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Saturday, July 9
Sat, Jul 9 Morning Featured Article
by
tecHead
on Sat 09 Jul 2005 08:00 AM EDT
The Best Freelance Job Boards for Writers
By Janet Ilacqua
How many times have you checked out a job board to that either it no longer exists or that there is one or two jobs
listed. Out of the hundreds of job boards on the Web today, how do you find those containing projects that you are
interested in and qualified for.
I have recently surveyed over 300 freelance web sites and these are the best boards for freelance writers. The
benchmark that I used for judging the board was the number of legitimate projects (as opposed to "business
opportunities" ) and requests for submission being posted every month. I have only included ones posting 30 projects
or more a month
The very best
I picked Guru This huge all-inclusive board connects independent professionals (a.k.a. "gurus") with contract projects.
If you are new to independent consulting, check out the Run Your Biz section, which includes a "Getting Started"
column, where you can leave a question to be answered by experts. Lots of other useful information (e.g. tax and
finance, legal, etc.) for contractors. Find a contracting job ("gig") searching by field (creative/media, finance and
legal, etc.), keyword, and geography.. Recently, it acquired IT Moonlighter , another with lots of freelance jobs.
Whatever, Guru is probably the largest freelance marketplace on the Web. Over 3,300 projects posted last month.
What makes Guru.com (http://Guru.com) stand out from is the number and variety of projects listed and the easiness of
accessing the job. Unlike the others, Guru sends daily email alerts of writing gigs that match your profile.
Number of writing projects posted every month: 207
Type of projects: Everything and anything, many articles, ghostwriting, editing, copyright, some onsite, some
technical. Has the best all around listing of freelance writing gigs.
Other good freelance writing sites
AllFreelanceWork. Its sister site AllFreelance is my number one site for articles about freelancing and freelance
resources.
Number of writing projects posted every month: 10
Type of projects: Technical and business writing
Contracted Work A freelance site that has grown in great leaps and bounds. You can do a search and find a great number
of projects. There is a monthly fee in order to search for projects, but it might be worth checking out. I personally
found that I was not finding enough leads for the type of writing I do to be worth the fee.
Number of writing projects posted every month: 50-74
Type of projects: Openings tends more to web content, copywriting, and sales and marketing
Elance. I was actively involved in bidding on this site for a year. However, I did not get my money’s worth. It is
geared towards business and technical writing.
Number of writing projects posted every month: 130+
Type of projects: little bit of everything: articles, ghostwriting, e-books, web content, technical. Lots of editing
and proofreading jobs too
Freelance Work Exchange Non-Auction freelance site. The Freelance Work Exchange has listings for writers, designers,
consultants, programmers. Yes ... it does cost to join; however, there is $3.00 7-day trial memberships so you can
test it to see if it will get you work! Highly recommended. Freelance Work Exchange is a solid, reliable freelance
site, but in order to search jobs it will cost you a monthly fee.
Number of writing projects posted every month: 30-40
Type of projects: little bit of everything: calls for articles, ghostwriting, e-books, web content, technical. Geared
more towards general writing markets, as opposed to corporate-style stuff.
Freelance Writing This is the ultimate job board for freelance writers. Contest, blogs, forums, resources. Everything.
Number of writing projects posted every month: 40
Type of projects: Calls for articles, copywriting, E-books, research papers, ghostwriting,
Independent Homeworkers Alliance -- touts itself as the "largest provider of legitimate home-based jobs on the
Internet." Offers a search engine for at-home jobs, as well as numerous resources. $29.95 a month Subscription
Number of writing projects posted every month: 70
Type of projects: calls for submissions of articles, scripts, e-books, some sales and marketing, not much technical
writing.
Sologigs With over 20,000 projects for freelancers, Sologig has a lot to offer. You need to register to get access to
all the projects, with the higher levels of membership securing you a higher profile in the exchange. Most of the
freelance writing jobs were onsite technical/business writing.
Number of writing projects posted every month: Estimate 100+ projects posted every month. To see the exact number, you
have to register. A Bronze membership with $78.75 prepaid for three months
Type of projects: geared heavily towards onsite technical writing gigs
Telecommuting Jobs -- where job seekers can view several hundred telecommuting/offsite jobs posted directly by
employers, as well as thousands of jobs posted to other major job sites. Searching is free, but there is a small fee
to post your resume. Telecommuting Jobs Telecommute jobs for Writers, Programmers, Artists, etc. Links to additional
sites to continue the search for that which is so hard to find - a good paying, mid-term telecommute contract. Good
deal for the $10/yr registration fee required.
