Not only can blogging and podcasting help you increase your visibility and reach more people, but they can also be a great way to generate additional income. You could even turn it into a full-time business with the right approach.
So, is starting a blog or podcast a good idea for freelancers? Is one better than the other? Should you do both? Let’s look at the benefits and challenges of each option and consider some factors you should keep in mind before taking the leap.
Benefits of starting a blog
One of the major advantages of starting a blog is that it’s relatively easy to set up and maintain. You don’t need a lot of technical knowledge to publish your first blog post, and you can use free tools like WordPress or Blogger to set up your blog quickly. Blogging is an excellent way to share your insights and experiences with the world. If you enjoy writing, getting your blog content out there is the best thing you can do for yourself as a freelance writer.
Once you post your own blog posts, you can employ your writing skills to your advantage. When you write articles well, with a carefully constructed outline, and SEO keywords that will rank high on Google, you get the chance to create a space for yourself online.
Blogging can also be a great way to showcase your work and build relationships with potential customers. You can use your blog to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise, reach younger audiences, and establish yourself as an authority in your field.
Writing articles is also a great way to build your network. By engaging with other bloggers, freelance writers, and readers, you can create relationships with potential clients, mentors, and collaborators. Plus, you’ll be able to keep up with industry trends and developments.
Having your blogs and posts out there is a great way to share your ideas and start conversations with your audience. By engaging with your readers, you can gain valuable insights into their needs and preferences, which can help you create better content and products. You can use this knowledge to create an even better content marketing strategy and use search engine optimization to better your freelance business.
Finally, blogging can be a great way to generate additional income. There are many ways to monetize your blogs, such as through sponsorships, advertising, affiliate marketing, and selling products or offering your blogging services.
Benefits of starting a podcast
In this fast-paced day and age, people are less likely to type in what they need and read a whole blog about it. Having your content as a podcast helps you to reach a far larger audience than blog posts could ever do.
Having a podcast can be a great way to share your insights and experiences. Unlike blogging, making a podcast requires minimal maintenance, but it also means having the right equipment, like a mic, good-quality earphones, and a camera (if you wish to film it for a visual effect).
Podcasts allow you to engage with your audience in a more personal way. You can use podcasts to share your thoughts and opinions in real-time and to create a connection with your listeners. You can engage them in many ways by encouraging them to leave comments on your site or under your podcasts.
You can share your podcast on your social media and enable your fans to interact with you there. You can even make brief excerpts from your episodes with the best moments and put them out as reels or shorts.
Sharing your thoughts in a podcast is also a great way to connect with other professionals in your field. By interviewing niche experts in your industry, you can learn from their experiences and gain valuable insights.
By having other freelancers being guests on your podcast, you can talk about what skills different experienced freelancers need to possess to be successful, as well as what it means to be 'niche'. You can talk about how to offer services or even how to get more clients with SEO strategies.
Finally, podcasting can be a great way to generate additional money. You can monetize your podcast through sponsorships or advertising, or use it as a platform to promote your freelance business.
If you feel that launching a podcast is right for you, check out our interview to get expert tips from podcast strategist Lauren Wrighton. With her strategies, you'll know exactly how to start a podcast, attract eager listeners, and grow your business. Check out our interview.
Factors freelance writers need to consider when deciding whether to start a blog or podcast
When deciding whether to start a blog or podcast, there are a few factors to consider.
How much time do you have?
First, think about how much time you have available and how much work you’re willing to put in. Blogging and podcasting can be time-consuming, so you need to make sure you have the time and energy to commit to it.
If you have limited time available, podcasting may be a better option. Unlike blogging, podcasting requires minimal setup and maintenance, which makes it a great option for busy freelancers. Additionally, podcasting is a great way to engage with your audience in a more personal way.
Who is your target audience?
Next, consider your target audience. Who are you trying to reach? This will help you decide which platform is best for you. If you’re looking to reach a specific audience, blogging may be the better choice. Blogging allows you to share your insights and experiences with the world and to target specific audiences with your content. Additionally, blogging can be a great way to showcase your knowledge and expertise, which can help you attract new customers.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to connect with other professionals in your field, a podcast might be the better choice.
