I took control of my own destiny yesterday. I know I’ve been hinting at this for several weeks, but I decided to make a break from my part time job and go back to freelance writing and consulting as a social media professional. The decision to do this was an easy one. I earn a lot more as a consultant than I do making an hourly wage at my community manager job. The flexibility, just in time for summer, is the icing on the cake.
I feel empowered, like I did seven years ago when I left my job to freelance full time. There’s nothing like taking control of your own destiny. I recommend everyone give it a try.
Leads…
- Health Bloggers and Editors - $12 – $15/post
- Forex & MLM Bloggers
- Entertainment/Modeling/Photography/Fashion Blogger – $10/post
- Various Make Money Online bloggers
- Web Development Bloggers – $25 – $150/post
- Bloggers for Everyday Christina Media
- Freelance Writer – Suffolk University
- Freelance Writer for Office Supply Company
- Freelance Writer – $25 – $35/article
- Freelance Writers – Operation Management
- Freelance Writers – Project Management
- Outstanding Journalist
- Grant Writer - Asheville
- Contract Content Editor – Toronto or other major Canadian city
- Grant Writer Needed
- Fashion Editor - Toronto
- Technical Writer - Seattle
- Business Writer – Training Material – NYC
- Technical Writer for Software Company - Los Angeles
- Copy Editor – Finance/Accounting
- Article Writers – Washington DC
- Writer Needed for Blogs and Monthly Newsletter
- Editor – Contact – Cumming GA
- Music Journalist Fluent in Japanese
- Freelance Writers for Community Magazine Articles – Atlanta
- Satire Writers - $50 – $100/article
- Freelance News Writer – Atlanta
- Blogger Wanted
- Press Release Writer
- Grant Writer Needed – Southern California
- Freelance Writer/Editor – NYC – $15/hour
- Writer/Researcher
- Beauty/Fashion/Lifestyle Writer – $50
- Gig for Ambitious Writer – $2500 – $4500
- Freelance Web Copywriter -SOMA/South Beach
- Article Writers Needed - $15+/hour
Good luck!
I don’t fully remember if this one gig was listed on this site, but I thought I should share it with everyone anyway.
There was this one pet blogger position on this one site that I applied for, since pet topics are one of my favorites to write about. So then the woman replied to me and I wrote four sample blogs for that week, then later on she sent me the paperwork. However, when I read the first agreement, it stated that I agreed to pay $12 for shares in order to be able to be paid with the company’s stock, along with additional payment based on clicks from paid links on my page.
Yes I am very dumb when it comes to stuff like that since I have zero experience buying shares, so I asked the question elsewhere on the internet and it stated that it was a total scam and even illegal since only big companies sold shares. However, the site I was applying for only had about 400 visitors according to one person who said they checked it out and also on the agreement it said that each share was worth $.001. Again like I said I am a dumbie when it comes to stocks/buying shares, but does anyone else have any further comments/opinions about this?
Congratulations Deb! I have come to the realization in the past few weeks that I am now a full-time freelance writer as well. Kind of snuck up on me, as I started looking for writing gigs after losing my “day job” after moving 100 miles away. Since then, I’ve had a great deal of success with your leads and those provided on About Freelance Writing and now, like you, I’m actually in charge of my own destiny . . . and loving it!!! Thanks for your help in getting me here.
Shouldn’t have said “losing” my job. I actually willingly gave it up, by choosing to move too far away to commute.
@Jenn,
It sounds like a scam, for sure. An employer should never ask you to pay to work for them. It’s just not how things work.
Also, beware of unpaid samples. I refuse to do anything until it’s clear how much I will be paid for doing so. Why would the woman ever pay anyone if she can just respond to every applicant and ask for four sample (free)posts?
Congrats, Deb! That’s awesome!
I’m still looking forward to the day I break free from my 9 to 5 enslavement.
I responded to the pet site ad and was told I’d get stock and revenue shares, I asked 50/50 on shares and a contract. I never heard from the contact again.
With my experience writing for the Internet (that means I’ve made mistakes taking gigs and not getting paid), I have a mental check list of requirements and red flags that I follow when responding to these ads. My list has saved me many times.
Jenn, any size company may sell shares. I own a corporation and I can sell shares in my company to raise money. Unless your attorney says otherwise that’s usually legal. Would I do it? Heck no…they are probably not worth much, if anything. Hold out for paid writing jobs!
