3 Lies Inside the Six-Figure Freelance Writing Claims

It was a retweeted article — “Wow, this writer really knows how to be that six-figure writer!”

Of course, I clicked. And of course, I read. And of course, I doubted. Why? Because it was once again touting how someone is making six figures through content-mill work.

And when I saw what the writer was charging, I knew someone wasn’t telling the whole story. So I went digging a little.

Sure enough, it’s another writer selling the how-to version of their six-figure income without actually saying out loud that those book sales, webinars, public speaking engagements and such that they’re selling to you, the freelance writer who’s buying, are part of the total.

Look, I’m all for people making as much money as they want in as many ways as they care to (legally, that is). I’m simply drawing the line well before it becomes blurred.

And the line is as blurry as hell — this writer says they are making all this money on Fiverr. Charging $100 a press release.

Seriously? Seriously. Um, seriously?

Why I loathe these types of articles:

They don’t show the entire picture.

So someone went from charging $15 to $100 and is now making well over $100K? Come on. I charge $300 per press release — it’s still tough work to get to my earnings goal. Something isn’t adding up. For this writer to make the money the article is touting, they would have to write 1,500 press releases per year. And not sleep.

For those who don’t know this, Fiverr is a website for customers to find cheap talent quickly in order to get their one-and-done projects completed. Oh sure, there are customers who regular users, but remember the first part of that last sentence — cheap talent.

I’ve not met anyone yet who has leveraged Fiverr to a six-figure existence. Nor have I heard from anyone how that site has made them rich at any income level. And I’m not speaking from any place of authority — I really have not checked out that site because I prefer a proactive marketing method. I’d rather reach out personally and develop a connection. So if you have used Fiverr and you have an experience like the writer in the article is claiming, I’m all ears.

But the point is, the writer never said in this article that books, courses, webinars and other paid products/services were part of the mix. The claim — including the claim on one of the book titles — is that this windfall came directly from Fiverr.

[bctt tweet=”Content mills will never, ever be the reason you make six figures as a #freelancer” username=”LoriWidmer”]

They reinforce bad habits.

Show me one writer who wouldn’t take the easy path and I’ll show you an empty room. We’re all guilty of wanting it to be easier. But show me a writer who would do so based on someone’s unfounded testimonial that it was actually easy and I’ll show you enough people to fill quite a few sizable states. We’re gullible because we want to believe there’s an easier way. And for many writers, that easier way is no more than a fast track to a rut they dig themselves into and believe they can’t get out of.

Look on any forum or social media site where writers hang out. There isn’t a single day that you won’t see at least one person bemoaning the “fact” that “there’s no work out there.” Well hell, from where you sit, waiting for the crumbs to be thrown your way, it would certainly appear that way, wouldn’t it? These are people who will never learn how to market or to build a relationship with a client. They do the job, cash the check, look for the next job on the job listings board….

They teach nothing.

Maybe because I feel responsible for what information I put out there (because I took those journalism ethics courses in college seriously) I feel it’s the writing community’s responsibility to give aid to our own by sticking with the facts. This blog is loaded with actionable information that any writer could apply today and see some difference in the near future. Why? Because I’m not selling anything. I’m sharing. There’s no other motive than to help stop the content mill madness.

These articles are there to make people think that all they have to do is fire up the laptop and watch it rain down money. But how? Touting someone’s success and using really, really vague language around how that person got to that point helps one person — the writer who’s about to make bank on the books and courses they sell. I’ve typed it so many times my fingers are sore, but it bears repeating — any time someone convinces you it’s easy to make six figures and that they can show you how for a price, that price is how they’re doing it.

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Look, I’m open for anyone to correct me on Fiverr. If you’ve had a similar or equally impressive experience, educate me. Please. Don’t credit Fiverr, though. If you’re not motivated to create a lucrative freelance writing career, it’s not coming to you piecemeal via Fiverr or any other job listings site. If you are motivated, well, you probably outgrew Fiverr within minutes anyway.

Either way, I’m eager to hear from you.

Writers, have you ever used Fiverr or any other type of content-generating site? What was your experience?