Blog & Web Writing Gigs for August 19, 2009
August 19, 2009 by Jennifer
Filed under Blogging Jobs
A fair amount of decent paying gigs today, although I swear people are getting less and less clear when writing these things. It’s not that hard – Location? Pay? Hours? Duties? That works. I think maybe people are trying to be too fancy. In any case, no tip today but I do think this post is worth a read – Don’t Ignore the Hidden Job Market for Freelancers.
Anywhere gigs:
Established website seeks Editor in Chief - AND Blogger/Editor Needed for Pet Loving Startup - pay issues sounds super iffy on both gigs so approach with care
Intern for Green Social Website - some pay, not sure how much.
Blog Writer for Employment Website
Copyeditor for BlackDoctor.org
Editor w/ Internal Communications Exp.
Freelance Writer – Web Content and Printed Brochure (work from home) - (Orange County) – NOTE: Says work from home and also says location Orange County – um…
Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee business needs print and web writers
Need a writer to rewrite, edit and correct the content of a solar energy web site
Location specific gigs:
Are you a tech geek? Apply for Associate Tech Editor @ HuffPost - (NYC)
Coordinator, Digital Communications Fanscape – Los Angeles, CA
News reporter for web - near Austin TX
Junior Content Editor - (Bellevue, WA)
Real Estate writers – San Diego
Editor - (Vienna, VA)
UrbanDaddy Editorial Assistant - (Flatiron, NY)
ECONOMICS JOURNALIST – Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. – Washington, District of Columbia
Seeking News Editor – Hartford, CT area
Celebrity/Entertainment Writer – AOL – says NYC but might be telecommute friendly (?)
LA Celebrity News Bureau Chief For Online Site – HollywoodLife.com – L.A.
Fashion Editor and Beauty Editor for Celeb Site – HollywoodLife.com – NY
Sigma Chi Corporation – Seeking Enthusiastic Online Specialist – Evanston, Illinois
Seeking savvy Web producer in D.C. – The Washington Times
Managing Editor for Major New Site - San Francisco
News Editor - (Philadelphia)
Creative Circle: Web Editor/ writing skills: Long-term Freelance! - (San Gabriel Valley)
ManagingEditor, start up, local family travel website - this job says telecommute but also says L.A. only. Really?
Blog & Web Writing Gigs for August 17, 2009
August 17, 2009 by Jennifer
Filed under Blogging Jobs
Jobs are back, although it does seem slim around the web re: anywhere gigs. Still, there’s some decent gigs today so check them out.
Job tip o’ the day: Now that I’m back we’ll be resuming our how to get a blogging job series. If you haven’t been following along, you can get up to speed by reading the following…
- How to get blogging jobs and web writing jobs – getting started
- Finding blog gigs – starting out with no clips
- How to get a blogging job – advice from b5media’s hiring editor
- How to get a blogging job – advice from Deb Ng of FWJ
- Maybe you’re not getting jobs because you just can’t write
- How to bomb out all the time when looking for work
Anywhere gigs:
Feature writer at voyage tv
Green Technical Writers and Editors Sought
Freelance blogger knowledgeable and interested in fashion, jewelry, accessories, etc.
Foodie/Writer/Designer/web savvy?
Location specific gigs:
Excellent writer/copy editor - (Raleigh)
Writer – Blogger, PR and Social Media Outreach – Shoreview, MN
Seeking savvy Web producer – D.C
SEO Creative Editor - (Santa Monica)
Social Media Contributor – Westlake Village, CA
New Media Assistant Editor position at Citysearch – West Hollywood
Communications Editor/Mac Technical Expert - (berkeley)
Front Page Producer – Yahoo Content Carousel – Sunnyvale, California
Web editor/manager – Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction, VT
Blog Herald is Hiring International Contributors -Priority will be given to applicants from Asian countries, the Middle East and Africa
Web Content Manager – La Jolla, CA
Free People Fashion Blogger/Communications Assistant and Free People Lifestyle Blogger/Communications Assistant – Philadelphia, PA
How to bomb out all the time when looking for writing gigs
You apply for one or two gigs a month: There’s something to be said for the law of averages. If you’re applying for five or less blog or web writing gigs a month your odds of getting hired are slimmer than the odds of a blogger who gets out there and applies for 20, 30, or more gigs a month.
