Freelance Writing Income: July 2007
Over the past year it has become commonplace for bloggers to disclose how much money they earn from their blog(s). Personally, I love seeing how much other bloggers are earning. It not only gives me motivation to continue working hard, but it also makes me feel good that others are living their dream.
My freelance writing career is my number one income producer; I do not make nearly as much from other avenues such as blogging.
I have yet to come across any freelance writing blogs that disclose monthly income, so I thought that giving it a try would be a great idea. There may very well be others doing this, and if so, I hope to track their blogs down very soon!
Unlike blogging it is hard to list out every last revenue stream for freelance writing. After all, I complete so many jobs on a monthly basis that it would take hours on end to write them all out, while also attempting to make sense of them.
With that being said, here are some stats that should be easily interpreted.
Number of Completed Projects: 43
Payment by PayPal: 41
Payment by Check: 1
Payment by Bank Wire: 1
Total Income: $4,894.78
As you can see, this was not my biggest month ever in terms of overall income. In fact, I have had months with twice as much income. The main reason for this was that I spent more time than ever before developing my blogs in July. Eventually, my goal is to steady my freelance writing income at around $5,000 while also adding in a significant revenue stream from several of my top performing blogs.
I feel lucky that I can earn a good a good income each month while still having several hours during the workday to develop my blogs.
My goals for posting my monthly freelance writing income are quite simple. 1.) I hope to educate others that earning money as a freelance writer is possible, 2.) Motivation is huge in my book, and I hope that this helps readers to continue to push forward with their own career goals.
August 1st, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Hey, Chris: As you say, maybe it’s not the highest monthly total you’ve had, but it’s plenty respectable to someone like me trying to capture Dollar One. Actually, I’d like the freelance stuff to supplement my full-time job and I wonder if you could break down your totals–how much came from, for example, projects you bid for, and which was your most lucrative bidding site. Also, do you think it’s reasonable to target for $1000/month with a part-time schedule?
I’m just trying to get a sense of how you manage your projects, and which ones you depend upon to keep that total high.
Thanks.
August 1st, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Proofking - Thanks for the comment. I can try my best to help with your questions.
I know a lot of people who supplement their full-time job with freelance writing; this is more than possible. The key to success is finding jobs that are decent paying, but will not take up too much of your time. While these can be tough to find, they are out there!
For instance, I have one job that pays $1500 to $2000/month. All in all, it takes me just about 30 minutes per day to make this money!
Starting with bidding sites is a great idea. But watch out for buyers who do not want to pay what you are worth!
$1000/month is a great goal for a part-time schedule. You may not reach this goal right away, but you should try to increase your income each month. By doing this, you will reach $1000 sooner or later!
Feel free to ask any other questions that you may have!
August 1st, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Chris: As always, you’re prompt and helpful. One more question (today) and then I’ll let you get back to getting a fast start on your August totals. That 30 minute-a-day gig: I don’t mean to be prying, but is that a monthly blog type of situation that is bolstered by ads or a series of specific-word-count articles? I want to know how to target the right kind of clients on the right kind of job boards.
Thanks again, and have a great day.
August 1st, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Proofking - No problem! That is actually a keyword based article gig. Basically speaking, I write 1-3 articles per day for this client and am paid at $.15/word.
I get paid per word as opposed to revenue by ad performance, etc!
Let me know if you need anything else!
August 1st, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Wow? Really? You can get paid that much?
Where can I start off? I’m interested.
August 1st, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Cash - Sure can! I have been making this much for quite some time, and as mentioned in the post, often times much more.
Generally speaking, all you need is writing skills and the ability to market your work.
The best place to start would be by reading everything you can on freelance writing. This blog is obviously a good resource, but also check out freelancewriting.com. They have some great articles, and a job board that is perfect for newbies!
August 1st, 2007 at 4:39 pm
[...] found an interesting article over at Chris Blogging, he is a freelance writer and this month he actually made $4,894.78 from his works. I’m [...]
August 1st, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Cool. Your post is on my blog. Enjoy. So where do I start?
August 1st, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Hi Chris…I think you are about to have an extremely popular blog on your hands here! I found by way of Cash for Comments, one of my favorites. Your subject, and obvious success, is going to be both inspirational and very helpful from a practical point of view to many of us. I’m sure I’ll be posting something soon on my own site in reference to something you’ve written here! I’ll be back!
