Table of Contents
Introduction
Blogging can be a highly fulfilling profession regardless of your niche. Even so, it can be hard to figure out how to get started as a professional blogger, particularly because there are so many different ways to take the plunge. However, when you break it down, there are three primary paths towards becoming a professional blogger. Weighing up the pros and cons of each can help you decide which is the best for your situation and overall goals.
Defining Professional Bloggers
Bloggers can be divided roughly into two categories: hobbyists and professionals. However, the line between them can get a little blurry as there are hobbyists who manage huge, high-traffic sites and professionals working on smaller publications. Therefore, what makes a blogger a professional isn’t the size or even the quality of their site. Rather, professional bloggers view blogging as their primary paid occupation, rather than blogging as a pastime. This definition excludes those who run blogs for no pay at all and those who blog on the side for small amounts of revenue to supplement their main income, regardless of the size or quality of their blogs. It also doesn’t specify that you have to have your own blog. Accurately distinguishing between professional bloggers and hobbyists provides key insight into the industry.
Route 1: Launching and Monetizing Your Own Site
One possible route for becoming a professional blogger is to launch and monetize your own site. This is the route most people think of when they consider starting a blogging career. There are many advantages to this method. Primarily, it gives you complete control over your content, your income, and your work schedule. Being your own boss can feel pretty liberating, and frees you up to pursue other interests. This flexibility can be particularly appealing to those who wish to travel more, don’t work well under a traditional work structure and schedule, or have caregiving responsibilities. It can also be highly fulfilling, as you can focus exclusively on subjects of interest to you.
Starting your own blog is relatively easy and affordable. With a platform like WordPress, getting started is fast and accessible from a budgetary standpoint. Monetizing your blog through methods such as advertisements, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts may take a little more work, but is also fairly straightforward. In a previous article we presented and explained how the two platforms work so you can make the best choice for your needs. The main downside to starting and monetizing your own blog is that it takes time. Most blogs take months or even years to start making a significant amount of money, and that’s if you’re able to pull out all the stops when it comes to SEO, marketing, and other management elements. When you’re first starting out, having your own blog requires a lot of time and energy for very little payoff. If you don’t think you can stick it out, this route may not be for you.
Route 2: Blogging for a Business
Fortunately, there are other ways to make a living as a professional blogger. Believe it or not, there are people who will hire you to blog for their businesses. As far as finances go, this can be the most lucrative route for professional bloggers (unless you make it big with your own blog, but it’s pretty rare). If you’re hired by a company to write a business blog, you’ll primarily benefit from a guaranteed income. You won’t have to stress as much over SEO and click-through rates (CTRs) since you’ll have a paycheck coming on a regular basis (although they are still indicators of your performance as an employee). Depending on the company you work for, you might also be entitled to benefits including health care, vacation days, and a retirement plan. These features can provide you with a peace of mind you might not have working for yourself.
For some, the drawback to blogging for a business is the lack of control over the content you’re creating. On this path, you’ll probably spend a lot more time writing than you might like, as the topics are usually determined by the company you’re working for. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the competition for these positions can get pretty steep. Checking job posting sites such as Indeed or LinkedIn regularly can help you stay on top of any new positions that become available. If you’re planning to apply, make sure you have a strong portfolio of work ready to go. While any piece that shows off your writing skills is useful, work demonstrating your knowledge of SEO and other aspects of digital publishing is also important.
Route 3: Freelance Blogging
Freelance blogging can be a nice, middle-ground option for many. This type of professional blogger has more control over their posts, as they can pick and choose the projects they work on. They also have the flexibility that comes with self-employment, while maintaining a slightly more predictable income. However, as a freelancer, you’ll have to source your own clients. This is often the most difficult part of becoming a professional blogger. Your income relies entirely upon your ability to find and keep a fairly large volume of high-quality clients, and it could eat into your already valuable writing time. Again, a portfolio will be extremely beneficial to you. You’ll also need to work on building your online presence and start networking with other freelancers and professionals in your niche. Creating a profile on freelancing job marketplaces may be helpful. You can also join online communities and groups, such as Facebook Groups or LinkedIn Groups, where businesses and individuals come to find freelancers for hire. Unfortunately, most freelance job marketplaces will take a portion of your earnings as compensation for promoting you, so make sure to consider this when setting your rates.
Conclusion
In this post, we’ve explored multiple ways to go about making a living as a professional blogger. The three main routes include launching and monetizing your own site, blogging for a business, or working as a freelance blogger. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to carefully consider which path is the best fit for your goals and circumstances. Regardless of which route you choose, with dedication and hard work, it is possible to turn blogging into a fulfilling and financially rewarding career. So, what are you waiting for? Start blogging for a living today!