If you are a blogger trying to make money online and the recommended powerful ways to make money with advertising, affiliate marketing, and creating products is not working out for you, then you need to focus on doing something you’re already probably good at – creating content.
Writing is my number one source of income that has been a result of my blogging activities. The following are ways to earn income through writing that will also help you build your personal / professional brand and become an authority in your niche.
If you’re just getting started with creating a business around your blogging, don’t forget to read these important marketing tips.
Become a Paid Contributor
Guest blogging isn’t just about getting exposure – there are plenty of sites that will pay you to contribute an article to their site. While the pay range varies, I typically only keep track of sites that offer a minimum of $50 per post and have found opportunities that go up to $200 a post, $1.25 per word, and $500 per month.
I record each opportunity I find in this spreadsheet which includes payment rates, site traffic, blog subscribers, whether the site offers an author bio, and additional details including a link directly to each site’s write for us page. Some sites in the spreadsheet include:
- SitePoint.com – Submit posts on topics related to business, web design, coding, WordPress, and more for a payment of $100 per post with bonuses based on pageviews. The site has 8,000+ subscribers and requires a 1,500 word minimum word count per post.
- PxlEyes.com – Submit posts on Photoshop, graphic design, and AutoCAD for a payment of up to $200 per post based on length and quality.
- UXBooth.com – Submit posts on usability, analytics, and design for a payment of $100 per post.
The following are my tips for getting a paid contributor spot on a great blog.
- If the site wants writing samples first, be sure to send them only your best and ones that specifically fit their audience.
- If the site wants you to pitch them ideas, be sure to research their blog in advance and find out what topics are the most popular. I like to subscribe to the blog in Google Reader and use the PostRank Chrome Extension to see the posts with the most social engagement and then send them some great headlines running along those lines.
- If the site wants you to send a post, be sure to format it as specified in the guidelines, verifying that images will look good at the size the blog will scale them to and that you’ve used a similar styling with regards to headers and other emphasized text.
Find Blogging and Freelance Writing Jobs
More and more blogs and businesses are looking for temporary and permanent content developers for their sites, and many advertise on job boards or popular outsourcing sites. The following are some great places to look for additional paid writing opportunities – you can visit the job listings on each site or subscribe to new job listings via RSS. Be sure to look for additional subcategories under each if you are looking to do a specific type of writing.
- ProBlogger Job Boards – Website or RSS – You can apply to these jobs directly with contact information provided in the listings. Sub-categories include Blog Networks (RSS), Co-blogging (RSS), Corporate/Business (RSS), Miscellaneous (RSS), and Podcasting (RSS).
- oDesk Writing & Translation Jobs – Website or RSS – To apply for these, you will need to have an account and profile with oDesk. Sub-categories include Technical Writing (RSS), Website Content (RSS), Blog Article Writing (RSS), Copywriting (RSS), Creative Writing (RSS), and Other (RSS).
- Freelance Switch – Website or RSS – To apply for these jobs, you have to be an active member of the Job Board with a subscription plan at $7 per month.
More sites to check out include Freelancer.com, Guru.com, and Elance.com.
Depending on the site you go with, you will want to setup a strong profile as potential jobs will have plenty of writers from which to choose. Some sites also take a bit to setup, so you might want to start your profile before you plan to start looking for writing jobs.
Additional tips for finding freelance writing work include:
- Set up a portfolio of your writing. It can be on a separate domain like I have done with my freelance writing portfolio or it can be on your blog. Great places on your blog for writing samples include your archives pages or specific category pages. I use my blogging, business, SEO, and social media as a quick reference for people looking for posts by me on specific topics.
- Refer to yourself as a freelance writer. Blog owners or businesses will be searching specifically for freelance writers to boost their content. Be sure to refer to yourself as such in your social media profiles, on your blog in the sidebar and about page, and on your guest post bios so that people will know you are interested in writing offers.
Enter Blogging Contests
If you’re good at writing blog posts and promoting them, then you need to start participating in blogging contests. This year, I have entered and come in at first place in three contests, with a total of $1,500 in cash prizes, an iPad 2 (3G, 64GB), and over $6,000 in subscriptions to some awesome online marketing tools. So we’re talking five posts that earned a sizable amount of income.
