A Questionable Gig

[blemmet]

That is a great question and sound advice Havs!

FYI, all of our contracts state that the payout is at $50. It accrues until then. So, yes we have all earned $$, but we haven't reached payout yet. [img]smileys/smiley2.gif[/img]

Pretty standard stuff...[img]smileys/smiley1.gif[/img]

[Havsaworkin']

I'm glad to know that there is a clause in there, stating how much has to be made before you cash out. That's a very good thing to have in the contracts. [img]smileys/smiley1.gif[/img] I looked at the blogs - are the owners planning on adding more ads onto the sites? There are very little ads on there right now. Just curious.

IMHO, a $50 payout is rather high for a start up blog that is running strictly off commission, but the bloggers agreed to that when they signed the contract, so you can't complain too much after the fact.

Again, good luck to everyone.

Havs
Trying to stay out of the crossfire...

[blemmet]

Yeah, there are more lucrative ads being added this month. My blog was the first to have the new plug in added and is ready for the new ads.

That has been part of the problem with the $$...the ads haven't been in place. The adsense was just added the middle of May, due to some other problems. But things are progressing now and with a little hard work, we should all be getting paid before you know it.

Thanks for caring and looking out for us, Havs. [img]smileys/smiley27.gif[/img]

[Havsaworkin']

Hey, I understand problems. [img]smileys/smiley17.gif[/img] I manage a group of TV blogs, and it certainly isn't easy getting everything done, when you multiply your to-do list by 50. [img]smileys/smiley2.gif[/img] Suddenly, even the smallest of tasks (like adding a plugin onto a site) becomes overwhelming.

I should say, though, that on our TV blog network, although the pay per post isn't high (hardly!!!!!) it is a set amount each time. No matter how much income the blog is making, the blogger will still get paid. Which is good, because the owners have been really busy, and haven't had time to put any ads on any of the sites. We've been blogging now since the first of April, and the owners have yet to make a single penny, but have paid out thousands of dollars to the bloggers, myself, the developer, and money for the domain names and hosting fees. Whose fault is it that no ads have been up? The owners. Who has suffered because of it? The owners. There's a pretty clear relationship there. Now, the owners are going to be adding ads very, very soon (probably tonight, in fact) and so hopefully they'll start recouping at least a little of what they've put out. But in the meanwhile, the bloggers still get paid.

On the other hand, on Blog Island, the bloggers have been working, but because of problems putting up ads, there hasn't been a chance for them to make any money. The relationship between cause and effect isn't working here. The owners were having problems - the bloggers were hurting because of it (ie, no income).

Boy howdy, I know I said I'd stay out of it, lol, but apparently I just like to talk to hear myself babble, who knows. [img]smileys/smiley17.gif[/img] But I guess my point is, that the blogs probably haven't been run the best, and I say that as a manager who personally hasn't done everything exactly right, so I'm not standing on a soap box, preaching here. I have plenty faults of my own, but hopefully I'll get better as I go along and learn. I just hope that the owners of Blog Island also realize that they have made mistakes, and that they too need to get their act together. At least they're trying to put up profitable ads, which is a step in the right direction.

My take on the whole thing is that the bloggers were required to put up posts, were told to do other extra things that would make their blogs profitable, but then the one thing that would actually make their blog profitable (ads) were not added. Then they were, but not very many. Now, two months after the bloggers started working, the owners are finally adding profitable ads. It seems like the bloggers never really had a chance to make that $50 payout, and that's kinda tough.

If the bloggers stick with it and continue to put a lot of work into the blogs, they'll eventually make that payout, I'm sure. It's a question of whether it's really worth it to them.

Only the bloggers themselves can answer that question.

Thanks for letting me ramble on. I'm truly sorry if I offended anyone - I didn't mean to. What I really need to do is shut my yapper before I say something stupid...

Havs
Who fully realizes that she's probably already done that... [img]smileys/smiley29.gif[/img]

[SueWalsh623]

Well in all fairness to the owners, they had some technical glitches, and one of them got rushed to the hospital with some health issues. . They are doing the very best they can.

[EclecticBird]

Here is me, a newbie (hope that's ok) jumping in kind of late but here goes. I've been actively watching these boards for a little over two years and I have to say in most of the time I think that the women (and occasional guy) here are absolutely wonderful. I love the way you all share your resources and give out tips. All of the online jobs I've found have either directly or indirectly been a result of tips I've found on these boards. I think most of the people in this thread are honestly trying to help and are probably concerned that their fellow writers are being scammed. <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" />

I completely understand how this could be the perception. We haven't been paid and we are working a lot. BUT one thing I notice that hasn't been discussed, even from people who were in the first class (with me- I've been at this a few months now) is that the owners are really nice people. Every question I've had has been thoughtfully and honestly answered on the boards and in emails or phone conversations. They are extremely accessable and helpful. I guess scam artists could be nice but dang...let’s just say I’d be darned impressed if this was a scam. Overly enthusiastic in the beginning, yes..scam, no.

Additionally, I think the class was very informative. Granted I'm not as experienced when it comes to writing or blogging as some of theSuper Wahms (I want that little tag under my name bad<?:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /> </v:stroke></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:ulas></vath><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shape>) on the forum but I am a teacher and I do recognize valuable content. I'd actually be ok working for free for the class just to learn what I did. (not permanently mind you but at least for as long as I have)

Anywho, it's 2am and I've had all of about 2 hours of sleep in the last 24 so I'm probably rambling...I guess what it boils down to is I want to say thank you to the ladies who are trying to look out for their fellow writers and those of us who are baby writers (that would be me) I've found your advice and tips invaluable in the past. I also want to say to my fellow classmates who I thought I knew from the class, that I'm really surprised and disapointed in the slamming that is going on. (sorry, but it does sound like slamming) I don't think you've given a fair representation of the owners or the situation.

I’ll be back in a few months to check in and let everyone know how it is going down the road. I still have high hopes that we will be successful and that one day I’ll be able to come back here and give a great tip/opportunity to some of you to repay all of the tips you have given me in the past.

[gottaluv4]

Eclectic - thanks for coming out and offering your thoughts. I don't think that everyone is going to have the same experience and of course that is why it's important to get all takes. For anyone who you think might be slamming the blog opp, remember it is their experience from the situation...

I have problems with people slamming each other - especially when they pop in only to do so.

Please stick around, as you've already stated, this is a helpful forum. For the majority of us, we look out for each other and our interests.. Why? Because those of here who are moms, have families and kids to provide for and we don't want to see another mom waste her time or energy when she could be earning an income now.