Do not quit your day job. At least not yet.

One of the most common questions I get asked is how I became a successful full-time freelance blogger.

The answer?

The truth is I’m NOT a full-time blogger.

In my experience there are many benefits to keeping your full-time job while setting out on a path to become a freelance blogger.

Here are a few things to think about before quitting a job and embarking on a freelance blogging career.

CALCULATE THE LOSS OF BENEFITS

Most people do not enjoy being ‘just a number’ at a corporation. Most people hate having to play political games. But that’s often the exchange for health benefits, vacation time, and other perks that are part of your employer’s overall compensation package.

When looking to quit a job and become a freelance blogger, you need to figure out how much you can charge for your services AND how much money you need to make. While money isn’t everything, it is prudent to be confident that your blogging can make up for your loss of salary — and the additional benefits you will be losing.

DON’T PUT ALL OF YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET

One of the reasons I encourage aspiring freelance bloggers to stick with their full-time jobs is to give themselves options. Putting yourself on a dual track, one where you are growing at your full-time job AND growing as a blogger, is the best of both worlds. Sure, it can be a struggle to manage your time efficiently, but with some hard work and structure, it’s possible.

Maximizing your time at a full-time job to grow your blogging empire is one of the secrets of success. There are pockets of time everywhere if you open your eyes to them. There are ways to use your commute, lunch hour, and other ‘dead’ time zones to blog.

YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE BEING A FREELANCE BLOGGER

Writing for clients is very different than writing for your own blog(s). Each client has a different set of demands, a different set of expectations. You might not enjoy blogging as much when presented with difficult personalities, paperwork (invoicing), deadlines, etc.

I recommend you test the waters and build blogging relationships for at least a year. I know that sounds like forever, especially when you are dreaming of walking away from a dead-end career. But building your dream career and working for yourself is not for the impatient. This is another reason why putting yourself on a dual track is smart.

SO YOU’RE STILL CONVINCED YOU WANT TO BLOG FULL-TIME…

Good for you! Blogging can be extremely rewarding and financially lucrative. If you are looking to get started as a freelance blogger, follow these tips:

– Write for free. As a blogging beginner, this is usually the only true way to get your name out there. Getting published on other blogs will help you build back links, gain solid experience, and give you material that
you can show off to potential clients.  It will also make you a better blogger.

– Be proactive when it comes to getting jobs. If you take anything away from this blog post on your quest to be a freelance blogger, make it this bullet point.

99% of your freelance blogging competition will be responding to ads looking for bloggers. However the best blogging jobs, are often the ones that aren’t announced anywhere. In fact, often, they are with businesses that have been thinking about blogging, but haven’t started one yet.

Don’t be afraid to pitch for the blogging gigs you want and attempt to create your own.

– Have a central place to display your blogging work. Most of the bloggers I know write for more than one blog. This makes it important to have a single website/feed/blog where you can put your best work on display. You can’t expect potential clients to click through dozens or hundreds of blog posts. Take the time to create a resource that puts your best work under one roof. You should also create a blogger resume.

It should go without saying, but it’s of paramount importance to be responsive to potential client inquiries. I have found that the sooner you respond with a personalized reply, the better the odds of getting hired.

If you are dreaming of becoming a freelance blogger there is no better time to start. Just use caution before  leaving your day job behind.

The post So You Want to Be a Full-Time Freelance Blogger? appeared first on Blogger Freelance.

(and get on the road to self-employment)

This free 1,200-word report by pro blogger Andrew G. Rosen gives you five actionable tips to ensure you get noticed when applying for blogging jobs. Because sending a blogger resume is not enough! Content includes:

• The importance of email subject lines
• How to impress the blog owner
• Tips on being concise and direct
• Timing is everything
• The power of being nice

The post Free Report: How to Land a Blogging Job appeared first on Blogger Freelance.

One of the best WordPress themes for online resumes and portfolios is Caffeinated. Buy it here. It’s the template that’s used for this very website!

A blogger resume is similar to a resume that you would use for a “regular” job  but there are a few distinct differences.  I recommend having a separate resume for blogging jobs that is shorter than a standard resume. Within the blogger resume, you should make your full resume available.  Here are the other standards a blogger resume should follow…

* It must be online. Having a downloadable resume is not good enough. If you are touting yourself as someone who understands the basics of search engine optimization and helping a company/brand standout from the pack, you better prove your technical ability by setting up a resume that ranks well.

* It must include live links. A good blogger understands the importance links play in making a blog successful.  Without them, you’re just a writer – and what fun is that?

* Your blogger resume should show quantifiable stats that measure your success. For example: I recently wrote a blog post that was featured on Yahoo! that yielded 4M pageviews, 884 re-tweets and over 1,900 comments.

* Links to your social media profiles. When a client hires you to write their blog, they are also hoping to tap into your existing network.  If you have a strong following on Twitter or lots of “impressive” friends, put it on display for your potential clients to see.

* Include examples of your social media success with blogging. Links to screenshots that show proof of how a particular post performed on social networks will boost your credibility as a blogger.

* Testimonials and references. Normally a separate document for regular resumes, but a blogging resume should include several brief/strong endorsements.

* Prove that you understand the latest blogging tools and trends. Being proficient with WordPress is not good enough. If your target job is using another platform you want to show that you either understand how it works or can learn it quickly.  Carve out a section on your blogger resume to list your skills/proficiencies.

* Don’t forget about the “day” job. If you work full-time doing something seemingly unrelated to blogging, there are still skills that should be put on display on a blogger resume.  The goal is to slice these down to a fraction of their original size, but get across that you are a well-rounded individual who understands blogging AND business.

* Brand awareness. When a company or individual hires you as a freelance blogger, they are turning over the keys to their brand.  That’s a scary proposition!  Do everything you can to prove to the potential employer that you understand the importance of brand consistency and the responsibility that comes along with blogging.

* Highlight your best work. Most established bloggers have hundreds or thousands of blog posts floating around the Web.  It’s unrealistic to expect a potential client to sift through all of your articles.  It’s also unrealistic to think that everything you have written is great!  Showcase your best work by including several breakout links in your blogger resume.

If you’re a freelance blogger, feel free to drop me a note if you thought this post was useful.  I’m always looking to connect with great bloggers .  Hey, we may even work together one day!

If you enjoyed this post, let me write ones like it for your company!  With over seven years of top-flight blogging and social media experience, let me put my skills to work for you.  Contact me today!

The post 10 Things a Blogger Resume Must Include appeared first on Blogger Freelance.

With everyone and their mother blogging these days, standing out from the pack is harder than ever. It wasn’t until I stopped sending my “regular” resume that I experienced a healthy amount of blogging success.  The cold hard truth is that a blogger resume can make all the difference in the world.

Are you looking for one or more of the following?

• A full-time blogging job
• A career that includes blogging as a skill
• Blogging for supplemental income
• A blog hobby

Don’t let your resume hold you back.  In order to get blogging jobs, you need a resume that is optimized for blogging.

THAT’S WHERE WE COME IN.

We bring to the table something that other folks can’t — a keen understanding of what companies and blog employers are looking for in a blogger.

We’ll help you incorporate your blogging skills and experience into an existing resume or help you create a new resume designed exclusively for blogging jobs.

Whether you are a seasoned blogger or looking to get started, we WILL help you land that coveted blogging gig.

Ready to start blogging for money?  Fill out the form below to request a personalized quote.

The post Let Us Write Your Blogger Resume appeared first on Blogger Freelance.