Another Freelance Writer Scam: They're Everywhere!
Can you believe that I was targeted by another freelance writer scam? That's two this month! What is wrong with these people?
I was asked to edit the text of an article for a guy named Jason Dickson. (His email is jj_dickins@att.net, just in case you get targeted by him.
Nothing unusual there. The text was particularly horrible, so I charged more. The guy said that he'd mail me a check.
This was my first mistake. Writer's don't ever accept checks as payment if it's from someone you've never heard of and that is an individual. Checks from big companies are fine.
Next, the guy said that his partner cut the check for $4000 instead of the price I quoted him. He asked if I would wire the extra money back to him? Umm, sound fishy yet?
I just repeated told the guy that I hadn't received the check and never agreed to wire him the money. I figured there was no check and he was telling me all this in hopes that I would do the editing for free. I wasn't about to do any work until I received payment, so I wasn't worried. Writers, don't ever start work until you receive some type of payment upfront. I've been burned too many times not to follow that rule.
So, after over a month, the check arrives. It isn't for $4000. It's for $2850. He also told me that the check was sent out weeks ago, but UPS and the date on the check says that it was mailed one day before I received the check. Jason Dickson emails me and tells me that he wants me to wire the money to:
NAME.............. Nicholas Folk
ADDRESS........107 S MAIN ST,
CITY................... Brooklyn
STATE................New York
ZIP CODE....... 11213
Huh? The guy's name is Jason Dickson, but he wants me to wire money to Nicholas Folk?
I went down to my local bank and talked to them about the situation. They said that this is a common scam. The scam artists create a check that has a routing number from one bank and an account number from another. This confuses the bank's machines and, as the check bounces around in the system, the writer wires money back to the scam artist. The scam artist gets money, the writer's account is in the hole once the check bounces and the writer has no recourse but to pay back the bank. Also, some banks will close the bank account of a victim of fraud, even if they pay off the fees and over-drafted account!
Thankfully, I didn't wire the guy any money, but I want to make sure that no one else falls for this scheme. Pass this post along on Twitter and Facebook to all of your writing friends and maybe we can stop scams against writers!
Beware of the Roche Writer's Scam
I was targeted yesterday by a scammer. I had applied for a job writing for the company Roche, so I wasn't surprised when I got a text message from a guy, Randy Edward, claiming to be part of their HR. He told me that he wanted to do an IM interview through Yahoo. Okay, I've done IM interviews before. No problem.
The interview progressed just like any other. It got weird when he said that I needed to purchase some equipment from one of the software companies that they use and that they would reimburse me.
Now, I realize some legitimate companies work this way. Jack-in-the-Box, for example, requires employees to purchase non-slip shoes from one of their suppliers.
Still, I had a sneaky suspicion that this guy wasn't legit, so I contacted Roche. Here is the email I got this morning:
Dear Alina
Thank you for your interest in Roche.
Randy Edward is not working for Roche. Please be aware that there is a scam on several websites where fake "Roche" jobs are being posted. If you apply you will be interviewed via messenger which Roche will never do. In the end you will be requested to pay money for equipment to work from home. Roche will never extend an offer without a personal interview and will never charge any money for joining our company. Please ignore these kinds of advertisements. We are working with our legal department on this.
If you would like to apply for a position with Roche please visit our careers sitehttp://careers.roche.com where you can apply directly online for any vacancies that match your search criteria. If there are no current vacancies that meet your criteria, you have the opportunity to join the Roche Talent Pool. By joining the Roche Talent Pool you are registering your interest in joining Roche. Once you have registered, told us what sort of opportunities you are looking for and ticked the box to activate automatic alerts, we will email you to let you know if suitable positions become available. Please visit us at http://careers.roche.com.
We wish you the best in your job search.
Best regards
Natalie Zurbriggen
Corporate Webmaster
So, paying attention to my intuition paid off because I didn't give him any account information and I didn't purchase anything before I got the facts.
Next time you have a suspicious feeling, Google or contact the company directly! I Googled and it turns out that this is a common scam. Here is someone else targeted by the Roche scam.
By the way, this scammer's Yahoo IM is employmentdesk101. I ended up spamming his IM with this message: "Looks like you're going to jail!" Immature, I know, but it was fun.
