Writing for Content Mills

Alyssa Ast
Every writer, no matter their professional experience, has an opinion about content mills. There are plenty of pro content mill writers and an equal amount of con content mill writers. Depending on who you ask will determine whether or not they would recommend choosing content mills to make an income. This pro/con debate will never end and both sides make valid arguments. But, just what are those arguments? Learn why you should and should not write for a content mill and then formulate your own opinion.

Pro Debate
Many people believe content mills are a great place to get your feet wet in the writing world. Many content mills require little to no experience and even the average Joe can jump in and test the waters of freelance writing. Writing for a content mill is a fast and easy way to learn the ropes of writing online.

Many people choose to write for content mills because they don't have to quit their day job in the process. The lack of strict deadlines that many content mills don't have, allow writers to contribute work in their own leisure. Allowing writers to contribute in their own free time can give them the opportunity to bring in a hefty amount of pocket change every month, even a full second income.

Other people choose to write for content mills because they can gradually climb up the freelance writing ladder of the content mill world to better paying sites. By gaining experience with the lower paying sites and accumulating skills in the process, writers can then begin to increase their income and skills level by climbing up the ladder to better gigs. This can often lead to better gigs that can allow a writer to leave content mills all together.

Using content mills to write is a great way to make contacts in the writing community. You can also promote your name quickly using content mills. Content mills often have strong forums for writers to connect with one another, share ideas, and gain insight in the profession.

Con Debate
Many writers are strongly opinionated when it comes to not writing for content mills. This is because many writers feel content mills can limit your earning potential as a writer, as well as limit the writers abilities to grow in the profession. Many argue content mills have no future and a writer for content mills will never move on to bigger and better things.

Others argue writers that work for content mills are under paid and under valued. Many argue to move away from content mills or your skills as a writer will be taken advantage of. Content mills often cap the earning potential of a writer to limit their success in the profession.

Other say content mills hire those that do not have writing skills up to par. The argument includes people with no writing skills what so ever are hired. This causes the writing community as a whole to look bad. Many think for this reason content mills should be banned or at least raise the requirements to include more talented writers.

Pro/Con Debates
The pro/con debates over content mills will probably end no time soon. Many feel it is perfectly ok to work for content mills to get their feet wet and then move on to bigger things. Others believe they should be avoided all together. While there is no correct answer whether or not to write for content mills, the only thing you can do is make your own educated choice. It doesn't hurt to at least try the content mill world if you are unsure. A well formulated decision is all you can do when joining the content mill debate.

Published by Alyssa Ast

Alyssa Ast is a freelance writer, journalist, and author of The Fundamentals of SEO for the Average Joe. Alyssa is the co-founder of the WM Network, which includes the WM Freelance Writer's Connection.  View profile

3 Comments

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  • J L Carey Jr3/3/2010

    I think they are a good place to get some stuff out there and begin making a name for yourself while trying to publish other larger pieces of work. They should be more selective though and there should be editors that screen the articles and check for mistakes. In this light, content mills have injured the credibility of the writing community.

  • Katri Marson2/18/2010

    I will hve to agree that many who write for content mills are under paid and under valued.

  • Eric Martin2/18/2010

    Some interesting points...A tangential question: Do content mills affect the major mainstream media sources online? Can we attribute the typo's on the NY Times website to a need to compete with blogs and content mills?

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