Hey, it's still Thursday

And with 3 hours to spare, here is today's update: My latest Ezinearticles submission.



People are facing a terrible financial burden right now, especially in America. The job security and economic conditions we've taken for granted for the last 10 years are starting to come apart due to a decade of irresponsibility. Freelancers especially are becoming more desperate. The money and the dream of being independent of traditional American minimum wage slave labor drive us to take projects that really should be left alone. Today, we will learn when NOT to take a web content writing job.

These principles apply to copywriters as well as content writers and every other kind of freelancer. We all want to be paid for something we enjoy, but what happens when we're asked to take less than the finished product is worth? Should we sacrifice our time just to have a job, no matter what the quality? The answer is no. Our time must be saved for the important work of finding the jobs that pay what we're worth.

Pay isn't the only qualifier for an unacceptable job; Sometimes, the jobs themselves aren't worth taking. Some subjects aren't right for most writers and some clients aren't meant to be clients. You don't want your name attached to a customer should be flipping burgers instead of selling products with your words. This article will give some helpful clues in identifying a job not worth taking at any price, before it's too late.

The key factor is 99% of unworthy jobs is pay. Five dollars for a reasonable length article is the bare minimum for fluent English speakers. Leave the $1/500 words junk for the phonies. Never take a low paying job to build reputation. A reputation as a writer who writes for pennies isn't a reputation you want to have. Also remember, if you are only worth a small payment for a client, you are very replaceable. Try to write at a quality that you would never give up for less than $5.

Now, how can a job be worthless even with a large paycheck? There are several ways into this apparent paradox: A job that will not lead to more jobs; A job that exposes you to an abusive client; and a job that is not practical to complete. For writers, the best way to end a job without a job to follow it is if you don't get credit. Clients will ask for full copyright, meaning you can not use their writing as a sample. The best reaction to this is to simply raise your rate. If you're writing with no recognition, make it for enough money that you don't need the follow-up. Usually, these clients will simply refuse the price.

The next reason to reject a job less obvious. You will seldom see an ad announcing that a job is for an abusive client. Instead, there will be subtle hints in the ad. Some of these include preemptive temper tantrums like warnings in capital letters and whining before they've even selected a writer for the job. You also have to look out for disingenuous phrases like "I prefer proper communication" which translates to: "I will send you thirty emails a day asking why you haven't finished the project, 25 of them before the deadline." These clients will harass you in every way they say and more. Also, don't be surprised if there is a lot of "confusion" from their end about the price you agreed to and how many articles you've done.

The final warning for a writing job that you should NOT take is the subject. Many ads will not mention the subject. You need to ask. There are many, many more subjects requiring articles than any individual writer will take. Some writers like to write about men's cufflinks, feminine hygiene products and male enhancement. Many of us don't. Find out what you're getting into before you take the job.