The Truth About Content Mills and Freelance Writing

Content mills have a reputation for exploiting freelance writers, but what's the truth behind this claim? Many writers have reported being paid as little as $1 for a 500-word article, which can be a significant blow to their income.

Freelance writers often work on a piece-by-piece basis, with each article or assignment being a separate contract. This can make it difficult to negotiate better pay or working conditions.

A content mill is essentially a website that connects clients to potential writers, with the goal of churning out a massive amount of articles in a short period of time.

These sites are based on a low, per-word rate, where writers can complete as many jobs as they can within a specified time frame, with the faster writers making more money.

The entire premise of these sites is built around being able to produce quick, SEO-optimized content, often at the expense of quality, as some content mills specialize in producing low-quality content.

Content mills can be fully-managed or operate as a marketplace, connecting writers and clients and collecting a fee in the process.

Here are a few examples of content mills that operate in different ways:

A content mill is a service business that helps you outsource content production, specializing in quick, SEO-optimized content.

They often operate as a middle person, connecting writers and customers, and collecting a substantial fee in the process. This is partly due to their strategy of collaborating with inexperienced writers who are willing to work for a small fee.

Content mills can be fully-managed, where they pick and choose the best writers for a case, but most often they're a marketplace.

Here are a few examples of content mills:

A content mill is a website that connects clients to potential writers, often referred to as a "ghostwriter" since they have no rights to the material once it's submitted.

The term "mill" is used to describe the fast-paced turn-out of content, which can range from product descriptions to lengthy eBooks. Writers can complete as many jobs as they can, as long as the work is readily available.

The faster you are, the more money you can make, but keep in mind that the pay is usually low, based on a per-word rate.

Content mills often operate as a marketplace, connecting writers and clients, and collecting a fee in the process.

Some content mills hire in-house writers, while others employ writers on freelance platforms like Upwork or Peopleperhour.

Here are a few examples of content mills:

Writer mills come in different shapes and sizes, offering various services, such as taking orders from companies or creating content catalogs for writers to publish their material.

Working with a content mill can be a game-changer for writers and businesses alike. You can develop a good work ethic and learn how to work independently, which is essential for success in any field.

By using a content mill, you can make money while honing your writing skills and building your portfolio. For example, the author of this article made tens of thousands of dollars using content mills, averaging between $12 and $15 an hour as a 3-Star writer and up to $30 an hour as a 4-Star writer.

One of the biggest benefits of working with a content mill is the flexibility it offers. You can choose when and how much you want to work, which is perfect for balancing other pursuits or responsibilities. In fact, 60% of bloggers who post daily report that it makes a substantial difference to their readership numbers and retention rates.

To get the most out of a content mill, you need to be willing to put in the work. This means dedicating time to researching ways to write better, practicing your craft, and staying motivated. The author of this article spent a lot of time researching ways to write in Google and practiced writing on their blog to improve their skills.

Here are some benefits of working with a content mill:

By using a content mill, you can save money and scale your content production. In fact, 60% of bloggers who post daily report that it makes a substantial difference to their readership numbers and retention rates.

Forming long-term relationships with clients is a challenge with content mills, where you might have zero contact with the client and not even know who they are.

You'll be hustling 24/7 to find new clients, which can get really old really fast.

Very often, you won't get credit for your work, and in most cases, you won't even get a byline for the work you produce.

No credit or byline can get old fast, but it's not the only issue with content mills.

The pay is also a major drawback, with rates ranging from $0.01 to $0.014 per word, which is significantly lower than what private clients pay.

Content mills often pay very low rates, between $0.01 to $0.014 per word, depending on your skill level or the job's contract.

Writing for content mills can be a way to get started as a freelance writer, but it's not a sustainable career path.

You'll only make around $15 every hour if you can write 1,100 words per hour, which is a relatively high average.

Content mills may offer some benefits, like cash bonuses for high production, but these are not guaranteed.

Private clients, on the other hand, can pay much higher rates, up to $1 per word or more, and may even offer retainer contracts that pay you regardless of your output.

Inconsistent access can cause inconsistent styles of writing, which makes it hard to develop a coherent identity that customers can understand.

