Is Writing For A Byline Really Good Enough?
I spend some time every week browsing the numerous freelance job websites that offer work to freelancers and have found a new developing and disturbing trend. Deb over at Freelance Writing Gigs got me thinking with her latest post on readers queries (especially one from a guy called Richard Z).
It seems that more and more clients are starting to ask for free samples, often asking for whole sized articles making up some 400-500 words on topic. In my eyes this is daylight robbery since some of these “posers” are actually never ending up employing anybody.
Online writing scams
They simply use all the “free samples” and run with it on their websites/blogs. This is actually a common freelance writing scam which Chris talked about not so long ago.
All though this example isn’t exactly a byline, it is still free writing for somebody else’s benefit and I wonder who is the real winner here?
Is it the freelance writer who hopes to get plenty of exposure, or is it the actual owner of the blog/website asking for free samples/offering a byline.
Freelance Sites that suck
To top this all off, a recent emerging favorite of mine (mind you, I never got a single job through them yet) has now started to charge freelance writers to bid on offers to actually talk to clients. And to to be even more annoying they actually raise each bid every time a new freelancer bids for a particular job.
I’m sorry to say ReefBiz, but I’m out of here since I’m not coming to you to pay, but to find work instead. And it wouldn’t be so bad if the clients were actually responsive enough, but from 3 who basically promised me a job I never heard back anymore and my “bumped ego” doesn’t like this very much.
But what about writing for bylines
Well, I’ve written for two sites in recent times to bump my readership some more and spread my wordily wisdom across bigger shores. One of them is for the sexy Jon from Freelance Folder (yep, the word is out thanks to Naomi at Ittibiz) and the other is for Lifehack.org.
So far I wrote two posts for Lifehack.org and one post for Freelance Folder and what I have found probably surprised me more than the next person. With Lifehack being such a huge site with over 50,000 subscribers I would have expected a lot more traffic to be honest.
The good and the bad
From a total or 15! readers from two posts I mean common – is this really all you’ve got? I’d like to think that my writing is good enough for the masses (I admit I’m biased 
) and seeing this kind of result just proves to me that having a byline at the very bottom of your post really doesn’t do jack.
It would actually be nice to have a specific link at the very top of the post as I belief this will honour the writer a lot more.
What are your experiences in regards to bylines?
Opposed to this miserable figure I got 34 visits from Freelance Folder for writing one post so far!
I think that speaks volumes in itself and just goes to show that the set up Jon provides to honour his writers is way better for some added traffic.
I guess it isn’t hard to see where I’ll end up writing some more…
Figures speak volumes
From the above screen shots you can see exactly which blog is more beneficial for a blogger. I admit, it is still early days in terms of seeing results, but I think I can safely say that these pictures speak volumes itself.
What do you think? As always, I appreciate any feedback whether good or bad.
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
Star | Feb 20, 2008 | Reply
The only byline that matters is on a check. If you want to write a sample for someone, and I would not, at least put your copyright at the bottom. You own it–they haven’t paid, so they can’t use it. Of course, this is legally–which seems to matter little to some of these weenies. I even got conned for a few days, and of course, I think I am not con bait. But I was! It was a French magazine, Sante, asking for copy editors…the writing was so horrible, you believed they needed someone…they wrote back twice…I responded both times answering why I was qualified…then came the closer–that same form of bank acct number, bank, etc. you see on the Nigerian things. They got me to write back twice! I am an idiot. Let the mark sell herself. Yup. I never sent any financial info–but others may.
Pennsylvania | Feb 20, 2008 | Reply
I had to let you know……
I have a Google alert set for “writing project”.
This article came up in the generated list! Go figure! It’s because of the two related articles.
You never know! Ha Ha!!!
CathLawson | Feb 20, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika – this is one of those topics where you’ll get many differing opinions isn’t it?
I wouldn’t just write for a byline for an old site, but definitely for one with higher traffic and a relevant audience.
But, your stats don’t sound as though it was worthwhile doing it.