Freelance Writing and Job Searching: Government Jobs
No doubt, finding more freelance work is on the top of your New Year's to-do list. You may want to try getting a freelance position with the US government. The pay is good and the work can be steady, well, until they cut funding for your project, at least.
If a position with the government sounds good, I've found a site that makes finding writing jobs easy. FedBizOpps is a site run by the US government and offers a search engine that finds jobs based on keywords. Surprisingly, there are several openings for writers and artists. Head on over there and take a look at the latest openings.
What is Interact Media?
Interact Media is another place that freelance writers can make some cash. They require you to do an initial article so that they can rate your writing skills. Once you are rated, you can claim assignments that match your rating. Of course, how much you're paid depends on your rating. They also offer payments for affiliate work.
Interact pays twice a month through PayPal. The site takes a percentage of your wages in return for providing you with assignments.
Personally, this sounds like Textbroker and some other low-paying sites I've seen. Has anyone tried them before? How much do they pay on average?
What is Writers Domain?
Well, I like to feature the great places to get freelance writing work and the ones that you should stay far, far away from. In this case, it is the latter. Writers Domain is another content farm that pays almost nothing. They pay based on a five star rating system. If you get a 2 or 3 star rating you get $3 per article. If you get a 4 or 5 star rating you get paid $3.30 per article. Umm, really?
Please, even if you are new to freelance writing, do not, I repeat, do not work for sites that pay these types of wages. You can do better!
What is Personalive Services?
I came across a site the other day that is looking for writers. I'm not sure how much they pay or what kind of writing they want, but I thought I'd pass along the name of the site and their contact information. The site is Personalive Services and you can inquire about a writing job by sending them a cover letter and your resume to this email address.
If you have any information about this site, be sure to let me know about it in the comments, below.
What is Make Use Of?
Do you know a lot about technology and have a lot of fresh ideas for articles? Then you may want to apply at Make Use Of. This site is hiring writers that can pitch tech article ideas and then write them well. Here's their stats:
They pay a minimum of $60 per post and more for experienced writers They pay bonuses if you meet certain criteria They pay through PayPal They pay every month
4 Sneaky Ways to Find More Freelance Writing Work
Tired of the usual job finding tips for writers? Yah, me too. I follow a lot of blogs and they seem to have the same advice over and over again. So, I decided to write a post about some of my favorite "undercover" job finding methods.
Follow companies you would like to write for on Twitter and Facebook. Watch their feeds for clues that they may need new talent, such as posts stating that they are expanding or opening a new site. Watch your friend's LinkedIn updates. When they join a new company, ask if they know of any openings for writers. Better yet, have them recommend you for a position. When a writer mentions who they write for in a forum post, Google the business. Check the site's job page and see if they have openings for more writers. Follow editors on social networks. When they move to a new publication, send them some pitches that will work for the magazine or website.
Freelance Writing, Paid Tweeting and Blogging Sites
Here is a roundup of places that pay you to write articles, tweets or blogs. Be sure to check this blog for reviews of these sites.
About.com Auction Bytes Blogsvertise
Bloggerwave Blogitive B5media
BOTW Media Break Studios Bright Hub
Constant-Content Consumer Search Content Mantra Daily Article Demand Studios
DigitalJournal.com
Internet Brands
Love to Know LoudLaunch
Review Me Sponsored Tweets
Seed Star Reviews Strategy Page
Shvoong Tech Media Network The Content Authority
Weblogs Inc
Update to My Ebyline Application
So, as I told in in my previous post, I applied to Ebyline. I presented them with links to published work, my resume and a load of other information about my professional writing history. Here is the email I received a few days later:
Thank you for applying to Ebyline. As part of our review process, we would like to confirm additional information about you.
Did an Editor that you currently work with refer you to Ebyline? If so, please tell us their name and which publication they work for.
If you were not invited to use Ebyline by an Ebyline Editor, please provide additional information about your experience including:
* Links or attachments for 3-5 paid clips
* Resume/CV that highlights your previous journalism work experience
* other details you can provide about yourself (i.e. Are you a full-time freelance journalist? What beats/topics do you cover? What publications have you written for?)
Please respond to this email and attach your additional information.
Thanks,
The Ebyline Team
Umm, huh? I already spent 30 minutes submitting all of this information a few days ago. Did they have a glitch in their system? I really don't feel like doing it again. Has anyone else had this problem?
What is Ebyline?
