Summary

The author discusses the challenges and strategies of transitioning from writing quick, low-quality content to producing high-velocity, high-quality work in the freelance writing industry.

Abstract

The article delves into the author's personal journey into freelance writing, highlighting the tension between producing quick, low-paying content for content mills and aiming for high-velocity, quality writing that can command better rates. The author reflects on the necessity of building a portfolio quickly by taking on less desirable projects, the importance of SEO in such writings, and the struggle to maintain personal interest in varied topics. The piece underscores the importance of adapting to the demands of the freelance market while striving for excellence and efficiency in writing to secure better opportunities and establish oneself as a professional freelancer.

Opinions

The author acknowledges the reality of freelance writing where time equates to money and clients often expect content to be delivered yesterday.
There is a critical need for freelance writers to build a portfolio quickly, often resulting in accepting low-paying jobs initially.
The author expresses a personal dilemma between writing about topics of personal interest and the necessity of writing about subjects that are not intrinsically engaging to secure work.
The piece suggests that while quick content might be a necessary starting point, the ultimate goal should be to produce high-quality work at a rapid pace to succeed in the freelance writing industry.
The author emphasizes the importance of SEO in freelance writing, as companies expect content to perform well in search engine rankings.
The article conveys the author's determination to adapt and excel in writing about diverse topics to attract better-paying gigs and establish a successful freelance career.

Writing

Quick Content Or High Velocity Quality

Which One Are You Writing

This story today came to me in much the same fashion as how the rock band AC/DC developed their name. No, not from a sewing machine, a fan.

A high-velocity fan.

Sitting on my back patio this morning with a cup of coffee, waiting for the sun to show up, I stared at my surroundings, letting my brain wander around without adult supervision. That’s when I saw a fan we use when the weather gets torrid.

And I asked myself, “Self? do you write quick content, or do you write high-velocity quality?”

Yeah, I certainly get down in the weeds on questions I ask myself. But the thought came because of my shift to freelance work I’m now leaning into.

Those of us who freelance (I’m just now getting my feet wet) understand that time is most certainly money. If you’re lucky enough to have clients still, you know the client always wanted it yesterday.

Our job is to get it done quickly, manage to short deadlines, and continuously feed our backlog coffer with more opportunities.

For the start-up freelancers, much like me, we frequently have to cut our teeth on a content mill approach. While I don’t like the term “bottom feeders” all that much, I’m afraid when it comes to my initial freelance work, I definitely am. Many of us starting out don’t have large portfolios, so we certainly shouldn’t expect to get a higher-paying job even though we think we deserve it.

The proof is in the portfolio, as they say.

Well, maybe I just made that up, but it makes sense doesn’t it?

The trouble with jumping into the freelance pool without floaties is most of us have no portfolios at all. So, we have to take as many low paying “millwork” requests as we can to take up the slack and at the same time build our “street cred”.

For us, we need to pour out content rapid-fire; hit it hard, then grab the next low paying gig.

Most of the time, the companies seeking out writers like me have very little interaction with us aside from a “here’s what we’re looking for” email, and many times, they aren’t sure themselves what they’re actually looking for.

The trick is (and I’m learning this trial by fire) is that these companies (if you manage to even snag one — thanks COVID) have very small budgets set aside for this kind of advertising.

So if you think you can accept an offer paying .02 cents a word and fire back a copy containing five thousand words that will score you a cool hundred bucks guess what?

Ain’t going to happen.

Not only will the company take a hard pass and not pay you for all your hard work, but they’ll go with another writer who pretty much says the same d*mn thing you did, but with only five hundred words.

Just remember, your less is their more.

Another thing they do expect is whatever the writer produces, it needs to do a great SEO job and help whatever the company is promoting climb up the Google search ladder.

The mills (companies) don’t really care whether the writing itself is shallow or not. It just needs to be on time, it doesn’t need to be pretty, and it needs to get the job done.

What they’re looking for is quick content, low payout, and clickbaity, shallow written pieces designed to catch the viewer’s attention on Google and social media.

Yeah, to get my foot in the door, I’m having to shift my thinking a lot. And that brings me to my stubbornness. Why should I regale myself to churning out clickbait articles? Why not figure out a way to write high-velocity quality pieces?

Not an easy task, I’m discovering.

The first difficulty I’m running across is having to shift gears not so much about how I write, because I’m a reasonably fast writer, but the things I’m expected to write about. I often write about things that strike my whimsy, topics that interest me, or emotions I’m feeling at the moment.

You know, like when I’m happy I write happy sh*t? When I’m sad, I write sad sh*t?

Still. Writing a piece on baby food or automobiles or peel and stick picture frames isn’t really my cup of tea. From a familiarity perspective sure, I fed my children a jar or two of Gerber's when they were young. I drive an automobile from time to time, and I’ve hung a few coat hooks on the walls using peel and stick hooks.

But do I want to do a write-up on them?

Let me think about that for a minute.

Uh, no.

It’s a universal dilemma I tell you, at least for me it is.

But if I’m going to make it as a freelancer, I need to learn how to turn out high-velocity quality work on subjects that don’t necessarily interest me so much. I’m beginning to realize from a professional viewpoint it will not only get me the initial gigs but this mindset change will help me get better-paying offers coming in.

From what I can tell at this early stage of my freelancing career, whether it’s low pay, a no-pay, or a better paying writing gig, the deadlines are always pretty much the same.

Hey, we needed it yesterday.

In this world of fast and furious, I need to learn how to write at warp speed and make every word count but still continue to produce a quality piece of work.

Writing quick content might be the vehicle to put some initial coin in my pocket, but writing high-velocity quality is what’s going to pave my freelancing road in 10K gold plate.

Now, all I have to do is figure out how to get-er-done.

Thanks So Much For Reading

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