Why freelancers need a blog

Sitting here with the school run deadline approaching and a shedload of outstanding things to do, I can well understand why many of you may groan at the idea of adding blogging to your weekly task list.

For those of you already blogging, I’d love you to add your tips and tricks to the comments (and accept that there are still freelancers out there like me who have the writing chops, but don’t want to spend time on something that doesn’t have an immediate financial return).

My tipping point finally tipped four years ago after almost a decade of watching Rach freelance and blog on the side. She’s had a book deal with one blog and monetised others, and through the Rachel’s List blog we’ve also had gigs talking at events and on panels. She’s also about to do a podcast with a careers coach. From an outside perspective I can see that blogging has increased hers (and our) credibility with publishers, editors, producers and of course the creative community here, too.

Now while not all of us need book deals or speaking gig, there are other tangible benefits too – like connecting you with your tribe; the people you wouldn’t otherwise meet. Of course, the flipside is you’ll also meet others who happily let you know that they don’t feel the same way! But as the originator of wit Oscar Wilde said; ‘There’s only one thing worse than being talked about, and that’s not being talked about!’

So be visible. Blogging allows others to connect with you on a totally different level. Instead of being pigeon-holed in an editor or employer’s mind as the mortgage expert or child-rearing guru, they’ll find out that you’re passionate about travelling with your young family and write beautifully about the places you’ve been. Or that you’re an advocate of heritage vegggies. Or even perhaps that you secretly don a tutu, stripy socks and a helmet each week in your Rollerderby bouts.

It could even make you the go-to person when editors or content managers want a quirky style or perhaps to mine your blog ideas, calling upon you to use your musings on health, relationships, fashion, perhaps food and travel. It could turn you into a key person of influence with a whole new market.

The bottom line here is that your passion will reignite others interest in you, as blogging offers an opportunity to re-energise your writing and rediscover your personal voice. I feel this is especially crucial after years in house or in a genre where you have been coralled into writing about a particular subject or to a particular age group.

With so many free blogging sites to choose from, as we’ve written about before, it really is a case of cut and paste these days with no need to code. Although I would suggest using it as a plugin to your website, to enhance your Klout – as blogging on a free site that has no ties to your business kinda defeats the main commerce benefits you could be accruing. And if that’s not enough to convince you, look at it this way. What’s the first thing you do once you meet someone? Chances are you Google them. If someone Googles you, they’ll find all those posts on your topic, drawing you into the spotlight.

Your blog posts also extend an employer’s knowledge of you in a way in which you wish to be seen, rather than a subbed version of something you wrote that may not have read so well after its edit! Therefore blog posts can be a great lead generating interest from prospective clients which may end up as commissions. However – be warned you’ll need to write from the heart at least once a week. Think of it as an opportunity to create something you would want to read and select your area with care. Otherwise you’ll run out of steam and then it really will be just another chore on the to do list.

Do you blog? If so, what about? What benefits has it brought into your work life and what top tips would you recommend to others thinking about giving it a whirl? We’d love you to share your blog below so we can all take a peek!