The Copywriter’s Crucible digs into the burgeoning online freelance writer market and finds some truly unpretty stuff.
Topping the list is an SEO firm who advertises “a team of experienced content writers who are trained in writing quality search engine optimised content†– while simultaneously telling writers that “writing the content is simply a case of cutting and pasting different bits of information”
He’s concerned with the number of “writers” willing to work for a pittance, and references the Freelance Writer’s Manifesto – Interestingly, Carson at Content Done Better expressed some doubts about the concept of imposed standards in a recent post.
My thinking is that it can’t hurt to have standards, but expecting freelancers – who tend towards independence – to follow them is probably unrealistic.
I’ve written a handful of posts about “budget freelancing.” It’s a dangerous rut, and I writers (especially those who want a career with some legs to it) should look to escape it whenever possible. Starting today. Like now…
[tags]SEO, copywriter’s crucible, content, copy, copywriter, content done better, freelance, freelance writer’s manifesto[/tags]
The added problem seems to be that some people now think low paid freelance writing is the norm. I was approached by one SEO company to write for $0.015 per word – I’m surprised they didn’t ask me to go round and paint their house whilst I was at it!
I’m glad you took a stand on the house painting. No freelancer should ever do anything beyond washing a client’s car…
I agree – I wasn’t aware that “content writer” had become a title unto its own, and that so many were selling their work so cheap.
Hey Tom;
This is one reason writers are flocking to writing white papers. There is money there.
I advise my readers to charge flat rate fees.
In a few months, I will be coming out with a report of over 600 writers and how they bill for white papers.
The advance examination is very interesting.
Mike
My grandfather once told me that “If you buy a sack of shit you shouldn’t be surprised if it stinks.”
$1 for 500 words? Better have a clothespin for your nose.
There are TONS of bottom feeding Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V writers out there. No sane person would try to compete with their rates, either.
Here’s the dirty secret to the whole thing, though… Many of those who are hiring those copyright infringement machines don’t give a hoot. They know they are getting trash and stolen goods. They also know that they can generate $2 in earnings for the $1 spent.
Again, I think, we run into the problem of “writer” and its multiple meanings. The cut and paste cesspool is a different market than the cheap, quality content market. Those are both different than the superior copywriter market. Sure, there’s some overlap here and there and trends in one market may influence others a little bit. For the most part, though, those of us who work above ground don’t have to worry too much about the snakes below.
People figure out they’re buying bags of shit pretty quickly. Either they like the scent, or they hire a better person on the next go ’round.
Let me add that I don’t see the connection between $1/500 word rip-off artists and the Freelance Writers Manifesto call for a $25/hr. minimum for all self-proclaimed writers that Copyright Crucible seemed to sense.
One can do their best to put the thieves out of business without embracing a problematic and unenforceable writers’ minimum wage proposal.
By the way, thanks for your offer over at my blog. Once the oral surgery is over, I will be carefully guarding my leftover drugs. I wouldn’t trade a single Lortab for a PR9 link–I’m enjoying them too much.
CDB
Mike:
I’ve written several white papers (even an 80-page “book” on a technical subject) and agree that they can be very lucrative.
But they’re also not for everyone; as I’ve aged, I seem to have developed a writer’s version of ADD. It prevents me writing anything longer than 1500 words.
Sad, really.
The Copywriter’s Crucible post you mentioned links to an article about avoiding cookie cutter SEO content firms.
Irony: That article doesn’t appear to be original. Or, if it is, someone else is using it, too…
Just blogged on it.
This is what passes as being blog worthy when one is on pain meds.
CDB
Writing web content was more prestigious and more acceptable a few years ago. Thanks to the $1 writers and the cut and pasters, it’s getting a bum rap. A shame really, because there’s so much web writing work available.
I agree with the folks behind the Freelance Wrtiters Manifesto in that if writers want to be paid higher wages they have to be willing to stand up for themselves. But after thinking about it for a while I’m not sure if playing Norma Rae is the way to go.
Writers, especially those just starting out, need to know how to set a fair price without driving down the rates and lowering standards. Why on earth would anyone accept a project paying less than minimum wage? It boggles my mind how someone who wouldn’t lower herself to flipping burgers for minimum wage would allow herself to bid $2.50 per article on a 500 article Rentacoder project.
I know there are higher paying jobs, I see them every day. In fact, I hand people leads to these jobs every day. Yet many of them still feel low pay is the only way to start out.
Where do my high paying contracts come from? I’ve aligned myself with several web designers who outsource the writing to me. I guess it’s easier to submit an article to Associated Content for $3 than to network for the big gigs?
I have to stop – I can go on about this forever. Just ask Carson.
- Deb
Carson & Deb:
I agree with Carson in this sense: I think attempting to enforce some kind of minimum wage standard is hopeless and ill-advised. Where I see the benefit of the Freelance Writer’s Manifesto is that it provides new writers a sense of what’s reasonable.
It sets a standard, so when new writers allow themselves to be taken advantage of, they’ll at least do so with open eyes.
Of course, $1 per article is an extreme example. But is $5? $10? I see evidence of writers accepting that kind of work thinking that it’s what freelance writers get.
One of my problems with the manifesto is that it smells a little of protectionism – like us “established” writers don’t want cheaper competition.
I’ve invested a fair amount of my time here promoting the idea of the “value-added copywriter” – and how writers can upscale their image, their revenues and their client base.
I expect it will be a recurring theme for a long time to come.
And Carson; I’m looking forward to seeing the resolution to the weird “dueling articles” adventure you’ve launched yourself on.
“As long as you perform for peanuts, your best work is only worth small change.”
That little tidbit of insight has guided me from the beginning of my copywriting career.
I was fortunate to have a great mentor that pushed me to develop my writing skills. He taught me the value of my writing and instilled confidence in my abilities.
Without his strong guidance, I might be working for Cracker Jacks right now!
I don’t work for peanuts or small change. I do work for dollars with more dollars comming in every year!
Don’t ya just love “writing” your own paycheck? ?;D