Hi, Looking at the dropping prices and loads and loads of responses coming to this trend, I thought of discussing a strategy that I have worked out to get good clients. I suggest writing absolutely free content, no strings attached, for one or two members with 100+ itraders. In this way, I still wont loose much, as I still would not have been paid more than $5 at most for that job, and I might attract positive reviews from these clients if they like my job. This would rather strengthen my profile and portfolio. Please let me know if this is worth the effort? Regards, Jeewant
I think this is foolish. If you want to write free content, why not put it on your own site, so it can serve as an easy-to-check sample portfolio? Serious clients don't care about free content, and a copywriting "review" based on free articles no one can see is not going to get a lot of attention. 100+ itrader members do get a lot of respect...but don't be surprised if you dislike the review you get from someone like getjimmy. All in all, I think you're better off leaving the free articles on your site than handing them over in exchange for a review. Of course, you can request reviews and comments on your portfolio site. My $3.50-at current rates.
What does iTrader have to do with anything? Can't speak for everyone, but when I hire a writer, I look at the writing and not what other people think. Who says they are even qualified to give an opinion in the first place? But, I'm not in the market you're in, so probably best to talk to those people.
I would say it might help a little, but you're better off using the articles as samples on a website. Derek
No, not a good strategy. Working for free is never a good strategy. I don’t care what anyone says it just drops prices and make people value your work and other people work less. If you are that desperate just under cut everyone else for a few weeks but working for free is stupid.
As my own strategy I was sketching a plan offering my services for a low price, for limited time and limiting article lenght to 250-300 word count, but despite I've changed my mind about that, I wouldn't give absolutely free content with no strings attached. iTrader might only work for DP, but the number of well-paid projects is so small that doesn't worth the effort and time writing free for others. If you want to make if free, I believe it would be a better strategy submit to articles distribution sites.
Get yourself a website or blog and put your `sample articles' on that. Describe them as examples of your writing style. If you can write in several writing styles, ie. if you can write in a humorous or practical style, write at least a couple of articles in each style. Explain to your visitors that these articles are examples of the `wide range of writing styles' that you are capable of producing. Don't write about obscure topics, write about topics which people are interested in, topics that a potential client might want to buy an article about.
Great suggestions guys, but just one question.. Isn't doing something against the norm more probable of fetching you better returns than doing the norm? See, for example, there are thousands of good writers who post samples on their bolgs.. what happens ultimately? some of them are spotted, while others are not.. So, I still think that it would be better to write Ultra High Quality content for FREE.. so as to get the recognition, and if it works, I personally won't regret it... Regards, Jeewant
Wow.. we have a marketing genius here.. Work for free the way to success. Its brilliant and well thought out, we will all be working for you next month. I can’t believe no one has thought of this yet. Duh. Next step in the writing lesson plain..* McDonalds application fill in and submit.
Why not? I guess its better than working for peanuts. Its better to work for satisfaction of content, rahter than getting paid in cents for a job! Besides, the sight of getting your work published with a positive review is better than peanuts!
I see this a lot in web design people just starting out and doing websites for free to make a portfolio. So they post ads in craigslist and a few other places free websites blabla. Then a few people get free sites (usually junky sites but free sites) the hundreds and thousands of people see the ads for free site and they think when I need a website I can just get one for free. So when they need a site they want it for free or almost nothing. #1 It brings the going rate down in your market. Any business class will tell most of marketing your self is making your self and your service appear to be worth something and when people get stuff for free they put no value on it. #2 you make your self and your service look worthless when it is for free. It is not some secret niche that everyone has over looked it is a worthless sales tactic that has been tried many time and proven ineffective and destructive. Go ahead and work for free you will figure it out soon enough.
Say it with me: yourself not your self. yourself not your self. yourself not your self. I know, I know. You're not a writer and I'm being too harsh. Fair enough.
1) Why would someone pay you after you've made it obvious that you're willing to work for free? Sale prices only work when people know what a great bargain they are getting--aka after you've proved that you are worth higher prices. 2) If you are determined to write articles for free, why not offer the articles as part of a package deal, like "buy 10 articles, get another 2 for free"? 3) Peanuts are still food to a belly that is empty It looks sort of like you are trying to get out of marketing yourself. The reason people see success from their websites and blogs is that they market them. They get the word out about their services. There is more to finding work than replying to "I need articles" ads in forums and on bidding sites Just my two cents!
I expected this trying to post with writers.. Yes, I’m not a writer and I’m in my 30s so it probably to late to become one. But that’s OK writers work for nothing.. Actually you can get writers for free.. Why would I waste my time learning skills that people do for free?
Looking at all your replies, I guess I would rather have partial copyrights of some of the articles I write for peanuts. In this way, I can use them as samples on my website or blog, and also sell them for what they would be worth after revoking some of the copyrights of the buyer. This should prove a good "middle path" between the two extremes of providing work for free and working for peanuts. Regards, Jeewant
Why would you waste your time learning anything you're not interested in? Free or not has nothing to do with it. I could go learn how to do my own lawn, but why should I when I can just hire someone to do it? I'd love to find someone of my caliber to work for free or close to it. I'd take a damn vacation.
Blogs aren't the "norm" in the bulk of the writing world yet by a long shot. However, lots of folks have written "ultra high quality content for FREE" for decades with the same naive hope that it's going to lead to something better. Does it occasionally? Sure - if you have no portfolio, do the free work for some respectable "client" that actually helps your own reputation, etc. But there are better ways to build that portfolio and reputation these ways - by writing for yourself. You think you're suggesting something out of the norm when in reality that tactic has been completely beaten to death.
Here is my 100th post, dedicated to this thought. I never knew this has been tested. I want to review HOW people actually did this and maybe add a marketing string to it and try to do it better, you know, the way price wars are fought between different FMCG brands!! But yeah, as already mentioned, I am already working on a different strategy from this... I have realised that "peanuts are food to an empty stomach anyways"