Would You Be Willing to Pay $20+ for an Article? (Writer's competition added!)

[Tina Golden]

That was impressive, Sylvia. Yours truly made me feel that way again because that's exactly what I went through six months ago. I was lucky and didn't lose any data but it sure brought home the importance of backup to me. All I could think of was that was where all the photos of my grandson were - the ones of him being born and the first time he was held by his mama and the first time he was held by his proud nana. One of the worst times in my life was waiting for word from the repair people.

Tina

[Sylvia Meier]

Tina,
I too learned it the hard way. We had a hard drive get wiped in a move. With it went pretty much EVERY baby picture I had of William. I still have the few that were on disc etc, but I lost all the ones of him being born, and weighed in and that sort of thing. Now I have all the kids photos regularly burnt onto disc, but it was heart breaking. I can live without the data on my computers, it's the memories that mean the most.

Sylvia

[lovemyth]

You definitely get what you pay for!! Before I pay $20 for an article I would want proof of the results I can expect from this "one" $20 article. Personal opinion, if you want to brand yourself shouldn't you learn to write good quality content yourself instead of having people write for you?? If you are the expert in your field, shouldn't you be the one to educate through your articles?

[Paul Myers]

You definitely get what you pay for!! Before I pay $20 for an article I would want proof of the results I can expect from this "one" $20 article.

Ummm... HUH?

How do you prove results in advance? And do you not realize that the results have as much to do with the traffic you generate as with the content itself?


Paul

[Sylvia Meier]

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

Ummm... HUH?

How do you prove results in advance? And do you not realize that the results have as much to do with the traffic you generate as with the content itself?


Paul

I agree with Paul. How exactly are you supposed to prove ahead a time how much the article will make? And the content is only PART of the puzzle. The very same article promoted differently can have very different results.

If one person only put a $20 article on their site and no where else, it may not do anywhere as well as another $20 article put on 20+ directories, backlinked etc.

Sylvia

[Oxbloom]

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

Oxbloom,I'd be more likely to suggest a difference more akin to that between Chicken McNuggets and a gourmet dinner. Both are acceptable for their purpose, but one is clearly superior in every way.

That said, one needs to remember that some things which are offered as food are unfit for consumption. Many of the articles I've seen sold as WSOs would fit somewhere around "moldy strips of dead rat" on the food scale.

Paul

Hi Paul.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Just to clarify my position, I don't doubt, dispute, or otherwise disagree with the idea that some writers ARE literary Kobe beef while others are McNuggets. It was kind of you to rephrase for me, but unnecessary. I don't live in an ultra-liberal minded world where we have to act like everybody is exactly the same, and where everyone gets a big, gold trophy just for participating.

I only took issue with the comment because I feel one ought to think carefully and have very good reason before casting aspersions in a public forum.

[Sissy76]

OK then, I'm going to throw my hat in the ring...

After a case of writer's block, I asked my husband to give me a few random topics to write a sales-oriented article on, one of them was for Charcoal BBQ's. Took me around 20 or 30 minutes to write (Australian spelling), hasn't been edited or published, but here goes...


Real Men Use Charcoal - the Only Way to Barbecue!


Nothing says summer more than sunny afternoons filled with the delicious aroma of steaks grilling on the barbecue.

Catching up with family and friends and planning fun times for the long, warm days ahead with a relaxing beer in one hand and barbecue tongs in the other, is the proud domain of many a man on a summer weekend.

That is, until he hears the words: “Did you check the gas?”

Too many perfect barbecues have been ruined by an empty gas bottle.

Half-cooked steaks and hungry guests staring at wilting salads and shooing flies, make for a barbecue no one wants to remember.

Especially the chef.

Any man worth his salt knows that the only way to keep the flames burning and the steaks sizzling is with charcoal. It’s reliable, it’s portable - it’s the only way to barbecue.

There’s nothing like the taste of a char-grilled steak, cooked to juicy perfection with the smoked flavour encapsulating every bite.

Gas barbecues just can’t compare with the taste sensation of a charcoal cooked feast, with the juices of previous barbecues captured and released time and again, creating hotter, tastier flames.

Beer marinading just isn’t the same on a gas barbecue.

