Writing

Freelance Blogging and You

Sometimes I love blogging.
Sometimes I want to push blogging out of a moving car.
Anyway I look at it, blogging has become a big part of my life (i.e. my butt is getting bigger).
Through Hipstercrite, I’ve received some wonderful paid blogging opportunities. Some of them are permanent, some of them are not.
I’m always on the look out for more writing opportunities and if they pay, all the better.
Below are some freelance blogging websites that I’ve come across in my year of blogging. Most of them you’ve probably heard of, but maybe haven’t tried. Here are my experiences:

Seed- Seed is a new freelance blogging/photography network created by AOL. I became acquainted with Seed through assignments I took on for Spinner during SXSW. I was really impressed with the quality of assignments, pay, and quick turn around of payment that Seed offers. They have writing assignments for AOL subsidiaries Stylist, Parentdish, ShelterPop, and other blogs such as PopEater, WalletPop, Gadling, and the list goes on. If I recall correctly, to join is as simple as just signing up! My only complaint with Seed is that it doesn’t have a constant flow of new assignments coming in.

Demand Studios– Much like Seed, Demand Studios is another freelance blogging network. I signed up and was accepted recently, however, I have not been impressed with their writing options. Demand Studios does not offer as interesting writing opportunities as Seed does. In fact, almost all of their assignments are for Ehow and are pretty difficult/boring. It doesn’t hurt to sign up, but don’t expect a lot from Demand. Hopefully down the road they’ll have more exciting opportunities.

Examiner Examiner is a community-written news source for major cities. I signed up to be a contributor last night and am waiting to see if I get approved. I have an acquaintance who writes for Examiner and she stated that she’s earned $300 in about three months of writing for them (how many articles, I’m not sure). Examiner also paid her to cover SXSW 2010. It appears that Examiner also gives you the freedom to write what you want about your hometown. This looks like a great option for aspiring bloggers.
*Update- Just got an email saying I was accepted.

Ehow– I have only written a few Ehows, mostly http://www.problogger.netabout living in Los Angeles and How to Be Chuck Bass (you know you love it). My 4 articles have received about 9,000 views over the course of a year and I’ve earned a whopping $14.05! Ehow is definitely not a place to supplement income, but I guess if you’re able to churn out several articles a week that peak readers’ interest, then you might have a little extra pocket money each month. However, I’ve found difficulties in receiving my payment and have yet to hear back from the Ehow Help Center.

ProbloggerProblogger is a great resource for any blogger. Here they offer blogging tips on how to become a better blogger, drive traffic to your site, and make money blogging. Problogger has a job forum section where big-name, reputable companies post blogging job opportunities. Some of them are full-time jobs, some are pay-per-post. They have about one or two new job postings a day. It’s always worth checking out!
Do you write for any of these websites? Do you write for any that I haven’t covered?
We’d love to hear from you!
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16 Comments

  • Reply Melanie's Randomness April 13, 2010 at 4:52 pm

    I've never heard of any of these!! I'm still relatively new to blogging so I'll definitely check some of these out!! =) Thanks for the heads up!!

  • Reply Colleen April 13, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    Loved the part about wanting to push blogging out of a moving car. I definitely have a love/hate relationship with blogging, but it seems that once you start, you can't stop.

    Anyway, I've actually written for Examiner (NYC Neighborhoods, Upper West Side, if you're interested) but I didn't get much fulfillment out of it. Unlike my personal blog, which I feel is an outlet for my creativity, I found writing for Examiner rather limiting because it's more like journalism- you, the writer, are never supposed to appear in the story- and that's really hard for me. But it could definitely be a decent way to supplement your income if you get enough daily views. Good luck!

  • Reply Hannah Miet April 13, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    I've never tried payed blogging,

    I think, I don't know what I am so

    I don't know how to sell it.

    That's probably a bigger problem

    or solution

    than the lack of money I have these days.

    I don't know, but thanks for the information.

  • Reply Johana Hill April 13, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    I've never really thought of paid blogging but I'll definitely look those sites up! Good sharing! ;p

  • Reply WILDasaMINK April 13, 2010 at 8:54 pm

    ok clearly I am not up-to-date on the blog world; its never crossed my mind that these opportunities existed. But of course they do! Where have I been? I really like the sound of The Examiner and I hope I remember to check some of these sites out, at least to just read what you wrote (for extra daily laughs I'm hoping). And I would love to know how to become Chuck Bass–I mean, how is it he's like 19 in Gossip Girl but always is drinking brandy or something? Don't these establishments card their customers? I guess w/ his money he probably has a fake id…or its just his money. but yes, I'd like to know how to become Chuck Bass for sure!

    Thanks for all the insight to this; I really really did not know this stuff was out there.

  • Reply Katie April 13, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    Thanks! This is really helpful. 🙂

  • Reply Heidi April 13, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    I find all the info about there about blog world like one huge friggen tsunami… TMI…

    Thanks for posting this info tho…

  • Reply Devon April 13, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    I just signed up for seed the other day. Have you tried constant content?(http://www.constant-content.com/) I've heard very good things, but can't say from my own experience. Anyway, thank you for this post. I've been following your blog a while, and it brightens my day whenever I read it.

  • Reply Sam Albion April 14, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    … I only come here in case Her Hipsterness decides to give us tips on tidying our lady gardens…

  • Reply steff April 14, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    yet AGAIN, thanx for this post. i did submit an article to seed.com and although it got denied (apparently ParentDish isn't looking for posts about limbless children) they were at least kind to me in their rejection email.
    i will definitely look into these other sites as well as continuing to scour seed.com for new material. despite AOL's initial disinterest, i'm not one to be easily deterred from acheiving my dreams, dammit!

  • Reply Paula April 14, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    This is so not hipsterish to openly share your potentially cash earning findings in such a generous, open and unironic manner.

    Hipstercrite!

    Livin' up to your name yet again.

  • Reply The Mad Dame April 14, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    CHUCK MOTHEREFFING BASS!!!!!

    … That is all.

  • Reply Joe Boo April 16, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    I read this post, started fiddling around with some of the sites you mentioned, and I doubled my hit count overnight. Thanks Lauren!

  • Reply T!nK April 21, 2010 at 8:32 pm

    So, I'm going to submit a few things to some of these sites! hopefully I get accepted <3 *fingers crossed*

  • Reply Benny April 21, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    Just read this article. Thanks so much for the advice. I've already done "official" blogging with no added compensation at my job so this is extra cool to see!

  • Reply Kelli May 1, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    I write for Examiner (eh, not bad) and Associated Content (lame…you earn something like $1.50 for every 1,000 views). I also do freelance on Elance, which can be good or bad, depending on how you handle it.

    Overall, keeping a personal blog and hoping like hell it'll somehow make money is what I enjoy the most.

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