Note: This is the fourth post in an ongoing series about the SEO writing jobs I pick up from people all over the world.
I’ve been having a pretty good December so far, much better than the slow November I had. There’ve been quite a few interesting jobs over the past 8 weeks or so, so let’s just get right into it, huh?
I’ve been having a pretty good December so far, much better than the slow November I had. There’ve been quite a few interesting jobs over the past 8 weeks or so, so let’s just get right into it, huh?
Asian Dating Sites
Actual Book on Amazon I had an interesting job toward the end of October. It called for just 1,000 words for an Asian dating site. It was something like “The Top 10 Ways to Make an Asian Woman Love You” or something like that – I guess I’ve already blocked it from my mind.
Now, I spent five years living in China so I’ve seen lots of Asian women. And I’m pretty sure I’ve seen more than the guy who I was writing for. In other words, it made this job a cinch. Anyway, I managed to pound it out in record time and he was happy with it. Whether he or any of his users have found that special Asian someone, however, I haven’t a clue.
Now, I spent five years living in China so I’ve seen lots of Asian women. And I’m pretty sure I’ve seen more than the guy who I was writing for. In other words, it made this job a cinch. Anyway, I managed to pound it out in record time and he was happy with it. Whether he or any of his users have found that special Asian someone, however, I haven’t a clue.
ESL Content Work
I had someone in Hong Kong contact me around Thanksgiving about doing some work. He was putting together some kind of ESL training site that revolved around students playing games to move up in levels, unlocking rewards and other cool stuff the higher they got. In other words it really gave an incentive to learn English.
Having my own ESL website really helps when it comes to getting jobs like this, and believe me, there are a lot out there. English as a Second Language is a growing business, one that’s worth billions of dollars in Asia. Check out my ESL Article on Training Centers to see how companies like Disney are really getting into the show, and a little late too.
Well, this site wasn’t up when I wrote the content but I thought it sounded fun. A lot of my old ESL students would have liked it, but I know the competition for parents’ money in China is steep. Hopefully this site does alright, but I’ll stick to my tactic of just writing ESL books, of which I’ll have 2 new ones soon. Yippee!
Having my own ESL website really helps when it comes to getting jobs like this, and believe me, there are a lot out there. English as a Second Language is a growing business, one that’s worth billions of dollars in Asia. Check out my ESL Article on Training Centers to see how companies like Disney are really getting into the show, and a little late too.
Well, this site wasn’t up when I wrote the content but I thought it sounded fun. A lot of my old ESL students would have liked it, but I know the competition for parents’ money in China is steep. Hopefully this site does alright, but I’ll stick to my tactic of just writing ESL books, of which I’ll have 2 new ones soon. Yippee!
Internet and Cloud Services
I had some work with internet and cloud services since my last writing, and it seems I get at least a couple of these jobs each a month. I don’t really have a problem with them, mainly because I’ve written so many of them now, but honestly – they’re boring as hell.
We’re trying to convince people to get their hard drives backed up, their social media presence cemented, and their eCommerce site rolling. Hey, it’s all great stuff that many companies should focus on, especially those in Baltimore where my employer was, but let’s just say I’d rather write something else…like taxes!
We’re trying to convince people to get their hard drives backed up, their social media presence cemented, and their eCommerce site rolling. Hey, it’s all great stuff that many companies should focus on, especially those in Baltimore where my employer was, but let’s just say I’d rather write something else…like taxes!
IRS Back Taxes
I have never spewed out so much hate and vitriol than I have when I wrote some back taxes content a few weeks ago. Well, that might be an understatement, but let me just say I wrote thousands of words telling people how incompetent, corrupt, lying, cheating, scheming, and countless other adjectives describing the IRS.
Hey, accountants can be quite rough I guess! And really, I liked writing this otherwise boring content because it was a great test of how you can appeal to emotions. Writing things like this, for example:
Hey, accountants can be quite rough I guess! And really, I liked writing this otherwise boring content because it was a great test of how you can appeal to emotions. Writing things like this, for example:
Having a business is part of the American dream. But that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if you get behind on your IRS payroll taxes. Failing to file your payroll taxes with the IRS is a huge no-no. This really makes them angry, and they’ll come after you with a vengeance!
When you’re writing this kind of sales copy you’re not selling people tax services, you’re selling them their life back. After all, the IRS took it from them, along with their peace of mind, restful nights, and monetary and self-value. You have to show them that light at the end of their tunnel of financial misery, and really, give them hope once again. Great practice!
