Not sure if you knew this but I used to write for Finnbay.
I was approached last February via my blog (this one actually) by a fellow named Onur requesting my assistance in helping to get his site launched.
What is Finnbay?
An online source of information to help other foreigners out living here...
And he was frustrated that there wasn't enough support for expats in English - fair enough.
So Finnbay is just a more modern and updated version of the Finnish Forum and has photos and articles and such...like an online magazine full of information from expats with the knowledge and experience - okay - interesting!
What did you have to do?
Write articles - pretty much blog - about my life and experiences of living in Finland. Onur found me via this blog and liked it a lot and thought I could really contribute to the site.
I was excited because in his e-mail it was stated that I would get more exposure to my blog and my writing and help build a bigger network etc. I'll write what ended up happening in this post...keep reading!
The terms were fairly relaxed - I will give Finnbay credit - I did not write very frequently at all I admit. I more or less edited (or straight up copied) posts that were already existing from my blog - because it was just easier and less time consuming of course. I'm a mother of 2 super active kids and 2 dogs and he knew that I was a busy person (and in the process of signing up for Finnish courses) - so I was glad that me contributing to the site wasn't a huge deal in terms of "strict deadlines".
However the layouts for the site were quite strict and Wordpress is apparently NOT my friend (we really don't click)...so I usually just typed up an article via e-mail and sent it to Onur and he kindly posted it accordingly on my behalf.
Were you getting paid?
No I wasn't.
However, during a phone call, it was suggested that myself and other regular authors/staff would get some monetary compensation once sponsors and donations came through for the site.
*Update November 23, 2013 - there's also the same suggestion in an e-mail from Finnbay's creator that I have found recently.
I haven't (and I'm sure others haven't either) heard a single word about any kind of payment for our articles posted...
In fact, my friend Adam, ended up writing a bit for Helsinki Times and it's sister magazine/paper "6 Degrees", and was getting paid for it. When Onur found out - he didn't support Adam's decision to continue working for 6 Degrees and write occasionally for Finnbay...if he did, then I suppose Adam would do what he could to keep Finnbay updated with his articles - but when push comes to shove - Adam didn't really have any other way to make an income - while studying Finnish too - in a smaller city that is dominantly Finnish-speaking.
I understand and appreciate that Onur is hoping to make his own income via Finnbay - all of us foreigners have our talents and should use them to the best of our ability when living in a foreign country and of course try to help with the bills and living expenses! Especially if you are married to a native of that foreign country and they're the current bread-winner!
But to suggest to Adam, that he NOT be a team member because he was getting paid (and deservedly so) by another company, when Finnbay could not provide any sort of pocket change for any of the "staff" - hardly fair.
I would think that having Mr. Adam Faber - a quickly becoming popular writer for Helsinki Times AND 6 Degrees (along with his own personal blog) - would be nothing but a benefit to Finnbay.
What articles? Your name isn't listed in the "About Us" section of Finnbay...
Ah, but if you do a search for "Dominique Riggs" - you'll find my articles...why are they still on the site if I'm no longer a team member? No idea...Adam's are there too.
Anyhoo - here's the links to my articles (in no particular order that I wrote them either):
I just listed three- there are some others like banking in Finland and other little things.
*Update: They have been removed as per my request - as of November 2013*
Anyways, in my profile on the Finnbay site (and anyone else listed as an author/writer) - my blog was not listed at all. Just things that I liked to do (which I did write myself), which funny enough included BLOGGING, and my Learning About Finland blog - nowhere to be found.
Other authors didn't have their blog listed either unless it did not relate to an expat life in Finland.
An e-mail I had received from Onur stated a funny request.
Pretty much (without copying an actual copy of the e-mail on here) he wanted me to NOT write articles on my blog that were same as the ones I had written on Finnbay (even though the original was from MY blog and possibly posted online for months/years in advance of Finnbay's existence) - he expected me to write in my blog - a LINK to the "original post". AKA link everything to the ever-so-holy Finnbay....
Because he has discovered that Google searches degrade sites with content that is duplicated elsewhere.
Onur then advised me that another writer used to write for his own blog but now he just writes the link to Finnbay's site.
WHAT IS THE POINT OF WRITING IN A BLOG, IF YOU'RE ONLY WRITING URL LINKS?(Wiith a little description of what to expect when you click on the link...)
None - that's what.
Thanks to that little e-mail "Bob" - you sealed my future with Finnbay. I decided I was done with Finnbay.
