You may or may not have heard of the term content mill. In short, this is a website online that allows you to place a large number of orders for very little money. Writers, some from all over the world, can then work on your orders. You could end up with hundreds of posts written within the space of a weekend or a week at the most.
It sounds great, right?
Well, that’s where you might need to think again. While you could get quality writers (yes, some do exist on these sites), there are also a lot of bad ones that you need to work through. This will also depend on the content mill you choose.
Writers from All Over the World
Most of the content mills will have standards for writers, but some are more lax than others. You could end up with a writer from the other side of the world, who doesn’t really write English that well.
On the other hand, you could end up with an English-speaking writing who doesn’t have the best grasp of grammar and syntax. Or maybe one who is trying to get through so many articles in a day that the quality decreases.
Is your content really worth the money you’ve spent?
The Writers Are Paid Little
Remember that you’re not paying a lot in many cases. You could get a 500 word article for just a couple of dollars on some sites.
Shouldn’t that raise alarm bells?
Think about what the writers are earning. Not only are you contributing to slave wages for the writers, but you need to remember the saying “you get what you pay for.”
You really could do when it comes to content mills. Writers are trying to get through so much that quality is forgotten about. The aim is to make a specific minimum rate, and that can mean ruining your content.
If you really want the best quality, you need to consider paying the higher amounts.
Content Mills with Tiers
There are a few content mills that have tier systems. The best writers will be on the highest tiers, which can be great for you. But it will mean that you have to pay more.
For example, if you ordered from tier one, you could pay $2 for a 500 word article. If you opted for the highest tier, that 500 word article could cost you $15-$20. Is this within your budget?
Even then, you’re not guaranteed to get the best writer on the site.
No Personal Contact with the Writers
I’ve seen some blog owners complain about the lack of personal contact with the writers. You need to be very clear in the instructions you give, because that is the only time you can get in touch with a writer.
It not only adds risk to your order, but can remove some of the experience of working with freelance writers. I really like getting to know my clients, because it helps me create content that is in their voice. That is just so difficult with content mills.
Are you considering content mills to get your content written? While the price may make you happy, there are a lot of downsides to consider. It could be best just to hire a freelance blogger or writer directly for all your content needs.
Copyright Alexandria Ingham, 2014. All rights reserved.