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."