Every contest is different in terms of their requirements. Generally you will submit a guest blog post and have a few weeks to promote it, and sometimes you will have to also write a post on your own site linking back to the contest sponsors. The winner is usually chosen based on the quality of the post and the amount of social engagement the post receives (tweets, likes, comments, etc.).
Some current contests include:
- Famous Bloggers Affiliate Marketing Blog Contest – First place wins a $1,000 cash prize. Entry cutoff date is November 30, 2011.
- The Blog Engage 1000 USD Best Guest Blogger of 2011 – First place wins a $1,000 cash prize. Entry cutoff date is January 1, 2012.
You can find more blogging contests by simply searching blogging contest on Google. I like to limit my search to the last month so you don’t find too many contests that are well past their expiration date.
My tips for winning a blogging contest include:
- Write amazing content. Make your topic something that almost everyone will love, from beginners to experts. Without amazing content that almost everyone will love, your chance for good social promotion will be slim.
- Monitor the competition. Stay on top of where the other contestants are in regards to promoting their posts and make sure yours is as strong, if not stronger than theirs.
- Don’t stop promoting your post. I’ve seen a lot of contests where contestants just give up promoting their posts after a few days. You have to maintain promotion pretty much every day that you can until the cutoff date (or when the judges start tallying up the votes).
- Promote using every resource in your arsenal. There are tons of ways to promote a blog post. Unless you’re only faced with weak competition which is not likely to be the case when the prizes are valuable, then you will want to spread the word any way you can and call in favors from everyone who owes you one. Get your mailing list subscribers, Twitter followers, LinkedIn group members, Triberr members, Google+ circles, and anyone else you can think of involved.
Promote Your Writing
No matter how you decide to make money online through writing, the one thing that you will need to do to make a good impression with the sites you write for is promote your posts. Blog promotion isn’t just for blogging contests. Blog owners and businesses will be more likely to want more content from you if your posts are some of the most popular ones on their site.
This is why I wrote Blog Post Promotion: The Ultimate Guide. Its main goal is to help writers who want to earn money through paid contributions, freelance writing, and blogging contests in addition to bloggers who want to promote posts on their own site or guest posts they write elsewhere for more exposure. If your goal is to earn a living through blogging and writing, be sure to get this eBook today!
How Do You Make Money Writing?
Now it’s your turn – do you make money online through blogging and writing? What other resources do you use to earn your income, and which have given you the best results?
Photo Credit: 401K
About Kristi Hines
Kikolani covers blog marketing and blogging tips for personal, professional, and business bloggers to succeed in search and social media marketing. Kristi Hines is a 
Hey Kristi,
Awesome post, as always. I still remember the day – when i made my first dollar through an guest blogging contest. I think guest blogging contests are really a great way to make some quick cash.
Thanks for sharing this great article with us.
Dev @ WordPress Deals recently posted 8 Must Have WordPress Plugins For Multi Author Blogs
They definitely are, especially if you can make the top spot. One post = $500 – $1,000 is a great deal!
Fantastic and very detailed post Kristi. I think that this is indeed a great alternative (if not replacing it to the main choice) of bloggers being able to make a decent amount of income. The “spreadsheet” is priceless. Thanks for that. I will certainly go to some and give it a shot
DiTesco recently posted Fresh Ideas for a New Blog Post – Content Creation Made Easy
Thanks Francisco! Hope you get some good opportunities from that spreadsheet!
I typically just write content on my sites in an effort to funnel those readers to an offer or rank in the SE’s, but these are some great alternative ways to increase income! It’s always good to have multiple income sources! Thanks Kristi!
Tory McBroom recently posted Write Content So Kick Ass That Chuck Norris Would Quiver With Fear
That’s what I like… having income from various sources – passive and income that I have to actively work for is a great thing.
Excellent post!
Newbie bloggers must take advantage of these alternatives to making a living online. Establishing your brand and authority is crucial to blogging success.
Writing guest posts or paid contributions to reputed sites will do just that!
Truly informative post, and will certainly help a lot of part time bloggers in earning their bread for the day
Nikhil Banerjee@articlemarketing recently posted 9 Step Plan to Earn with Article Marketing
Thanks Nikhil! Building your authority can help you earn in other ways too, so it’s definitely a great way to go!
