I have a saved search on Twitter for “freelance writer”. I do this to help me look for prospective clients. The other day, this tweet appeared in the results.
Why hire a freelance writer? Use TextBroker! Only $0.012/word for someone to write for you. textbroker.com/us/client-pric… #TheFutureIsNow
— Donald Allen (@DesignerDon) tweeted:
The tweet is advertising for what some people refer to as a content provider or a content mill. A content mill is a business that hires a large stable of writers and charges clients pennies per word for copy writing services or pennies . Google content mills and you will find that many of them have a bad reputation of pushing quantity over quality. Some have received a bad reputation because they have abused Google’s SEO algorithm to achieve higher page rank so badly, Google changed their algorithm.
In the world of the content mill, revision is a bad word. That’s not to say that writers shouldn’t proofread their work. In the case of the mills, having a client request a revision is a bad because it affects the turnaround time for the order. These kinds of companies want fast turnaround.
The tweet asks “Why hire a freelancer?”
I can give you a few reasons why you should.
“Revision” is not a dirty word in my lexicon. Any client should be wary of using any freelancer or service that thinks revision is a bad thing. Revision is a part of the writing process. Nobody produces a perfect first draft. Nobody.
I will revise my work. If I submit a finished job to you, and you have some changes you would like made, I will make them. If you are not happy with the finished product, I will fix it until you are happy. You will not pay for something you are not satisfied with.
I will never expect payment in full until the work is done and you, the client, are satisfied. While I do require a deposit to start a job, I will never expect you to pay in full for work not completed. Sites like Textbroker have their clients buy credits up front. The clients then use the credits when they submit an order. Under this system, the client is paying for work not yet completed. If the client rejects the work, the content provider still gets paid, and the writer still gets paid.
Would you pay for repairs to your car in full before the mechanic even drove your vehicle into the shop to fix it? Why should you do the same for your business copy.
An independent freelance writer is a better value for your money. A freelance writer who you can directly e-mail, phone or Skype and whose name you know is a better value for your money than taking a gamble on an anonymous username in a crowd for 1.2 cents per word. While it is important for any business to contain and control costs, it’s also important to get the most value out of the money you spend. Sure, you may be saving a lot of money by using one of these services, but are you really getting a good value if you have to rewrite that copy yourself, have to hire someone to redo it for you or you end up starting from scratch and hiring someone else?
Content Providers devalue the worth of the freelance writer. Like you do, I run a business. If you provide a product or a service, several factors go into the price you decide to charge. A business which only charges pennies per word devalues all freelance writers. As long as people will work for pennies, clients will expect to pay that much.
Imagine that one of your competitors charged pennies on the dollar for the same product or service you offer. What effect is that going to have on your business?
Here’s a little secret: people who write for the content mills are mainly doing this for extra pocket money. It is impossible to earn a living on what these sites pay. Some people claim it can be done, but it involves a lot of work and time for very little return.
Occasionally, a professional writer who is just starting out in freelancing will write for a content mill, but as soon as they learn that there is more money to be made freelancing on their own, they stop writing for these sites.
I’m a professional writer. I have a portfolio of published clips. I’ve written for magazines. I do this for a living. Magazines do not pay me 1.2 cents per word. If they paid such low rates, they would have a very difficult time attracting the talented freelancers.
An independent freelance writer is flexible. A professional writer will work with you if you have special requirements or budgetary concerns. Many freelance writers can tailor a package to suit your needs and work with your budget. When you hire a freelance writer, you are not stuck with one pricing model. Freelancers can charge an hourly rate, a per-word rate or a per project rate. The method I choose to charge depends on the size and scope of the project.
Many freelancers also offer discounts or rewards for loyal clients. In fact, I offer a 20% discount to new clients on their first order.
Your business communication, press releases, or company blog is what the public sees of you and your business. Shoddy work will cost you customers or turn away potential new customers. If you think you can’t afford a professional freelance writer, think again. Your business writing needs are much more valuable than 1.2 cents per word.
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