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Writers: Have You Successfully Pitched Articles to Website Owners From The Freezer?

by J0hnnycl1ckz
7 replies
Browsing through a backup of my workstation I stumbled onto a folder loaded with evergreen articles I never pitched or self published.

The articles are not worthy of a pitch to any major publication as is, but using a simple tool I can find thousands of informational websites that will benefit from the article...if they will pay of course.

These websites do not express direct interest in paying for content. There are no posted writer's guidelines or anything of that nature.

Do any writers cold pitch to websites such as these?

If so, what is your approach or do you have any other information to share that will assist in snagging a commission?

I feel money is left on the table by not doing anything with these articles.
#articles #freezer #owners #pitched #successfully #website #writers
  • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
    If the articles are good, and since they've been gathering dust anyway, use them yourself. The amount of money a freelance writer earns, compared to an accomplished affiliate, say, will always pale in comparison. If you absolutely could do without a quick boost of income, monetize those articles yourself, if not even through means of affiliate marketing.

    - Blog content.
    - PLR
    - List Building.

    Before you hand them away for a few bucks apiece, look into content marketing. A few bucks today never compares to consistent money earned over the next decade or more.

    That's my advice.

    - Tom
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    • Profile picture of the author J0hnnycl1ckz
      Originally Posted by Tom Addams View Post

      If the articles are good, and since they've been gathering dust anyway, use them yourself. The amount of money a freelance writer earns, compared to an accomplished affiliate, say, will always pale in comparison. If you absolutely could do without a quick boost of income, monetize those articles yourself, if not even through means of affiliate marketing.

      - Blog content.
      - PLR
      - List Building.

      Before you hand them away for a few bucks apiece, look into content marketing. A few bucks today never compares to consistent money earned over the next decade or more.

      That's my advice.

      - Tom
      I stepped away from affiliate marketing several years back but I understand your point. I just don't really care to step back into that realm until I have a much larger budget and plenty of time.


      I was considering developing blogs about 20 pages deep and flipping them....


      PLR content is still marketable??? I haven't even glanced towards that route in years.
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      • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
        Originally Posted by J0hnnycl1ckz View Post

        I stepped away from affiliate marketing several years back but I understand your point. I just don't really care to step back into that realm until I have a much larger budget and plenty of time.


        I was considering developing blogs about 20 pages deep and flipping them....


        PLR content is still marketable??? I haven't even glanced towards that route in years.
        Here's the problem: the business models you're considering are all one-shot deals.

        Selling an article, flipping a website.

        Is it bad business? No, not remotely. If it were bad business then I'd have to say being a bank manager, who had the ability to trade options in Chicago and earn 10 times his present income, was also bad business. But we need bank managers and likewise we need people to sell us articles and websites.

        We're on a marketing forum, though, and one-shot deal marketing, unless you marry it with growing your own productive customer base, is inefficient (in relative terms).

        You could do a few things with those articles.

        For instance:

        - Plonk them on any number of sites to sell them.
        - Email relevant website owners.
        - Place ads on relevant forums.
        - Approach relevant people through Facebook messaging.

        Your forum ads will deliver negative ROI and your unsolicited communications will yield weak if any ROI and you'll be lucky to sell 1 article every few months if you plonk them somewhere for sale.

        A more efficient approach: place them on your own platform of some sort, monetize them, drive traffic.

        This is just my take on your situation, though. Whatever you do, best of luck with your venture!

        Cheers - Tom
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        • Profile picture of the author J0hnnycl1ckz
          Originally Posted by Tom Addams View Post

          Here's the problem: the business models you're considering are all one-shot deals.

          Selling an article, flipping a website.

          Is it bad business? No, not remotely. If it were bad business then I'd have to say being a bank manager, who had the ability to trade options in Chicago and earn 10 times his present income, was also bad business. But we need bank managers and likewise we need people to sell us articles and websites.

          We're on a marketing forum, though, and one-shot deal marketing, unless you marry it with growing your own productive customer base, is inefficient (in relative terms).

          You could do a few things with those articles.

          For instance:

          - Plonk them on any number of sites to sell them.
          - Email relevant website owners.
          - Place ads on relevant forums.
          - Approach relevant people through Facebook messaging.

          Your forum ads will deliver negative ROI and your unsolicited communications will yield weak if any ROI and you'll be lucky to sell 1 article every few months if you plonk them somewhere for sale.

          A more efficient approach: place them on your own platform of some sort, monetize them, drive traffic.

          This is just my take on your situation, though. Whatever you do, best of luck with your venture!

          Cheers - Tom
          Growing my customer base on top of the one-off sale is part of my pitch.

          The roughest of rough pitch summary:
          • Personalized, brief introduction of myself. Why I'm needed.
          • Synopsis of the one-off article that is ready to go today.
          • Direction to my portfolio with an email opt in.
          The content they pay for currently I estimate to be half of what I would charge.

          I was thinking about incentivizing the email opt in with a half price sale for projects in a small time window.
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  • Profile picture of the author nmwf
    Originally Posted by J0hnnycl1ckz View Post

    These websites do not express direct interest in paying for content. There are no posted writer's guidelines or anything of that nature.

    Do any writers cold pitch to websites such as these?
    I don't. Rejection is frustrating enough without having to solicit sites that don't even open their door to such a thing.

    Originally Posted by J0hnnycl1ckz View Post

    The articles are not worthy of a pitch to any major publication as is, but using a simple tool I can find thousands of informational websites that will benefit from the article...if they will pay of course.
    Why not take the time to make the articles worthy of major publication? That way, you get both exposure and cash! I got published in SmashingMagazine a few years back using that exact strategy. Maybe you can have the same kind of luck at a site listed here: 500+ Places to Syndicate Your Content
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    • Profile picture of the author J0hnnycl1ckz
      Originally Posted by nmwf View Post

      I don't. Rejection is frustrating enough without having to solicit sites that don't even open their door to such a thing.



      Why not take the time to make the articles worthy of major publication? That way, you get both exposure and cash! I got published in SmashingMagazine a few years back using that exact strategy. Maybe you can have the same kind of luck at a site listed here: 500+ Places to Syndicate Your Content
      Thanks for the link!

      I'm still a ghost in the wires, wanting to save my name for the future at this point.

      A couple pieces I will rework and pitch.

      Total side-note, I read a debate you were engaged in about why $15 articles are a waste of time.

      I was led to an article of yours about providing value here at WF. Fantastic read!
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      • Profile picture of the author nmwf
        Originally Posted by J0hnnycl1ckz View Post

        Thanks for the link!

        I'm still a ghost in the wires, wanting to save my name for the future at this point.

        A couple pieces I will rework and pitch.

        Total side-note, I read a debate you were engaged in about why $15 articles are a waste of time.

        I was led to an article of yours about providing value here at WF. Fantastic read!
        Wow - thank you! And welcome
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