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Do you know that one of the best work at home gigs you can have as a stay-at-home mom is freelance blogging?
I’m a stay-at-home mom with twins and I’m a part-time freelance writer, but all I really do is get paid to blog. I average around $300 per post and I have several high-paying clients.
How did I stumble into freelance blogging and can any stay-at-home mom succeed?
The answer my friend, is yes you can! And what’s great about this freelance service you can offer, is that you don’t need a journalism degree or experience blogging.
Before I was a freelance writer, I never read blogs and I had no idea what WordPress was. I just went online for Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest!
It was an understatement when I tell you I was a full-on noob when it came to blogging 🙂
Okay, if you’re a stay-at-home mama or working mom that just wants to earn some extra cash on the side, let me give you the low down about freelance blogging for complete beginners.
Get Some Blogging Skills
Start a blog and write a few posts. Get the feel of typing and using a content management system like WordPress or Squarespace.
If you don’t have a blog already, that’s okay! It’s super easy to start a blog and it only takes 10 minutes or so!
Step 1: Find a Platform
I use WordPress.org for my blogging platform. I suggest you don’t go to WordPress.com to get a free hosting blog as this isn’t very professional for a freelance blogger.
You want to show that you have a service not a hobby right?
A WordPress.org blog does require hosting but I totally recommend you have a self-hosted site if you ever want to monetize your blog or start a business with your blog.
There are also platforms you can use like Squarespace, but a lot of my clients want me to upload my posts on their backend, which is 100% a WordPress blog. WordPress is just used by most businesses and there’s a lot of support if you ever need help figuring out how to use WordPress.
Step 2: Choose a Name for Your Website
Your domain name is important if you want to use this as a service based site. When I first started I didn’t want to use my name; I wanted a company name. I ended up choosing Innovative Ink.
When you decide on your domain name think about what kind of service you want. If it’s freelance writing you can use words like: writing, ink, inkwell, copy etc..
But, it’s not necessary. You can totally brand your name and rock that up! 🙂
Step 3: Start a Blog With SiteGround
I use SiteGround for my sites and I absolutely love them.
Why?
They have incredible support. It’s available 24/7 and you can even do Live Chat! Ah-mah-zing!
When you sign up to their plan you get a free domain! Wh-what? Yes. You save $15 when you sign up with SiteGround.
When choosing your plan – StartUp, GrowBig, Go Geek – I highly suggest you start with the Grow Big package. 
Why?
The Grow Big plan is the plan I am using simply because there’s a lot of features like the SuperCacher that makes your site super fast and it’s totally budget-friendly – starting at $7.95/month.
Once you pick your package, you create your domain name – that’s your website name – and your account information.
Review the terms and click pay now and congrats! You have a self-hosted blog. But wait!
You need to install WordPress. It’s pretty easy to do it yourself, but if you’re not that tech-savvy, SiteGround can do it for you!
Just hit them up on Live Chat to talk to a SiteGround rep. You can just ask them if they can set up your WordPress site and to send over your login information. They’ll say YES! and in 15 minutes or so you have a WordPress site!
If you want a step-by-step tutorial on how to set up a blog using SiteGround, check out my post!
Get to Know Blogging
Blogging is much different from writing essays for school, magazines or newspapers.
Have you noticed that blogs have a certain look to them? That was one of the first things I noticed. Here are some key elements all blog posts should have:
- A lot of white space – This means making your paragraphs short. I do no more than three sentences per paragraph and often only do one sentence. This makes it easier to read.
- Has subheadings – A lot of blog posts use subheadings to break up the writing. Most use H2 subheadings. In WordPress, it’s called Heading 2.
- Uses bullet lists and numbered lists – This is another way to chunk up your blog post and make it easier to read
- A CTA – this stands for call-to-action. This is at the end of your post and tells your readers what you want them to do. It can be to pin your post, leave a comment, or answer your question.
And one important thing freelance blogging has that blogging doesn’t really have is citation. Your clients want facts and statistics in your writing. They don’t want you pulling it out of thin air or from a conversation you had with a friend.
For example, here’s a snippet of a Pinterest post I wrote for Blogging Wizard:
Right? See all those facts I whipped up? But, when I talk about my Pinterest strategy on this blog, I don’t have to mention all these facts and I can be more casual and personal.
2. Draft Some Sample Pieces
Being a new freelance blogger can be hard if you don’t have any sample pieces in your portfolio.
