First things first. I am a writer who offers my services to others here on DP. I post in the BST section. No this is not for self promotion but, what it is its a rant about other writers. I posted my ad today. So far I have gotten about 5 PMs from other writers offering me their services for very low rates. The last one offered to write for me at the rate of $2/500 words. Why? I think that given the popularity of the "Return To Slavery" thread by Kraven2 this kind of practice would have stopped. But, it hasn't I am not sure if it ever will. I am not a buyer that was offering to pay a half a penny a word. I was offered that rate by a content provider. There are writers who are willing to accept this "crap". We need to put a stop to it all around. Need to get the word out to everyone buyers and writers alike. Because if we drive the buyers out, the writers are still going to be offering to work for these rates. Any suggestions on how to do that?
Well the first question would be, what kind of writers are offering their services at those rates? Are they writers or word monkeys? If the latter I say let them, if the first I say educate them.
I got a message from someone stating that they offered service. A group of writers. So its probably word monkeys
The worst kind it seems. Those teams are the closest you can get to a sweatshop environment online. BTW check should be something from me in there
I think some of the people willing to give you 500 words for $2 are those who're using one of those goofy article spinning softwares. So what you may receive for your $2 is pretty much unusable gibberish. You may wind up doing so much cleaning up on the article that you might as well have written it yourself.
I write all my own content. This way at least I know that it is high quality and at the same time will move me to the top of Google for the search term. Some people look at writing as a easy way to make a buck. What they don't realize that it is actually an art that some of us take pride in each time we sit down at the keyboard. The part that bothered me is that these $2 writers are trying to take over the market and the buyers are gobbling them up. Not that the people that are hiring them will hire me, I charge a bit more but these writers are being exploited. If they are using software then good, at least this way the buyer is getting crap for pennies.
Hi, i think i can shed some light unto this whole cheap article deal. I am also a writer and 70% of the clients i come across wants me to write their 500 word article for $2.00 or less. Then they have the audacity to tell you that it must be grammatically correct, with no errors whatsoever and should pass copyscape. Granted, these things are mandatory with any professional writer, but with the rates that they are offering, they should not be making any demands. But it all comes down to where you get your clients from, many of them comes from freelancer.com (at least i my case) and it is actually a rear occasion when you get an offer for as much as $5.00 per article. I must admit that i have written quite a few at that price because i figured it must have been the norm. In essence, as long as new writers are constantly coming on the scene, they will write at those rates and the clients will continue to get away with it. At least some of them will. I would love to help you with you quest because i agree with you guys completely.
I do think so and that is the reason i requested information on better paying sites which have been send to me. A better answer would have been for you to provide such suggestions than just telling us the obvious, but thanks anyway.
The problem is, you guys don't even bother to look outside the areas these low-paying "clients" hang out at. That's the real problem, don't ya think? People paying such low rates isn't the problem.
Sorry, I had to delete that post. I would give a list of sourcs to go to, but practically all do not listen, they do not want to put forth the work. Sorry, but you are just going to have to find out on your own. And, what I wrote is not the obvious to them. Anyway, good luck.
Like it or not, there will always be someone out there willing to take up those low paying jobs. With so many new "writers" emerging in the industry every day, it is difficult to break the $2 / 500 words norm. We can say that the clients are taking advantage of the writers or we can say that the writers underestimate their abilities / services.
There are many, many, many legitimate writers out there (not the ones on this board who think they are writers) who do not think that it is difficult. If one does not want to put forth the work (research, improving one's writing, having a kick-ass about me page....), well, then, yeah, it will be difficult.
Perry, You have said before on numerous occasions that there are many great sources out there that are full of higher paying clients. Then you refuse to give the list to others. I am here to ask you why? Here is the purpose of every thread here. It is to help others and you seem to be dead set against helping those who are in need. If you have a great list of high paying clients and you do not want to put it out in the open than at least PM the person with it. Come on man!
Yes, it is rare to find someone willing to pay $5.00 an article in Freelancer. 2 years ago, I spent most of my time, trying to find a decent paying job and I only found one that is willing to pay more than $5. Elance seems to be better (or more professional). Agreed. As if they are doing a big favour for writers.
Darn! I would have loved to have that info. Hopefully you're willing to share it by way of PM... Thanks!
If you read the content that is produced for $2/500 words you will understand why the monkeys offer their services so cheap. Quality content doesn't come cheap and educated buyers realize this.