Number of writing projects posted every month: 80
Type of projects: Wide variety of projects: article wanted, research papers, journalism, copywriting, not much
technical
Workhome.com (http://Workhome.com) Welcome to Workhome.com (http://Workhome.com) a resource for work at home jobs for
your small office or home business. We provide job posting for work at home jobs and advertising to work at home
businesses. Posting on work home jobs is free and you may contact our work at home providers by visiting the profile
page and clicking email professional
Number of writing projects posted every month: 20-30
Type of projects: Wide variety of projects: articles, web content, sales and marketing, technical
A word to the wise
Be selective about what types of projects that you bid for. There is a lot of competition out there, so do not waste
your time with projects that you are not qualified for or do not interest you. If you are spending more than an hour
a day responding to leads from the job boards, then you may need to redefine your niche. Don’t try to be all things
to all people. In addition, remember that, in order to be a successful freelance writer, you should not be using the
boards as your only way of finding projects. You should also be out there networking with other writer, setting up
your own website, and researching writing opportunities in your own community. In the end, these strategies will net
your more work than limiting yourself to working the job boards.
Janet K. Ilacqua is a freelance writer based in Tracy, California. She specializes in academic writing and
ghostwriting of books and manuals for individuals and small businesses. For more information about her services,
check her website at http://www.writeupondemand.com (http://www.writeupondemand.com).
jilacqua@aol.com (mailto:jilacqua@aol.com)
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tHg News
by
tecHead
on Sat 09 Jul 2005 06:00 AM EDT
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Guidelines useful in blogging
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London Free Press, Canada - 3 hours ago
...
Banning work-related blogging by employees can hurt the
business
.
Blog
benefits include community building and relationship development with customers.
...
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Introducing A New Web Hosting Blog for the Rest of Us
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Emediawire (press release), WA - 2 hours ago
DNS4dummies.com announced today the launch of a new
Blog
, specifically targeted to the Web neophyte, or the small
business
person that has little to no
...
Internet Web Site Reseller
Business
Program Launches
Cheap Web Hosting Directory
all 5 related »
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The Good, Bad And Ugly Of Contextual Advertising
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WebProNews, KY - 13 hours ago
...
Calacanis has used AdSense to help jumpstart his
business
as he also sells
...
Bloggers have a harder time with relevancy, particularly on their
blog
index page
...
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IBSTeam Real Estate Directory Breaks 100,000 Unique Visitors Per ...
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Emediawire (press release), WA - 2 hours ago
...
already have taken advantage of this unique free opportunity to advertise their
business
.
...
Other features include a free custom content page and
blog
syndication
...
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ICANN to lift price caps on .net domains
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ZDNet - 8 hours ago
...
the good or the bad," wrote Bret Fausett in his Lextext
blog
. "On the one hand, it gets ICANN out of the messy, non-"technical coordination"
business
of price
...
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UT graduate relays bomb experience
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Knoxville News Sentinel (subscription), TN - 5 hours ago
...
In his lengthy
blog
posting on Thursday, Wells said, "I turned at the corner to get away, only 20 feet or so from the bus.
...
Getting about their
business
.".
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Spirit of London a lesson for the world
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Financial Times, UK - 21 hours ago
...
in the discussion and poll on the G8 agenda, and on Sachs’
blog
.
...
with Gordon Brown and leaders of civil society and private
business
responding, demonstrated
...
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Back to business for London's theatre and music
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Guardian Unlimited, UK - 19 hours ago
...
Over on our Culture Vulture
blog
, Imogen Tilden reports on how the West End - and the rest of London's cultural scene - is getting back to normal....
...
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Warren E. Bickford, ABC, Welcomed as 2005-2006 IABC Chair
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Canada NewsWire (press release), Canada - 11 hours ago
...
Bickford has served as host of IABC's official
blog
, the IABC
...
for communicators worldwide." About The International Association of
Business
Communicators (IABC
...
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Net vigilantes play the shame game
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Sydney Morning Herald (subscription), Australia - 18 hours ago
...
by train in her native South Korea recently when her dog did its
business
.
...
According to one
blog
, "within days, her identity and her past were revealed".
...
Internet drops woman in poo
Age (subscription)
Net's power to shame felt by dog's bad owner
Jackson Clarion Ledger
all 7 related »
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RSS delivered by
tHgLLC.net
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tHg News
by
tecHead
on Fri 08 Jul 2005 06:00 PM EDT
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The Good, Bad And Ugly Of Contextual Advertising
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WebProNews, KY - 1 hour ago
...
Calacanis has used AdSense to help jumpstart his
business
as he also sells
...
Bloggers have a harder time with relevancy, particularly on their
blog
index page
...
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Spirit of London a lesson for the world
|
Financial Times, UK - 9 hours ago
...
in the discussion and poll on the G8 agenda, and on Sachs’
blog
.
...
with Gordon Brown and leaders of civil society and private
business
responding, demonstrated
...
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Back to business for London's theatre and music
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Guardian Unlimited, UK - 7 hours ago
...
Over on our Culture Vulture
blog
, Imogen Tilden reports on how the West End - and the rest of London's cultural scene - is getting back to normal....
...
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|
Net vigilantes play the shame game
|
Sydney Morning Herald (subscription), Australia - 6 hours ago
...
by train in her native South Korea recently when her dog did its
business
.
...
According to one
blog
, "within days, her identity and her past were revealed".
...
Internet drops woman in poo
Age (subscription)
Net's power to shame felt by dog's bad owner
Jackson Clarion Ledger
all 7 related »
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Murphy gone; Bullard and Drexler to work Rockets' broadcasts
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blogHOUSTON, TX - 16 hours ago
The Houston
Business
Journal reports that Calvin Murphy will not be returning to
...