Deb, congrats on your liberation and welcome back to full-time freelancing!
From my vantage point, it looks as though you chose a good time – business has picked up in the past month.
Wishing you well – and hoping you enjoy the summer!
@Deb, congratulations on this next move! Thanks for the list, today and every day.
@Jenn (and Kenna), I had a similar experience with a pet site. It wasn’t clear to me initially that it was unpaid, but after a few back and forths she explained it would be shares/ad revenue. I think the post asked for a 10-15 hour/week commitment! I never heard back from her after explaining that I wouldn’t do it unpaid, particularly not 10-15 hours!
Re: Writing Samples
I’m finding more and more employers are asking for samples. I applied for 12 jobs last week and 10 of them responded saying samples were necessary for me to actually land the job, despite the fact that I’d submitted links to articles I’ve written and they said they loved the articles and felt I’d be a perfect fit.
Two of those jobs sounded really good, working to build websites for newly published authors. Therefore, I emailed back stating if I did the samples, they couldn’t use them unless I was paid and I would be saving them in PDF format not Word. One person actually told me he was insulted I didn’t trust him and therefore I’d lost the job. The other never responded at all.
@ Anne G., Good for you for standing your ground. The thing I don’t understand is how people can be insulted we don’t trust them when we don’t even know them! His response is very telling, I think.
ALL — Does anyone know Demand Studio’s “flat fee” per article? I think they should post it — fewer (but “better”) responses for them to weed through as some writers might feel the payment is too low after responding and being contacted back. I don’t want anyone to cause Deb trouble by giving an opinion about the payment, but simply state the payment for varying length articles if known. Thanks.
Jenn — Good advice from several people. Let me add that, IMO, an employer should be able to get a good feel for your writing w/ samples that are not even on the same topic. Samples on the same or a similar topic are helpful — but I’d not write a specific “new” article for anyone (Exception: Unless, perhaps, it was very brief and/or the employer was a known and well-respected entity). As for the stock, calling it a worthless “penny stock” is overstating the case since a share is worth 1/1000 of a penny! (There is just about NIL market for such stock — and if you can’t sell it, doesn’t matter what the supposed value of it is!)
Chris, Demand Studios has several types of article. A very short “fact sheet” pays $5. Longer, although not by much, “how to” and “about” type articles pay $15. The longer articles are not generally more than 300 or 400 words. I write for Demand Studios as my fallback, steady, weekly pay. I write on topics that I know something about and don’t spend more than 30 minutes on each article. $15 for half an hour’s work is worth it to me. And they are quite reliable about paying weekly.
Entertainment/Modeling/Photography/Fashion Blogger – $10/post
This one is a very questionable company so I’d beware – it appears to be a “casting” agency for people who want to model – very sketchy, some erotic content (which isn’t an issue except that they claim to be a modeling site, not an erotic site) Not a site I expect to see when clicking through from Problogger.
I’m confused. I clicked on the link above that says: Writer Needed for Blogs and Monthly Newsletter, which takes me to DNA Vertical, then there’s no way to submit for the position of freelance writer.
The other link looks like some kind of get rich scheme about posting links and making thousands a week.
Anyone know what the deal is? Thanks and happy writing!
Thank you, Pat. Appreciate you responding!
“bloggers for everyday Christina media” is actually “Christian” media, FYI.
Anne G.–good for you for setting a clear and appropriate boundary. You probably saved yourself a lot of unpaid hassle.
Okay, so no any comments on my concern, writers????
Deb, congrats on taking control of your destiny! I know you will be awesome as a social media professional, as well as doing freelance writing. Hope it gives you the flexibility this summer you are looking for.
Chris:
Demand Studios is great. I use them for filler work when I’m not busy, and I’ve made anywhere from 30 to 75 dollars an hour, depending on the topics I choose. Flat-fee articles range from 5 to 15 dollars, with the latter being simple 300-400 word articles (which someone else already mentioned).
Even if it’s a topic you don’t know, you can easily research and complete 2 of those in an hour. If it’s something you are familiar with, it’s very easy to get into the mode and pound out 4-5 of them in that time period. The weekly pay is great. They usually have a 7-9 day turn-around on payment for articles written.
Brigitte, I had the same experience. My guess is that the whole thing is a scam to get people to sign up. The other option is that the poster is incompetent at communication, which doesn’t bode well for a prospective employer.
Thanks–I thought the same.