Comments on: Freelance Writing Jobs for Wednesday, September 3, 2008

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:39:53 +0000

Erin — I’m a freelance writer/paralegal too, so just thought I’d say hi. I do love that Jodee collects the legal leads for us. However, I didn’t apply for this one Erin, so it’s all yours. (Thanks Jodee!!)

By: Jodee

Jodee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:51:07 +0000

You guys are most welcome for the leads.

@ Ruby: You can write articles dealing with your niche and post them on sites like ezine articles with a link back to your own web site or blog. Potential clients can see your work in a specific subject area and taking this step will help to establish you as an expert within that niche.

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:30:34 +0000

Hi, as a paralegal and freelance writer, I was excited to see a position for a legal freelance writer and applied for that. Thanks for the great job leads!

By: Kecia

Kecia — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:27:49 +0000

@Jen-I completely agree!!! I have applied to this “position” like 6 times in the past month, and I never can remember which one of them is his. Regardless of whether you pay for the “list,” you should still be getting it every week. I just wonder if it has an legitimate projects on it. I have emailed 3 of them, and never heard anything back…

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:21:14 +0000

@Ruby–I would discuss your issues with him. Did you sign any kind of rights agreement? If so, review to find out what ground that you stand on in terms of credit. If not, discuss receiving authorship credit with your employer. Couldn’t hurt to discuss your issues openly.

By: Ruby

Ruby — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:58:25 +0000

Jodee,
Thanks so much for clearing that up for me. I have to admit I’m still a little miffed that he not only A. did not give me author credit and B. did not tell me he was going to do this, but I understand a little better now.

It sounds like you are familiar with ezine – is this any kind of legitimate forum for freelancers?

Thanks,
Miss Ruby

By: jen

jen — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:55:58 +0000

Geez…I wish Quinten Cougher would go away. I am not sure exactly WHICH of the leads from today returned yet another email from him wanting respondents to pay for his list, but I am so tired of wasting my time comprising intelligent email responses to ligit-sounding gigs only to get that email!! Knock it off “Quinten” – if you have a ligit job offer, post it. If you have a pay list of “potential” writing jobs, say that’s what you have to offer and run the ad accordingly.

By: Jodee

Jodee — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:28:08 +0000

@ Rose: ezinearticles.com is a place where people can post content and link it back to their own web site. The articles on there are not for sale, although they may be able to be reused on another site as long at the poster is credited. (It’s been awhile since I’ve been on there.)

Your client is using the articles you wrote as a way to drive traffic to his main web site. It’s a legitimate IM strategy. The free content sites get crawled by search engines and linking to one may increase your client’s web site rankings, so that’s another reason why he did what he did.

I hope that helps.

By: Jennifer Gregory

Jennifer Gregory — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:40:19 +0000

Thanks Jodee for the list. I wanted to thank everyone for the encouragement to keep apply last week. I got two nibbles back this week, one from an online parenting magazine and one from the assessment writer position from last week and I made it to the second round. Even if I don’t get it, I feel encouraged, thank you.

Jennifer

By: Genesis

Genesis — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:54:22 +0000

Great list today, Jodee! Thanks. I applied for five of the jobs. Was interested to see that one was based on Bowen Island, which is right near where I used to live! Hoping that will give me a leg up on the competition.

By: ciara

ciara — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:01:47 +0000

Hi Kelly,
Well, hopefully I’m wrong! I did actually see the same post on the LA site because I googled the recruitment agency and the LA post was actually the only site that came up when I googled the url.
I thought it looked dodgy also because when I clicked on some of the links on their site it went to a dead page, which is obviously really unprofessional. I kinda don’t see why any company would bother to go through a recruiter AND put up ads on craigslist. Btw, yes, the two posts were identical apart from the part on the LA ad about being available for a meeting once a week.
Anyway, I’m sure nothing bad will come of your application and maybe I’m just being cynical.
X

By: DeaconMike

DeaconMike — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:41:28 +0000

I’ve only been writing for my own blog since March and it’s difficult
finding a freelance gig that is in the area I have experience with. The
other problem I’m finding is that when I do apply for a freelance gig,
the ad describes the writing job one way and after you apply you find
out all they want you to do is be a paid infomercial writer for the product they’re selling.

