Comments on: Rant from the Past: Stick a Fork in Me http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/ Freelance Writing Jobs for All Writers Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:52:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Karyn http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-117530 Karyn Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:49:16 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-117530 Yep, I nearly killed myself writing around keywords/keyword phrases for almost two years for a guy that promised me an "eventual monetary potential of 50k a year!" I fell for the old flattery B.S. he routinely dished out until I finally got it that he was the only one making any kind of money worth mentioning. Good riddance to bad rubbish. I still do some writing for clients using keywords in a normal, make-sense way, but never again will I subject myself to that kind of ridiculous pressure and even more ridiculous payment schedule. Yep, I nearly killed myself writing around keywords/keyword phrases for almost two years for a guy that promised me an “eventual monetary potential of 50k a year!” I fell for the old flattery B.S. he routinely dished out until I finally got it that he was the only one making any kind of money worth mentioning. Good riddance to bad rubbish. I still do some writing for clients using keywords in a normal, make-sense way, but never again will I subject myself to that kind of ridiculous pressure and even more ridiculous payment schedule.

]]> By: Freelance Writing Jobs » Blog Archive » Pickin’ & Choosin’ Finding the Freelance Writing Jobs that are Best for You http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23246 Freelance Writing Jobs » Blog Archive » Pickin’ & Choosin’ Finding the Freelance Writing Jobs that are Best for You Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:38:39 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23246 [...] yesterday’s rant wasn’t entirely a blast from the past, the was a moral to the story. [...] [...] yesterday’s rant wasn’t entirely a blast from the past, the was a moral to the story. [...]

]]> By: Laurel - Freelance Marketing Jobs http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23244 Laurel - Freelance Marketing Jobs Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:55:35 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23244 True, Phil. Content seems to be always compromised for profit. True, Phil. Content seems to be always compromised for profit.

]]> By: Phil http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23243 Phil Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:12:19 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23243 Laurel, I know the Times mantra, but the way I wrote it was basically what happens, even before keywords. Ads determine the amount of pages, and therefore, what articles (and length) that can be run. Think it was an old J-prof I first heard that from. Laurel,

I know the Times mantra, but the way I wrote it was basically what happens, even before keywords. Ads determine the amount of pages, and therefore, what articles (and length) that can be run. Think it was an old J-prof I first heard that from.

]]> By: Laurel - Freelance Marketing Jobs http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23240 Laurel - Freelance Marketing Jobs Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:37:06 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23240 Phil -- I agree it's moving in that direction sadly. Corporate ownership has squelched a lot of the substance. And it seems journalists are more concerned with maintaining relationships with sources rather than objective reporting. The Times mantra was actually a slight at the other NY papers that weren't substantive: "All The News That's Fit To Print" Phil — I agree it’s moving in that direction sadly. Corporate ownership has squelched a lot of the substance. And it seems journalists are more concerned with maintaining relationships with sources rather than objective reporting.

The Times mantra was actually a slight at the other NY papers that weren’t substantive:
“All The News That’s Fit To Print”

]]> By: Phil http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23239 Phil Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:10:08 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23239 Even traditional journalism is moving more into the keyword area. Advertising is going that way, and someone has to pay the bills. Remember the saying from the NY Times: "All the news that fits, we print." Even traditional journalism is moving more into the keyword area. Advertising is going that way, and someone has to pay the bills.

Remember the saying from the NY Times: “All the news that fits, we print.”

]]> By: Matt http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23236 Matt Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:20:44 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23236 <i>As a woman, that was definitely one of the weirdest and most entertaining jobs I’ve done.</i> Well, Ann, I certainly hope you researched everything thoroughly. :) As a woman, that was definitely one of the weirdest and most entertaining jobs I’ve done.

Well, Ann, I certainly hope you researched everything thoroughly. :)

]]> By: Laurel - Freelance Marketing Jobs http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23231 Laurel - Freelance Marketing Jobs Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:01:24 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23231 Funny post, Deb, even if it was at the expense of your breaking point! I appreciate the reminder of hellish jobs -- it helps me appreciate the enjoyable and tolerable ones! Funny post, Deb, even if it was at the expense of your breaking point! I appreciate the reminder of hellish jobs — it helps me appreciate the enjoyable and tolerable ones!

]]> By: Krysta http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23224 Krysta Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:47:36 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23224 I agree with your sentiments exactly. I ask people how I can generate readers to my site, so I can make a name for myself, and they say to write what people want to read, even if I don't care about it. But I write because I DO CARE, not because I want fame. Journalists do not write for the fame and fortune, they write for the love of the language, and it is up to us to not lose that passion. I agree with your sentiments exactly. I ask people how I can generate readers to my site, so I can make a name for myself, and they say to write what people want to read, even if I don’t care about it. But I write because I DO CARE, not because I want fame. Journalists do not write for the fame and fortune, they write for the love of the language, and it is up to us to not lose that passion.

]]> By: Christy http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23216 Christy Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:00:50 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23216 Well said! I agree 100%. Now if only the webmasters would listen! Well said! I agree 100%. Now if only the webmasters would listen!

