Comments on: Freelance Writing Jobs for Tuesday, June 3, 2008

By: Bill Fulks

Bill Fulks — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:25:15 +0000

I write for Brighthub and Epinions and enjoy both, though Brighthub pays much more. I’ve been on there for a few months now and already cashed out hundreds of dollars.

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:47:08 +0000

I knew they could go down, I saw it in the FAQ section, but I didn’t think so low a drop. I went in and checked stats. I had 50 readers yesterday. Maybe I’m sadly mistaken, but after two weeks, that’s not too bad for a blog on Vermont that they wanted to be for tourists looking for tips and things to do.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:42:01 +0000

I was in tears when I received my email this morning about my pay cut at today.com. As a new blogger I didn’t realize there was so much I was suppose to be doing to increase my traffic. And when I got the gig, my understanding was my rate could increase but would never decrease. I was starting to see more people and I was naive enough to be THRILLED I had 14 individual hits my first few weeks. I’ve calmed down now and figure I’ll keep at it and try to increase my readership. BTW my blog is bookreviewtoday.today.com . Maybe we can all go to each others blogs and post comments every once in a while. I think it’s called networking? LOL

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:49:33 +0000

Deb – Thanks for the link.

I didn’t have a contract, but did keep all emails. I’ve been with them for a little over two weeks (May 15th was the day I officially started), so it’s not like I’ve had enough time to build up much of a readership to start.

Now I don’t know what to do though. If I stop posting, which is my plan, I can just see them refusing to pay me the money I have earned. I’m just glad that I am over their $50 minimum so that I am due the money! If someone wasn’t that high, the company does not have to pay them until they reach $50 so they’re stuck.

By: Deb

Deb — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:19:51 +0000

There’s actually a discussion going on about the Today.com issue at Network Blogging Tips if you want to stop by and add your voice.

http://networkbloggingtips.com/todaycom-lowers-its-pay-rate-for-bloggers/

By: Fiona

Fiona — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:15:37 +0000

Ann – I have just received exactly the same message and I am not happy at all. $1 a post is not worth my time and is insulting and they barely give you time to build a readership. I enjoyed setting it up and posting every day but now I’m wondering if it’s worth it.

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:52:48 +0000

Question:

I took one of those Today.com blogging jobs last month for $5 a post. I could whip out a post within 20 minutes, so the pay wasn’t an issue. I got the email last night saying the pay rate will be dropped to $1 per post effectively immediately and that if I don’t like the new pay rate, all I can do is go out and try to bring in more traffic to my blog. I was getting 25 to 50 views a day, so I admit there was room for improvement, which I was working on, but now for $1 a post, it just doesn’t seem worth it.

I’ve looked over all the emails from them and see nothing about being locked in to any specified time with them. Has anyone else dealt with this?

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:27:29 +0000

Thanks for all the feedback on About.com. You’re all so right: they must get inundated with people.

The two month wait is rough, but it’s heartening to hear that some of you actually got a toe in to compete.

Question: I applied for a travel blog job about two weeks ago and haven’t heard back. I think they called themselves The Independent Traveler. Did anyone hear from them?

I keep hoping. Same w/ a blog for Baby Boomers. That looked interesting. I wish I’d at least hear a “sorry” rather than nada.

Thanks again for all the great response!

Wendy

By: Jodee

Jodee — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:14:27 +0000

@ Connie: Nice to see another Canadian here…there are a few that I know of. Where are you? (I’m in SW Ontario.)

By: Nick Taylor

Nick Taylor — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:07:19 +0000

BrightHub.com is currently looking for writers in 19 of their science/technology channels including: Windows, Mac, Security, Digital Photography, Home Office, Project Management, Web Development, Medical Science and more.

To learn more or to apply as a writer please visit:
http://www2.brighthub.com/writers/index.asp?source=freelancewritinggigs.com_comment

Nick Taylor
BrightHub.com

By: Jodee

Jodee — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:42:50 +0000

@ Everyone who took the time to say thanks…you are most welcome!

@ Lori: I figure that RLS wouldn’t steer us wrong.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:32:47 +0000

@ Brandi: I’m in Lexington. I used to work in Frankfort and have quite a few friends there.

By: Brandi

Brandi — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:11:25 +0000

@Fiona: Are you in Ky, too? We’re in Frankfort.

By: Connie

Connie — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:37:43 +0000

Darn – with the proofreader one – wish I’d read that post first – just sent my resume. Will be interesting to see what reply I get.

That would have been ideal for a first try at this. Just found this site yesterday – quite impressed. Did send a submission yesterday to one place – even though not accepted – speedy response.

Connie in Canada

By: Todd Eastman

Todd Eastman — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:33:07 +0000

The About.com “Seeking Tech Journalists” ad was a bit strange. If you follow the link, they talk about openings on the “Travel Guide” and it doesn’t mention “Tech Journalists.”

If you follow the link to their list of open topics, neither Travel or Tech were listed as available openings.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:07:54 +0000

Thanks for the warning Alyice – I’ll scratch that one from my to-do list.

By: Alyice

Alyice — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:56:38 +0000

After applying for the advertising/copy writer, I was given an email to this link: http://secretofonlinesuccess.com/

I hate it when companies disguise real writing ops for these stupid gimmicks.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:42:24 +0000

I have applied for three about.com jobs and was accepted into the training segment for two. One was a PCOS board and I withdrew because the training was hugely complicated, especially by the time you added in all of the additional medical regulations. I was also selected for the Women’s Issues one but unfortunately the training coincided with a time I was traveling and would not have PC access. More recently I applied for the British cooking one but it ended up going to a former chef and restaurant owner who now writers for one of the high end food magazines in Britain.

By: Maryam

Maryam — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:32:47 +0000

it strikes me that about.com has a high level of competition for the job, not that it stops me from applying but it’s sort of very niche oriented , and i am yet to find one i am totally qualified for . It also seems like they get an insane amount of applications…just think about it, if other blog jobs get like 200 applicants, this one has to get around 500 easily.
Gulp. It makes you really freaked out about the amount of competition out there,
It also is important to know that they take around two months to make a decision

By: Henry

Henry — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:22:38 +0000

One of the Craigslist ads (not sure which one b/c it doesn’t mention the ad) wrote back and links to a data-entry site @ http://secretofonlinesuccess.com. I’m no rube, but is there any chance AT ALL of making $ from a place like this?

By: Fiona

Fiona — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:17:25 +0000

Hey, there’s one down here in Kentucky! Thanks, Jodee.

By: Kitty

Kitty — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:51:20 +0000

I hear ya about About.com….but they seem like really good jobs to get. I thought I was totally qualified for a couple, but still nothing from them. Doesn’t mean I wont keep trying.

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:13:11 +0000

I’ve tried for two About.com jobs. Didn’t get either, but I at least heard back about one and the reason I didn’t get it was because I didn’t have a video camera. For the cooking site they required video footage of me preparing the items.

So that’s something to consider when applying.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:07:52 +0000

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone have any suggestion about the About.com jobs?

I applied for one about a month ago that I’m plenty qualified for (and then some) and never hear back from anyone.

Maybe it’s a good thing and I need to look at it like that, but does anyone know anything?

Wendy

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:01:16 +0000

Thanks Jodee for the awesome job listings (which I check every day).

Just a warning about the one that says “Proofreader” for start-up educational company. This is the one that, if you apply, they tell you that you can only apply through a freelance web site, and there is a fee to join, but don’t worry ’cause you’d be great for the job. It’s a scam to get people to subscribe to the web site.

Been there, done that (sigh).