Help. I was just fired from Demand Studios. Is there a better way to make money writing?

by kea55
108 replies
Hi I thought I had the perfect gig. Demand studios pays 15.00 per article and twice a week, but now I just got fired during the probationary period. Is this horrible? Is there a better way to make money writing?
#demand #fired #make #money #studios #writing
  • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
    Why did you get fired? I didn't even know they fired people but I suppose it makes sense.

    Tina
    Signature
    Discover how to have fabulous, engaging content with
    Fast & Easy Content Creation
    ***Especially if you don't have enough time, money, or just plain HATE writing***
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2068842].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kea55
    there was like a three article probationary period for new writers, but they had me thinking I would have a chance to make a few mistakes. They didn't make it well known that it was probation. I got a few rewrite requests and one rejection. Then I got an email that said I couldnt write for them anymore even though two articles were approved.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2068882].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
      Originally Posted by kea55 View Post

      there was like a three article probationary period for new writers, but they had me thinking I would have a chance to make a few mistakes.
      Even if it was not a probationary period, you are competing with other writers on a quality level.

      Look at your sentence above - "there was like a three article probationary period..."

      It reminds me of my freshman English class in college. The professor was adamant the correct use of the work "like" is in presenting a comparison. If any one of us used "like" in the same manner as you did, he/she would have received a grade of "F" on that paper.

      Could it be you have some other grammar mistakes in your articles, and don't realize it?

      :-Don
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2075718].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
        Do you think posting a higher bid, coupled with great samples of writing, will give the quality of your work a much higher perceived value? I guess I just don't have a clear idea of the 'type' of people that hover around a site like eLance....

        If it's strictly about price, I could see people totally brushing a shoulder at a $40 bid....however, others may actually relate that higher bid to a higher quality of work, and may choose you over a $5 bid.....

        Would you all recommend waiting until you see bids come through, before you begin to bid yourself?
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2075790].message }}
        • Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

          Do you think posting a higher bid, coupled with great samples of writing, will give the quality of your work a much higher perceived value? I guess I just don't have a clear idea of the 'type' of people that hover around a site like eLance....

          If it's strictly about price, I could see people totally brushing a shoulder at a $40 bid....however, others may actually relate that higher bid to a higher quality of work, and may choose you over a $5 bid.....

          Would you all recommend waiting until you see bids come through, before you begin to bid yourself?
          You can get an idea of the type of buyer by looking at how much they have paid out in the past and how many projects they have listed in the past three months. Go through and see which bids he selected for previous projects.

          Or, do a blind run. Apply for 10 writing prjects that are ending the soonest. See what happens.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2075951].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Mac Wheeler
          Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

          Would you all recommend waiting until you see bids come through, before you begin to bid yourself?
          Absolutely not. I recently switched from using Google Reader, which delivers new job postings in batches, and therefore delays delivery, to an RSS reader which delivers job postings as they are created. I witnessed a significant increase in the number of successful bids simply because I am now more often than not, the first bidder on a project. This rings true for any freelance site which sorts bids by the actual time and date they were made.
          Signature
          Freelance Writer & Web Author
          FREELANCE WRITING OPPORTUNITIES - GET THEM NOW!
          Like my Facebook page, or add me to your Google+ circles, for free writing tips and techniques.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2077182].message }}
          • Originally Posted by Mac T Wheeler View Post

            Absolutely not. I recently switched from using Google Reader, which delivers new job postings in batches, and therefore delays delivery, to an RSS reader which delivers job postings as they are created. I witnessed a significant increase in the number of successful bids simply because I am now more often than not, the first bidder on a project. This rings true for any freelance site which sorts bids by the actual time and date they were made.
            Hey just read your blog. Your time in thailand sounds awesome!

            No sarcasm intended. Despite the 2 days in hospital, it included drinks, girls, a motorbike and waking up not knowing what the hell happened!
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2102573].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author adbullock
          Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

          Do you think posting a higher bid, coupled with great samples of writing, will give the quality of your work a much higher perceived value? I guess I just don't have a clear idea of the 'type' of people that hover around a site like eLance....

          If it's strictly about price, I could see people totally brushing a shoulder at a $40 bid....however, others may actually relate that higher bid to a higher quality of work, and may choose you over a $5 bid.....

          Would you all recommend waiting until you see bids come through, before you begin to bid yourself?
          In my experience it hasn't always been about the lowest price or the most quality for the lowest price when it comes to bidding sites. Buyers all have different things they look for in writers.

          With some clients it's all about price. The lowest price wins because some buyers believe the quantity trumps quality each and every single time.

          Other buyers are interested in getting the highest possible quality and are willing to pay handsomely for it. They expect a lot and they demand a lot in return.

          Sometimes they are looking for a specific writing style and your samples just happen to be spot on for what they are looking for. If you are fortunate enough to be "in the right place at the right time" for buyers like this they are generally willing to pay what you ask for...within reason.

          The bottom line for all buyers who outsource writing work is profit. The cost of outsourcing the articles has to be one that will be returned to them within a reasonable amount of time (reasonable is relative though and will vary greatly from one buyer to the next).

          The key is finding those buyers who appreciate your writing style and are willing to pay a price you are comfortable working for (remember that your time is valuable too and charge accordingly) and then building relationships with those buyers so that yours will be the first name that comes to mind next time they need articles, content, landing pages, blog posts, etc.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2090246].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
            Originally Posted by adbullock View Post

            In my experience it hasn't always been about the lowest price or the most quality for the lowest price when it comes to bidding sites. Buyers all have different things they look for in writers.

            With some clients it's all about price. The lowest price wins because some buyers believe the quantity trumps quality each and every single time.

            Other buyers are interested in getting the highest possible quality and are willing to pay handsomely for it. They expect a lot and they demand a lot in return.

            Sometimes they are looking for a specific writing style and your samples just happen to be spot on for what they are looking for. If you are fortunate enough to be "in the right place at the right time" for buyers like this they are generally willing to pay what you ask for...within reason.

            The bottom line for all buyers who outsource writing work is profit. The cost of outsourcing the articles has to be one that will be returned to them within a reasonable amount of time (reasonable is relative though and will vary greatly from one buyer to the next).

            The key is finding those buyers who appreciate your writing style and are willing to pay a price you are comfortable working for (remember that your time is valuable too and charge accordingly) and then building relationships with those buyers so that yours will be the first name that comes to mind next time they need articles, content, landing pages, blog posts, etc.
            Your response was insightful and appreciated, adbullock.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2090380].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author TimG
            Originally Posted by adbullock View Post

            In my experience it hasn't always been about the lowest price or the most quality for the lowest price when it comes to bidding sites. Buyers all have different things they look for in writers.

            With some clients it's all about price. The lowest price wins because some buyers believe the quantity trumps quality each and every single time.

            Other buyers are interested in getting the highest possible quality and are willing to pay handsomely for it. They expect a lot and they demand a lot in return.

            Sometimes they are looking for a specific writing style and your samples just happen to be spot on for what they are looking for. If you are fortunate enough to be "in the right place at the right time" for buyers like this they are generally willing to pay what you ask for...within reason.

            The bottom line for all buyers who outsource writing work is profit. The cost of outsourcing the articles has to be one that will be returned to them within a reasonable amount of time (reasonable is relative though and will vary greatly from one buyer to the next).