What are your goals?
Finally, consider your goals. What do you hope to achieve with your blog or podcast? Are you looking to promote yourself, build a network, or make some extra income? Knowing your goals will help you decide which platform is best for you.
If your goal is to generate income, both blogging and podcasting can be effective strategies. You can monetize both your blog and podcast by selling advertising space, selling products or services, or offering consultations. You can also use your blog and podcast to build an email list, which can help you stay in touch with your audience and build relationships with potential customers.
Challenges of starting a blog
While starting a blog can be a great way to promote yourself and your work, there are some challenges you should be aware of.
Finding time
One of the biggest challenges of blogging is finding the time to research, write, and maintain your blog. It takes a lot of time and energy to create quality content, and it can be difficult to stay consistent if you’re juggling multiple projects.
Having a vision
Additionally, blogging can be a challenge if you don’t have a clear direction for your content. It can be difficult to create content that resonates with your audience if you don’t have a plan or strategy in place.
Staying motivated
Staying motivated can also be a challenge. Writing blog posts can be a long and tedious process, and it’s easy to get discouraged if you don’t see results right away.
Getting readers
Finally, getting readers can be a challenge. It can take time to build an audience, and it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd if there are already a lot of people blogging about the same topics.
Making money
Finally, it can be difficult to generate income from blogging. Generating income from blogging requires a lot of effort and time, and it can be difficult to monetize your blog if you don’t have a large audience or an effective monetization plan.
Challenges of starting a podcast
Podcasting can also be a great way to promote yourself and your work, but it comes with its own set of challenges.
Being comfortable
You need to be comfortable speaking and engaging in a discussion if you want to be good at podcasting. You can, in fact, hire someone to do some podcasting responsibilities like audio editing and script writing. However, you will still be required to speak.
Having availability
One of the main challenges is finding the time to record and maintain your podcast. It takes time, skills, and a lot of planning. You need to make a detailed written plan for every episode, and a script by which you will talk, so as to not stray from the subject too much.
Finding guests
Finding guests for your podcast can be a challenge. It can be difficult to find people who are willing to talk about their experiences, and it can be hard to stand out from the crowd if there are already a lot of podcasts in your niche.
Equipment
Another possible drawback is getting the right equipment. Podcasting requires a lot of equipment, such as a microphone, headphones, and a recording device. This can be expensive, and it can be difficult to find the right equipment if you’re just starting out.
Additionally, podcasting can be a challenge if you’re not comfortable with technology. You may find that setting up and maintaining your podcast takes more time than you anticipated.
Marketing
Finally, marketing your podcast can be a challenge. It can take time to build an audience, and it can be difficult to get people to listen if there are already a lot of podcasts out there.
Monetization
Finally, it can be difficult to earn money from podcasting. Generating income from podcasting requires a lot of effort and time, and it can be difficult to monetize your podcast if you don’t have a large audience or an effective monetization plan.
Can you have both a blog post and a podcast?
Making blogs and podcasts doesn't have to be an either-or situation. You can choose to start both, if you prefer to.
You can use your website to publish your own blog, as well as other blogs. Also, you can use the blog posts as a guide for your podcast, doubling the number of people you want to reach with your freelance business. Have a written version of your experience and thoughts, and then talk about it in the podcast.
You can even invite friends from different niches to dissect your original blog post and discuss life lessons you learned along the way.
How can Indy help?
Indy is a complete digital toolkit for freelancers. Indy’s focus isn’t on developing these kinds of income streams, but there is a powerful tool in Indy that can help you build more income. That tool is the Projects tool.
Starting a blog or podcast is another project. It’s important for you to do this as efficiently as possible. So, use Indy’s Projects tool to organize this work. Add all your tasks to the project. Then, use the Kanban board to keep track of what you’ve done and what still needs to be done.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision to start a blog or podcast is up to you. Consider your goals and the time and effort you’re willing to put in and make an informed decision. If you’re looking for a way to share your insights and experiences with the world, blogging or podcasting (or even both) may be the right choice for you.
For more advice on managing a blog, find out how you can write a blog post that generates more traffic.
