Uncategorized | Words on the Page

Clause for Trouble?

Posted on October 26, 2011 by lwidmer

Tomorrow’s the day! Please consider joining Anne Wayman and me along with our guest Susan Johnston, Urban Muse and author of LinkedIn and Lovin’ It, for our LinkedIn Secrets & Success Webinar. The price: $49. However, if you join the Five Buck Forum, you can get entry into the Webinar for $10, plus you get…

Why Marketing Isn’t All That

Posted on October 25, 2011 by lwidmer

Three more days until the LinkedIn Secrets & Success Webinar with Urban Muse Susan Johnston! Susan, author of LinkedIn and Lovin’ It, will answer questions on LinkedIn, social media, and e-publishing. If you join the Five Buck Forum, you can get the webinar for a mere $10. That’s $39 off the price for non-members. Plus…

Monday, Monday, Sniff, Sniff

Posted on October 24, 2011 by lwidmer

Just a reminder that the LinkedIn Secrets & Success webinar is this Thursday at 2 pm ET. Save $39 off the price by joining the Five Buck Forum – for $15, you get forum access and discounts, plus a place at the webinar and a chance to win Susan Johnston’s book, LinkedIn and Lovin’ It….

Link Love Friday

Posted on October 21, 2011 by lwidmer

It’s been quite a week. It started slowly, with little going on, but as the week progressed, the workload intensified, as did the contact with clients. I’m still trying to get to an agreement with one client, but in the meantime another contact from my magazine editor days got in touch. Seems I’ll be working…

More Bang-bang in Your Shoot-em-up

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lwidmer

Yesterday was a lesson in wheel-spinning. I got one article completed, then set out to get my new website put together. The one I have I really don’t like, so I’m revamping everything. Websites should show personality, not what you think clients want to read. So they’re getting me this time around. The copy is…

Committed

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lwidmer

Wow, yesterday was a struggle just to sit myself down in front of this computer screen. I remembered I wanted to get a hair appointment, called, and was in her chair instead of this one until lunchtime. In the afternoon I worked on an article, then on more marketing. I tutor my Vietnamese student Tuesdays,…

Diversifying

Posted on October 18, 2011 by lwidmer

There was an article posted last week about Demand Media’s move to shed itself of writers. What I find interesting wasn’t in the body of the story, but in the comments. There are a lot of angry people out there, but seeing a few of them virtually lynching other writers for offering help is, well,…

Weekend Warrior

Posted on October 17, 2011 by lwidmer

Don’t forget to check out Anne’s and my Webinar with The Urban Muse Susan Johnston. Susan will be giving us advice from her new book LinkedIn Secrets & Success. I’ve read it – it’s a terrific resource. If you sign up, you’re also entered to win your own copy. Please join us. Some weekends just…

Worthy Advice: Demand More

Posted on October 14, 2011 by lwidmer

Looking to make the most of LinkedIn? Join Anne and me and special guest Susan Johnston, author of LinkedIn and Lovin’ It for a one-hour Webinar on how to propel your profile and get more gigs. Register here and you have a chance to win a copy of Susan’s book. Good day yesterday. I finished…

More Competition or Better Odds?

Posted on October 13, 2011 by lwidmer

There’s plenty that ticks me off when it comes to retailer behavior these days. Customer service is nonexistent (in my area, anyway), companies make excuses, choose to ignore customers or worse, blame them for not doing something correctly. Instead of fixing an issue and retaining customer loyalty, they operate on the “gee, that’s just too…

Cathy Miller

October 13, 2011

I think I sighed out loud when I read that some writers are concerned about the added competition from DM writers.

If you are always seeing the glass as half empty or believe the sky is falling, how will you succeed in life?

Control what you can control, which is your writing/your business and do your best to make it shine. Just think of the huge need for content in the world and go grab yourself some space. Believe in yourself.

Write on.

Jake P

October 13, 2011

Meh, 100% unconcerned, same as with all of the ex-journos who've been bounced from mags and papers in our town. In fact, I'm mentoring a couple of them—because they were there for me as clients for many years, and I'd really like to see them succeed. Anyway, I wish ex-DMers the best of luck, and hope they figure out the business end of things quickly. Otherwise…"Hellllooo, Darwin!"

Sorry to hear your tale of shopping woe. Customer service follies drive me nuts.

Lori

October 13, 2011

Great pep talk, Cathy! 🙂

I understand why writers are concerned – there are a ton of new writers being dumped into the market by DM's move. Not all of those writers are beginners, so there's a modicum of concern. But honestly, if you're working a specialty, the chances are pretty slim you're going to be affected too much. Frankly, I know I won't – who wants to write about workers comp all day besides me? 🙂

Lori

October 13, 2011

Jake, I'm not concerned, either. There are plenty of gigs at all levels. If I'm competitn for low-paying gigs at this stage, I've got bigger issues!

Lori

October 13, 2011

Ack! I can't spell. That would be "competing."