Fantastic post Kristi. These tips are invaluable…now I have to get to work
Edith Levy recently posted Safed Artist
Thanks Edith!
Hi Kristi,
Interested to see your spreadsheet! I need to set one up, it’s very hard to track posts sent, accepted, not replied to etc:)
I do copywriting for websites so a slightly different niche….
But being a paid regular contributor to a big blog would be great too:)
Annabel Candy, Successful Blogging recently posted 6 Ways to Get Noticed and Loved by Social Media Influencers
Thanks for sharing the spreadsheet will definitely take a look at that one. Didn’t know people are willing to pay 200$ for an article. Looks like there is a great demand for graphic design tutorials.
Nishadha@Make Money Blogging recently posted How Companies Use Social Media Successfully
They are because they invest $5,000-$7,000/month in articles and they get over $10,000 from advertising.
Nice Post,
You mentioned each and every thing very well for every blogger how he/she can get success by blogging. You share these all things very well how easily we can get success after follow these easy points
Write amazing content
Monitor the competition.
Don’t stop promoting your post.
Promote using every resource in your arsenal
I think Guest blogging is also great point to achieve success.
sam @ goa carnival recently posted Goa Carnival 2012
Thanks for introducing Sitepoint, I was not aware of it till now. Looks like we can write about CMS like WordPress, etc which could be a good idea. What do you think about writing paid reviews as an income source? Just wanted to know your opinion…
Raj recently posted Traffic Tuesday – Optimize Your Youtube Videos For More Traffic
I have done a lot of work on freelancer.com and your post has dished up good sources of income. I will sure go for this.
Maja@fantastic sams recently posted Good Features of Fantastic Sams
Wow Kristi, really a nice post. I think many bloggers do not get success with normal blogging through advertising and affiliate marketing and stuffs and I think it is really a great idea for people like those to do freelancing blogging and writing jobs. I think that way they can earn a lot because they wont have to do the promotion and SEO and just can focus on their writing.
By the way thanks a lot for sharing that spreadsheet of yours of Paid Writing Opportunities. It is really very very useful.
Regards
Shiva @ Blogging Tips recently posted Black Friday Deals For Bloggers – Biggest Discounts List
I haven’t been thinking seriously to get paid for writing, but I started a campaign of guest posting to boost traffic and subscribers for my website.
I have not tried guest blogging for a contest but it looks like your seeing amazing results with it I will have to add this strategy to my internet marketing campaigns.
It will be a good way to boost traffic win, or lose.
Earn Online recently posted Make Money Online Training Videos To Help Beginners Get Started Affiliate Marketing
Wow! I knew there was some money in writing guest posts, but never would I have imagined that it would be possible to earn so much.
Of course winning a blogging contest is great. But you need more than just great writing skills. If you don’t have a nice email list, a big amount of followers on twitter and loads of friends on facebook and Google+ , then it is going to be a lot of work to be able to compete with people that do have all those “resources”.
And I can see why you win contests Kristi. Your writing skills are phenomenal.
It’s great to find out that there are many ways to earn money with writing.
Danny@Pole chain saw recently posted Husqvarna 327P5X Pole pruner 25cc 12 inch bar
These are great tips to earn money by persons who have good writing skills and have the talent of producing quality content. Nice alternative to maintaining lot many blogs to generate money.
Jane Sheeba recently posted Sluggish Day: 3 Ways To Get Yourself Moving
Thanks for your generous links and explanation and it proves at usual that if you really want to earn money you will find ways to do it.
Kristi,
This may seem like a silly question but is there any drawback (i.e. SEO, Linking, whatever…) to writing posts for money or submitting content to contests?
Great article Thank you!
Ryan H.
Ryan Hanley recently posted Why the First 9,999 Hours are the Most Important
Wow loads of great info! I am definitely going to look at entering some blogging or writing competitions as you suggest. I am quite new to writing having started my blog earlier this year and finishing my book this summer but I am really enjoying it and it is dominating my time now. Thanks again for all the information and links.
