jenn.nu

Written on October 10 2009, and filed under General

Right now I’m at Panera Bread, and while my main focus while I’m here is to take advantage of the kid-free atmosphere to get some work done, I decided to take a quick break and check on moderated comments and recent searches on jenn.nu. And what a coincidence, someone searched for Demand Studios! Well, here’s my take on Demand Studios: I love them. Unlike the arrangement with two of my clients and one of the sponsored post companies I work for, I do work at my convenience and leisure. And unlike my three clients and all of the sponsored post companies I work for, there is always work available.

I have been writing articles for Demand Studios for two and a half weeks, and in that time frame I have already been paid over $700. As I type this I have four articles that I’ll be paid for on Tuesday night, two waiting to be approved and two more that I have reserved.

What I like about Demand Studios, besides the convenience and constant availability of work, is the huge variety of topics available. There are apparently three pay rates for articles — $5.00 (I haven’t seen any articles for that rate, but I’m assuming they’re there), $7.50 (fact sheets) and $15.00. I’ve done a few fact sheets just to get to learn the basics, but I primarily focus on $15.00 articles only, even if the subject matter isn’t quite as appetizing.

Writing articles for Demand Studios took a bit of getting used to, for the simply fact that I am very used to writing personalized blog entries or SEO content. Now I’m getting into the swing of writing appealing content that will actually be published on article websites and read by human visitors. There are specific requirements for the various types of articles that can be written, including word count (400-500 seems to be the average), overview sections and sub-sections, and references must be accurate, unbiased and non-competitors of the sites DS articles are posted on.

Here’s how the process goes with Demand Studios:

Check out what assignments are available, and claim (reserve) up to ten.
Write the article. I generally pull up multiple websites on my article’s subject, do some reading, and then compose my article.
Include references and resources, then submit the article for approval.
Pray that the article is approved with no re-writes. Not that re-writes are necessarily bad; they’re just annoying, and it’s a bit of a downer to be hit with the you suck! stick.

Articles that are submitted and approved by 11:59pm PST Sunday nights are paid out on Tuesdays.
Articles that are submitted and approved by 11:59pm PST Tuesday nights are paid out on Fridays.

Overall, I’m going to say that I am very happy with Demand Studios. I admit that I’ve had to revise probably 30% of the articles I have submitted so far, but most revisions were due to correcting a reference, specifically citing a source, or dealing with nitpicky editors (I had two articles in a row that were sent back for rewrites for contradictory reasons!).

Tags: work

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, on October 10 2009 at 7:53pm:

Glad to know that you’ve found another legit opp to make money.

, on October 10 2009 at 8:28pm:

I would love to write for them but don’t think I have what it takes.

, on October 10 2009 at 8:32pm:

I just started writing for Demand Studios recently as well! I’ve been with them for about a month. And I do have to agree, the wide availability of topics as well as the time conveniences are incredibly nice and suits my current lifestyle. Although I haven’t been quite as productive as you have; I’ve only published and been paid for two articles so far. But that’s mostly because I’m still busy with schoolwork and I consider it a very part-time job.

, on October 10 2009 at 8:52pm:

Do you need to have any experience to work for Demand Studios?? I feel like I could totally do this! How long does it take you to finish one article?

, on October 10 2009 at 5:25am:

Well done I’m going to get my husband to do these as I doubt I would be that good

, on October 10 2009 at 9:24am:

The fact sheets at DS used to be $5, but they bumped them up to $7.50 a couple months ago, and I haven’t seen anything for $5 since then. I am glad you are still enjoying the gig…and yes, the editors can be a little too picky at times!

, on October 10 2009 at 11:11am:

I looked it over just to see cause I figured if I didn’t have what it takes then they just wouldn’t approve me. Then I saw the resume part and was like “No way!” I’m not that good at writing resumes for myself. I have written them for family members before no problem but for myself . . . I just don’t know what to put.

, on October 10 2009 at 9:35pm:

I really really really need to get going with demand studios,especially since i had to drove into my emergency cash to half pay for this new computer. UGH~!!! i tried a couple of weeks ago but it had been so long since i wrote anything, it was like a mess. i’m gonna try again though. now i HAVE to try!!

, on October 10 2009 at 9:36pm:

the comment above was me. i need sleep. i put @yahoo.com instead of @gmail.com lol
<3 u girl!

, on October 10 2009 at 5:50pm:

Well, I’m going to bite the bullet and apply at demand studios. I just have a question for you Jenn since you are all ready a writer there. When I submit a writing sample should it be something personal (like a blog post I wrote about my family) or something more education like a how to article?

, on October 10 2009 at 11:47pm:

@Manda: I wrote a quick tidbit on eHow as my example. I think it should be something professional. My friend applied with a creative writing sample and was not accepted.

, on October 10 2009 at 1:37am:

I think it’s really awesome of you for being so candid and honest about the companies/websites that you use for paid writing work And that’s *really* awesome, how much you’ve been paid in such a short amount of time. Just curious, does Demand Studios provide you with tax forms at the end of the year for you to file taxes on your income, or do you file it as ‘self employment’ instead? (I’m not familiar with the US tax system, so just thought I’d ask.)