Comments on: Rolling with the freelance market changes

By: Free Agent Jungle Web Roundup for March 20th | Free Agent Jungle

Free Agent Jungle Web Roundup for March 20th | Free Agent Jungle — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:57:33 +0000

[...] Goodman at The Anti 9-to-5 Guide writes about the print version of Seattle P-I closing and the need for freelancers to diversify and [...]

By: Toni

Toni — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:29:29 +0000

In my role as a public relations professional, I’ve had to cozy up to social media management and campaign development as a huge component of my job. As a Facebook junkie, I became the SME simply because I was well-versed in its functionality. But in having to counsel clients on using social networks for business”hey, groups are cool.”

Also, I’ve had to go from my normal, casual interaction with bloggers (like Michelle!) through email and comments to strategically trying to “pitch” them–umm?

I can say the constact changes to sites like Facebook, although loathed by users, really present a level playing field and a chance to become an expert with each redesign. So it’s a challenge and a chance to study and learn about these new applications, because for all their users and fans, there doesn’t seem to be enough people who “get it” and can help their clients “get it” too.

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:45:09 +0000

I too am a print person, and I think I was born a little too late to really cash in. But I love the web, too, it’s just a different animal entirely. Last weekend I filmed my first-ever vblog for a web publication that requested it. It was a lot easier than I expected, so maybe this will be a skill I can use more often (that and podcasting). I already shoot my own photos for some stories if they don’t have the budget for a photog.

By: Michelle Goodman

Michelle Goodman — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:34:47 +0000

Gretchen, I wouldn’t imagine you’d see a slowdown, being in web dev already. Glad to hear you’re busy as ever.

As for writing, I agree — still plenty of writing opportunities if you look in the right places; I’m certainly not short on work. But in case you didn’t know, writing for some (but not all) MSM sites pays even less than writing for a newspaper. (!) So again, writers need a variety of clients (corporate pays better than media).

Many editorial workers I know (writers AND editors), even the tech-savvy ones already working online, are having to hustle a tad harder in the wake of massive personnel changes, budget cutbacks, and full-on company closures. It’s just a different market for us. And it just got a lot more crowded, now that tens of thousands of FT journos are laid off this past year. Granted they won’t all freelance or even know how to, but many will.

By: Gretchen Cawthon

Gretchen Cawthon — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:21:21 +0000

I have to be honest here – I haven’t seen any slowdown in my line of work as a web developer. I think people are turning more towards marketing on the web because it is cost-effective and let’s face it – a lot of folks live online these days. If you want to reach them, show up in their inbox.

I haven’t received a newspaper in years. My local tv station has a website and that’s been pretty sufficient. They haven’t yet embraced all available web technology such as RSS and newsletters, but it is nice to grab instant news and weather updates whenever I want them.

I think the writing opportunities are still out there, they are just digital now.