Comments on: Bloggers of the world unite! But differently. http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/ studying the media ecosystem Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:39:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MiniMediaGuy » Blog Archive » Bloggers’ dilemma: how to get health plan, pay? http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/comment-page-1/#comment-30866 MiniMediaGuy » Blog Archive » Bloggers’ dilemma: how to get health plan, pay? Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:32:53 +0000 http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/#comment-30866 [...] a bit more from Tish in the comments section of my Unite Differently post but I thought these the most generally useful nuggets. If you have more money-making tips or [...] [...] a bit more from Tish in the comments section of my Unite Differently post but I thought these the most generally useful nuggets. If you have more money-making tips or [...]

]]> By: Tish Grier http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/comment-page-1/#comment-30766 Tish Grier Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:22:46 +0000 http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/#comment-30766 slight correction: that's three published articles in one year to be considered for membership. slight correction: that’s three published articles in one year to be considered for membership.

]]> By: Tish Grier http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/comment-page-1/#comment-30765 Tish Grier Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:22:04 +0000 http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/#comment-30765 Actually, it's easier to find info on freelancer rates than on problogger rates. The ASJA and several writers' unions offer services that help track freelance rates, as a way of making sure all writers aren't getting low-balled for their work. Some unions require proof of only three published articles in one year. I think the ASJA is bit more stringent. With bloggers, however, it's difficult to figure out what the correct, or what a reasonable, rate should be. Problogger lists a number of blogging jobs, with varying rates. One I looked at offered $100 a month for 3 posts a week. Marshall Kirkpatrick <a href="http://marshallk.com/introducing-bloggers-and-companies-to-hire-them#comments" rel="nofollow">blogged today</a> about introducing bloggers he knows to businesses that are looking for bloggers. And suggested that probloggers be paid between $5K and $8K a month. Although I think most would be hard pressed to find that from one contract. Perhaps a few cobbled together, but even that's hard. Many people who want to hire bloggers want them to be specialists--tech bloggers, fashion and beauty, and stuff like that. And they want them to be exclusive. As for Newstext, I've been with them for close to a year now, and haven't even reached the $25 that would kick out a check. I know that my stuff is fed thru Lexus Nexus, but I think most people searching there are looking for original content--or news--and not thoughts on the news. Same thing with BlogBurst. Only there, I believe clients wanted content that had a local focus. Not living in a major metro area is, for me, a deficit. So, lots of what someone makes as a problogger is based on the relavence of their content to what clients want (whether Newstex or other problogging concerns) And the type of content they want is pretty limited. Funny thing is, all most are looking for is the content production, and not any of the other social skills that make up blogging. Or at least I haven't seen too many blogger ads yet that advertise for social as well as writing skill (hence why some actually request journalists to write for them.) And when they do think social, they think social news, like Digg, Reddit, etc.--as in they'd like you the blogger to go on and promote your own posts. Kinda weird, and, I think, not social -news friendly. Actually, it’s easier to find info on freelancer rates than on problogger rates. The ASJA and several writers’ unions offer services that help track freelance rates, as a way of making sure all writers aren’t getting low-balled for their work. Some unions require proof of only three published articles in one year. I think the ASJA is bit more stringent.

With bloggers, however, it’s difficult to figure out what the correct, or what a reasonable, rate should be. Problogger lists a number of blogging jobs, with varying rates. One I looked at offered $100 a month for 3 posts a week. Marshall Kirkpatrick blogged today about introducing bloggers he knows to businesses that are looking for bloggers. And suggested that probloggers be paid between $5K and $8K a month. Although I think most would be hard pressed to find that from one contract. Perhaps a few cobbled together, but even that’s hard. Many people who want to hire bloggers want them to be specialists–tech bloggers, fashion and beauty, and stuff like that. And they want them to be exclusive.

As for Newstext, I’ve been with them for close to a year now, and haven’t even reached the $25 that would kick out a check. I know that my stuff is fed thru Lexus Nexus, but I think most people searching there are looking for original content–or news–and not thoughts on the news. Same thing with BlogBurst. Only there, I believe clients wanted content that had a local focus. Not living in a major metro area is, for me, a deficit.

So, lots of what someone makes as a problogger is based on the relavence of their content to what clients want (whether Newstex or other problogging concerns) And the type of content they want is pretty limited. Funny thing is, all most are looking for is the content production, and not any of the other social skills that make up blogging. Or at least I haven’t seen too many blogger ads yet that advertise for social as well as writing skill (hence why some actually request journalists to write for them.) And when they do think social, they think social news, like Digg, Reddit, etc.–as in they’d like you the blogger to go on and promote your own posts. Kinda weird, and, I think, not social -news friendly.