For one - I never use your site. I rarely promote it too because I find it ridiculously slow (and I'm currently typing in class on a fast-speed connection and there's nothing but a black screen for the past 10 minutes) and I don't agree with your methods or poor ideals of "Team Work".
Then when I was trying to write an e-mail advising the Finnbay team that I no longer was interested in writing or being part of their team - I got a totally random e-mail that was addressed to all the staff.
It was in regards to a fellow named *N.P.* - who had e-mailed Finnbay and threatened to shut down Finnbay because he wasn't paid appropriately.
Of course, I don't know both sides - but for someone to demand the remaining of his pay - I think that is justified and if he wasn't getting a straight answer from Onur - he should contact the police. I understand he was on the tech support of the team and he attempted to hack and change things on the Finnbay site until he received the last bit of his money.
Another nail in the coffin. I decided right away - this is the time to get out of this crappy "company" and get back to blogging for ME.
When I advised Onur that I would be leaving Finnbay permanently via e-mail:
"Hi Onur:
I just feel that I do not have time to commit to Finnbay and would rather write for my own blog.
I also noticed on your site that my link to my blog is no longer listed and feel that is not fair, considering that is how you found me (and I'm sure the other authors).
If you're a fan of Finnbay - great, I'm glad that Onur and his team of hard-workers are helping you get the information that you need.
Don't like Finnbay and how it treats their staff? Let them know on their site!
Oh I will do them the kindness of linking their site here. I'm sure there's a "CONTACT US" section somewhere - but yet again, I'm still waiting for the site to load up. (Maybe it's because I was using Internet Explorer and other search engines are faster...)
Cheers.
Updated: November 23, 2013
I had previously changed the owner of Finnbay's owner/creator, to "Bob" - however, due to a review of the Finnish "defamation law" and a review of Finnbay's Legal Terms and Conditions (Section 3.1.9) - I am no longer bound by them and never were to begin with - as I will explain further in a separate blog post - to which legally, I am entitled to write and publish publicly - hence the first name being listed again.
I was approached last February via my blog (this one actually) by a fellow named Onur requesting my assistance in helping to get his site launched.
What is Finnbay?
An online source of information to help other foreigners out living here...
And he was frustrated that there wasn't enough support for expats in English - fair enough.
So Finnbay is just a more modern and updated version of the Finnish Forum and has photos and articles and such...like an online magazine full of information from expats with the knowledge and experience - okay - interesting!
What did you have to do?
Write articles - pretty much blog - about my life and experiences of living in Finland. Onur found me via this blog and liked it a lot and thought I could really contribute to the site.
I was excited because in his e-mail it was stated that I would get more exposure to my blog and my writing and help build a bigger network etc. I'll write what ended up happening in this post...keep reading!
The terms were fairly relaxed - I will give Finnbay credit - I did not write very frequently at all I admit. I more or less edited (or straight up copied) posts that were already existing from my blog - because it was just easier and less time consuming of course. I'm a mother of 2 super active kids and 2 dogs and he knew that I was a busy person (and in the process of signing up for Finnish courses) - so I was glad that me contributing to the site wasn't a huge deal in terms of "strict deadlines".
However the layouts for the site were quite strict and Wordpress is apparently NOT my friend (we really don't click)...so I usually just typed up an article via e-mail and sent it to Onur and he kindly posted it accordingly on my behalf.
Were you getting paid?
No I wasn't.
However, during a phone call, it was suggested that myself and other regular authors/staff would get some monetary compensation once sponsors and donations came through for the site.
*Update November 23, 2013 - there's also the same suggestion in an e-mail from Finnbay's creator that I have found recently.
I haven't (and I'm sure others haven't either) heard a single word about any kind of payment for our articles posted...
In fact, my friend Adam, ended up writing a bit for Helsinki Times and it's sister magazine/paper "6 Degrees", and was getting paid for it. When Onur found out - he didn't support Adam's decision to continue working for 6 Degrees and write occasionally for Finnbay...if he did, then I suppose Adam would do what he could to keep Finnbay updated with his articles - but when push comes to shove - Adam didn't really have any other way to make an income - while studying Finnish too - in a smaller city that is dominantly Finnish-speaking.
I understand and appreciate that Onur is hoping to make his own income via Finnbay - all of us foreigners have our talents and should use them to the best of our ability when living in a foreign country and of course try to help with the bills and living expenses! Especially if you are married to a native of that foreign country and they're the current bread-winner!