I've been hearing a lot of good things about Ebyline lately, so I decided to investigate. Ebyline is a site that helps match writers with businesses that need bloggers. Writers have to bid for the chance at each gig and the pickings are few from the look at the dashboard.
This is the email I received after registering:
Thank you for registering with Ebyline!
We are currently reviewing your application and will respond shortly with a status update.
What's the next step? Once we approve your registration, you’ll need to complete the final step to be ready to work with editors through Ebyline.
What is Ebyline and how does it help Freelancers?
Ebyline offers an efficient way for qualified, professional freelancers, like you, to connect with editors in newsrooms across the country, and showcase your experience and work. Most importantly, Ebyline offers a streamlined way for freelancers to get paid quickly and track transactions for their work.
Check out our Freelance Video to learn more: http://vimeo.com/24578339
Benefits of working with Ebyline:
* 100% FREE
* Get paid electronically when a publisher buys your story
* Create a profile highlighting your work experience and allow editors to find and assign you projects
* Eliminate the need to invoice publishers (Ebyline automatically sends those for you)
* Automate your record keeping, including archives of all pitches, assignments, sold projects, and payments received
* Get one 1099 at the end of the year for all of the content you sell through Ebyline (including assignments from publishers)
For updates, follow us on Twitter at: @ebyline or visit our blog at http://ebyline.biz. Also, feel free to contact us directly at support@ebyline.com.
We look forward to working with you.
The Ebyline Team
Update: Check out my follow-up email here.
What is 4Writers.net?
4Writers.net is a website where writers can sign up to write essays for pay. What's the catch? You have to do a test which consists of 10 grammar questions and an essay.
Now, if you don't know me, I'll let you know right now that I'm against doing any type of work for free. Granted, I could see answering the grammar questions. There's no way they can use those answers for profit. The essay, on the other hand, could be used whether or not you "pass" the test. this is a common scam used to get free content out of unsuspecting writers. Am I saying that 4Writers.net is a scam? No. I am warning you to be cautious, though.
How much you earn seems to revolve around how fast you can pump out essays. Here is how they charge their clients for content on a per page basis:
7 day turnaround = $4 to $10 4 day turnaround = $5 to $12 2 day turnaround = $6 to $14 1 day turnaround = $7 to $16
Of course, 4Writers.net will take a cut from whatever they charge the client. So that means you could be making less than $4 per page. The site advertises that it pays up to $16 per page, but I don't see how that's possible if they want to make a profit.
All-in-all, I think that this site is trying to be like Demand Media Studios, but with lower pay, higher requirements (you need a college degree to write for 4Writers) and less sophisticated site. If DMS can't make it with this model, I really doubt 4Writers can.
DMS Slowing Down eHow Production
Well, the event people have been predicting has finally happened. Demand Media Studios has all but halted the production of eHow articles.
In an announcement made last week, DMS said that it will limit the amount of titles produced for the site for the foreseeable future. Titles are restricted to subjects that hasn't already been covered by eHow.
Hmmm, titles that hasn't already been covered by eHow... Articles on lengthy, in-depth processes that are worth a lot more than $15-$25 a pop. I don't see many writers spending their time writing for DMS any more. The lure of the fast buck is gone.
How to Present Yourself to Sources When You're Writing On-Spec
I recently received an email by a reader. Her question is a common one, and one I've dealt with: What do you tell your sources when you are writing on-spec? Do you tell them you are writing for the publication? Here was my reply:
The best way to go about this is to tell your source that you are working on-spec for XYZ Magazine and leave it at that. Most people don't mind and those who might care usually don't know what "on-spec" means.
If it turns out that your article isn't accepted, simply tell your source that the article won't be published with XYZ Magazine, afterall, but you are looking for another publisher that is well suited for the piece.
You don't have to go into detail about why the article didn't get published. Articles don't get published all the time, whether you are an expert writer or not. Publication needs change, magazines run out of money, etc, so there's no need to worry about your credibility.
What is Remilon?