Prospects are going to be less trusting of your ability if you don’t show them what a great and awesome writer you are.
And one of the best ways to create samples is with your personal blog! This is what actually happened on this blog. My twins post, What 3-Year-Old Twins Say to Each Other, traveled all over Pinterest and caught the attention of the editor for one of the biggest twins websites online, Twiniversity.
I posted my twins post in April – about a month after starting Twins Mommy. Just one month! And then I receive an email for a writing job:
Now, I’ve been freelancing blogging for almost two years over on Elna Cain and even though I’ve received writing work from that blog, I’ve NEVER had this fast turnaround time as I had with my Twins Mommy post.
This tells me that YOUR niche blog, can be just the thing to catch the eye of an editor or blogger on Pinterest or Twitter or Facebook.
And the more niche you are, the better! Alexa Mason of Single Mom’s Income said her mom landed a freelance writing job without even trying. All she was doing was blogging about deer and arrow hunting of all things and was asked to be a writer for a magazine!
It’s time to get your blog on mamas!
3. Hype Up Your Service
Here’s where it gets fun!
Prospects aren’t going to find you unless you tell them you’re a freelance blogger! The best way to tell other businesses is on social media.
If all your Twitter profile says you’re a coffee-guzzling mama who likes to DIY their house, then it might be a good idea to also add that you are a freelance blogger.
Here’s Christina’s Twitter bio:
Here’s my Pinterest bio:
Anywhere on social media, I make sure I mention that I’m a freelance writer or freelance writer for hire.
You can mention you are a freelance blogger or freelance copywriter. Whatever works for you!
4. Time to Pitch
All freelancers are hustlers. That means we work to find work. But, that doesn’t mean you’ll be doing that forever!
After a while prospects will start coming to YOU and asking you if you have a spot open in your content schedule for work.
That’s the best feeling and it can happen early on. For me it was within months of starting as a freelance writer.
In the beginning, if you’re new and no one knows you are even a freelancer, the best thing to do is go to some job boards and pitch to some job ads.
Some job boards I like are:
If you notice, I don’t mention freelance market places like Upwork or Elance. I find these are lower quality work and the pay isn’t the greatest. Plus I never had luck going that route!
When you find a blogging gig or writing gig, the next thing you do is pitch to them. Sometimes the job ad states exactly what they want. For example:
- Three writing samples that have been published
- Sites you visit related to this niche
- Why you would be a good fit for their blog
But, mostly, job ads just have an email address to send your pitch to and it’s up to you to impress them. Personally these are the important things to mention in your pitch:
- What type of freelance blogger are you (home decor writer, business writer, pet industry writer)
- Where you have written before (these can include guest posts or your own blog)
- Samples of your writing
- What they get when they hire you (this might mean, click-worthy headlines, engaging tone, CTA, featured image)
- Link to your website or portfolio
Are You Ready?
I can’t believe I have a successful part-time freelance blogging career! It happened so fast and now I can enjoy staying home with my twins while financially providing for my family.
And now that I have diversified my income, I know I’ll have consistent income coming in every month.
If you are serious about being a freelance blogger, I have a free email course on my freelance writing site. Try it out and see if it’s for you (and I also have a complete course for the uber serious blogger).
So, tell me stay-at-home mamas, are you pumped yet?
Great post Elna, very informative
Thanks, Dan
I’m a freelance writer as well and I do guest posting to some websites. May I ask for advice/tips in regards to getting clients for guest posting in their websites? Great article by the way as always Elna. Keep up the great work!
Hi Kathleen,
Go to my other blog, ElnaCain.com for more freelance writing advice!
Hi There!! This may be a silly question, but when you agree to do a sponsored post or freelance writing for another brand or company, how do you handle payment? Do you collect all upfront, 50% up front or collect all once article is posted?
Thanks!
Candace
The Big Blue Debutante
http://www.thebigbluedebutante.com
Hi Candace,
I don’t know for sponsored posts, but for my freelance writing clients, I typically ask for payment after I submit my post and the client enjoys my work (which is every time). I use PayPal. Other writers do 50% up front. I would likely do that if it was a huge project to ensure I get paid (for example, doing a course for a client).
I will definitely be revisiting this post for fun. I love to write. I just launched my blog still working on some things with it! Thanks for the tips!
Hi Chari,
That’s awesome! I LOVE LOVE writing too 🙂
Thanks for the GREAT tips!
I’m very new to blogging so I’ll definitely try the job boards you suggested! I will definitely have to come back and read this post again. Thanks!!
