No, not for snow – for the high levels of crap job postings that are increasing in frequency and ridiculousness. A sampling from this week:
“…editing about 95 website reviews; each review is about 125 words and consists of the review, site name, URL, as well as a brief summary. Many reviews will require rewriting the 20-25 word summary. You will also need to fact-check the precise website name write two or so “tags” (for each site; and edit/rewrite the review to conform to our style, which emphasizes fun/smart/stylish reviews.” For a grand total of $225. Total. Not per review. Total. Right.
How about this blogger job requiring 5 posts a week and 5 responses? “Blogger will receive by-line as well as bio on the About Us page – payment TBD once site is up and running. This is a great opportunity for new and aspiring freelancers to expand their resume, gain exposure and increase experience with a simple, fun job!” The pay? You read it – a “by-line” and bio and that little carrot dangling in the form of possible (never probable) payment once these guys strike it rich. And if it’s that much fun, do it yourself, you putz.
Then there’s the “advertorial article 500-600 words for general public” that pays a whopping $35. Oh, and let’s not forget the “Looking for an author to read my 135 page fiction book” who’s willing to exchange “a plug for your own book”…where? Who knows? This poster never did say where that would be included.
Times are tough. But that doesn’t mean we need to entertain or accept these kinds of offers. In fact, this is an indication of what I’ve already mentioned – Craig’s List is not, and should not be, your primary source for lucrative work. Too many other job sites exist that offer much better opportunities. That doesn’t include the pay-to-view sites, which in concept and practice bother me. Why should you pay to find work? Isn’t the idea to get work so you’ll be paid?
What are your primary sources for work? Most lucrative? Where have you found your ongoing work?
7 responses to “Here Comes the Shovel”
In the past, much of my work came from referrals, but that was when I was a generalist. Now that I write for a specific niche, I use targeted direct mail campaigns to find my clients. I currently have a list of about 150 contacts in my niche (got those contacts by reading trade pubs and doing online research), and I add a handful of names each month. Typically I send out a lumpy mailer with an offer for a special report. This system works quite well for me when I am consistent (and I’m not always consistent). I’ve tried applying for online gigs, but find they aren’t worth my time or there are five bazillion other writers applying for the same gigs. When I use DM, a typical comment I’ll get from a new client is, “Oh, I’ve been looking for someone like you! It’s really hard to find someone with your expertise.”
I saw all of those posts and was disgusted. There was actually another one that sounded good and promised $100-$500 per assignment — only the assignment is at least 500 pieces, which is NOT the way it was advertised.
Uh, no.
I use a combination of job listings, reading classifieds in certain papers that actually have legit jobs, and targeted marketing.
god…it never ceases to amaze me. I mean, imagine going to your dentist, or doctor, or even for gawd’s sake your hair stylist and expecting to pay them some tiny little sum, or to say “Hey, I’ll tell everyone you are swell if you fill my cavity for free” or “I may pay you for this haircut, but, we’ll see how it goes!”
Or, “Doc, here’s five buck – go crazy!”
Uh, these kinds of ads make me so mad. I do have to say that I’ve gotten a lot of good gigs from Craigslist, though — some of my most lucrative long-term jobs came from there. You just have to be willing to take the time to weed through all the crud!
Crap job postings make me mad too.
I have been so lucky–I got two good clients from a mailer/phone campaign I did when I started my business, and the rest have been people I worked with before I started freelancing who have also moved on to other things and thought well enough of my work to keep in touch.
I get tired of seeing more chaff than wheat on sites like you mention. So I decided to turn some of the Craig’s List dung into fertilizer to make some good things grow. I recently introduced a feature on my blog called “Free Comedy Gold from Craig’s List” that takes looks at some of the garbage, much of which is hilarious as long as nobody gets scammed.
I also took a scam Craig’s List offer and made it the humorous basis of a post called “The Thermodynamics Test for Financial Investments”.
Anyway, because I’m a new blogger and first time novelist I’ve enjoyed your blog and look forward to more from Words on the Page.
Cheers,
Brian
Great seeing you here, Brian! Please stick around – I love hearing from new folks! We’re all here to help, too. Feel free to ask questions.