forget valentine’s day. riddle me this: am i getting bloggy screwed?
is it valentine’s day or valentines day? apostrophe? no apostrophe?
whatever. it doesn’t matter.
ok, so a wee bit ago, i posted some rants about how i was doing and why i was in much need of mass amounts of coffee. it was in that post that i mentioned what i referred to as a “potentially STABLE freelancing gig as a blogger.”
so here’s the thing… without going into too much detail about the gig, i’m finding that 2 weeks into it, i think i’m getting bloggy screwed.
i’m not a big name blogger. i haven’t been doing this for a while. i mean, all you have to do is read my “about” page in order to realize that i have no clue what i’m doing with this here blog of mine.
oh yeah, and i’m not canadian. apparently the vast majority of fantastic and legit bloggers are all up there with the olympic flame.
ok, back to the screwing… i was under the impression (enter nic’s naivete) that this was a paid gig. i had been asked to go on board with a site as a weekly blogger and discuss my experience with anxiety and what it’s like to live with anxiety on a day to day basis. i was stoked.
working towards my own stability with my anxiety is a journey in itself, but to be able to help others at the same time would be entirely rad.
now, i find myself a bit skeptical. “the powers that be” have all of my info, my bio, pic, even an introductory blog post. however, it was after i “established” myself on their site that i received an email saying “this is a voluntary position.”
WHUUUUUUUUUUUUT?!?!?!
the email was very professional, apologetic even for giving me the wrong impression, and THEN laid out the details of what exactly they are looking for from me.
so here’s the thing… if i go ahead and continue “working” VOLUNTARILY for this site and posting for them, i get a lot of traffic, it drives traffic from there to here, SEO jibber jabber, etc, etc… if i peace out of this gig, no harm, no foul. right? i mean, i was the one deceived, right?
or was i? is this just how social media works in terms of getting what they want from you? i dunno. you tell me.
meanwhile, as i ponder about whether or not i’m bending over and taking it up the rear from this website, i receive yet another email from “the powers that be” that says something along the lines of more details with regards to my posts, bla bla bla, SEO bullshit, traffic, la la la… and then…
” Once you get a few posts up and show that you intend on sticking around, we’ll add you to our (insert name of website) list here: (insert my pic, bio, and information i have already submitted to them here).”
again, WHUUUUUUUUUUUT!?!?!?
so let me get this straight… i have to “get a few posts up and show that i intend on sticking around” in order to gain any sort of recognition on the website… and this is an unpaid gig?
don’t misunderstand me, i’m not about blogging for the money, SEO crap, etc. in fact i just recently opened up space on my blog to run ads. there is a reason why the ad section of my blog is titled “pocket change” people. i’m not here for the benjamins.
veteran bloggers, i ask you, what’s the deal? am i getting bloggy screwed? cuz i have a deadline coming up and i’m unsure as to whether or not i’m going to meet it or peace out.
help a blogger out. i’ll give you candy hearts of love…
No Responses to “forget valentine’s day. riddle me this: am i getting bloggy screwed?”
|
|
Nipple Jewelry from Nipplecharms.com Non Piercing and fun! |
twice...
ugh dont ask me b/c i have no idea what im doing or talking about when it comes to blogging but unfortunately my gut is screaming RUN! do a search on them, see if you find anything out that way.
jenn´s last blog ..Morning Glory
@jenn, yeah, my gut is speaking the same language. *head to desk*
Maybe you bloggy screwed yourself. Did you NOT ask about compensation?
Is there any job in the world you would ever accept without first asking how much you got paid?
Jessica Gottlieb´s last blog ..Friday Confession: Boozy
@Jessica Gottlieb, thanks for asking that jessica because i forgot to mention that when i was initially contacted by said website, i emailed them a list of questions i had, one of which was regarding compensation. a few email exchanges later, it continued to go unaddressed and then once i established myself on the site, i received the email about it being a voluntary position.
Did you accept the position without a dollar being talked about, or did they assume you’d write free?
Can I beg you to NEVER WORK FREE FOR ANYONE ELSE?! If you’ve gotta work for free, at least own it on your site.
Jessica Gottlieb´s last blog ..Friday Confession: Boozy
@Jessica Gottlieb, looking back at the emails, since i did keep them all, i get the impression that they were assuming i would write for free.
and yes, you can beg. and i will oblige. as always, i appreciate your insight.
