Let’s face it. The University life of countless interviews for a part-time job while balancing academic courses is challenging. Most students work in retail positions or at restaurants earning a minimum wage. It is easy to tell someone, “you should be grateful that you have a job in today’s economy,” but what if there is another way to earn an income.
An article in the Financial Post states, “ freelancers, independent contractors and on-demand workers will make up 45 percent of the Canadian workforce by 2020.” It means you have a higher chance of following your passion and being paid in the comfort of your dorm than finding a dream job while studying.
Here are some of my helpful tips to help you take your blogging skills to the next level.
1. Freelance Blogging
The freelance life has its perks, and a few include working from home, setting your hours and getting paid once a job is completed. One of the best ways to start as a freelancer is to blog about something you are passionate about. For example, do you love Star Wars? Can you offer to make up tips? How about advice on writing academic papers?
Instagram is one of the top social media platforms to help you show off your interests and direct people to your blog. Blogging is to write exclusive updates for pop culture fans or solve a problem a reader can’t figure out independently.
Once you build their trust and establish a following, you have a higher chance of approaching brands to write about their products and services and get paid.
2. Small Business Blogging
Calling all academic writers and tutors! The power of word-of-mouth marketing has helped students hire you to help them with homework. The next step is to start a website, including writing samples, contact information and a blog that students will be enthusiastic about sharing with people they know. Here are a few blog titles for you to consider:
- 5 Helpful Tips for Writing Academic Reports
- What Not to Include in an Essay
- Study Tips to Help You Ace Your Next Exam
- How to Balance a Personal Life and School the Right Way
3. Follow the Top Bloggers
One of the best ways to get ahead in life is to take advice from people you are willing to trade places with. So if you can’t meet a top blogger in person, follow all their social media accounts and find out what makes them successful.
I don’t recommend that you copy their blogging style. The idea of following your favourite blogger is simply a way for you to understand the time and effort it takes to be successful.
It can help you find out how often you should post, a variety of posts to consider (i.e., photos, videos), and how to enthusiastically engage with an audience.
4. Write a Plan of Action
I can advise you to start blogging today, but it is best to figure out a plan first. The last thing you want to do is create a blog and be tuned out by readers because it doesn’t offer valuable information. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you begin:
- Who is my audience? (i.e., age, gender, location)
- How often should I post a blog? (i.e., daily, weekly, monthly)
- What do I need to say? (i.e., give advice, life tips)
- What rate of payment is acceptable if approached by a client?
5. Offer Exclusive Information
If you blog about a trending topic, ensure it is unique. When a new blogger copies the voice of other writers, the truth is people will pay attention to the person with a more significant following.
You can see success as a blogger once you stick with one niche and deliver one-of-a-kind information. It means checking your smartphone a few times a day to see what is trending in the news.
It can include stepping outside your comfort zone and interviewing people to get the latest news on an upcoming technology trend.
The idea is to be creative and provide your audience with information to help them. It is not about your interest but the interests of the readers.
University Magazine is part of the 
