Is writing for content mills a great way to get experience, or selling your soul to the devil?

Should freelance writers use content mills like Textbrooker or Upwork? Popular opinion would dictate that you shouldn’t write for content mills because they undervalue you and the content writing industry as a whole. But I think they’re an excellent way for beginner writers to get started. You can learn them to use the basics of freelance writing with very flexible work options.

In this article, I’ll explain why so many writers seem to hate content mills. Then I’ll give some reasons why I think you should actually consider them if you’re just getting started as a freelance writer.

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The Hatred For Content Mills In The Writing Community

If you ask any writer group online about writing for Textbroker, Upwork, or any other content mill or freelance site like Fiverr, you’ll almost certainly be met with a resounding NO.

The internet is full of sob stories of writers who worked for pennies in content mills. And writers will tell you that by using these platforms, you’re not only underselling and undervaluing yourself, but also bringing down the writing industry as a whole.

If you dare to even ask questions about content mills on writing forums or subreddits, expect to be met with rude replies and downvotes!

But do content mills really deserve the bad reputation that writers give them?

Honestly, I wonder how much the content mill haters out there really make from their own writing.

There’s certainly a vocal minority out there who claim that they won’t work for anything less than $0.25 per word and that their craft must be protected. But do these people actually get any consistent work, or are they just internet trolls? When I see these posts around the internet, they just seem totally out of touch with reality.

Should You Write For Content Mills?

As you might guess, I don’t necessarily buy into the doom and gloom of holier-than-thou writers who think that writing for content mills is literally selling your soul.

Dare I say, writing for content mills may actually be a reasonable option for beginner freelance writers who are just starting out!

Sure, you’re probably going to start off making minimum wage. Or realistically, even a bit less. On most platforms you need to prove yourself to increase your ranking and ability to take on higher-paying jobs. Part of it will also just be that you’re new, inexperienced, and slow at writing.

For me, writing for content mills isn’t about the money. If you’re able to make about $100 per week from them, I think you’re doing pretty good.

But you have to start somewhere, and I think content mills are a great place to pay your dues and gain valuable experience. Without the risk of annoying real potential clients before you have a grasp of what it means to be a content writer.

Eventually you’ll want to set up your own website. See my article Do Beginner Freelance Writers Need A Website? for details.

Reasons Content Mills Could Be Worth Your Time

Here are some reasons why I think you should give content mills a try if you’re just starting out.

Are they a great long-term solution for writers? Probably not.

Is it a good way to get started? In my opinion, yes.

Content Mills Teach You The Basics

When you’re just starting out as a freelance writer and testing to see if it’s the career for you, there’s a lot that you don’t know. If you’ve been writing for even a year or two, you probably take for granted all of the things that you’ve had to learn along the way.

What the heck are H1 / H2 / H3 headers?

What is SEO? And how do I organically incorporate keywords into my writing?

How do I communicate with clients in a professional and persuasive way?

What kind of work gets approved or rejected?

These are all things that you’ll pick up while working for content mills. Often these platforms have articles and resources to teach you the basics. And clients are very explicit about exactly what they want in their job postings.

In the real world, clients are often less explicit and there’s an understanding about the minimum kinds of things that any good freelance writer should just know to provide.

You Don’t Have To Find Your Own Clients

One of the most time-consuming and nerve-wracking things freelance writers have to do is find their own clients. You really have to hustle, apply to tons of jobs from job boards, and cold pitch all kinds of places to land a job for yourself.

With content mills, you have to spend zero time finding clients. You just log in, and there are jobs available for you. If you like the sound of them, you just accept and start working.

You Can Work When You Feel Like It

Another great thing about the “pick up and go” model of content mills is that you choose what work you want to do, and when you want to do it.

You don’t have to take on any assignment if you don’t feel like it.

If you don’t want to do any writing at all one week, that’s fine. And similarly, other weeks you might want to take on as much work as you can handle.

Content mills don’t come with any long-term commitments, so you can write around your schedule when you feel like it.

Getting started as a writer is hard. Read my article How To Overcome Fear and Self-Doubt As A Freelance Writer for some helpful advice.

The Pay is More Secure

When you work for content mills, as long as you do the work to specifications, you’re almost always going to get paid.

Usually clients have to pay in advance when they post the job, so the content mill already has the money. Then they just release your portion once your work gets approved.

If a client does reject your work, you usually get it back and get a chance to fix it.

Most of these websites also show exactly how much you’ve written as you go. Each word you type updates to see what you’ve earned so far. So you know exactly how much you’ll get paid.

If you are able to accurately estimate how long it takes you to write a certain project, it’s easy for you to figure out if the rate is worth it for you or not.

You don’t have to play games with clients and try to guess what rate they are expecting. There’s no negotiating or bidding. You know what you’re getting up front.

At least with Textbroker, I’ve never had any payment issues either. All you have to do is hit the $10 minimum payout and get your request in before a specific day, and you’ll consistently get your pay next week.

Conclusion

Content mills seem to be almost universally hated by writers online. But I think some of their issues with these platforms is a bit unfounded.

I think some of those writers have to say nasty things about content mills to convince themselves, otherwise they’d have to go work for them!

I actually think content mills like Textbroker and Upwork can be a great way for brand new writers to learn their craft. It will teach you the ins and outs of freelance writing without having to burn bridges with real clients.

It also provides a steady flow of work and flexible options that you won’t get when you start cold pitching your own clients.

I think content mills are a stepping stone, and I don’t expect any good freelance writer to stick with them in the long term. But they’re definitely a great resource for getting started and seeing if writing content is something you’re really interested in as a career.