I’ve noticed recently that the most successful freelancers did lots of guest posts for various different bloggers, and that’s how they seem to have got noticed.
Take Skellie as an example. She’s a great writer, but I think I saw her name three different times before I clicked through to her blog.
I know it sounds like a lot of work but it may be worth trying. Did you know – problogger is advertising for guest posters and he’s just looking for short posts. It may be worth checking out.
Monika | Feb 20, 2008 | Reply
@ Star: interesting story you got there. I certainly agree that giving out personal bank details to a total stranger is holding its risks.
I even freak out when people want to know my PayPal info. It’s great you are sharing this though, since it needs to be said.
Monika | Feb 20, 2008 | Reply
@ Pennsylvania: funny that since I never tagged the post with writing project.
Monika | Feb 20, 2008 | Reply
@ Cath: yes, this topic can throw up some interesting conversations. I didn’t know about Problogger since i don’t really read him at all (yes, there are some of us who don’t).
Skellie has certainly done very well and I see what you mean by guest posting all around the high frequency blogs to get noticed.
To be honest, I’m sort of torn between the two extremes. I guess I sort of peddle in the middle and only write for blogs I also read to start with, but then I only have so much time in the day to give away to others.
Opal Tribble - Addicted To Writing | Feb 21, 2008 | Reply
I’ve written a sample for one website. That was the technology news based website. I knew the site was legitimate so for me it was not a big deal. I had given them samples of my work. I linked them to my technology website. Although they were impressed, they wanted to see a news based story. My articles on my technology website are mainly tutorials.
I’ve been very successful with freelance writing by going out there and seeking jobs. I haven’t waited for them to come to me. I also didn’t feel like doing a lot of guest posting just like yourself I only have a certain amount of time in my day.
Jon Phillips | Feb 21, 2008 | Reply
wow, now that really made my day (the stats things, though the sexy thing is also very nice hehe) 34 visits from FF and 16 from LH…? humm..
Well LifeHack featured a couple posts from FreelanceFolder a while ago and I got thousands of visitors, but I noticed that guest bloggers and freelance writers only get a ‘small’ link at the very bottom (not sure if these links are included in the RSS feed?), well you know you’re always welcome to write on FF, next time I hope it’ll get you more than just 34 visitors (hundreds or thousands would be a lot nicer)
Monika | Feb 21, 2008 | Reply
@ Opal: I’m impressed by your ability to snatch jobs basically at will
It just shows that going for it beats waiting any day and like you I’m trying to do the same thing.
At present I have some 5 applications floating around and until I get another job come through I will keep plugging away. This has worked for me since the beginning and I didn’t have to apply for any jobs in over 3 month.
This spell has now dried up (ironically just when I go full time). I had the best two weeks of the month ever and since then it’s been like the Sahara desert.
@ Jon: yeah, I was stumped to be honest but actually have been warned that LH won’t convert well. It’s true though, I got linked to from Lifehack to a post on my other blog and got also thousands of visitors which was great.
Unfortunately the guest blogging doesn’t seem to work as well.
I’m happy to come and collect my thousands of visitors from FF for sure.
Let me construct a kick butt post and then get back to you.
Opal Tribble - Addicted To Writing | Feb 21, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
I’ve always been fairly aggressive when it came to my work, business, sports, so “Making it happen” in freelance writing was second nature. Keep it up it’s amazing how much you can make happen just by going for it.
Some of my biggest traffic has come from the smaller websites I’m guessing, in my case, that they are more personable so their readers feel that the author has more of a connection with the person they are writing about or introducing. With the new website that I write for, I received over 3,000 visitors from one Digg. A person linked to me in their post and I received over 600 visits to that particular post. The website is small compared to some and I never met either people before but they wrote a great intro to my articles and people were curious enough to click through.
I have been mentioned on a few of the high profile blogs but my traffic has been low under a few hundred. However, a few friends have linked to me on their post and my traffic was in the hundred. The way I was mentioned was completely different.
