Call for Bloggers: Download Squad wants you!

Do you love software and computing? I mean really love it? Do you love to use it, tweak it, master it, complain about it, fix it, and most importantly, talk about it? If your neck is sore from nodding in the affirmative through the previous sentence, we want you!

Download Squad is now seeking talented writers and hardcore computer users to join its staff. Here's what we're looking for: Bloggers who are up on the latest tech news, have a keen spider-sense about the latest and greatest downloads and web apps, know how to push programs and operating systems to their limits for fun and profit, and have RSS readers and del.icio.us accounts littered with feeds and links that put Best Buy's Geek Squad to shame. In particular, we're looking for writers who demonstrate an ability to quickly and consistently produce high-quality long-form original content, like tutorials, reviews, top 20 lists, screencasts, and the like. In addition, proficiency with basic HTML and image editing is a big plus.

To apply, send the following stuff to the email address you'll find at the bottom of this post:

1. Some information about you. Your full name, what your qualifications and interests are in the realm of software and computing, the address(es) of your blog(s) if you've got 'em (it's definitely a plus), what you can bring to Download Squad that we haven't already got, and so on.

2. What we can depend on you to do. How many posts can you write a week? Can you write every day, every other day, or just during a particular phase of the moon? If we needed an original tutorial done from scratch in 48 hours, could you do it? We need to know.

3. Three original posts. This is really the clincher. We want you to write some stuff. We won't accept anything that's been published anywhere before. (Note: You retain ownership and all rights to anything you submit in your application, and we won't publish it anywhere, unless we bring you onboard.) Emphasis on the original, emphasis on the three. Show off your knowledge of your topic, show off your ability to go in-depth and beyond the blurb, show off your wit and passion, and show off your impeccable grammar and spelling. Send us one of each of the following three kinds of posts (no exceptions):

   1. Software review/profile: Introduce a new program or web app, or one you use and love that we might not know about. Tell us about its features, how it compares to other products in its market, and its pros, cons, caveats, and so on. Don't skimp on the screenshots.

   2. How-to/tutorial: Show us how to do something. It can be a simple tip (or a bunch of tips), or it can be a full-fledged tutorial, but make sure it's good and original. Once again, we're serious about the screenshots. Feel like doing a screencast? Even better!
      

   3. News item: An in-depth report on a current event in the software or web world. We're not the AP, and your post shouldn't read like it, but it should be interesting and informative.

A tall order, to be sure, but we know you're up to it. Impress us, entertain us, make us wish we had grabbed you a month ago, and you could be the newest Download Squad blogger.

No attachments, please! Send your samples in the body of your e-mail.

After double-checking to make sure you've included all of the above (or a URL where we can find it), send your application to leads AT downloadsquad DOT com. Due to the volume of applications, we cannot reply to every applicant. And since somebody always asks: Yes, this is a paid position.

Tags: bloggers, blogging, download squad, DownloadSquad