Opportunities in Freelance Writing Fading Fast for eHow Writers — Many Have Lost Their Sole Source of Income (How to Prevent This from Happening to You)
October 18, 2011
I was reading an issue of WebProNews.com last week (an e-zine I recommend that every freelancer read because it covers so well what goes on in the online world, eg, social media, SEO, e-publishing, etc.). The story that caught my eye was entitled, Demand Media Shifts from “Content Farm” Approach, Writers Lose Income Source.
The article basically detailed how eHow sought to clean up its act after the Google Panda update earlier this year. The site got hit pretty hard and took drastic measures to fix itself, which basically meant changing their content strategy. Of course, this affected the freelance writers who wrote for it.
Opportunities in Freelance Writing: The Old eHow Content Strategy
Many freelance writers had been able to make a full-time living writing for eHow (eg, $4000 per month). Part of it was because their revenue model was based on a pretty straightforward content strategy, as outlined in the above-referenced article, ie:
[The eHow content] strategy, mind you, was generally about writing assignments based on what people are searching for, and including numerous articles on the same topics, covering a variety of different title options. The strategy worked [well] for Google search visibility. No question about it.
Why I Wrote for eHow
I wrote 20 articles for eHow back in 2008. And I can tell you, it was some of the easiest, quickest money I’ve ever made as a freelance wrier. The articles only paid $15 each, but as they were about freelance writing (a subject I can write about in my sleep), it usually took me less than half an hour to write an article and upload it.
Note: Links to articles I wrote for eHow are provided in the linked-to article above, but some of the links no longer go to the content. I guess some of my articles were removed from the site during their post-Panda update.
Opportunities in Freelance Writing: The New eHow Content Strategy
Now, eHow has a new content strategy. And, it’s left many freelancers who wrote for the site out in the cold.
What is the new eHow content strategy? As best as can be judged from the moves they’ve made since getting hit by the big Panda, it seems to be less about “saturating the web with run of the mill content” and more about “diversifying its traffic sources” (ie, getting away from relying so heavily on Google).
What Does eHow’s New Content Strategy Mean for Its Freelance Writers?
Well, if you read the comments of Demand Media Shifts from “Content Farm” Approach, Writers Lose Income Source, it means fewer assignments — a lot fewer — almost overnight. Commenter Vicky Hunter wrote:
There were no articles available in the main eHow pool today for the first time ever. All but a few other specialty channels have been empty, as well. Demand’s thousands or writers are panicking on their forums. Crying, screaming, blaming, begging, fighting, pleading for help from fellow writers – even hinting at suicide. No matter what you think about them, you can’t help but feel some real pain for some of these writers.
I feel bad for the writers. Some were making $4,000+ a month, and many were able to keep families afloat during this bad economy – and now it’s all gone, like that – poof.
Did Demand Media Lie to Its eHow Freelance Writing Community?
That’s exactly what some have accused the company of. In a related article that came out just this past Saturday on WebPronews.com entitled, Demand Media Writers Offer Different Viewpoints of Assignment Reduction, one used-to-be-eHow freelance writer stated:
The writer tells us . . . they felt “they were being strung along, which is akin to lying.”
“They continually developed new writing categories (eHow Money [and] eHow Garden are examples) as the titles disappeared and the promises that they were providing a better writing experience for their freelance writers,” the writer tells us. . . . It’s almost as if all of the changes for ‘new writing opportunities’ were a coverup when they were actually taking away the writing opportunities at the same time.”
Lesson Freelance Writers Can Learn from Recent Happenings at eHow
I tried to post the following in the comments section of the first article mentioned above on WebProNews, but it wouldn’t take. And, that’s what inspired me to write this post. As a long-time freelance writer, my take is this . . .
The Secret to a Successful Freelance Writing Career
If there’s one thing many freelance writers need to learn it’s to treat freelancing like a “business,” for that’s what it is. And, smart business owners diversify.
I’ve been a freelance writer since 1993 and it took me years to take my freelance career seriously; ie, to treat it like a business. And, when I did, that’s when it started to pay off.
I advise freelance writers all the time to develop multiple revenue streams — never, ever depend on one (or a few clients); writing outlets; etc. for your living. You set yourself up for a downfall when stuff like what’s happened with eHow / Demand Studios happens.
And lest we forget — it’s their business; they can change the rules on a dime. While it may not be fair, it’s life; it’s business.
I hope this helps many freelance writers to take stock of their careers; ie, to diversify — whether it’s creating your own info products/ebooks to sell; building minisites for passive income; finding 10, 15 or more clients who can give you work; or creating e-seminars, etc.
If taken the right way, this can be a blessing in disguise — as I talked about in this post on writing for write-for-pay sites like eHow and HubPages.
If you haven’t started to diversify your income as a freelance writer, take stock and start to do so as soon as possible. The less you depend on one source as a freelancer, the better chance you have of having a long, successful freelance writing career.
What’s your take on the recent happenings at eHow/Demand Media? Were you affected by them? Have you ever written for them? Share in the comments section below.
Best,
Yuwanda
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15 Responses to “Opportunities in Freelance Writing Fading Fast for eHow Writers — Many Have Lost Their Sole Source of Income (How to Prevent This from Happening to You)”
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I used to write for Demand Studios a lot back in the day. At one point, they were pretty much my only client. They were great because they paid twice a week, every week and there were so many good titles. I check the title selection every week or so to see if they have added anything decent (some titles pay $25 each), but so far have seen nil in the past couple of months. The only people bitching on the forums are the ones who were too ignorant or lazy to send out resumes and find other companies. The rest of us have moved on.
