Over the weekend I received an interesting newsletter update detailing Jenn Mattern’s latest blog post revealing the fact that Demand Media Studios’ “successful” business model is failing. It’s no surprise given the changes associated with Google Panda updates, and how similar content mills have been already affected. I hate that so many DS writers will now find themselves short a source of the income some have grown to rely on.
I’ve visited the topic of writers choosing to write for content mills before. From what I’d gathered from a few bloggers and community forums, many content mill writers simply wanted a way to earn an income working from home without the pressure of marketing. I worked with a California-based content mill when I first started freelancing. I took it on because I wanted secure, consistent income while I built up my client base. The workload was overwhelming with tight deadlines, and four months later all projects completely dried up. I learned that if I took on higher paying work, I didn’t need to work so many long days, and that I couldn’t afford not to market consistently if I wanted to maintain a steady income because the natural order of things in business is that clients will come and go.
Two things stood out about Jenn’s post: (1) she shared the news of Demand Media Studios’s failing business model honestly without putting down those who were affiliated with the company; (2) She was sympathetic to the plight of Demand Media Studios writers. She didn’t kick anyone while they were down, and she offered some real solutions (including some helpful links and books)which will be detailed in a week-long series dedicated to helping these blindsided writers create their own profitable freelance writing business model – she even offered to help the first five writers who contact her by posting information during the series relevant to their chosen specialty.
Part of why I’ve been so absent here is because I’ve been working on personal writing projects and reinventing my own freelance writing business. Yes, sometime reinvention is necessary. I wish all DS writers the best of luck in continuing and developing their freelance writing businesses, and I really look forward to following Jenn’s informative series this week.