Those carefully added splashes of beer either sit in a puddle on the hotplate, or extinguish the flames of a gas barbecue. Only with charcoal do you get the satisfying hiss of steamed beer tenderising your perfect steaks.
Not to mention the admiring looks from your guests as the impressive plumes disappear, revealing you as the man in control.

Real men know barbecues.

Real men use charcoal.

Make sure you’re the man at your barbecue. Visit xxxxx now.


Enjoy people!

Cheers,
Sissy

[Kay King]

If you AREN'T booking your schedule because you're charging a higher rate, then I would argue that you're not worth that price....no matter what you think your quality is.

Hello, common sense, Where the hedoublel have you been?

Between the people posting about what they are "willing to pay" and writers claiming some writing has more status than others, I'm just shaking my head.

If you have a writer giving you copy you can use and you are both happy with the price - what others charge isn't your concern.

Writers who are happy with their fees shouldn't worry about what other writers charge, either. If you aren't happy with your fees, up your game.

I've personally found the mid-level clients to be the least hassle of any and I love them. They pay $18-50 for an article, some also pay extra for research time. They're happy, I'm happy - where's the problem? I do landing pages (for manufacturers) and ebooks and reports - but so far I don't like writing sales copy. I can do it - but I don't like it so I don't do it.

I've found both extremes - low end clients and very high end clients - to be more trouble to deal with than they are worth. But that's the point - work where you enjoy working, charge what you think you are worth (if you can get it) and don't worry about what the next guy does.

(No, I'm not posting a writing example - you can't afford it)

kay

[Ken_Caudill]

Originally Posted by Steven Fullman

My 2 cents...

It's not the writing. The writing is worth jack. Pretty much anyone can write.

Heck! Even me.

It's the research wot counts, innit...

Steve

Most people can sing, too.

Unfortunately, most of them sound like a tomcat with its balls caught in a trap.

[Ken_Caudill]

Originally Posted by TMG Enterprises

Perhaps it's time to start marketing and charging based on results. I recently wrote a piece for a client that has resulted in well over $500 in sales in less than a month and has shown no sign of slowing down.

I think it's pretty fair to say that he got one heck of a bargain.

For marketer's, the end result is what matters. If you can find a $5 writer that brings in that kind of return, wonderful. From the complaints seen time and time again right here on this board, I think that is a rarity.

Tina

Agreed. The reason most people don't value good writing is that they wouldn't know it if it crawled up their leg and bit them where it counts most.

A great many marketers look at writing as filler between keywords. In the long run, filling the net with nearly unintelligible crap will come back on them.

Google's mission is to deliver quality content, not count keyword frequency.

As the search engine algorithms get better, crap content will fall by the wayside.

[Sissy76]

Ahem,

There's a perfect example of quality writing only 4 or 5 posts above !

[lisag]

Originally Posted by Lincoln Ryan

You think that writers that might be charging $50/article would be willing to do that?

Lincoln. I'm game. How do you want to proceed?

[Justin Jordan]

Originally Posted by Kay King

I've personally found the mid-level clients to be the least hassle of any and I love them. They pay $18-50 for an article, some also pay extra for research time. They're happy, I'm happy - where's the problem? I do landing pages (for manufacturers) and ebooks and reports - but so far I don't like writing sales copy. I can do it - but I don't like it so I don't do it.

This bears emphasizing. My rates for article type work here on the forum are less than half my rate for other work, because doing them is almost no hassle and not a lot of time commitment. Those two factors, right now, make the drop in price worthwhile for me right now.

The IM crowd skews things. It's not too hard for even a writer who is merely okay to get paid the equivalent of ten cents a word or more. Just not here, usually.

[Rachel Goodchild]

I really do love how, because of the very transient nature of IM and it's continue influx of newbies, we can have this argument infinitum with no change, year after a year.

Here we have two sides of the continuum- one set on their viewpoint that all writing is writing, and that a good writer can be found anywhere for any price and that to pay anything upwards of bargain prices is a crime

And on the other side people who either choose to pay, or are articulating that they are craftspeople who can create something the average person doesn't. That skill then deserves more compensation.

And like any continuum there are all the people caught in between.