You apply for lots of gigs but most are totally inappropriate for you: While the above tip about applying for a lot of gigs is good advice, it’s also important to apply for gigs you actually might get. You’re not right for every gig out there. For example if there’s a Mac tech blog gig open and your knowledge base on that topic is minimal, it’s not a good fit. With 500+ applicants applying for that gig besides you, at least 100 of them will likely know more about the topic than you do. Apply for gigs that you’ve got a shot at.
You’ve never blogged or written for the web before: This seems like a given, but so many clients note that people apply for gigs when they’ve never even written their own blog before that I figured I’d mention it. You may be a rockin’ writer but that doesn’t make you a blogger and you’ll be far less likely to get a gig than one of those other applicants who has blogged before. This is easily fixed though – anyone can start a blog.
You think blogging sounds like an easy job to break into: It’s not. There is actually a skill set required to blog well. Blogging isn’t tough once you get the swing of it, but there are lots of little pieces that make up the whole of the gig. I’ve written for print, businesses, and the web; and web writing, in my opinion, is just as much work as other markets if not more so because the face of the market is frequently changing and you have to keep up.
You’re lackadaisical: Looking for writing work is not a passive activity. You can’t simply write a personal blog and expect clients to flock to you based on your brilliant prose. Trust me, in most cases your personal blog just won’t be popular enough to get you noticed. You have to look for gigs. You have to apply for gigs. You have to network. You have to pay attention to those email applications you send out.
You work for free or for pennies all the time: If you don’t think you’re worth paying; if all your resume shows is content sites or article mills that anyone can write for; then why on earth would a client think you’re worth giving a gig to? I’ve had clients ask why they should hire me when other people are willing to work for free and I always say, “You get what you pay for” and guess what – most clients agree. If you’re not confident enough to work for pay, why are you trying to get work as a blogger anyhow? Allow yourself and your time to be worth something or other people won’t take you seriously.
You’ve heard of Facebook, Twitter, Stumble Upon, and all of that, but you can’t be bothered to jump on board: Two years ago, when applying for gigs, I never had potential clients ask me about my background in social networking. Now almost all my potential clients ask about my networking experience. If you’re not on board with some of the major social networking arenas, and at least somewhat versed in the less popular ones, you won’t get jobs as easily.
You spend most of your time whining about the lack of gigs out there: Whining will get you nowhere. No matter how much you whine it won’t change the fact that there are plenty of places out there still hiring writers and bloggers. All you’re doing is wasting time.
You’re too niche specific OR you’re not niche specific enough: Because green is my fave topic, I’ve concentrated most of my efforts on eco-issues for the last five years or so. However, I also stay on top of a few other specialty topics in case I see a job pop open in one of them. I can just as easily write about pregnancy, money or architecture. So, I keep it open but not too open. I think it’s smart to have a somewhat specific niche that you cover a lot because it makes you look like an expert in at least one area. If you claim to be able to write on dozens of topics you don’t look quite as valuable. Most of us don’t have enough time to follow trends and news on five topics, let alone dozens of topics, and following trends and news is an important part of blogging. When I’ve applied for gigs lately most of the potential clients have asked me about current trends and issues in my pet topics – if I was following too many niches, it’d be hard to stay current.
You give up too soon: Most probloggers I know (who blog for clients) have been at it a while. They’ve had ups and downs in the job market and they deal instead of giving up. If blogging isn’t working out, they’ll diversify as they continue to apply for blogging gigs. It can take years to establish yourself in the web writing world, just like it can take years to establish yourself in another writing arena.
Can you think of any other good ways to bomb out when looking for blogging and web writing gigs?
[image via stock.xchng]
Blogging & Web Writing Gigs for July 25, 2009
July 25, 2009 by Jennifer
Filed under Blogging Jobs
First off sorry no jobs yesterday – what with packing to move and work, it’s a little nuts around here.
