The days when becoming a professional writer invariably meant scoring a full-time job at a traditional newspaper, magazine, or other publication are over. 

Digital-age freelance editors, writers, and other creative professionals can (and often do) work from anywhere, including their own homes.

And would-be freelance writers can specialize in any kind of content production service they like, including blogging. 

But what does it really take to become a freelance blogger, what do they do, and what are the best ways to get started? Let’s take a look at everything you need to know.

How Do Freelance Bloggers Get Paid?

How you’ll be paid as a freelance blogger or other writer depends on whether you’re working directly for private clients, contracting with clients through a freelancing platform like Upwork, or generating ad revenue or royalties through a blog of your own.

Payouts will typically occur according to a set schedule via a payment interface like PayPal or Stripe if you’re working through a platform. 

But if you’re writing for private clients, you’ll be responsible for using a payment interface of your choice for invoicing them and making sure your invoices are fulfilled.

How to Become a Freelance Blogger

Now that you know a bit about what a freelance blogger does and how they’re paid for what they do, it’s time to go over a few tips for getting started as one. 

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind.

1. Work on your skills

Chances are, if you’re thinking seriously about becoming a freelance blogger, you already possess basic writing skills, a solid mastery of the English language, and a working understanding of grammar. 

But anyone who wants to write professional web content of any kind should also have:

• Basic SEO knowledge
• Basic copywriting skills
• Excellent communication skills

Adhering to a regular writing schedule should also be second nature to a professional writer, so if you don’t already have one, it’s time to change that. 

Write every day. Focus on gradually writing more and more each time you sit down to write. Don’t let anything get in the way of your writing.

Professionals who want to make a good living blogging need to be comfortable producing lots of content on a very regular basis. The sooner you can get into that groove, the better.

2. Determine your niche of choice

Although many freelance bloggers enjoy writing about a variety of topics, you’ll still want to choose a niche or two that you specialize in. 

This helps give you a competitive edge over other more generalized bloggers who write about anything and everything.

Your niche of choice should definitely address areas of particular expertise or experience. However, it’s also essential to choose topics for which there’s high demand and about which you’re passionate. 

Ideally, you want to truly enjoy your work.

One other thing: sometimes it helps to look beyond what’s trendy and consider niches that are underestimated. For example, technical documentation, compliance topics, or even hobbies like vintage fountain pens still have loyal audiences and clients willing to pay a premium for good content. Sure, fashion and tech get the buzz, but oddball subjects can carve out a surprisingly lucrative space for someone who knows their stuff and is game to dig deep.

Your passion is a huge part of this, but don’t forget to pay attention to where clients are actually spending money. There’s this temptation to write about what “should” be popular, rather than what companies truly need. Scanning job boards and freelance sites in 2025 reveals lots of opportunities hiding in topics you might consider boring at first glance—insurance guides, medical equipment, B2B software. If you can get interested in those, or at least fake it well, you’ll face way less competition.

3. Set up a dedicated place to work

When you’re first starting out as a freelance blogger, you can work from just about anywhere you’re comfortable, including your sofa or a corner table at your favorite coffee shop. 

But sooner or later, you’ll want to set up a dedicated writing workspace at home.

Your home office can be an entire room of your house if you have it to spare, but a cozy corner in your living room or bedroom can work just as well if you’re pressed for space. 

The important thing is to section off a spot in your living quarters and turn it into a sacred space for your writing.

4. Set up a website of your own

Every professional needs a dedicated website, and freelance bloggers are no different. 

Even if you do a lot of your work through freelancing platforms, you still need a way to connect with additional clients and showcase your skills.

Setting up a website is easier than you think, thanks to user-friendly platforms like WordPress and Wix, so pick your favorite. Then set yourself up for success by:

• Choosing a keyword-rich domain name.
• Filling your site with standalone pages that explain your services and credentials.
• Using best SEO practices to optimize your site for search engines.
• Adding a blog and keeping it updated with on-topic, keyword-rich content.

5. Get to work on your portfolio

Although having a resume ready to show to interested clients is terrific, a freelance blogger also needs a writing portfolio filled with relevant samples. 

Ultimately, your future clients need to see that you can write, and a well-rounded portfolio is the best way to show them.

If you already have professional samples or links to relevant writing you’ve already done, that’s great. But if you don’t, you can write a few samples yourself on topics your potential clients are looking for. 

The main idea here is to showcase what you can do.

6. Establish an active social media presence

If you’re like most people, you’re likely already on social media for your own reasons. 

But when you’re a professional blogger, your social media presence becomes a crucial part of building a professional network and getting the word out about your services.

People who are thinking about doing business with you or collaborating with you will scope you out on your favorite platforms, so make sure your profiles are showing them what you want them to see. 

Fill them with interesting, on-topic content, and engage with others as often as possible.

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are musts for any service provider these days. However, anyone offering professional services should also be on LinkedIn, as it’s an incredible place to meet potential clients and network with peers.

7. Actively pitch to potential clients

Setting up a website, an active blog, and a robust social media presence makes for a great start when it comes to attracting new clients, but you don’t want to simply sit idle and wait for people to come to you. 

The most successful professional bloggers also actively approach people they’d like to work with.

Regularly search online marketplaces and freelance boards for job postings that fit your skills. 

Keep an eye out for casting calls from clients looking to add to their teams. You can cold-pitch to companies, publications, and businesses you’d especially like to work with, as well.

8. Dive into guest posting

Although you won’t get paid for writing guest posts under most circumstances, it’s still something any aspiring freelance blogger should do for several reasons. 

To begin with, you get bylines for guest posts, and those are worth their weight in gold.

Guest posts on topics related to your niche of choice are also a great way to build authority. 

Find websites and publications to approach by Googling for options related to your niche and figuring out which ones accept guest posts.

Then send a concise, professional, personalized pitch that matches any posted guidelines to the letter. Show the recipient of your pitch why your expertise is precisely what their publication needs.

9. Set and pursue clear goals

Successful freelancers are self-starters who know how to set goals and go after what they want. 

They’re also extremely persistent go-getters who know not to take rejection personally. If one client isn’t interested in hiring them, they keep pitching until they find the ones that will.

So set goals to work toward in every aspect of establishing yourself as a freelance blogger. 

Make up your mind that you will complete a certain number of pitches, blogs for your site, social media posts, or brainstorming exercises per week. 

Then smash those goals before setting even more to work toward.

You may also be interested in these articles:

• How to Become a Freelance Editor
• 9 of the Best Freelance Websites for Jobs
• Discover the 20 Best Freelance Writing Tips to Create Fantastic Content

Wrap Up

Although becoming a successful freelance blogger will take time, dedication, and persistence, you’re embarking on an excellent career choice that could be more fulfilling than you ever imagined. 

And there are so many resources out there that are genuinely a freelancer’s best friend.