            The key is finding those buyers who appreciate your writing style and are willing to pay a price you are comfortable working for (remember that your time is valuable too and charge accordingly) and then building relationships with those buyers so that yours will be the first name that comes to mind next time they need articles, content, landing pages, blog posts, etc.

            Agreed - If you can provide quality content for the niches that are hot or about to explode and your content creates a profit for your buyer rest assured they will be back for more.

            Writing for profit is more then just putting words to paper. You need to conduct some research in order to see what niches are in demand for content and then provide the content.

            Tim
            Signature
            Article Marketing Soldiers - The Best Selling Article Marketing Product On The Warrior Forum Is Now Looking For Affiliates! Make Over $25 Per Sale With This High Converting Product.

            Make More Money And Spend More Time With Your Family By Becoming A Scentsy Consultant - I Provide Personal Assistance And Help With Growing Your Business.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2090761].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author kea55
        Originally Posted by Don Schenk View Post

        Even if it was not a probationary period, you are competing with other writers on a quality level.

        Look at your sentence above - "there was like a three article probationary period..."

        It reminds me of my freshman English class in college. The professor was adamant the correct use of the work "like" is in presenting a comparison. If any one of us used "like" in the same manner as you did, he/she would have received a grade of "F" on that paper.

        Could it be you have some other grammar mistakes in your articles, and don't realize it?

        :-Don

        Lol. I just used "like" because this is a forum post, not an article. But no, I don't think it was the grammar. They have a really particular format. They want you to use specific sources. You can only use websites ending in .gov or .edu and a whole list of other particulars. Well, it's ok though. This thread has me feeling like DS was small potatoes. I'm going to head on over to elance.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2076275].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author wordwizard
        Originally Posted by birdfood View Post

        Macurdy you make article writing sound like a very promising job/business. Too bad I suck at writing.

        Excellent advise for the thread poster
        I wouldn't be so sure, but even if you do, just keep practicing, get some feedback, and you'll get better
        pretty fast.

        Most writing jobs don't require too much in verbal pyrotechnics. Just learn to make your articles or other
        writing projects clear, accurate, and well-organized, and make sure they flow well and are interesting...

        Originally Posted by tyroneshum View Post

        Hi all,

        I've hovered around good freelance writing companies who pay well and do support writers with their earnings and career. I'm not familiar yet when it comes to their restrictions but here's for you to take a look:

        Freelance writing work, freelance writers job, job for writers,essay writers,online writing jobs

        They pay $16/page and I think that's good amount of income.
        I checked it out. There's a very important phrase right there on their front page: "up to"!

        I take that to mean that most of their gigs are probably lower. Plus they have a huge list of reasons
        why they can cut your pay, in part or in whole.

        Just read the fine print and know what you're getting into...
        Signature

        FREE Report: 5 Ways To Grow Your Affiliate Income

        Let Me Help You Sell: Sales Letters, Email Series, Pre-Sell Reports... PM me & we'll talk!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2146002].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author fingers4hire
    Try the Content Authority. They don't pay as much, but they are not as strict as Demand Studios and after you write five quality articles they move you up a few tiers and you can make a little more than what most of the sites are offering.

    $ 6.00 500 Words
    $ 7.50 600 Words
    $ 9.00 700 Words

    It's not the greatest pay, but they do pay every Saturday so it might be just enough until you can find something else.

    Textbroker is another one; however, they work on a rating system so if one editor gets a batch of your work and does not rate it well you will go down a level in pay per article.

    The third option is to create a blog and show your portfolio. Do some marketing and promote yourself as a freelancer. I have landed a couple of steady clients that way. Good luck.
    Signature

    Kimberly Best - Low Cost, High Quality Transcription Services
    Transcriptionist, http://www.Fingers4Hiretranscription.com/
    Freelance Writer, http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kimberly_Best
    Social Site http://www.mysistagurl.com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2068897].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kea55
    yeah I hear of a lot of writers in here who make like 1,000 from writing just one press release, I've always wondered how in the world they find those clients.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2069107].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by kea55 View Post

      yeah I hear of a lot of writers in here who make like 1,000 from writing just one press release, I've always wondered how in the world they find those clients.
      Can't figure it out either, kea...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2069114].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author George185
        I've been a fan of Constant Content. I have had articles sell there for $70 dollars that take me less than an hour to write. Not bad. You set your own price, so it's about finding a balance. It's pretty competitive, but it works pretty well for me.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2069136].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DogScout
      Originally Posted by kea55 View Post

      yeah I hear of a lot of writers in here who make like 1,000 from writing just one press release, I've always wondered how in the world they find those clients.
      1st the PR has to be worth that much
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2072702].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
      Originally Posted by kea55 View Post

      yeah I hear of a lot of writers in here who make like 1,000 from writing just one press release, I've always wondered how in the world they find those clients.
      Technically speaking you don't get paid $1,000 to write just one press release...you get paid for the results you can produce with your press releases.

      I've had online press releases that generated tens of thousands of views.

      That's pretty valuable traffic.

      How much would it cost you using google adwords if you had to pay for 50,000 clicks?

      At 5 cents a click that's $2,500.

      Online press releases often have long term benefits too...creating backlinks that can get a site good organic rankings in Google for various keyword phrases.

      That means more valuable traffic as an added long term bonus.



      My offline press releases have got businesses full page coverage in newspapers, exposure on radio, television etc etc.

      A full page ad in a newspaper might cost $10,000+.

      And if a press release gets a client on the front page of the newspaper...well don't ask how much it costs to buy advertising there.

      It would be difficult to get me to write a press release for $1,000...these days I'd want more and I'd also sell a package of at least 2 press releases.

      So clearly $1,000 is not really a big price when you compare it to the value of the service.





      And that's really the answer to the question your thread poses...how do you make money as a writer?

      The answer is you find ways to provide more value with your services.

      If you write sales letters that convert well you might charge $1,500 to $10,000+ for a single sales letter.

      If you write lead generating reports that help businesses convert prospects to buyers you might charge $500 to $5,000 for one report.

      The key is in thinking through how you can make your clients real money with your services.

      Also deal DIRECTLY with the person or business who is paying you so you get paid retail.

      Writing for someone who is selling your product to someone else is just fighting a losing battle.

      Screw getting paid peanuts when you can make real money.

      Kindest regards,
      Andrew Cavanagh
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073196].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author HeySal
      Originally Posted by kea55 View Post

      yeah I hear of a lot of writers in here who make like 1,000 from writing just one press release, I've always wondered how in the world they find those clients.
      That situation is not about writers finding the best clients - it's about clients finding the best of the best in the writing field.
      Signature

      Sal
      When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
      Beyond the Path

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2078262].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Thinker1
      Very interesting. I had no idea writers get paid as much as $70 per article.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2083941].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BayAreaSteve
    Looking forward to seeing your offer Nathan.
    Signature

    Right now... This very second... You have everything you need to be successful. You have everything it takes , and more , to become everything you have ever dreamed ; and more than you can ever imagine.
    You are a success just by coming as far as you have...
    DO NOT give up five minutes before the miracle.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2069166].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kea55
    yeah george tell us about that.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2069185].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JonAlfredsson
    You may try odesk.com, textbroker.com, londonbrokes.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2070649].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mac the Knife
    Hey guys,

    I make a few thousand per month JUST from warrior forum...couple that with elance, guru, and basic seo for my site and, well, it pays the mortgage, the car, and my fun money. The fact is, a writing business is a BUSINESS...you have to have multiple sources of leads...deliver QUALITY content, and treat your clients like friends and encourage retention. Listen, I have several firms that order more than 100 articles per month from me...doesn't happen overnight, but there is PLENTY of work out there to be had. I wouldn't EVER join a site and write for the POSSIBILITY someone would buy my work, and believe me, I can average over $70/hour from GUARANTEED clients. ( I DID join constant content, but once I realized how they work, I never went back...)