Secondly, congrats to Marye, who scored a KILLER gig via a job posting I listed here at Blogging For A Living AND actually tweeted to me about it so I knew. It’s double nice in this case because Marye’s a good friend, but even if I don’t personally know you, it feels much more productive when I hear someone gets a fly gig. So, if you score a gig from one of these lists leave a comment, tweet, or email and let me know. I like to hear about your successes. It makes it seem much more worth it when I’m lackadaisically browsing the job boards at 5am.
Anywhere gigs:
Blogger and online campaigner full time for the Global Campaign for Climate Action – oooooo! Cool!
Blogger/Social Media – Part Time
French Property & Lifestyle Newsletter Writer
Editor/Writer – Dowser
Looking for Guys to Blog About Dating
Business & Finance Bloggers Needed – low pay alert – I suppose if you work fast it might be okish.
Freelance Writer- Parenting – AOL
Origami and Paper Craft writer – Love To Know
Blogger on lux travel and goods
Social Networking/New Media Manager for Energy Services Firm - (TriBeCa) NOT sure if this is telecommute friendly or not.
Content Writer- eco-vacation topic
Blogging job for techie mommies – As always be leery of pay at places advertising for “mommies” – just obnoxious; although, in this case, it does look like they really are looking for a mama’s perspective.
Freelance Technology Marketing Writer
SEO Content Writers (Freelancers)
Location specific gigs:
New Media Operations Manager – Aflac, Columbus, GA
Fashion Website Content Writer/Blogger/Facebook Promoter - (East San Diego)
geeksugar Associate Editor — Sugar Inc. - (downtown SF / civic / van ness)
Healthy Living Blogger – Santa Ana
Community Manager – SelectMinds – NY
Communications Coordinator – Canopy, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Grassroots Communications Coordinator – RESULTS Educational Fund – DC
Professional Communications Writer - (McLean, VA)
Digital Editor, Martha Stewart Weddings – Martha Stewart Living Omnimeida – NY – wow – bling position!
Blogging & Web Writing Gigs for July 22, 2009
July 22, 2009 by Jennifer
Filed under Blogging Jobs
Well, it looks like I was wrong about gigs picking up mid-week. Still not much out there. However, just because it’s not on a job board doesn’t make a gig invisible. Deb has put together two new excellent resources…
You can get a gig – you just need to keep your chin up and keep on truckin’.
Anywhere gigs:
Parent community blogger – too low of pay IMO BUT also super PT
2 positions – Article Writer/Web Content Writer
Environmental Website writer – I’ve seen this job posted WAY too much, it’s making me think they pay for crap or don’t pay. Get it now because it’s the last time I’ll be posting it unless I hear from some folks who have been hired and paid by them.
Quiz Writers Wanted: Part-Time
Bloggers needed - low pay if they really want a ‘page’ but I think they might be looking for ‘posts’ not full pages.
Website Content Writer Needed ASAP-Project
Seeking writer with a passion for food
Location specific gigs:
Producer, Internet Media – Travelzoo – L.A.
Social Media Coordinator for Houston Press
Medical Writer – Marketing Communications - (San Diego)
Social media/marketing manager for Dell – Austin, TX
Writer wanted - (Toronto)
Reporter/Blogger- Organic Healthy Living – Santa Ana (this job looks cool!)
Social Media Manager – Confidential, Santa Ana, CA
Web Editor – Jet Propulsion Laboratory – Pasadena, CA
Marketing writer/Ghostwriter for Blog (SOMA / south beach)
Social Media Manager – EMC Corporation, Pleasanton, CA
New Media Marketing Specialist – UBM International Media – Princeton
Freelance Travel Writers Needed - (London)
Web Editor – Dolan Media Company – Portland, OR
Writer With Investigative Skills Needed – Website for Multinational Software Vendor – Ardmore, PA
Web Producer – RadarOnline.com – L.A.
Host Needed for Green TV Show - (Los Angeles) – it is a writing gig btw
Consumer Marketing Manager – Food Network – NY
Web Writer - (Central London)
Community Manager - (Santa Monica)
BEAUTY WRITER - (Los Angeles, CA)
Writer for web articles needed - (Vancouver, BC)
Blogging & Web Writing Gigs for July 20, 2009
July 20, 2009 by Jennifer
Filed under Blogging Jobs
Hello everyone, hope you had a good weekend. If you missed them over the weekend check out Finding blog gigs – starting out with no clips and How to get a blogging job – advice from Deb Ng of FWJ.
