Author Topic: Looking for freelance racing journos/writers (Read 2053 times)

ThePuntingBaron · O.P. « 2018-May-14, 11:14 AM »

Hi everyone,

Need some help from the wider racing community. Can anyone suggest/recommend where to find freelance racing journos willing to do some ad hoc work? We're in the midst of building out content for our website and some like minded professionals would be a valuable asset to us.

Cheers,
Adam

wily ole dog · « 2018-May-14, 05:50 PM **Reply #1** »

Throwing an invite out like that you’re sure to be approached by a bloke called Peter Mair
My advice would be to ignore his approaches

That’s if you wish to garner any credibility for your website

Wenona · « 2018-May-14, 06:26 PM **Reply #2** »

My first thought as well wily.

wily ole dog · « 2018-May-14, 06:41 PM **Reply #3** »

To quote a friend of ours, wenona, it would not even be “one step up , 2 steps back”
It would be far worse

westie · « 2018-May-14, 08:51 PM **Reply #4** »

Spam pops into my mind

Wenona · « 2018-May-14, 11:20 PM **Reply #5** »

I'd be prepared to give the initial poster the benefit of doubt re Spam as they have made the request without actually plugging anything or including links etc.

PoisonPen7 · « 2018-May-14, 11:44 PM **Reply #6** »

I have a feeling that we had a forum member in the past by a similar name??

And that he had a web site as well

ThePuntingBaron · « 2018-May-15, 11:06 AM **Reply #7** »

Credibility is key, however we're in full control of content and more importantly we would be gating any post before publishing. Not to concerned here. Any other recommendations?

Peter Mair · « 2018-May-15, 03:33 PM **Reply #8** »

................ one can only wonder about the prospects for an independent racing media site

wily ole dog · « 2018-May-15, 05:35 PM **Reply #9** »

Quote from: Peter Mair on 2018-May-15, 03:33 PM

................ one can only wonder about the prospects for an independent racing media site

It would beat the hell out of your shameless self promotion as you try to suck on the racing teat, yet again

turfdeli · « 2018-May-15, 09:24 PM **Reply #10** »

Hi Punting Baron, when you say "free" lance is the emphisas on the "free" or is this a paid gig you are offering?

I do have to wonder why you would be consdering going down this path though? T

In terms of racing news, racing.com and punters.com.au already cover everything thoroughly, with much more access to resources. Plus there is racenet and racingandsports, plus the newspapers, why will what you do be so different?

ThePuntingBaron · « 2018-May-15, 09:45 PM **Reply #11** »

I refer to "free" as someone who isn't necessarily affiliated with other news sites. Someone who has a love of the sport that has something different to offer. Nothing in life is free unfortunately. I value content and understand the benefit it brings to an online business. I understand there are many types of media out there. Not here to compete with them. They have a recipe that works and its not where I want to play.

turfdeli · « 2018-May-15, 10:08 PM **Reply #12** »

Quote from: ThePuntingBaron on 2018-May-15, 09:45 PM

I refer to "free" as someone who isn't necessarily affiliated with other news sites. Someone who has a love of the sport that has something different to offer. Nothing in life is free unfortunately. I value content and understand the benefit it brings to an online business. I understand there are many types of media out there. Not here to compete with them. They have a recipe that works and its not where I want to play.

That's where I don't understand it - I don't think news content will bring your site any benefit to be brutually honest.

The social media tipping market is flooded beyond saturation, there seem to be a dozen new services every week.

I really doubt any more news content will increase your business. I am constantly coming across punting pages with 30,000 to 100,000 social media followers who get next to no interaction on their posts at all.

PoisonPen7 · « 2018-May-15, 11:07 PM **Reply #13** »

Quote from: turfdeli on 2018-May-15, 10:08 PM

That's where I don't understand it - I don't think news content will bring your site any benefit to be brutually honest.

The social media tipping market is flooded beyond saturation, there seem to be a dozen new services every week.

I really doubt any more news content will increase your business. I am constantly coming across punting pages with 30,000 to 100,000 social media followers who get next to no interaction on their posts at all.

Mate for my benefit, and this is an honest question, can you explain what you mean by "The social media tipping market is flooded beyond saturation".

