Whether you are an occasional writer or a full-time content creator at a firm, knowing the differences between blog posts and articles is necessary. Even though they are frequently used interchangeably, an article and a blog post are not similar, and a blog post is not a form of article. There are quite a few significant differences between the two, from intent, style to length and information.
Despite the difference, blogging and article writing are essential for any organization that wants to increase its website reach. There are several compelling motivations to write website content, like building a distinctive brand, becoming an industry leader, or providing a wealth of knowledge to potential clients. Blogs and articles serve them too.
Recognizing the distinctions between these two writing styles will also help you generate more revenue.
Blog Post vs. Article
To understand the basic characteristics of an article and blog post, take a look at the following table:
Blog Post | Article |
Based on your perspective | Your viewpoint is not necessarily required |
It doesn’t require interviews or investigation | Contains interviews and analysis from reputable professionals and research organizations |
Created with SEO keywords in view | Keywords aren’t necessary |
Grammar and punctuation are optional | The spelling and punctuation are immaculate |
Writing style is informal | A more refined prose style |
There’s no involvement from an editor, and the work is self-published | A print publication releases it after an editor cleans it up |
Freelance earning rates are typically in the $5-$20 per article range | Pay rates range from $.10 to $1 per word and higher |
However, eventually, the distinctions dissolved during the last few years. After that, everything took a drastic change, and the approaches and client requirements changed.
The Confluence of Blog Posts and Articles
Today, many blog posts resemble articles too. As the internet became clogged with many blogs, their standards rose. You will now see interviews appearing in blog entries along with meaningful statistics. Pieces have become longer as writers strive to differentiate themselves and provide more worth. Therefore, 1,000 words have become the norm, and 2,000-word pieces are not unusual either.
Similarly, the practice of keyword-stuffing in blogs has diminished too as Google became smarter, cracking down irrelevant content. In addition, as blogs became more corporate, several organizations employed editors to deliver quality content.
On the other hand, considerable activity has taken place in the article-writing department. Many print publications offer online versions of their content. Therefore, magazine headers, like blog post titles, need to generate traffic too. Furthermore, they featured more opinion columns by key influencers. Some also set up an article writing company and let authors push the ‘post’ button on their own.
As ad income has shifted online, word counts have decreased too for the articles. In addition, some periodicals have gone entirely online. As a result, their style evolved, becoming mellower and more informal.
To summarise, the two forms of writing began to converge. As a result, definitions have become mushy, and there is now much misunderstanding. Except for one thing: blog writing is usually low-paying, whereas articles are higher-paying.
Client Perplexity
For years, inexperienced clients unfamiliar with these two kinds have been tainting the debate about them. Unfortunately, this has made it difficult for authors to describe writing tasks and accurately bid on them.
Many buyers refer to the 300-word quickie postings they want as ‘articles’ but are willing to pay $5 for such. Also, numerous customers would want you to produce 1,000-word blog articles with three interview sessions and a survey statistic for $20 since “it’s a blog post.”
Your duty as a writer is to break through the fluff and get to the core of any project — then, speak about how much that work should truly pay.
How can authors make more money?
The truth is, customers will constantly want to save money. It is the responsibility of authors to enlighten customers on what they are asking for and what is reasonable remuneration for what they would like you to produce.
The best part is the confluence of blog postings and articles should result in higher compensation prospects for authors. Blog postings are maturing; they are no longer the unattractive stepsister of articles. As a result, they should be paid more in line with the varying requirements
However, it is up to the creator to take the necessary measures to profit from this industry shift.
So, how can a writer educate clients? Well, here are some actions to take:
- Define
When customers say, they require articles or blog entries, clarify what they mean. For example, is there any personal interview? If yes, how many are there? And finally, how long is the piece?
- Influence them
Explain to them what they want is regarded as an article by established writers. Therefore, it will immediately increase your prices. Then, state your argument for why you should be hired as an article writer.
- Sell articles
When speaking with customers who are unsure of what they expect, persuade them they hire you to write an article for them instead of a personal blog. Tell them it is better if they want a productive marketing strategy. Inform your readers about Google’s stance on brief keyword-driven content.
- Offer blog modifications
If they want postings for a preexisting blog, pitch clients on the benefits of bringing their blog to another degree, towards a more observed, magazine-style vibe, and what that could mean for their credibility and exposure.
What to Charge? – Blogs vs. Articles
Whereas most creative writing experts are fortunate to garner $100 per piece for blog entries, you should strive to hit that minimum for blog writing — article fees are typically significantly higher. Countless authors have written for $300-$500, and many more have written for $600-$2,000, based on size and intricacy.
Some local daily publications pay $75-$100 for brief articles, but they provide you with more outstanding snippets for your portfolio. You’ll also learn how to cover a narrative, which can help you receive better-paying pieces from corporations or publications in the future.
Claiming the Victory
Publications and article-style blog postings are more credible. Moreover, they make an impression on the consumers. Therefore, writing articles for your clients will increase productivity, and your clientele will employ you again to write for them in the future. It’s a typical win-win situation: you can charge extra upfront and will certainly end up with additional service from the customer because they’ll be satisfied with the outcomes.
This all prepares you to pursue higher-paying publication sectors if it is on your to-do list.
Discover more about publishing pieces if you’re intimidated by the prospect of creating article-style blog entries or full-fledged articles.
Some authors are terrified of locating specialists, arranging interviews, or conducting research. But don’t worry, you can master these things. Many people learn everything on the field via trial and error.
As a final word, whether you go for blogging or article-writing or both, always do your best, catering to the clients’ needs. As long as you stick to creativity, hard work, research, and knowledge, the results are likely to be excellent.