    For instance....the MINIMUM bid on elance is $50. If I bid for someone who is looking for ONE article and I win it, it is $50. That article will take me about 15-20 minutes to write. My bid takes about 3-4 minutes...if I don't win, so be it, if I do, then I have made some great money.

    If you really want money from writing, stop looking at individual sites that offer pay to writers and begin making clients WANT to choose YOU as their writer. This is where the money is. Diversify with other types of content and slowly work to increase pricing. I started here at $7 and I have more than doubled that price and still get tons of work. It is a process, not an easy buck.

    Mac the Knife
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2070789].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by Macurdy View Post

      Hey guys,

      I make a few thousand per month JUST from warrior forum...couple that with elance, guru, and basic seo for my site and, well, it pays the mortgage, the car, and my fun money. The fact is, a writing business is a BUSINESS...you have to have multiple sources of leads...deliver QUALITY content, and treat your clients like friends and encourage retention. Listen, I have several firms that order more than 100 articles per month from me...doesn't happen overnight, but there is PLENTY of work out there to be had. I wouldn't EVER join a site and write for the POSSIBILITY someone would buy my work, and believe me, I can average over $70/hour from GUARANTEED clients. ( I DID join constant content, but once I realized how they work, I never went back...)

      For instance....the MINIMUM bid on elance is $50. If I bid for someone who is looking for ONE article and I win it, it is $50. That article will take me about 15-20 minutes to write. My bid takes about 3-4 minutes...if I don't win, so be it, if I do, then I have made some great money.

      If you really want money from writing, stop looking at individual sites that offer pay to writers and begin making clients WANT to choose YOU as their writer. This is where the money is. Diversify with other types of content and slowly work to increase pricing. I started here at $7 and I have more than doubled that price and still get tons of work. It is a process, not an easy buck.

      Mac the Knife
      Macurdy,

      What if we have a rather extensive database of articles and writing already....can we just show that to people on eLance so they can have a feel for what our writing is like? (I have almost 300 articles elsewhere....)

      Is part of "bidding" for a project/job showing them what your past writing looks like?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2071548].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Mac the Knife
        Soldier,

        Yes, when you bid, you can upload a few samples. In addition, i always send them to my website...MOST writers don't even have one. I bid high end, but take time to craft nice bids...I only get a small percentage of those i bid for, but adding up all the freelance sites, current clients, warrior, it adds up.

        If you charge $5, you will be a $5 writer. If you charge $25, well, the quality had better be there, but you can believe there will be people who will pay $25 and even $50.

        Mac the Knife
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2071827].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
          Originally Posted by Macurdy View Post

          Soldier,

          Yes, when you bid, you can upload a few samples. In addition, i always send them to my website...MOST writers don't even have one. I bid high end, but take time to craft nice bids...I only get a small percentage of those i bid for, but adding up all the freelance sites, current clients, warrior, it adds up.

          If you charge $5, you will be a $5 writer. If you charge $25, well, the quality had better be there, but you can believe there will be people who will pay $25 and even $50.

          Mac the Knife
          Macurdy,

          I've built up a database of almost 250 articles (90%+ are 1,000 Words or more)....I could just show people a link to that content?

          By "Bid", you mean you write a long article convincing them to hire you? (sell yourself?)

          Thanks for your feedback/responses, Mac!
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2072079].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
          Originally Posted by Macurdy View Post

          Soldier,

          Yes, when you bid, you can upload a few samples. In addition, i always send them to my website...MOST writers don't even have one. I bid high end, but take time to craft nice bids...I only get a small percentage of those i bid for, but adding up all the freelance sites, current clients, warrior, it adds up.

          If you charge $5, you will be a $5 writer. If you charge $25, well, the quality had better be there, but you can believe there will be people who will pay $25 and even $50.

          Mac the Knife
          Just to give you a heads-up, Mac....I was looking through your website (in your sig), and your .PDF files don't seem to work right...they direct to a Hostgator Error 404 page....

          (of course, it could be on my end...)
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2072089].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
          Originally Posted by Macurdy View Post

          Soldier,

          Yes, when you bid, you can upload a few samples. In addition, i always send them to my website...MOST writers don't even have one. I bid high end, but take time to craft nice bids...I only get a small percentage of those i bid for, but adding up all the freelance sites, current clients, warrior, it adds up.

          If you charge $5, you will be a $5 writer. If you charge $25, well, the quality had better be there, but you can believe there will be people who will pay $25 and even $50.

          Mac the Knife
          The hard thing for me to grasp, I guess, is that fact that there are just so many many people selling their writing for $1-$5 a pop....granted, I know the quality can seriously vary....

          But, why would anyone want to pay $50 an article, when they could roll the dice and get 10 articles for $5, then just make corrections to them, where needed?

          I'm really looking into this...just registered for eLance....but, for so long, I've written for revenue share sites (I'll still write for them), but really didn't know this whole possibility existed, at least to this extent.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2072100].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Zabrina
            Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

            The hard thing for me to grasp, I guess, is that fact that there are just so many many people selling their writing for $1-$5 a pop....granted, I know the quality can seriously vary....

            But, why would anyone want to pay $50 an article, when they could roll the dice and get 10 articles for $5, then just make corrections to them, where needed?

            I'm really looking into this...just registered for eLance....but, for so long, I've written for revenue share sites (I'll still write for them), but really didn't know this whole possibility existed, at least to this extent.
            Because the structure of a $5 article is often nonexistent, and the quality bad enough that in order to make corrections to them where needed and turn them into an article that is worth $50, it requires a total rewrite with nearly nothing left of the original article. Granted, there may be exceptions to the rule, but generally this is the case.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2072322].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
              Originally Posted by Zabrina View Post

              Because the structure of a $5 article is often nonexistent, and the quality bad enough that in order to make corrections to them where needed and turn them into an article that is worth $50, it requires a total rewrite with nearly nothing left of the original article. Granted, there may be exceptions to the rule, but generally this is the case.
              Thanks, Zabrina! But, although I had yet to start doing this myself, I have heard of cases where people outsource writing to a country where $5 is a steal or maybe even a full days wage, and they can get a rather decent, quality product in return.... (I know, we could get into whether or not that is even ethical to pay others what we, for our standards of living, would clearly be scraps....I think there is another thread about that somewhere...)
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073347].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author TiffanyB
            Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

            The hard thing for me to grasp, I guess, is that fact that there are just so many many people selling their writing for $1-$5 a pop....granted, I know the quality can seriously vary....

            But, why would anyone want to pay $50 an article, when they could roll the dice and get 10 articles for $5, then just make corrections to them, where needed?

            I'm really looking into this...just registered for eLance....but, for so long, I've written for revenue share sites (I'll still write for them), but really didn't know this whole possibility existed, at least to this extent.
            I think the key is who you are marketing your services to you. It's awfully hard to find an average Internet marketer who is willing to pay more than $15 an article, at the most. But if you pursue people who have the money and are looking for the utmost professionally done writing you can find people paying $100 an article.

