Demand Studios is the online publishing house owned by online content conglomerate Demand Media. Demand Studios is responsible for the content produced on a variety of well known websites, including eHow.com, Livestrong.com, GardenGuides.com, Answerbag.com, among others. The articles seen on these sites are created by a wealth of freelance writers, stay-at-home moms, aspiring journalists, and other writing enthusiasts.
Benefits of Writing for Demand Studios
The content network to which Demand Studios writers are published is vast, allowing for writers to have a byline at a variety of highly-trafficked websites. In addition, writers can choose from a list of thousands pre-determined titles or write a “how-to” article of their choice. In doing so, Demand Studios writers choose from an upfront payment typically ranging from $3-15, or to earn a share of the revenue the article earns over time.
Another benefit to writing for Demand Studios is that payments are made via PayPal twice each week. The appeal of receiving continuous payments is great for many writers who seek to make money right away, or need to earn cash quickly. However, writers for Demand Studios are considered independent contractors, and are therefore responsible for paying taxes on their earnings each year.
Demand Studios was one of the first online article mills to offer its writers the ability to get health insurance discounts, though the number of participants in the program varies depending on the source. The company also offers a $1000 grant each month to writers who have a specific goal or project in mind. Any Demand Studios writer can apply to participate in the grant.
The Drawbacks of Writing For Demand Studios
Among the chief complaints from Demand Studios writers is the lack of consistency in the editing process. When writers publish an article for Demand Studios, it is first reviewed by a copyeditor, who will make appropriate changes in style and grammar, and then approve the article for publishing. These editors can vary in their level of experience, though they do have to pass an editing test prior to accepting the job. Writers have long complained that the differences between editors makes it difficult to learn the exact style Demand Studios requires.
An additional drawback to writing for Demand Studios is that many of the pre-determined titles involve topics that require a hefty amount of research to complete the article according to the guidelines. While the research may exist, the additional time often means that writers are spending so much time researching that the payment for the article may only be as little as .01 cent per word, far below the minimum wage.
A final negative to writing for Demand Studios is that the write releases all of the rights to the material they create when Demand Studios accepts the article for one of their sites. This means that the writer has no say in how or where the article can be used, nor can they remove the article once it is published. Many professional writers prefer to license their articles instead, but retain the copyright to the material.
Overall, Demand Studios is a legitimate website that can be a reliable source of income for those who prefer to make money online writing, or working from home. It is also a website that will allow writers to learn how to write content for the web, and refine unique skills, such as writing with search engine optimization in mind. However, most writers prefer to use Demand Studios articles as a means to supplement any other income, and not as a full-time job.
Bill Ross's Tweets