Want well-paying blogging jobs? Don't rely on the job boards.

I'm not saying never check the ads. I check them regularly. What I'm saying is don't rely on the job boards as your sole source of income. Not if you want to find the best paying work.

My best paying clients never posted an ad online. In fact, most of my clients didn't even know they needed a blogger until I told them. I pitched, I scored. If you've got the skills, you can too.

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So you think you're a good writer and you've read Skellie's 10 tips for freelance blogging income, in which she says that you shouldn't accept less than $50 for a 400-word post - even when you're starting out. I agree that good bloggers deserve this (though whether they'll get it is questionable). But are you a good blogger? What skills do you have that warrant getting $50/post?

Here are at least some of the "skills" (which include knowledge and activities) that I feel you should aim for if you want to be a consummate bloglancer and command the rates that Skellie suggests.

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Back in August I created my very first blog. I was naiive back than, I was under the impression, if you build it, people will come. Ha ha ha, I made sure my blogs were rich in keywords, rich in content, and had google adsense all over the page.

A blog is great, but it's nothing if you don't have a page ranking, or at the very least traffic. Since I created my blog it's been four months. Do you know how much I've made with google adsense? A whole $6.00. Wow am I getting somewhere.

That's why I am grateful I found performancing, indeed.com, and craigslist. I'm also glad that I started looking for freelance writing and blogging jobs. If I hadn't, than I wouldn't have made $700.00 this month.

I've read other blogs that claim to make $1000 just from their blogs, and someday I would love that, but for now I do what I can, to get that extra Christmas money.

This article is dedicated to explaining how I made $700 this month, and how it'll continue each month. First thing, join perfomancing, create your own blog. Update it regularly. You'll be surprised by the people who contact you just from performancing. Check craigslist, this is a valuable resource. Check Craigslist daily for jobs in your area. Craigslist isn't as popular as monster or workopolis, so you don't have nearly the competition.

Other places to check are problogger, indeed, ifreelance, etc. Some places you need to pay membership for, I would suggest you research this before you spend money. I managed to find all my jobs without paying for a costly membership.

How I make $700 a month is this: being a freelance reporter for Cheezhead.com, writing two reviews for Eaton Webdirectory, writing 20 ehow articles for $300 for demand studios, and writing for a Canadian Blog. I have only just begun my freelance journey, but already I am quite profitable.

As long as you have a portfolio, a place to demonstrate your skills and abilities, and you are always applying for jobs, they will come. Just make sure you never rush your jobs, and you give high quality articles or features. If you do, you'll be surprised what your jobs may grow into. They may turn into a steady gig, or they may give a chance you normally wouldn't get.

Either way, if it wasn't for all the tips on performacning, I don't think I would be nearly as far today with writing as I am. So thanks for that.

You've decided to become a freelance blogger. You've been scouring the web for blogging jobs. You've found a gig that sparks your interest, but should you take it?

What's the payment arrangement?

Many blogging gigs (especially for networks) offer a monthly rate plus page view bonuses. Others pay per post. Some pay in shares of ad revenue. Revenue-only pay can be zero if the blog gets little traffic. Even a low monthly rate + traffic bonus can be too little if it becomes your job to find the traffic.

Will you have to network?

If you're getting traffic bonuses, sometimes a low monthly rate is worth it. How much traffic does the blog already get? If it's your job to network to get the traffic, make sure to account for that time when making your decision.

How much work will the writing take?

Will you have to do research, or can you easily write on the topic? Is there a word count requirement, or can you write short posts?

Are you trying to establish yourself as a niche blogger?

If the low-pay gig could lead to higher paying jobs within your niche, taking the job might be worth it.

Will you enjoy it?

Blogging jobs generally require coming up with your own ideas for content on a daily basis. You'll burn out fast if you don't enjoy the topic.

Are there other perks?

Some blogging jobs will allow you a good amount of room for self-promotion. Others won't even give you a byline. Some offer free products to review, others free samples. If the offered perks are of benefit to you, it might be worth it to take the gig even if the pay isn't great.

What kind of commitment are you making?

If you're going to have to sign a contract, make sure you know what you're getting into. If the arrangement doesn't work out, can you quit in a month or are you locked in for a year? Does blogging six times a week mean you can write all six posts in one day and "drip" them to appear throughout the week, or do you actually have to log in six days a week and post something new? Get the details ironed out before you commit.

Deciding whether or not to take a blogging job can be difficult even for an experienced freelance blogger. The choice will ultimately depend on your own personal and professional goals.