Feb
How To Apply To Be A Staff Blog Writer
You may know that I’m still looking for 1 or 2 more staff writers for the Location Independent blog (please don’t apply – I’ve had plenty of applicants already). What has struck me is the casual nature with which some people have applied.
I would understand if I were advertising for people to write for free but this is a paid position. It is not likely to earn someone mega bucks but the rate we’re paying is far better than many blogs in the blogsphere pay and we’re kind of a relaxed team, so it is a far from stressful writing gig.
Having successfully applied to be a staff writer on the biggest freelancing blog around (Freelance Switch) last year – and now being on the receiving end of applications, I can safely say that following these tips will markedly improve your chances of getting a regular blogging gig…
1 – Make sure you’re qualified for the position & be able to demonstrate it
Whether you’re applying to write on a travel blog, food blog or whatever other topic it may be, make sure you’ve got some experience of writing about that topic. That doesn’t mean you have to have your own blog on the subject, but you should be able to demonstrate previous blog articles you’ve written about the topic and ideally include these in your application.
2 – Don’t send a CV/Resume unless it contains relevant information
If your CV is a bog standard resume which has no relevant writing/blogging experience and all your past jobs on instead, it’s not really worth sending unless it tells the reader something else about you. If you’re applying to write on the Location Independent blog, I don’t need to know about the bar job you held 8 years ago whilst at university.
3 – No matter how casual/informal the editor seems, keep it professional
I’ll admit, I’ve been quite relaxed and informal about the whole process of hiring writers. I do however take the business of paying someone else to write on my blog quite seriously. If I’m going to pay someone else out of my own pocket to write on a blog that’s been my baby for the past 2 years,then I want that person to be at least as good as I am, if not better. It’s also not a great idea to criticise the existing content unless it’s done in a very constructive way and even then, I’d think twice about it if you’re trying to make a good impression.
4 – Structure your application email logically & include useful content
Some of the best applications I’ve received have been very well laid out emails with sub-headings in bold and bullet points (I’m a sucker for both!). Ensure you make it easy for the hiring editor to (a) immediately figure out whether you’re worth checking out some more and (b) see relevant samples of your previous work.
Don’t simply send them a link to your own blog and expect them to trawl through it. Try and pick out & link to specific articles which highlight your relevant blogging skills and experience.
5 – Demonstrate your “value adds”
If you don’t quite have the relevant writing experience required (and even if you do), you may still demonstrate some value-adds that you can bring to the role. Examples of these include:
- A large, active presence on one of more of the social networks (Twitter, Digg, Stumbleupon etc.) – this will be very appealing to most bloggers who are always looking at ways of attracting more readers.
- Your own popular blog on a completely different topic – again, whilst the subject may not be relevant, being able to demonstrate that you’ve built up your own popular blog will reassure the hiring editor that you know what makes a good blog post & what doesn’t.
- A new/different angle to the existing content – some of my applicants have been very smart at pointing out that their lack of experience may also provide them with a new angle to write about.
The bottom line is this: If you’re applying for a paid blogging position, treat it like any other job application and aim to demonstrate precisely why you’re the best man/woman for the job.
ADDENDUM
Here’s a couple more points to note:
- Make sure you’ve researched the existing content on the blog and don’t submit sample posts that repeat content already there.
- And hand in hand with that, make sure that you really do know and understand the whole concept/topic of the blog. Please don’t try and force fit the topics you write about to suit the blog you’re applying to write for.
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