            If you really want to make some money writing you need to venture out of just writing for content sites. One way is to look at all the local companies in your area that don't have website or blog or that have one and it hasn't been updated in over a year. Think of an area that you like to write in and do some research on those types of companies. If you like home improvement articles, look for contractors, electricians, plumbers, and lawn and garden services. If you like writing about beauty, look for spas, salons, and boutiques. This does involve some cold-calling but if you are really that shy about it you can always email them as well. Write up a proposal such as doing 4 blog post a month for them for $100. Or even go a step further and set up a site or blog for these people or companies. If you aren't good at setting up sites you can always try to find a web designer to work with and then outsource the work to them. Make sure you incorporate the design fee into your fee as well. You could easily charge upwards of $500 to set up a simple wordpress blog and write 5 articles and an about page for a client.

            This is just one way that you can get away from simply writing for content sites for $5 or $15 an article. Best of all you can pursue areas that you like to write about which makes the job much easier.

            It does take more work, but the return is much greater.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2074091].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author lineds
            Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

            But, why would anyone want to pay $50 an article, when they could roll the dice and get 10 articles for $5, then just make corrections to them, where needed?
            Have you ever bought any articles at 10 for $5? I tried buying articles for $1 each once and found I couldn't use a single sentence of any of the five I bought. The only grammatically correct sentences were 100% plagiarized. They didn't need just a few corrections - I had to rewrite them all from scratch, including doing the research.

            You get what you pay for. And incidentally, people are willing to pay well over $50 an article. I've been paid over $200 for an online article. Offline in magazines pay around $1 to $3 a word.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2080198].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author ChristineP
              This is an inspiring thread! I just submitted to Demand and Constant Content.

              I really don't have 'writing' experience per say, but I always seem to find the words and am an excellent speller so we will see!


              Signature

              Needs Updating...

              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2080512].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
              Originally Posted by lineds View Post

              Have you ever bought any articles at 10 for $5? I tried buying articles for $1 each once and found I couldn't use a single sentence of any of the five I bought. The only grammatically correct sentences were 100% plagiarized. They didn't need just a few corrections - I had to rewrite them all from scratch, including doing the research.

              You get what you pay for. And incidentally, people are willing to pay well over $50 an article. I've been paid over $200 for an online article. Offline in magazines pay around $1 to $3 a word.
              Point taken, lineds. You do get what you pay for.....

              $200 for an online article is quite a bit....congratulations! Was that through eLance? Constant Content? (It's OK if you don't feel comfortable sharing....)
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2081083].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author lineds
                Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post


                $200 for an online article is quite a bit....congratulations! Was that through eLance? Constant Content? (It's OK if you don't feel comfortable sharing....)
                Actually my best was $250 for an article through Guru. I've also had a couple of $100+ articles bought from Helium Marketplace (although there you have to write the article but there's no guarantee it will be bought, so there were a couple more I reckon were worth that much but I got only page views).
                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2083693].message }}
                • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
                  Originally Posted by lineds View Post

                  Actually my best was $250 for an article through Guru. I've also had a couple of $100+ articles bought from Helium Marketplace (although there you have to write the article but there's no guarantee it will be bought, so there were a couple more I reckon were worth that much but I got only page views).
                  If you don't mind me asking, that $250 article....was it a highly-technical article that took weeks to research and write? That is quite impressive....
                  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2085082].message }}
                  • Profile picture of the author lineds
                    Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

                    If you don't mind me asking, that $250 article....was it a highly-technical article that took weeks to research and write? That is quite impressive....
                    The $250 article was a highly technical article, yes (for a lab website). It took me about 8 hours to research and write. The $100+ ones took 2-3 hours.
                    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2088692].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author Sarah Harvey
              Originally Posted by lineds View Post

              Have you ever bought any articles at 10 for $5? I tried buying articles for $1 each once and found I couldn't use a single sentence of any of the five I bought. The only grammatically correct sentences were 100% plagiarized. They didn't need just a few corrections - I had to rewrite them all from scratch, including doing the research.

              You get what you pay for. And incidentally, people are willing to pay well over $50 an article. I've been paid over $200 for an online article. Offline in magazines pay around $1 to $3 a word.
              Funny thing is in the past I sold my services at $1-$2 per article just to get some spending money for my games- when I did't feel like diving into my bank account for a few dollars to my gaming subscriptions. At least my sentences were good enough to read

              I was sort of lazy though I must admit. I didn't go out of my way to write anything spectacular.
              Signature
              "Find the problem and provide the solution."
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2103093].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author theimdude
      Originally Posted by Macurdy View Post

      Hey guys,

      I make a few thousand per month JUST from warrior forum...couple that with elance, guru, and basic seo for my site and, well, it pays the mortgage, the car, and my fun money. The fact is, a writing business is a BUSINESS...you have to have multiple sources of leads...deliver QUALITY content, and treat your clients like friends and encourage retention. Listen, I have several firms that order more than 100 articles per month from me...doesn't happen overnight, but there is PLENTY of work out there to be had. I wouldn't EVER join a site and write for the POSSIBILITY someone would buy my work, and believe me, I can average over $70/hour from GUARANTEED clients. ( I DID join constant content, but once I realized how they work, I never went back...)

      For instance....the MINIMUM bid on elance is $50. If I bid for someone who is looking for ONE article and I win it, it is $50. That article will take me about 15-20 minutes to write. My bid takes about 3-4 minutes...if I don't win, so be it, if I do, then I have made some great money.

      If you really want money from writing, stop looking at individual sites that offer pay to writers and begin making clients WANT to choose YOU as their writer. This is where the money is. Diversify with other types of content and slowly work to increase pricing. I started here at $7 and I have more than doubled that price and still get tons of work. It is a process, not an easy buck.

      Mac the Knife
      I just checked you site and it is infected
      Signature
      Do you want 30 back-links in my PRIVATE BLOG network for ONLY $20 ???
      [LIMITED ACCESS + FREE ARTICLE INCLUDED OR YOUR OWN]

      CLICK HERE NOW
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073596].message }}
    • Originally Posted by Macurdy View Post

      Hey guys,

      I make a few thousand per month JUST from warrior forum...couple that with elance, guru, and basic seo for my site and, well, it pays the mortgage, the car, and my fun money. The fact is, a writing business is a BUSINESS...you have to have multiple sources of leads...deliver QUALITY content, and treat your clients like friends and encourage retention. Listen, I have several firms that order more than 100 articles per month from me...doesn't happen overnight, but there is PLENTY of work out there to be had. I wouldn't EVER join a site and write for the POSSIBILITY someone would buy my work, and believe me, I can average over $70/hour from GUARANTEED clients. ( I DID join constant content, but once I realized how they work, I never went back...)

      For instance....the MINIMUM bid on elance is $50. If I bid for someone who is looking for ONE article and I win it, it is $50. That article will take me about 15-20 minutes to write. My bid takes about 3-4 minutes...if I don't win, so be it, if I do, then I have made some great money.

      If you really want money from writing, stop looking at individual sites that offer pay to writers and begin making clients WANT to choose YOU as their writer. This is where the money is. Diversify with other types of content and slowly work to increase pricing. I started here at $7 and I have more than doubled that price and still get tons of work. It is a process, not an easy buck.

      Mac the Knife
      How do you find time to write that many articles? I can do about 10 in three hours average, assuming most are on the same topic.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073947].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author birdfood
    Macurdy you make article writing sound like a very promising job/business. Too bad I suck at writing.

