would you write for 20 bucks ?
November 4, 2010 6:54 AM Subscribe
How to find freelance writers that are competent/passioned about the topic? (running)
I run a website that has, among other content, reviews of running shoes. So far I have been writing the reviews myself, based on the shoes I have tried and the shoes my running friends are using at the moment (no, they won't write, just give me their opinions).
I need to expand and want to become more of an editor/coordinator rather than a writer.
For this reason, I am looking for freelance writers that would write reviews and then I would edit and publish them.
I want the reviews to be if not of great quality, at least sincere. I want real runners to run and try the shoes. I don't expect people to buy them in order to review them for me. What I want is somebody who already is a runner, making a review of the shoes they are currently running in (following a structure i will give them) where they can really say their honest opinion.
I went around a couple of running forums and posted a request: 20$ in exchange for a review of the shoes they are currently running on. A few forums deleted my post as spam (fair enough, it's their right to decide what's in topic and what's not) and for the few who kept it there - no answers.
Where would you go about sourcing these freelancers? Textbroker and Freelancer kind of websites don't work well for what i have in midn - I need real runners, and i'd like to find them on the internet.
Thank you for suggestions
I run a website that has, among other content, reviews of running shoes. So far I have been writing the reviews myself, based on the shoes I have tried and the shoes my running friends are using at the moment (no, they won't write, just give me their opinions).
I need to expand and want to become more of an editor/coordinator rather than a writer.
For this reason, I am looking for freelance writers that would write reviews and then I would edit and publish them.
I want the reviews to be if not of great quality, at least sincere. I want real runners to run and try the shoes. I don't expect people to buy them in order to review them for me. What I want is somebody who already is a runner, making a review of the shoes they are currently running in (following a structure i will give them) where they can really say their honest opinion.
I went around a couple of running forums and posted a request: 20$ in exchange for a review of the shoes they are currently running on. A few forums deleted my post as spam (fair enough, it's their right to decide what's in topic and what's not) and for the few who kept it there - no answers.
Where would you go about sourcing these freelancers? Textbroker and Freelancer kind of websites don't work well for what i have in midn - I need real runners, and i'd like to find them on the internet.
Thank you for suggestions
I haven't read the posts you made on those forums, obviously, but part of the problem may be that people are assuming this is a scam of some kind, or otherwise illegitimate. Freelance writers operate in an environment where people are trying to get them to work for little or no money all of the time, and have gotten used to filtering out posts that sound fishy to them as noise.
If I were you, I'd make sure you post sounds as professional as possible, with very specific guidelines and a standardized pay scale. For example -- you should either say something like, "Reviews should be 500 words; payment is $20 per review." Or else pick a per-word rate, probably something like $.05 a word. Going and reading the submission guidelines on blogs that pay freelance writers might be helpful with both choosing your wording and deciding on a rate.
Have you been posting ads on craigslist? That seems to be a go-to place for freelancers of all persuasions in need of work. I know you're looking for runners, but running is the exercise of choice for a lot of freelancers I know -- it's cheap, and it gets you out of the house.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 7:13 AM on November 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
If I were you, I'd make sure you post sounds as professional as possible, with very specific guidelines and a standardized pay scale. For example -- you should either say something like, "Reviews should be 500 words; payment is $20 per review." Or else pick a per-word rate, probably something like $.05 a word. Going and reading the submission guidelines on blogs that pay freelance writers might be helpful with both choosing your wording and deciding on a rate.
Have you been posting ads on craigslist? That seems to be a go-to place for freelancers of all persuasions in need of work. I know you're looking for runners, but running is the exercise of choice for a lot of freelancers I know -- it's cheap, and it gets you out of the house.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 7:13 AM on November 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'd agree with Narrative Priorities. I'm a freelance proof-reader and copy-writer and also a runner. See this on here - trust you and in fact if you want me to do it I can - memail me if so! - but if I saw it elsewhere I'd think it was scammy.
Post it on jobs on this site?
Also look around for running bloggers and ask them - also ask them to spread the word. I'd be willing to do it more if a peer had said it was OK.
