5 Tips for Dealing with Weekly or Monthly Quotas
If you blog for a network you probably have to meet a minimum number of posts each week or month. I’ve worked for some networks where at least one post every day for six days a week is cool. I worked for other places where they expected three to five posts a day, minimum. If you’re blogging for more than one network or person, this can be a little tricky. Fortunately there are ways to make it work.
- Post Ahead - If there’s a specific day or time where you can work for long blocks of times undisturbed, do what you can to post ahead. For some of my blogs, I’ll do a week’s worth of posts at one time and time stamp them to appear on the appropriate days during the week. If I have time during the week, I can add extra posts if there’s news to share, but at least I have my quotas covered.
- Work with an Editorial Calendar - I have a large wall calendar in my office and I use it to write in topics for each day. I also note upcoming holidays and news making events. This way I don’t have to waste precious time brainstorming or dealing with blogger’s block. I look up, note the day’s topic and get busy. I’ll generally write out the week’s calendar on the weekend.
- Find Time to Work Undisturbed - For me, the most important tip I can offer is to find time to work when no one will bother you. I get up before dawn to work before my family wakes, plus I have three hours in the morning while kindergarten is in session and a few hours in the evening. My family and friends are aware of my working hours and know I can’t be disturbed unless it’s an emergency.
- Use an Offline Blog Editor - If you read my other blogs you know I’m always singing the praises of Windows Live Writer. It’s such a time saver. An offline blog editor allows me to blog offline and post later, post ahead of time, and switch blogs without having to log onto the various platforms and dashboards.
- Turn Off Distractions - My biggest distractions come from social networking, especially Skype and Twitter. If I’m really serious about getting work done I have to stay away from forums, other blogs, and my favorite social networking sites and tools. Once the work is done, you can socialize to your heart’s content.
Many network bloggers accept a gig with the best of intentions only to find they can’t keep up with the quotas. Before accepting any job make sure you’re not biting off more than you can chew. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of planning.
Image via stock.xchnge
The Pros and Cons of Being a Network Blogger
I love my job. It took 20 years of “paying my dues” working desk jobs to get to this point and I’m happy to be here. There’s nothing more rewarding than to be blogging about my passion to other people. I always said my worst day blogging is 100 times better than my best day at my office job and I still believe it to be true. That doesn’t mean it’s all rosy though. Like any other job, there are pros and cons to being a freelance blogger.
Pros
- You spend the day talking about the things you enjoy.
- You get to participate in discussions with like-minded people.
- You’re earning a steady paycheck.
- Many networks offer traffic bonuses.
- Your name is in print.
- Someone else handles all the technical details.
- You have help promoting your blog.
- Someone else handles the advertising.
- You have a huge support group made up of the network team and owners and other network bloggers.
- You can always count on other network bloggers for traffic.
- Someone else pays for hosting.
- If you’re ill or need to take leave for some reason, your editors will help to find someone to fill in during your absence, ensuring a constant flow of traffic.
Cons
- Word counts.
- Monthly quotas.
- You’re at the mercy of the networks server outages or technical issues.
- Each network has it’s own set of guidelines.
- You can’t always write what you want.
- You can’t always take time off.
- You might be working for someone who knows nothing about blogging.
- You and your employer might not have the same vision regarding your blogs.
As far as I’m concerned, the benefits far outweigh the downside. Blogging allows for a writer to be more expressive and more passionate. Not too many jobs encourage either.
Image via stock.xchnge
What is a Blogger for Hire?
A blogger for hire, or freelance blogger, primarily earns a living working for a client or clients rather than maintaining his own blog. Many freelance bloggers work for such well known networks a b5Media, KnowMoreMedia, Creative Weblogging or 451Press. Other bloggers for hire work for businesses or individuals as a way to add a personal touch to the company home page.
If you blog for another person you’re a blogger for hire.
Look on any job board featuring jobs for writers or web writers…what do you see? A surge in blogging jobs. It only makes sense to give those who blog for a living a place to gather and exchange ideas and advice.
Network Blogging Tips is a new resource for those who blog for others. We know what it’s like to have a passion for blogging, but a preference for letting someone else handle the administrative details.
Bloggers for hire don’t have to worry about advertising or technical issues. We’re not home free though, there are a whole bunch of other issues that come with this line of work.
Welcome.
Make yourself at home. We hope you come back often and participate in our discussions. We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we can help exchange ideas.
Image via stock.xchnge
