Write blog content for clients

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again because it bears repeating. Any type of writing you do will make you a better writer. That’s because you build speed and improve your writing skills as you produce content—no matter what type of content that might be. And if you can make money doing it while you get more experience to list on your resume, why not seek out small jobs that you might enjoy.

Almost every small business now has a blog or Website on the Internet, and business owners often don’t have the skills, time, or patience to sit down and write content to keep their Web presence lively and topical. Your veterinarian’s office, local real estate agents, retailers, hair salons and numerous other local businesses already have a blog or site. Check for some local businesses on the Internet and read their content. Does it look sloppy, unprofessional, hurriedly written? If so, you may want to contact the owner and offer to take over that “chore” for their business for a set fee. And no, don’t tell them how bad their site looks. A bad site is only a lead for you to a business owner who needs your services—not someone who will welcome your criticism. A little diplomacy with a huge desire to help will get your foot in the door. Tell them you noticed their site and comment on what a huge job that must be on top of running a business, then listen to what they say. If they sound open to a proposal, tell them that you are a writer and can produce professional but enticing copy for their site for a small fee. Stress how you can help improve their business while saving them valuable time.

Other business owners want to increase their visibility on the Internet, so contacting them with a brochure or a list of types of writing you produce may well land you the job of producing copy for them. If they don’t have a site at all, you can find programs to design and maintain the site for them, or partner with a Website designer and market your businesses as a joint effort.

Producing copy for a blog or Website is not going to make a lot of money for you, but you can quote a price of a few cents per word, or a set fee per week and look forward to having a regular paying gig. You’ll also find that this opens the door to many more opportunities to write content for the Internet, and it will also create opportunities to produce other types of copy for your existing clients. And it adds to your credibility as a writer!

We’re still in a recession with more and more businesses closing because they can’t afford to advertise, and their expenses are creating black holes that they may never climb above. Yet a recession makes it necessary that businesses keep their names at the forefront of prospective customers’ minds, and they often need to be reminded of that fact. Those whose names are most public when the recession ends will see their businesses boom from that point on. Make sure you're in on the boom with them!