]]> By: Tom Abate http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/comment-page-1/#comment-30763 Tom Abate Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:15:01 +0000 http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/#comment-30763 Indeed, it might. I hadn't thought of that. Of course the German example occurred within the context of a union which would be a shield against antitrust, but I fear that proprietors, LLCs and incorporated writers or publishers would be businesses subject to collusion laws. I believe that a producer's cooperative, however, allows for both the shield against collusion of a union while allowing the private ownership interests to carry on. Indeed, it might. I hadn’t thought of that. Of course the German example occurred within the context of a union which would be a shield against antitrust, but I fear that proprietors, LLCs and incorporated writers or publishers would be businesses subject to collusion laws. I believe that a producer’s cooperative, however, allows for both the shield against collusion of a union while allowing the private ownership interests to carry on.

]]> By: Howard Owens http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/comment-page-1/#comment-30757 Howard Owens Tue, 14 Aug 2007 23:29:07 +0000 http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/#comment-30757 If freelancers in the US started posting their pay rates, wouldn't that run afoul of anti-trust laws? If freelancers in the US started posting their pay rates, wouldn’t that run afoul of anti-trust laws?

]]> By: Tom Abate http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/comment-page-1/#comment-30723 Tom Abate Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:06:43 +0000 http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/#comment-30723 Tish, thanks for this note which is so timely for me, personally, as I got an email last week from Noncy Ross @ Newstex.com which arrived when I was super busy at work and which I promptly forgot about till this morning when I saw your comment. I *think* Newstex is a cut above the "offer" you recieved. Or else this comment that I just plucked out of the e-mail is plumb wrong: "We pay you a 30% royalty of the gross subscription revenues based on your royalty pool participation for each product your posts are included in, and we maintain a hyperlink to your homepage in our dateline so you should see increased traffic. Some bloggers who post regularly and frequently on topics relevant to our clients have the potential of making $10 - $500 per month. " Even at the low end that would be $10 more than I'm making now :) Anyhow, this conversation makes me wonder wheher there may already be a place where bloggers can find out who is paying what in the cyber realm; and if there is not such a spot, is it possible your "beat" at Poynter would allow you to invent such a topic? Tish, thanks for this note which is so timely for me, personally, as I got an email last week from Noncy Ross @ Newstex.com which arrived when I was super busy at work and which I promptly forgot about till this morning when I saw your comment. I *think* Newstex is a cut above the “offer” you recieved. Or else this comment that I just plucked out of the e-mail is plumb wrong:

“We pay you a 30% royalty of the gross subscription revenues based on your royalty pool participation for each product your posts are included in, and we maintain a hyperlink to your homepage in our dateline so you should see increased traffic. Some bloggers who post regularly and frequently on topics relevant to our clients have the potential of making $10 – $500 per month. ”

Even at the low end that would be $10 more than I’m making now :)

Anyhow, this conversation makes me wonder wheher there may already be a place where bloggers can find out who is paying what in the cyber realm; and if there is not such a spot, is it possible your “beat” at Poynter would allow you to invent such a topic?

]]> By: Tish Grier http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/comment-page-1/#comment-30719 Tish Grier Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:38:28 +0000 http://minimediaguy.org/2007/08/14/bloggers-of-the-world-unite-but-differently/#comment-30719 Hi Tom! actually, one of the things that bloggers can do to help and support one another is to not give free content (as in blog posts or short articles) to mulit-million dollar publishing concernes. Recently, I've been approached by a number of outlets asking me to "contribute" something to their online efforts in exchange for "traffic"--which is kind of like when old small presses would pay in copies. Often, these concerns also ask for all rights on the free content, that can also be re-published whenever they want. This is a far cry from other bloggers asking to contribute to their blogs (although some corps like to make that comparison.) I'm not sure a union will help us with something like this if we don't start drawing the line for ourselves first. Hi Tom! actually, one of the things that bloggers can do to help and support one another is to not give free content (as in blog posts or short articles) to mulit-million dollar publishing concernes. Recently, I’ve been approached by a number of outlets asking me to “contribute” something to their online efforts in exchange for “traffic”–which is kind of like when old small presses would pay in copies. Often, these concerns also ask for all rights on the free content, that can also be re-published whenever they want. This is a far cry from other bloggers asking to contribute to their blogs (although some corps like to make that comparison.) I’m not sure a union will help us with something like this if we don’t start drawing the line for ourselves first.

]]>