How to get a job as a blogger: the do’s and don’ts

helpwantedThis seemed like a suitable topic to write about, since I’ve just gone through the process of hiring a full time blogger for one of my other sites. The best place to either find a blogging job, or to find blogging talent, is the Problogger Job Board. There are more ways to find writers, but a lot of the responses I’ve received from the PB job ad were quite good. Unlike some forums, where people will do anything for a quick buck. When it comes to getting solid content for your blog, you need a solid blogger. Don’t cut corners, you’ll make the money you had to spent  to advertise back in no time with a quality writer on your staff.

After all the replies I got for the job, I have a lot of comparison material, and I’ll give you several examples of how to – and how to not apply for an advertised writing position.

If you want to have a good shot of landing the blogging gig you’re about to apply for, please make sure you’ve covered these points.

The Don’ts.

At least act like you know what you’re getting yourself into.

1. The most important aspect would probably be; Make sure that you’ve familiarised yourself with the blog that is seeking to hire a blogger. Often a link is included in the job application, but at times you have to be slightly more creative, and find the site, based on the email address domain, or do some quick research on Google. – Several of the candidates that were applying seemed to have absolutely no clue as to what blog they were applying for. Either that, or they just chose to ignore the blog topic, and sent in extremely random sample material. If I want to hire someone to blog about TV shows, how is a school paper on gardening going to get me excited about you?

Can you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?

2. So the entire blog you are applying for is written in English. The entire ad for the job was written in English. What on earth are you doing, emailing me a complete application letter in Spanish? Besides me no speaky that muchos Spanish, why would you think that your Spanish articles will get published on my English blog? Please make sure you’ve written down point 1, then come back and try again. Hasta la Vista baby!

Minimalistic anyone?

3. I’ve worked hard on my blog to get it where it is today. I’ve put the hours in, I’ve spent money on advertising the job application. So do you really think that an email containing one single link to your blog is going to get me impressed with your high standard of work? Do you think I would feel good spending more money on someone that not only seems extremely lazy, but is also showing no interest in my blog whatsoever? BZZZZ! Think again.

can I haz spellcheckz?

4. Ok, so I can see that it’s not Spanish, but are you sure that your application letter was written in English? I’m not too thrilled to think of my new blogger to be writing articles as if they were typing on their cellphone. “I wuld luv 2 b a writer 4 u. Plz chk my appl. and get bck 2 me asap”. No thanks. Sure, I might not be the greatest writer myself, but for someone whom I am going to have to pay, I at least expect you to present me with a usable end-product.

We don’t do Pulitzer.

5. The email in which you’re applying for the TV blogger job could very well make the New York Times Editor in Chief offer you a job. University this, author of bestseller that…I think you might be slightly overqualified for this job. I don’t think that the people that visit my blog are expecting to read  Time magazine articles. Thanks for applying, but I can’t see you connecting with my target audience. But don’t worry, I’m sure you can do much better with all those credentials under your belt.

And there’s my main don’ts you need to consider. I’ve cut the article in half, so come back tomorrow to find out what the Do’s are to get you hired as a blogger.

Whats so social about social media?

Just a question that came to mind, after I got a rather anti-social tweet from someone who is best know for his social media skills. I’ve been following Supernova17 for a while now, since he does tweet some interesting links every now and again.

Today, I caught one of his tweets about 35 sites to get ebooks. So silly me replied, asking to let me know when he came across a list for audiobooks. You know, just trying to have a social chitchat.

supernova17

Whoa Nelly. No, he doesn’t know me. I’m just one of his 3400 followers.

Guess he’s just having a bad day. Then again, I do always seem to draw out the asshole in everyone.

Derek Salyers, I hope you have as much fun with the $30 you stole from me, as I had writing this article about you.

Its been a while since I’ve felt the urge to write a post like this. Derek ‘douchebag’ Salyers from ClickConsultants.com however managed to get me in the mood, after I got fucked by him, AND had to pay him for it – twice.

On the 5th of November, I came across Derek’s (spam) marketing forum, after reading a couple of, what seemed to be solid, recommendations regarding his ClickConsultants forum. I read the promises that are made (mirror) on the site, and I decided to take the leap – I sign up for the $29.99 per month membership forums.

Unfortunately you can’t see anything on the forum, until you are a paid member.

Great, so the first thing I notice is that there has hardly been any more posting since April 2009. I’m looking for the ‘free monthly landing pages’, which are promised by Derek, but to no avail – These also stopped coming in since April.

cclandingpages

Ok, so I get a little annoyed and figure I’d sent Derek a private message on his forum. Surely he’ll have time to reply. It’s not like he’s been busy on there since April or so…

privatemessage

Guess what? No reply. I kinda forget about the whole thing, since I’m a rather busy person (at times!). So surprise, surprise – I get a notification that I have sent Derek another $29.99 via PayPal. Subscriptions tend to do that I guess. So I did what I should have done the first time after I discovered how utterly empty Derek’s promises and forums are. I wrote him a quick email via the contact form.

ccemail

Ok, so basically I’m letting Derek know that I fell for it the first time around. Fair play, keep the $29.99. However, since I’m obviously entitled to a refund because Derek is not keeping his promises (I’d say ‘blatantly lying’, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt), and the product he is selling isn’t all which he makes it out to be. Now I think that’s a pretty sweet deal for Derek. Making nearly $30 for nothing.

But Derek wants more.

Like the private message I had sent him a month before, this email also never got a reply. Guess Derek doesn’t want to talk to me. Actually, I’m quite certain of it, since he did not even bother having his say when I just opened up a PayPal dispute.

ccpaypaldispute

So all in all, Derek has made $60 off myself, and never had to get off his ass for it. All he’s done is click the ‘refuse refund’ button on PayPal.

Obviously Derek does not give a fuck about his customers, ergo, his business. My suggestion for anyone that was tempted to follow in my footsteps and sign up with Derek to learn about online business, is to turn around and run.

ccspam

Unless you’re not satisfied with all the FREE PORN ORAL SEX, EMMA WATSON and BRITTNEY SPEARS UPSKIRTS, and even FOOD PORN on his forum…I’m sure Derek would be more than happy to fuck you over himself.

Take care of yourself, and each-other.

Bob