    Excellent advise for the thread poster
    Signature

    Marketing Laser Glasses

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2070817].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author warriortx
    Just post your services in the 'Warriors for hire" section.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2070860].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author tyroneshum
    Hi all,

    I've hovered around good freelance writing companies who pay well and do support writers with their earnings and career. I'm not familiar yet when it comes to their restrictions but here's for you to take a look:

    Freelance writing work, freelance writers job, job for writers,essay writers,online writing jobs

    They pay $16/page and I think that's good amount of income.
    Signature
    outsourcinglive.com
    Follow me on my 90 Day Challenge to rank no. 1 on Google
    ---------------------------------------------------
    Connect with me at: outsourcinglive.com/google-plus
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2070863].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author A.Green
    Sorry to hear about your misfortune, Kea. I have to agree with Macurdy. Find your own clients. You might have to start at modest prices for a few weeks, but you can work your way up. If you're short on cash, you might try posting an ad at the Warriors for Hire section here. I think it's around $20.

    Just be very careful you don't offer some really low price like $5/article and then take on too much work in attempt to make as much money as you need. That's a good way to get burned out, not do good work or not be able to complete your orders on time, and damage your reputation.

    Tyrone,
    I checked out that 4writers.net site and found this in their FAQ: "Our orders include research paper, custom writing, dissertations, proofreading and even editing work." They might have articles, ebooks, etc., too, but who knows?
    Signature
    WritingThatPaysYou.com: specializing in health and home improvement.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2071050].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kea55
    yeah i did have an ad in the warriors for hire section a while back and I did offer articles for 5 dollars and had so many orders I couldnt fill them. It wasn't good at all.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2071782].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kea55
    mac, do you pay for elance or do you have the free version? and have u ever tried writing for demand.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2072020].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by kea55 View Post

      mac, do you pay for elance or do you have the free version? and have u ever tried writing for demand.
      I was wondering this....I've begun exploring eLance now....
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2072090].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Mac the Knife
      Hey guys. Great discussion thread going.

      As for me, I definitely pay for Elance...as well as a few other sites. Many find me on Elance but once a project is over, they just go right to my site so it is worth it for the repeat business I get.

      Thanks for the heads up on my article pdf's...Just switched servers and forgot to upload that page...lol

      Mac the Knife
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073528].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        I agree about elance. Haven't placed a bid for a while because I have all repeat buyers and invitations for now.

        Whenever there's a thread about writing it's normal to get into how much you've earned or where you go for jobs. In this thread I think everyone has missed the most important point the OP made.

        thinking I would have a chance to make a few mistakes. They didn't make it well known that it was probation.
        I got a few rewrite requests and one rejection.
        Excuse me? Are you saying you would write without mistakes and do a better job if you were on probation? Does that mean if someone isn't watching you, the work isn't as good?

        When you write for someone there should be no mistakes. A few rewrites and a rejection tells me perhaps writing is not your thing.

        You don't go out and find customers that pay big bucks for writing - you do work that is good enough to attract that level of customer. Good writers can charge what they're worth - but only if their writing is worth it.

        kay
        Signature
        Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
        ***
        One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
        what it is instead of what you think it should be.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073624].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kea55
    macurdy? are you there?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2072621].message }}
  • {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073601].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kchui1028
    definitely consider try doing some freelance work on elance.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073628].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author betsyanne
    There is really good information on this thread for sure. I knew about ELance, but not about selling articles on your own site or blog with EJunkie. I will definitely go to explore Constant Content now too. Thanks!
    Signature
    Elizabeth Sheppard
    My SEO for Beginners Page
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073870].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author pyles
    Tons of great info here, thanks all.
    Signature
    --------------
    Click the link above for an amazing ebook writing service,trust me, I know!
    --------------
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073944].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mac Wheeler
    I'll add a little advice for people who are considering the Elance route if I may? Actually this advice fits any of the freelance work sites. I'll give it as a series of tips.

    1. My top tip is to build your reputation first, that means working a little cheaper to get a quantity of great reviews and perfect feedback scores.

    2. Never fall into the trap of thinking that the client who just ordered just five content pieces is a small potato, you will be amazed how many of these people will come back to you time and time again, with an increasing size of order. I have multiple clients like this who now order several hundred content pieces per month.

    3. Hire yourself an editor, this is the only way to ensure your quality will be constant, without stupid mistakes that we often overlook when checking our own work.

    4. Charge a sensible price, this means that if you need to earn $100 per day to live, and you can only write 2500 words a day, you would need to charge $0.04 per word. There is no point doing the work if it does not pay what you need.

    5. Set up your own website, with a contact form, and make sure that every bid you make has this link in it somewhere, so that the client has the option of contacting you directly. If you are using a freelance site which forbids links in bids, simply create a PDF with your standard samples, and a brief introduction of the service you offer, put the link into the intro section, upload this document as part of your bid process.

    6. Always communicate with your clients, let them know that something is actually happening once they have selected your bid. This is especially true if you think you may be running a little tight on a deadline, most people will accommodate a short delay as long as you keep them informed. This simple tip can mean the difference between getting a good review and a bad review once the project is completed.

    7. Follow up after a project is completed, ask the client if there was any area in which they feel you could have improved the content you delivered. Contact them regularly after this to inquire if they have any more work coming up.

    8. Spread yourself around, use multiple sites to find work, don't put all your eggs in one basket.

    I could write a dozen more but this is enough for now. I have been a full-time writer myself for 4 years now, and in the last year I have also set up a company which supplies bulk content at cheaper prices than my own personal projects, I employ 12 full time staff including a general manager and an editor, as well as 10 staff writers, we produce around 175,000 words of content per week. Trust me, there is plenty of work out there if you approach things correctly.
    Signature
    Freelance Writer & Web Author
    FREELANCE WRITING OPPORTUNITIES - GET THEM NOW!
    Like my Facebook page, or add me to your Google+ circles, for free writing tips and techniques.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2074088].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by Mac T Wheeler View Post

      I'll add a little advice for people who are considering the Elance route if I may? Actually this advice fits any of the freelance work sites. I'll give it as a series of tips.

      1. My top tip is to build your reputation first, that means working a little cheaper to get a quantity of great reviews and perfect feedback scores.

      2. Never fall into the trap of thinking that the client who just ordered just five content pieces is a small potato, you will be amazed how many of these people will come back to you time and time again, with an increasing size of order. I have multiple clients like this who now order several hundred content pieces per month.

      3. Hire yourself an editor, this is the only way to ensure your quality will be constant, without stupid mistakes that we often overlook when checking our own work.

      4. Charge a sensible price, this means that if you need to earn $100 per day to live, and you can only write 2500 words a day, you would need to charge $0.04 per word. There is no point doing the work if it does not pay what you need.

      5. Set up your own website, with a contact form, and make sure that every bid you make has this link in it somewhere, so that the client has the option of contacting you directly. If you are using a freelance site which forbids links in bids, simply create a PDF with your standard samples, and a brief introduction of the service you offer, put the link into the intro section, upload this document as part of your bid process.

      6. Always communicate with your clients, let them know that something is actually happening once they have selected your bid. This is especially true if you think you may be running a little tight on a deadline, most people will accommodate a short delay as long as you keep them informed. This simple tip can mean the difference between getting a good review and a bad review once the project is completed.

      7. Follow up after a project is completed, ask the client if there was any area in which they feel you could have improved the content you delivered. Contact them regularly after this to inquire if they have any more work coming up.