Never assume it’s a paid gig.
There are tons of sites that get a shit load of free content by stroking the egos of bloggers and getting them to write for nothing. Not even a decent byline. If you feel you are not getting any substantial benefit from blogging for them, don’t do it.
Mr. Toy With Me´s last blog ..CBS Abortion Ad A Classic Bait And Switch
@Mr. Toy With Me, noted. thanks. it helps to get not only another perspective, but a male one. less emotion involved, which helps me concerning this decision.
Unfortunately, you did not make yourself clear early on, and they took advantage of you NOT being more assertive. Lose, Lose, IMO.
If I was expecting compensation from something, I certainly would not BEGIN working without a contract in place, stating EXPLICITLY what the compensation terms would be.
If you don’t mind them using your content for free, and without recognition, stay, but it sounds like you’ve already decided that’s not for you. So, I would call it a lesson in life and cut your losses, if you are not okay with the current agreement.
@Ali @PickleSugarPlum, yeah, i think you’re right. and i’m learning through this experience that though every bit of contact i have had with this website has been via email, i needed to be more assertive.
while i consider myself to be an assertive person, my eyes are being opened to this online world of blogs and SEO and how it all works… or in this case, doesn’t work.
thanks for your comment.
My initial thoughts as I read this are pretty much what Jessica asked above…did you ask? You say you did, but didn’t get an answer. I don’t think you’re getting screwed, because getting screwed is “Hey, we’ll pay you a ton of money!” and then never receiving anything.
I think my advice for this is the same as it would be if you were doing any sort of subcontract work (plumbing in a house, yard work, ghost writing) and that is to make sure to establish business terms very very clearly before starting, so that neither party is disappointed. Always have everything in writing, even if you’re dealing with a close family member. Especially if you are dealing with a family member.
If if you do this for free and are okay with all of it, don’t be surprised if you don’t get a lot of traffic driven to your site. I tell you this from personal experience. I have written many pieces for one of the top 5 blogs in the world (http://technorati.com/blogs/top100) and the traffic to my site was insignificant…about the same click thru rate as a banner ad, which is ~1%. So go to compete.com, look up the website in question, multiply their traffic by 0.01 and that is about how much traffic you can expect to get from them. Of course there are exceptions…but I suppose you need to ask yourself…is all of the effort you are putting into it worth the potential reward?
Good luck!
Matt Singley´s last blog ..Tweetdeck Update Brings Welcomed Improvements
@Matt Singley, thanks matt. see, this is the stuff that i know NOTHING about. i think the “technorati” word above just made me want to gouge out my eyes. i’m learning and i guess there’s a steep learning curve when it comes to social media.
i just want to write, and i’ve made that known from the beginning whether it was with regards to this blog or any other project i have been a part of. i’m beginning to see that when some people find that out about me, they use it to their advantage.
thanks for your input, especially regarding all the site traffic stuff.
I wouldn’t say screwed, but I’d say definitely not cool that they’re holding your pic/bio for ransom until you’ve “stuck around.” That’s BS. Them posting that stuff is the compensation for you blogging, because, you are correct that traffic, etc, that you get from gigs like this is necessary and will eventually pay off.
The key word is “eventually”–and it can be really frustrating. I’ve been blogging for about 4 years now (maybe longer?) and JUST TODAY received my first check EVER: for $28. But the thing is, it’s been totally worth it because it’s basically taken me from SAHM to a successful career in that time. Blogging is huge for building your brand, your resume, your portfolio–and all that stuff is worth more in the long run than what you’d be getting paid to write individual blog posts.
But in the meantime, it does suck and if you need income now the idea that this will pay off eventually isn’t really that much help.
I wouldn’t sweat it too much–if you’re getting traffic from this site, that is. If not, I’d ask to be removed.
Maggie´s last blog ..
@Maggie, $28 wow!!!! that’s enough for a manicure and pedicure at this place that i once went to in jacksonville, florida that i got a foot fungus from.
thanks for your comment. i just checked out your blog and LOVED what you wrote on your last piece that “blogging is cheaper than therapy.” it’s so true.
i enjoy my blog so much and i really LOVE the connections that have been made through it. it’s really incredible to think about. at the same time, i’m a newbie and need to watch my own back a bit better.
thanks again!
Ok so I don’t know anything about this really but I would say that if they are holding your picture and bio that they are being a bit odd.
