Good morning FWJ’ers! This morning I have some copy editor and editor gigs, along with opportunities for technical writers. I have also added some magazine leads and one summer internship with WashingtonPost.com to write content about shopping. I hope that all of you have a great weekend. Leads… Freelance Writer Needs Help with Research – Telecommute Freelance Publicist/Beauty Industry – New York Bilingual (English/Spanish) Writer/Field Producer for Three Week Project – New York Temporary Senior Reporter @ Entertainment Weekly – New York Copy Editor @ Home Furnishings News Senior Copywriter @ Sermo – Telecommute Modern Fiction Magazine Accepting Submissions ($50.00-$200.00 [Read more…]
Typical Blog Wages – How Much Money You Should Make Blogging
April 4, 2008. 32 Comments
First off there are no typical blog wages; not if you blog for yourself, and certainly not if you blog for others. Clients have different budgets, different advertising, and different situations. Still, everyone always asks about actual wages. That said, I figured I’d post some wages that either I’ve accepted, or wages that I know other bloggers have accepted recently. This may help to give you some idea of what’s decent vs. unfair vs. really good. Variables: In all of these situations, I’m assuming that one, the topic is one you know well, and two, you know how to do [Read more…]
Why You Need Stats
April 4, 2008. 6 Comments
I used to have a client who refused to let me know my blog’s stats. She was all about traffic and community building but wouldn’t let me in on too many details. This can be a problem. If you’re not privy to your stats you have no clue what is driving people to your blog. Clueless bloggers don’t do well. Here’s why stats are important: Keywords: How will you know if your keywords are driving in traffic if you can’t see your stats? When you have regular stat access you can experiment more and find a formula that works. Your [Read more…]
Landing a Blogging Job: Application Tips
April 4, 2008. 2 Comments
Blogging is more informal than more traditional forms of writing, but you still need to be careful. Especially when applying for a blogging job. Sometimes we’re in such a rush to get our application or introductory email off before the competition we don’t take enough time to proofread. Big mistake. Here are a few tips for applying for a blogging gig. Be honest: If you don’t know enough about the niche, or haven’t the experience the client requested, don’t lie. Lies have a way of showing themselves eventually and the last thing you want is to screw with your reputation. [Read more…]
Talking About Rates: Is it Ever a Good Thing?
April 3, 2008. 27 Comments
I took some heat yesterday because I don’t necessarily agree with writers or even bloggers disclosing their earnings. I do think certain blogs such as John Chow or ShoeMoney are an exception, but for the most part I’m not so sure it’s the thing to do. It’s impolite I know I’m in the minority but I don’t believe it’s good manners to talk about how much one earns. Discussing salary at an office job is grounds for dismissal. Different people make different money for different reasons. Unless Writer A is doing the exact same thing as me, you can’t compare. [Read more…]
Dealing With Blog Compensation Offers – Clients Who Offer Too Much Money
April 3, 2008. 3 Comments
The other day I posted: When someone hires you to blog, which tasks are they hiring you for? At the end I said I’d be back to discuss clients who don’t know about blogs; who are more than happy to pay you simply to post and do nothing else. There’s actually more to this issue than clients who are only looking for posters. You’ll run into a few general negotiation scenarios as a blogger: Clients who offer too much money for too little work (this actually is a problem, below I’ll tell you why). Clients who offer you joke wages [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Jobs for Thursday, April 3, 2008
April 3, 2008. 12 Comments
Good morning everyone! There’s a good mix of leads for you this morning. There are some legal gigs, internships, technical writing leads, and opportunities for bloggers. Do check out the “Prewfreeder Kneaded” one; I was suprised I was able to understand it. I think this person either needs a lot of help or has a great sense of humor! Leads… Freelance Legal Editors – Canadian Law – Telecommute Freelance Legal Editors – Classification Systems – Telecommute Bilingual (Spanish-English) Freelance Writer @ NY1 News – New York Freelance Writer Wanted – Some On Site Work Required – Denver Freelance Writers on [Read more…]
10 Reasons Bloggers Need an Administrative Day
April 3, 2008. 5 Comments
I woke up this morning to over 2,000 emails in my inbox. This is a few day’s worth, actually. I only answered the most pressing stuff from the past few days. I think it would take the better part of the day to go through all the mail coming in and handle other tasks. That’s why I’ve decided to implement a weekly administrative day. I hear what you’re saying, I’m busy too. So busy, a monthly administrative day is no longer adequate. This week I’ve been working with a schedule that’s going so well, I can take Sunday and make [Read more…]
Time Out: Cover Letters from Hell
April 3, 2008. 20 Comments
