Today.com Checks In

In case you didn't read the comments in the post below titled "Jury's Still Out..." we did finally get to hear from Nichole of the new blog network Today.com. I also made contact via email. Nichole was able to answer the doubts that surfaced about the newish network. Write on..and thanks for getting back to me, Nichole.

Although I certainly don't mind fielding questions and was able to poke around for information, following are some ways that you can investigate a potential employer on your own.

• Read the contract. Keep a copy for your records, and don't work without one unless you are absolutely comfortable with client.
• Use the tools at your disposal. You can find out who owns a domain using tools like WhoIs and DomainInfo. You can also use your contacts in writing communities to see what the word on the street is. Message boards, blogs, and mailing groups are all valuable sources of information.
• Speak with past contractors. Ask for references. A legitimate employer will allow this with little resistance. Don't be shy!
• Don't make the call without all the info. You'll notice my blog post yesterday simply presented the facts I could locate and indicated that I had not come to a personal conclusion. You don't want to lose a client by hasty action. I've worked for start up magazines that certainly didn't have all their ducks in a row, and looked liked swindlers; they became some of my best clients. On the other hand, I've also sniffed out scams from square one. It could go either way in a virtual world.

Remember, whether you are a new writer or a 20-year veteran writer, your time is valuable.