Australian Newsletter
This past month I did a newsletter for a guy in Australia. I regret taking the job, which paid me about 1/4 of what I was supposed to get.
Here's what went wrong:
These are all little things that have to be in place for a job to come to a swift and successful conclusion. Sure, work can get done if you talk just once a day, but if you’re able to send an email a few times a day chances are things get finished in a day instead of a week.
When employers know what they want this makes everyone’s life easy. After all, you just contacted me – I haven’t a clue! And the other side of that is you have to know what your competitors are doing. Of course that means knowing who your competitors are, which many unfortunately (unfathomably?) don’t. And then we’re getting into an even deeper question – who is it you’re talking to? Who’s your target audience? Who are you trying to sell your shit to?
You’d be surprised how many people do not know this.
Here's what went wrong:
- First, communication was nearly non-existent;
- Second, he didn’t have a clear idea of what he wanted;
- Third, he could not point out examples of what his competitors were doing;
- Fourth, he complained about drafts instead of suggesting how they could be improved.
These are all little things that have to be in place for a job to come to a swift and successful conclusion. Sure, work can get done if you talk just once a day, but if you’re able to send an email a few times a day chances are things get finished in a day instead of a week.
When employers know what they want this makes everyone’s life easy. After all, you just contacted me – I haven’t a clue! And the other side of that is you have to know what your competitors are doing. Of course that means knowing who your competitors are, which many unfortunately (unfathomably?) don’t. And then we’re getting into an even deeper question – who is it you’re talking to? Who’s your target audience? Who are you trying to sell your shit to?
You’d be surprised how many people do not know this.
Colorado Medical Marijuana
I had a fun one coming off the tax job this past month, and that was writing some pages for a site in Colorado that’s getting set to sell medical marijuana. I’m all for that, and all we really did with this is take some pages form California and transfer them over. We finished about 10 pages in a day or two because he knew exactly what he wanted and who his competitors were. He had a page of links ready for me. Talk about organized!
That’s the thing – in the next few years you’re not going to see many better-organized businesses than those selling medical marijuana, and eventually legal marijuana. It is a business and it will make the states that are allowing it millions of dollars in extra tax revenues each year. And quite an interesting class of new millionaires as well.
I hope I get more of these jobs, and I’m sure I will. After all, I’ve got this site under my belt and now these old templates to work off of. Montana, please be next!
That’s the thing – in the next few years you’re not going to see many better-organized businesses than those selling medical marijuana, and eventually legal marijuana. It is a business and it will make the states that are allowing it millions of dollars in extra tax revenues each year. And quite an interesting class of new millionaires as well.
I hope I get more of these jobs, and I’m sure I will. After all, I’ve got this site under my belt and now these old templates to work off of. Montana, please be next!
Short Editing Work
I occasionally get editing work, and lately I’ve been doing extremely short Christmas edits for this guy in Sweden. All it consists of are a couple paragraphs, and I do it for $2 to $5 or so. It literally takes about 5 minutes, if that. And that’s what experience gets you. When you can say you’ve taught English and that you write books you can say you’re a specialist, an authority, someone who knows what they’re saying, but more importantly, doing.
I can do that and that’s why I can get easy jobs that take little time. Well, they’re easy for me. Take a look at this article here. How long do you think that took me? How long would it take you? Would you be surprised to know I banged the whole first draft out in one sitting while looking at my “Finished Projects” folder? I started it at 11:14 and am now at 11:40 – that’s 1,240 words in 26 minutes. Not too bad.
Can you do that? Many can, many can’t. It takes practice, and I do it each day. That’s why I get paid to do it and have these people I’m talking about now as my bosses. How often can you talk about your bosses in blog posts? And are they my bosses? I routinely tell them to go to hell – just another Adventure in SEO!
I can do that and that’s why I can get easy jobs that take little time. Well, they’re easy for me. Take a look at this article here. How long do you think that took me? How long would it take you? Would you be surprised to know I banged the whole first draft out in one sitting while looking at my “Finished Projects” folder? I started it at 11:14 and am now at 11:40 – that’s 1,240 words in 26 minutes. Not too bad.
Can you do that? Many can, many can’t. It takes practice, and I do it each day. That’s why I get paid to do it and have these people I’m talking about now as my bosses. How often can you talk about your bosses in blog posts? And are they my bosses? I routinely tell them to go to hell – just another Adventure in SEO!
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