One common complaint from a beginner freelance writer is how hard it can be to get started. While many people want to be a content writer, it can be hard to find your first freelance writing job. Enter the content mill, a great way to kick start your writing career.
Let’s be clear. This stuff isn’t Shakespeare. A content mill functions as a job board for content writing, providing a reliable writing platform for content marketing professionals to get basic articles. Job seekers can browse a list of freelance jobs which are often pre-funded by the potential client, so you don’t need to worry about marketing or payment. A simple way to launch your freelance writing career.
We will profile some writing sites below, a list of the best content mills. The good news is that there is something for everyone. We’re going to explore some of the pros and cons to make your search for your first writing assignment a little easier. This is your first step towards becoming a professional writer!
List of Content Mills
Text Broker
It is one of the largest content mills online and is great for individuals wanting to enter the writing space. You will be asked to submit in a sample which is used to grade your writing capabilities on a two to five-star scale. The rating determines your pay per word with the opportunity to increase your rating over time.
Pros
- If a client is unresponsive, your submitted article gets accepted after 4 days and you get paid
- Helps you learn writing skills
- Simple intuitive site
- Quick and reliable payments
Cons
- Dismally low pay
- Picky editors can affect your ratings and eventually your ability to earn more on the site
- You sell all your rights to your work, no opportunity to build your own portfolio
Accepting international writers: No
Recommended for: Anyone new to paid writing
iWriter
It is a good platform for individuals who want to start writing and make money as soon as possible. You will be required to fill up an application and submitting a 200-word sample. Your pay per word is determined by the rating you receive and you can improve your rating after you submit at least 25 articles.
Pros
- Start writing ASAP
- Tons of writing work available
Cons
- No writer protection since client can refuse your work without any reason
- Have payments schedule instead of instant withdrawal with a minimum of $20 balance to cash out
- Format and type articles in iWriter provided text area. Cannot copy and paste from MS word or other applications
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Writers wanting to start immediately
Content Authority
It is a decent place for entry-level writers to make quick money. The application process is simple as you are required to fill in a form with the necessary information and write a 150-word sample on a random topic. This helps determine which level you fall in and every level denotes a pay scale per word. Application forms are only reviewed when content authority needs writers.
Pros
- Quick payments
- Easy to use interface
- Good customer support through their forum
- Write whatever you want
Cons
- If you’re rejected three times, you will get kicked out from the site
- Comparatively low pay
- You can get demoted without prior warnings
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Entry level writers
Crowd Content
It is not one of the most widely known content mills, however a shout out needs to be given to crowd content for their “Performance rating system”. You can select any job you want and once delivered to the client, the client will give you a rating from 1 to 5. The system calculates your performance rating and your pay scale is adjusted accordingly.
Pros
- Twice a week payment schedule
- Pay is comparatively better than other content mills
Cons
- Many have reported issues with the editors on the platform
- No consistent work streams
Accepting international writers: Limited to only native English-speaking countries
Recommended for: Native writers looking for quick extra side income
Writer Access
Registering on this site is harder than other content mills out there. They require a resume, links to articles you have published and a link to your linkedin profile. You can either select a job from their extensive list or apply which allows you to get a chance of being selected from a pool of talented writers for a project the client lists.
Pros
- Good list of assignments
- Intuitive dashboard
- Can work offline and then copy paste into their dashboard
- Payments are reliable and scheduled every 2 weeks
Cons
- Tedious registration process
- Upto 2 weeks approval time after registration
- Ranking system can be strict
Accepting international writers: Limited to United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ireland, or New Zealand.
Recommended for: Native English writers looking for reliable work load
iNeedArticles
iNeedArticles is worth checking out due to its marketplace where you can upload your pre-written content and sell it for a price. The payout is decent compared to other content mills out there and they also take in international writers as part of their team. Just like other content mills out there, iNeedArticles also has a rating scale that determines how much you get paid per word. They have an extensive writing job lists ranging from simple articles and blogs to press releases and ebooks. The application process includes you clearing a test.
Pros
- Diversified group of writers on this platform
- Consistent flow of work
- Rejected articles require proper reasoning ensuring writers protection
Cons
- Some jobs may lack detailed guidelines
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Writers with an extensive writing portfolio of unused articles or writers specializing in press releases and eBooks
Writers Department
This is a bit different than other content mills interms of the jobs available. Writers department is a freelance writing platform for writers looking to work or help college students with their assignments and tasks. Upon registration, you are required to provide basic personal information, clear the tests and submit samples.
Pros
- Good amount of work available
Cons
- Lack of detailed guidelines for projects
- Low pay
- Lack of variety in writing jobs, mostly assignment based. Specialized topics with academic style
- Management and customer support issues
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Writers who enjoy academic style writing
Express Writers
The website is pretty decent and the application process is simple. You just need to provide your resume and experience details to apply as a writer. Individuals with higher degrees and professional experience are able to make more money on this site. It is one of the better content mills out there.
Pros
- Bonus program for writers
- Variety and consistency of jobs
- Timely and reliable pay
Cons
- Team room, their project management platform, needs to be improved
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Individuals with higher specialized degrees
PayPerContent
The terms and conditions are pretty decent for PayPerContent and the application process is pretty simple requiring you to submit a 300-word text according to the guidelines and topic provided. There are several payment tiers, as you improve you can earn more.