The advertising firm of Killian & Company have a great website featuring Cover Letters from Hell? This hall of shame features awful cover letters from people who have applied in the past. If you haven’t already dropped by the website do visit. It’s well worth ten minutes of procrastination. Some examples: "Objective: To work in a challenging environment that allows me to use my imaginatiation…. Education: ______ Collage." [Editor's note: Does attending "collage" involve sleepover seminars where you decoupage pictures cut from Teen Scene magazine?] Love it. A little spell check goes a long way. Here’s another gem: "Another reason [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Income: To Disclose or Not to Disclose
April 2, 2008. 63 Comments
I have noticed that some freelancers post their monthly earnings or discuss how much money they are making, either on their own blogs or on message boards. Have you ever noticed that the people who are willing to post how much they make are posting figures in the thousands each month? To be honest with you, I’m not sure what I think about that. It seems like the topic of money is the last great taboo in our society. People seem more willing to open up about their sex lives than discuss how much money they are making…or spending, for [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Jobs for Wednesday, April 2, 2008
April 2, 2008. 4 Comments
Good morning everyone! Now that April Fool’s Day is behind us, there is more activity on the job boards. There is a good mix of opportunities today. I see that About.com is hiring for multiple channels, and I have found some gigs for technical writers and proofreaders. Leads… Academic Consulting International Looking for Freelance Writers ($20 for 250 words) Online Editor for Automotive Magazine – Freelance to Full Time – New York Freelance Editor @ FierceMarkets – Telecommute Freelance Writer/Photographer Wanted – Telecommute Freelance Writers ($0.10 per word) Beauty Bloggers Wanted Writers Needed for Various Blog Topics Stock Markets/Financial Blogger [Read more…]
Who Do You Blog For?
April 2, 2008. 12 Comments
When someone hires you to blog, which tasks are they hiring you for?
April 1, 2008. 8 Comments
Lately I’ve been seeing these sorts of questions a lot at forums: Someone wants to hire me for their blog – should I charge extra for networking? How much do you charge for moderating comments? How much do you charge for each comment you respond to? Should I charge extra for commenting on other blogs? The client wants me to Digg stuff! What the? I just want to post twice a week – what do you charge for that? Here’s the deal. To me, blogging has always been a package deal. Frankly, if you’re a blogger, there are certain tasks [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Gigs for Tuesday, April 1, 2008
April 1, 2008. 7 Comments
Good morning everyone! It’s very, very quiet on the boards today. I am assuming that it’s because it’s You-Know-What Day today. I was able to find a couple of internship opportunities and some gigs for copywriters, though. Leads… Internship Opportunity @ ESPN.com – Summer of 2008 Blogger for Hip L.A.-centric Blog ($50 for 250 words) 50 Content Writers Needed for Online Survey Recruitment Site ($0.25 per word, 20-25 word writeups) Workaholics for Hire Seeks Ghostwriters and Content Writers Advertising Copywriter with Layout Skills – Telecommute Sales Copywriter for Web Content Creation – Telecommute Looking for Someone to Write Short Stories [Read more…]
Knowing When to Say No (And When Not To)
April 1, 2008. 3 Comments
I have a problem. I’m a blogaholic. I regularly update over a dozen blogs and contribute to several others. Thankfully, I’m at the point where I’m not actively looking for work. Somehow though, work always finds me. This isn’t always a good thing. You see, by not saying no I put myself in a predicament. I have to keep up my end of the bargain and not fall behind. How can I continue to take the same time to create the same quality posts for my clients when I’m taking on new work. Fortunately, I’ve developed a system for saying [Read more…]
The Warm & Fuzzy Side of Blogging for Others
April 1, 2008. 3 Comments
The other day I posted what I think the negatives of blogging for others are. Today – the nicer side of blogging. All the positives about blogging for someone else. I get to do something I love every day – blog. I’d blog anyhow, but the fact that people actually give me money to blog amazes me. Most days I feel pretty lucky. What other job would allow me, a single mama, to work from home like this? I get to homeschool my son Cedar, and if I blog at night we can hang at the park all day if [Read more…]
Need A Blog Break? I Do.
April 1, 2008. 10 Comments
How to Blog Nice – An Interview with Liz Strauss
So, I did say I’d talk about clients who don’t get blogs today, (and I will soon – promise), but yesterday I saw a question at a forum about people leaving rude comments at blogs. Mainly, this was about people being rude just because – with no rhyme or reason. This sort of situation – rude people at blogs always irks me. There’s really no point. Blogger etiquette is a big deal when you blog for others because not only are you representing yourself as a blogger, but you’re representing your client or network. Blogging etiquette also matters because you [Read more…]