My Rates are Too High

I was in a seminar a couple weeks ago and the presenter was talking about how he hired some guy to write three blog posts a week for him (for $6 each), and how his website hits were skyrocketing as a result.
But then, he said, Google changed its algorithm so that hit rate slowed down dramatically.

All that money wasted.

Mean Google.

I never figured out what percentage of his list converted. He couldn’t really say.

I crossed him off as a prospects. I can’t compete with $6 a post. Not even even 5x that.

Few, if any, of the writers who charge absurdly cheap rates are experts in the subject matter. It’s easy to go on Wikipedia and do some basic research to find generic information about anything.
And for $5-10 per post, why would anyone spend time crafting an engaging article?

Companies that hire these writers are not trying to present high-quality, original content.
They want to supply the search engines with a steady stream of  “fresh content with the right key words”, which we’ve all heard Google loves. Depending on one’s audience, this low-level information might be adequate.
If enough visitors take a small action, like buying an e-book, that’s money in the bank.

The problem is when trying to sell higher level products or services, this content delivery method falls short.
Dull, cursory articles may won’t intrigue someone looking for deeper information, and they may damage a company’s reputation. If you’re trying to position yourself as an expert in your field, be careful when hiring a writer.
One mistake in an article can derail your reputation – offline and online.

And then sometimes these articles just suck because they’re poorly written.
Bob Bly, brilliant copywriter and teacher, wrote recently:

“I stupidly hired a content farm
writer to write content for my chemistry web site at
www.mychemset.com.

In an article on careers in chemistry, she actually wrote
“People interested in a career in chemistry should study
chemistry.” Duh.

Unbelievably, she also wrote in the same article “Chemistry is a
good career for those who are fond of atoms.” I am not kidding.
This at least gave me a good laugh. ”

Beginning writers will usually charge less than market rates, but a professional will also do necessary research –
not just into the subject matter, but into your message, your market, and your voice. If you want to save money, try working with a new writer who’s building a portfolio. You’ll build a relationship, and you just might find yourself working with an up and coming Bob Bly.

CONCLUSION:

The #1 sin in writing is boring your audience.
Dull, generic articles may persuade a small section of your readership,
which could boost sales of low-priced offerings like e-books.
But if you’re trying to sell more sophisticated information, products, or services,
be careful not to insult your customers.