But to suggest to Adam, that he NOT be a team member because he was getting paid (and deservedly so) by another company, when Finnbay could not provide any sort of pocket change for any of the "staff" - hardly fair.
I would think that having Mr. Adam Faber - a quickly becoming popular writer for Helsinki Times AND 6 Degrees (along with his own personal blog) - would be nothing but a benefit to Finnbay.
What articles? Your name isn't listed in the "About Us" section of Finnbay...
Ah, but if you do a search for "Dominique Riggs" - you'll find my articles...why are they still on the site if I'm no longer a team member? No idea...Adam's are there too.
Anyhoo - here's the links to my articles (in no particular order that I wrote them either):
I just listed three- there are some others like banking in Finland and other little things.
*Update: They have been removed as per my request - as of November 2013*
Anyways, in my profile on the Finnbay site (and anyone else listed as an author/writer) - my blog was not listed at all. Just things that I liked to do (which I did write myself), which funny enough included BLOGGING, and my Learning About Finland blog - nowhere to be found.
Other authors didn't have their blog listed either unless it did not relate to an expat life in Finland.
An e-mail I had received from Onur stated a funny request.
Pretty much (without copying an actual copy of the e-mail on here) he wanted me to NOT write articles on my blog that were same as the ones I had written on Finnbay (even though the original was from MY blog and possibly posted online for months/years in advance of Finnbay's existence) - he expected me to write in my blog - a LINK to the "original post". AKA link everything to the ever-so-holy Finnbay....
Because he has discovered that Google searches degrade sites with content that is duplicated elsewhere.
Onur then advised me that another writer used to write for his own blog but now he just writes the link to Finnbay's site.
WHAT IS THE POINT OF WRITING IN A BLOG, IF YOU'RE ONLY WRITING URL LINKS?(Wiith a little description of what to expect when you click on the link...)
None - that's what.
Thanks to that little e-mail "Bob" - you sealed my future with Finnbay. I decided I was done with Finnbay.
For one - I never use your site. I rarely promote it too because I find it ridiculously slow (and I'm currently typing in class on a fast-speed connection and there's nothing but a black screen for the past 10 minutes) and I don't agree with your methods or poor ideals of "Team Work".
Then when I was trying to write an e-mail advising the Finnbay team that I no longer was interested in writing or being part of their team - I got a totally random e-mail that was addressed to all the staff.
It was in regards to a fellow named *N.P.* - who had e-mailed Finnbay and threatened to shut down Finnbay because he wasn't paid appropriately.
Of course, I don't know both sides - but for someone to demand the remaining of his pay - I think that is justified and if he wasn't getting a straight answer from Onur - he should contact the police. I understand he was on the tech support of the team and he attempted to hack and change things on the Finnbay site until he received the last bit of his money.
Another nail in the coffin. I decided right away - this is the time to get out of this crappy "company" and get back to blogging for ME.
When I advised Onur that I would be leaving Finnbay permanently via e-mail:
"Hi Onur:
I just feel that I do not have time to commit to Finnbay and would rather write for my own blog.
I also noticed on your site that my link to my blog is no longer listed and feel that is not fair, considering that is how you found me (and I'm sure the other authors).
Thank you for the oppourtunity and I wish you the best with Finnbay.
Dominique"
His poor response was a thanks for contributing and a best of luck with my stuff.
Absolutely no recognition for his own selfishness or apologies either.
If you're a fan of my blog - thanks so much! I really appreciate it and am currently studying Finnish intensively so my blogging times have dropped a bit but as soon as something interesting is going on - I try and blog or at least start a blog piece :).If you're a fan of Finnbay - great, I'm glad that Onur and his team of hard-workers are helping you get the information that you need.
Don't like Finnbay and how it treats their staff? Let them know on their site!
Oh I will do them the kindness of linking their site here. I'm sure there's a "CONTACT US" section somewhere - but yet again, I'm still waiting for the site to load up. (Maybe it's because I was using Internet Explorer and other search engines are faster...)
Cheers.
Updated: November 23, 2013
I had previously changed the owner of Finnbay's owner/creator, to "Bob" - however, due to a review of the Finnish "defamation law" and a review of Finnbay's Legal Terms and Conditions (Section 3.1.9) - I am no longer bound by them and never were to begin with - as I will explain further in a separate blog post - to which legally, I am entitled to write and publish publicly - hence the first name being listed again.
