Comments on: Should You Write for Content Aggregators?

By: Tim Beyers

Tim Beyers — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:50:35 +0000

Hi Linda and all,

As promised, I wrote a follow-up blog post about a writing victory that traces back to the days when I was still posting to Helium. Find it here: http://timbeyers.com/2009/07/02/was-i-wrong-about-helium/

Low pay is a good reason to not write for content aggregators. But it’s the purpose behind the low pay — the risk-shifting — that’s far more insidious.

Thanks for keeping this thread alive,

Tim
The Social Writer – experimenting with social media, one word at a time

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:26:30 +0000

I really think these sites are damaging to writers who need to earn a decent living to survive (as is the trend towards unpaid “internships” of 6 months or more, which is prevalent here in the UK, even for some big publications). It’s hard enough trying to make it without being undermined by people working for really low pay and calling it journalism.

If you want an online presence, get a blog and write really good blog posts (like Linda and Diana do here).

By: Friday Link Love 6/12 | Brad’s Reader

Friday Link Love 6/12 | Brad’s Reader — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:10:43 +0000

[...] Should you write for content aggregators? [...]

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:50:05 +0000

p.s. meant to say: those who are pro-Helium appear to be hobbyists. Freedom to write on topics that interest you! Great, except writing is a trade, and you can’t pay the gas bill with “freedom to write”.

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:47:34 +0000

A handsome money, eh? Hmm. Methinks the comment above may be spam…

I think the word “churn” in your post says it all. And e-lance makes me want to cry, the rates are so scarily low.