I want to make a brief analogy. Here in NZ we have a reasonably good healthcare system. Our doctors are well trained, and I can get heavily subsidised care for my kids. This means I know if my kids are sick it's not going to cost me much. I get a good return, in other words for a pretty high level of service.

However, even though I can get that pretty good level of service for next to nothing, I opt to go to a doctor that is not subsidised. He has the same core experience and skills as those other doctors but there are some key differences

1. The practice believes that medicine is a craft. I know if I make a booking I'll be treated with respect, I'll have a good portion of time allocated to me and I'll not feel they are churning through them.
2. If there is something more unusual or difficult, they'll spend more time researching it for no extra cost. My daughter was just diagnosed with atypical pnuemonia a few days ago. She reacted to the medication. My doctor and the practice contacted leading specialists, and tracked them down checking she was on the very best course- the upshot being this is the first night in weeks she's slept through without a coughing spell that woke the family...
3. I know they'll listen to my ideas, and take them, BUT that they are also able to contribute their own expertise, adding ideas and thoughts that I may not have thought of. It is a relationship of mutual respect. I don't feel talked down to, I feel talked with, and this makes me feel confident they have my best interests in hand.

I pay for the quality because while I know I can get good results from a doctor who is trained anywhere, I choose to select and pay for more from someone who chooses to treat his craft a little differently.

We all have choices in what we prefer to invest our money in.
Me- I've always believed that I should pay the most I can possibly afford to the people who do the jobs around me. That attitude has meant sometimes I have sought out good people at bargain prices. But I also know that if I want the best, I'll pay for the best. I want someone who'll deliver the work I wanted them too, without me having to fight for it's delivery or to spoon feed them into it.

Last year I learnt one very important lesson- if I REALLY believe in my future then I need to invest in it myself first. If I do invest in it, and believe what I am doing is right, then things flow better. I have a saying- hold all your possessions loosely- that the more you give out of an open hand, and pay for what you should, the more it flows back to you. if your fist is closed, then you can hold onto what you have, but you will not be able to receive anymore. This universal truth is not just about LOA- or giving and receiving but also about paying people what is their due.

Try to see the argument in this thread from more than your perspective. Some people here have established that they can, and because of that they can discuss this intelligently. Others just read it through the haze of their own limited understanding and will just never get it.

Artists, including writers, were the storytellers and recorders of history. Yes, now most of us CAN write. That does not make us all writers. Then, out of those who profess to be writers, there are those who serve the bulk of humanity's needs with their factory shop writing, not unlike a doctor in a busy free/subsidised clinic.

There will always people people however who want to create a finer product, that people WILL pay for because it's consistent, it's trustworthy and it's part of a partnership between two professionals creating something new - you'll feel the person is in synergy with you- producing something you could not, but at the same point something that completely reflects who you are, and what you stand for.

My daughter "could've" been lucky and got a doctor as good as mine for free. They are in those places. SOMETIMES. But it's hard to find them, and often it's a one off. You can't count on it for consistency every time. So I choose to go to a practice where all the doctors are. Because for me it's worth it.

[nevillealston]

Well personally,I guess I wouldn't pay that much for an article, unless of course it's from someone with vast and great experience in the niche that I 'm wanting to write about....

I mean, you pay for a person's specialties, right? And of course for their consideration to actually craft out a handy article that is both informative and also entertaining to read.

Then, sure yes, I would greatly pay that amount for any highly specialized article...But as an article writer myself, I don't have any problems getting payed 3 cents per word either!

[ArticlePrince]

Most IMers won't pay that, but many freelance writers make much more. When I write articles for appliance companies, I have made anywhere from $200-$600. You have to figure out how a client could use your article so that $50 would make sense for them, and then target that client.

[Elmer Hurlstone]

Some people have one specialty.

Writing!

Of course, within the general occupational category of writing, many do specialize.

Often after a period of doing "general" writing one may discover certain subject matter which they're naturally drawn to.

Interestingly–or not–the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics–the governmental agency responsible for categorizing occupations in the good ole U.S. of A.–lists all writers, excluding technical writers and PR types, in the same category.

27-3043 Writers and Authors

Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material. Exclude "Public Relations Specialists" (27-3031) and "Technical Writers" (27-3042).

So according to the ultimate authority, our government, all writers are the same.