Wendy

October 13, 2011

I’m not concerned at all. A lot of the writers working there now seem to be using it for extra cash or see it as just a job (not any kind of writing career). I also guess that a good majority aren’t interested in marketing themselves as a business, so I could see them scouring the job board sites or bidding sites.

There are just too many opportunities out there for us all. Like Jenn pointed out in one of her posts, there are many specialty areas to niche yourself into. Some are in the topic area and some are in the type of writing area. My clients are all local, so it’s not likely any of them would take over my projects. Even if they did, I have plenty of other options to fall back on.

Devon Ellington

October 13, 2011

Not worried at all. Most of them worked for DM because they aren't good enough or motivated enough to land the jobs at fair rates on their own. They'll go for the lowest paying gigs again, because that's what they're used to, and natural selection will cull the herd.

The few that have talent and motivation will learn, apply what they learn, and build a career.

There can never be too many good writers. There are plenty of bad ones, and, eventually, they fade away.

Paula

October 13, 2011

"Helllooo Darwin," indeed!

I was a bit more concerned about added competition from a glut of former newspaper editors and writers than I'd ever be about even the most talented of DS writers.

Why? Freelancers need more than talent. We also need tenacity, gumption, persistence – whatever you choose to call it. Newspaper pros have those qualities. If DS-ers had the combination of talent and tenacity needed to succeed, they would have done so by now, like some of the former mill writers who've shared their stories about using the mills while also building legitimate credits and a solid foundation for their now-thriving freelance careers.

And Lori – what is Missoni?

My biggest complaint with Target would be that it took them a month to let you know the items you'd purchased 15 MINUTES after they went on sale were somehow sold out.

On a positive note, I had good customer service the other day from USBank. I have a credit card that earns points toward "free" groceries at Kroger-owned stores. USBank recently took over those accounts from the previous card issuer. No joke: the day I activated the new card, all of the Kroger-owned stores in town were sold to another grocery chain. There are no more Kroger-owned stores within a couple hundred miles. When my bill came, I saw I had 900+ points. (You get 1-3 points per item you purchase, and with groceries the points add up fast; 1000 points = $10 to use toward groceries). While the fine print on the card agreement said the points cannot be transfered and had no real cash value, I figured it wouldn't hurt to see if they could credit my account to compensate me for the points I'll never be able to use. The customer service guy checked, they couldn't do that. I asked for a lower interest rate, but I already had the lowest they offer. He put me on hold a few seconds then said, "What I can do is give you a $5 credit on your account." They didn't have to do a thing, but did. Sometimes it's the small gestures you remember most.

Lori

October 13, 2011

Right here, Paula:
http://theweek.com/article/index/219237/targets-missoni-madness-by-the-numbers

Good insight, Wendy. I agree. The competition won't hit many of us because of where and how we conduct business.

Right you are about there never being too many good writers, Devon. It seems wide open for those who are willing to put the time and effort into it.

Paula, it is exactly that kind of service that makes people appreciate a company and remain loyal to it. It's why I've stayed with AT&T for my cell phone. Those people have given me more unasked-for credits because a kid sends too many texts, signs up for games without knowing, or because I forget to turn off roaming on my phone when I'm overseas…

Cathy Miller

October 13, 2011

Didn't mean to sound unsympathetic, but really think about it. There is an endless need for content in our 24/7 connection. Someone has to write it. Why shouldn't it be you?

Lori

October 13, 2011

Cathy, you don't. You sound like a writer too busy to worry about a few more writers in the world. 🙂

Paula

October 13, 2011

Thanks for the link, Lori. All that fuss just to get items the first day they're available?

Thank goodness I've always been of the "Wait for the sale, and even then don't get caught up in they hype of Black Friday type deals" ilk.

Maybe I'm just lazy – nothing is worth the pandemonium of going to a store for something like that. You did the smart thing and went online – too bad it didn't work out. I'm sure they'll re-stock soon.

Anne Wayman

October 14, 2011

Where have I been? Didn't know until yesterday Demand was cutting writers, however they frame it. There will be no way to prove it, but I suspect something like 10% of those let go will go on to shine and discover they can make real money – and I welcome them. The rest will do something that most likely will have nothing whatsoever to do with me.

Lori, write target and tell them they were wrong.

Denise

October 14, 2011

I'm a former Demand Studios writer. I'm actually quite excited about the prospect of freelancing. This year will be used to work towards writing clips and establishing my blog.

Lori

October 14, 2011

Paula, I've never done a Black Friday, either. It's not worth it to me to lose sleep in order to save fifty bucks.

Anne, I hope your numbers are conservative. I hope a ton of their writers find their footing on their own, then go on to show other writers how to do it. There's room for us all.

Target had my letter before I wrote this post. 🙂 I highly doubt it will matter, but I told them bluntly how their move made me lose faith in their company.

Lori

October 14, 2011

Denise, welcome! I'm so glad you've made the choice to build your career.

Questions? Ask away! Feel free to email me or just post here. We're here for you.