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How to Evaluate a Good Blog Gig and Earn What You Deserve
(5 Key issues to consider)
By Jennifer Brown Banks
Last year, when I landed a blog gig that boasted 100 bucks
monthly for 300-word posts, I was tickled pink. Easy money
I thought to myself.
Not only did this project seem exciting and effortless, scoring
it, along with my other “regular” blogging clients, meant I
could save time, effort, and angst from scouring weekly job
boards and networking feverishly for potential leads.
But my joy was short lived. Not long after accepting this job,
I realized that not all blogging gigs are created equally.
Blog listings are increasingly abundant on Craigslist, Freelance
Writing Jobs, Blogging Pro, and Pro Blogger.net, to name a few.
But what should you look for in “reading the fine print?” What
makes for a profitable pursuit? Here are a few things you need
to consider in assessing a blog job offer or ad:
1. The scope of your responsibility---This may seem like a no-
brainer, but trust me, it isn’t. In other words, will you be
required to do research? Will you have to make your posts Search
Engine Optimized? Provide your own topics? These are things to
consider. $50 per post may seem like a lot initially, but if
the subject matter requires extensive research, tech troubles,
and red tape, you’ll end up with very little earnings for your
efforts.
2. The amount of expertise required--- Some blog jobs call for
you to know different content management systems to post your
own work (i.e Wordpress, Scrives, Blogger); with others, the
blog owner does the actual posting upon approval. Additionally,
some projects require you to provide your own photos, to be
versed in things like anchor texting and social media. Make
sure to be compensated equitably for your skill sets and your
time. Just like you would in corporate America.
3. The method of payment--- Will it be based upon performance
metrics, like per clicks? Readership levels? Readers’ votes? Or
perhaps per post? Per word? Be clear on the terms and how you‘ll
collect your pay. If it’s vague, steer clear.
4. What’s the standing of the blog and its owner? Is it a
highly ranked site? Popular within its niche? Many ad placements?
These tell-tale signs will determine how successful it is and
the likelihood of future pay. For instance, I blogged for one
client for a couple of weeks who decided to “close shop” because
things were not materializing the way he had expected. If I had
done my homework, I might have known of his struggles to stay
afloat and devoted my energies elsewhere. As they say, “time is
money.”
5. Interaction level with audience---Creating blog posts can
also carry with it the pleasant but time consuming task of
responding to readers and answering related questions. Will
you be allowed to make a general statement of “thanks”, to
bypass commenting, or are you expected to address each one
individually? Depending upon your time constraints and personal
blogging style, this may or may not be a concern.
As with any job, the proper “fit” is important for longevity,
success, and career satisfaction. So keep these tips in mind to
make the most of your blogging experience, and to make the most
money for your efforts.
BIO:
Jennifer Brown Banks has blogged for many of the top, award-
winning sites such as PROBLOGGER, Technorati, Daily Blog Tips,
and Search Engine Journal. When she's not blogging, she's likely
in hot pursuit of a good bargain sale.
http://Penandprosper.blogspot.com/
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