I am a professional blogger and writer, so pay me in cash. Pay me by Paypal, wire transfer, direct credit or even e-cheque, as long as I get paid for my work. Why do I feel the need to say this? Because I applied for a blogging job today. The ad stated that it was a paid blogging job. I spent some time crafting a suitable letter, emailed it off and waited for a reply. When it arrived, it turned out that the ‘compensation’ they were offering was simply ad revenue share.
The ad asked for high quality bloggers. I’ve been blogging for a few years now and have racked up a lot of well written posts on a lot of topics, so I think I qualify. But that’s exactly why I expect to get paid for my work. What they want me to do is to spend hours, days and weeks creating a good blog for someone else’s site on the off chance that their marketing methods will drive lots of traffic to the site. Sorry guys, been there, done that, got the hole in my bank balance to prove it, so I won’t be taking up your underwhelming offer.
I have nothing against making money from blog advertising, but I don’t need to go to another site to do that. Somewhere out there are about four blogs making me a pittance from the measly page views they garner despite the site owners’ promises of promotion and traffic, so I’m not going down that road again. On this blog, where I have put in the time to develop it and nurture it, I make money from advertising – and I don’t have to share it with anyone.
Article by Sharon Hurley Hall
Sharon Hurley Hall has been mentoring writers here at Get Paid To Write Online since 2005 to help them improve and build sustainable and successful writing careers. Check me out on sharonhh.com. Feel free to connect with me online on Google+.
Sharon has written 659 awesome articles for us at Get Paid to Write Online
Twitter: @SHurleyHall | Facebook | Google+ | Blog → Writing Portfolio
Yes Sharon that is just a waste of time. I’d do the same as you did….and get out.
Twitter: danaprince
July 3, 2008 at 00:32
You are so right, Sharon. Here at GPTWO you control your marketing and your success. No reason you should give that power to someone else unless they’re guaranteeing a flat rate or flat rate + ad revenue.
Dana Prince’s last blog post..Happy Canada Day
I’ve turned down offers like these too. I value my time far to much to agree to accept a percentage of profit that is not guarenteed. If I want to work for free I’ll do it on my own projects.
Rebecca Laffar-Smith’s last blog post..Do You Schedule Your Day?
Twitter: shurleyhall
July 3, 2008 at 08:51
@ Austin. I have replied to that effect; would you believe I got another similar job offer from another firm?
@ Dana: As we’ve discovered before, you can pour your soul into someone else’s blogging site, only to have it disappear overnight. I’m not saying I would never blog on another site, but there would have to be a good reason which included cash.
@ Rebecca: Exactly; working for free on my own stuff is an investment; working for someone else for free is a waste of energy.
Sharon, been there and done that. Even have the T-shirt! Many sites offer similar promises, thinking that $500 a month, tops, is “great” money. That about makes a car payment these days.
I have 30 years experience writing, and absolutely no day, no way will I give it out for free. Those sites are best for folks who have no clips and are building a portfolio.
Lisa T’s last blog post..Talkin’ bout my generation
Twitter: shurleyhall
July 4, 2008 at 12:49
Agreed, Lisa. I like your site, by the way and I see we share some favorite authors, including Ed McBain.
Agree. Usually it’s start-up blogs doing that, too, and anyone who has a successful blog will admit it’s probably taken them a year or more to get to a decent income from advertising.
I do wonder what the going rate is for a paid blogger? Considering this is a part-time gig, what’s fair?
I have been contemplating expanding one of my blogs and hiring a blogger or two, but haven’t seen many other blogs disclose their pay rates.
Anyway, good luck with your blogging endeavors!
Lindsay’s last blog post..Get Paid Once for Your Writing or Get Paid Again and Again?
Twitter: shurleyhall
July 9, 2008 at 13:07
Rates vary, Lindsay. If you’re just starting out, you may get $5-$10 for a short post, while some bloggers pay anywhere from $15 – $50 for a longer one from an experienced blogger.
I want to thank you for posting this article as I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I keep on running into alleged blogging jobs that would say they are offering ad revenue share instead pay per post. I made a decision that I rather be paid directly than waiting for a share that may be a very small amount in the long run.
Nicole L’s last blog post..Are you really watching the TV?
Twitter: shurleyhall
July 11, 2008 at 10:52
I agree, Nicole. There’s no point in having a share of the revenue on someone else’s blog when you could build your own or get a paid gig. Some of the blogging networks are exceptions, because they combine paid posts with revenue share – the best of both worlds if you have a successful blog.
I’ve heard the saying “money flows to the writer” and it’s so true here. If a blog has a viable business model, they can pay you up front.
The ad revenue scheme reminds me of all the self-publishing scams out there.
Twitter: shurleyhall
July 18, 2008 at 19:52
Yes, me too, Chris. The ones that actually work are rare, unless they’ve got a solid network behind them.
