Danger for Web writers: another bubble and “write for equity”

« « Blogs: starting a new project? Create a blog | Web writing: write to market your writing services » »

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

If you lived and wrote through the last online bubble in 2000, it’s worrying that there are clear signs that we’re in another frenzy.

A bubble atmosphere is dangerous for Web writers. It’s easy to get into a situation where several companies owe you money. In 2000, some writers were owed thousands of dollars, which they were never paid.

Bubble Indicators says: “It’s so cheap to create Web startups these days that we are going to be seeing a whole lot more of them. Many will be inane, redundant, or half-baked. “

Major tip: Get paid for your Web writing.

In a bubble, as Techcrunch notes, it’s so easy and cheap to create Web properties that there’s a mass of startups. You’ll get writing “offers” which:

* Ask you to write for equity (no money, just shares)

* Ask you to write for minimum pay (”We’re just a startup, we have a low budget…”)

* Ask you to contribute ideas and “samples”

Over the next year or two be VERY wary when writing for new companies. Get an agreement and a retainer, before you write.

The best option of course is to create your own Web properties. The bright side of a bubble is that there’s lots of money floating around. Get your share.