I’ve linked and stumbled some of my friend’s website, and they averaged over 800 page views from the Stumbles/Digg. I usually tell people when I stumble or Digg their articles. When writing the brief review about the article I make sure I write something that will make the person want to visit that website. From my personal experience I’ve found that how a person links to another website can be important. I try to make the website appealing that I’m linking.
Mike Smith | Feb 22, 2008 | Reply
I think if you’re blogging as a way to showcase your writing skills and your website has a “hire me” page or focuses on pulling in clients, then writing for other blogs is a great way to get the word out. Skellie from http://www.skelliewag.org does a LOT of writing. Some of which is paid for, but she did a lot of guest posting in the beginning to get her name noticed. Now, when people say “skellie” the majority of the blog-o-sphere knows what it means (or who it means lol).
Other then the added exposure, I don’t think writing pro-bono is worth it to be honest. It’s the same as me designing a website layout for a contest. No guarantee of money.
Jon Phillips | Feb 22, 2008 | Reply
humm, well just the fact you can say you wrote for a site that has over 50k readers is just awesome, looks very very nice on a resume!
Monika | Feb 23, 2008 | Reply
@ Opal: I think what you just said is often underestimated by most bloggers and I thank for making me more aware of that fact.
I’m quite involved in SU myself always trying to stumble my favorite posts and help these guys get some more traffic. I don’t Digg as much since I don’t understand the Digg community and would only waste their and my time I think.
Writing a proper submission however is something that I could also improve on as often I choose the fast way instead of spending a little more time to make it more attractive.
@ Mike: Guest blogging is great for branding reasons and that is exactly why I chose to do it. I’ve seen Skellie rising from nowhere and becoming very popular in a short amount of time and this is entirely thanks to her great writing.
The reason I’ve decided to guest blog is similar. I’m hoping to attract more readers which in turn will result into more writing gigs. Hopefully it will eventuate, all though the new connections I have made in the industry are worth is alone I think (just look at sexy Jon)
@ Jon: You are so right you know. In fact I have to remodel my whole self branded website now to fit in all the new stuff I have been doing lately plus my new upcoming package launches.
Shiva | Mar 3, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika,
I totally subscribe to your samples – daylight robbery viewpoint. But do you think there is an alternative out there for them? Like do you think point to your own blog instead of samples will do any good?
Suneetha | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
Monika
I wandered into this via the jeetblog site, and like it very much.
I am not a compulsive or prolific blogger, but rather write for bylines and checks the more. I too have scampered out of a corporate cabin into the freelance jungle and writing is the only skill I have…
Bylines are certainly important, and I have found that persistence does pay, but there are always exceptions!
I guess, as someone has commented before me, we could keep samples of various genres in our blog and give them links as and when needed, instead of writing out whole samples…btw, I have heard of guys who run their site by samples…
Monika | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
@ Suneetha: Thank you for taking the time and stopping by. I like your idea on the samples bit as it is like seasoning a meal with different spices.
I guess it makes the whole deal more exotic doesn’t it. I have to compliment you on your site as well, I found it to be very professional and different from what we normally see and i guess this makes it more stand out.
You seem to do what I’m hoping to do one day and that is become a travel writer for inflight magazines. Maybe you can share some tips with me in regards to that.
Grinch | Aug 13, 2008 | Reply
I agree the best byline is on a cheque, although the other one comes in handy and is also nice to have. I don’t see why one can’t have both.
How does one get paid for internet articles? I’ve written for newspapers and magazines and put together film and radio documentaries as well as done business writing BUT all jobs involved getting a cheque. The web seems to be an unruly frontier where too many writers get chopped to pieces. Years ago I helped start an association for journalists to ensure that writers got fair treatment. It seems that writers need such an association to govern fair internet practice. I’d be interested to hear what others have to say. Unfortunately, with the incredible shrinking magazine/newspaper market the best bet for writers looking for chances at steady work is on the internet. One answer to the “send in a sample of your work” scenario is to send something for which you’ve been paid.