Ashley, I think that's a big part of it. People don't know what to do to move on to something better, and sometimes the ease of the content mill work discourages them from doing something they perceive to be more difficult (which isn't always the case). The information is out there. It's just a matter of those writers reaching the point where they're ready to put it to use and make changes.

Alicia, Thanks!

Amen, Paula. Amen.

Lori — Business.com was $200 per post. They worked out well in my case because the articles assigned to me ended up being very quick — less than an hour per post. And they were all approved by my editor as-delivered (from what you've told me before, I suspect you were working with a different editor).

A while back I noticed that they moved the content to their main site, but they stripped our bylines. Not happy about that.

Paula — That's a great example of how you can use lower paying assignments to land something better. Content mills don't usually work out that way. And even when they do, the progress tends to be slower. One piece with a widely respected publication or organization can do much more for a new writer, even if they aren't paid much for it.

I remember seeing listings for various content mills, but even at my most desperate I never fell prey because I earned my first clips writing features for a local newspaper that paid 10-cents per word. Within a few months I'd used those clips to break into some national markets. The clips from the local paper might not have the cachet of a major daily or even a regional glossy, but they were well written and published in a real newspaper that had been around for several decades.

You know how writers say they'd rather flip burgers than work for a content mill? If I were that eager to build clips I'd rather work for a reputable place that pays 10-cents a word (for more than most mills pay) than flip burgers or work for a content mill.

Cathy and Sharon, I've never gone that route. It was tempting when I was struggling, but I didn't go there. I took jobs that paid slightly more — those business.com blog articles that paid what? $100 -150? Not great, but just a little better.

I think the reason people go this way is it seems like an easy way to get clips. It is. But I get frustrated when they get used to heavy workloads and little cash. Worse, these kinds of clips get you little attention from more legitimate clients. Content mills have a horrific reputation with regard to accuracy, plagiarism, and saturation of bad content. Best to find something that pays a little more and has a legitimate client behind it.

Great segment, ladies.