Freelance writer turns to blogging for higher income

Established freelancer writer Dan Rafter became very worried when the recession hit, as a growing list of magazines and other print publications decided to cut losses and columnists. Since then Rafter—who is based in Chicago—realized that there might be another, even more lucrative option out there, during these difficult recessionary times. Rafter soon found that publishing blog entries on the websites of major companies and organizations paid more than he ever thought it could, and he would be sure to receive a fixed income for each post he wrote. In fact, Rafter suggests that freelance writers avoid stepping into the pay-per-view trap, which does not guarantee a fixed income. There is an array of websites which purport to pay authors each time an internet user reads their article. The problem with this, however, is that the money received per click is so modest, that there is no way to generate a steady, reliable income. In the end, freelancers end up writing large numbers of articles for very little pay.

In contrast, Rafter believes that the corporate world has finally tuned in to the importance of including blogs on their business sites. This realization has led to the rise of firms employing teams of content writers who have the knowledge and writing skills to create regular news articles, on even the smallest niche topics. Rafter recently started writing regular news-related blog posts, which are now published on a real estate firm’s website. The freelancer also writes on insurance-related issues. In both cases, Rafter can count on a fixed, regular income, which is not tied to how many people visit the site, but rather on the quality articles that he wrote. Businesses that use the services of content providers also find themselves in a winning situation. For a relatively modest investment, they can ensure that people visit the firm’s site and potentially attract new clients by offering them useful tips and industry-related news items. Rafter believes that in order to be successful, freelance writers must be both creative and flexible. They should be willing to take on a wide range of assignments, and must learn to write in a direct and succinct manner, in order to prosper in the blogosphere.

Thank you to the Examiner for the initial report.