Hey Angela,

I contacted an old client a few weeks ago as I’m officially back in the freelancing game. My contact there said they no longer work directly with freelance writers, but outsource all their content to (name removed). I checked out this website, feeling that my old client’s recommendation might mean it was actually a legit place to find paid writing work. I was, instead, sadly disappointed to see jobs advertised for 2.4 cents per word, on down to fractions of a penny per word. The editing work advertised there was even worse! Out of curiosity, I looked up another freelancing site only to find that you have to purchase credits in order to put in quotes on the jobs listed there. Credits I would purchase with my real dollars to put in quotes on jobs I might or might not get? Huh?

What are your thoughts on these sites, and over the years have you heard from writers who’ve managed to be paid well through them?

Many thanks in advance!

– Not Paying To Bid!

Dear N.P.T.B,

I always advise writers to avoid those bidding sites, and to find clients the old fashioned way. Not only are these bidding sites significantly lowering writers’ incomes but they are also dumbing down the industry because many are hiring writers who, quite frankly, SUCK.

You get what you pay for and professional writers aren’t going to be giving away their services for a fraction of a penny per word. Only the desperate do that.

Angela