Using this couldn't you therefore conclude as all writers and authors do the same thing they're all worth the same amount–whatever that may be–for practicing their craft?

Originally Posted by nevillealston

Well personally,I guess I wouldn't pay that much for an article, unless of course it's from someone with vast and great experience in the niche that I 'm wanting to write about....

I mean, you pay for a person's specialties, right? And of course for their consideration to actually craft out a handy article that is both informative and also entertaining to read.

Then, sure yes, I would greatly pay that amount for any highly specialized article...But as an article writer myself, I don't have any problems getting payed 3 cents per word either!

Elmer "tongue-planted-firmly-in-cheek" Hurlstone

[Micheallatour]

I've paid $15.00 per article when I had my review site up.
All I know is if I were to pay someone just $5.00 for that
article I wouldn't have gotten what I wanted....quality.

just my .02

[tess47]

So many of you are saying you would never spend $20 on an article JUST to submit it to articles directories. What you are missing here is that YOU are killing valuable content by using it only to submit to directories!

A well written article would be WELL worth $20 if you repurpose it, instead of trashing it after you have submitted to the article directories.

I believe that if you use an article to submit to the directories, then change it slightly and use it as a press release, THEN rewrite it enough to submit to more article directories as an original (which takes no time) - you have content worth well OVER $20!

One article can be used for dozens of purposes - $5 is a ridiculous price to pay for good content. I can guarantee you I am not going to spend my valuable time doing research and crafting a quality article for 5 bucks!!

Just my two cents

[Paul Myers]

Lincoln,

You think that writers that might be charging $50/article would be willing to do that?

Why bother? Some of us do that every single time we write something.

When I write anything for my newsletter, I'm doing what you decribe, in effect. And it's always worth much more than $50.

"Yes," you might say, "but that's a completely different thing." To which I would reply, "That's what we've been trying to tell you all along."


Paul

[lisag]

Nearly everyone has heard the phrase "sell the sizzle, not the steak." What that means is it's OK to mention the features of a product, but you need to seduce your reader with the benefits.

Everyone wants to work less, look better, sound smarter, have more time, or make more money. Your product or service is all about the benefits it delivers.

Here's an example:

I went into a pool supply store recently to buy a container of chlorine tablets. I've been buying the same size and brand for years. I expected to do the same on this visit.

As I approached the stacks of 5 gallon buckets in the corner of the store, I noticed something new. There was my old brand, looking the same as it always did. But right next to it was the same brand, same size, but with a blue label instead of green. It was priced $7 higher than my usual selection.

Wondering what the difference could possibly be, I started reading the label.

The number of tablets were the same. The size of the tablets were the same. The chemical properties of each one were exactly the same.

In fact, the only difference I could see, other than the color of the label and the price, was that the tablets in the new container were individually wrapped in cellophane baggies.

I asked the salesclerk what was up.

"Both chlorine tablets are exactly the same," he said. "You're just paying $7 extra to have them wrapped up. That's the only difference."

"Hmm", I thought. "That's a lot of money to pay for cellophane." I grabbed my usual selection and headed to the cash register.

As I was standing in line to pay, the store manager walked by and stopped to say "Hi". I'm a regular customer during swimming pool season. I mentioned to him that I didn't think little cellophane baggies were worth $7, and here's what HE said.

"Actually, the extra protection is a very good thing. First of all, the wrappers help to maintain the tablet's potency. Chlorine begins to break down when it comes in contact with air. If you don't use a container quickly enough, the bottom tablets can be reduced by half their strength by the time you get to them."

"Also," he added, "when you open the container, the wrappers keep you from getting hit in the face with that awful chlorine gas that pours out. Not only does it make your eyes water and smell awful, but inhaling the fumes can be unhealthy."

I knew what he meant there. I always popped off the top and stepped back a few feet while I waited for the fumes to dissipate.

"The wrappers also help prevent an accident. Chlorine can overheat and cause a fire if even a little bit of moisture finds its way into the container."

I never knew that, but he pointed it out to me right on the warning label.

And then, to seal the deal, he said: "And finally, people like the fact that they can remove just the number of tablets that they need rather than carrying the whole bucket to the pool each time."