I know a lot of freelance writers are looking for gigs that are like Demand Media, but have a better editorial department and nicer reputation, while still paying upfront for articles. Remilon is a website that pays upfront for articles and has a great reputation. Here are a few facts about the company:
Writers are paid by-the-hour They specialize in education articles Currently, they have over 200 writers Remilon pays twice a month through PayPal They produce around 2,000 articles per month Pay is $8 per hour and up Freelance writers must do 15 hours of work per week A test article is required before acceptance, but you are paid for the test article You have an assigned editor and can freely communicate with the editor The articles are 250-300 words
If you have any questions about this freelance writing job you can email
Update:
I recently received this email:
Hello Alina,
I'm writing on behalf of Remilon, the online educational resource you recently profiled on your blog. First off, thanks for showcasing Remilon to your readers. It's a great article but one point was concerning to us because we don't want to confuse prospective applicants: the third bullet point from the bottom is slightly misleading ("A test article is required before acceptance, but you are paid for the test article").
New Remilon content writers aren't paid for the test assignment specifically, but the orientation process as a whole is paid. I'd just like to remove the notion that the test assignment itself is paid so applicants aren't surprised.
Thank you!
Erin Malus
----------
Erin Malus
Publishing Operations Coordinator
Remilon, LLC
Suite 101 Stats for September
There's been a lot of talk that Suite 101 has hit bottom and is never coming back. For a while I believed it, but I was still making some money there so I didn't leave.
It's lucky that I didn't. My money has bounced back and is almost back to pre-Panda levels. I'm pretty excited since that is a big bunch of moola. Here are my stats:
Before Panda 2200 PVs per week Currently 2100 PVs per week My earnings have been going up by 10-50% each month By this time next month my earnings should be back to pre-Panda levels I have only posted 4 articles since Panda hit 314 articles in all
Update: I have almost doubled last months earnings and I haven't written a thing. This is turning out to be a great month for my Suite 101 earnings.
Finished My Ebook
Well, for all of you wondering, I finished my ebook with two weeks to spare. Since I have ghostwritten so many it was a piece of cake. Almost Free Art Supplies is now available to buy on Smashwords. (Watch for my tips on publishing with Smashwords in a future post.)
Here's how I've been marketing my ebook:
Blog posts An announcement on my art site's homepage Twitter announcement Facebook announcement LinkedIn announcement Forums announcement (in a forum that allows these types of announcements) Articles on similar topics that link to the ebook Guest blog posts (contact me if you would like me to do a guest blog)
Do you have a favorite way of marketing that I'm not taking advantage of? Let me know!
How to Replace Demand Media Studios?
Lately I have been writing a lot for Demand Media Studios. Here's why:
They pay twice a week I can make $30 an hour or more The articles can be written using very little brain power I can do $100 worth of work in a few hours and spend the rest of the day working on my ebook, blogs or websites
There have been rumors swirling, though, that DMS is having financial trouble and won't be able to last much longer. So, after tapering off for a few weeks, I'm back to the client hunt so I can keep more eggs in my basket (I have several clients other than Demand) while I build my own website and write my ebook. The problem is I keep seeing job ads offering writers less than $30 an hour but want more work. I usually click right past them because I think of the easy money at DMS.
What happened to all of the good jobs? I'm guessing the recession mixed with a heavy dose of Panda has made most website owners wary of paying writers what they are worth.
Before I get emails contradicting me, I know that there are good paying clients out there. They are just few and far between. I also know that DMS is a content mill. In DMS' defense, though, they are trying to change their image by specializing and going after big name clients.
I guess I'm going to stick with doing the DMS thing for a while longer while I get my own projects off the ground.
How Important Are Photos to Search Results?
You've probably heard the old SEO tip that you should add photos to your articles because it will give the article more Google juice. The file name of the photo gives you an extra place to put a keyword and sometimes people search for images with certain names.
I decided to check on the last part of that tip. How many people actually come to your site through an image search?
According to my stats, out of 1,000 page views, only three of them came by image search. This information came to me via my art blog that almost only consists of images. I suspect a blog that consists of mostly text would fair even worse.
Food for thought.
Day 5 of 30 Days to Make, Market and Sell a Fabulous Ebook
So, I'm still reading Angela England's "30 Days to Make, Market and Sell a Fabulous Ebook" (affiliate link) and I have made it to day five. By this point, readers have come up with an ebook idea, brainstormed chapter ideas and have completed an outline of the ebook. Using Angela's tips, I have all I need to start my ebook with a well though-out plan.
I'm pretty impressed about how smoothly this is going so far. Usually a large project like this overwhelms me and I procrastinate, but the ebook is keeping me on-track.