As I’ve warned you before, there are a ton of other bloggers applying for that freelance opening. In fact, the last time I was looking for a blogger, I received over 800 inquiries!
That’s a lot of noise to cut through. There are several tactics you can employ to help increase your odds of landing a freelance blogging gig. Here are a few that have worked for me. Follow them and you might grab that next gig right out of my hands!
– THE HIRING AGENT IS BUSY, VERY BUSY. In my experience, the folks making hiring decisions for blogs and/or blog networks are busy. They normally wear multiple hats and are subjected to more Web noise then the average person. Unlike typical Human Resources professionals, these people are not trained to hire/fire. Therefore, you must approach them differently. That means no long cover letter or resume attachment.
– PLAY WITH THE SUBJECT LINE. Much like e-commerce campaigns, your first goal is to get the individual to open the e-mail – a major challenge in itself. Your subject line should be concise, descriptive, and unique. If there is a default subject line when filling out a form or clicking an e-mail link – change it. If a job asks you to list the title of the job in the subject line, do so, but put your own spin either before or after the requested information.
– GET THEM TO THE CONTENT. If you are applying to be a blogger, the hiring agent will be most interested in examples of your previous work. If you include a link to past posts, be sure that it is obvious that the post belongs to you when they land on the page. You want to avoid giving the employer any extra work to do. If they have to hunt for answers, they’ll likely just move on to a different applicant. I recommend using a link shortening service. It keeps the e-mail free of long URL’s and it lets you know if the employer actually viewed the page.
I also recommend that you copy and paste your strongest writing sample at the bottom of the e-mail after your closing/signature. People can be wary of clicking links from strangers. Plus you’ll combat a potential broken link.
– TIME IT RIGHT. This one is out of your control, but the bulk of applicants will apply for the freelance blogging job within the first few days that it’s posted. Based on sheer volume, you are likely to get lost in the shuffle. Applying for a job after it has been posted for at least a week might give you a better chance of getting the hiring agent’s attention. Also, I’m a big believer that the first people to apply come across as ‘job board patrollers.’ To me that means they are not interested in a specific job – but any job. And in my world, that takes you out of the running.
– BANK ON BEING GOOGLED. Just accept the fact that an employer will plug your name into a major search engine. It’s your job to make sure that every Tweet, picture and post makes you a desirable employee. Use common sense!
Share your success stories below! How did you land that freelance blogging gig?
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