In case you missed it, my name is Christina Gleason. You may be more familiar with me by my former identity, QualityGal. Until February 9, 2009, I was the Content Manager at We Build Pages. Oh sure, that wasn’t my official title. But I created the content writing team from the ground up, recruiting and managing over 250 writers and editors to write thousands of pages of content, so I think it was a fairer description of my job than anything else that was bandied about.
I helped develop a proprietary writer panel for the management of writer assignments. Sadly, I only got to use the new incarnation for two business days before I was let go. This tool had been in development since July 2008, and I’m sad that I won’t be able to enjoy it without all the bugs.
I developed an online style manual along with two of my editors, Jen and Michelle, which helped promote the quality of the content we produced. I also developed several very basic tutorials about SEO writing.
With the experience I gained from my time as a Google Quality Rater, I’ve always ensured that the content produced by the writing team I managed was valuable to users. User intent is so firmly ingrained in my brain that I would never, ever attach myself to any “content” that could be construed as spam or trickery. And that’s not because Google penalizes spam and trickery; that’s because it’s the right thing to do. I want to help make the Web a better place.
I’m now a solo act. I’m available for freelance work. Keep your eyes peeled for more information about my services and introductory rates.
Christina, although I didn’t get to know you as I would have liked to, I am sad that this has happened. I grew to know you as a wonderful and helpful person and I am sure that you will experience huge success with whatever you do….
lots of love and please keep in touch,
hugs~
robinana
239.440.6856
Thanks, robinana. If given the chance, I’d like to be able to work with you more in the future. I’ll let you know if I’m ever again in a position to recruit other writers.
Christina, I feel for you. I’ve been trapped on a project that started in June of 2008 (as its previous iteration that took over a year to build was scrapped completely to start anew from the ground up) and have been literally STUCK to it. It’s now 8 months later and the thing isn’t even tested or fully operational, but our company is SELLING it and promising it can do even more and better things. Worse yet, I’m the only one left at the company who knows how it works or how it was built or what is involved to make it run (the others were either fired or quit or are on the project in name only).
I would be devastated if I were let go and never saw “my baby” take on its first clients successfully, so I can truly empathize.
On the plus side, if they fired me tomorrow, they’d be S.O.L. and sometimes I worry that’s the only reason why I still have a job there.
Christina, I admire your strength in so quickly turning what might devastate some people into an opportunity to launch your own business. That takes courage. On the other hand, it’s about time, girl! You are an excellent writer and editor and it’s great that you’re taking the show on the road! I learned a lot from you at WBP. I’m grateful for that, and for the opportunity to see you shine on your own now. Will be watching this space for more awesomeness to come! As always, I’m just an e-mail or tweet away. Do keep in touch.
Aaron, it doesn’t hurt to have a backup plan. I honestly didn’t think that WBP could handle losing me, as half of the two-person content department, but here I am. I really didn’t know what to do when I came home Monday night, but my friends gave me the courage to do something I never thought I could do, and I’m doing it.
Michelle, thanks for your vote of confidence. 🙂 I’ll definitely be in touch. I’ve missed working with you, and I hope you’re doing well in your new job!