He was right there as well. I always carried the entire bucket to my chlorinator because it made my hands stink all day if I grabbed 5 tablets and carried them from my garage to the pool. Plus I never liked the idea of having pure chlorine coming in contact with my skin.

I went back to the display and selected the "new and improved" version. All of those benefits were definitely worth the $7 extra to me.

There's a lesson in all of this.

The original salesclerk actually talked me out of buying. He had no idea what the benefits of the wrappers were, he only knew the features. I didn't see any reason why I should pay $7 and have to work harder to unwrap each tablet as well, so it was "no sale" on the featured product.

Maybe you're doing the same thing. Take a look at your advertising and sales material to make sure that your copywriter is not selling just the steak and missing the sizzle.

[Rachel Goodchild]

Originally Posted by weightloss619

No one would ever pay $20 for an article I usually pay around 3 dollars and it is worth it.

Gosh. There sure seems to be an awful lot of nobodies paying me and a whole lot of people I know that and more per article then...

[Paul Myers]

Tess,

You're closer than some here, but you're still missing the point. You're focused on search engine and other traffic uses for content.

Most of what I write, outside of forum posts, never sees the inside of a search engine database. The majority is reserved for my subscribers. Some gets turned into commercial products. Some is used for private training. Only a small percentage gets posted publicly. And all of it is far more valuable, in the long run, than content used the way you describe.


Paul

[Tina Golden]

weightloss169 - that was an ignorant thing to say. Plenty of people pay more than that so just because you won't pay more means absolutely nothing.

Tina

[Paul Myers]

No one would ever pay $20 for an article I usually pay around 3 dollars and it is worth it.

Well, I guess that puts an end to the issue, then. An absolute pronouncement from an anonymous account.

We can all go home now, folks. Discussion over.


Paul

[Kay King]

No one would ever pay $20 for an article.

I'm crushed. I guess I'll have to shut down as soon as I finish this last article I'm working on (for $30). Don't know what I'm going to tell the person who is expecting 15 articles from me next week (at $37.50 each).

Maybe I'll just send him here.

[lisag]

Originally Posted by weightloss619

No one would ever pay $20 for an article I usually pay around 3 dollars and it is worth it.

Sigh. Please don't generalize. Stick to the facts and you'll get more respect here.

Try saying "I wouldn't pay $20", or "Most people who I associate with wouldn't pay..."

When you say "no one" you show that you have little experience in the real world. You can't speak for everyone, so please don't.

I have nearly 700 hundred clients that say you are wrong and more than 2,000 multi-article projects under my belt that sold for way more than $20 each.

The universe is much bigger than the IM market and, I'm ASSuming here, the weight loss niche you are in. Take your blinders off and look around.

[ryanedmunds]

I don't know so much that it is that the writers can't write. Just thinking of $5 per article says one thing to me : SEO Garbage copy. That is what the purchaser wants and that is what the writer delivers. Chances are this is at a penny a word and bought in bulk as well.

I think if you want decent writing that is written in any kind of 'voice' other than robotic search engine noise, you're going to have to pay $20+ per article.
Most of the blogs that I consider to be worthwhile reads pay around $150 per article.

I have done some of this $5 article writing and I wouldn't show any of it to my brother's dog as a portfolio example if he were hiring.

[Sissy76]

Time spent researching and writing an article is time in my life that I'm never going to get back, so I want it to be a valuable experience for both me (to write it) and for the reader.

Like many writers posting in this thread, I write quality articles over quantity and much prefer clients who appreciate it. Those who don't usually can't accept my price or want an eBook written in 500 words and the conversation ends there.

Don't be afraid to charge what you believe your time is worth as a writer. Selling yourself short is not advisable in any aspect of life.

Thankfully Google is putting the pressure on the publishers of poor quality content, so soon enough, they'll be paying much more than an average of $5 an article - fingers crossed!

Cheers,
Sissy

[csongi12xme]

20$ for an article?That's way too much.

[Daniel Scott]

I'll be straight with you guys...

I'm a copywriter... not a writer.

I've written some pretty successful letters... but I don't consider myself a wordsmith.

Certainly not at the level of someone like Paul, who BTW is the best writer I've ever seen.

But let me add my two cents.

