| When a person decides that their passion is writing, | | | | there processes in place at the site in case |
| initially there tends to be the fantastic dream of being | | | | disagreements between Client and Service Provider |
| paid large publisher's advances for works of fiction or | | | | do arise? How are complaints on both sides of the |
| poetry. Most who do choose writing as a career have | | | | transaction handled? Is there any recourse if either |
| had to face the reality that in order to make a living at I | | | | Client or Service Provider have issues with one |
| what they want to write, sometimes you have to start | | | | another? All of these are factors to consider when |
| out writing what others want and need. Commercial | | | | choosing a freelancing site. |
| writing is a good way to break in and eventually steer | | | | Most would-be Clients want to see samples of your |
| your writing career toward your own goals, even if it is | | | | work. This can be actual articles you have written for |
| a little less exciting than writing what you yourself are | | | | publication or you can simply make one up. Sometimes, |
| passionate about. | | | | however, a potential Client will send you a piece to |
| Businesses need writers. Take a look at any number | | | | rework in your own words or break up into several |
| of freelance working sites online on any given day, and | | | | articles in order to see what you can do. |
| you will see an average of between 300- 1000 | | | | After you finish your article, you are going to want to |
| potential Clients that have assignments for writers. | | | | run it through many of the anti-plagiarism sites on the |
| There is no reason why you, even as a fledgling com | | | | web. The top ones will cost approximately.05 per |
| Most of these sites have free membership with very | | | | usage, and free ones depend on donations from both |
| limited features and benefits. Most sites want you to | | | | users and from companies that use them. Do this to |
| subscribe either on a month-month basis or for a | | | | make sure you haven't inadvertently picked up or used |
| certain number of months. On these sites, clients pay | | | | the words of others, but also to check and see that |
| the site to post jobs, and subscribers will pay for the | | | | your content is not being wrongfully used elsewhere. |
| opportunity to bid on the choicest, most lucrative jobs. | | | | Some freelancers report seeing their article rewrites |
| Some of these assignments can lead to other | | | | that they submit as a bid being reused as someone |
| assignments from other clients or through word of | | | | else's content. If this happens to you, keep a record |
| mouth. | | | | and report any such violations to the freelance work |
| Freelancing sites will also offer services such as | | | | site. Writing is about creativity and it's also about original |
| escrow. Escrow is where a client has a job to fill and | | | | producing good original copy for your clients. |
| they will put down either the full amount of money | | | | When using these sites, submit bids for work that you |
| budgeted for the job, or a percentage of the agreed | | | | are interested in and offer compensation for your |
| price for the services that will be provided by the | | | | work that you can live with. Many will post the budget |
| writer or group of writers. These funds are generally | | | | that they are prepared to spend. After a while you get |
| held by the freelancing site and are released to the | | | | a pretty good idea as to what is fair compensation for |
| writer once they have satisfactorily completed the | | | | the amount of work and experience that is called for. |
| work to the Client's specifications. Usually the guidelines | | | | Do not be afraid to bid on a higher end that others |
| and milestones for any project are negotiated before | | | | may have bid on the same job. Sometimes your |
| the work begins. | | | | samples and experience can blow away lower cost |
| Many freelancing sites will insist that you do most if not | | | | bidders just because the Client views your work as a |
| all of your contacts through the site using their | | | | better fit. Many of these sites have a very high or |
| message system and will prohibit any direct contact | | | | unlimited amount of jobs you can submit bids for if you |
| via email, instant messenger or phone between Clients | | | | are a subscriber, and a lower number for those |
| and Service Providers. This is to protect not only the | | | | submitting bids who are not subscribers to the site. Try |
| interests of the freelancing site, but also to prevent | | | | more than one freelance website in order to get a feel |
| harassment by either the hiring Client or Service | | | | as to which one works best for you. |
| Provider should any issues arise. Such records | | | | Providing good, original content to Clients in a timely |
| become especially necessary if there is a dispute | | | | fashion can be very rewarding both personally and |
| between Client and Service Provider and arbitration is | | | | financially. Guard your feedback and your reputation |
| needed. | | | | with Clients closely, and above all communicate |
| When deciding which site or sites to market your | | | | honestly with them and often. Some will want you to |
| writing services, there are several things to look for. Do | | | | be self-motivated, while other Clients will monitor you |
| a search through your favourite search engine and | | | | every step of the way during the creative process. |
| look up the name off the site, to see what other | | | | Both approaches have their advantages and |
| Service Providers and even clients are saying about | | | | disadvantages. In the end, however, it all comes down |
| using the site. Are the other users of the site | | | | to how you work best as a writer. When you keep |
| consistently underpricing your services in order to win | | | | these things in mind, it will be no time before you start |
| work from you at rates far below a living wage? Are | | | | getting paid for what you write. |