      8. Spread yourself around, use multiple sites to find work, don't put all your eggs in one basket.

      I could write a dozen more but this is enough for now. I have been a full-time writer myself for 4 years now, and in the last year I have also set up a company which supplies bulk content at cheaper prices than my own personal projects, I employ 12 full time staff including a general manager and an editor, as well as 10 staff writers, we produce around 175,000 words of content per week. Trust me, there is plenty of work out there if you approach things correctly.
      Mac,

      I have just registered for eLance yesterday.....It would seem, though, that the best way to build one's reputation (and actually win bids, as a newbie there with ZERO feedback), is to bid low....

      Can a newbie there (albeit with alot of articles written already elsewhere), just show others those articles, and command a higher price, without having any feedback from buyers at all?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2074856].message }}
      • Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

        Mac,

        I have just registered for eLance yesterday.....It would seem, though, that the best way to build one's reputation (and actually win bids, as a newbie there with ZERO feedback), is to bid low....

        Can a newbie there (albeit with alot of articles written already elsewhere), just show others those articles, and command a higher price, without having any feedback from buyers at all?
        Dont charge low. Craft a great proposal for each client. Include your website that has your portfolio. Also, include a few samples in the proposal.

        You will win a smaller percentage, but you will make more per transaction.

        Look at some of the proposals associated with those low bids. The proposals are barely English. Don't put yourself in with those guys.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2075064].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Mac Wheeler
          Originally Posted by Charles Montgomery View Post

          Dont charge low. Craft a great proposal for each client. Include your website that has your portfolio. Also, include a few samples in the proposal.

          You will win a smaller percentage, but you will make more per transaction.

          Look at some of the proposals associated with those low bids. The proposals are barely English. Don't put yourself in with those guys.
          I agree with this mostly. However, if you want to get started quick, then a combination of lower bids (not ridiculously low though), and well presented bids, properly supported by relevant samples will get you some work.

          If you want a little coaching, I'll offer you a place on my bulk content team for as long as you like, you'll see how we operate as a business, learn from myself and our (magnificent) editor, and make some money whilst doing it. When you are confident you know how to approach things, I'll wish you luck and help you get started on your own.
          Signature
          Freelance Writer & Web Author
          FREELANCE WRITING OPPORTUNITIES - GET THEM NOW!
          Like my Facebook page, or add me to your Google+ circles, for free writing tips and techniques.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2077099].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Dhira
    Most excellent advice here...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2074221].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mac the Knife
    Charles-if you do 10 in 3 hours, that is about the same pace as me. You could do 30 in a day. Great money if you can GET that much work at your top price obviously.

    While I do agree with Mac T Wheeler (great name by the way!) in that bidding low will increase activity, I probably side more with Charles overall...if your bid is solid, your samples are strong, then you can command top pricing fairly easily.

    Good luck!

    Mac the Knife
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2075121].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Rikki_Fawkes
    Originally Posted by kea55 View Post

    Hi I thought I had the perfect gig. Demand studios pays 15.00 per article and twice a week, but now I just got fired during the probationary period. Is this horrible? Is there a better way to make money writing?
    Ouch. I've actually worked for them since November - money's great but they are pretty strict.

    One of the above posts mentioned londonbrokers.net. I actually worked for them for a few weeks before getting my Demand Studios job. There is a lot of work there, and as long as you use acceptable English and grammar, they don't really put up too much of a fuss.

    You basically write and spin articles at Londonbrokers.net. They'll pay $2 - $7 for one article, 300-700 words, which you write once and spin twice for a total of three articles. They'll put you through several training videos so you can learn how they want it done.

    Otherwise, you might try Associated Content. I've been there 3 years and worked my way up to Featured Contributor, which entitles me to three $10 monthly assignments per category, plus I usually get paid between $4 and $5 per assignment of my choice that I submit.
    Signature

    Learn how you can get paid writing online with NO startup money! I will help you make part-time or full-time income as a freelance writer at http://getpaidwriting.org. No previous writing experience necessary!


    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2075582].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mac the Knife
    Hey Rikki...you are getting $4-$5 per assignment? If you can do 5 articles an hour (VERY tough) that is potentially $25...not too bad, but you CAN earn upwards of $40 per hour by bidding higher on freelance sites. Just throwing that out there...sounds like you are talented, but are working hard for low pay...:-)

    Mac
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2075631].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Rikki_Fawkes
      Originally Posted by Macurdy View Post

      Hey Rikki...you are getting $4-$5 per assignment? If you can do 5 articles an hour (VERY tough) that is potentially $25...not too bad, but you CAN earn upwards of $40 per hour by bidding higher on freelance sites. Just throwing that out there...sounds like you are talented, but are working hard for low pay...:-)

      Mac
      Hi,

      Actually, I work more for Demand Studios and make $15 per article for the 400-500 word ones. I get $5 for the 150-200 word ones, and can knock those out pretty quickly. I've tried some of the freelance sites, but between the 3/month bid limits and high competition, it's very time-consuming. Thanks for the tip, though. I've been trying Craigslist a little bit - we'll see if something sticks there, I guess. Until then, I make most of my money on Demand.
      Signature

      Learn how you can get paid writing online with NO startup money! I will help you make part-time or full-time income as a freelance writer at http://getpaidwriting.org. No previous writing experience necessary!


      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2082739].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kea55
    wow I'm a clout 10 associated content writer. They send me applications all the time to be a featured contributor, but I didn't think it payed much. ouch.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2075636].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
    Here is something else I had found that others may be interested in:

    Find projects posted on crowdSPRING

    This company basically began as a way to link creatives with people who required particular services, like LOGO design. I actually ran my own logo contest a while ago, and found that the platform was really quite interesting....allowing me to give feedback to creatives who submitted their work for consideration to win my designated awards for my project.

    As of recent, though (maybe 2-3 months ago), they began hosting writing projects, as well. You can find projects about just about anything from writing a book or report and articles to naming your company for you....

    I always thought it would be funny to utilize the wisdom of crowds to help pick the name for my first child. I just may try it......lol
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2076467].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TiffanyB
      Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

      Here is something else I had found that others may be interested in:

      Find projects posted on crowdSPRING

      This company basically began as a way to link creatives with people who required particular services, like LOGO design. I actually ran my own logo contest a while ago, and found that the platform was really quite interesting....allowing me to give feedback to creatives who submitted their work for consideration to win my designated awards for my project.

      As of recent, though (maybe 2-3 months ago), they began hosting writing projects, as well. You can find projects about just about anything from writing a book or report and articles to naming your company for you....

      I always thought it would be funny to utilize the wisdom of crowds to help pick the name for my first child. I just may try it......lol
      There is a popular local restaurant by me that is currently running a contest to name the owner's baby. You have to wonder though if it is fake or not. I mean couldn't they just say that so and so wrote a name that they had picked out beforehand. I'm not sure on the specifics but I don't I would ever put that much control in other people's hands.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2077073].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author thescribe
    Never settle for low paying jobs just because it seems that everyone else is. You have to be confident in your writing ability to secure the best freelance jobs. With that being said, here are a few ideas to help get you started looking for other freelance work online:

    Elance

    As mentioned before, Elance can be an excellent place to find new clients. Yes, there are lots of people placing low bids just to get the job, but most of them can't write their way out of a paper bag. So if you are a decent writer, you DO have a chance in this marketplace.

    Be sure to place a well crafted proposal. I have found that following up via PM works wonders in many cases, since most people are just too lazy to do so. Also, as mentioned above, check out projects posted by users (potential clients) previously. This will give you a good idea of what they are willing to pay and how many projects they have awarded in the past.

