Have you been blogging for a few months but can’t seem to make your first dollar online?
Are you struggling to determine a way to make money from your budding blog?
Then, freelancing might be an option.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a writer or a designer, or whether you’re in the fishing niche or the marketing niche, there’s probably someone out there who needs your service as a freelancer.
Freelancing is becoming increasingly popular these days, and it can be a very smart way to make money blogging without having to wait for so long.
Even Daniel freelanced when he was just starting out as a blogger, and he has recommended it in more than a few of his articles as an effective way to quickly make money as a blogger.
A recent guest article published here by guest author, Tom Ewer, who has been a full-time freelance blogger for a while now emphasized the importance of having a blog, and Tom specifically made it his first point.
He isn’t alone, and I quite agree with him!
I haven’t also sought out freelance work for over a year now as most of my clients come to me from my blog, and my entire freelancing business is built on my blog.
This might seem like little, but my blog alone led to 5-figures in freelancing income in 2023 alone (that’s a little over $50,000), which was my first year as a freelance writer.
This article will be sharing 4 smart ways I get clients from my blog.
The First Step…
While offering your services as a freelancer might seem easy, I’d like you to know that it’s not.
In fact, adopting the mentality that freelancing is easy is the wrong way to start.
Not everybody can be a successful freelancer, but everybody has a chance at being one.
This is why the first step is very important, and why it MUST never ignored.
The first step you should be aware of when trying to succeed as a freelancer, via your blog, is that you should be able to deliver results.
This step is very important, and most of the tips shared in this article depend on it.
Here are 4 smart ways to get freelance clients from your blog.
Tip #1: Critique a Top, but Flawed Product/Company
As a professional, there’s probably one popular site or two you’ve seen that you think needs a lot of improvement.
This could be a corporate site, and it could be a popular blog.
If you’re a freelance writer, you probably think their copy can be improved. And if you’re a designer, you probably think they need a design makeover.
You can take things a step further by critiquing these websites on your blog, and analyzing what you think is wrong with them and how much impact making a change can have on their bottom line.
In most cases, representatives from these companies will comment to thank you for critiquing the site, and some of them might even consult with you to solve the problem.
Most importantly, other clients will see this and get you on board to help with their business.
Someone who does this very well is Chris Garrett. He has an option where bloggers pay him to openly critique their website; this helps the bloggers being critiqued get more traffic and exposure, and it helps him get more business.
Note: When critiquing websites on your blog, the importance of staying positive shouldn’t be downplayed. There’s a difference between critiquing and insulting, and insulting another brand in the pretext of “critiquing” won’t help you get any clients. In fact, it will send them far away from you.
Tip #2: Start Writing Killer Articles
These are the kinds of blog posts that are relevant for years after they have been published.
It might be for a year, two, or even decades.
In other words, these posts don’t just die out following a popular trend.
This kind of blog post is commonly known as evergreen content, and is what Daniel likes to call Killer articles.
They are posts with a very long shelf life, and they are characteristic of a teacher.
In other words, these kinds of posts are very detailed, informative, easy to read and understand, and most importantly contain examples.
An example of this kind of post that I wrote on my blog a year ago is my ultimate guide to guest blogging; this post was written over a year ago now, and it still sends clients my way.
The more effort you put into producing evergreen content, the more value you will get from them on the long run.
Once you’ve published your killer article, you should then include a short note below the article telling people to hire you if they’re interested in using your services.
Tip #3: Write Case Studies about Your Success
What are the best, most successful projects you’ve worked on till date?
Whether free or paid, this can be a great source of additional freelance clients for you.
A lot of us freelancers work on projects with clients and then forget about it; without collecting testimonials, and, most importantly, without asking for permission to publish their success as a case study.
Every single case study you write increases your chances of getting hired more.
Let your case study document your approach towards solving a particular problem common in your industry, and then explain the results you’re getting.
Don’t forget to include a small note along with your case study telling readers that you’re available for hire.
Tip #4: Leverage Key Pages on Your Blog
I’ve been following Derek Halpern for a while now, and he has the best tips when it comes to increasing conversions, especially in regards to email marketing.
One major tip Derek regularly gives to bloggers and marketers when he critiques their blogs is to make effective use of various key aspects/pages on their blogs to get subscribers.
In other words, don’t just include a form on your sidebar and expect an influx of subscribers, and don’t just create a landing page.
Derek recommends that one have an opt-in form on every page of one’s blog; this includes the about page, the contact page, and other important pages.
I’m of the same philosophy when it comes to getting freelancing clients; just that in this case, you won’t be having an opt in form, but a subtle note telling people that you’re a freelancer.
Your about page is probably the most popular page on your blog, followed by your contact page. Why not leverage these two important pages to drive more clients to your freelancing business?
Have a small note on every important page on your blog telling people that you’re for hire; in this note, include a link to your hire me page and your portfolio, and your chances of getting hired will increase significantly.
A Cool (More Detailed) Presentation on My Approach
I hope the above tips are of great help, but I have also attached a cool presentation in case you want more details. The presentation is embedded below, and I’m sure you’ll get some value from it!
Conclusion
Freelancing is one of the best ways to make money quick online, and blogging can be very effective for generating freelancing clients.
I hope the above tips are of help to you.
Bamidele Onibalusi is a young blogger, freelance writer, and founder of YoungPrePro.com. He has been featured on Forbes, and many other reputable media outlets. If you’re a freelance writer, make sure you download his guide, The Writer’s Handbook: How to Write for Traffic and Money, which has been downloaded and read by thousands of other freelance writers.
I’m in the early stages of my blogging career & was looking out what are the possible ways for bloggers to monetize site.
After reading your tips, I think I should really concentrate in freelancing.Our own website will become a portfolio for our career.
Thanks for the tips again.
Freelancing is certaining a good way of earning online.One can leverage this blog to catch tons of client by providing various services on their sites.
Get clients through blog site is not so easy for those person who don’t know the right way. like if you only post a widget into your blog site about your experience field or using freelancing site widget like odesk, elance or freelancer then people wii just avoid those link when they visit your site. So your article is really appropriate for those people who are willing to get clients through their blog.
This post is really useful as an alternative income. Maybe you should explain more detail about the range price/article and the main obstacles we face from the users. Thanks for your sharing.
Hi Bamidele,
Your articles always make me impressed. Thank you.
Derek is a cool guy who has been on top of my must read bloggers. I so much like his style of posting – all his articles are epic!
These tips are good and been a blogger myself, I’ve since been thinking of going into freelance writing but the problem is I want $50 per article job which I guess you should be able to lead me to where to get such stuff….
Sheyi