Pros
- Reliable payments, once every two weeks
- Consistent stream of work
- Perks and benefits for those who stay longer
Cons
- Editors can be really picky
- Starting pay rates could be low
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Writers looking for a long-term relationship
eZdia
It is very difficult to get approved with eZdia but it is considered to be one of the better content mills out there. You have to be on their waiting list which could be potentially large, however it is worth checking the site out.
Pros
- Comparatively great pay
- Flexible payment schedules
- Good managers
Cons
- Since it is growing, the changes in strategies or management can be an issue for some writers
- Writers might not get the growth they deserve due to many writers on the platform
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Writers with SEO skills
Constant Content
This site works a bit differently than the majority of the content mills out there. They allow writers to upload their writing pieces and set a price for it. However, it is recommended that you look at what kind of writing pieces are selling fast, so that you can write in those topics.
Pros
- Set your own prices
- Timely payouts
- Write on almost any topic, no restrictions
Cons
- Long review process
- Uncertainty on whether or not your work will sell
- Strict guidelines
- Editorial feedback might sometimes be vague
- High fees
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Writers with a lot of unused available written content
Contently
This platform has impressive list of clients looking to outsource writing projects. It is considered to be a high-end content mill and they also produce their own content. So there are two business models which creates more opportunities for freelance writers.
Pros
- Timely payments
- Great portfolio of clients
- Good pay
Cons
- Takes a long time for Editors to review writer’s portfolio and get back to them
- Painful editing process
- Communication system on the platform is weak
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Highly skilled writers
eByline
This site is more active than contently and allows freelancers to either wait for assignments to come to them or pitch blog post and story ideas. The best way to secure steady high paid jobs is through being active on the site with a strong portfolio and some great pitches.
Pros
- Great pay
- No fees or commission charged for freelancers
- Freelancers are able to work outside the platform with the same client
Cons
- Daunting application process
- Takes time to secure regular work
- Be paid on the client’s terms
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Established writers or journalists looking for a stable source of income
Skyword
Skyword allows their clients to use the platform to request, receive and post content and many clients have contracts with Skyword to find them writers and manage the relationship. The employees ay Skyword go through writer’s profiles, identify the best writer according to a client’s needs and invite the freelancer to be part of that client’s program.
Pros
- Great list of big-name clients
- Really good pay especially in niches like finance, business and technology
- Get good experience by working with different editors
Cons
- Editing quality can be inconsistent at times
- Expect to wait long before getting selected on the site
- Programs, projects and clients can end anytime
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Highly skilled writers with substantial portfolio
ClearVoice
It is considered to be a high-end content producer and allows freelancers to make money with their multiple business models. Freelancers can either get matched with clients depending on their niches or pitch article or content ideas to clients.
Pros
- Get paid upon job acceptance
- High pay projects
- Set your own rates
- Can communicate directly with clients
Cons
- Single payment method, PayPal
- Long waiting periods for getting work
Accepting international writers: Yes
Recommended for: Qualified and skilled writers
Tips and tricks to succeeding with content mills
Content mills are known for their low pay writing jobs and some might not even have a steady stream of work for you, all of this resulting in a low part time income. To get the most out of content mills you need to work smart. Here are some tips and tricks you can implement to succeed with content mills.
- Sign up with as many content mills as possible
- Select projects that are worth your time, don’t pick out every single project
- No need to write perfectly, you need to maximize the amount of work you put out in an hour to get to your preferred hourly rates
- Put your rejected work on other sites for sale
- Keep writing as much as you can, it will only make you better
- Don’t treat these content mills as a career part but treat it as a stepping stone
A dose of reality is critical. Sure, a lot of your writing is going into a content farm or being posted on someone’s social media account (5 seconds of fame on twitter). While this isn’t necessarily the highest use of your writing skill, look at it as valuable practice. It’s a bit like the band the Beetles – before they got their big hit, they played clubs for hours on end. Practice makes perfect. Writing websites take practice.
You’re learning how to manage freelance writing business. Truth be told, content mill writing requires a different approach that you’ve probably learned in college. An experienced writer knows how to balance speed with perfection – and match to the client. A content mill writer needs to go for speed. Get prospective client, provide writing sample, write the piece, submit accepted article. Get paid. Move on.
The good news is this experience in online writing from a freelance writing opportunity can give you the speed and writing fluency to work as a higher paid freelance copywriter, editor, or content strategist. While a copywriter needs to aim for quality, many guest post opportunities can be satisfied with content mill writing. More importantly, you also learn how to manage a prospective client, a crucial skill in your freelance career. So you’re actually getting a lot of useful experience from this freelance marketplace.
Final words
It can be difficult to make money online as a freelance writer and its even more difficult finding online writing jobs that pay good money. However, if you’re looking to make some extra money by the end of the week, a writing site is the way to go. They have substantial writing work on their portal that you can simply pick up without bidding on it and they also have flexible payment schedules. Remember, there are so many ways to make money writing online, so make content mills your stepping stone. Compile your portfolio and move on to something bigger in the future.
Other Resources:
- Hacking Freelance Writing – How To Increase Your Earnings
- Building A High Paying Grant Writing Business
- A Quick Look At The Publisher Side
- Becoming A Content Writer In India
Publishing & Copy Writing
- Building a Professional Website or Expert Blog
- Copywriting 101
- Nailing the Landing Page – A Guide For Copywriters
- Introduction to Affiliate Marketing
Client Hunting Tips
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