When I was getting started as a freelance writer, I spent countless hours browsing bidding sites such as GetAFreelancer. In fact, I found so much work on GAF that I never took the time to sign up with similar sites. Although I do not bid on as many jobs as before, this is still a market that I keep an eye on.
Feedback from readers on bidding sites has not been good as of late. It seems that there are two major issues that many of you guys and gals are running into time after time:
1. Every job on these bidding sites is low paying. And low paying means just a couple of dollars for 500 words or so. While I am all about working for less to get started, you have to draw the line somewhere.
2. They are outbid by writers who are willing to work for pennies, but do not produce high quality work. This is difficult to overcome because the buyer has the final say on who they want to work with. And in many cases, it is the person who will save them the most money.
While looking through some emails this morning, I came across this job on GetAFreelancer. From the get-go I could see quite a few issues:
Hi,
I am looking for efficient and affordable teams for ongoing projects
I need original articles, blogs, website content and re-writes. I need only dedicated teams who can deliver timely work on daily basis without making excuses. Mention in your bid what amount of work you can handle comfortably.There will be no payment if the projects are delayed or quality is compromised. We want you to follow the guidelines exactly. Guidelines will be well explained and in detail.
1. First off, you can see that the buyer forgot to insert a period after the first sentence. Additionally, there are other grammatical and structural issues that are quite obvious. This shows from the start that the buyer is not serious or professional. Everybody makes mistakes, but these are simple errors that should never be published.
2. “There will be no payment if the projects are delayed or quality is compromised.†This is a red flag to be aware of. When a buyer says this, it gives them an “out.†In other words, they can keep your work and not pay you by blaming it on a missed deadline or poor quality. The problem is, who is to say what is poor quality?
Rates will be (no negotiations, you should bid only if you are comfortablewith rates)
Original 250 words article – $1
Original 500 words article – $2.5
Original tech 500 words article – $3
Original 350 words article – $1.5
Re-write 500 words – $1
rewrite 250 words – $0.5
1. These rates are quite low, to say the least. Although you may be able to earn a good bit if you work in bulk, you are going to waste a lot of time to make this money. Getting paid $1 for 250 words of original content or $.50 for a 250 word rewrite is not good; even if you do need to break into the industry. Things have changed a lot over the past few years, and you should be able to find jobs that are higher paying; even if only by a couple dollars.
The projects will be ongoing so need only reliable teams
Attach a sample article of 150 words on “my attitude towards life” or “Role of ecommerce today”
1. As I have said before, beware of any potential client who asks for samples upfront. In many cases they will take one sample from a group of writers and in turn end up with enough free unique content that they never have to pay. This is the oldest game in the book, and one that you want to avoid at all costs. This does not mean that you should never supply samples, but you should definitely expect to get paid if you have to write a unique article.
At this point, there are only two bids on this job. Even though the terms are not that great, you can be rest assured that somebody will accept this position.Â
When you come across a quality job at a bidding site you will know it. Simply put, the job outlined above has too many holes to consider it worth your time.Â
After posting my April freelance writing income report, I had several people ask me how I make this career so easy. Of course, I cannot help but to laugh on the inside. Although I make a decent living through freelance writing, it is anything but easy. I usually talk about the benefits of this career path, but with that being said, you should not hide from the drawbacks.
Freelance Writing is Hard Work
Despite the fact that it may look simple on the surface, freelance writing is anything but that. I put in long hours day after day in order to earn a decent living. This does not mean that my work is no fun, but nonetheless, it is work. Luckily, if you are truly interested in this career, the work that you complete can be fun; even if there are times that are trying.
Additionally, dealing with clients can be another job in itself. When you work for a company, you are more or less responsible for one position and the tasks that go along with it. But as a freelance writer, you have to be in charge of everything from customer support to accounting to collections. And on top of all this, you need to make sure that you are getting your work done.
Not a lot of Recognition
As a freelance writer you should not expect to receive a pat on the back every time that you meet a deadline, or go above and beyond. When compared to working in the corporate world this is a major change. If you work under a boss or other management, you will more than likely be recognized from time to time for your good work. But as a freelance writer these times are few and far between. Sure, you may receive an email from a happy client, but even then this joy is only short lived. If you are looking for a career where you will receive a lot of recognition and praise, freelance writing is not one of them in most cases.
Bad Clients and Cheats are everywhere
One thing that I have learned over the past few years is that bad clients and cheats are everywhere. While this is true to a certain extent in every industry, it seems as if freelance writers are always dealing with these kinds of people. If you are not ready to deal with impossible clients, while also running into those who will try to cheat you, stay away from a career as a freelance writer. Although I do a decent job of only working with high quality clients, this is far from a guarantee. Every time that I begin to work with somebody new there is a risk that they will be difficult to get along with, etc.
As you can see, freelance writing is not all fun and games. Of course, the benefits of working in this capacity far outweigh the drawbacks. But even then, you need to be aware of the negatives that you may run into while working as a freelance writer.
Anytime I am asked by an aspiring freelance writer how to get their career started, my answer usually contains the phrase “Writer’s Market†somewhere within it. Personally, this is the source that I used to find jobs when I was new to freelance writing, and for that reason I love everything that the service has to offer. With that being said, there are a couple of reasons that people do not want to use Writer’s Market.
1. They don’t know what Writer’s Market is, or what it has to offer. Believe it or not, this is true among advanced writers as well as beginners. If you do not know what Writer’s Market is all about, you should visit their website to find out more. Generally speaking, you can sign up as a member of Writer’s Market online service or you can buy their annual publication at most major bookstores; either way will work. The main benefit to a freelance writer is the information that is included on the thousands of publications in the United States. In addition to a list of publications, each one offers detailed information such as the editor’s name, how to submit a query, payment rates, etc.
2. You have to pay for Writer’s Market. This alone is one of the main reasons that many aspiring freelance writers do not use this service. I will never understand this way of thinking. Even when I was a new writer and my income was next to none, I still spent the money on this book. After all, if you want to make money as a freelance writer you need to know where to look; and that is exactly what Writer’s Market will do for you. As of late I have been using the online edition extensively thanks to its ease of use and convenience, as well as the low $29.99 annual fee. Of course, I have a print copy next to my desk as well.
If you are going to enter the freelance writing world, do so with a copy of Writer’s Market by your side. The information that you will have access to is sure to put you on an early path to success.