I’ll keep trying though. Thanks for your efforts.

By: Michelle Kafka

Michelle Kafka — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:36:15 +0000

I applied to more writing jobs than usual today. Thanks for the great writing lead list.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:34:39 +0000

Hey Ciara,
I applied for the identical job from Los Angeles Craigslist – Freelance Travel Writer/Blogger – it said you had to be available to come to a meeting in downtown LA once a week. I actually clicked on the “apply now” and it asked which position I was interested in and why and to submit request (including email), which I did.. but now I’m feeling like a chump. I really hope these people don’t send my email address to a bunch of advertisers. It looked legit but then I read your post and saw that “thejobrecruiters” seems to only have launched in 08 and I could find no other reference to them anywhere, despite intensive Google searching. I see the Denver post has now been taken down so I don’t know if the wording for the job was identical. I”ll let you all know if I get a response to my application but somehow I doubt it!

By: Ruby

Ruby — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:31:21 +0000

This may not be the best place to post this, but I just have to tell you all about a quandry I have found myself in after getting a job through this board, lol. I need help, and I think that you guys here are my only hope:)

I applied for a job that was posted on this board (and just let me add that I in no way hold anyone here responsible – this is the best freelance writing site on the web, hands down). Job is great, the guy actually paid me in advance without my asking, he even emailed me some positive comments that were made about the articles.

Here’s the problem – I recently discovered that my articles have been posted at http://ezinearticles.com/ – and it appears that the guy who I am writing the articles for is taking credit for writing them.

When I disingenuously discovered this, I emailed him and asked him where the articles were posted. He directed me to the “legitimate” site where the articles I have written are posted (the site I contracted to), and said nothing about the ezine site.

So I guess my question to you guys is this – what do you know about ezinearticles.com? I can honestly say that after perusing the site for over an hour, I still have no idea what it’s about. But I get the feeling that he is attempting to resell my articles and claim them as his.

HELP!!!! LOL.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:08:16 +0000

Hey! A job in Idaho! A rare gem, indeed. Thanks for looking out for us in those random states, Jodee!

By: Angela West

Angela West — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:12:03 +0000

Hey Cindy:

The way I handle the quality/compensation listings is by stating that I am only willing to work for the top end of the compensation rung, as I deliver quality work every time and will make reasonable revisions until the buyer is satisfied. I don’t think the buyers asking for this are necessarily shady, maybe just a tad nervous and inexperienced in hiring freelancers.

For what it is worth though I haven’t heard back from any job postings that I have applied to with this wording, so I am sure a few of them tend towards the shadier side of the street.

By: ciara

ciara — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:07:49 +0000

Hi, thanks for the posting!
Unfortunately I think one of those jobs is a fake. It’s annoying, so I’m posting this because I just wasted 15 minutes trying to figure it out. The ad for ‘Freelance Travel writer/blogger needed’ in Denver is on craigslist. It sounds like a super job and the only way to apply is by going through a recruiting website. So you go to the recruiting website, click to the writing jobs and there are just two jobs there. Under each job there is just a google ad and no way to actually apply for that job. I reckon this recruiting website is putting up ads like this, great job opening, with links to their site, hoping some people will click on their google ads. Maybe I’m wrong. If not, why can’t people just try to be honest???

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:33:41 +0000

I really do like the offerings that state “compensation is based on volume” followed up by “quality.” Ahem. (referring to Creative Freelance Web Writer Wanted) Have seen more of these quantity/compensation ads lately.

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:14:28 +0000

Unless I’m missing something – the Freelance Travel Writer ends up taking me to a link where I must sign up for an e-newsletter that says it is “a guide to becoming a freelance travel writer.”