Yet another scam with content writing

Copyscape is not good enough

[SilverSpirit]

You order an article from a writer. You receive your article. At first glance, it appears very well written. You submit it it Copyscape Premium, which confirms that the article is totally original.

Don't stop there! Copyscape is not enough! Copy (by hand; not cut & paste) one 10-word phrase (preferably across 2 sentences) between quotes into Google's search box.

I did exactly that, guided by my investigator's flair :-) and I found out that my "writer" actually copied 2 entire pages of a book. The book is available on Google books, and is searchable through Google, but NOT through Copyscape.

[adamxcl]

Nice reminder that Copyscape is not the end all be all in this area. They don't cover everything out there. I wonder if they get into other kinds of files that are findable out there as well.

[topr8]

slightly OT, but may i ask what you paid for the article.

or rather not the exact amount, but would you expect to pay that for an original article, or was it cheap.

i can't imagine a professional writer would work for less than $400 a day.

[SilverSpirit]

$5

[topr8]

>> $5

well to be honest, do you expect an article that hasn't just been copied from somewhere for $5

[SilverSpirit]

Yes. I never spend more that 1 cent per word and my srticles are written by genuine writers. Occasionally, there is the odd crook...

[tangor]

One of those situations where you get what you pay for. Most top notch writers have a minimum fee up to "x" words, then might go pay by word rates after that. I warn all who submit articles or I order for hire that the work will be checked via copyscrape and other services. If there's a hit there will be no payment... I also do not pay "cash".

[graeme_p]

One cent per word is ludicrous. How much money do you think someone can make per day at that rate? DO you expect them to research and check facts or just put down whatever comes into their heads?

@tangor, what do you mean by "cash" in quotes? How do you pay?

[lucy24]

I never spend more that 1 cent per word and my srticles are written by genuine writers.

Where-- in China? South India?

One cent a word is what writers for the pulps got in the 1950's when they were just getting started. Maybe that's where you should be checking for your "genuine writers"' sources.

[tangor]

@tangor, what do you mean by "cash" in quotes? How do you pay?

Depends on the country. Valuta is tendered for product cleanly and verifably delivered. Sans second part there is no first part. Funds delivered via bank or payment transcenters. Never Actual Cash Hard Currency From One Fist To Another, so that if all terms are not met, can be withheld.

How do you pay?

[graeme_p]

I live in a low cost country. At one cent per word you would get a days wage for light manual work (e.g. cleaning) for every 500 works, the rate for heavy manual work for every 900. Just speaking English reasonably (let alone being able to write well in it) would get you much better pay.

@tangor, I have never paid for content, except as part of a long term contract. It is a possibility for a new site I am planning, Even for that I will probably be hiring people locally who will hopefully do lots more long term. I have thought of writing content in my field, but I am not sure how to market myself.

[StoutFiles]

I would imagine anyone that could write a well-written article would work for more than 1 cent per word. You get what you pay for.