August 1st, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Cash - Thanks for the mention on your site; I’ll be sure to return the favor very soon!
From reading your blog it appears that you have the writing skills necessary to succeed. Here are a few steps to getting started:
1. Gather samples of past articles, blog posts, etc. These are what you will need when attempting to attract clients.
2. Use the job boards at freelancewriting.com and journalismjobs.com to get a feel for what is available. 3. Look into becoming a member of Getafreelancer.com. This will allow you to bid on jobs. It is free to join. Once you win a few jobs and garner some good reviews you will be well on your way!
4. You may also want to look into what associatedcontent.com has to offer. This service allows you to write on whatever topic you please, and of course, get paid while doing so!
This is where I started, and over time your career will build!
August 1st, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Tom - I’m glad that you have found my blog so helpful; that is what I strive for!
Anytime you can mention my site on your blog would be great. I have read your posts in the past, and you offer some great info.
Looking forward to having you as a regular reader!
August 1st, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Not your biggest month? That’s still pretty dang good.
I suspect some don’t publish their earnings because they’re embarrassingly small…
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:36 am
[...] On ChrisBlogging.com, Chris Bibey reveals much of the detail of the life of a freelance writer in a writing style as clear and simple as it is elegant. For example, just today Chris posted an article titled “Freelance Writing Income: July 2007.” [...]
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:21 am
V. Neely - I agree with you on that! So many freelance writers are struggling that I suppose they really dont have much to report. But hopefully I am helping to change that!
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I have one paid blog gig, and i’m looking for atleast two more. I’m dedicated to getting in with b5Media. Do you (by any chance) know anyone who blogs there, and what kind of pay they give out to their bloggers?
There is good money to be made on the web with freelance writing and freelance blogging. One just has to be diligent and persistent.
Missy.
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Missy - Great to hear from you. Paid blogging gigs are a great way to make money; especially if you can get in with the right blog.
If you are looking to earn more through these jobs, did you ever think to ask for a portion of ad revenue? This may be something to consider.
I really dont know much about the pay offered by b5Media, but check this out - http://www.ensight.org/archives/2007/02/28/sensible-background-on-b5medias-new-pay-structure/.
That may lend some insight!!
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:35 pm
oh! thanxs, i will visit it now.
August 3rd, 2007 at 11:18 pm
[...] writer Chris Bibey has posted his freelance writing income for July 2007. He pulled down $4,894.78 by writing 43 articles. That’s pretty good! I wonder if he’s [...]
August 4th, 2007 at 12:24 am
Hey Chris! I found you by way of JohnChow.com and really like the site. I’ve always been intrigued with those that make a living from freelance writing and will definitely become a regular reader here.
August 4th, 2007 at 5:04 am
There’s pro and con to disclose how much one earns money from their blog. One most hazardous is you might be exposing yourself to thieves or robbers. They might think you have a lot of money and very soon they will start looking for you. It like telling people loud and clear ‘Hey, I earning this much, plenty of money”. Yes I agree it will motivate you to try harder but there’s a price to pay. Just an opinion.
August 4th, 2007 at 6:56 am
It’s a lot more than i would have expected, obviously those projects were more than 1 article?
August 4th, 2007 at 9:29 am
[...] writer Chris Bibey has posted his freelance writing income for July 2007. He pulled down $4,894.78 by writing 43 articles. That’s pretty good! I wonder if he’s doing [...]
August 4th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Shaun - Thanks for the kind words. Glad to have you here as a regular reader! Freelance writing can be tough to break into, but it well worth the hard work in the long run!
CS - I see where you are coming from. I do like to post stats though. Not only does it help me, but I think it does a lot for readers in terms of motivation.
Glen - I did make a good amount in July, but in past months this year I did almost twice as good. Why is it that the online world dies down during the summer? Must be all those vacations! For the most part, those were all one article projects. Of course, this can vary, but those are the kind I like best!
August 4th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Hey Chris! You got my mind working overtime thinking about the possibilities. It really is a marriage of convenience because when you blog you are writing so it’s a perfect match!
I may give it a shot. Thanks for the info.
My New Hustle | Make Money Online
More than a noun, it’s a lifestyle.
August 4th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
[...] writes about blogging for cash and freelance writing. Through freelance writing he reports he earned 4,894$ in the month of July. Quite a nice [...]
