Article Writing: Enough Already!

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11
So today I ran into I guess what they call content farms or article websites that pay you to write. I decided to check into it thinking it was like Elance or some sort of deal where people bid on jobs.

Apparently these sites are like Fiverr, but with leveled payment structures.

Cool!

Decided to throw some keywords into Google to find out writer experiences.

Of course I came up with a bunch of websites full of writer reviews on their experiences with these farms. But I noticed something that kind of drove me crazy.

The reviews were very long on fluff and short on actual user experience.

Most of these writers consider themselves well established, expert writers that have no time for the pathetic work these article sites offer but instead they feel they are worth premium status pay.

Fine, so lets read the reviews of these "experts".

Wait, lets.. not!

One reviewer spent a whole 2,993 word article full of stories, fluff.. explaining his experience with these websites. What?!

As I went along, these magazine article quality writers (or so they claim) hardly gave me anything I could sink my teeth into. I mean, get to the point instead of making me read an eBook of a review filled with humor, movie sequences, or how your mother spanked you as a child.

Back when I did direct mail - it had to be sharp, short and drive home the message. Do people today really need to read 3,000 word articles to feel they are getting "worth"? As I see it, today's society is becoming more ADHD, spoiled.. selfish.

When do you feel an article goes beyond what it should to deliver the message? If it requires length, do you really need to know that grandma powdered their ass when they were 7 months with an iron skillet?
#main internet marketing discussion forum #article #writing
  • A lot of these "reviews" are simply venting.
    • [1] reply
    • And many of these reviews are paid BS reviews.
  • Banned
    That was true of direct mail then and it's probably true of it now.

    Articles serve a completely different purpose.

    Articles aren't a direct component of the sales process (true, there are people who try to use them that way, but they don't make a living); they're a method for attracting targeted traffic to a website in such a way as to be able to start a process which will include some variation of the "direct mail concept" later. Yet you seem to be comparing them as if they're somehow different examples of the same marketing concept.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • I get you here. But the need to talk about my day at the mall to explain why I don't think content farms pay well, unless I'm referring to the low pay forcing me to window shop?

      I could see that correlation and how it could be used as a part of the sales process.

      Reading these reviews however didn't draw me to anything other than the back button. Not that I am such a great writer but I'd rather take the interstate to get to my destination instead of the back roads.

      I am seeing this more and more with articles writers or reviewers. Too much fluff, not enough substance.

      Does more words = better article? 3,000? Whew!
      • [2] replies
  • Just playing devil's advocate here - If these same writers put something short and sweet on there, we would have people complaining that these are professional writers and they should be able to give much more about their experience, they should be compelling etc.

    I think its just a case of not being able to please everybody. Isn't there enough writers on there that you can find someone that suits your needs?
  • They probably wouldn't be motivated to write about their experience if they didn't feel agrieved in some way.

    That might account for the so-called reviews. Maybe not all their writing is like that. Nobody enjoys getting paid peanuts -- they evidently like to whine about it.

    I personally could live without knowing, but it's the authors website and they can choose what they want to write about. It would be nice if search engines would filter such stuff out.
  • Who uses a 3000 word article to sell something? There are clear reasons to use long sales letters, but 3000 word articles???
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    Article Writing: Enough Already!

    So today I ran into I guess what they call content farms or article websites that pay you to write. I decided to check into it thinking it was like Elance or some sort of deal where people bid on jobs. Apparently these sites are like Fiverr, but with leveled payment structures.