Hey gang, I know that internet marketing can be a tough business. Even if it wasn't tough, it's still business; of course, everyone wants the most for their money. Okay. However, it amazes me that so many site owners really expect you to sweat blood and produce well written articles that aren't just copy/paste swipes for pennies. If you're willing to take the junk that you get for junk prices because high quality copy isn't your first priority, then great; at least you're getting what you pay for. I'm talking about people who are genuinely shocked when a good writer expects to compensated as such. I just don't understand why anyone would expect a native U.S. writer to work for wages that are beneath our cost of living. While I understand that the currency exchanges play a role in it all, I post my physical location purposely so that if you are in a foreign country and you are not planning to pay American writers American wages you can just pass me by. BTW, I don't charge a lot on DP, but it still happens. I'm not frustrated by it, but I did want to hear some feedback on this topic. Am I missing something here?
FYI, "Grand Rapids, MI" doesn't mean anything to me, and probably doesn't for a lot of other people who aren't in the US. If you tag USA in there somewhere it'd make it clear that MI is a state of the US (and you are therefore American) That's life, I have people ask me to design+code a site for $25 all the time, I clearly have "Australia" written there and $2/hr OBVIOUSLY isn't going to suit, so why they even bother asking... I read your thread: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1069266 The first part seems more of a rant than anything. Rather than talking about how good you are and what value you provide, you're talking about how much better you are then others. Perhaps even mention your rough rates, people who are only after cheap rubbish won't waste time contacting you. The main thing is VALUE. Some people will hire the $50 coder, to get a rubbish job which will lose them potential customers (due to cross-browser problems, poor SEO, bad accessibility, poorly optimised images... the list goes on) and ultimately cost them more. If they forked out $150 to start with, they would have a solid site which won't lose any customers from a poor HTML/CSS point of view. So really, its better value for money. My guess would be target the ROI - you write killer sales letters, captivating blog posts - all of which equal more $$$$$ in the long run than what they paid you to write it. When you put it like that, people would be idiots to hire someone else - everyone wants the best possible ROI (which is why we're in business anyway - to make money)
Funnily enough that's why I got in touch with the OP, she seems to know what she's talking about and I'm interested to see what kind of ROI I'm going to get from a business relationship with her.
Right... all the effects of globalization. The online marketing sector definitely feels that more than the average industry. But don't get too discouraged, people know quality when they see it ...
You want the answer to your question? Take it from me then. I was going through your 'Superior Copywriting Services Thread'. You were very good but I was pissed off when I read the last line. You used the grin smiley {}, and what makes it even more unforgivable is that you have used it after 'to your continued success'. If you were careful about what it conveys, you would never have that smiley there. It conveys an insincere, being mocked at feeling, atleast, to me. Also, the reader may perceive it as some sort of mockery or sarcasm! How do you feel when someone laughs-off at your suggestions? Are you glad or angered? If you are contacted by want-it-cheap clients, then they probably perceive your work as cheap, insincere, etc. Change your ways such that you are perceived as high-quality and high-priced. And if you want to hear more of that truth, read on below: 1. You boast of being the top-ranked blogger at some site. While this may be prestigious to you.............How many of your clients are aware of that site? Do they perceive that site as prestigious as you do? People are aware that there are more-a-than-million websites and that some websites often host some competition for publicity, etc. They are also aware of the 'so many' bogus awards and 5 stars awarded blindly to many people. Hence, until your prospective clients perceive that site as prestigious, your award means nothing to them. 2. Here, you inadvertently admit your inexperience and desperation. People know that 'desperate' people will work for lower-than-normal charges because they need money urgently. You are inviting people to take advantage of your situation. What do you expect then? You are screaming that "I am not a professional, but I can pretend to be one". Thats the end my firing round! Remember, just being a high-quality product is not enough, but the same must be preceived by its buyers. Only then, it sells for its price! Okay, don't get red-faced. Ponder over my post and think what you can do to help yourself. Something more: I don't know you. We must be meeting for the first time. You may be a very successful service provider, but see, I could not perceive it, esp when you start such a rant thread. How many times have you heard Bill Gates ranting about piracy in Indian and China and other parts of the world. Do you think you would perceive Bill Gates as a rich, successful man if he came to the TV red-faced, bashing the pirates?
The plural form of spelling is falling out of common use and it is perfectly acceptable to use the singular in both formal and informal communication these days.
Hmmm..., I should have pointed it more clearly. It should have that 'because I am not desperate or inexperienced'.
I agree with how it was written. If the word 'not' is added in, it becomes a double negative. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_negative First line is what someone who is wanting that type of work would say. By adding won't in, it then negates the rest of the sentence. It basically reads:
: ok, I may have misunderstood it! I perceived it as someone saying 'I won't rob you just because I am poor'.
A better way to word that might be "I'm not inexperienced or desperate, so don't bother asking me to write a PhD dissertation for $5." Maybe not that exact wording, but you get what I mean. It conveys what you were trying to say a little bit better, avoiding the idea that "I'm inexperienced and desperate, but that doesn't mean I'll write your PhD dissertation for $5."
lol, I enjoyed the bickering back and forth in this thread. I read about the smiley face and in no way that conveys a mockery unless you actually look at things in a negative point of view or enjoy picking things apart. Granted, living in India the perception may be different so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. icjackson, I feel your pain. As an avid online writer for the last 2 years it's interesting to see what kind of money people are looking to pay for articles that are of good quality content. My only argument here would be that if you are offering small amounts of money written in USD, then it's obvious that Grand Rapids, MI is not in Russia. Even though I'm new to DP and have to wait to Buy/Sell/Trade my own articles, I took a gander at that section. Seems that if you want the money you are worth, then write articles and put them up for sale at your price. If the topic is popular and people need the content they will buy. It looks very lucrative over there. Anyways, good luck to you all and before I go I have just one question for Tajo. What is funnily?
"Funnily" is nothing, however added with "enough" it becomes a phrasal verb widely used in the southern hemisphere, particularly in South Africa and New Zealand. I believe it originates in Scotland or Northern England and was taken to the southern hemisphere by northern immigrants in the 1800s. I've yet to hear an American or Canadian using it. 'Funnily enough' means the same as 'by coincidence'.
I think it's a matter of positioning. If you have the strength to turn down jobs that pay peanuts and only take jobs that pay properly then you'll be making a stand.
Well said. It all comes down to being able to say 'No' to maintain your standards and pricing. Obviously, it is also important to ensure that you are competitive and that can happen only if we are able to evaluate ourselves objectively with respect to other service providers. Unless we are able to do that, we will only be blaming the buyers, writers and the world for not paying what we think we deserve!
I admit your views that internet marketing could be tougher due to high competition. As a seller you should ensure you make the most profit out of your services/ product. On the other hand a wise buyer would always look out for better or competitive prices (rather than cheap prices) that does not compromise with the quality of service delivered. I dont think anyone here would force to pay you wages that are beneath your cost of living. You price your service (article writing) or agree to the price offered by a buyer before committing the sales. If there is a good demand for your articles you would find prospective buyers. If there is less or no demand then you will be forced to sell it for cheaper price. As far as I am concerned your location - Michigan does not have an impact on your services (although I am aware of Grand Rapids). If I am a buyer I would look at other factors such as the samples of your writing, word count, pricing, uniqueness, itrader and right issues etc. Maybe others may have a different idea. I DON'T KNOW.... Before you write your articles you could spend some time to find out what type of articles have demand. There is always someone with cash on hand to buy articles/sites of their interest provided if they feel it is priced reasonable and can fetch them profit. I wish you all success in your endeavors!