It’s a funny thing. You start a blog thinking “hey, this might be fun…” and the next thing you know, you’re in a mad, obsessed dash to bring in enough traffic to start making thousands of dollars a month in ad revenue. And then, of course, when this doesn’t happen as quickly as we’d like, we wonder: Am I doing something wrong? Can I make any money blogging?
Go ahead and ‘pin’ this image to your favorite blogging board! You’ll want to reference it later.
Hard to say. Have you taken my free blog monetization email course yet? If you have and you’re pretty sure you’ve done everything you can (within reason) to make your blog and marketing plan the best it can be, then you might still be wondering: Yeah, but I need to make money NOW. Is there anything ELSE I can do to get the ball rolling on this whole money-making thing?
Sure. There’s always more you can do if you really need to start making money right away. But I have to warn you, it won’t be passive. There will be plenty of action required on your part.
- Can your blog alone start bringing in a full-time income tomorrow? Probably not.
- Can your blog be part of a bigger, more practical plan for your online career? Absolutely! And it should be!
Your Digital Resume
Now, many bloggers create a “Hire Me” page on their website. This is a great place to start. Even if you’ve never worked online, there are plenty of things you’ve already accomplished with your blog that qualify you for all kinds of work online. You’ve built a following, you’ve managed social media accounts, you’ve studied marketing, you’ve learned how to use various design platforms… do you see how great that could all sound?
Have you ever thought about incorporating a video into your “Hire Me” page? What about a portfolio of screenshots of things you’ve designed? The possibilities are endless, and the more you can do to set yourself apart, the better.
But here’s the thing.
Very few (if any) companies are scraping the internet looking at “Hire Me” pages… unless they’ve been creatively invited to do so.
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Putting Yourself Out There
You should absolutely be drawing attention to the fabulous genius that is your blog. It represents who you are and the best of what you create. But before you can start seeing the financial rewards of this, you need to figure out what services you can offer this great big world online, and what they’re worth.
What are you good at?
Social media management? Virtual assistant services? Freelance writing? Many bloggers would love to be paid to do these things, and many ARE being paid, and paid pretty well!
Professional Vs. Personal Site
To impress potential employers, do you need to have a site that’s JUST devoted to your efforts as a provider of services?
Not necessarily. While these sites really can be impressive, you can also give potential employers a feel for your style by sending them to your personal blog. Don’t forget, any samples you send of your work can be (or can not be) attached to your blog, so you’re not limited by a non-professional-looking niche.
That said if you have the time/energy to set aside a whole other site for your professional efforts, all the better!
Finding Work
The biggest thing that stands between you and quick blogging-related money is your ability to market yourself and your services to companies who have money to spend on you. And sure, you can check job boards and other freelancing sites like Odesk and Elance, and if you’re tenacious there’s work to be found there, but let me warn you– there is a LOT of competition!
So what’s the alternative?
Well, friends, it’s time to get creative. What kinds of companies do you want to work for? Where/how could you contact them? What problems might they have that you could help to solve?
Take a look at some corporate websites in your niche. Do they have blogs? Could those blogs be improved or updated more frequently? Could they benefit from a stronger social media presence? Let them know you can help (politely, of course).
One often-overlooked place worth starting is within your existing network of friends, family, and acquaintances. Do you know anyone who might be able to put you in contact with a potential employer? I’ll bet you do! Even if you can’t think of anyone, you might be surprised if you make it known that you’re looking for a certain type of work, what opportunities might come out of the proverbial woodwork.
Personal referrals are some of the best leads a new freelancer (or any freelancer, for that matter) can get, so don’t be afraid to ask for them!
Make the Most of Your Referrals
Here’s the trouble with referrals. Sometimes you’ll know someone who knows someone else who might have some work for you… but then nothing happens. Here’s what you do about that.
Problem: No one has time to help other people because they’re too busy with their own work. Solution: Don’t let this get you down. Save your friend as much time as you can by making the process of connecting you with the potential employer as simple as possible.
Write an introduction email for them to pass on to that person that explains who you are, what you’re offering and where they can find out more. Ask your friend if they might be able to send it off, and if they have a minute, add a quick note of recommendation at the top.
Or, if the thought of all that self-promotion just plain gives you a headache, you can come work on my team over at NerdyGirl Writers. I’m always looking for new talent, but I’ll warn you, competition for work is stiff there too!
The Moral of the Story
If you need to start making money now, you don’t have to sit around praying for sponsored post opportunities to fall in your lap. There are plenty of options out there online for a talented blogger such as yourself to make some fast cash if you’re willing to work for it. Best of luck, and Happy Blogging!
Over to You
Did I leave anything out? Are there any other ways you know of for a new blogger to make money quickly? Please share them here!