Matt Kinsella recently posted How You Made Your Own Luck
This is a great post, Kristi, perfect for a colleague of mine who has left her job and is doing guest blogging. Unfortunately, she’s not English native so her writing skills don’t emerge as well as in Italian, but I think she could try the same. I’ll send her a link to this post
Bye,
Giuseppe
These are some great resources, especially for a freelancer like myself. Any opinion on the freelance site Elance.com?
Pete Goumas recently posted Circuit City Coupon & Review
Having spent nearly 20 years getting a paycheck for sitting at a desk, interviewing people and writing newspaper stories, writing for free is definitely more fun. More freeing. More stressful. More to learn to navigate.
Understanding that writing is your exclusive marketing strategy for your business is the key.
Thanks for the succinct article.
DJ Trinity@New Songs 2012 recently posted Top Dance Songs 2012
Kristi,
I have been cranking away at my blog for over a year, thought of freelancing it but thought maybe I should get my feet wet in guest blogging first. I may just do both, what the heck.
Thanks for the amazing resources and examples, they help a lot!
~Allie
Allie | Ramblings of a WAHM recently posted Sticky Blogging: Helping Your Readers Feel At Home on Your Blog
One of the best article on make money. Paid Contributor is very rewarding if you have good experience of writing. One of the good thing about this post is that this is well researched and provided with all resources. Writers are becoming more famous now due to the blogging and with great approach towards blogging they can make big bucks.
Pritam @ Part Time Jobs recently posted Top 6 Sites To Earn Money From Mobile By Receiving SMS
I believe that in coming years content writers will be in much demand and whole marketing of the website will depend upon them. I think that after few time the demand of link builders will become very low and SEO will be limited to the on page and the offpage part will be dissolved in social media marketing which depends on the content.
Umair @ Internet Marketing Blog recently posted Why Google is Blocking Knowledge?
Thanks for the good read. I have been blogging for 6 months just for fun. Thanks to your post it has opened my eyes to the possibility of making money online from my blog. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
You gave a lot of good ideas in this post, but I’m wondering just how to start out with freelance writing. I don’t have a portfolio of writing samples to submit. What would be the best way to go about getting started with freelancing and/or being a guest author on someone else’s blog?
I’d also like you to explain to me what you mean when you say that the content you’re writing has to be amazing. What are the qualities that make content amazing?
Thank you!
Susan
STSweet recently posted Affiliate Blog Empire – Read My Review Before Buying
Hi Kristi!
Wow, what a thorough overview of the subject. The spreadsheet was very helpful to look at. Ironically I just applied to be a guide for About. I had thought about doing it for awhile. It sounds like it takes them awhile to review you? And since I write about travel (among other things) the USAirways magazine pay can’t be beat.
Love to know how long it takes you to write these great overview posts? When I write a really in depth review, it can take me hours (writing, researching, inserting links…) If I am just writing off the top of my head it is a lot shorter of course. My plan is to write more so that it comes more readily.
Best,
Rajka
Rajka @Expatdoctormom recently posted A Constant Reminder
Great advice Kristi on how to make money. I know that this will be very helpful for people who wish to make money online through writing. Aside from this blog, did you earned money or join those sites?
Noel Addison@Web Development Ventura recently posted 5 Things to Look for in a Web Dev Company
A lot of people who compose blogs these days want to talk about their opinion on something. However you’ll find the business-minded individuals, that have discovered ways to use blogs to usher in some extra cash as well.
I think you can make use of a blog to expand your current customer relations. Neither will any kind of marketing material placed in blog content need to be restricted to getting totally new business.
Using a blog to constantly correspond with active clients along with other readers, you are able to make use of the chance to thoroughly advise them with regards to everything your business actually does.
That could increase your readers’ comprehension of the entire scope of your goods and services.
DJ Trinity@New Songs 2012 recently posted Top Club Songs 2012
Superb Post. Thanks for sharing the spreadsheet.
Swamykant@Your Digital Space recently posted Free Vodafone Zoozoo 2012 Calendar Wallpapers
I “make” money giving support to the visitors and interesting information.
It gives not really money, but offers an image of people with knowdledge and when they need to use services like the ones I offer, count on me.
Abel Pardo – Marketing Digital recently posted Felicitación de Navidad de Abel Pardo en TV León