Adventures in Freelancing

I have a new schedule to fit in all my work and happiness. This schedule says I have a very small amount of time to blog today. So, here are a few quick tips for freelance newbies:

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1. Don’t write anything for free. Yes, I know the ad on Craigslist says the employer needs you to write a review of something so they can check out your mad skillz as a writer and decide whether or not to hire you for one million dollars a year. It is a lie. Don’t do it.

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2. Don’t sign up for a login to that dating website that wants to hire you to write web content. If they are really considering hiring you they will have a generic login and password for employees. If they ask you to sign up, they will spam you or sell your email address.

3. Don’t write a 500 word article for $1. I know web content is easier than print, and I know it pays less- but $1 for 500 words? Okay, if you are desperate, need something for your resume’ or know the subject like a flea knows veins…I guess you can write it. But still- $1? Umm…that’s  less than half a cent per word. That is 2 one-thousandths of a cent. That is…that is no.

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4.  Come back here every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for updates. Surprise updates possible on weekends with nak’d pictures of my cats a total possibility.

There are two sites that I have heard a lot about from other writers and commenters on this very blog. They are Constant Content and Digital Point Forums . I have not tried these sites yet, and I’m not sure I am going to like them.

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The Constant Content site is like Helium Marketplace int hat several writers may write the same article and only one will be purchased. I really hate spending time with these assignments when I could be writing articles that only I am asked to write. However, if your article doesn’t sell with Constant Content, you can post it for others to buy or post it on Associated Content and they will pay you a small amount (around $4) for it.

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Digital Point Forums is a with some posts that ask for articles and web content to be created. As far as I can see, there is no escrow with Digital Point Forums, so there is no guarantee that you will be paid. 

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 I’m going to try these sites tomorrow. I’ll post a review of at least one on Friday.

I‘m watching football today. I have no articles due, I have finished my homework, I am now doing “Entrecard lite” which means- I drop what I drop and that’s what I drop.

So, I get to enjoy the Bucs versus Greenbay. I did not have time to trade players or bench anyone on my fantasy football team, so I will probably lose this week’s match up.

Hubby hates football so I will enjoy the next few hours alone. The game is always a great catharsis for me. I yell and scream, jump and cavort- depending on how the Bucs play.

Thanks for all your feedback on my last post. I am reprioritizing and working on developing a daily schedule for myself. I’ll keep you posted on how that works out. Seems like we are all in the same boat.