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Income from Outsourcing
By Chris Mac
In the January 21st FFW newsletter, Nannette Croce provided
insight to content writing within content mills, (writing hubs).
As a full-time freelancer, I too have journeyed down that path.
But within the past year I have discovered an active need for
writing in outsourcing communities.
Monetary concerns are causing companies to outsource at
unprecedented rates. As freelancers and independent contractors,
opportunities to contribute abound.
oDesk is an outsourcing company who is internationally poised.
Their site connects Buyers (Employers) and Contractors (Providers)
through a job-board. Guru.com is similarly designed. Of the four
companies I perused, these are the two I remain with. They
profitably exist by taking an agreed-upon fee from one or both
parties.
At first I didn't know whether the 10% charged by oDesk would
negatively affect my bottom line. I soon realized that it is
a pittance compared to the hours of networking involved in
locating clients on my own. Most outsourcing communities not
only broker freelance writing, but technical support, bookkeeping,
customer service agents, graphic artists, web designers and
programmers, (among others). Some even offer health insurance
and 1099 year-end reporting.
As a writer and former bookkeeper, I developed my profile on
the two aforementioned sites in February of 2010. Within four
months I was working full-time from home for an hourly wage
that well-exceeded my previous salary. I write and edit product
descriptions, develop content for new sites and edit existing
site content. I update products and load them to online stores.
I have also edited legal documents, flyers, brochures and a
book. My official titles are Content Writer/Editor and Store
Editor. I am offered more work than I can accept. The CAVEAT?
You MUST remain true to your personal work ethic. Examples:
· From within the outsourcing community you have the
opportunity to develop an extensive network of clients.
My Advice? Be committed to providing exemplary work, even
if you mistakenly underbid a project. (Your work is rated
by your buyer and highly-favored workers with good skills
stand out).
· You are in competition with talented internationals
who make an excellent living at $1 to $2 per hour. My Advice?
Let those workers assist companies who need to reduce labor
costs. Focus your efforts on buyers who need professional
results and can afford to pay for them at American rates.
· The "get rich quick" web page is history, (in this
country). In other parts of the world, brilliant minds
scramble to gain a profitable foothold on the Internet. "Content
is King" has an entirely new meaning within this environment.
When content is written only for search engine optimization,
providers are often asked to deliver 400-500 word articles at
the astounding ratio of 25 per week for $125 or less. Facts
are not verified. The only criteria is that articles be
grammatically pleasing to the American audience. My advice?
Stay clear of these projects. People who do not value the
time you put into developing a well-researched and fact-based
article will undervalue you as a contributor. If you mistakenly
accept this type of contract, provide exemplary work and make
a gracious exit. Live and learn. Do not risk damaging your
reputation.
· It takes time to connect to buyers who need your
expertise. My advice? Apply frequently at a fair wage. Someone
IS seeking your skill-set. (Do not over-book - this takes
practice).
· Fixed-rate projects provide opportunities to connect
with clients who need one-time assistance. Apply for these types
of tasks when you have extra time. I am currently editing a
series of three books for a client whose book proposal I edited
at a fixed-rate of $20. This assignment is "icing on the cake"
and the kind of work I prefer above all others.
Outsourcing can be a rewarding experience. It provides
opportunities to expand your skills and build a network of
clients who trust your work. For those of us committed to
quality writing, be assured that good businessmen are on the
constant lookout for our product. Accurate, well-written
information can be built upon layer-by-layer. Quality
sites employ writers who offer legitimate content within this
context. Through the distribution of our talents and commitment
to our craft, we in turn support quality business endeavors and
contribute to the validity of Internet content.
Bio -
After 30+ plus years in office-related fields, N.O. Tate
embarked on a new career. A Rocky Mountain native, she has
turned her passion for nature, foodstuffs and the love of a
good story into fodder for legitimate submissions. She not
only publishes in writing hubs, but is a regular contributor
to several specialty sites with basic content, stories and
articles.
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