The Dark Side of Freelance Writing
Posted September 25, 2008 in Business, Writing 15 Comments »
Last week we talked about changing your world, and about how it’s so important to freelance with integrity.
Today, I want to explore that idea a little further and talk about one of the most challenging situations freelance writers can face.
Let me say, from the start, that I believe in what I do. I am a freelance writer by choice. There are plenty of other careers I could be pursuing, but this is the one I love.
Let me also say that I believe in profit. There’s nothing wrong with getting paid, and getting paid well, for a job well done. In fact, if you aren’t getting paid what you’re worth, then it may be time to consider a career change.
Still, there are some freelance gigs that can be very alluring, but that can ultimately cause some problems with integrity.
Danger Zone 1: Questionable Products
If you’ve been freelancing for any amount of time, you’ve probably been approached by someone who wanted you to promote a product that was less than stellar. I recall an email from a blog reader who wanted me to write some website content for her. She offered quite a substantial sum of money for relatively little work.
Her product was a “gifting” program. Now, I don’t want to get into the legalities or details of the program, but let me just say that it looked an awful lot like a Ponzi scheme to me. Needless to say, I refused the gig. I checked out her website a few weeks later, and could see that she did indeed find someone to write her content.
Now, I’m in no position to judge another writer. I can only say that, for me, taking that gig would have damaged my own sense of integrity.
Danger Zone 2: Sales Over Quality
The Internet, while it has been an amazing boon for writers, has also had a detrimental effect on writing. In the quest to get search engine hits, clients sometimes prefer poorly-written but well-optimized work over work that’s well-written but not quite as well-optimized.
One of the ways that a writer can maintain her integrity is by stressing quality over other factors. When I bid on SEO jobs, I tell clients up front that my main focus is quality, authoritative writing, and that sometimes SEO takes a back seat. If the client doesn’t like it, they hire someone else.
Here’s a dirty little secret about SEO: More often than not, though, quality writing converts much better than poorly-written SEO writing. Yes, you have to be able to rank well in search engines, but if you don’t know the difference between “your” and “you’re,” not many people are going to buy from you.
The good news on this front is that the search engine algorithms have changed over time to be much more friendly to well-written content. Limits on keyword density are an important part of that equation, and the days of poorly-written SEO content may well be over.
Danger Zone 3: Greed
I mentioned at the beginning that I believe in profit, and I do. I’m not one to suggest that there should be a limit on what a writer charges his clients for a given gig. However, integrity does play a role in how you set your rates.
Let’s take, for example, an ebook aimed at work-at-home moms. Often, women who want to work at home are single mothers who just want to have the flexibility they need in order to be there with their kids. In some cases, they may be trying to escape a low-paying job outside of the home, and trying to improve their own lifestyle.
Now, how do you price that ebook? The usual answer is this: you price a given product based on what the market will bear. And I don’t disagree with that entirely.
However, when I set the price for an ebook like this, I’m also thinking about something else: will my ebook help the reader enough to make it worth what I’m charging? If so, then the price is fine. If not, then I need to either add value to the ebook, or I need to lower the price.
So, what do you think? How do you avoid selling out and still manage to make a killing?
******
About the author: Bob Younce is a full-time Internet writer and writing mentor living in Linwood, Michigan. He is dedicated to helping Internet writers to achieve their dreams. Visit Bob at The Writing Journey or follow him on Twitter.
Photo by Lacie Babenco
About the author: Bob Younce is a full-time Internet writer and writing mentor living in Linwood, Michigan. He is dedicated to helping Internet writers to achieve their dreams. Visit Bob at The Writing Journey or follow him on Twitter.
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15 Comments
Laura Spencer
September 25th, 2008 at 5:10 pmExcellent points Bob! People may think that because we’re “self-employed” we don’t face as many ethical dilemmas, but I’ve turned down several projects for the very reasons that you list.
I think it is possible to build a broad base of reputable clients without selling out, but typically it won’t happen overnight. It will take time (and a lot of effort).
Michael Rose
September 25th, 2008 at 6:25 pmInteresting piece Bob. Lots of great points.
I’m not sure, however, what you mean by “Limits on keyword density are an important part of that equation”
Do you mean that Google, et al, are not placing as much emphasis on KWD?
Roll on the semantic web and robots that are able to recognize quality writing :)
Tina McAllister
September 26th, 2008 at 12:44 amThere’s something liberating about not accepting every single project that comes your way. I just told a prospective client that his proposed project was really a “dime a dozen” product that could be found anywhere. I suggested he find a spin to put on it (and I even proposed a few angles he could take). Not exactly what he wanted to hear. But I’m not going to take a project and write a product that I know won’t sell.