I think it’s probably ok if they are at least sending traffic to your site but if they don’t put your info up I would definitely be out of there!
Heather @ Brace Yourselves´s last blog ..Power? I don’t need no stinkin’ power.
@Heather @ Brace Yourselves, they have my info, but i have (as of this afternoon) asked that they remove me and all of my information from my site immediately.
not worth it.
lesson learned.
blogging is hard sometimes…
Hey Nic
I am a complete novice blogger so have no clue but would’ve assumed that I was being paid…..guess you live and learn? Blogging is hard but not in the ways I imagined xxx
Emma´s last blog ..Internet Dating? Count me Out!!!!!
@Emma, hi emma. thank you for your sweet comment. i’m learning that blogging and interacting via social media are two separate entities that are easily intertwined. and i’m just not sure yet how to keep the two separate… if i want to keep them separate… if it’s even possible… but i’m learning and i appreciate your encouragement.
Nicole, would you please condider renaming your post to “… Am I getting screwed Bloggy Style?” See? It rhymes with doggy style? OK, enough puns connoting double entendre. I am going to go drink a cold beverage and pine over the fact that you guys aren’t here hanging in Jax with me and Rach. Snow is stupid. See you guys soon.
@BK, billy!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! paul is across the street, at USNA with povo, talking pilot talk with other pilots about pilot shit and i would so rather be sitting in your living room with your beautiful wife, gorgeous twin babies, listening to you and paul laugh about pilot shit together. all of this just sucks…… doggy style sucks.
hi sweets! i honestly have zero experience in this arena, as i’ve never attempted to seek out any paid writing gigs. but i did used to own a small clothing store (again with NO personal experience/training/education, just a pension for vintage styles and a lot of caffeine!) and i just wanted to say i think you’re on the right track to figuring it all out – asking questions and seeking advice from those who do know the details. the best lessons i learned regarding business/promoting myself were learned from people who had either a ton of experience or formal training. do you have any personal connections with paid bloggers? it may be wise to contact them directly for advice! although i realize you’re not trying to ‘make it big’ in the typical sense, it would probably be good for you to know for certain what a fair and appropriate standard should expected in this kind of situation…
best of luck, lady! xo!
@emily bilbrey, hi hun! honestly, i’m not really interested in getting paid for blogging unless i’m the one who is contacted by someone interested in my writing. i don’t have time to pursue this as a type of job, more or less. however, this site contacted me and i was duped.
meh, oh well. no harm, no foul.
but reading your comment REALLY makes me want to go shopping with you.
I was all gung ho in the beginning and wrote some guest posts and sponsored posts on various sites as well. The big benefit is the traffic it drives and the linking (SEO) which you aren’t worried about. If the site has a high page rank and gets a lot of visitors it will only drive more traffic to you. If you have the time, I do not see the foul. Read the fine print in any agreement as there are usually disclaimers about duplicate content and other things you must do to stay aboard. If you aren’t getting paid just be sure you are at least getting visitors!!
Real Dads Hangout´s last blog ..Real Dad’s Apology
@Real Dads Hangout, thanks for the comment and advice. i appreciate it. i just don’t think this is my gig. i’m not down with shady stuff and things not being explicit, especially when it comes to social networking and blogging and such, because i am a newbie and obviously can get duped.
I don’t know. I don’t think there’s really any money in blogging that would make a significant difference. At least that’s not why I do it. I certainly don’t write for money on my blog and all the revenue from ads, text links etc, go to charity. I took the MamaPop gig knowing it was a free one and I’m so glad I did. I’ve made a ton of friends and it’s a chance to write about stuff I don’t cover in my own space. I think for me, time is the most important thing. If it stresses you out to write for them, then don’t do it. If you’re having fun, then go for it. The traffic thing is bullshit. Fuck that. It’s not like they’re CNN. Just give it a shot for a few posts, get them to live up to their end of the deal and weigh the pros and cons once you have all the info. Never make it about the money. Wrong business… For me, it’s about the FAME baby! Smooches.
Out-Numbered´s last blog ..A Valentine’s Day Optical Illusion…
@Out-Numbered, ah jason… my blogging brother… how i adore thee. you offer awesome insight and perspective and logic, which is good for an emotional chick like myself. i know i can always depend on you to bring me out of the clouds and back down to earth. so thank you for that, my favorite FAME whore. xoxo.