Its not just about WHAT you write... it's what results it gets... and what purpose it has.

As a copywriter, most of what I do is write sales letters. They have one purpose, and one purpose only - make the sale.

In addition... that purpose can be easily tracked, as a simple conversion rate.

Now, just like any other writing aspect... there's a ton of guys who think they can make it in the copywriting game.

There are several things that set me apart from "the pack"... but the biggest one is results.

The fact that my most recent letter converted at a whopping 18% is what sends more clients my way... because they know I can get results.

(As an aside, Paul Myers is one of the men I owe a large portion of my success to... so thanks Paul).

But most people hiring article writers... and even the people writing the articles... don't push results.

IMHO... articles aren't just SEO bait.

A good article not only gets traffic... it establishes you as an authority... and builds your credibility.

On top of that it warms up your prospect... pre-sells them... and makes them want your product.

One that gets a sky-high CTR AND converts like mad.

One that has information no one else has (or at least, not in the same way)... to brand me as completely unique.

I'll tell you write now.. if you can write an article like that for me... I'll be more than happy to give you $100.

If you can do the keyword research... make sure it's a "buyer's" keyword... and match the article perfectly to the market that searches for that keyword... I'll give you $500.

I'm not joking.

A good article is an investment in your business... just like sales copy... affiliate managers... or anything else.

And if you want to pay $5/article for SEO bait crap... that's your business.

It might even work for you.

But I think you're leaving a LOT of money on the table.

Kind regards,

-Dan

P.S. That post was more or less an article... at least in length. I'm not nearly as good a writer as Paul but I like to think that I can sell the idea

[JohnInNewJersey]

Sir Paul,

Your essay, number twenty-three, did appear a little snobby. Though actually, did not Joyce Carol Oates spark her career with a WSO (Five Hundred Words for $4.00)?

I'm kidding I'm kidding!

John
NJ

[PMB]

Actually, I believe $20 for an high quality well written article is a steal. I can imagine high ranking authority sites want high quality content to stay out in front of the public eye. So they in my opinion would be willing to invest $20 if not far more to do. In regards to the writting competition I believe Paul is right. By submitting a sample of your writting here would cause others to take note of your talent and give them a reason to search you out for your services. I know I signed up to his list because I felt I could learn from him due to the depth of his responses. Just my .02


Continued Success,

PMB

[lexilexi]

Yes, I too think that anyone can write... badly...

Few people can write really well and I don't generally buy articles because most people's content is recycled garbage and is going to be worthless in a short time - whereas high quality content stands the test of time. I tend to go for "evergreen" content because news quickly becomes old news, whereas wisdom is perennial. And why saturate the internet still further with second rate content? The gravy train will ultimately pull the whole thing under and so I say don't go there. I don't think hosting "filler" content on your sites is any sort of an investment for the future.

I would *definitely* pay over $20 per article if it was up to my standards, properly researched, original and contained references. I have single pages that are making me over $50 per month in ad clicks, but they are high quality resources designed not only to get pageviews but to develop lasting reputation. To pay for such a page is a no-brainer - otherwise I will write my own content.

[Tina Golden]

Aw, heck - couldn't resist popping a piece in here. So here's one for you:


Okay, I admit it...I am totally addicted to coffee. Not just the caffeine, either. Several months ago, I switched to half caffeine/ half decaf mix in the morning and then decaf the rest of the day. So it's not the caffeine...I just really like my coffee.

Seriously, don't even talk to me until I've had my first cup of java in the morning...trust me!

I also have a low tolerance for waiting. When my old coffee maker began taking 25 minutes to brew a pot, I knew I needed a new one.

You really think I'm going to wait 25 minutes in this non-coherent limbo?

I lived with this pot taking forever for over three weeks. My partner was so sweet and decided to bring me home a lovely new Black & Decker VersaBrew Plus.

Honestly, I don't think all that whining, pouting, and complaining I did had anything to do with this decision...LOL!

There I was...like a little kid at Christmas time! I tore into the box and put my new appliance on the counter. I had the old one wrapped up to go into storage in record time.

Those of us who are true coffee lovers know that you absolutely must keep a working pot in backup. We all know that manufacturers program coffeepots to die only just before you make that first morning pot.