Susan Johnston
September 26th, 2008 at 12:47 amBob, it is indeed a fine line, especially when you’re first starting out and trying to drum up business. Ultimately, though, falling into traps like that will not help your self-image or your professional image nor will it lead to a greater sense of creativity or fulfilment. I’m working on updating my short-term and long-term goals so that as projects come it, I can look to those goals to determine whether the project aligns with them.
monica
September 26th, 2008 at 2:35 amI’m a relatively new freelance writer and was initially VERY disheartened by two things: (1) I was not experienced enough to write for markets I want to write for, and (2) many jobs that read like a vague stepping stone to my desired market payed ridiculously low wages, or nothing at all. I couldn’t believe it. But thanks to reading blogs like these I’ve had it drilled in my head that any jobs that are basically taking advantage of desperate writers just aren’t worth the time. So, what do I do? I compromise. My dream might be to be a travel journalist, but let’s face it – I’ve spent my whole life doing math and science. So half the time I target well-paying gigs that can use my nerdy skill set and for the other half, I go after my dream. I guess what I’m saying is: compromise is just as as important as getting paid what you’re worth, especially for a freelancer in her early days!
Bob Younce at the Writing Journey
September 26th, 2008 at 9:57 am@ Laura – No doubt about it. It’s not as tempting today for me to take a questionable gig as it was three years ago.
@ Michael – I’m talking, mainly, about Google’s keyword spam algorithm, yes.
@ Tina – Absolutely, it is liberating, isn’t it? As I get further in my career, too, I find that I can pick and choose projects based on what I’ll enjoy, as well as on what’s ethical. It’s a great place to be in.
@ Susan – I think that’s key, too. The work you do has to align with not only your values, but with your goals.
@ Monica – Compromise is fine when it comes to breaking into a field. But what you can’t compromise on, in the long term, is your values. Sometimes, you’ve got to let a gig go by to maintain personal integrity.
Great thoughts, all!
Dainis Graveris
September 26th, 2008 at 6:30 pmBeing freelancer is not easy task, however You have wide range of choices – that’s why people choose this way – to get certain freedom. Great points showing, that freelance writing is not that shiny and brilliant as it seems at the first point!
LShep
September 26th, 2008 at 7:15 pmI had to adopt a “questionable products” rule after I was suckered into writing about something that I think was a less-than-reputable product. I simply won’t do it again and I don’t care what clients think about that.
Jamie Simmerman
September 26th, 2008 at 11:18 pmIntegrity is an admirable quality in all business professionals, but I think it is almost essential in writers because a lack thereof shows through in the product produced.
Thanks for the post!
Eileen
September 27th, 2008 at 1:40 pmHi, I’m a newbie out here in the Freelance ocean, but am reading all I can to learn more. I loved the article but am a little confused about what you call a Ponzi scheme? Thanks!
DKumar
September 27th, 2008 at 2:02 pmLet me color the picture point by point.
Danger Zone 1: I totally agree with you on this. same thing happens with freelancers very often and very few of them stand back on themselves. You are the only right person to judge yourself from inside that who you are and what you want to be.
Danger Zone 2: That’s also making total seance as a really good artist know what’s the difference between quality and quantity. it’s always better to stand with quality.
Danger Zone 3: Here my view is little different. as i also mentioned in my first point that you should stand by yourself and try to judge by your instincts and others intention behind the work. there is much difference for writing a article for a commercial blog and a non profit organizations like wiki. obviously there is also other side which says that profit is also having same importance.
these are my personal view so no offense.
Anyway… Thanks for the quality post.
Sunehra
September 28th, 2008 at 5:01 pmI just discovered this blog and found many of the posts very informative. SEO writing was a huge part of my old job as an editor for a website and it took a while to grasp the concept. It truly is a talent!
Nicole LaMarco
September 29th, 2008 at 8:24 amThis is a great post! Since I have been in freelance writing for 6 years I often find myself faced with these dilemmas. I would say I find myself tempted by money for immoral writing at least once a week. I also am asked to create “quality” content in such little time that it is impossible to do so. I am simply honest with them about the problem. Most will find other writers, and some respect that I would be willing to take more time to make their content worth it.
Lacie Babenco
October 24th, 2008 at 12:31 amWow….this is pure Karma. Bob, I love the article and want to add one wrinkle if I may. First, the image that you chose of mine, I’m glad you gave me credit. It shows you are truly respectful of creativity and you should be congratulated.
The image, my name/persona all come from a video ‘game’ called Second Life. In there, I, as Lacie, have become a somewhat successful publisher of amateur writing! As an amateur writer and lover of erotic stories, this medium gave me a virtual world experience of learning what it takes to make a magazine. So many of the things you talk about are true when it comes to e-books. What price will people pay? How do you assemble a staff and can you pay? Will you have advertisers? Oh God has it been an adventure over the last 12 months.
All of my writers and photographers are via Second Life and they donate stories and I find a world of talented photographers that contribute images to make stories pop off the page.
It’s an interesting experience, very draining but at times, so rewarding. Writing, photography and music are wonderful expressions in my life yet anyone with a creative spark must never forget that there is a business side to this all and you should never be taken for granted or taken advantage of!
My advice is to follow your passion. If your passion has a foundation with others, it will be a success. I charge such a small cost for my publication that it helps me keep my little virtual world in tact but not much beyond that. Am I rich? Yes! Because the learnings from all of this are priceless.
When I speak of Karma….I must ask….did you know your picture was taken by a SL avatar? Did you know she is a writer and publisher? Did you know she works in online marketing and demands SEO on a daily basis!?? HA! It is Karma in my mind. Or, at least poetic.
xo
Lacie
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