]]> By: Shell http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23215 Shell Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:46:52 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23215 I've been on the keyword trail too. I only used the gig as a temporary measure. The pay wasn't very good either. Occasionally, you will stumble upon a well paid gig but then you have to do the maths and work out whether writing 50 articles on the most mundane topic is well worth the time and effort. Quite often I will see ads for 200 plus articles on a topic that would be stretched to make 500 words. Now that is plain ridiculous! I’ve been on the keyword trail too. I only used the gig as a temporary measure. The pay wasn’t very good either.

Occasionally, you will stumble upon a well paid gig but then you have to do the maths and work out whether writing 50 articles on the most mundane topic is well worth the time and effort.

Quite often I will see ads for 200 plus articles on a topic that would be stretched to make 500 words. Now that is plain ridiculous!

]]> By: KateN http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23214 KateN Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:39:47 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23214 Ann G.- You just made my day! Ann G.- You just made my day!

]]> By: Lori http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23213 Lori Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:39:31 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23213 That's hilarious. :) I've had jobs like that where all you want to do is run the other way. One in particular was an article in which I could talk with ONLY the advertisers and use ONLY their products in the article. That's not an article - that's a long-arsed advertisement! Gave that job up the minute the check cleared. That’s hilarious. :) I’ve had jobs like that where all you want to do is run the other way. One in particular was an article in which I could talk with ONLY the advertisers and use ONLY their products in the article. That’s not an article – that’s a long-arsed advertisement! Gave that job up the minute the check cleared.

]]> By: Ann G. http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23211 Ann G. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:06:59 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23211 Hehehe. I still think one of my favorite jobs was where I had to create a humorous SEO article with the keywords "penile prostate pain". As a woman, that was definitely one of the weirdest and most entertaining jobs I've done. Hehehe. I still think one of my favorite jobs was where I had to create a humorous SEO article with the keywords “penile prostate pain”. As a woman, that was definitely one of the weirdest and most entertaining jobs I’ve done.

]]> By: Robin Marie http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23207 Robin Marie Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:22:54 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23207 Totally agree! Love this post... content and key words are all well and good in their place, but seriously. Totally agree! Love this post… content and key words are all well and good in their place, but seriously.

]]> By: Maria E http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23206 Maria E Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:21:55 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23206 Deb, you're braver than I am to write keyword articles that long. I took one assignment writing keyword articles about loans, and I just about lost my mind. It didn't feel like writing at all because all the creativity and spontaneity I love about writing was gone. There was none of that feeling of adventure you get when you see what words will find their way to the page. I quit the job after a few months. Deb, you’re braver than I am to write keyword articles that long. I took one assignment writing keyword articles about loans, and I just about lost my mind. It didn’t feel like writing at all because all the creativity and spontaneity I love about writing was gone. There was none of that feeling of adventure you get when you see what words will find their way to the page. I quit the job after a few months.

]]> By: Marjorie Dorfman http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23204 Marjorie Dorfman Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:35:09 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23204 Good for you, Deb! I completely agree, whether agree and completely are proper keywords or no! Good for you, Deb! I completely agree, whether agree and completely are proper keywords or no!

]]> By: Lindsey http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23186 Lindsey Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:39:10 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23186 I'm relatively new to the freelancing buisness having lost my job several months ago at exactly the position you describe! I wrote keyword articles all day, had the misspelled words and everything. I remember having 25 keywords for a 300 word article! How crazy is that? Every other word was a keyword and the articles were stilted and ridiculous! I’m relatively new to the freelancing buisness having lost my job several months ago at exactly the position you describe! I wrote keyword articles all day, had the misspelled words and everything.

I remember having 25 keywords for a 300 word article! How crazy is that? Every other word was a keyword and the articles were stilted and ridiculous!

]]> By: Violette http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23179 Violette Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:14:47 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23179 LOL, that was funny. LOL, that was funny.

]]> By: Shannan P http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23178 Shannan P Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:04:12 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23178 What a total blast from the past! Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I remember how much this post inspired me to look for bigger and better things! What a total blast from the past! Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I remember how much this post inspired me to look for bigger and better things!

]]> By: Valencia http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23177 Valencia Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:58:42 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23177 I feel you...keyword articles can make a person lose their sanity. I feel you…keyword articles can make a person lose their sanity.

]]> By: Megan http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23175 Megan Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:58:26 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23175 Boo-ya. That sounds like my former job. I had much of the same problem with this idea if churning out articles that were more about keywords than quality. The real kicker is that at the beginning of the job, my boss had me do tons and tons of research on what constituted successful search engine marketing. I quickly learned why his approach was flawed and it kind of made me feel a little cheap. So I know how you feel. (Or felt, rather) Boo-ya. That sounds like my former job. I had much of the same problem with this idea if churning out articles that were more about keywords than quality.

The real kicker is that at the beginning of the job, my boss had me do tons and tons of research on what constituted successful search engine marketing. I quickly learned why his approach was flawed and it kind of made me feel a little cheap. So I know how you feel. (Or felt, rather)

]]> By: Brenda http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/04/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/comment-page-1/#comment-23170 Brenda Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:20:16 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/rant-from-the-past-stick-a-fork-in-me/#comment-23170 I love this post! I haven't stopped laughing since I began reading it. I have felt that way many times, but I haven't had the guts to actually post how I felt. Bravo! :) Thanks for making my day! I love this post! I haven’t stopped laughing since I began reading it. I have felt that way many times, but I haven’t had the guts to actually post how I felt. Bravo! :)

Thanks for making my day!

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