Hi everyone,

I have some great weekend discussions lined up with some great guest bloggers. Unfortunately the time got away from me this weekend, (thanks to a little emergency) and I didn’t get a chance to post this weekend’s discussion. Since I like to start my guest bloggers off on Friday, I’d rather just throw out some reader mail today – all about the same topic. Annoying affiliate links. Let’s hear your thoughts. Our guest bloggers return next weekend, I promise.

Dear Deb,

There are a couple of blogs that list jobs like you. Many of the links lead to Freelance Work Exchange affiliate links instead of a job. I don’t really want to pay to read a job ad. What do you think?

Kathy M.

Dear Kathy,

I think any job board claiming to care about writers only to send you to click an affiliate link for a paying job site is a little hypocritical. You should never have to pay to see a job ad, especially since most of the jobs listed at places like Freelance Work Exchange are the same jobs you’ll see listed for free all over the web. Moreover, if you don’t read the fine print when subscribing on a trial basis, FWE will get you for thirty bucks a month.

It’s up to you whether or not to subscribe. The next time you click on a link for a job and it takes you to a FWE page, ask yourself this: does this person really want me to find a gig, or is she just out to earn some revenue? Then decide whether or not you want to support that person by paying for a subscription.

Best,

Deb

Dear Deb,

I was on Craigslist today and I applied for a job promising to pay $3 to $40 for articles. Thinking $40 was a decent beginning, I sent my CV to the email address. In return I received a pitch for Associated Content. This was (censored) disappointing. It’s bad enough Craigslist is littered with no-payers, now the Associated Content people are trying to deceive us into working for them?

John K.

Hi John,

I’m not so sure the A.C. people are using deception. The ads are what they are. The opportunity to work for a low paying content site. Yeah, they do spam the job boards with the affiliate links, and yeah, it’s disappointing to think you’re applying for a certain type of gig only to receive an Associated Content pitch, but really they’re not doing anything illegal. The problem as I see it is that many of the low-paying sites offer their writers the chance to earn more change by bringing in more writers. What they should really do (in my opinion) is offer a higher per article rate. This would kill two birds with one stone. The writers would receive the pay they deserve, and more writers would come on board thanks to the promise of a bigger paycheck.

Best,

Deb

Dear Deb,

The only thing that sucks more than finding out a gig doesn’t pay, is reading a really cool job ad, clicking to learn more information and ending up here. Do people fall for this con?

Rock on,

Melissa M.

Hi Melissa,

They sure do.

Deb

Discuss…