Hi Chaymae!
That’s awesome and good luck on getting paid to blog! BTW I have a blog that focuses on getting paid to write online called ElnaCain.com 🙂
Oh, I am going to do the Pinterest thing. Thanks for the tip. Will have to reread this post later.
Awesome! Let me know how it all works out!
Thanks for these tips! I’ll be bookmarking this post
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found some great tips in this post.
thanks for all the great tips ! would love more specific post about CTA’s people can use. I always struggle with that!
Hey Tianna!
Thanks! Yes, a CTA can be anything you want. Usually a question you can ask as a way to start engaging on your comments or to sign up to your email list or to share your post!
Awesome advice, as usual! I love reading your posts because your writing style is so relaxed and conversational- almost like chatting with a friend!
Hey Sarah!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed this post 🙂
I have a personal blog that I have had for around a year, but I’m not sure how to get it noticed. Any advice or tips on how to get my blog discovered?
Hi Sheena,
I think the best tip is to start sharing your blog posts on Pinterest and Facebook! I have a free resource you can grab here.
This post gains me more knowledge about freelance blogging and draft me some worth ideas for starting my blogging sooner.
Thanks for this worth sharing content.
Keep going.
Hi Panha,
You’re welcome! Good luck with freelance blogging!
Not a mama, but I appreciate your input so much! I have always loved writing and within the last year have developed a passion for cooking. As long as I can remember I have just wanted to be a part of others’ lives and help where I can – which is why I started blogging.
What was your best strategy when it came to connecting with bloggers like yourself? I have done the “discover” and “search” in WordPress, but it’s honestly a little overwhelming.
Thank you so much!
Hi Jessica!
That’s so great and you don’t have to be a mama to enjoy my post! As for networking I found a lot of my mommy blogger friends in Pinterest groups and FB groups! I clicked to their blog post, commented and shared and placed their URL in my blog commenting sheet. So I just put them in rotation and after a while I would reach out to them! Try it out!
Elna,
Thank you so much for the input! Would you recommend creating a facebook page for your blog specifically right away? Or did you do this later one?
Hey Jessica,
If you want go ahead! I don’t remember how soon I made a FB page for my freelance writing website, but there’s no timeline on when to set up your FB page!
Very helpful article!
I’ve had my blog since July and I got my first writing job from a another freelancer. I wrote a post for her and she knew of someone that was hiring. I feel getting to know other bloggers in your niche that are also freelancers will give you great advantage!
Hi Gretchen,
That’s a great story! Yes, connecting and networking with other freelancers can help you find work! That’s what also happened to me 🙂
Oh and my twins are 14 months. I love with they laugh together. Can’t wait until they start taking a little more!
Wow! Nice meeting another mama with twins!
Ah, 14 months. That was a challenge for me. One was walking, the other was not and I was baby proofing.
Thanks for this very helpful article . I’m just starting out in the blogging world and enrolling in your course. Nice to get actionable advice!
Hi Liz,
That’s great. I hope to see you around in the private FB group!
Thank you for writing this article. I’m a proud mom of 3 guys, I have been told that I have a gift for gab and that I should write a blog. The problem I have is I just love to talk about nothing! But people say that I’m funny and can tell a story like no other. My question is can I blog about any and everything that life throws out there or do it have to be on a specific subject of expertise?
Hi Elizabeth,
First you need to find a niche that you like writing about and that is lucrative. Once you’ve figured that out you can find jobs in that niche to supplement your income.
While you can write about anything under the sun, you really can’t make a living from it. It’s a nice way to get a couple hundred dollars a month though!
Love what you have to say. There are certainly things that clients look for in their writers. Once you have the mechanics, you can add in your personal voice.
Keep up the great work here and live unstoppable!
Rhonda Swan recently posted…3 Income Producing Activities You Must Do Each Day
Hey Rhonda!
Thanks so much! You’re right – clients really want a personable writer with their own unique voice. I find that most of my clients hire me not only for my expert knowledge in digital marketing but also the way I write in a conversational tone!
Such a fantastic article – I so want to work from home as a Mum, but keep stalling it. I’ve just started off in blogging and am yet to find my feet. My goal is to eventually monetise so that I can work from home like you but haven’t figured it out yet, so freelancing is definitely a great place to start.
Hey Tina!
Thanks so much. Freelance blogging is so awesome! I simple LOVE blogging and I get to blog about…well BLOGGING 🙂 (not all my clients but some of my clients).
