Two of our new features for 2010 will soon be launching. I’d like to introduce them to you and ask you for some feedback and ideas before things are finalized and released publicly.
Freelance Writing Marketplace
I was really torn between a few models for the marketplace, but I’ve opted to go with a standard classifieds format. There will be a section where clients can post ads, and there will be a section where freelance writers can post a writer profile that potential clients can view.
There will be minimum pay levels in the marketplace just as there are in our lists of freelance writing jobs. That will be $50 per article or $.10 per word. I haven’t chosen a specific hourly rate, but $50 per hour sounds about right to me. Any thoughts on those levels?
There will also be limits to which writers can post profiles. I do not want the marketplace to become a low-baller’s heaven. It’s just not what I want for All Freelance Writing. I expect higher tier jobs, and I expect higher tier profiles. But coming up with a way to enforce these limits is difficult. I could use the same rate requirements that clients have to stick to. Or I could require a certain number of links to by-lined samples that would be reviewed before they’re approved on the site. I’d prefer income requirements to standardize things a bit, but I’d like your feedback before making a final decision.
In the beginning both aspects will be free. In the future, there might be a small charge for the profiles, or perhaps an upgraded profile option allowing more links, longer ad posting periods, etc. I don’t expect to make that change too quickly though.
Writer’s Markets
As some of you may know, I’ve been running a writer’s market directory for a year or two now. It used to be located at Writers-Guidelines.com, and that site was recently taken down and redirected to the jobs sections here as the sites are being merged. I’ve toyed with listing markets simply as other posts, but I’m not crazy about that idea. I’d like them in a separately-searchable directory if possible.
The plan as of now is to add a writer’s market directory to this blog shortly after the marketplace is launched. But again, I’d like your feedback. The only downside I can think of is that you won’t get new writer’s markets in the AFW RSS feed like you do with normal posts. So which would you prefer? Post formats that might be harder to search among everything else on the blog, or a more easily browseable directory format, but you’ll have to check it yourself instead of having new listings via RSS. I might be able to get a directory plugin that features its own RSS feed, but can’t promise that.
You can leave feedback in the comments on this post. I appreciate the input in making these tools what you really want.
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Cathy Miller
Amandah
Andrew Kardon
Amelia Ramstead
Lori
I think it’s cool you’ll be offering a freelance writing marketplace. While I see the value of sites that list any jobs that come around, having a place to specifically look for work paying above a certain threshold is very valuable.
There are a couple of WP plugins that create directories and offer ways to see just the new additions, either by visiting the site or by RSS — that might provide you an easy way to manage writers’ markets.
Thanks Thursday!
I had an older directory plugin that I used on the old book marketing blog, but it doesn’t seem to work with the current version of wordpress (or perhaps has a problem with other things being used here already). So I’m still hunting. The key will be to balance the features I want (like RSS, featured vs regular listings, etc.) with something that will work without giving me too much grief. :)
If the people posting gigs all have a set price for the gig then the price of the freelancer won’t matter. I would definitely review the links given by the ‘lancer…but you’ve gotta be ready for backlash–I’m sure you’ve thought of that already.
Well, I’m thinking the price of the freelancer could still be an issue, since that’s a separate section of ads. The specific level for gigs will help writers browsing for gigs. But I don’t want those same writers having their profiles competing with crap penny-per-word content when clients are looking for professional writers. I’m thinking the rate limits might just be easier. The link reviews could be too subjective, and like you said, there’s a lot of potential for backlash (and I’m not qualified to judge every type of writing equally).
I do know that clients will be required to post rates if they want an ad at least. And I’ll probably make writers post three links to bylined pieces (even if just on their own blogs) so everyone can review ads without being forced to send emails first.
@Jennifer Is a custom plugin something you might consider? Or are you looking for existing options you can adapt?
For plugins I prefer existing ones where there’s already a lot of feedback, bugs have been worked out, and chances are good they’ll be maintained and updated as soon as WP is updated. The marketplace script is already chosen and just waiting for me to finish integrating it design-wise. I’ve found two possible directory plugins, so I’m testing them today to see full features and whether or not they cause problems with other plugins on the site.
OK. The directory plugin I just installed does include its own rss feed so people can subscribe to get notices when new writer’s markets are added. So that’s good at least. It’ll need a good bit of visual formatting though, so maybe it’ll be ready for release next week.