Ever marvel what the distinction is between writing an article and writing a weblog put up? It’s a subject that comes up quite a bit when individuals first begin asking change into a contract author. In addition to type and analysis, you is perhaps shocked by one of many key variations between blogs and articles.
There’s loads of confusion on the market within the freelance-writing world about weblog posts and articles. Additionally, about what every of these varieties of writing ought to pay.
A number of years in the past, I obtained loads of response to my name for freelance writers to cease writing weblog posts. Many writers had been confused about simply what the distinction is.
So let’s focus on. As a result of issues have modified. And understanding the variations between these two writing types will make it easier to earn extra.
Writing an article vs. writing a weblog put up
For years, weblog posts and nonfiction articles had been distinctly totally different:
| Weblog Put up | Article |
|---|---|
| Largely your individual opinion | Your opinion not allowed |
| No interviews or analysis | Has interviews and analysis from credible specialists and analysis companies |
| Quick | Longer than 300 phrases |
| Constructed round website positioning key phrases | Key phrases not essential |
| Good spelling and grammar non-compulsory | Spelling and grammar are impeccable |
| Informal writing type | Extra refined writing type |
| No editor concerned; self-published | An editor cleans it up for you; revealed by a print journal |
| Freelance pay charges often very low; a lot work within the $5-$20 per piece vary | Pay charges from $0.10-$1 a phrase and up |
Then one thing occurred, and over the previous few years, the strains turned blurred.
Weblog-article convergence
Over time, weblog posts began to get extra like articles. As a bazillion blogs crowded the Web, the bar started to lift.
Weblog posts started to have extra interviews. They introduced fascinating information. Posts obtained longer as bloggers sought to face out and ship extra worth, till 1,000 phrases has change into pretty normal, and a couple of,000-word posts are usually not unusual. website positioning key phrases’ worth lessened as Google cracked down on keyword-stuffed content material. Additionally, as blogs obtained extra skilled, many employed editors.
On the article-writing aspect, there was additionally motion. Many print magazines started posting copies of their articles on-line. All of a sudden, journal headlines wanted to drive site visitors, identical to blog-post headlines, and headline kinds advanced. They revealed extra opinion-driven items from thought leaders. Some additionally put up blogs the place they let writers hit the “publish” button on their very own.
Wordcounts shortened for print, as advert income migrated on-line. Some magazines went online-only. Their type obtained breezier and extra informal.
To sum up, the 2 varieties of writing started to merge into one. Definitions obtained squishy, and now there’s loads of confusion.
Besides about one factor: Weblog posts are likely to pay crap, and articles are likely to pay higher.
Shopper confusion
Uneducated purchasers who don’t actually know these two types have been busy muddying up the dialog about them for years. That’s made it onerous for writers to outline writing initiatives and bid them appropriately.
There are many purchasers on the market who name the 300-word quickie posts they need articles, however nonetheless wish to pay $5 for them.
There are additionally many purchasers who’d such as you to jot down 1,000-word weblog posts with two interviews and a analysis stat, however they’d wish to pay $20 as a result of it’s a weblog put up.
Your job as a contract author is to chop by means of the bull and get to what the task actually is, then, discuss what that task ought to actually pay.
How writers can earn extra writing an article or a weblog put up
The very fact is, purchasers are at all times going to attempt to get issues low cost. It’s as much as writers to coach purchasers about what they’re asking for, and what’s truthful pay for what they need you to jot down.
The excellent news is, the convergence of weblog posts and articles ought to supply writers higher pay alternatives. Weblog posts are rising up, they’re more and more not the ugly stepsister of articles. So that they must pay extra just like the articles they usually are.
Nevertheless it’s as much as the author to take the steps to capitalize on this modification within the market.
Some urged steps
- Outline it. When a consumer tells you they need articles, or they need weblog posts, ask them to outline what they imply. Are there interviews concerned? What number of? What’s the piece size?
- Sway them. Promote them on the concept that what they need is taken into account an article by professional writers. It’ll immediately enhance your charges. Make your case for why it’s an article and never a weblog put up
- Promote articles. Whenever you’re speaking to purchasers who don’t fairly know what they need, promote them on the concept that you ought to be writing an article for them, relatively than a weblog put up, if they need their content material advertising to achieve success. Share the information of how Google is frowning on quick keyword-driven posts
- Promote weblog upgrades. If they need posts for an present weblog, promote them on the worth of taking their weblog to the subsequent stage, to extra of a reported-story, magazine-type really feel, and what that would do for his or her status and visibility
Writing an article vs. writing a weblog put up: What to cost
The place most writers are fortunate to get $100 a put up for weblog posts (and I like to recommend you attempt to make that your flooring for weblog writing) article charges are often a lot better. I’ve written many at $300 to $500, and plenty of extra at $600 to $2,000, relying on size and complexity.
Many smaller each day papers pay within the $75 to $100 vary for brief articles, however have the benefit of providing you with extra spectacular clips to your portfolio. You additionally get the bonus of studying to report a narrative, which lays the groundwork for getting better-paying articles in future, from companies or magazines.
Getting the win
The very fact is, articles and article-style weblog posts convey extra authority. They impress extra of your consumer’s clients. The initiatives might be extra profitable, and people purchasers might be extra prone to rent you again to jot down extra. It’s a traditional win-win: you may cost extra firstly, and can seemingly find yourself getting extra work from the consumer, too, as a result of they’ll be happier with the outcomes they get.
This all units you as much as go after better-paying journal markets too, you probably have that aim this yr.
Do you will have recommendation on article writing vs. weblog writing? Let’s focus on on Fb.