Not too many gigs today – hopefully things pick up by Wednesday. You can also check out Deb’s job listings if you like.
Anywhere gigs:
Sustainable Technology and Design Blogger – kind of lowish pay unless you know the topic very well and work fast, then it’s ok.
Sports Blogger/Reporter (Experience Required)
Blogger at Task FM – I swear I saw this listing a few weeks ago – did anyone here apply? When people re-post so fast it makes me think they’re non-paying…
New fine jewelry website set to go live this fall is looking for freelance writers for snappy, smart, humorous description and editorial for our jewelry. Think Sex In The City meets Daily Candy.
News editor for media startup – Start up, so not sure if paid
Location specific gigs:
We need a versatile WRITER – $1000.00 a month - (San Fernando Valley)
Digital Home and Garden Editor – Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia – NY
HealthRight International, a global health and human rights organization, seeks a freelance writer to develop content for reports, newsletters, and other publications – NY
Content Coordinator - (Redmond, WA)
Client SEO Specialist - (Pacific Beach)
Web Producer – PennLive.com – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
The Creative Crafts Group, LLC seeking a highly motivated individual for the position of General Editor – Quilters Newsletter – Golden, CO
Full Circle Farm content coordinator – Snoqualmie River Valley, WA
Sports Blogger/Reporter (Experience Required) - (Washington, DC)
Copywriter / content writer (GTA)
Finding blog gigs – starting out with no clips
If you want to work as a blogger or web writer and by work, I mean make a living, then you have to start somewhere. Of all the email questions I get, “How do I actually get started without a portfolio” is probably the most common question. It’s true that clients want to see clips but most don’t care what sort of clips they care more that you wrote the clips well.
Are there clips in your past?
If you honestly feel you have zip in the way of a portfolio, the first thing to do is take another look at your past. Did you write anything useful in college, and by useful I mean tech paper, proposals, or serious research pieces. Have you ever written copy, proposals, care plans, or company newsletters at work? What written requirements have all your past jobs had? Are you such a wiz at writing resumes and cover letters that people come to you for help? Most people who want to write for a living have some sort of useful clips in their past. If you think you don’t you may not be looking hard enough. Once you find some clips you can place them on a website or if a client allows send them by email when you apply.
Do you have a blog?
I’m always a little surprised at people who want to blog for a living who say, “I’ve got no clips,” to which I say, “What about your blog,” to which they say, “What blog?” Sigh. If you want to blog or write for the web, then start a blog.
What sort of blog…?
Start a useful blog, one that offers real info that readers can use. You don’t have to choose a niche, but if you have a niche in mind that you’d like to eventually write for, i.e. you’d like to be a travel blogger or travel web writer for pay, it’s naturally smart to start a travel-minded blog. If you’re not sure which platform to choose I’d start with Wordpress. 90% of my clients use Wordpress. I’ve had a few use TypePad, a couple use (gulp) Drupal, and some use a few other random platforms. Note that I’ve never ever had a client who uses Google Blogger although Deb and I both started out on Blogger blogs and we’re ok. For more tips read choosing a blog platform.
If you don’t want to start a blog but want clips should you try sites like Associated Content, other article marketing site, or cheap-o places like e-How through Demand Studios?:
I’m gonna say no. First of all it doesn’t make you look all that credible. A published piece at a content site where anyone can publish a piece is not the same as a piece written for a paying site or even a blog post that lends to your niche credibility. I’ve had my own pieces stolen and plagiarized at some of these sites and I’m sure others have as well which takes away from the credibility. Also, Deb recently told me that “Colleges don’t allow AC to be used as a source for papers because much of the writing isn’t more than other Google stuff regurgitated.” I didn’t know this, but it makes sense. If you don’t believe me start running content site pieces through copyscape and you”ll see how many pieces are copied in part or entirely.
If you’re going to work for free, better choices include guest posting at an already popular blog, or contacting an editor of a blog network or reputable website and writing one to three free piece. Another credible route to go would be to offer some free pieces to a non-profit for their website or even for a print newsletter. Then you get clips and look nice too.