Chris:
It was great while it lasted, no?
Many expect the gravy train to continue to last, and unfortunately, that just almost never happens. Glad to hear you moved on in time.
Diversity — it rocks for ensuring success! . . . and speaking of, continued success to you.
Once again thanks Yuwanda for keeping us well-informed. I think this is just sad, it is almost like trying to achieve the impossible. Nonetheless, I’ll keep on striving because I know it has to be possible based on the information you share. I’ve signed up with several sites like eHow and it just does not make sense for me to write for them and receive 1% of the profit. So yes you have to diversify. Nothing is a sure bet these days. That’s just my opinion.
You’re welcome Kathy.
And, getting a freelance writing career is not as hard as you may think; the countless success stories here prove that. BUT, you do have to stay consistent, which is where so many fall down. If this is a career you want though, you have to make time to do all the things necessary to make it happen (50% of them of which you’re probably not gonna like doing).
But, the end result, IMO, is soooo worth it.
See tomorrow’s success story on SeoWritingJobs.com of a freelance writer who got started with no website! She sat on the info she purchased for a while, then got tired of waiting to get a site done. Without a website, she’s still making a go of it. So, there’s more than one way to skin the freelance writing cat — if you’re determined!
Thanks for sharing.
I recently signed up with Demand Studios but haven’t written anything for them. I have other clients that pay me more with a lot less hassle. The writing guidelines at Demand seem quite strict, and it seems they want high-professional level writing for $15 a shot. In addition, when I went to the ‘business’ section, there were no articles about business at all – just a bunch of wrongly classified articles on building or mechanical work.
Basically, I wasn’t impressed, I have other clients that pay more for easier writing, and so I haven’t spent my time there. Sounds like I made a good choice!
Totally sounds like you did Anna. I tried — ONCE — to write articles for them under their new editorial guidelines (I was accepted as one of their writers). When I got the first rejection back, I didn’t even bother.
For $15/pop, it just wasn’t worth my time, so like you, I bolted.
And, there’s definitely more business out there, especially for SEO writers (which is the kind of content they want).
As I told the previous commentor, read tomorrow’s post on SeoWritingJobs.com. THere’s a new SEO writer — who’s just starting out with NO website — who’s getting $40/article.
So yeah, there’s plenty of work out there, but you have to be proactive in getting it.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
The recent Google Panda updates have really done a number on content farms like DS. I really hate that so many who relied on DS as a sole source of income are going through this. I think one big problem with content farms is they encourage an “employee mentality,” which is dangerous because you are NOT an employee, and they have no sense of loyalty towards the writers. Losing that one source of income can have devastating effects.
Better to treat the writing services you provide like a business and spend some time each day marketing to prospects and following up with existing clients. You can earn a higher wage, plus losing one client when you have 7-10 in rotation won’t affect your bottom line like losing your only income source.
Kimberly,
So good to see your face here! Hope the move and everything went smoothly and that you’re back in the swing of things.
You hit the nail on the head when you said “content farms encourage an employee mentality.” And, content farms aren’t the only ones. Unfortunately too many freelance writers get comfortable even when they have one or two “good” clients. They stop marketing as much and then they lose one, and voila, they’re right back to scrambling and panicking and struggling again.
It’s like starting a business all over again when you do this. It’s up to us to be smarter about how we run our freelance businesses, and basically that means to continually market, market, market to new prospects, while constantly thinking how we can upsell existing clients.
I know may who come to me for advice get tired of me saying this, but it’s true.
Thanks for dropping by. It’s always good to hear from you.
This is an important topic, Yuwanda. I’ve written for content farms in the past, so I really do empathize with what many of these writers are going through right now. It’s good that experienced writers, like you, are genuinely trying to HELP rather than get caught up in some of the more negative commentary I’ve seen covering this topic in the blogsphere.
Kimberly,
Thanks for the kudos. I too, wrote for content farms, so like you, I feel the writers’ pain.
And you can add your voice to the “experienced writers who are genuinely trying to HELP rather than get caught up in some of the more negative commentary on this issue.”
Every piece of insight that comes from those of us who’ve been doing this a while hopefully helps those who are less experienced see the light.
Boy, if only I had time for negativity!
If you Demand people have trouble finding decent paying work, you might want to consider that the Demand model brought all rates down. Ironical, isn’t it?
Star:
I disagree, as this story of an SEO writer who got to the $100+ article mark proves); as well as this one (another $100/article story); and this one (new writer gets $40/article) illustrate.
I think it’s more a case of many writers got comfortable at eHow / Demand and didn’t market for other work. There’s TONS of good-paying work out there. But, it ain’t gonna come to ya, ya gotta be proactive in going after it.
Thanks for sharing.
I absolutely love http://inkwelleditorial.com/opportunities-in-freelance-writing-at-ehow-post-panda
Any sympathy I could have had for the people in Demand Media who relied on it for the entirety of their income dissipated when I noticed that they don’t want to listen to reason. Perhaps it’s the fact they know that their competence is low, or the fact that they are too comfortable where they are. There’s a lot of reason, and I feel sympathy for only a select few.
Chris: You nailed it!
I only wanted to comment and say that I really liked reading your blog post here. It turned out totally informative and I also digg the way how you write!