Earlier today in, Blogging & Web Writing Gigs for May 18, 2009 I posted some jobs (bet you couldn’t tell from the title eh?) In any case, I thought we’d look at some danger signs that appear in blogging and online writing job ads.
If you’re going to make a living as a blogger or online writer, it helps to develop your own list of danger signs when job searching. Every writer should have their own limits and policies when it comes to gigs. Now the disclaimer issue here is that an ad may be poorly written and still be legit. A poorly written job ad can still work out and actually pay well while a well written ad could pay for crap or be a total scam. It’s hard to tell. Sometimes the people hiring for jobs just have issues getting the gig across well in their ad.
That said, I have some general danger signs I look for when looking at the job boards. If I see any of the following there’s a 99% chance I’d never apply OR post the job here as a valuable lead.
Jobs that admit they pay under $10 an hour or jobs that I can tell right away will work out to less than $10 an hour – not worth your time and actually I think aiming for higher is much better. $10 per hour average is peanuts. If writers keep taking these jobs, people will keep paying low wages because they can.
Jobs that beat around the bush. I.e. they say things like, “Not sure about pay… no set pay yet due to budgeting constrictions… probably there will be pay… we may have a small budget available for writers” and so on. If a client can’t be clear from the get-go, it’s a good chance you’re going to get low pay, no pay, or have other issues with them.
Jobs that offer revenue, partnerships, links to your personal blog, or other non-monetary pay. Yes I know revenue is technically $ pay but revenue is a generous term to use for what will work out to pennies per hour.
Jobs that say things like perfect for mommies or stay at home moms – insulting advertising and usually low pay.
Jobs that say they’re looking for student, aspiring writers, or no writers with no experience. They’re looking for free or penny wage writers; I’m so not interested. Another term along these lines is, “Looking to build your portfolio?!” Yay, um no.
Jobs that offer any sort of get rich quick wording through web writing or blogging. It’s never gonna happen.
Jobs for blogs that say, “I’m launching a new blog and once it makes money…” stay away.
Jobs that offer completely vague task descriptions. I’ve worked with plenty of clients who have no clue what they’re doing and it’s almost always more trouble than it’s worth. Some people like to start blogs or a network of blogs with no real blog know-how, and while the job may pay a decent flat rate, you, as the blogger, will be bombarded day and night with questions. Fine if you’re a blog consultant, not ok if you were just hired to write. When you talk to someone who has no clue about blogs i.e. they say they’ll pay for blogs not posts, it might be a totally annoying job.
What are some of the danger signs you watch for when job searching?
THE danger sign for me: “Send an original, unpublished article as a sample.” They’ll pocket 40-50 articles and hire no one.
Oh man, that’s one of mine too that I forgot. I don’t send in free work. I have plenty of samples to see, if people NEED something brand new, that’s a major bad sign to me.
Thanks for posting this. I have seen all of the lines you posted above, and I run away screaming! I think it’s important for any freelancer starting out to read this. There are gigs out there that pay, but aren’t worth it.
I toss those that sound too crabby–ABSOLUTELY NO ATTACHMENTS OR WE WILL TOSS IT. If you are not a good writer, you won’t last long here (for $8 an hr). All my other writers turned out to be idiots. That sort of thing.
Oh I hate those too. The really mean job ads that are so damn snotty really make me cringe.
“Send us a 400-500 word sample review on [site name] and we’ll evaluate it” That means you just did some free work for them and will not hear back.
“This is a side project we’re working up” Chances are they’re gonna get “sidetracked” and it will never leave the runway.
“We’re still working out budget concerns with accounting” I’m on the short end of this particular stick myself right now.
Oh, I could go on.
And…
AND!!
I went through a bunch of listings last night from various “content mills” that offered $5 for a 500-600 word piece on a given topic, then expected a minimum of 10 pieces a day. 10 pieces x $5 x 5 days = $250/week.