August 4th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
I found your site thru John Chow. Great job with the writing income. I’m not embarassed to say I only make $15 per a 500 word article at the moment. It’s a lot better than the $4 per 500 world article that I was making!!!
August 4th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Thanks for all the comments! This is easily my most popular post, and hope that future income stats will be just as big!
Thanks again everybody.
August 5th, 2007 at 6:34 am
[...] just read an article at ChrisBlogging, about his July 2007 income. He made $4,894.78 by writing only 43 articles! That’s over $1000 [...]
August 5th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
[...] anything. It sounds glamorous, but on the internet it equates to a lot of work for little return. Chris Bibey, who as I understand it is something of a guru regarding online freelance writing, posted his [...]
August 5th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Wow, I’m impressed. I keep finding the clients who want to pay $0.01 cents per word for articles, blog posts, etc. It’s just not worth the money to do all of that work for such a low rate. I’m an experienced/skilled SEO writer and I also do writing in specialty areas. I’ve got to refocus my energies on finding better caliber clients!
August 6th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
It is so nice to hear so! i am so excited to know more about that work.
August 7th, 2007 at 3:31 am
Hi Chris, I support your goals to post your monthly freelance writing income to help encourage others that you can actually earn a living as a freelance writer. I know, for you to motivate others to do the same is not an easy job. I for a reason have always want to write but don’t know where to begin. I believe your blog will be successful since your main intention is to help readers to continue to push forward with their own career goals, not only for the money. Best of luck to you chris. By the way L.U.C.K stand for labour under correct knowledge.
August 7th, 2007 at 3:35 am
By the way, I apologize for the comment done earlier. It just to show my concern that all. It has nothing to do with anything. Take care. Any way keep up the good work man.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:38 am
[...] Tuesday August 1, I posted my freelance writing income for July 2007. While I thought that this would get people talking, I was not expecting the results that followed. [...]
August 7th, 2007 at 11:40 am
CSimon - Thanks for the encouraging words. I am glad that I can help you in your pursuit of a freelance writing career…
August 7th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
May i ask a question, Do you write on keyboard directly, or you use paper first?
August 8th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Hi Chris,
I’m a budding writer, and have quite a bit of experience writing online. Frustrated with the pittance being paid on bidding sites, I set out to find writing jobs elsewhere… I’ve been scouring almost EVERYWHERE (online) and no-one seems to be responding. I know there is a large demand for writers… but i’ve no idea what I’m doing wrong…
I’ll have a go on the websites you have suggested above. Thanks : )
August 8th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Shane - For the most part, I work directly with my keyboard at all times!
WriterGirl - Keep working at it. There is a lot of work out there, it is just a matter of finding it. If you ever need help, feel free to email me!
August 10th, 2007 at 11:16 am
[...] writing can be a very lucrative career, as I showed everybody at the beginning of the month with a post on my July income. One way to reach a solid level of income is to leverage existing clients into more work. This is [...]
August 12th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Ever since i was a child i have dreamed of a career in writing and upon seeing your site have realised it may be possible. Now i am not particuarly internet savvy but have attempted to sign up to your rss feed and am i am now going to be following your blogs with interest to see what i can learn, thankyou for being so forthcoming with information as most people try to keep such things to themselves or charge one for the information.
August 12th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Bob - You can definitely make it as a freelance writer. Once you get started you will realize that it is possible. If you ever have any questions, feel free to email me!
August 13th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
[...] it is in direct relation to the lack of time that I have put into submitting. Not only have other freelance writing projects taken up tons of time, but growing this blog is obviously a lot of work as [...]
August 14th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Hey fellow Chris
I found your blog by a post on JohnChow.com and subscribed to your RSS feed. Whew! There were a lot of comments to read before I could ask my question (I like to check and make sure I’m not posing a question already asked, something that many people rarely do lol).
These gigs that pay you 15 cents per word, what type of articles are they about and is it something that you don’t have to reasearch before you write about it?
I don’t think I have ever really considered doing free lance writing on the side as I spend a majority of my spare time working on my various websites, but that rate seems pretty dandy
Thanks in advance
August 14th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Chris - Great to have you here as a reader! This is one of my most popular posts, so I am glad you made it through all the comments!
The articles that pay me $.15/word vary in content. Some of them are general topics that I can write after a few minutes of research, but of course, some are more extensive.
