I committed to writing this blog, but kinda fell off the wagon recently. It isn't that I haven't had anything to say -- it's that I didn't have anything nice to say. I love writing, but have been a little frustrated lately at the financial side of things.
Writing online can be rewarding if you have the right mindset, and work really, really hard at it. But it can also be irritating as hell. If you had any romantic notions about writing before going into it full-time, you're better off leaving them at the door if you're going to pursue writing online.
Like any other industry, writing sites are businesses looking out for their bottom line. They're going to pay you as little as they can for your writing, and that's something you just need to be prepared for starting out. It isn't that the people who run these sites are evil; it's just the nature of business.
That's why so many writers seem to become internet entrepreneurs. They have to spend almost as much time learning about marketing and how the internet works as they spend actually writing. The smartest writers usually end up being successful with their own websites. You can complain about sacrificing art for commerce, but the bottom line is that this is how it all works.
For all the times I long for the financial security I had as a member of the rat race, the thought of giving up freelance writing breaks my heart. Some writers have hourly dollar goals, and if they don't make them, they give up writing for a particular site. I just can't work that way.
I left a regular job because I don't want to feel like a worker bee. Despite what seems like unfair pay for a whole lot of work sometimes, I actually get paid for doing what I've always loved doing. And I am seeing some improvement in certain areas of my writing income.
Writing for a living is like any other business. We writers are entrepreneurs, and we have to educate ourselves on the business end of things. And like any entrepreneur, we have to get through the rough patches and use them as learning experiences.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Writer's Quarters: Are Revenue Share Sites Really Better For Online W...
Writer's Quarters: Are Revenue Share Sites Really Better For Online W...: "Although I'm always looking for quality sites to write for, I definitely have my favorites. I rotate between a handful of revenue share and ..."
Are Revenue Share Sites Really Better For Online Writers?
Although I'm always looking for quality sites to write for, I definitely have my favorites. I rotate between a handful of revenue share and upfront payment sites. Although Demand Studios takes quite a beating for several reasons -- mostly for underpaying writers -- I'm thinking some of its critics haven't plumbed the depths of the online writing world.
A lot of writers feel they're giving away their work for $7.50 to $30 an article (more for certain special projects, from what I hear). Yes, you do give up all rights to your work. Demand Studios keeps all profits after the initial payment, unlike revenue share sites that pay you for page views.
Another complaint some Demand Studios writers have is the time vs. pay ratio. I've found myself spending waaaay too much time on a $15 Demand Studios article -- sometimes to get a rewrite request or even a rejection. That's when I have to back off to avoid getting burnt out, or try not to think about it and move on to the next article.
But, as much as I appreciate getting work from a number of revenue share sites, it's hard to imagine making a living off of them without adding Demand Studios and a few other non- revenue share sites into the mix. Even some online writers who have learned the SEO and backlink ropes claim to make enough only to pay a bill or two from their revenue share articles.
I'm sure that some writers who really know their stuff, write about in-demand topics, develop a following, and constantly promote, can write full-time for revenue sites. But Demand Studios, Textbroker, and other sites that offer upfront payment in lieu of revenue share are indispensable sources of quick income for a relative newbie like me.
They also have something to offer in terms of education for online writers. Revenue share sites are great for seeing what topics work. But Textbroker assignments give you a good idea of what people want for their websites. Sometimes, clients are web designers who don't have the time or inclination to create content for their sites.
Their instructions for which keywords to use and where to place them are actually starting to help with my writing for revenue share sites. And while Demand Studios has been slammed for being overly commercial in its approach, I can get an idea of the types of searches people do from the thousands of titles in the queue.
So, for the time being, a smattering of upfront payment sites mixed with revenue share are my bread and butter. Each has its own merits. Both my bank account and my attention span would suffer if I dropped one type of site in favor of another, and from my perspective, their symbiotic relationship can only help.
For a different perspective, check out Factoidz writer Lysis's article on the subject, "5 Reasons Why Writing Revenue Share Pays More Than Selling Articles for Full Rights."
A lot of writers feel they're giving away their work for $7.50 to $30 an article (more for certain special projects, from what I hear). Yes, you do give up all rights to your work. Demand Studios keeps all profits after the initial payment, unlike revenue share sites that pay you for page views.
Another complaint some Demand Studios writers have is the time vs. pay ratio. I've found myself spending waaaay too much time on a $15 Demand Studios article -- sometimes to get a rewrite request or even a rejection. That's when I have to back off to avoid getting burnt out, or try not to think about it and move on to the next article.
But, as much as I appreciate getting work from a number of revenue share sites, it's hard to imagine making a living off of them without adding Demand Studios and a few other non- revenue share sites into the mix. Even some online writers who have learned the SEO and backlink ropes claim to make enough only to pay a bill or two from their revenue share articles.
I'm sure that some writers who really know their stuff, write about in-demand topics, develop a following, and constantly promote, can write full-time for revenue sites. But Demand Studios, Textbroker, and other sites that offer upfront payment in lieu of revenue share are indispensable sources of quick income for a relative newbie like me.
They also have something to offer in terms of education for online writers. Revenue share sites are great for seeing what topics work. But Textbroker assignments give you a good idea of what people want for their websites. Sometimes, clients are web designers who don't have the time or inclination to create content for their sites.
Their instructions for which keywords to use and where to place them are actually starting to help with my writing for revenue share sites. And while Demand Studios has been slammed for being overly commercial in its approach, I can get an idea of the types of searches people do from the thousands of titles in the queue.
So, for the time being, a smattering of upfront payment sites mixed with revenue share are my bread and butter. Each has its own merits. Both my bank account and my attention span would suffer if I dropped one type of site in favor of another, and from my perspective, their symbiotic relationship can only help.
For a different perspective, check out Factoidz writer Lysis's article on the subject, "5 Reasons Why Writing Revenue Share Pays More Than Selling Articles for Full Rights."
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