogger, you can work from anywhere you choose. Access to a computer and the internet is paramount, of course, but as long as you have those two items you can work from just about any location. This means you can travel more with your spouse, work while watching the children go about their daily activities, or take a leisurely working vacation. Sometimes, especially if you write about travel, you may even receive reimbursement for your expenses.
Driving Traffic to Other Sites
Let’s say you have a few gigs as a professional blogger for some reputable sites – you’re a staff writer. Many sites that have staff writers, or who accept guest bloggers, will allow you to put a brief author bio at the end of your post. Your bio can include a link out to another website. If you are a paid blogger looking to build up your own site, this type of link juice can be invaluable, helping to increase your traffic by referring readers from one site and by boosting your ranks in Google. Eventually you’ll not only see revenue from your writing, but from the ads and traffic on your own sites as well.
Continuous Work
Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking there isn’t enough for work you to make living as a paid blogger. Nothing could be further from the truth. While you may have to do a little bit of digging to find your first couple of jobs, you’ll find that both your own site’s content and word of mouth from other site owners will soon lead to a line of people requesting your writing services. You can, and will, make a decent income.
The key to starting a career as a paid blogger is to make sure you are thinking outside the box. It’s not about putting up your own website and throwing a few AdSense ads into the mix. It’s about having something to say, for yourself or on behalf of someone else, and sharing valuable information. The more genuine you are in your work, the more successful you’ll become.
About the Author: Dona Collins is a full-time writer with a passion for entrepreneurship, communications, and technology. She also enjoys helping recruiters find jobs for physical therapists and others in the healthcare field.