Freelance writing is definitely a great way to make a side income!
August 15th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Hey Chris,
Yah that’s nice that you get some jobs that can be written about with only a small amount of research though.
August 16th, 2007 at 5:57 am
[...] is hugely popular at the moment, as demonstrated by Chris, who recently disclosed his freelance writing income for July 2007 and received quite a bit of attention. I should change my blog’s name to [...]
August 16th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
That makes more than $100 per article. Very sweet
Unfortunately the average freelance writers rare can earn that much
August 16th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
[...] this blog has taken a bit away from my freelance writing income. Even though I made nearly $5,000 last month, this is several thousand less per month than earlier this year. While I am not happy about this, [...]
August 17th, 2007 at 3:00 am
[...] Wer immer schon mal wissen wollte, was man als englischsprachiger Freelance-Writer so verdienen kann, der sollte sich diesen Artikel anschauen. Chris Bibey hat seine Juli Einnahmen veröffentlicht. Anscheinend kann man davon gut leben, zumal Chris wohl noch ein paar andere, wenn auch kleinere Einkommensströme hat. zum Artikel [...]
August 23rd, 2007 at 11:45 am
[...] my post earlier this month about making $5,000 in July through freelance writing, I received many emails [...]
August 29th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
[...] living as a freelance writer. I’m not going to disclose how much I make, but Chris Bibey did. Check it out. I’d say he’s doing pretty [...]
September 3rd, 2007 at 9:57 am
[...] since the big response to my freelance writing income last month, I have been looking forward to disclosing my earnings for August. Well, the time has finally [...]
October 1st, 2007 at 11:28 am
[...] my third month for disclosing my freelance writing income. If you missed the first two, check out July and August; it will give you a good idea of where I am coming from and what I have accomplished as [...]
October 18th, 2007 at 1:31 am
[...] The most common is: what kind of money do freelance writers earn? If you have any interest in freelance writing income, you will want to check out my posts on how much money I have made in the last few months. This [...]
October 25th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
[...] type of freelance writing income do you strive to earn? If you work as a freelance writer on a full-time basis, it is safe to say [...]
November 1st, 2007 at 11:55 am
[...] you can see, I just eclipsed the $7,000 mark last month. Since beginning to chart my income in July, this is my biggest month. This is not my most profitable month ever, but definitely ranks [...]
December 21st, 2007 at 12:10 pm
[...] that this year I have done a great job staying on schedule with my work. In fact, as of today, my freelance writing income is ahead of pace for the month of [...]
July 9th, 2008 at 3:02 am
Chris, thanks for the great info. It’s great to see others making some income freelancing. I’m just getting into freelancing, but already have a part-time blogging job and make some money through Blogitive. This shows that there are definitely more opportunities out there that I can continue to pursue. Thanks again.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:47 am
[...] Writing Income: July 2008 Freelance Writing August 5th, 2008 Last July, I posted my first freelance writing income report. That month, I earned $4,894.78. At the time I was quite comfortable with the income, and my [...]
September 30th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Hey Chris,
I am totally new to this world of writing/blogging, etc., but would like to be part of it, for the simple reason that I need to work from home.
It would be really nice of you if you could initiate me into this wonderful world and teach me the ropes.
Look forward to hearing from you.
November 13th, 2008 at 1:51 am
Hi Chris,
Wow. What a blog. Thanks for starting it. Reading how much you have earned certainly boosts my hope. I’ve been freelancing for about a year and have achieved a good level of success, but finding steady gigs is what I bemoan.
I guess I have two questions for you. First of all - was I wrong in what I read; that you completed FORTY THREE projects in one month? That is huge. What were these, like 500 word projects? I can hardly fathom how you managed this number. Any light you could shed on this would be appreciated.
Secondly, I just went to getafreelancer.com and bid on a job. I got outbid by $170!! The thing is, my bid was LOW. Are these bidding sites worth it? I’ve tried Elance a few times but without much luck. I just can’t compete with the tiny bid amounts some people give. My work is quality, and I spend my time making it that way. Maybe it’s because a lot of people on these sites are from other countries without a strong dollar?
Hump.
Thanks heaps,
Tara
March 12th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Yes its true there are more bloggers from writing post at it. But having the competition stiff at all times. Experience is one factor to be ahead in writing. Poor me, for being a newbie.