Why You Won't Find Me Copywriting on Fiverr & Content Mills

‘Oh, you’re a freelance copywriter? Why don’t you use Fiverr or Upwork to find more clients?’

HAHAHAHAHAHNO.

Content mills might sound like a simple way of marketing your copywriting services, but… the reality? It’s usually darker than a Twin Peaks episode.

What’s a content mill?

A content mill (or a writers’ mill) is a website or platform where clients can choose among the services of tons of different writers, marketers, and content creators at extremely low rates.

The sweatshops of the freelancing world, basically.

Some of the most famous content mills are Fiverr and Upwork, but there are now lots of different ones, too.

‘Wait, so tonsof businesses can find your copywriter profile on these content mills? Sounds a lot better than hustling to find new clients every day, doesn’t it?’

HAHAHAHAHAHNO. 

8 reasons why you won’t find my copywriting services on content mills

As you’ve probably figured out by now, I have my own copywriting website that my potential clients can find via search engines. 

I also use LinkedIn and Pinterest to generate leads, and word of mouth comes into play when I least expect it. 

Finally, I occasionally send cold emails with a personalised pitch to companies that I’d loooooove to collaborate with.

When I put it like that, it sounds like a lot of hard work, right? 

Well, wait until you hear about content mills for copywriters.

Here’s why I don’t use them. Or, better: why I stopped copywriting on Fiverr and similar platforms years ago.

1. I tried using content mills for my copywriting services and had HORRIBLE experiences

I’m not an angry hipster who slags off mainstream platforms without even giving them a go. 

Sadly, I have tried using Fiverr and People per Hour (but you don’t have to! Be the angry hipster instead).

While I found the latter to be only slightly better than the platform whose name literally suggests that a project can cost you £5, I still packed my bags and never looked back.

Why? Because of the following reasons.

2. Their system isn’t built to favour and help freelancers

Some aspects can vary depending on which platform you use, but here’s how it works on most content mills:

• You build a profile with a portfolio 

• You create some specific offers that other people can find (e.g. ‘I will write a 1000 word blog post in one day for £145’)

• You look for gigs that are advertised by other people or businesses (e.g. ‘I need a blog writer for 5 articles’) 

• You send them pitches

• If they choose you amongst all the other freelancers who’ve applied, you get to start working with them

In reality, this means that you spend more time applying for gigs and negotiating with people than actually… you know, doing the writing.

You’ll also receive a rating or review by your buyers after completing the project, but you can’t leave them a review until after they’ve given you one (and you can’t see it before writing yours. Cheeky).

While this might sound fair, keep in mind that I’ve heard lots of horror stories of clients asking for free work on top of what had already been agreed upon and threatening to leave a bad review if not delivered.

For real.

And, when freelancers complained or asked for help on these platforms, customer service has usually been favouring the clients instead. 

After all, they’re the ones who bring them business.

3. The prices are unrealistic and plain ridiculous

Content mills are full of gigs like:

• 1000-word blog posts for £10

• 500-word website page for £20

This is ridiculous and unsustainable.

Let’s take the second one as an example.

‘500 words? That should only take you half an hour to write!’

HAHAHAHAHAHNO.

If you want me to churn out a few pretty words, then yes: I can probably do that in half an hour (which still doesn’t justify charging only £20, though).

But here’s what’s behind a website page when I work on it as a professional copywriter:

• Understanding your specific target audience

• Familiarising myself with your brand and tone of voice (or creating a new one for your startup)

• Researching your industry and competitors

• Performing keyword research

• Simplifying your entire message to find the right hook and call-to-action for your audience

• Writing the first draft

• Optimising it for SEO so that it can be found through Google and other search engines

• Editing it and taking UX into consideration

You most definitely cannot expect me to do ALL this for £20, now, can you?

4. The fees make it even worse 

As if the average prices weren’t bad enough, another reason why I avoid copywriting on Fiverr or Upwork is that these platforms also take a huge percentage of whatever we earn.

Usually, 20%.

Now, put this into perspective:

• We get paid £10 for a gig that requires HOURS to be completed

• The platform takes £2

• We pay taxes on whatever is left

• We get around £6 for that gig

How can we be expected to make a living out of something that, in many cases, ends up being even less than minimum wage? 

5. Content mills put speed and cheapness before value

From these ridiculous prices to the big clock that starts an anxiety-inducing countdown as soon as you accept a gig, it’s obvious: these content mills value fast and cheap work over quality and actual long-term results.

Businesses that use Fiverr or Upwork are literally comparing writers based on their prices and how fast they can churn out these words.

If you’ve been tempted to do the same, trust me: that’s not what will help you improve and grow your business!

Excellent copy takes time and requires skills.

6. Freelancing or copywriting on content mills is a one-way ticket to burnout town

Prices that equal to less than minimum wage, spending more time applying for gigs, fees… in one word (well, five), content mills are NOT sustainable.

Let’s say you’re happy to earn as little as £1000 per month.

Considering that these platforms take around 20% of your earnings, this means that you must work on around 120 x £10-projects per month… which usually require HOURS per gig.

And this quick maths doesn’t even take taxes, business expenses, and all the time you’ll spend bidding for gigs into account!

There’s no way you can keep this up without feeling burned out. 

To give you an example, here’s how an ‘Upwork success story’ went wrong.

7. They’re a massive problem for the copywriting industry 

Content Mills like Fiverr and Upwork are doing to freelancers what fast fashion companies like Primark have done to the clothing industry: making people think that a garment should only cost £5 without showing them the dangers and consequences of this mindset and system.

There’s no way I’d be part of this!

For example, what’s behind a £5 jumper?

Sweatshops, underpaid workers, polluting synthetic materials, and, because it’s not designed to last, waste, waste, waste.

Professional freelancers are your sustainable fashion alternative: yes, we cost a lot more than a £5 gig, but we are business owners who live with dignity (or try to, at least), we’ll provide you with a professional service that will help you generate more sales, and you’ll actually see tangible results and an excellent ROI.

Unlike your £5 gig that will require you to pay even more money to fix all the problems it’ll create, our copywriting services are a wise one-time investment.

8. Working with clients directly is MUCH better (for both)

Rather than pitching through those rigid platforms and using their chats, here’s what happens when you work with a copywriter (like me) directly:

• We agree on a REALISTIC deadline

• We sign a contract that protects both of us

• We keep track of everything in email threads and, whenever needed, have phone conversations to avoid potential misunderstandings

• I take the time to research your brand, industry, and competitors before even starting to type a single letter for your copywriting project

The moral of the story is: you won’t find me copywriting on content mills, but we can connect on LinkedIn, you can get free tips from me through my #StayCrafty updates, or you can hire me for a freelance copywriting project through my website.

You know… the one you’re on right now.

My two core services are website copywriting & blog writing for ambitious female entrepreneurs: unlike your average £5 gig, they’re an investment that will allow your business to generate more leads, convert them into sales, and actually stand out against your competitors. 

Let’s stop supporting these unsustainable sweatshops for freelancers!

More #crafty blog posts on this topic: