Outsourcing Article Writing

[logicfusion]

Hi

Can anyone recommend any sites they have / currently use in order to get outsourced article writers?

Initially I'd probably look to pay $5-$8 per article and looking for around 100 writing.

The one that springs to mind initially is Odesk. Are there any common scams to be aware of?

Cheers

Al

 

[logicfusion]

I guess an important part of this process is briefing your prospective writers on what it is you expect from them.

Perhaps a PDF detailing what I expect, keyword density and how to construct the anchor text. Additionally that I will be checking articles against CopyScape.

It shouldn't be hard to convey this information to someone, but non the less - it is something that needs to be nailed.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

http://thecontentauthority.com no need to look elsewhere

 

[logicfusion]

Ta, looks pretty good.

I'll give it a go.

Cheers
Al

 

[crosbtmrkt]

i got someone who i have used before and she is $5 per 500 word article pm me if you want me to put you in touch.

 

[JohnnyCash]

Just got 30 posts back at 3* level on Textbroker... I only looked at 2 of them and they were pretty bad. But cheap and cheerful and if people want to accept these turds onto their sites, who am I to argue .

edit - I think these were $4.10 each for about 250 words

 

[logicfusion]

I take it people do accept turds on their sites? I'm guessing here these aren't high profile blogs et al?

 

[JohnnyCash]

Just junk articles for junk blogs. Throw them a fiver by paypal to post it and they're delighted...

 

[IGM_Computers]

Surely if they produced garbage you could always go back and edit or. Or do they not allow you access? I'm new to this outsourcing articles!

 

[simonr]

If it's going onto your site, how could you not have edit rights? I don't think it's possible, unless you've not got admin rights to your own blog... and no one's that daft, are they!

Are they?

S

 

[IGM_Computers]

If it's going onto your site, how could you not have edit rights? I don't think it's possible, unless you've not got admin rights to your own blog... and no one's that daft, are they!

Are they?

S

What if the blog wasn't going to be on your site? I mean if it was hosted somewhere else like Blogger? Obviously you would want to safe guard yourself against things like this - I know I would!

 

[logicfusion]

we are on about other sites here guys, - for boasting backlink profiles.

 

[kristine2010]

I guess an important part of this process is briefing your prospective writers on what it is you expect from them.

Perhaps a PDF detailing what I expect, keyword density and how to construct the anchor text. Additionally that I will be checking articles against CopyScape.

It shouldn't be hard to convey this information to someone, but non the less - it is something that needs to be nailed.

totally agree.

should u get ur writers from Odesk, it is important that you are crystal clear with what you require and expect from them. and some serious content writers from Odesk are definitely aware of CopyScape (but it won't hurt to remind them again).

going at an $8 rate is very gracious of you. from what i gather the going rate is at $3 to $4 for 500-word articles. (but that's just hearsay. )

good luck with ur search!

 

[logicfusion]

totally agree.

going at an $8 rate is very gracious of you. from what i gather the going rate is at $3 to $4 for 500-word articles. (but that's just hearsay. )

good luck with ur search!

To be honest, this is something I am going to have to experiment with. I've had a couple of articles written by a guy from the A4U forum, which were okay quality wise. I've signed up with the content authority too. I figure I will get articles from various sources and at various 'technical levels' so I get a better understanding of quality and work out the most cost effective strategy.

I have no doubt the $4 articles get accepted on many blogs. Then again, I'm certain that some of the more prestigious sites will want a better quality article. I think they would be offended if I offered them up a turd on a plate.

Just a matter of getting stuck in and determining what does and doesn't work.

 

[SCArt]

Content/Articles have at least 3 different purposes (that I can think of) and so different levels of quality (in descending order):

1. Content/Articles for your own site (regular, new content)
2. Content for guest blogging (potential for high-quality links)
3. Content for general ink building (OK quality links)

Who writes for which purpose depends on your own abilities - if you can, write for your own site yourself and get that re-written (uniquely, of course) for guest blogging and general link-building

 

[Bill1954]

i got an email from Brad Callen yesterday, he has a new baby n the content writing market, it may be worth checking out.

http://www.iwriter.com

 

[MadWeb]

Hi
Initially I'd probably look to pay $5-$8 per article and looking for around 100 writing.

