I recently coached someone on content writing and after the class, he asked me how he could monetise the knowledge, I told him he could be a blogger or a freelance writer and explained the unique perks and challenges of both.
That conversation spurred me to write this post on blogging vs freelance writing for other writers like him.
Freelance Writing vs Blogging
The first thing to note when the question of which is better comes up is that it all depends on your goals, passion, and the kind of writing lifestyle you want to lead. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Let’s look at them one after the other.
What is Blogging?
Blogging is like having your own personal corner of the internet where you get to write about whatever interests you.
For example, you are reading this article on a blog. If you want something like this, you want to own a blog. Blogging allows you to write about topics that interest you or you’re passionate about, including travel, fashion, tech, or finance.
Your blog can become a space where you can share your thoughts, opinions, and expertise with the world.
You can also use it to sell a product or service by writing relevant and valuable content around it.
The beauty of blogging is that it’s your platform. You control the content, the voice, and how often you post.
And over time, you can build a loyal audience, and if you play your cards right, you might even start earning money from ads, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing.
However, I must add that blogging isn’t an overnight success story; it takes time to build a following.
You’ll need to consistently create quality content to keep readers engaged. On top of that, you’ll have to learn about SEO, social media promotion, and maybe even a bit of web design.
But once your blog picks up momentum, it’s incredibly rewarding, especially if you enjoy having a platform where you’re free to express yourself and share your passion with others.
Also Read: Copywriting vs Content Writing: Major Differences
What is Freelance Writing?
Freelance writing, on the other hand, is more about working for others. As a freelancer, you get hired by clients to write content for their websites, blogs, magazines, or other publications.
The range of topics you’ll cover can vary widely, from business and health to fashion and lifestyle. Or you can be a niched freelance writer and focus on an industry you have expertise in or are passionate about.
However, for the majority of writers, they write for more than one industry, which is the perk for many – the variety.
Also, you get to choose projects that interest you and get paid per assignment or article.
However, freelancing means working within deadlines and sticking to the client’s guidelines, which can sometimes limit your creative freedom.
But if you enjoy tackling diverse topics and prefer a steady income from writing, freelance work can be a great fit.
You also don’t have to worry about building a personal audience or maintaining a blog.
Instead, you focus on delivering quality content to clients, get paid, and move on to the next project.
Also Read: How to Accept Payment Internationally as a Writer
Blogging vs Freelance Writing: Detailed Comparison
1. Time Commitment
Blogging can be a long game. Building your audience takes time, and you’ll need to consistently create fresh, engaging content.
Although you’re in control of your schedule, that also means you can’t slack off if you want your blog to grow.
Freelance writing, on the other hand, is more straightforward. You get a project, write it, and deliver it by the deadline. There’s no need to worry about posting regularly or maintaining a website.
However, with freelancing, the more clients you take on, the busier you’ll get, which could also take up a lot of time.
2. Income Potential
Blogging income isn’t immediate. You need traffic, followers, and sometimes years before you can start making decent money through ads, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing.
Freelancing, though, offers faster returns. As soon as you land a client and complete an assignment, you get paid.
That doesn’t mean freelance writing provides quick money or even stable income because the industry is also quite saturated, so you are competing with a lot of other good writers – not to mention, AI now.
However, if you have a steady stream of clients, you can earn a stable income.
The earning potential of blogging can also grow exponentially over time once the ball starts rolling.
Also Read: Financial Tips for Writers: Set Your Account in Order
3. Creative Freedom vs. Client Expectations
Blogging is like being your own boss; you have total creative freedom. You write what you want, how you want, and when you want.
Blogging allows you to have your voice and ideas.
Freelance writing, on the other hand, means you’re following someone else’s guidelines. Clients usually have specific topics, tones, and structures that you need to follow with every new project.
That could be stressful because clients may not tolerate you missing a detail on the project guideline, which is a risk when you are working on more than one project simultaneously.
However, if you are detail-oriented, flexible and can adapt to different writing styles, it is a great option.
4. Building a Personal Brand vs. Working with Clients
With blogging, you’re not just writing; you’re also building a personal brand. Your blog reflects who you are and what you stand for.
If you keep at it, you can become known for your niche, and this can open doors for other opportunities like collaborations or speaking engagements.
Freelancing, however, doesn’t focus on your brand. You’re more behind the scenes, writing for other people or businesses; helping them build their brand.
Freelance writing doesn’t put the spotlight on you, but if you love just writing without the pressure of branding, freelancing works perfectly.
5. Skills Needed
Blogging requires more than just writing skills; you’ll need to understand SEO, social media, web design, and content marketing.
A blogger must approach it like running a small business where the owner might need to wear many hats at once – at least, at the beginning.
Freelance writing, though, is more focused on the craft of writing itself. You don’t need to worry as much about promotion or technical stuff, even though being able to market yourself to clients is still important.
Ultimately, both require discipline, but blogging demands more diverse skills, while freelancing is all about delivering top-notch writing.
Also Read: 8 Soft Skills to Have as A Content Writer
6. Long-term Career Growth
Blogging can turn into a long-term brand, maybe even a business, if done right. Once you build a following, it can create passive income through ads, digital products, or sponsorships.
Freelance writing, while offering immediate pay, tends to rely on constant hustling. You’ll always need to find new clients to keep the income flowing.
Yes, both can lead to solid careers, but blogging offers more potential for passive income and business opportunities, while freelancing is more about consistent, active work.
7. Flexibility and Stability
Blogging gives you more flexibility in terms of when and how often you work. You can set your own pace and have full control over your content. But income can be unstable, especially at the start.
Freelance writing, while flexible in terms of project choice, depends on client needs and deadlines, so your schedule might not always be in your control.
It does offer more immediate stability in terms of income, especially if you have steady clients, but it’s less predictable in terms of workload.
Blogging vs Freelance Writing: Which One is Right for You?
The question of “blogging vs freelance writing: which is best for you” depends on your goals, passions, and lifestyle.
If you love having creative freedom, building a personal brand, and don’t mind putting in the time to grow your platform, blogging could be your perfect match.
It’s a long-term investment with the potential for big rewards, but you’ll need patience and consistency to see results.
On the other hand, if you prefer a steady flow of paid writing gigs without the responsibility of maintaining a blog or brand, freelancing might be a better fit.
You’ll get to work on various projects, often for different clients, and enjoy the satisfaction of earning money for each assignment.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. Both paths offer exciting opportunities; choose the one that aligns with your vision for your writing career.
Or you could do both if you can properly manage and dedicate time to grow both.