You know Sharon, I read your post and I thought and will say the thing that my dad used to say back in the day about people like those, “What a checky wretch!”. If they are offering paid blogging work they it should be just that, they are taking advantage of people when they misrepresent themselves like that.
I’m going to paraphrase another saying now, I don’t know the origin, or the complete wording but it’s the one where it says give someone a fish and they’ll eat for a day, teach someone to fish and they’ll never go hungry. (I’m sure it’s more poetic than that but see with me)
I started blogging a couple of years ago, not with the intention of making money, but to get a daily writing discipline going. I will say to those who are tempted to go for the kind of “blogging jobs” do them if you want to get your practice, researching and writing on topics that you may know nothing about, but don’t think there’s money in it for you, there isn’t.
If you want to get paid for your writing, take a leaf out of Sharon’s book and start your own blog where you control the ad revenue and as she says, you don’t have to share it with anyone.
When you start out, you’re unsure of what your work is really worth, and you have to get your feet wet. There’s lots to learn, you have to know bits of SEO, you have to socialise with other bloggers and in networks to get the word out about your blog, eventually you’ll start to think about ways you can make money from your blog and there are a myriad of opportunities but also a lot of people who will mislead you. Sorry this is such a long comment, but my final two pence worth is…Try to find experienced bloggers and people around the blogsphere who will tell it like it is and who will teach you how to fish! If you’re here then you’ve already found one of them.
stirlyn’s last blog post..Summer’s Here!
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 1, 2008 at 19:58
Your tuppence is worth a lot, Stirlyn, so thanks for adding this. Love how your site is looking, BTW.
Oh, but didn’t you know that writing isn’t “real” work and we should be happy with the mere pennies we can make for our craft? *loads of sarcasm*
I really hate how many jobs out there don’t pay or don’t pay minimum wage. It really gets under my skin.
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 20, 2008 at 07:35
LOL, Crystal. I think people should be honest and upfront about what they are offering, so writers can decide whether a gig is really for them.
I agree with you 100%.
I prefer getting paid for my work that I had put in. Not with ad revenue sharing crap.
I found out today that neowide is going back to adsense. why? I’m not getting any money off of that. Sites like that annoy me even though I am still a newbie since I have started this since late July 2008.
Laurie’s last blog post..About two sites to review
This is so true. There is only one place I can say I don’t mind the rev share and that’s eHow, because they make it worthwhile. Other than that, I’d prefer to be paid in cash as well!
Wendy’s last blog post..Lavender Essential Oil – Relaxing Aromatherapy
Twitter: shurleyhall
November 18, 2008 at 14:17
Some people do manage to get paid on revenue share, but it’s my impression that most don’t. If Ehow works for you, then that’s a real find, Wendy.
i agreed 100% and i hope there will be an internet law to limits that type of advertising which they don’t tell us clearly what they pay and what they don’t….
I agree! I’m a newbie to the online freelancing gig, but I’ve been writing, literally, all of my life…mostly for fun and now to get in some practice after this long writer’s block. I’ve been all over the internet scoping out the best way to go about makin money with my words.
I’ve come across quite a bit of those revenue sites; I signed on to Squidoo and Triond, though I have yet to make real use of them. I’m considering Associated Content. However, you’ll likely catch me on sites like onlinewritingjobs.com because I’m surely more interested in making definite money than waiting on a check that may never come.
As a newb, I understand fully the kind of competition I’m up against in this industry, but I also understand that there is money to be made…and I intend to make my share of it.
Great read and great commentary!
Ambrosia’s last blog post..Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?
I know. Almost every job posting I come across nowadays for freelance writers is for blogging and they want to pay you in pennies. I’m like WTF? Do you not realize how much work it takes to write something that’s not crap?
All I can say is good luck to those morons trying to rip off talented freelance writers.
Ms. Sassy’s last blog post..Ask Ms. Sassy On Ask E. Jean
Well said.
A Happy and prosperous New Year to you and yours.
Anthony
Anthony James Barnett – author’s last blog post..Is the publishing industry dead?
I’m glad I read this. I’ve been going back and forth about how I want to be paid for writing. Do I do it the traditional way and submit a query letter and wait months to get an acceptance, or do I start my own site, on my web host, with my own domain name and nurture the baby until I win with it? I think I’m going to write for me and have complete creative control over how I make the money. It’s rather ironic that writers are the most needed for everything in this world, yet are the least respected. We can’t live and pay bills on a handshake and a thank you. If people feel they don’t need to pay us, then why don’t they do the work themselves? I don’t get it. Writers and teachers with good command of the english language are needed all over the world today, and people need recognize we don’t work for free. Or we need to start putting out foot down more often and demand what we’re worth.
Twitter: shurleyhall
January 28, 2009 at 09:58
That’s the way many of my writing buddies feel, Gina.
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