What do you need from your articles?

10th July 2012 | Posted in Content creation

I have just received such a depressing email.

It’s from someone I’ve been following for a couple of years, who really knows his stuff when it comes to SEO.

In this message, though, he’s promoting the use of an article writing firm that can deliver articles for as little as one dollar 50, and within the hour. On the firm’s web site, it states that writers can earn “as much as” 15 dollars per article.

Earning this little, how likely is it that the writers are going to have time to research their topic and craft their content? While my correspondent claims the articles are high quality and unique, how does that work? Would any self-respecting professional writer work for so low an income?

It doesn’t seem likely. I just dropped in on a conversation amongst writers on LinkedIn where one writer is commanding three hundred and fifty dollars per blog from a corporate customer. That’s not ripping the customer off. That’s providing a professional, high-quality service that is going to enhance the reputation of the client.

This is the difference. If all you want to do is push content out into the ether to up your search engine ratings, then I suppose it doesn’t matter whether the content boosts the credibility of your business. If, on the other hand, you want to show some thought leadership, understanding of your market and your customers, and share interesting ideas in a clear and intelligent way, then you need to be prepared to make a sensible investment in a good writer or editor.

Obviously I’m a little biased on the matter, as I make my living from copywriting. But certainly if you want the benefit of my expertise, you’re not going to get it for less than two dollars an hour. I’m better than that.

And meanwhile I’ve unsubscribed from my SEO man.