When I started freelance writing a few years ago, writing for content mills was what you did. The problem was the rates were terrible. I’d make $15 an article if that. Needless to say, I’d have to work a lot just to pay the bills. Because of the low rates, those writing for content mills started to move on.
Fast forward a few years and I’ve had a full-circle moment. I had a new client reach out to me on Instagram and they used a content mill I wrote for many years ago as their content management system. As soon as I saw this I was like, “Oh they’re going to low ball me.”
That’s not what happened. In fact, they started offering me hundreds of dollars for just one piece.
I thought this must be a fluke but I went with it anyway. Sure enough, I completed the assignment as was paid a lot of money.
Still thinking there was something weird going on, I started Googling any new information I could find about writing for content mills.
To my surprise, a blog I’ve been following since the beginning of my career and one of the harshest critics of content mills I knew, had changed her tune! She too started getting offers for hundreds of dollars!
What’s going on here?
What I’m about to say is pure speculation, but here’s what I think is going on based on my experience of being a freelance writer and blogger since 2010.
- Large corporations are using content mills at third party platforms to find writers. Most of my large corporate clients have come to me in this way.
- Freelancing is no longer seen as something you do when you can’t find a job.
- Blogging is now a viable career.
- Certain niches, like finance and business, are throwing a lot of money into good content.
- Companies have gotten more comfortable with hiring freelancers.
The fact is there have been changes in the economy that could explain why suddenly you can make hundreds of dollars for one piece you found through a content mill.
Who can make money writing for content mills?
While you can now make good money online writing for content mills, I should mention that I think this is only possible for certain kinds of writers. The truth is there are still plenty of low ball offers on them.
Here are some of the types of writers who can benefit from writing for content mills:
- Seasoned and experienced writers.
- Writers who have proven to get a lot of engagement for clients.
- Bloggers who’ve established themselves as authorities in their fields.
- Writers who cover certain niches (some niches pay more than others).
- Writers with a solid portfolio of high-quality work.
If you’re not at this level yet, work toward getting there. Just because you can’t make this kind of money writing for content mills now doesn’t mean you won’t be able to do it later.
Have you tried writing for content mills? What has been your experience with them? Let us know in the comments.
