Turned down for even the most ridiculous job, writing for a content farm

[Capitalocracy]

How sad is that? I can't help but thinking this is proof that my writing is terrible, although the email says "Due to the increased interest... the approval process has become quite competitive, and we have had to turn down many high-quality applicants."

I can't even get a job writing crap articles for pennies.

In case you're not familiar, this is what content farms are: http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2010/07/4-minute-roundup-the-problem-with-content-farms204.html

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. don't take it personally, probably got a flood of applicants

[Capitalocracy]

6. Could be the resume

No education. Maybe you have to go to college to write crappy articles for a dollar each these days.

[MineralMan]

2. You could try what I did. I looked at some of those content

farms, but couldn't bring myself to write for chump change. So, I created a web site offering my web content services, then started running a carefully written Craigs List ad. Within a week, I had my first contract to write the entire content for a startup website. The next week I made a connection with a web designer who needed someone to write content for small business websites. These were entire sites, not miscellaneous articles.

In a year, I was as busy as I wanted to be, and have gotten some new clients and a dozen complete sites from that first web designer.

Now, I'm very good at this, and have 25+ years of professional writing experience, so there is that, and I have lots of samples to show. But, if you have the chops, there's lots of work, writing content for entire sites. Most small business websites have abysmal content, so...

[customerserviceguy]

8. Mineral Man's right

In order to make anything out of your labor, you have to cut out the middleman, if you can. Think of it as being like working for a temp agency, they sell your labor for big bucks, they pay you small bucks, and out of the difference comes payroll taxes, overhead, and profit.

That's fine, if you have no ability to find a job on your own, but if you can sell yourself, you can eliminate that costly middleman.

[LiberalEsto]

3. Try this website

http://www.the-efa.org/

[Capitalocracy]

5. Do you use that? Is it worth the price of admission?

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Check your private messages

I know what they are - a LOT of SEO nonsense. You really have to pick through to find writers who aren't SEO Driven Drones if you want to create a solid online ezine. Having read your blog in your profile? You are much better than that! :pals:

[Capitalocracy]

7. Thanks, I needed some encouragement.

I've been feeling like nobody's interested in the content I create... I don't have too much self-esteem, but even so, I was starting to think maybe I'm one of those people that thinks what they produce is better than it actually is

[MineralMan]

10. That can be a problem, for sure.

I gave up writing content I want to write, except on my own web site. These days, I write entire websites for things like home heating and AC companies, real estate brokers, and duct cleaning outfits. I learn what I need to learn, and write content that will bring business into their doors.

I'm not writing to share my ideas, except here on DU and on my personal website. I'm writing to earn money. That means I'm selling a product, so I write the product the customer wants. I've been doing that for many, many years.

It works. It's hard work, but you can earn a living doing it if you're a decent writer, can work quickly, and can write what's needed.

[Subdivisions]

9. Was that Associated Content? n/t

[Capitalocracy]

11. No

No need to name it here