    Constant Content

    I LOVE this marketplace! Yes, you must create and then price your content, and there is no guarantee that it will sell. However, if you are a solid writer, a good bit of what you write WILL sell, especially if you concentrate on popular topics. Be sure to check out the 'Requests' section to get some ideas on what type of content is needed.

    I routinely price and sell content at $.10 or more per word here. Buyers in this marketplace WILL pay more, as they are not looking for the rehashed crap that so many 'writers' pass off as content on the Internet.


    Here is a list of places where you can apply to become a writer besides Demand Studios. Average pay is $8 or more per article written:

    Internet Brands

    WiseGeek

    Break Studios

    Content Current


    Here are some more specialized venues:


    Sitepoint - Be sure to check for work in the marketplace here also...

    Worldstart

    roScripts

    Auction Bytes

    Developer Shed


    Here are a few freelance job banks:

    Craigslist - You will need to search, but this is an excellent place to find clients.

    Online Writing Jobs

    Genuine Jobs


    The point that I am trying to make is that there are TONS of opportunities besides very low paying gigs - you just have to be willing to search for them. NEVER be afraid to compete with other writers for a gig. It is up to you to convince the client that your writing is worth more. That means having confidence in your ability.

    With that being said, there is not really much you can do if your writing stinks. Writing is a craft that must be practiced in order to be mastered. If you are unwilling to put forth the time and effort, do not ever expect to be more than a menial content slave.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2077417].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by thescribe View Post

      Never settle for low paying jobs just because it seems that everyone else is. You have to be confident in your writing ability to secure the best freelance jobs. With that being said, here are a few ideas to help get you started looking for other freelance work online:

      Elance

      As mentioned before, Elance can be an excellent place to find new clients. Yes, there are lots of people placing low bids just to get the job, but most of them can't write their way out of a paper bag. So if you are a decent writer, you DO have a chance in this marketplace.

      Be sure to place a well crafted proposal. I have found that following up via PM works wonders in many cases, since most people are just too lazy to do so. Also, as mentioned above, check out projects posted by users (potential clients) previously. This will give you a good idea of what they are willing to pay and how many projects they have awarded in the past.

      Constant Content

      I LOVE this marketplace! Yes, you must create and then price your content, and there is no guarantee that it will sell. However, if you are a solid writer, a good bit of what you write WILL sell, especially if you concentrate on popular topics. Be sure to check out the 'Requests' section to get some ideas on what type of content is needed.

      I routinely price and sell content at $.10 or more per word here. Buyers in this marketplace WILL pay more, as they are not looking for the rehashed crap that so many 'writers' pass off as content on the Internet.


      Here is a list of places where you can apply to become a writer besides Demand Studios. Average pay is $8 or more per article written:

      Internet Brands

      WiseGeek

      Break Studios

      Content Current


      Here are some more specialized venues:

      Sitepoint - Be sure to check for work in the marketplace here also...

      Worldstart

      roScripts

      Auction Bytes

      Developer Shed


      Here are a few freelance job banks:

      Craigslist - You will need to search, but this is an excellent place to find clients.

      Online Writing Jobs

      Genuine Jobs


      The point that I am trying to make is that there are TONS of opportunities besides very low paying gigs - you just have to be willing to search for them. NEVER be afraid to compete with other writers for a gig. It is up to you to convince the client that your writing is worth more. That means having confidence in your ability.

      With that being said, there is not really much you can do if your writing stinks. Writing is a craft that must be practiced in order to be mastered. If you are unwilling to put forth the time and effort, do not ever expect to be more than a menial content slave.
      At constant content, is their a particular 'length' of article that you typically sell over there? At 1,000+ words, for .10/word, you are looking at a solid $100/article.....have you sold any of your content for THAT much?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2077866].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author thescribe
        Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

        At constant content, is their a particular 'length' of article that you typically sell over there? At 1,000+ words, for .10/word, you are looking at a solid $100/article.....have you sold any of your content for THAT much?
        Yes, content sells for that amount and more at Constant Content. It seems that people who use Constant Content need and expect a higher caliber of content than those who just want food for the search engines.

        There are those who need content for their newsletters and magazines as well, so they definitely do not want barely decipherable junk. Those who use Constant Content realize that the content they publish is a reflection of their business.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2078487].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by thescribe View Post

      Never settle for low paying jobs just because it seems that everyone else is. You have to be confident in your writing ability to secure the best freelance jobs. With that being said, here are a few ideas to help get you started looking for other freelance work online:

      Elance

      As mentioned before, Elance can be an excellent place to find new clients. Yes, there are lots of people placing low bids just to get the job, but most of them can't write their way out of a paper bag. So if you are a decent writer, you DO have a chance in this marketplace.

      Be sure to place a well crafted proposal. I have found that following up via PM works wonders in many cases, since most people are just too lazy to do so. Also, as mentioned above, check out projects posted by users (potential clients) previously. This will give you a good idea of what they are willing to pay and how many projects they have awarded in the past.

      Constant Content

      I LOVE this marketplace! Yes, you must create and then price your content, and there is no guarantee that it will sell. However, if you are a solid writer, a good bit of what you write WILL sell, especially if you concentrate on popular topics. Be sure to check out the 'Requests' section to get some ideas on what type of content is needed.

      I routinely price and sell content at $.10 or more per word here. Buyers in this marketplace WILL pay more, as they are not looking for the rehashed crap that so many 'writers' pass off as content on the Internet.


      Here is a list of places where you can apply to become a writer besides Demand Studios. Average pay is $8 or more per article written:

      Internet Brands

      WiseGeek

      Break Studios

      Content Current


      Here are some more specialized venues:

      Sitepoint - Be sure to check for work in the marketplace here also...

      Worldstart

      roScripts

      Auction Bytes

      Developer Shed


      Here are a few freelance job banks:

      Craigslist - You will need to search, but this is an excellent place to find clients.

      Online Writing Jobs

      Genuine Jobs


      The point that I am trying to make is that there are TONS of opportunities besides very low paying gigs - you just have to be willing to search for them. NEVER be afraid to compete with other writers for a gig. It is up to you to convince the client that your writing is worth more. That means having confidence in your ability.

      With that being said, there is not really much you can do if your writing stinks. Writing is a craft that must be practiced in order to be mastered. If you are unwilling to put forth the time and effort, do not ever expect to be more than a menial content slave.
      Wow...."Constant Content's" forum is massive with ALOT of information....trying to tred through some of it now...it's alot to digest...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2077946].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Cash37
    Originally Posted by kea55 View Post

    Hi I thought I had the perfect gig. Demand studios pays 15.00 per article and twice a week, but now I just got fired during the probationary period. Is this horrible? Is there a better way to make money writing?
    Sell your services yourself. Why would you need demand if you could write a kickbutt sample article and demand (pun unintended) a premium price for your articles here or elsewhere?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2077784].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Flipfilter
    I've noticed a recent trend in the UK with broadsheet national newspapers (Telegraph, Financial Times) setting up their own marketplaces for outsourcing with a heavy focus on journalism and writing.

    The quality requirement is very high, but you can earn £40 - £80 ($60 - $100) per article, if your topics are in demand.