High turnover rates in content mills are a real issue, with many writers leaving due to poor working conditions.

This lack of consistency can lead to a choppy and strange voice across your communications.

If you're working with an anonymous team, you might not even know that multiple writers are contributing to your content.

Content mills often have high turnover rates because they're often poorly managed, leading to a lack of stability and consistency.

Hidden charges can sneak up on you if you're not careful. Freelance writers often have a clear revisions policy that they'll share with you straight away.

Revisions are a natural part of the writing process, and they can add up quickly. Make sure to ask about revisions policy before signing up to a content mill.

Some content mills may not clearly list their revisions policy on their webpage, so it's essential to ask. You'll want to fully understand their revisions policy before committing to a project.

Revisions mean additional work for the writer, which can impact the final cost of the project. Budget for any revisions before finding your go-to writer.

You won't get credit for your work if you submit it through content mills, as the content mill sends it to the client, not the writer.

Much of the time, you won't receive credit or a byline for the work you produce, which can get old really fast.

I've had clients whose name regularly goes on my writing, and that's okay because it's something I agreed to.

However, to never have your name on a single piece of work is a different story.

Forming long-term relationships with clients is crucial for a stable income as a freelance writer.

You might have zero contact with the client, and you might not even know who the client is, which makes it hard to build a connection.

Working with brands on a monthly basis is ideal, but content mills make this unlikely.

Hustling 24/7/365 to find new clients is exhausting and unsustainable.

This constant search for new clients will get really old really fast, just like never receiving credit for your work.

Content mills like Verblio start paying around $10.50 for a 300 to 400 word post, and Verblio itself hires writers from the US with a valid SSN.

You can choose from an open pool of jobs by category on Textbroker, which is a quality content mill that pays decently. With Textbroker, you can also join writing teams and focus on direct order clients.

WriterAccess, on the other hand, pays around $30-$33 for 1100 words, but you'll need to complete a grammar test and pass a writing sample review to get started. UpWork and PeoplePerHour are more like freelance marketplaces, where you can set your own rates and work directly with clients.

Here are some platforms and marketplaces mentioned in the article:

Fiverr is a platform that's not necessarily a content mill, but it has a lot of writing work available.

You can set your rates and offer extra elements clients can pay you to include, like stock photos for the articles you write for a fee per image.

One downside is that I found I made more money per hour on Textbroker than on Fiverr, but that's because I didn't offer anything outside of pure content on Fiverr.

Fiverr has flexibility and the ability to deliver a unique experience to clients, making it a good option for writers who want to offer more than just content.

Here are some key facts about Fiverr:

If you're just starting out as a freelance writer, consider using content writing sites to gain experience and build your portfolio.

These sites can help you develop a good work ethic, which is crucial when working from home. It's all about finding a good rhythm for yourself that keeps you productive and making money.

During your peak, you'll discover your most productive times of the day, and with practice, you can streamline client interaction, create goals, and push hard for success.

Developing a good work ethic is crucial for success, especially when working from home. Working from home isn't as easy as it seems, and it's all about finding a good rhythm that keeps you productive and making money. You can develop these skills outside of a content mill, but these sites let you start off as a novice writer and field your own path while making money.

Working at Textbroker, I discovered when my most productive times of the day are, streamlined client interaction, created goals, and pushed hard for success. This helps you develop a good work ethic and stay motivated.

It's not just about being productive, but also about adapting to clients and learning to interact with a professional attitude across a spectrum of clientele. This will only improve your interactions when dealing with private customers later on.

Developing a good work ethic also means being willing to put in the effort to succeed. The harder you work, the more money you'll potentially make.

Finding a website with a blog that you'd like to write for is a great starting point. This approach allows you to hand-pick who you work with, which is a far more effective way to build a business.

You can find these websites on LinkedIn by searching for the company and connecting with an employee who works with the blog. This can lead to a conversation about working together.

This strategy is more effective than finding work on content mills, where you're competing with a huge number of other writers.

By focusing on quality leads, you can charge more for your services and build a long-term business.

Prioritize quality over quantity, and everything else will fall into place.

Here are five methods for sourcing high-quality leads:

This approach has helped the author build a six-figure business as a writer, with clients sticking with them long-term.