If you see a job NOW that you want and don’t have your clips set up yet…
So your blog is brand new, you haven’t found any clips from your past, and you see a blogging gig you’d like to apply for. First of all you may not get the gig without the clips to back you up (hence starting a blog or guest posting asap). It’s possible, just a little more tricky. Hopefully the job is writing about something you have life experience in. If you don’t have a genuine interest and background in a topic, it’s unlikely you’ll get the gig clip-free. Next you can offer to provide a sample. I don’t usually advocate new sample for writers, but if you don’t have clips, this is your only option. A writing client is not going to hire you without seeing how you write.
Can you think of any other useful ways to build up clips if you’re new to writing?
Blogging & Web Writing Gigs for July 16, 2009
July 17, 2009 by Jennifer
Filed under Blogging Jobs
Where the heck have we been? Click here. In other news, since I’ve been MIA there are a ton of leads today…
Anywhere gigs:
Senior blogger – and by senior I think they might mean experienced, not that you’ll be blogging about seniors, although it’s not the most well written ad, I could be wrong.
PBS MediaShift blogger / editor
Seeking Writers For Bay Area Sports Teams
Freelance Writer – Online Tech Magazine
Health technology writer for CNET – ooooo, I LOVE CNET!
Online Brand Evangelist and Blogger (Contract) – environmentally friendly consumer products company
Expert Blogger for Architecture and Design Blog
Copywriter, Blogger, PR Content writer
Freelance Food Writers/bloggers - (Nationwide)
Used Cardboard Boxes blogger – green blogger
Reporter for Digital Kids Business Blog
Social Media Coordinator positions – Austin Texas (local considered first, but maybe telecommute)
Blogger – Organically Inclined
Hilarious Posters/Bloggers Needed
Become a Sosauce International City Expert
Editor for Popular Website, No Editor Experience Necessary - (oakland downtown) seems to me like it could be telecommute, but not sure.
Needed: Creative, Off-beat Writer
Cake decorating writer - (Love To Know)
Copywriter: Work From Home on contract/ freelance writing
Location specific gigs:
Content Developer/Writer - (Buckhead)
Bliss is seeking a freelance copywriter! - (New York, NY)
Copywriter/ Blogger – Company Confidential – El Segundo
Associate Editor for Social Media Service: - (Waltham)
Managing Editor – Earth Island Journal – print and web – Berkeley, CA
Digital Content Manager – Whitney Museum of American Art – NY
Managing Editor online magazine for professional women – Atlanta
Community Manager – Vanns.com – Missoula
on line legal news - (central ohio)
Blog Editor – The Hill newspaper – Washington, District of Columbia
Reporter – RadarOnline.com – CA + NY
Copywriter – Content Marketing, Digital Media - (SOMA / south beach)
Researchers / Writers - (danville / san ramon)
Social Media Manager – Sears/Lands End – Dodgeville, WI
Director of Public Relations and Social Media/Blogger Outreach -McLean, VA
Editor – Internet Broadcasting – Beaverton, OR
Social Media Assistant – San Juan Capistrano, CA
Associate Director – Communications & Social Media -American Diabetes Association – Alexandria,
PopSugar Assistant Editor – Sugar Inc. - (downtown San Fran / civic / van ness)
Tweet This: Manager, Blogger Relations for PR Industry Leader – PR Newswire – NY
Website Copywriter – Full Time - (Santa Clarita, CA)
Website content writer / organizer (DC (MD))
Blog/Freelance Writer - (Financial District – San Francisco)
Full-time writer, proficient social media/web marketer - (Dallas)
Web Content Producer - (SW Portland, OR)
SEO Copywriter / SEO Copyeditor - (Agoura Hills)
Web Producer / Writer - (Arlington, VA)
Staff Writer / Content Writing Job – Part Time 20 Hours / Week - (Hillsboro, OR)
Online Content Editor - (Irvine)
Online Country Editor – SE Asia - (SODO)
Social Media & Link Building Director “Needed” - (Miami)
Editor / Journalist / Web Content Producer – Leading Educational Publisher – Little Falls, NJ
DANG right! Someone here better get a cool gig and let me know 
GOOD LUCK!