I really liked the sleek design of the VersaBrew Plus. It's very attractive sitting on the counter and the glossy white matches my toaster and microwave. I also really like the way the carafe is made. It has a wide, easy-to-grip handle that is sturdier than most. It's much more comfortable in my hands than any other I've used.

I've had arthritis since I was a kid so can be in a lot of pain, especially early in the morning. I've had to use two hands to pour coffee on many occasions. I like the fact that this one is so much more comfortable.

I set the clock and programmed the coffee for my usual rising time for work. This is the feature I like the most. This has the easiest programming I've ever seen in an appliance like this. A few simple clicks and I was ready to roll.

This feature may not be as important to those of you who don't normally need detailed instructions. Unfortunately, I'm one of those that still can't program my VCR after owning it for three years.

Then came the bad part...actually making a pot of coffee! It took me a couple minutes to get the filter basket out. That wasn't so bad. Putting it back, however, was much trickier! What a pain in the behind!

At this point, there began some minor cussing from the kitchen...ok, from me...LOL! The longer it took to get that basket back, the louder I seemed to get!

Having finally re-attached the filter basket, I proceeded to fill the reservoir the requisite 12 cups of water. I had to make two trips to the kitchen sink for this one. I wore one third of the first pot of water. Seems the carafe must be poured very slowly and carefully in order to not spill.

There was definitely cussing coming from the kitchen now! It was getting louder and louder. Trying to convince my partner that a sailor had stopped in was unsuccessful.

After all that trouble, I was going to enjoy that first cup of coffee! Mmmmm...I could almost taste it already. I began watching the clock. Five minutes went by...not even half brewed? Ten minutes went by...about two-thirds done. I was not a happy camper by this time! Grand total brewing time was thirteen minutes!! I was not at all impressed with this lack of speed.

Remember, I have serious need for quick gratification in some areas. Waiting thirteen long minutes for coffee is not a happening thing!

I have decided to purchase another coffee pot as soon as income tax refund time. After seeing the hurt expression in my partner's eyes, however, I have also decided to stop cussing and complaining...at least out loud.

After all, I do want to get more surprises, don't I?

[Elmer Hurlstone]

Originally Posted by csongi12xme

20$ for an article?That's way too much.

Does this mean I have to return the $100 I was paid for a 375 word email?

Was it worth it? The marketer I wrote it for has generated close to $2,000 from it thus far. Substantially better results than the piece it replaced.

Elmer

[greff]

You get what you pay for. Period.

[lisag]

Originally Posted by csongi12xme

20$ for an article?That's way too much.

$35,000 for a 2009 Lexus ES 350? That's too much. Why I can buy a brand new KIA for $14,000. They're both cars. What difference does it make?

[jacktackett]

Originally Posted by csongi12xme

20$ for an article?That's way too much.

For what? Please read the entire thread to get the gist. Blanket statements are seldom the answer to any questions. As much as I like the warrior forum, its not the definitive answer on article writing or on pricing for articles. I've been paid over 800$ for articles - paid by editors who wanted great content. I provided it - without proof that it would help - and they paid me. And for some dumb reason they even hired me again to write.

Magazines - on or offline - need content. There seems to be common misconception here on the forum that all article writers need to charge ridiculously low prices to get business.

If you want to see what the rest of the writing world looks like - go check out writer's forums. Read a few issues of The Writer or Writer's Digest. Drag over a copy of Writer's Market at your local library and go through it to see what people will pay for content.

And shockingly sometimes its more than $20 an article. There's a big, bright, ok paying (I'd never let an aquisition editor here he paid too much for my work) writing world outside of the WF - go check it out.

best,
--Jack

[mgkimsal]

What strikes me as odd about this whole debate is that we expect *one person* to be able to deliver everything. Most other writing processes involve at least the writer and an editor, but for "article writing" that seems to go out the window, and people expect one person to be good at all aspects (research, writing and editing).

Now, to be fair, I expect basic grammar and spelling skills from a writer, but beyond the basics, there are issues of voicing, consistency, etc, that come in to play which a good editor can help with. If you're looking at a 200 word "article" for SEO purposes, that probably doesn't matter. If you're looking for regular blog content, maybe it starts to matter more.