There are one or two good people on fiverr.com (you have to sift through the garbage) look for the British flags.
Or peopleperhour.com - I got 5 x 500 word articles from a UK resident for £20 on there.

 

[WebTrust]

I get 600 words for $2

Utter crap, but Google doesn't care.

 

[loubycee]

I'm astonished that you are willing to pay so little for what are probably spun articles, unless you can tell me any different of course

Do people think so little of their sites that they want to take on the afore mentioned sites to supply said 'turd' that was mentioned earlier?

Only referring to the first one mentioned, their rates are ridiculously low, does that not make anyone suspicious? And for a real 'writer' to get $2.80 for 450 wds (from their example). In my book thats about £3 an hour, you can't research properly for that nevermind write something, proof read it, tweak it and make sure its perfect for the client.

Forgive me, but it just surprised me all this about churning out cheap articles...

OP you didn't mention how many words you were willing to pay up to $8 for...

 

[logicfusion]

No one in their right mind is going to put the cheap articles on their main site.

Its going to be for submitting to external sites, with a link back. In that sense the quality doesn't really matter that much (maybe it does, depending on your morals!).

Just take a look at some of the top ranking competitive site backlink profiles.

As long as the copy passes CopyScape, its not going to be disregarded by Google. People are doing it for a reason.

 

[Mark_J]

How do you spot a spun article that has had more than the synonyms swapped around badly?

 

[loubycee]

No one in their right mind is going to put the cheap articles on their main site.

Its going to be for submitting to external sites, with a link back. In that sense the quality doesn't really matter that much (maybe it does, depending on your morals!).

Just take a look at some of the top ranking competitive site backlink profiles.

As long as the copy passes CopyScape, its not going to be disregarded by Google. People are doing it for a reason.

Hiya

I was going to thank you for that, and I will - you have some really great points there

I would just think it perfect that everyone builds the text that they (or someone else writes) on so that it reflects a good business acumen

For me, if I find a site or text that directs me to a site that is poorly written, it goes down in my own personal rank of what, or who, is best - if you are related to poor articles, marketing, copy, sales then what makes anyone trust you?

And in the words of a fellow ukbf member..... 'just saying...'

 

[logicfusion]

I think most people who are submitting such articles to third party are not doing so to gain traffic following the links.

I suspect people don't really care whether the particular third party site ranks. Indeed, I bet many hope the third party never ranks and just remains hidden away in the SERPS.

Its done, in mass in an effort to game Google's algorithm. By gaining more backlinks that point to the master site, it makes the master site more authoritive in Google's eyes (if done correctly).

You can add cheap, low quality/spun articles - on sites people aren't going to really visit that backlink to your main site, and that contribute to raising your rankings. Its not hard to see why someone would make a 'business decision' that this is a very cost effective tool.

At least thats my interpretation of it.

There will always be a place for quality article writers, - but on people's main sites!

The more I analyse some of the more popular sites, the more I see networks of blogs and article sites on Class C hosting (unique IP address per server). It appears everyone successful is at it.

Please, can someone correct me if I am being overly paranoid?

 

[Curious]

I recently paid 30 dollars for hundreds of articles to be 'written' and submitted to directories for a new site. Obviously spun articles automatically submitted. Site now ranks top 5 for the particular search term. I looked at a few of the articles and they're garbage, but they do their job. Wouldn't feel particularly happy doing this on a brand site, but to test and grab a bit of a serp it's fine.

I've also just paid 30dollars each for a bunch of articles, which I still think is cheap, for placements on various sites; where people will read them and they will need to be good to get placed.

It's horses for courses really.

 

[Reg AddKing]

Crap articles on crap sites are likely to 'die off' more quickly than good articles on good sites.

It's horses for courses. One trick is not to use submitted articles, on your own site, in any form. Otherwise you're competing against yourself.

 

[newsvend]

Then again, I'm certain that some of the more prestigious sites will want a better quality article. I think they would be offended if I offered them up a turd on a plate.

Too right. If you want top quality articles to enhance your reputation and authority, you MUST have them written by a highly educated, trained journalist. This will cost at least 10 x the figures quoted here, but I guarantee they will be worth it.

I compare it to the way Google looks at external links. You can get yourself 100 crappy links, but one great link will provide more SEO juice.

 

[loubycee]

Too right. If you want top quality articles to enhance your reputation and authority, you MUST have them written by a highly educated, trained journalist. This will cost at least 10 x the figures quoted here, but I guarantee they will be worth it.