Maybe I should get onto Twitter and Facebook a bit more but "saturation tipping" it is not glaringly obvious to me from where I stand.

Cheers.

turfdeli · « 2018-May-15, 11:38 PM **Reply #14** »

Hey PP,

There are hundreds of social media tipping services out there, especially on Twitter, but also on Facebook. If you sit on Twitter on a Saturday raceday you will see them flying around. Won't list them all as don't think most of them deserve any publicity.

I am always surprised how many services I come across with substantial followings, in the 10,000s of who I have never heard of before.

Not sure if others on the forum agree?

Peter Mair · « 2018-May-16, 02:16 AM **Reply #15** »

The brutal realities of a comprehensive monopoly

The brutal reality is that the racing media is financed by the industry and the price for that is no substantial criticiical or objective or investigative or exposing stories liikely to detract from the official industry image that they pay for.

............... the prospectof a paid role for a maverick having an open book in the mainstream media is bleak.

ThePuntingBaron · « 2018-May-16, 11:10 AM **Reply #16** »

Quote from: turfdeli on 2018-May-15, 10:08 PM

That's where I don't understand it - I don't think news content will bring your site any benefit to be brutually honest.

The social media tipping market is flooded beyond saturation, there seem to be a dozen new services every week.

I really doubt any more news content will increase your business. I am constantly coming across punting pages with 30,000 to 100,000 social media followers who get next to no interaction on their posts at all.

Coming from an online background and working the past 12 years in the industry growing businesses, the power of content cannot be reckoned with i'm afraid. After all PB was built through Twitter and snow balling over time. Proven and it works. Content is free advertising and drives traffic to your site

Those with a big following base i would question the quality of their followers. Spam the obvious. In addition your branding and credibility plays a pivotal role. Take us for example, our total engagement rate on Twitter hovers around 31% which is half decent and super proud of. A formula that works well and improving daily. Our followers highly engaged and love the banter that comes with. Again, its our point of difference

turfdeli · « 2018-May-16, 11:46 AM **Reply #17** »

After seeing the huge amount of money G1X bull dozed into content - stories, videos, amusing skits, etc for a catastrophic flop would beg to differ. And everyone could see that coming, there simply wasn't the market for it.

Realise you are talking a much smaller scale though. Good luck with it.

PoisonPen7 · « 2018-May-16, 12:06 PM **Reply #18** »

Quote from: Peter Mair on 2018-May-16, 02:16 AM

The brutal realities of a comprehensive monopoly

The brutal reality is that the racing media is financed by the industry and the price for that is no substantial criticiical or objective or investigative or exposing stories liikely to detract from the official industry image that they pay for.

............... the prospectof a paid role for a maverick having an open book in the mainstream media is bleak.

Actually Punting Baron you should seriously consider hiring Peter Mair.

Content that attracts viewers incensed over outrageous comment could only be a good thing?

He needs to work on his spelling and shortening those sentences though.

ThePuntingBaron · « 2018-May-16, 03:21 PM **Reply #19** »

Quote from: turfdeli on 2018-May-16, 11:46 AM

After seeing the huge amount of money G1X bull dozed into content - stories, videos, amusing skits, etc for a catastrophic flop would beg to differ. And everyone could see that coming, there simply wasn't the market for it.

Realise you are talking a much smaller scale though. Good luck with it.

Well that's a good example right. Spent copious amounts of money, but no clear revenue strategy. Not sustainable!

wily ole dog · « 2018-May-16, 05:19 PM **Reply #20** »

Quote from: PoisonPen7 on 2018-May-16, 12:06 PM

Actually Punting Baron you should seriously consider hiring Peter Mair.

Content that attracts viewers incensed over outrageous comment could only be a good thing?

He needs to work on his spelling and shortening those sentences though.

Surely integrity and honesty would be job requirements
Mair is a failure on both

turfdeli · « 2018-May-16, 09:13 PM **Reply #21** »

Just looking at your website now, Punting Baron.

Your most valuable content you actually already have - it is your old form previews and bets. Why don't you have them publicly available once the meeting is passed? People who have paid up before would check to see how you have gone and see what they are missing out on? Plus new customers would be able to make an informed decision about what they are buuying.