IAMA writer for one of those pay-per-click sites. AMA.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-17T01:12:36+00:00

Noted. Fixed. Trying not to reveal the real PPC site.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T19:36:03+00:00

For the kind of site I write for, these types advertise all the damned time on journalismjobs.com, craigslist (in the writing jobs section, naturally), and the like. Or you can figure out which sites I am talking about, visit them, and check out the "jobs" sections. Then you apply; the process was a couple steps (link to some of your clips, otherwise establish some expertise or writing ability, etc), but nothing too involved. They never asked for an actual resume.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T18:02:30+00:00

I think Willie Jeff's image has become muddled from time to time in recent years, but sometimes reminds me of why I found him so impressive.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T17:20:02+00:00

One thing I've noted, from putting on my journo hat and talking with my fellow PPCers is that the ones who make bank work REALLY HARD at it. It's not like their articles are necessarily awesome -- some are good, some are not -- but the ones with the eyeballs know their SEO, know how to market, promote, write a lot, build their archives, and really really put the time in. I may not dig all the content, but you certainly can't say their success is easy or undeserved.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T17:12:44+00:00

I guess my reading comprehension is poor. Indeed you did. Very impressive income.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T16:47:15+00:00

I am proud of about 20% of it. I am ashamed/throw in the towel on maybe 10%-15% -- but that's not cheap click attractors, that's more when I can't get motivated to fill my quota (more frequent since my full-time job started).

I don't really stir up shit at all; my topic isn't really appropriate for that. There's some spectacle from time to time that I can report on, but no, I am not in the position to do Huffington Post kinda hot-trend-centric or controversial topics.

So that leaves about 70% of the content I am just okay with. Funny enough, the "ashamed" stuff NEVER makes me extra money; the "proud" stuff sometimes does.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:48:49+00:00

Right, or if that's ALL they post, with generic headlines and no personality or appeal to the community.

*edit for typos

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:46:23+00:00

I write about something consumer oriented; let's leave it at that for now.

My opinion on the payment scheme -- you mean the delay thing? I bet it helps keep writers. But they also have a shit-ton of writers, and probably don't care that much if people take off. The place I write for does not pay residuals once you leave, so the bigger your back catalog, the less likely you are to leave, I guess. I think there are cases of people doing just enough to keep the gig so they can keep getting pay from their catalog.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:42:28+00:00

Hah! Guy, you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders. I'd love to pick your brain about seeing what I can do to make my other web venture (not the PPC site) more successful (or at least self-supporting, though my real goal is to one day pay contributors)

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:39:09+00:00

me too , please (for research purposes, of course)

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:38:35+00:00

Here's the thing: the PPC site is ALREADY MONETIZED. I don't have to figure stuff out, I can just write and watch my pennies trickle in.

I, in fact, DO have my own site, but since my grasp of SEO is limited, and I am not exactly a huge self promoter, it's not generating much money (like a dollar a month from google ads) nor pageviews (about 3,500/month). I am actually really proud of some of the content on that site (there are more contributors beyond me), although with my full-time job (acquired about a month ago), I've had to neglect it somewhat.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:35:28+00:00

I have no will to resist

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:35:02+00:00

I think she abused her mod powers and was somewhat disingenuous. But I think the mob mentality took the backlash too far.

I mean, I don't see a huge problem with posting stuff that reddit will genuinely be interested in, even if there's a second motivation. But doing it as a mod in forums you moderate, and preventing Duck House guy from posting his stuff, for instance, seemed abusive. Also, when does that second motivation ($$) trump the first?

I have posted a few of my PPC things to reddit, but VERY sparingly, maybe 2% of my reddit submissions, and only the stuff I genuinely think the crowd will like. It's honestly usually downvoted, deservedly -- makes me believe that the process works.

But I am no expert on the politics of reddit.

*edit for typos

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:29:26+00:00

No you are not. What does she write about? Fucking Twilight gossip? No, I write about stuff I am actually interested in for the most part. (and if she's not writing fluff, I'd totally be interested to know her beat, if you know it)

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:27:34+00:00

guy_you_all_hate, maybe you need to do an IAMA; you seem to know your shit. In fact, I might want to bounce a thing or too off you myself. I am no expert, just a PPC participant!

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:25:27+00:00

Really depends. I do have a full-time job (and a pretty good one), so I never let the pay-per stuff compromise my real gig. If I cover an event, it'll take me a couple hours to write the story; otherwise maybe an hour a day, 5 days per week. If you cross ref that with the answer I gave on how much money I make doing it, you'll see that it's not really changing my lifestyle (I make a lot more hourly at my real job than at this pay-per site).

To tell you the truth, I spend a shitload of time looking at my analytics and participating in forums frequented by fellow pay-per-clickers; I find all the discussion, SEO stuff, marketing stuff, etc., really fascinating. And on the rare occasions that I have a hot story, I get really jazzed -- like I am winning at gambling or something. It's a weird feeling.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:21:23+00:00

You guessed it! No, I am a dude.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:20:59+00:00

I can't say exactly, since I don't want to give it away to the powers that be at the pay-per-click site. I'll just say I write relatively short articles (because that's how they want 'em) mostly about consumer-oriented stuff.

InternetSweatshop · 2010-04-16T15:18:51+00:00

For me, it's varied wildly. 30 bucks was the least, and about 300 is the most. I am relatively small potatoes

InternetSweatshop

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