Home > Blog > Uncategorized > Blog Post Ideas? Send Your Best Pitch About Freelance Writing

Blog Post Ideas? Send Your Best Pitch About Freelance Writing

Evan Jensen

“What blog post ideas are on the calendar for the next few months?”

When Carol Tice asked me that on a recent Zoom call, I knew the well of blog post ideas for Make a Living Writing was running low.

“Let’s work on getting 6 to 8 weeks ahead.”

Makes sense, right? Working ahead is always a good idea.

So you’d think I’d just dip into my inbox flooded with blog post ideas, sift out the bad ones, reach out to the freelancers with fresh ideas, and make some assignments.

That’s a great idea. There’s just one problem…

About 99.9 percent of the blog post ideas and pitches writers submit are terrible. As in:

Are. You. Freaking. Kidding. Me?

Seriously. It’s bad (I’ll show you in just a sec). And it’s time to do something about it.

Want to write a guest post for Make a Living Writing? Here’s what you need to know:

First…Please stop sending insanely bad pitches

Put yourself in my shoes. You’re the editor of a popular blog about the business and craft of freelance writing.

And you need to make some assignments to keep the 1,200-blog-posts-and-counting machine going that publishes useful advice for freelance writers every Tuesday and Friday.

So let’s take a look at my inbox. Here’s a couple of pitches I’ve received in the last few days for Make a Living Writing:

  • I am also a blogger and I love to write about gardening related topics.
  • Here is an idea I think would resonate with your readers: The 8 Manliest Alcoholic Drinks of All Time
  • I want to publish my unique and informative article on your site related to: Technology/Business/Web Design/WordPress/social media/graphic design
  • Tell me, are you interested in a guest article for a blog on how to live a whole year in Russia without a refrigerator?

Would you accept any of these blog post ideas?

No. No, you wouldn’t.

Not if you can read, have a pulse, or know the difference between a Lamborghini and a Ford Pinto.

Chances are pretty good even a grade-school-age kid who’s been stuck at home for months between fake school and an everything-is-closed kind of summer vacation, can tell these pitches don’t have anything to do with freelance writing.

I have to give these freelance writers props for taking the initiative to pitch an idea. I mean, it’s one of the best ways to land freelance writing assignments:

  • Put yourself out there
  • Come up with some good blog post ideas, and
  • Reach out to an editor

But it’s all for nothing if your blog post ideas don’t have anything to do with the target audience or the site you’re pitching. Please, stop sending bad pitches to editors.

Make generating good ideas one of your superpowers

With that little rant out of the way, what are we looking for? Your best blog post ideas about freelance writing. For example:

  • How to get started when you don’t have any writing samples
  • Creative marketing strategies to find freelance clients
  • Using social media to connect with freelance writing prospects
  • Tips for writing blog post headlines that attract readers
  • Rules about SEO every freelance writer should know
  • Apps, tips and tools to boost productivity
  • How to set your rates or raise your rates
  • How to break into a new niche as a freelance writer
  • Tips to turn your LinkedIn profile into a lead-generating machine
  • Advice for laid-off journalists trying to go full-time freelance
  • Hacks, strategies, and ideas to find high-paying clients
  • How to write for non-profits and make money
  • How to get retainer clients or long-term clients with lots of work
  • Your success story from zero to where you are now as a freelance writer
  • Thoughts, ideas, and expert advice about content marketing for freelancers

Spark any blog post ideas? Good. Here’s what to do next:

Pitch your best blog post ideas about freelance writing

It’s open pitch time for Make a Living Writing. If you’re foaming at the mouth with a great blog post idea right now, let’s hear it in the Comments section below. If you need a little more time or help to brainstorm some ideas, do the following:

Study the guidelinesIt’s all there. Lot of freelance topics, details, and instructions to help you pitch an idea that gets accepted. (Note: Far too many writers don’t read the guidelines. No, we don’t want a pitch about living refrigerator-free in Russia, or anything else unrelated to freelance writing.)

Read the blog. FYI, there’s more than 1,200 posts on all kinds of freelance writing topics. Get familiar with the content, style, and audience, before you pitch a guest post idea.

Develop an original idea about the business and craft of freelance writing. We don’t accept any generic, researched-off-the-Internet writing topics we’ve all seen 1,000 times before.

Share your experience. Your hands-on approach to freelancing, successes,  failures, and strategies make a difference. Share your experience or provide a play-by-play account of how you get more clients, for example. Learning from other writers’ personal experiences is a powerful way to teach, motivate, and help other freelancers move up and earn more.

Write a pitch with a working headline and a brief outline of the points you’ll cover in the guest post. In case you didn’t see that…write a BRIEF outline with a working headline. No pre-written posts, ramblings, or novel-length submissions. And no…nothing about gardening, alcohol, refrigerators, or spammy link-bait offers, either.

Submit your blog post ideas and pitches in the Comments section below

It’s open pitch through Aug. 31

Let’s see what you’ve got. Submit your blog post ideas for Make a Living Writing in the Comments section. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible, if it looks like a good fit.

Got a blog post idea about freelance writing?  Pitch in the comment section below.

Evan Jensen is the blog editor for Make a Living Writing. When he’s not on a writing deadline or catching up on emails, he’s training to run another 100-mile ultra-marathon.

Recession-Proof-Freelance Writing - MAKEALIVINGWRITING.COm

Freelance Writing Websites: 5 Essentials to Attract Ideal Clients

Freelance Writing Websites: 5 Essentials to Attract Ideal Clients

Writer Websites: 5 Tips to Attract Freelance Clients. Makealivingwriting.com

What’s the secret to creating one of those writer websites that get’s noticed?

You know…an ideal client lands on your writer website. And you’ve got all the right stuff there to get that person to call, email, or connect on social media.

Great writer websites can:

  • Generate freelance writing leads
  • Grow your network
  • Show off your portfolio
  • Help you stand out as the writer in your niche

…while you sleep.

Chances are pretty good you already know writer websites help the pros stand out.

But what does your writer website look like?

Maybe you keep putting it off or avoid giving it an upgrade because you’re not a graphic designer, web developer or tech genius.

Sound familiar?

If you aren’t sure where to start or how to improve your online presence, you’re in luck. I’m going to show you the 5 essentials writer websites need to help you stand out, move up, and earn more.

How to Find Entry-Level Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners

How to Find Entry-Level Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners

Best Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners. Makealivingwriting.com

Right now, a record-high number of people are considering a freelance writing career. My inbox is overflowing with questions from newbies. And the first question is: “Where can I find freelance writing jobs for beginners?”

If that’s you, sending hugs! I totally feel your confusion. The freelance marketplace is a big, complicated place. There are lots of types of paid writing, and different kinds of clients, too.

I’ve been helping writers get started for a dozen years now. And I know how mystifying it can be. You feel like there’s a door you need to find, a person you need to know, a secret you must unlock to become a freelance writer.

But really, the path to freelance writing jobs for beginners is simple.

You need to find someone willing to let you write for them. That’s it.

You get a few samples and boom — you have a portfolio to show. And you’re on your way.

There are fairly simple, break-in writing assignments that newbies tend to get. I’m going to outline what they are below.

But first, I need to explain something…