I Wrote for a Content Mill for 2 Months — I’ll Never Do It Again
I recommend beginner writers do it too. Hear me out!
2 years ago, I was a writer at a content mill.
When a writing gig came up, every writer on this platform tripped and slipped to get it. You’ll find plenty of writing platforms that pay writers, but this one was great. I had my first taste of getting paid for online writing. The pay was between $25 and $300, depending on the length of the posts. If you’re interested in writing on this platform, send me an email. They’re always hiring new writers.
But first, I highly recommend you read this story. You won’t regret it.
Here’s how it works
You log in to a dashboard, and if you’re lucky, you find dozens of writing gigs.
That doesn’t always happen, but let’s be optimistic. Then, you go through each gig; you read the clients’ inquiries; you find the pay, the niche, the word count, and the deadline. Once you find a job that fits your areas of interest and expertise, you click on a button to claim the task before another writer does.
That’s how you get work.
Once you claim a gig, you can’t “unclaim” it
The pressure’s on.
It would look unprofessional if you go back on your word, right? I’ve never done that. I’ve always respected deadlines. I don’t know what happens if you miss a deadline, but boy oh boy, the pressure attached to that “claim” button really makes you think long and hard before clicking. When you exceed the word count of a writing task, you can ask the client to approve a word count increase.
This part I liked.
There is a section on the dashboard used for contacting clients and asking questions. When you finish your work, you submit it, and Voila. You send a PayPal invoice and you get paid every 2 weeks. Or, last I’ve heard, they send you the money in your bank account, which is pretty awesome. And That’s it. That’s the complete process.
Now, let me tell you the things I disliked.
You’re basically a ghost
A nobody.
Sounds harsh, but it’s true. You get no credit because you’re a ghostwriter. When the client publishes your content, he attaches his name to it, not yours. Oh, and you can’t use that content anywhere else. Because legally it’s not yours. What this means is, building a writing portfolio is difficult. And as a beginner writer, you always need to stack up writing samples to showcase your skills and experience.
If you don’t have that, you’ll be far behind.
It’s hard to improve your writing skills
No one tells you anything.
You get no feedback on your work. You never know what you did wrong or right. It’s hard to improve in such circumstances. How can you fix what you’re not aware of? I wanted someone to pinpoint my mistakes. I’m okay with being criticized because that’s how I grow as a writer. Instead, I just kind of got a hint and hoped my guesses were correct.
Clients don’t always like everything you write for them.
So, if there is something missing, they’ll notify you and you’ll be asked for a rewrite. What no one tells you is that it’s bad for business. When the managers of the platform get wind of it, especially if it happens regularly, you get penalized, but you won’t know it. You just stop getting the same gigs on the dashboard as other writers.
This really sucks because the platform feels like it’s designed to make you fail.
Writing rules and guides
The managers don’t have time to review everyone’s work. Understandable.
So, they have writing guides, content, and guidelines for writers to read. But don’t think you won’t mess up just because you have these resources. I messed up, and it’s hard not to when you’re a beginner. It’s through mistakes that one learns best. You remember them. Writers should make mistakes.
Learning happens when mistakes are made.
You don’t know how your content will do
Writing a post for a client is like throwing an object into the sea.
In that, you’ll never see it again. It’ll go where it needs to go. You don’t know where. You don’t know how your posts will perform. Maybe they’ll go viral and people will engage with them. And if they do, you would like to know that, wouldn’t you? Well, unfortunately, you won’t. You’ve signed a contract that agrees to not having ownership. Yes, it sucks. You’re stripped of all your rights once you’re a writer there.
But you know what? This is all okay and I’ll tell you why.
Why everyone should experience content mills
Change of tone.
Content mills are good too. When you write for clients, you watch firsthand what businesses need. They are desperate for writers who have experience and who can bring them results. You gain experience, but as previously mentioned, the results are not shared with you.
But think about this for a second.
You know what types of content businesses want to make money: social media posts, landing pages, SEO blog posts, podcast interview transcripts, sales pages, long-form articles, etc. I presume you already know this. But when you’re in the midst of it, you learn the different niches that exist. With a little research, you can find your clients’ competition on Google (they give you a link to their sites).
It’s easier now because you know how they work and what they want.
You can use this new knowledge for your own good. For example, find clients in similar niches. Contact them and tell them about what you can do for them. If you’ve done it for their competition, that’ll certainly get their attention. Once you get a conversation going, you’re off to a good start.
Pitch 5–10 businesses in your preferred niche every week.
It’s a learning curve
That’s how I see it now.
You learn stuff and nothing you learn will ever go to waste. Don’t go in thinking you’re going to make a lot of money. You might, but if you’re just getting started, you need knowledge and experience. If you want to be an online writer and charge well for it, this route is a good place to start.
Learn what content businesses need to make money.