So happy to hear you want to work from home. I know it can be a tough decision to fully go through with it, but when you do, you’ll be kicking yourself for not doing it sooner!
I hope you stick around as this blog’s purpose is to help moms become mompreneurs. 🙂
Oh wow! I never considered this. I got so excited, I signed up for your free course. I just transitioned home because I want to have a baby and stay home with him or her. I cannot see myself as a person that makes jewelry or sells products. I love the idea of selling information.
Hey Britney,
That’s great you’re interested in freelance blogging. Glad you signed up for my free course on getting paid to write! Good luck! Freelance writing is an awesome way to stay home with your child and make money online!
I’d love to know more! I am also a Mommy with twins! 🙂 But, I have a two year old daughter and My Boys are one! Talk about A Mad house lol. I’d love to learn so I’m able to share many stories.
Hey Brittney!
That’s awesome. I love meeting other twin mommies. I have no clue how I would make it with three kids so serious kudos to you! For you, just handle your home and carve some time to get your blog on!
Good luck!
This is really helpful. I am not sure I’m ready to freelance just yet, but I’m bookmarking this for later. I’m also adding it to my tweets to share for those who are ready now. 😉
Hi Teri,
Thanks so much for the share! Freelancing and having your own side hustle is a big leap, but the good thing is, if you do end up doing it as a side gig, you can still work at your job and not lose anything. And if your side hustle does take off, then you know you can make a go from it if you do it full-time.
Good luck!
Always great info, Elna! I’ve recommended your sites to several of my friends who are interested in getting started freelancing.
I’ve had some recent success with Upwork, though I don’t bother with the jobs that pay pennies… I’ll definitely check out the other job board recommendations.
Happy blogging!
Terra recently posted…3 Components of Creativity [Infographic]
Hey Terra!
Thanks so much for referring my site to your friends 🙂 Word of mouth is the best form of marketing. That’s great you’ve had success with Upwork. I haven’t had much success when I had a profile on Elance or oDesk (at the time). That’s why I preach about doing this on your own, but it doesn’t hurt to try freelance marketplaces!
Thanks for stopping by!
No, not ready, terrified but interested. I love learning so I am excited to learn in your free course, and I know I need to step up my personal blog. This should be fun! Thanks Elna for offering help!
Btw, I HAD to go read your twins chat blog post. So cute!
Jen @Practical, By Default recently posted…What’s For Dinner? Kitchen Superstar: Food Storage Containers!
That’s great you’re interested. I think your niche (e-learning) is really profitable 🙂 You can really add some expert knowledge in that niche.
🙂 Thanks for telling me you HAD to read my twins chatting post 🙂 ha.. Yeah, I was shocked that post was what attracted an editor. I’m always amazed by stories like that.
Thanks for stopping by!
This post is perfect timing for me to read as I recently started writing for a nursing app! I would love to branch out to posting on other sites for money. I will have to look into what options are available out there! Thanks 😀
Tori
Tori recently posted…Women Who Inspire: Having A Child Later in Life
Tori,
That’s fantastic to hear. It’s amazing how sometimes it’s super easy to land a writing gig eh? You blog and they will come 🙂 But, to really make a killing, you’re gonna have to find the clients (but that’s not that hard either). Good luck and make sure to take my free email course to get started freelance writing!
These tips are awesome! My biggest struggle is knowing how to pitch myself, especially in face-to-face contact!
Rachel / http://www.seashellsandsparkles.com
Hey Rachel,
Pitching face-to-face is daunting! That’s why I absolutely LOVE freelance blogging. The majority, if not ALL, pitches are via email 🙂
Not a mama (still actually more of a baby myself, at 21 hehe), but this was incredibly helpful! I love the idea of writing for a living, or even just for some extra cash – I’ve been writing since I was a bub, and always loved delighting my own ma with a funny story or fantasy world.
You’ve really laid out a simple, easy-to-follow pathway to help me get started! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Hi Phoebe!
So happy you stopped by 🙂 And you don’t have to be a mama to be a freelance blogger. It’s great you are wanting to start the freelance path early on – you’ll be uber successful too (since you’ll be able to try lots of things). If you have any questions please email me and I can help.
Thank you for sharing this information. I have been trying to figure out multiple ways to monetize my blog. I didn’t know about this one.
Hi Justina!
Thanks so much. Yes, there’s a lot of ways to monetize your blog, but I find offering a service like freelance blogging is the way to go!