Blogging & Web Writing Gigs for July 6, 2009
July 6, 2009 by Jennifer
Filed under Blogging Jobs
I hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th and at least took a little time off to relax. Not too many gigs today, but that always happens around holidays. We’ll see more later in the week most likely.
Job tip o’ the day: Deb has a nice little post up, What You Want vs. What Your Clients Expect, that in part, covers should we tell our clients when we think they could be doing something better. Deb notes, “If you don’t like the way your client runs his blog, or if you feel he needs guidance, there’s nothing wrong with setting up a meeting (or virtual meeting) to discuss. Explain why you feel the situation doesn’t quite work and how you can make the blog work to his benefit.” Been there, done that, and I agree with Deb that offering a good idea makes the blog and client look better, and thus you look better.
HOWEVER: I also want to mention, don’t allow yourself to be put into the role of blog consultant for free. I’ve had clients in the past who know way less about blogs than I do, and although I’ve only been hired to write, the client ends up drilling me for ideas, help, and support regarding the blog, which is fine, if you’re being paid. I don’t mind offering some ideas for free, but when I’m spending hours a week FOR FREE, helping someone build their blog, I should be getting paid. If you want to help a client out, cool, just make sure you’re not doing too much for too little.
Anywhere gigs:
Expat Content Syndication/SEO Coordinator – Niche Media Solutions
Freelance Writers for SparkLife Blog – Barnes & Noble
Outrageous, Funny, Smart Assed Bloggers Wanted
Online Business Reporter Wanted for Contract Work
Online Communications & Marketing Associate – Earth Share – not sure if it’s telecommute friendly or not.
Writer wanted for a DC based property management, real estate, mortgage, and investment company
Location specific gigs:
Seeking Ace Web Content Editor – Chicago Parent
Editorial Assistant – TONY Kids- Time Out New York Kids – NY
Online Marketing Copywriter — Contract/Internship/paid - (palo alto)
Agent “M” seeks multi-talented writer - (San Diego)
Assistant Editor – Society of American Florists – Alexandria, Virginia
Copy Editor, Research, Speech Writer, Blogger, etc - (Washington DC)
CONTENT EDITOR / PRODUCER - (Seattle)
Energy Writer – MIT News Office – Cambridge, MA
Web Writer / Content Specialist – Let Your Creativity Thrive! - (Roswell, GA)
Sr. Writer, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide - (Seattle or Portland)
Content Editor/Proof Reading – Naperville - (Naperville, IL)
WANTED: Content people! - must be able to attend meetings in Boca, but telecommute otherwise.
Blogging & Web Writing Gigs for July 3, 2009
July 3, 2009 by Jennifer
Filed under Blogging Jobs
Very slim gig list today; I’m guessing we’ll see better stuff next week after the holiday.
Job tip o’ the day: As a blogger PR folks will be contacting you all the time. This is good news in that you can score news tips plus items to review. However, managing your PR contacts can be rough at first. In January I posted a series on PR contact management. If you missed it, brush up with the following…
- How to create a ProfNet opportunity for blog news, products, and tips
- How to build or break relationships with PR contacts
- Managing Your Blog PR Contacts
- What one PR gal really thinks about working with bloggers
Anywhere gigs:
Social Networking Coordinator – kind of an odd ad, but what the heck.
Fast growing Jewelry & Watch web company ISO a creative writer - (Midtown, NY) – could be telecommute – I have no clue.
Professional, Freelance, Student, & Blog Writers Wanted - (Cincinnati, OH) – Looking for ’students’ so could be low pay.
Location specific gigs:
Campaign & Content Manager, Internet Media – Travelzoo – Chicago
Healthcare Web Editor/Journalist - (fresno )
Sr. Writer – Waggener Edstrom Worldwide – Lake Oswego, OR
Assistant Editor – Smart + Strong – NY
Marketing Assistant - (Mesa, AZ)
Junior Staff Writer - (NW Austin)
Social Media Coordinator – Hollister – Boston
Online News Editor -Gazette Communications – Cedar Rapids, Idaho
Sr. Product Manager, Social Media – Trip Advisor – Newton, MA
Web Copy Writer/Editor Needed for New Website (Seattle)
Print and online reporters – Inside Washington Publishers – Washington, District of Columbia