I routinely pay $50-$100+ for article content, and I pair the writer with one of a team of editors (who also get paid a fee for editing the article). I expect the authors to be subject matter experts (or at least enthusiasts) and the editors have an interest in the same subjects as well.

My domain is more focused than domains of others, perhaps, but the concept of separation is probably still valid.

Perhaps having an "edit this article for $3" service to be paired with the "write this article for $5" services would make things better all around? Writers would research and write, and someone else would do a final pass cleaning for style and spelling and so on.

[lisag]

Originally Posted by greff

You get what you pay for. Period.

Not bragging here, but I wanted to provide a real-life illustration of what Greff and others wrote.

I delivered a 500 word article today for $100. The clients is selling a rare collectible at auction and hopes to get $10,000 or more for it.

He didn't blink an eye at my quote.

Here's what he wrote after I delivered the article (I deleted the item for his privacy):

"Lisa, I can see that you clearly did your homework on this xxx and have a solid understanding of xxx collectibles. I like your lively style. I read the works of other article writers and they are very stale, text-book like. I can see why people come to you. I am very pleased with your initial work."

This should about wrap up the argument that there is no room for high-priced articles. There's plenty of people who will pay more than $20 if the investment is worth it for them. Now, I agree that this is rarely the case in the IM market, but IM is not the beginning and end of the available universe of clients. It is merely a market segment.

[James Seward]

Thanks all for your opinions. Anyone else wants to add something?

[BelindaMooney]

I am a freelance writer both for the web and for print publications. Now I sell a lot of reprints in the regional parenting publication area. Basically I write one article and sell it over and over again. For those articles , which are usually between 300 - 500 words, I am willing to take smaller amounts. These small niche publications generally pay between $25 & $50 each. And they pub. in CA doesn't care if the parenting pub in VA buys the same one.
I have been selling the same reprints for literally several years now.

But when one of these publications contacts me and asks me to write a specific article for them the pay is much higher - $75.00 - $125.00 usually. Again these are small ad driven publications. I retain my rights and sell that article as a reprint as well.

Why do they approach me? Because I am an expert in my field (parenting, kids, family - I have 7 kids of my own lol). I have written for national magazines and they do pay much more but I can reap the same rewards - almost - writing for regionals and it suits my schedule better. Also I can write the article and submit to many at one time which is the opposite for national queries.

I have not done much in the way of copywriting. I did do some for a client years ago and for an online college place not long ago and was paid hourly. I am playing around with producing parenting PLR and marketing it.

So while you can get articles cheap - it is as others have said. You usually get what you pay for. But, there was a time, when I was starting out, I would have taken $5 for a 500 word article to pay the bills.

As another person said - if writer and client are happy what does anyone else care? I try to be affordable, especially in the niche I write in, but again it also depends on the client. Proctor and Gamble would be willing to pay WAY more for an article, and afford it, then my local grocer.

Just my .02

Belinda

[Marketstriker]

Good question James.
I can understand when beginners propose low price for an article. But it's strange to see proposals from online marketers to find the writer for 5$ per article and less. I understand that they have desire to reduce cost. But how do they expect to get clients with these material?
As for me I'm ready to pay 20$ per article, because I know that it gives more visitors through links than the same one for 5$.

[jjpmarketing]

I believe there are varying levels of uses for each price point on articles. While a $5 article may seem like crap to some, it can also be applied a different way. Say you prefer creating your own articles, but are stuck on ideas... i.e. you have writers block. Spend $20 and have 4 different article writers create an article for the same topic and you could then have a plethora of ideas on where to take the final, end result article.

On the other hand you always get what you pay for. I for one would never use a non-native english speaking person to write an article for me. I would only use them to dig up research on a topic. The language barrier can pose too many problems, and ultimately end up with you re-writing the article to correct grammar and spelling mistakes.

In the end it doesn't matter what price you pay for an article, but rather that you are getting a positive return on that investment. Do nothing with an article and it will not matter if you pay $10 or $10,000 for an article as both versions would be worth the same in terms of revenue. Promote a $10 article in the proper manner and it could be worth as much or more than the $10,000 article. It has more to do with what you do with the content you receive.

Just my thoughts...

Dennis