Comments on: What’s your most-hated freelance scam? http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2009/04/06/whats-your-most-hated-freelance-scam/ Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube Thu, 23 Aug 2012 04:20:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jack http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2009/04/06/whats-your-most-hated-freelance-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-57534 Jack Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:34:05 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/?p=959#comment-57534 I hear you, & I've experienced this before. Unfortunately, I don't have any marvelous solutions: I simply decided to find a smaller niche. I can't, however, agree with "..you get what you pay for." Charging more money doesn't make you better. (My lawyer comes to mind...) As a hungry college student, I've done work that clients were thrilled with, & yes, I did it for $25, the kind of thing that should have netted at least a few hundred if not one grand. I hear you, & I’ve experienced this before. Unfortunately, I don’t have any marvelous solutions: I simply decided to find a smaller niche.

I can’t, however, agree with “..you get what you pay for.”
Charging more money doesn’t make you better. (My lawyer comes to mind…) As a hungry college student, I’ve done work that clients were thrilled with, & yes, I did it for $25, the kind of thing that should have netted at least a few hundred if not one grand.

]]> By: almostgotit http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2009/04/06/whats-your-most-hated-freelance-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-57389 almostgotit Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:15:26 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/?p=959#comment-57389 Recently met a writer who moved here from NYC. Half the big papers there are now paying NOTHING for a number of their articles, and getting away with it because writers are so desperate. Yuck yuck yuck. We must RESIST!!! We must RESIST!! Recently met a writer who moved here from NYC. Half the big papers there are now paying NOTHING for a number of their articles, and getting away with it because writers are so desperate. Yuck yuck yuck. We must RESIST!!! We must RESIST!!

]]> By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2009/04/06/whats-your-most-hated-freelance-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-57226 Michelle Goodman Wed, 27 May 2009 15:36:03 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/?p=959#comment-57226 Eve, I know, insane. I'm guessing those people (a) are independently wealthy, (b) are terrible writers who can't get hired anywhere else (not even if they donated their services to a needy non-profit), and/or (c) are the world's biggest idiots. They're also bringing down the rest of us trying to earn a fair, honest living. Eve, I know, insane. I’m guessing those people (a) are independently wealthy, (b) are terrible writers who can’t get hired anywhere else (not even if they donated their services to a needy non-profit), and/or (c) are the world’s biggest idiots. They’re also bringing down the rest of us trying to earn a fair, honest living.

]]> By: Eve Lopez http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2009/04/06/whats-your-most-hated-freelance-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-57225 Eve Lopez Wed, 27 May 2009 07:39:17 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/?p=959#comment-57225 I recently jumped into the freelance waters, and have been so far HORRIFIED at what I've found on elance.com and odesk.com. I actually saw a job posting today for a client paying TEN CENTS PER ARTICLE. Not per word, per article. The going rate on elance.com actually seems to be two or three dollars per article. I don't understand what is going on here. Why oh why are writers accepting such low wages? I recently jumped into the freelance waters, and have been so far HORRIFIED at what I’ve found on elance.com and odesk.com. I actually saw a job posting today for a client paying TEN CENTS PER ARTICLE. Not per word, per article. The going rate on elance.com actually seems to be two or three dollars per article.

I don’t understand what is going on here. Why oh why are writers accepting such low wages?

]]> By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2009/04/06/whats-your-most-hated-freelance-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-57156 Michelle Goodman Sun, 24 May 2009 16:23:48 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/?p=959#comment-57156 I won't do anything for less than $.50/word (unless I'm donating my time to a labor-of-love project and or the exposure is crazy-amazing and pays me in other ways, like book sales), though at least $1/word is my preference. And if I am doing $.50/word, it better be a quick and easy article to write. That said, new writers trying to build up their clips will find a lot of regional publications paying just $.25-.30/word. I certainly did this for a short while to pay my dues. I've never written an article for $25.00, though, I'll tell you that. It's never been worth my time to take such piecemeal gigs. I won’t do anything for less than $.50/word (unless I’m donating my time to a labor-of-love project and or the exposure is crazy-amazing and pays me in other ways, like book sales), though at least $1/word is my preference. And if I am doing $.50/word, it better be a quick and easy article to write. That said, new writers trying to build up their clips will find a lot of regional publications paying just $.25-.30/word. I certainly did this for a short while to pay my dues. I’ve never written an article for $25.00, though, I’ll tell you that. It’s never been worth my time to take such piecemeal gigs.

