In the past week I heard from several writers who are thinking about starting a blog. Bravo! Now comes the hard part.
There are all kinds of reasons for blogging: building a brand, practicing different types of writing, promoting a book, putting your resume and clips online, or just getting stuff out there that you couldn’t or wouldn’t put in a paid assignment.
Though the reasons may vary, the mechanics of getting a blog started don’t. Here are six simple steps to starting your freelance writing blog:
1. Pick a niche that you’re in love with. If you’re not passionate about something, your enthusiasm for writing about it will fade. So pick something that speaks to you. Entertainment writer Jane Boursaw blogs about movies at Film Gecko. Sandra Hume, a freelance writer in Kansas, blogs about Laura Ingalls Wilder. Another freelancer, Roxanne Hawn, blogs about her dog Lily. I blog here about how digital media is changing the freelance writing business, a topic that combines my experience covering the tech business with my personal interest in keeping up with the times as a freelancer.
2. Deal with the mechanics. Once you’ve got an idea, you need to give it a home. You can set up a blog on any number of free blog sites including WordPress, Blogger or TypePad. Or you can download free software from Moveable Type or WordPress.org and pay a service like GoDaddy to host your blog. Most of these services have extensive FAQ sections and user forums where you can get answers to your blogging-related questions.
3. Present interesting and well-written material. There’s no right way to write blog posts. But there are some good rules of thumb. Short is good. Write like you’re talking to a friend. Vary post styles: lists, Q&As, and anything with bullet points seem to be particularly popular with readers. Blog posts that spell out your reaction to new events practically write themselves. Others that offer your original reporting or commentary take more time and effort. I included a bunch of other ideas in this post on writing great freelance blog posts and in this one on whether to plot out posts ahead of time or write on the fly.
4. Commit to posting regularly. How often you post is up to you, but doing it consistently is a sure way to increase traffic. That’s one of the main lessons I learned from my May blogathon, where I posted every day for a month. Now I blog Monday through Friday. Other freelancers I know post a couple days a week. Boursaw, the entertainment writer, writes multiple posts a day, sometimes as many as 10. Maybe it’s why traffic to her blog is through the roof.
5. Build traffic. There are all types of tips and tricks to get people to find out about your blog, including using search engine optimization or SEO to tag your blog posts so Google, Yahoo and other search engines will pick them up, and putting links into your posts. Other traffic builders: maintaining a blogroll, leaving comments on other blogs, and joining blogging networks. Here’s a list of other tips for improving traffic to your freelance blog. You can find more information on these and other techniques on sites such as Copyblogger and ProBlogger and Blogging Basics 101.
6. Have fun! Don’t freak out if your blog’s not popular right out of the gate. Unless you’re lucky or are using a blog to promote a book that’s already bestseller, it takes time for people to find you.
If you’re still not comfortable getting started, you can always take a class online or sign up for a new media seminar.
Got your own suggestions for how to start a writing blog?
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I agree with the have fun step. There are far too many bloggers who forget that entirely in their quest to have the Biggest Blog Ever that everyone subscribes to. People will either read it or they won’t. If it wasn’t fun, what was really the point?
Your tips are really on target, Michelle. The only point I’d add is that photos can increase interest. This works really well with food, gardening and anything visual. That said, if you’re writing on a non-visual topic, they may not be worth the time hunting down.
By the way, the May Blogathon was a blast. I’ve only missed two days since it ended. Thanks for starting it.
Charmian
Great tips.. I’m going to forward this to some people that have been asking me for tips. Honestly, the best thing I did was the may blogathon.. it really increased traffic. Since May ended I’ve fallen off the wagon. Or, am I on the wagon? I really never remember the right way to say that.
Claudine
Thanks for the feedback. I agree that the May blogathon was a success, and I’m thinking of a reprise in the fall, possibly November.
Michelle Rafter
Right on, Michelle. You’ve listed some great ideas for beginning bloggers.
My blog was a baby when the May blogathon started so I didn’t participate. But, here’s what I’ve learned after six weeks of blogging:
Blogging is fun. I love the immediacy of it.
Blogging makes me write – often to keep the readers coming back.
Blogging makes me write concisely. I don’t have time for long posts that don’t pay anything.
Blogging makes me consider the reader. What am I offering that will keep them coming back?
Blogging allows me to try different styles. One day I’m humorous, the next all information.
Blogging is an article idea generator. Writing one snippet generates a story idea for a “real” article.
Blogging connects me with readers. Lots of suggestions and story ideas have been coming my way via the reader.
Blogging makes me be social. In order to increase blog traffic, I’ve had to overcome my shyness and introduce myself on the various writing forums where I’m registered.
Blogging makes me plan. I have so many posts in mind that I’ve planned them out in a blog
editorial calendar
Blogging makes me focus. To keep posts relevant, I have to keep the purpose of the blog in mind using ideas that match my theme.
Blogging is a community maker. I’m meeting other bloggers and networking.
Blogging is addictive. I love checking the stats to see the increase in traffic. Who knew I was a bean counter?
Blogging can be a time waster. So, I use it as a reward for when I’ve finished some other writing related task – like an article.
Blogging is invigorating. It is energizing my writing.
Donna, what a great summary. You’re a quick study if you’ve figured out all of that in six short weeks. Congrats!
Michelle R.
another thought: the audience for your blog is — or may become — international. there are months when I have many more international readers than I do from the US, where I’m based. your international audience may expand your ideas for what to post about and places you wish to investigate for networking your blog, to menton just two possibilities. awards, too : a post of mine was shortlisted (top ten) for the best post of the year in the Irish Blog awards for 2007, and that notice continues to bring in readers from Ireland and elsewhere.
Kerry: Interesting point. I guess it would depend on the subject matter of the blog and whether or not it lends itself to international coverage. Congrats on your success, pretty cool!
Michelle R.
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Great article! I have a question though. What if your blog has nothing to do with the type of stories you write?
I’m looking into starting a part-time freelance career and I was considering starting a second blog specifically for this purpose. Would it be better to use the original blog instead?
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That does help, thanks!
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Thanks for the comment, though I’m not sure I understand the question. Do you already have a blog that doesn’t have anything to do with the subject(s) you want to write about? If you’ve started a poetry blog and want to write about NASCAR, then it’d make sense to start a second blog, either as a place to post your resume, bio and clips, or to start writing about racing.
If you already have a blog and have been writing about a whole range of things, you could pick a couple subjects that you also want to write about and stick to those from now on. I know lots of writers who blog about subjects that they also get paid to write about, or want to get paid to write about.
I’ve done that too – I used my blog to get up to speed on what was happening in social media and the shift from print to digital media because I wanted to eventually write about both. Since I started blogging 18 months ago, I’ve landed thousands of dollars worth of assignments on those topics.
Hope that helps.
Michelle R.