Comments on: Bloggers Have Mad Skills – Pay them Accordingly!

By: Joel Libava

Joel Libava — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:50:56 +0000

I’ll add something to your terrific post.

I am sooo sick of PR agencies calling me-cold,asking me to blog about their clients.

Pay me. Do something! I am not going to do free work to make you look good.

Those folks that know of me, and of my many blogs, understand that I do pay it forward. But sometimes, others have to step up, and throw some $$ my way.

Now, some PR agencies understand, and throw opportunities my way.

Most..just don’t get it.

The Franchise King
Joel Libava

By: The Importance of Following Directions When Applying for a Blogging Job | Blog World Expo Blog

Fri, 29 May 2009 11:15:28 +0000

[...] for rates isn’t because they’re looking for the low bid, it’s because they want to pay a fair price. By not knowing what a blogger charges, they risk insulting him by not presenting a fair offer. [...]

By: Lisa Cunningham

Lisa Cunningham — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:20:07 +0000

Poetslsife, I completely agree that we need an association. Just like the Writers Guild. Perhaps a branch of that for bloggers? We writers need to bond.

Our network is a huge benefit to our clients. So add marketing and public relations skills to the list.

By: Anne-Marie Nichols

Anne-Marie Nichols — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:57:09 +0000

I don’t mind giving away free content as long as it either supports a cause I believe in, is on a very popular site so I can benefit by getting traffic and new readers, helps out a friend. Being helpful has its rewards. Still, a good freelancer should be paid for their time and effort, whether they’re a print writer, a technical writer or a blogger. Still I charge accordingly. If another freelancer wants help setting up a blog, I charge them much less than a large business. I also do trade – one hour of your time for one hour of mine – whether that’s painting my house, giving me a professional massage, or tuning up my car.

As far as mad skills? How about time organization and delivering work on time?

By: Poetslsife

Poetslsife — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:46:53 +0000

You’re right.
After I graduated from college I interviewed for someone who wanted me to give him writing samples, but he provided the material from which I was to abstract material. I did so and heard nothing until a year later I saw that material in an investment business newsletter.
I have been contacted about various blog “businesses” that were the same…upfront work by me and little pay in return.
Even some local businesses I’ve helped set up with Twitter and Blogs become so demanding I have to cut them off.
It’s a strange thing…blogging is a valuable skill that is yet to be seen as creating much value.
Technical writing had the same problem 50 years ago and organized the Society for Technical Communication to educate employers about how valuable good technical writing was to the success of their product. Maybe bloggers need to do the same.

By: Seth

Seth — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:51:30 +0000

Love this site. I’ll be making every effort to attend the Conference in October. Keep up the great work.

By: Nancy Nally

Nancy Nally — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:08:48 +0000

The scrapbook industry that I write about has a very similar problem: companies soliciting “design team members” who are expected to create sample scrapbook layouts, promote the company on their blogs and message boards, and participate in other activities. Usual compensation for these positions? A line on your resume, “exposure” and a bit of free product.

Sound familiar?

Another skill – or rather asset – that many bloggers bring to the table is their network, the people they know that may be helpful in a variety of ways. We each have our own unique network that is of value in its own way.

By: Justin Wright

Justin Wright — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:49:04 +0000

You took the words right out of my mouth. Everyday I come across ads on Craigslist that either offer “exposure,” “revenue sharing,” or some small budget like $75 to design and install a complete blog.

It’s time for people to realize they need to pay for good work otherwise they will get nothing.

By: Lisa Cunningham

Lisa Cunningham — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:49:09 +0000

Amen! This is what I’ve been saying about writing for years. People who don’t write don’t understand that not any monkey can do it. It’s a skill, just like being a doctor or lawyer, yet no one wants to pay what we’re worth. I blogged about it a few months ago on my site. Please check it out.

The arts just aren’t appreciated much. Whether it’s music, acting, painting or writing, we’re supposed to accept the fact that we won’t make any money till we die. Would lawyers wait for death?

By: SpikeTheLobster

SpikeTheLobster — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:43:33 +0000

You can get arrested for exposing yourself every time you leave the house, you know.

You forgot one mad skill: an irrepressible, stubborn willingness to keep writing even when no one’s reading, no one’s responding and no one’s paying.