]]> By: Kathryn Lang http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2009/04/06/whats-your-most-hated-freelance-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-57146 Kathryn Lang Sun, 24 May 2009 11:22:36 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/?p=959#comment-57146 Many of these managers know exactly what they are getting and don't care. They aren't looking for top of the line writing but more often just words to fill space. As for the story rate of $25, many print magazines pay that. Depending on the length of the story and the speed of the writer, this could be a respectable rate. What - per word - rate do you consider fair? Many of these managers know exactly what they are getting and don’t care. They aren’t looking for top of the line writing but more often just words to fill space.

As for the story rate of $25, many print magazines pay that. Depending on the length of the story and the speed of the writer, this could be a respectable rate.

What – per word – rate do you consider fair?

]]> By: Judy http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2009/04/06/whats-your-most-hated-freelance-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-56826 Judy Tue, 12 May 2009 01:55:26 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/?p=959#comment-56826 I saw an ad on media bistro this morning for travel writers—and they had all these requirements . . . no amateurs, published writers only, had to supply eight unique images per story. . . The story rate: $25 Maybe it's because I've been having a rough time lately, but I wanted to reach through my computer screen and throttle the person who posted it. And what is media bistro doing posting all these scammy ripoffs. There are so many no money job listings on there lately. Grrr. I saw an ad on media bistro this morning for travel writers—and they had all these requirements . . . no amateurs, published writers only, had to supply eight unique images per story. . .

The story rate: $25

Maybe it’s because I’ve been having a rough time lately, but I wanted to reach through my computer screen and throttle the person who posted it. And what is media bistro doing posting all these scammy ripoffs. There are so many no money job listings on there lately. Grrr.

]]> By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2009/04/06/whats-your-most-hated-freelance-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-56159 Michelle Goodman Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:41:25 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/?p=959#comment-56159 oops, above www.freelancesuccess.com is actually about $100/year. or you could just buy my new book (www.anti9to5guide.com/book) for a few bucks and learn how to make your own luck as a freelancer. just saying... oops, above http://www.freelancesuccess.com is actually about $100/year. or you could just buy my new book (www.anti9to5guide.com/book) for a few bucks and learn how to make your own luck as a freelancer. just saying…

]]> By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2009/04/06/whats-your-most-hated-freelance-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-56158 Michelle Goodman Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:31:29 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/?p=959#comment-56158 Whitney, two subscription services that are great are www.mediabistro.com (about $60/year; see the "How to Pitch" content) and www.freelancesuccess.com (about $90/year). And of course the own network you build. Most freelancers get referrals through other freelancers and satisfied clients. To meet other freelancers in person, see the meetups on www.freelancersunion.org, the events on www.mediabistro.com, and the events on www.biznik.com. Whitney, two subscription services that are great are http://www.mediabistro.com (about $60/year; see the “How to Pitch” content) and http://www.freelancesuccess.com (about $90/year). And of course the own network you build. Most freelancers get referrals through other freelancers and satisfied clients. To meet other freelancers in person, see the meetups on http://www.freelancersunion.org, the events on http://www.mediabistro.com, and the events on http://www.biznik.com.

]]> By: Whitney http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2009/04/06/whats-your-most-hated-freelance-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-56156 Whitney Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:01:34 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/?p=959#comment-56156 Where should people look to find legitimate freelance writing or editing jobs? Where should people look to find legitimate freelance writing or editing jobs?

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