    JG
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2078071].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author greff
    Doing a blog or articles does not necessarily make you a WRITER.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2078185].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author A.Green
    You can only use websites ending in .gov or .edu and a whole list of other particulars.
    You may have had problems at DS because you were still getting used to the requirements. It does take time, I know. But for instance, you *can* use .com, .org, .anythingelse sites. They just need to be fairly high quality sites. Yes, they do have very specific guidelines, but once you get used to them, it’s nice because you don’t have to constantly search for clients. You always have a steady supply of work. Of course, it’s never wise to rely on one source of income.

    That said, if you can make more elsewhere, go for it!

    ...

    Y'all are making me want to try Constant Content. I signed up along time ago, but never submitted anything because I heard they'll reject an article for a single misplaced common and if you get 3 rejections, you're out. Maybe that's not correct, though. I've seen plenty of low quality stuff there, so it's hard to believe they're that picky.

    Also, about journalism pay, a few years ago an experienced British journalist told me $500 (converting from L) was pretty average pay for a newspaper article. He was, however, writing for major publications and that was England, not the US.
    Signature
    WritingThatPaysYou.com: specializing in health and home improvement.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2085142].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MelMAC
    There's some excellent advice on this thread. I'm new to IM, and have a background in traditional publishing too (hi, dark_white). Thanks for all the wonderful tips on how to break into freelancing.

    I do know this about selling your writing: A writer can't turn in crap and expect people to pay for it. Crapping might take a bit of effort, but essentially, crap is free.

    Words for sale must have value. If grammar isn't your thing, copy editors abound, but getting the words right, along with professionalism and intelligence, are skills not everybody can offer.

    What I've observed (at least in fiction), to succeed for the long term, building your reputation and brand is absolutely crucial.

    To do that, you have to write what others want to read. Sounds simple, but it's not.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2090384].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Matt-Marketing
    Can't you not just go freelance

    and bid for jobs on elance Or guru.com

    Matt
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2101881].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      You don't need IM related work in a portfolio - just good writing examples. On freelance sites there are low priced writers and high priced writers and jobs for both extremes as well as everyone in the middle. You are in competition - so write some articles about something for a portfolio - to demonstrate your skills - and then look for writing assignments for the type of writing you are skilled at.
      Signature
      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
      ***
      One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
      what it is instead of what you think it should be.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2101996].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kdjohme
    i'm feeling your pain , i was layed off for 6 months and been back to work for four months and havn't recieved a pay check yet, because of back insurance preminums .
    but a few years ago , i started plaining a back up plain for me and my family just for this reason , residual income is where it's at period ! learn by reading muitiple streams of(internet) income . here are few that have worked for me . have you check out pro affilite empire or pro out source your success ?

    best regards
    kdjohme
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2102645].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sandi Valentine
    If you have decent writing skills and know a bit about SEO and LSI, there's absolutely no reason you can't sell your services right here on the Warrior Forum for at least $8 an article TO START. Webmasters and affiliate marketers are constantly looking for high quality, informative content.

    I've been freelancing full time since 2007. I write for private clients that I've found here and through referrals, I write for Demand, and I have open accounts with several other lower paying content mills that I keep open just in case I ever need to make money quickly. I currently bring in enough to live relatively well, and we pay the mortgage and all our bills from my income.

    Why in the world would you consider writing full time for $1-2 an article when you could set up a website, spend some time marketing yourself, and make better wages that most highly trained professionals? Why would you sell your writing for that little when you could set up an article marketing campaign for yourself and earn affiliate commissions?

    If you're really interested in getting started as a writer and doing well, I highly recommend that you stop screwing around for pennies on Odesk, Getafreelancer, and stop working for crap wages. Learn to optimize your articles and start selling them for what they're worth. I easily earn as much as the RN's in my area, working part time from home.

    If you don't know how to position yourself as a writer, look for Jenn Dize's power ghostwriting course or CDarklocks course - I think it's the .357 article method? Jenn will teach you how to set up the business, Caliban will teach you how to write articles that sell.

    There's really no need to compete on price, especially when that price is ridiculously low. If you can write well, you can earn an income online. It's all about positioning yourself as a professional.
    Signature
    http://sandililly.contently.com
    High Quality Content for .03/word. Order by PM.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2103371].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sandi Valentine
    You're welcome!
    Signature
    http://sandililly.contently.com
    High Quality Content for .03/word. Order by PM.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2105249].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ksadgrove
      As someone who's spent over $100,000 at Elance, I look specifically for writers with experience in the right area.

      If I want articles on, say, forensic science, I'll buy only from people who say 'I work in/studied forensic science'. Or even, 'My sister is a forensic scientist'. This usually reduces the number of candidates to 2-3.

      Most writers produce a generic bid. They've no USP. It's a waste of their time.

      So my advice is, bid only for topics you're an expert in. And specify your experience in your bid.

      Secondly, no writer has ever come back to me six months later with suggestions for more work.

      Why not look at the site or newsletter where the article gets placed, try to understand the client's needs and say, 'Why don't I produce a weekly blog to get you more traffic?' etc.

      In other words, you need to do your marketing Don't treat everything as a one-off job.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2106218].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author juansaldivar
    If they were paying you $15 bucks per article that means they were making more money, if you know the basics of IM why won't you start your IM business and use your writing skills to drive traffic and leads to your funnel and then sell them stuff? You are going to make alot more money, this is just my two cents. Anyway, good luck.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2145305].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sandi Valentine
    I'm with Nathan on this one. Once you've established yourself in the industry, you can make more freelancing than you'd think - especially if you've been using sites like oDesk (which is a rant for another time and place).

    Set up a website. Put your best samples on it. Set rates that provide you with a living wage. Advertise, network, and work your way up. If you're a good writer, you'll quickly rise to the top. I make three times what my husband does in his full time J.O.B., and I do it without leaving my home or my kids.

    Check out Bob Bly's copywriting books. Read Christina Katz's work about selling work in print and developing a platform. For IM, check out Jenn Dize, Jason Fladlien, Caliban Darklock.

    Once you've decided to look for jobs, check http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com and http://www.online-writing-jobs.com frequently. I've picked up some excellent clients from these sites, but you have to have the skills to compete, know how to write a cover letter, and know what type of rate you're shooting for.

    Demand Studios is a great way to balance out your freelancing income, but it's not the only game in town. You can make just as much or more writing for private clients, promoting your work, or even writing for your own sites and building passive income.

    I really wish freelance writers would stop selling themselves short.
    Signature
    http://sandililly.contently.com
    High Quality Content for .03/word. Order by PM.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2145324].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JayPeete
    There are a lot of great resources in this thread. This is definitely one to bookmark.
    Signature
    What Misunderstood Traffic Source SUCKS In
    3 Million Visitors Daily and Spits Out
    $560.81 Per Day In Commissions?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2145574].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Hayfield
      This whole thread has been well worth the time I spent reading it. Perhaps I can persuade some of you to answer one more question.

      With a need to make some quick cash, I intended to start off writing for a few sites like Demand Studios. However, I note that some of them specify that you need a Bachelor's Degree and others require you to be a resident of the United States for tax purposes. Delightful as I'm sure possession of these two qualities must be, I fail both miserably. Can anyone point me in the direction of work for uneducated Brits?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2145722].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sandi Valentine
    I know Demand has just opened its site to writers in Canada and the UK - not sure about the degree.
    Signature
    http://sandililly.contently.com
    High Quality Content for .03/word. Order by PM.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2146070].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Guni
    Elance is really cool. Definately try that out.

    Thanks
    Guni
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2147531].message }}

Trending Topics