Demand Media is an organization with many tentacles, one of which is Demand Media Studios, which used to be known simply as Demand Studios or DS. This is the arm that generates content for some of the dozens of websites owned by Demand Media. Beginning writers start off writing for eHow and the eHow mirror sites The Daily Puppy and Answerbag. You may get opportunities to write for other sites such as Trails.com, GolfLink or Livestrong.
This means that there is a lot of work available for self-disciplined, tenacious writers who have a really good grasp of modern English. If you have extensive experience in health, teaching, crafts, finances or cars, so much the better. But there are many topics available for a wide variety of comfort zones, although they may not be available every week.
The Pros
Demand Media Studios is the highest paying content website for most freelance writers. Similar websites such as About.com are often very hard to break into if you do not have a certain degree, are not a celebrity, a published author or an acknowledged expert in a particular field. Almost anyone with a working brain and working Internet connection can get hired by Demand Media Studios.
Because Demand Media Studios is so big, they are able to pay every week. This is a major advantage over most other content brokers that only pay once or twice a month. They pay via PayPal and usually PayPal does not charge a processing fee for Demand Media Studios payments, unlike for some other content broker websites.
The other major advantage of writing for DS is that you get a byline for work published on some of their sites, such as eHow or Livestrong. You can use links to these articles on applications to write for other content providers, online magazines or online businesses. They can make you look good.
The Cons
In the year 2008, Demand Media Studios went through some growing pains which continue to send aftershocks through the web content writing community. This happened again when they inisisted that all image be from their own malfunctioning Photo Library. Like any tentacled creature, Demand Media Studios constantly changes. They generally change their writer’s guidelines or editing policies about every six weeks. This can get a little annoying, to say the least. But, this is also a good training for having to deal with other clients.
Another problem — which many be a positive for some — is that writers have to write about the same topics again and again and again. This can become a major challenge about how to present the same material in a hundred different ways so no one gets accused of plagiarism.
Writers reside at the bottom of the pecking order. Above them are Content Editors and then the Editorial Team (which are always referred to in capital letters). If there is a conflict between a writer and a Content Editor, the Content Editor will always win. However, you are then allowed to take your completed but rejected article and offer it to another client.
Never rely on just one client when writing web content – even if that client pays as much as Demand Media Studios.
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Author has been a writer for Demand Media Studios since May, 2008
