Why You Should Stay Away From Content Mills

Here is an excerpt from my e-book Work From Home: Freelance Writing.

Why You Should Stay Away From Content Mill

Though content mills can be a great way to start, most writers should try to get away from them as soon as they feel comfortable.

Here are many problems that writers who rely on content mills may experience.

Content mills may disappear. There have been a lot of talks online about the possibility that Google may soon find a way to screen content mill sites in their search engine results. If that happens, the entire industry, which sprung up to help with Google rankings, may disappear overnight.

These websites often go out of business on a regular basis. It can be hard to find a good content mill to write for because many go under before they even have a chance to be successful. Also, it is unfortunate because when this happens, they often take any promised income that they owe to their writers.

Writing for a content mill does not enhance your reputation. While some writers have been able to find better-paying assignments, it is not common. It is important that you know that many editors at quality publications won't look at any queries from anyone who offer clips from content mills. It could actually slam some doors on your future.

It does not teach you to report. Since you don't get paid much for each piece, you may only do some light research. It doesn't help you develop your ability to report and do research. This is necessary for most good-paying writing jobs.

You also don’t learn to develop your interviewing skills. You won’t be conducting any interviews when you are working at content mills. This will not help you get the practice that you need for higher-paying jobs.

It does not teach you to do research. Most good-paying writing assignments require extensive research. When you spend time writing for content mills, you do not have the time to focus on that aspect of the job.

It does not teach you how to do investigative reporting, so you can dig deeper into documents. You won't learn how to understand= and interpret complex information prior to writing. Copywriting can also demand a decent amount of research, as well as the ability to dive in deep on a topic.

Content mills do not give you the opportunity to nurture writer and editor relationships. The relationship between writers and editors is amazing. Many editors will take their writers under their wing. Their advice is invaluable, especially if they take the time to help you by showing you what you need to do to improve. The type of editing that is done at content mills is cursory at best, if there is any.

You won’t have to market your writing when you work exclusively at content mills. Though this is one of the perks of writing at content mills, you will need to learn how to market your writing if you want to succeed as a freelancer.

You need to go out and find the lucrative writing assignments. They are not going to just fall into your lap. Every week that you write for a content mill, is a week that you don't learn this critical skill.

If you dream of earning eight hundred to fifteen hundred dollars for a single article, mill writing will not gеt you thеrе. You will simply not make much money when you are stuck writing at content mills. Many pay less than a penny a word, which makes it hard to support yourself and your family on freelance writing at a content mill.

The goal at content mills is just to get articles written and written fast. You will have to produce article after article. The quality of your work is not as important as being able to write with speed. Though accuracy is important, if you are trying to make a living writing at content mills, you are going to have to write FAST!

Check it out here if you want to read more.