Blog and online writing gig danger signs!

Earlier today in, Blogging & Web Writing Gigs for May 18, 2009 I posted some jobs (bet you couldn’t tell from the title eh?) In any case, I thought we’d look at some danger signs that appear in blogging and online writing job ads.

If you’re going to make a living as a blogger or online writer, it helps to develop your own list of danger signs when job searching. Every writer should have their own limits and policies when it comes to gigs. Now the disclaimer issue here is that an ad may be poorly written and still be legit. A poorly written job ad can still work out and actually pay well while a well written ad could pay for crap or be a total scam. It’s hard to tell. Sometimes the people hiring for jobs just have issues getting the gig across well in their ad.

That said, I have some general danger signs I look for when looking at the job boards. If I see any of the following there’s a 99% chance I’d never apply OR post the job here as a valuable lead.

Jobs that admit they pay under $10 an hour or jobs that I can tell right away will work out to less than $10 an hour – not worth your time and actually I think aiming for higher is much better. $10 per hour average is peanuts. If writers keep taking these jobs, people will keep paying low wages because they can.

Jobs that beat around the bush. I.e. they say things like, “Not sure about pay… no set pay yet due to budgeting constrictions… probably there will be pay… we may have a small budget available for writers” and so on. If a client can’t be clear from the get-go, it’s a good chance you’re going to get low pay, no pay, or have other issues with them.

Jobs that offer revenue, partnerships, links to your personal blog, or other non-monetary pay. Yes I know revenue is technically $ pay but revenue is a generous term to use for what will work out to pennies per hour.

Jobs that say things like perfect for mommies or stay at home moms – insulting advertising and usually low pay.

Jobs that say they’re looking for student, aspiring writers, or no writers with no experience. They’re looking for free or penny wage writers; I’m so not interested. Another term along these lines is, “Looking to build your portfolio?!” Yay, um no.

Jobs that offer any sort of get rich quick wording through web writing or blogging. It’s never gonna happen.

Jobs for blogs that say, “I’m launching a new blog and once it makes money…” stay away.

Jobs that offer completely vague task descriptions. I’ve worked with plenty of clients who have no clue what they’re doing and it’s almost always more trouble than it’s worth. Some people like to start blogs or a network of blogs with no real blog know-how, and while the job may pay a decent flat rate, you, as the blogger, will be bombarded day and night with questions. Fine if you’re a blog consultant, not ok if you were just hired to write. When you talk to someone who has no clue about blogs i.e. they say they’ll pay for blogs not posts, it might be a totally annoying job.

What are some of the danger signs you watch for when job searching?