Yes, I know there are opportunities available for the seasoned freelancer, and that’s quite a good thing. As I stated above, writers should explore and spread themselves around, and not restrict themselves by only doing low-paying jobs.

As for the corporate, yes, the private sectors do, or can, pay well. The important thing is to find them. If/when a writer does so, more power to that person. Further experience and exposure will lead writers to the better paying jobs.

Demand Studios sounds promising. I’m sure that many writers reading this will look into that as well.

I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments here, Anne. I knew a long time ago that a personal site would enhance and facilitate my success in the writing industry. With personal sites, not only will writers get noticed, they will gain a greater degree of respect and be taken more seriously as professionals. In that end. I have been working towards that goal for a while. The blog (the first of many) is a nice start. As said, too, in another string, I also seek a means to present my anonymously written/sold/commissioned material without infringing on anyone else’s copyrights. I am not certain about that yet, even though I have received some insightful feedback from people who weren’t quite certain themselves–and they were professionals. I will keep looking and asking.

You’re right–complaining gets a person nowhere; focus should be placed on being productive and moving forward. So many writers are frustrated now, especially with the economy the way it is. They feel stuck. You can’t blame them for the way they feel. Still, it is their responsibility to do something about not being or feeling helpless. I can see it both ways.

Take care and peace!

Mark

You can also make money with your own site… usually not a ton, but I’ve more than paid all my internet and home utility fees with my websites. Sometimes quite a bit more.

Will I get rich writing for Demand Studios? Probably not, but if I can steer prospective employers to articles I have on their sites, then maybe I can land a really good paying job. Not only that, I but I really enjoy writing for them. The research is fun and I’ve learned quite a bit. My speciality is health and beauty, but sometimes I’ll pick something out of my comfort zone just to challenge myself.

What really irritates me are sites that only pay $1 for 500 word articles. Get real! Demand Studios pays me a fair price for the amount of writing required and like I said, I like doing it.

Take care, all!

Mark

My question is: Why are rates that low in the first place? To me, it shows a lack of respect toward the writer. Yes, there are budget restrictions, too, but apparently web designers get paid well despite these ‘restrictions’. That’s why I say that the low rates are a matter of lack of respect towards the writer rather than a case of budget considerations.

In my blog, I have written about my experience as a professional freelance writer and how many struggling writers have to deal with such pay, including myself. For a period, I focused on the writing. My credit card bills fell behind and were sold to outside sources that retained the services of collection agencies. I eventually took another job outside of the writing industry (i.e. a retail job) to pay them off, and I did in no time. I also saved money for a long-needed vacation to visit my sister in California. Bills and food were and are two other necessities for which the consistent pay has provided as well.

The retail job did this–not the freelancing.

I have known a few freeelancers who rely only on the freelancing, and they did/do not fare well. This is why I have advised that freelancers not put their eggs all in one basket. Yes, the low pay is a place to start, BUT if there are always writers willing to do the work for peanuts, why should buyers [eventually] pay you more, even if they know you and have worked with you before?

In short: if a buyer can get articles written for, say, $4.00 a piece and save money, s/he will not dole out three or four times as much to you for the same job.

That isn’t good business sense!

Now, you’re going to say that those who are writing for low rates are new, beginners, and that their skills aren’t as developed as the more familiar writers who have been around and require higher pay, so buyers are not going to necessarily rely on the lower-pay writers for work when they can get a better job from the more familiars. Well, I don’t completely buy that.

Why?

The ‘familiars’ were once new, lower-pay writers, and those buyers once hired them for jobs, which is how the lower-pay eventually became ‘familiars’. If the buyers had preferred the better writing skills of the ‘familiars’, why did they hire the newbies in the first place? I’ll tell you why . . .

To save money!

That’s what it is all about–making and/or saving money. THAT seems to be the reason behind the low pay standard–to accommodate buyers.

As long as there are lower-pay writers that will offer an acceptable job in the first place, ‘familiars’ are not going to fare any better, although I have seen a couple of instances where they have done so. ONLY a couple.

By the way, I have been fortunate enough to be among those who have found a few of those gigs, but they are not easy to obtain. A writer still cannot live on the upper end pay. And I am extremely skilled at what I do.

Why do you think so many writers–especially experienced writers, like myself–have complained so fiercely? (I really don’t complain anymore, but many still do)

That said, I agree that such a gig (or gigs) should be reserved as a starting point, but my advice is that writers break away from the online freelance venue after a certain point and either branch off into another venue or type of writing, or they supplement their incomes while continuing to freelance in the online venue.

Magazines, journals and major agencies, like the AP, pay well, so writers should always keep their eyes open and continue to look for those opportunities that will allow them to move about and spread themselves around. Restricting themselves serves only to deprive writers of their means of growth in the industry.

Also, work independently–do NOT work for online contractors (e.g. writing agencies, et al). They are out for themselves and have overhead to pay, so they take a cut and the writers get even less. They work well for helping writers get their proverbial feet wet, but writers shouldn’t become dependent on them.

So, yes, it is possible to move upward, but not by working solely for online buyers, because few, if any, pay that well. The fact that so many freelance writing sites (and there are many) offer extremely low pay rates is evidence of that.

I have to say, though, that freelancing does allow writers to develop their writting skills, which includes different types of writing, such as SEOs, which are essential in today’s market where most if not all business is conducted on the Internet. Money is not the sole consideration, nor is it always the primary one.

These are just my thoughts, and they are derived from my own extensive experience in the field.

Mark

P.S. Allison, why shouldn’t seasoned writers demand, or set, their own pay rates? They are providing a service–a professional service–just like other professionals (web designers, illustrators, marketing consultants, just to namew a few). It’s not about ego (although for some it mught be)–ir’s about survival, respect and getting what one is worth.

Take care, Anne. I hope all is well with you.

My blog has just started. It’s not entirely done yet, but I have written a couple of entries on freelancing and ghostwriting. Please take a look:

A Writer above All Else
A ‘Ghost’ of a Chance

My approach now with eLance is the strength of my proposals.

Always ask pre-bid questions. If they won’t answer, they are low-ballers who don’t understand the value of the professional copywriter.

Although to date, most have said i am too expensive, I would rather bid on 10 projects and get one at $3-4k than have to do 30-40 projects for the same amount.

Make sure your proposal is top notch, and don’t compromise just to get the contract. That is my impression of the mass market sites.

You eventually find clients who actually value your service, and at $15 a month plus 8.75% of the contract value, it is still cheap compared to other marketing. Just don’t rely on it as your only source of clients.
.-= Karl Rohde´s last blog ..5 Web-based Freelance Writing Jobs to Avoid =-.