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3 Things No Freelance Writer Should Ever Do
Avoid these like your life depends on it
If you want to succeed as a freelance writer, these 3 things will kill your career faster than the worst recession you can imagine.
Don’t Write for Content Mills
How would you like to get paid $20 for a 1000-word article?
That might not be so bad if you can write, research, and edit the whole thing in an hour. What if it takes 3 hours? Then your hourly rate drops to $6.67.
You could make more money working for an hour at McDonald’s.
Content mills are attractive because they promise you work. It’s a bargain for the client because they get content cheap. Because the pay is low and the deadlines are short, filling space becomes the goal.
Content mills compete with more expensive freelancers. While you might worry about the price war that creates, serious clients know good writing is worth more.
You don’t need all the clients in the world. You just need enough to make a good living. One good client probably has friends she can refer you to. You’ll have to do more cold calling, but the rewards can be huge.