Writing.skserver.org

By Michelle Strait

There’s a huge difference between good articles and good keyword articles. They really aren’t the same thing. If you can understand the differences, then you’ll understand why many internet marketers and webmasters expect writers to work so cheaply.

Does Keyword Density Trump Quality? I had a client who didn’t really care what I wrote. Keyword density was the top-priority. This was before I understood how keyword articles worked, and I spent hours polishing the articles to perfection. The client said the articles were professional and well-written, but didn’t contain enough keywords. The client put more keywords where he thought they belonged. I was horrified, and thought the articles were terrible. But the client was pleased. Turns out we had two completely different ideas about what made a good article. To most writers, articles should be of high-quality. Think of articles like those in consumer magazines or on websites like Salon. Good-quality articles require researching, writing, editing, rewriting, and proofreading. It can take days, or even weeks, to complete articles of this quality. So when writers are asked to provide 500-word articles for $4, most think the request is insane. On the other hand, internet marketers and webmasters usually don’t judge articles by the same high standards. Keyword articles are designed for search engines. Some keyword articles are truly terrible, and not fit to be read by anyone. But they’re also not created to win writing awards or critical acclaim. Keyword Articles Are Often Quickies Some writers who specialize in keyword articles say they need 30 minutes or less to complete a piece. I’ve never been that fast, but plenty of writers are. If an article takes little time to complete, then it’s really no big deal to sell it for pennies. It’s also a question of what can be done with the articles. A keyword article that sells for $8, and is resold 20 times at the same rate, makes a $168 profit. Not too bad for 30 minutes worth of work. The resale value of the article makes the $8 worth the time and effort. However, when a client requests exclusive rights to original content, they should pay a much higher fee. The article can’t be resold, so a fair price is necessary. I hope this article has shed some light on the current “cheap writing” trend. As a professional writer, it disturbs me to see writing skills devalued. But, I also realize that not all writing is created equal. Some articles are worth .25 cents per word, while others are worth .01 cents per word. It all depends on the writer’s skill, and the type of writing desired. Do you need articles for your website, newsletter, or ezine? Michelle Strait has more than 3-years of experience as a business writer. Contact her at http://www.michellestrait.com for expert writing assistance. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Strait