Hey everyone! Today I’ve got a great post from a fellow blogger. Many of you are curious about staff writing, so this post is just for you. Enjoy!
One of the most common questions Michelle and I get is, “How do you get hired as a staff writer for blogs?” So, I’m excited to share some techniques I use to find job postings and actually get hired.
You might hear stories of people landing $100/post contracts right away, but my journey was different. My staff writing career started slowly and grew as I gained more skills and respect in my niche.
My first staff writing job two years ago paid $10 per post. I wrote about saving money and beauty tips, including an in-depth article on how to pop a pimple correctly! While that topic makes me cringe now, the job gave me valuable experience. I eventually became the beauty editor for the site and wrote over 115 posts before moving on to a higher-paying job.
Building a portfolio is crucial. A blog is a great way to do that. If you don’t have one, Michelle has a great tutorial on starting a blog. Write excellent content on your site, and when you apply for staff writing jobs, send links to your published posts. The more websites you write for, the more versatile you appear.
If you’re interested in starting a blog, I created an easy-to-use tutorial to help you start your own blog for as low as $3.49 per month. You’ll also get a free blog domain if you purchase at least 12 months of hosting through my Bluehost link. Being self-hosted is important if your website is for freelancing or making money.
I find most of my staff writing jobs on the ProBlogger jobs board. I also check out bloggers’ “Hire Me” tabs. Not all websites advertise they’re looking for staff writers. Some choose writers based on frequent commenters or posts on other sites. By looking at bloggers with “Hire Me” tabs, you can see which sites pay writers. Larger sites with a “Contributors” tab often have several writers, so you can email them and ask about jobs. Just know that emailing blogs out of the blue doesn’t always guarantee success.
You can also use Odesk, Freelancer, and Craigslist to find jobs, but many people use those sites too. Sometimes using unique methods like the ones I mentioned can yield better results.
When applying for staff writing jobs, treat it like a real job interview. Be professional. Pretend it’s a high-level job and give it the same respect. Website owners will see you take your writing seriously and trust you to deliver good content on time.
Don’t just send an email saying, “Hey, I’m so-and-so. Check out my blog so-and-so.com to see my writing, and let me know if you want to hire me.” Instead, explain who you are, how long you’ve been writing, share links to past posts, and indicate your availability. This saves them time and shows you’re serious.
Never write a free “sample post” if a site asks for it as part of their interview process. Legitimate sites will pay you for your work. Sending links to past work is usually enough.
Starting your career as a writer online takes time and patience. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. It requires time, creativity, and professionalism to be successful.
Although I started with $10 posts about pimples, I recently had the biggest surprise of my career when I got published on the Huffington Post. I was so excited that I ran to the library where my husband was studying to tell him. I’ve devoted a lot of time and sacrificed sleep to become a full-time writer, and the techniques I’ve shared helped make this happen. I hope they help you too.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment, and I’ll be sure to answer!
Catherine Alford is a personal finance freelance writer currently based in the Caribbean. When she’s not writing about frugal living, she shares her adventures on her blog, BudgetBlonde.com.
Do you staff write? Have you thought about it? What side hustles do you have?