If your
blog
does not support Trackbacks you can manually add your trackback
...
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Re-grokking Grokster
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Linux Journal - 11 hours ago
...
Kevin J. Heller at Induce Act
Blog
agreed, while also adding:
...
Basically, it says, 'If anybody can imagine a
business
that could distribute content illegally
...
Separating "consumer rights" from copyright
ZDNet
all 3 related »
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iUpload to Integrate With Google Maps
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EContent (press release), CT - 6 hours ago
With Google Maps Perspectives, a recently introduced
business
blogging application that allows users to create content in their
blog
and reach multiple
...
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Nobody's Fool
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New Republic (subscription), D.C. - 16 hours ago
...
none too soon for European entrepreneurs who are clamoring to do
business
with the
...
His
blog
entires following the Baath Party congress in June reflect a higher
...
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Kelo case – regulatory takings and a Jewish law angle
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Blogcritics.org - 22 hours ago
...
Scott Lemieux ( Lawyers Guns and Money
blog
) said prior to the decision: “To get the Supreme Court in the
business
of determining what is an adequate "public
...
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???????????????
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??, China - 21 hours ago
The French-language
blog
featured a fictitious character named Claire who posted
...
it has already caught the attention of the political and
business
Establishment
...
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RSS delivered by
tHgLLC.net
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Fri, Jul 8 Evening Featured Article
by
tecHead
on Fri 08 Jul 2005 01:00 PM EDT
The Biggest Reason To Start A Blog...(and it's not what you think!)
By Andrew Wroblewski
Even people who don't own a computer know what blogging is.
Everyone is talking about it. Heck, even the Doonesbury comic
strip ran a few panels on the subject. Anna Kournikova even has
a blog for crying out loud!
But did you know that there is a secret benefit to blogging
that has NOTHING to do with the subject matter? In fact, you
could blog on about the sex life of the Tasmanian fruit fly and
still reap big rewards.
Yep, just like nearly everything else on the Internet, there's
money to be made with blogging IF you know the secret...
OK, OK. I'll tell you, but first let's take a quick ride in the
wayback machine and see how blogging came to be as popular as
it is today.
Back at the dawn of the World Wide Web, new web sites were a
rarity. Geekie guys and girls struggled with the new technology
and the launch of a new page, A new web site was practically a
media event. In the early days of the Internet, each new page
was a cause for celebration.
In 1992, Tim Berners-Lee, the scientist generally credit with
inventing the World Wide Web (and you thought it was Al Gore,
I'll bet), created the first What's New page. Later, another
Internet legend, Marc Andreesen, put up his own page. Both of
these men created hot links to all of the new pages springing
up on the net.
As the World Wide Web came into its own, a new breed of
programmer, called a Web Master (because they had mastered the
World Wide Web) created their own pages that contained
suggestions on cool web sites to visit. Because they didn't
list every single new web site, just the ones that they thought
were interesting, they were said to have filtered the net. In
1998, Jorn Barger, a bit of an odd duck, even by Internet
pioneer standards, first used the term 'weblog' to describe his
blog called 'Robot Wisdom'.
As bloggers banded together to form communities, people sought
easier and faster ways to create blogs. As a result, automated
and easy to use blogging programs such as Blog-In-A-Box were
developed so that even a half-dazed wallabie can put up a blog
in between munching on stalks of grass.
But why in the world would you WANT to run a blog if you have
an income-generating site?
Surely your customer isn't interested in reading about your
trials and tribulations of the daily business grind, right?
Probably not. However, if you can build a blog that catches
their attention, such as where the fish are biting if you sell
fishing supplies, they WILL come. And so will the surprise that
I mentioned earlier.
You see, among your visitors to your blog will be a software
program known as a spider. Not just any spider, mind you, but
the granddaddy of all search engine spiders -- the Google
spider. You see, Google LOVES to index blogs. Yep, it's true.
And that, as soon-to-be inmate Martha would say, is a good
thing.
In a nutshell, Google loves pages that have links to other
pages. Blogs link to all kinds of stuff. Google loves pages
that are linked FROM other pages. A good blog gets lots of
links to it as loyal readers tell everyone they know to put
links to their favorite blog on their web site.
Finally, Google loves fresh content. An active blog's content
can change minute by minute, but at least it's almost guaranteed
to change daily.
So, if you can find a decent subject to blog about, and you can
get a blog up and running quickly and easily, you just might be
amazed at what happens to your site's page rank in a few weeks
or more.
Listen, with tools like Blog-In-A-Box available to get you
going, there really is no reason NOT to get blogging!
Good luck from a couple of fellow bloggers.
Steve Robichaud and Andrew Wroblewski have been involved in
online sales and marketing since 1996. To get help on starting
your own blog, visit: http://blogging.help-for-me.com
email: admin@blogging.help-for-me.com
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Daily Comics
by
tecHead
on Fri 08 Jul 2005 12:00 PM EDT
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