I think that’s about the sort of money that Cornell Woolrich got paid writing for Black Mask back in the 30s, wearing a moth-eaten sweater,hunched over a typewriter in a flophouse with a naked lightbulb hanging from the ceiling, peeling wallpaper and a can of beans on a hotplate.
I’m not that hard up. They should be ashamed.
I also have to wonder about the ads that list, as qualifications, “must be able to write grammatical English.”
To me that says “we’re not looking for writer – we’re looking for someone capable of stringing a subject and predicate together!”
Unlikely to be a high quality gig!
Lisa
You guys are all so funny. Your comments crack me up. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who hates all these lame ads. Plus thanks for all the extra tips – great for other people to read.
I love this. You’ve hit all the topics that bug me on job ads, too! The mean ones especially annoy me, as do the ones that insinuate that you are too lowly to even apply for their lofty jobs.
The ideal job posting, if you ask me, should go something like this:
Online freelancing writing magazine seeks accomplished writer to produce two weekly blog posts on the topic of annoying job ads. Writer should have at least five years of experience in freelance writing or similar experience. Blog posts should be approximately 250-300 words and feature tips for readers. The writer will receive at least $30 (or whatever is a good rate) per post, more if additional work is required, and will be paid weekly. Please submit a resume, a sample of previously published work and a brief statement as to why you would rock this job to editor@annoyingjobads.com. For more information, visit annoyingjobads.com.
Simple, detailed, decent pay, no snotty tone, reasonable application requirements.
Thanks for these tips! Sadly, it seems like when I’m looking for gigs on my own (either on CL or various freelancing sites) many of the so called “gigs” are these scams! Sometimes, I just wish these gigs would just say it out right: “Looking for a free word slave!” It is so depressing, especially when you’re starting out.
Trust me, it’s still depressing after years of freelancing. It only seems to make me angrier as time goes on. However, I try to focus on the key danger signs we’ve all been discussing and it helps me to avoid most of the bad ones though. You get quicker at scanning for baddies too.
1st timer post. Pls don’t blast me if I’m posting in the wrong location…I’ve been offered one of the positions at examiner.com $10 for 1000 hits. I’m thinking is too much time spent (3-6 hrs/week) for little $$? Can I even say that here? If not, I hope you’ll delete this, Deb! Should I even be considering this? On one hand, exposure. On another, it just seems like…
This is Jennifer, not Deb, but I wouldn’t take an Examiner job. I’m hoping actually to post an anonymous interview with an Examiner writer soon. They pay too little. It’s not worth your time.
I’ve looked into the Examiner thing too. I would not put in those kind of hours for that kind of return. No way.
Right now I’ve got a content-mill site into me for $50. I did 4 125 word articles for em, took me about an hour. They loved it, told me there was plenty more work where that came from, and even talked about putting me on retainer for a certain number of little articles or blog entries every week. Well, that’s where it left off. They were supposed to cut me a check on Friday and get it in the mail…I’m still waiting.
Jerry, don’t fret yet. That was just last week. Some very reputable organizations take months to pay out. Don’t panic just yet. But if you don’t hear from them by next week, I’d send an email to them.
Thanks, Jerry! Just wanted to make sure it wasn’t me missing an opportunity! I’m already in print on a weekly basis but now I need to get with the century and start bloggin’. I think it frightens me because I’m a HORRIBLE picture taker and my niche is gardens & birds. How could I possibly blog without THOSE pictures!? Not possible, in my mind.
I should ask if any of y’all have had experience writing for Internet Brands Inc. It’s a content mill for do-it-yourselfers, auto enthusiasts and a bunch of other sites and forums. Their app calls for a 400 word “sample essay” on a topic of your choice. That sets off my BS meter right away…that they’ll gladly latch onto your 400 word thing and blow you off without so much as a thank-you.
Deb, I’m glad you said that because I wanted to say that earlier, too. Thanks, but no thanks.
This is Jennifer not Deb
Common mistake here though.