Hope that helps, and I and my asics are happy to contribute too!
posted by LyzzyBee at 7:24 AM on November 4, 2010
Post it on jobs on this site?
Also look around for running bloggers and ask them - also ask them to spread the word. I'd be willing to do it more if a peer had said it was OK.
Hope that helps, and I and my asics are happy to contribute too!
posted by LyzzyBee at 7:24 AM on November 4, 2010
I run. I write reasonably well. I'd talk about my shoes for a Jackson.
On the other hand, I'm not a running-shoe expert, and I've been loyal to the same style for three and a half years, so I don't have much to talk about other than "yeah, these shoes work pretty good for me, I don't know about you or about other shoes." I suspect other runners might have the same fuzzy opinions about their shoes, so that might be why you're not getting many bites.
Expanding your website's audience and putting a call for submissions on the front page would probably help, though I don't have suggestions for how to gain more readers. Make sure your site looks professional and not spammy or generic-bloggy, though; people would be more tempted to write for a "real"-looking review site.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:28 AM on November 4, 2010
On the other hand, I'm not a running-shoe expert, and I've been loyal to the same style for three and a half years, so I don't have much to talk about other than "yeah, these shoes work pretty good for me, I don't know about you or about other shoes." I suspect other runners might have the same fuzzy opinions about their shoes, so that might be why you're not getting many bites.
Expanding your website's audience and putting a call for submissions on the front page would probably help, though I don't have suggestions for how to gain more readers. Make sure your site looks professional and not spammy or generic-bloggy, though; people would be more tempted to write for a "real"-looking review site.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:28 AM on November 4, 2010
Response by poster: wow thanks! You all gave me great answers already. As a reference, what i posted on the forum was this:
[start]
For an upcoming (but well trafficked) running website I am looking for runners who are willing to review the shoes they run in (for at least 50 miles!).
If you have gone through enough running shoes to be able to compare some (even different versions of the same shoe), if you know what the components of a shoe are (what's a heel counter? medial post?), if you write good english and could use 20$ for your next purchase... PM me!
Eventually i'd like to create a recurring, freelance relationship with a few testers/reviewers.
[end]
You can me-mail me for a link to my website, so you can see what kind of reviews i would be looking for!
posted by madeinitaly at 7:41 AM on November 4, 2010
[start]
For an upcoming (but well trafficked) running website I am looking for runners who are willing to review the shoes they run in (for at least 50 miles!).
If you have gone through enough running shoes to be able to compare some (even different versions of the same shoe), if you know what the components of a shoe are (what's a heel counter? medial post?), if you write good english and could use 20$ for your next purchase... PM me!
Eventually i'd like to create a recurring, freelance relationship with a few testers/reviewers.
[end]
You can me-mail me for a link to my website, so you can see what kind of reviews i would be looking for!
posted by madeinitaly at 7:41 AM on November 4, 2010
LyzzyBee's point about running bloggers is a good idea. Build relationships with people who already write about running; they'll likely mention your site on theirs, and you'd both benefit.
posted by catlet at 7:48 AM on November 4, 2010
posted by catlet at 7:48 AM on November 4, 2010
You may want to give your own writing a hard look. I tend to be suspicious of writer-wanted ads that aren't impeccably written and edited.
posted by the_blizz at 7:56 AM on November 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by the_blizz at 7:56 AM on November 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Craigslist.org offers writer's gigs. Some I have responded to were scammy, but am currently working for one Web site that posted there. You could probably post on all the major cities... It's an idea anyway.
posted by srbrunson at 1:17 PM on December 11, 2010
posted by srbrunson at 1:17 PM on December 11, 2010
And speaking of Craigslist, everyone should know about the great complementary search engine that searches all Craigslist cities; saves you an incredible amount of time.
The site is Search Tempest.
posted by lometogo at 2:06 AM on February 15, 2011
The site is Search Tempest.
posted by lometogo at 2:06 AM on February 15, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
I only say this because I was approached in this way to do some editing and writing for a couple of textbooks on the basis of some articles/tutorials I wrote. It's nice when someone tells you they think you're writing good stuff and want to pay you for something you already do for fun.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 7:07 AM on November 4, 2010 [1 favorite]