Comments on: Freelance Writing Jobs for Friday, August 8, 2008

By: Amy Derby

Amy Derby — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:02:36 +0000

Amelia — I agree; there are mostly legitimate gigs out there! I think a good thing to always keep in mind is to take caution of anyone who asks you to sign up for something. The way I see it is, if someone legitimately wants me to review something, then that person should already have an account I can use to review the site.

By: Amelia

Amelia — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:35:06 +0000

Thanks for all of the info.. I’m so thankful to have a place like this to come and ask questions! I have found some legitimate gigs so it’s great to remember that there really are good jobs out there.. just have to be cautious when shifting through the offers!

By: Amy Derby

Amy Derby — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:48:21 +0000

Ann and Christine — That’s a good idea to report them. I know from my limited involvement in affiliate marketing that most big companies have affiliate program managers who would definitely want to hear about this. A lot of times the affiliate program manager has a forum/message board for talking with affiliates, etc. Usually a google on “affiliate manager” and the name of the company, or something similar, will turn up the name. This is the person who is in charge of banning affiliates, and generally they are very eager to get rid of people who are doing these types of backhanded things. Another option, if the company is unresponsive and you can’t find an affiliate manager, is to contact the affiliate network. Commission Junction, Linkshare and ShareaSale are the big networks most top programs are run through, and the big networks generally don’t put up with companies who allow their affiliates to engage in deceptive practices. I went on a rampage last summer when one company’s affiliates were spamming craigslist with scams in order to get freelancers to sign up, then adding people to their spam email lists, and eventually the affiliates in question were banned. So I know reporting it can eventually resolve the problem.

By: Victoria

Victoria — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:45:28 +0000

Great list as usual, Jodee! THANKS!
~victoria

By: John Platt

John Platt — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:43:00 +0000

Ten bucks a page for a work-for-hire comic book script? Not remotely close to industry standard rates. Beware.

But there are several other good, if not great, leads today. Thanks!

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:29:43 +0000

Thank you Jodee for the great job you do putting this list together for us writers.

Unfortunately, these affiliates and their scams are really frustrating. Ann, I am going to join you and start filing complaints. I hope it will do some good. It can’t hurt. There’s also a lot of legitimate writing jobs out there. We just got to keep that in mind.

Everybody have a great writing day and great weekend.

By: Amanda Nicole

Amanda Nicole — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:28:43 +0000

Just a note: the Contract Professional Writer in Vancouver gig is for business reports and proposals. The ad is very vague, so I thought I’d just clarify.

Thanks for today’s list, Jodee!

By: Sirena

Sirena — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:07:22 +0000

Thanks for the leads. Wow, the job that will be based in Iraq seems very interesting. Too bad there is no way I could do that.

By: Kenna

Kenna — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:59:27 +0000

Thanks for the list! I feel a new writing gig coming my way;”)

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:49:46 +0000

@Amelia – The problem is that there are hundreds of sites that offer affiliate programs. If one person gets you to sign up for their site, they earn money. So there are some people out there, mass posting faux job ads hoping they can rake in some money by getting people to sign up thinking they’ll really be offered a job.

I’ve started emailing the job postings and the email I get back to the companies hoping to get them to start cracking down on the affiliates who are using this method.

By: Steve K

Steve K — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:47:16 +0000

I actually found you as a result of searching for info on the now info-mous Quentin Cougher. In just a few days I’ve learned an awful lot about the contemporary world of freelancing and the internet. I’ve been away for 10 years!
THANX people and Thank you Fate for bringing me here.

Steve K

By: Steve M.

Steve M. — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:25:28 +0000

Amelia:

The replies wanting you to do reviews of websites are simply wanting you to sign up for the site to increase their numbers. It is not a real job opportunity. This has been going around a lot lately.

By: Amelia

Amelia — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:20:57 +0000

Thanks! I applied for the SEO article job… the pay isn’t that great but if the work is fairly simple then it will get me through this slow time.

Can I ask what the deal is with all of the job ads that once you apply for them, you are asked to send in “reviews” of different websites? If they are asking for “article writers,” then it doesn’t really make sense that they are wanting you to review poker and dating sites for a test, does it? I keep deleting these… assuming everyone that applies is asked to do the same. It’s getting really frustrating.

By: Angelique

Angelique — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:15:18 +0000

Thanks, as always! Have a nice weekend, Jodee and Deb!

By: shellsw

shellsw — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:08:37 +0000

thank you for the leads