I’ve been a freelance blogger for several years now, getting my soft start in 2019 and going full-time in early 2023. Throughout the whole process, two traits keep coming to mind when I think about what it takes to be successful and stand out from the crowd. Those traits are perseverance and persistence. 

While they may seem similar at first glance, the two have nuanced differences. In this article, I’ll share my perspective on both perseverance and persistence for freelance bloggers. I’m hopeful that if you are an aspiring blogger looking to get your start, this article will be helpful, and provide you with a bit of inspiration.

Perseverance: The Steady Resolve

Perseverance is all about not giving up, regardless of the challenges encountered. It’s the unwavering commitment to seeing things through to the end, even when the going gets tough. Whether in personal challenges like illness or loss, or in the professional world of launching and running a business, perseverance is the driving force that propels us forward.

When starting out as a freelance blogger, it’s essential to understand that success doesn’t happen overnight. You’re bound to encounter hurdles and setbacks along the way. However, it’s through perseverance that you can transform these obstacles into stepping stones toward success. Every failure is an opportunity to learn and grow, ultimately paving the way for greater achievements.

Persistence: The Sustained Effort

Persistence, on the other hand, refers to the ability to stick with something over the long haul. It’s the dedication to consistent effort and resilience in the face of challenges. From childhood endeavors like mastering a musical instrument to adult pursuits like building a business, persistence is the glue that holds our endeavors together.

Persistence comes to life in various aspects of business ownership. One crucial area where persistence is vital is in pipeline development. Building a steady stream of potential clients ensures a continuous flow of work, mitigating the risk of revenue downturns due to unforeseen circumstances.

Building Your Pipeline: A Key to Success

Imagine you’ve kickstarted your freelance blogging journey on a platform like Upwork – a fantastic starting point to get your career off the ground. Landing five clients who commission you to write a handful of blogs each month is a significant milestone worth celebrating. Congratulations are in order! 

However, it’s essential to recognize that the nature of freelance work means that projects can come to an abrupt halt at any time. Clients may vanish due to budget cuts, changes in priorities, or unforeseen circumstances, leaving your revenue streams vulnerable.

The solution? Building a robust pipeline of potential leads ensures a steady flow of opportunities. While it’s common practice to maintain a pipeline that’s twice as high as your overall sales target, my experience suggests aiming even higher – a 10x pipeline. This may sound ambitious, but it’s a proactive approach to safeguarding your business against fluctuations and uncertainties.

Reach For the Stars: A 10x Pipeline

A 10x pipeline means engaging with enough prospective clients to fill ten times your revenue goals. While it’s unlikely that all these leads will convert into paying clients, even a 25-30% conversion rate can significantly boost your income and offset any potential losses. Achieving this requires persistence – consistently bidding for new gigs, responding to inquiries promptly, and delivering high-quality work that exceeds client expectations.

Devoting at least 20 minutes, preferably twice a day, to respond to proposals and submit bids on platforms like Upwork is a practical step towards maintaining an active pipeline. Additionally, it involves following up with clients who have gone dormant, nurturing relationships, and staying top of mind. This level of persistence ensures that your pipeline remains robust and resilient, providing a lifeline during lean times and fueling your success as a freelance blogger.

The Importance of Perspective

In addition to perseverance and persistence, perspective is an integral element in the arsenal of a successful freelance blogger. I could even dub it the third P in this trifecta of essential qualities. Perspective entails viewing situations from different angles, understanding varying viewpoints, and discerning the relative significance of different factors. In freelance blogging, gaining perspective not only enhances your ability to navigate challenges but also elevates the quality of your content for clients.

Consider this: as a freelance blogger, your clients come from diverse industries, each with its unique challenges, goals, and target audiences. By cultivating perspective, you gain the ability to immerse yourself in their world, understand their pain points, and tailor your content to resonate with their audience effectively. For instance, if you’re writing for a tech startup targeting millennials, having the perspective to understand their preferences, interests, and language can significantly enhance the impact of your content.

Moreover, perspective enables you to anticipate trends, anticipate shifts in consumer behavior, and stay ahead of the curve. By staying informed about industry developments, market dynamics, and emerging technologies, you position yourself as a trusted advisor to your clients, offering insights and strategies that go beyond surface-level content creation.

Additionally, perspective fosters empathy – the ability to put yourself in your audience’s shoes and address their needs and concerns authentically. Whether you’re writing a blog post, crafting social media content, or developing a marketing strategy, empathy allows you to connect with your audience deeper, building trust and loyalty over time.

Incorporating diverse perspectives into your writing adds richness and depth to your content, making it more engaging, relatable, and impactful. Whether it’s weaving in personal anecdotes, incorporating diverse voices, or exploring controversial topics from multiple angles, embracing perspective opens up a world of creative possibilities for freelance bloggers.

Maintaining a Balance of Perseverance, Persistence, and Perspective

The truth is that success hinges on a balance of perseverance, persistence, and perspective. While perseverance fuels our resolve to overcome obstacles, persistence sustains our efforts over the long term. Combined with the right perspective, these traits form the cornerstone of a thriving freelance blogging business.

So, remember the importance of perseverance and persistence, whether you’re a business owner seeking to enhance your online presence or an aspiring content writer looking for guidance. 

Are you ready to elevate your online presence with compelling content? Reach out to Copywriting For You on Upwork or LinkedIn today! And if you’re an aspiring content writer seeking guidance and mentorship, schedule a marketing consultation to gain valuable insights and strategies for success. 

Let’s do this together!