Writing for online media

[Plumm]

Does anyone write articles for websites? I wrote for a blog network when DD was little and really enjoyed it, and now she's in full time school I'd love to get back into it, but don't really know where to start (I stumbled across that job by accident).

I know the rates of pay aren't great but it's the flexibility I'm after so I can work around school holidays, etc. (and it would be great to grow it into a full time job as the DCs get older).

Has anyone got any advice?

Can you contact the past company that you worked for?

Also, as mentioned on other threads, People Per Hour is a possibility, I suppose.

I think it also depends on the level that you are able to work at/pitch at. I get the impression that a lot of low level work is outsourced to India, etc. these days, and perhaps polished in the UK by the agency managing the project (in the case of blog posts written purely for SEO).

What types of blog posts do you write?

Do you have any expertise in a particulary subject error? Are you qualified in anything?

I was writing product, film and book reviews before. The company I wrote for got rid of all the freelancers and went in house (followed by further money troubles).

I'm looking for something light-hearted to get started with so I can build up a portfolio of work.

Can't really offer any advice except what has been posted. I write a lot for online media - but more for social media now than blogs..
If you have no portfolio, you are going to have to start writing 'audition' pieces or just take anything via PPH to build up your reputation ??

I write a lot for online media. I would say you need to specialise in an area you can prove your experience in, so starting where you left off would be a good start. Use the articles you have written before to try showcase your writing, this works better if the links to them are still live. In my experience having a good list of people you write for has worked wonders - but I was lucky and started off with some good newspapers before going online.

You should also try blogging. Obviously you don't get paid at first (if ever!) but I am involved in travel writing and although my blog is new on twitter I have met a whole community of travel bloggers who seem to be doing very well out of it. Twitter is also a great way to get your name around and make contacts and also circulate your blog. Social network like crazy. You might have to do the occasional freebie, unfortunately, to build a portfolio. Doesn't make it very easy for those of us who do it full time! Good luck!

Also it might be worth learning some multimedia skills. These days I often have to offer articles and videos to get the work.

Someone in the jobs section on here was asking for editors. The same company seems to need writers as well. But I have no idea if any good.

Here

Thanks everyone for your advice. Time to get an action plan together.