Why We Include Jobs for On-Site or Local Freelance Writers

We get complaints now and then regarding "on site" freelance writing jobs. Some of the regulars want to know why we include them when most freelancers work at home. Some even complain they’re not "true" freelance writing jobs. There are also those who think we shouldn’t include "local" gigs. That it’s not fair to single out one particular area. I thought I’d address it today. Especially after this comment regarding today’s leads:

"At least seven of today’s listings are on-site or require local 
residence. Are these accidentally getting slipped into the list, or 
are they intentionally included in case someone local to those areas 
reads this? I’ve noticed that sometimes when I click on an appealing 
ad, I then find out it’s on-site, or the company wants to meet with 
the writer/editor once a week in their office, or something like that.
       Just about all of us are telecommuters, and I wonder how 
valuable these local-only gigs are to anyone here."

First Jodee’s thoughts, since she works hard to get these leads to you:

When I look for freelance jobs, I can’t assume 
that the readers are only interested in one type of gig or that they 
are all telecommuters. I do try to note when the employer would 
prefer local residents when I post them. Some days, if I limited the 
list to telecommute stuff only, the list would be pretty short. I do 
try to give the readers as much variety as I can in the listings, but 
ultimately I want to respond to their needs.

Here’s what I think:

When I worked in publishing we employed tons of freelancers. Some were on-site and many were not. In fact, at least half of those who worked from home originally responded to a job for on-site freelancers. When editors want an on-site freelancer it’s usually because they want him to be available for consultation or meetings. If you don’t want to work in an office, you can offer to work at home but come to the office once a week for meetings or strategy sessions. Many on-site gigs can be negotiated to become work at home gigs.

A new kind of freelancer

I think the web gave birth to a whole new breed of freelancers – the kind who don’t want to leave their homes at all or communicate in any manner other than email.  I remember when freelancers had no problem coming in to offices now and then for meetings and planning sessions. Now verbal communication appears to be a dying art. I can’t tell you how many of today’s freelancers recoil in horror at the thought of doing a phone interview.

I also know some of the people who visit Freelance Writing Jobs freelance for the variety. They also enjoy taking sort of "temp" assignments at different clients’ offices as it allows them to still leave the home everyday, but not be tied down to one particular office.

Jobs requiring freelancers to live locally aren’t anything out of the ordinary. It means the client doesn’t want to spend millions of dollars on phone bills and express mail. Plus they’d like you to be handy now and then for meetings. Freelancing doesn’t only mean jobs that are available to everyone regardless of location. Sometimes a gig requires you to live near your client.

Actually, Jodee uses more discretion when picking out gigs. I don’t know if you remember 6 months or a year ago, but I used to post super long lists listing local gigs as well as jobs open to all.  Just because a freelance job involves face to face communication, doesn’t mean no one wants it. So yes, ideally we like to find jobs that are open to everyone, but there are some great local and on-site freelancing gigs and we’ll still bring those to you as well.

 

So let’s open this up for discussion. Would you meet with a client for a lucrative local gig? Would you work on-site if it’s temporary or are you only a work at home communicate via email type of person?