I compare it to the way Google looks at external links. You can get yourself 100 crappy links, but one great link will provide more SEO juice.

Hiya, agreed that you need someone with experience and good ability to write for your site with knowledge of online marketing, seo & keyword research.

However, narrowing down to just selecting a Journalist I don't agree with.

More juice - here here!

 

[logicfusion]

Crap articles on crap sites are likely to 'die off' more quickly than good articles on good sites.

Ah, but what about crap articles on good sites that pass quality link juice?

I'm seeing such sites that have a good backlink profile, and not with hundreds of outbound links flying out everywhere. Yes the copy reads crappy, but these sites appear to be passing something through their linking.

Several of these sites from what I see are based on dropped domains. I can see they have used WBM to pull the old content and add it back again. In addition to the previous content, they have been supplemented with (on topic) lower quality articles. These sites seem to have preserved their previous links.

A lot of these sites I'm sure are owned by SEO companies themselves, with privacy guard on the domain.

Compared to a dodgy blog post that has 400 crappy "Thanks for sharing" back link comments, I know which option I would go for.

As I said, - every man and his dog appears to be gaming Google.

 

[trebor8]

Ah, but what about crap articles on good sites that pass quality link juice?
.

Why would you want one of your crap articles on a good site that passes quality link juice?

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Why would you want one of your crap articles on a good site that passes quality link juice?

To get quality link juice? I am guessing here of course

 

[trebor8]

To get quality link juice? I am guessing here of course

So you find a good website passing good quality link juice and all you can do is contribute, with a "crap article"

 

[loubycee]

To get quality link juice? I am guessing here of course

I think what was meant there was why put rubbish onto a site already full of 'link juice'

Correct me if I'm wrong Trebor

 

[OldWelshGuy]

So you find a good website passing good quality link juice and all you can do is contribute, with a "crap article"

Not at all, I arrange to write a unique ish article for it. I was simply answering what I thought was the question. oftentimes content ends up on sites that are quite good.

This is why we need to follow up on the initial work

 

[loubycee]

How do you spot a spun article that has had more than the synonyms swapped around badly?

if you put two articles side by side, you can spot a spun article by proof reading it properly

Perhaps unknown to the person that doesn't know how online copy should be written, but it can be pretty obvious when you find poor grammar, spelling errors, or even the way its laid out...

 

[logicfusion]

I think just to keep Google happy, to show fresh content is being added.

Perhaps also, to add a relevant article (still fitting with the overall theme) that will lend itself to a nice bit of anchor text relevant to your main site?

I think what was meant there was why put rubbish onto a site already full of 'link juice'

Correct me if I'm wrong Trebor

 

[DesignerNick]

if you put two articles side by side, you can spot a spun article by proof reading it properly

Perhaps unknown to the person that doesn't know how online copy should be written, but it can be pretty obvious when you find poor grammar, spelling errors, or even the way its laid out...

It doesn't matter too much for this sort of thing! It is possible if spun properly people can't tell

 

[logicfusion]

Isn't it better to develop a feeder site, which you control the outlinks on with no crappy blue bill or extender links?

Isn't it also better than spamming the net with worthless blog comments.

 

[trebor8]

Isn't it also better than spamming the net with worthless blog comments.

Instead spam the net with garbage articles

 

[logicfusion]

Point taken.

But how many 'controlled' feeder sites can I set up vs some kiddie firing off thousands of spam comments from ScrapeBox daily or forum profiles from Xrumer?

 

[Remote Resources]

No wonder then that internet is so full of sh*t on a mass scale. IMHO if you are a serious business and want to keep your reputation clean and professional, you need good quality, well researched and informative content on your site AND associated with your brand around the web.

Nothing is more disappointing than finding a poorly written, barely English article on one of these writing hubs that links back to a legitimate, supposedly professional business. I've seen such examples for companies that sell CORPORATE WRITING as their core business! What a reputation killer - few of your customers will realise or care that it's an SEO tool.

If you can't afford to produce good quality content (and you're looking at at least 5X the amount quoted here for decent content) then find other ways to grab serps. This rubbish will harm your business long term for short term 'link juice' gain. You will find it hard, in future, to track all the junk down and eradicate it and it will all be linked directly back to your business.