by Rena Sherwood

Created on: June 09, 2009

Demand Media includes Demand Studios, which offers many jobs for freelance writers. They own numerous websites, including eHow, Trails.com and Livestrong. Demand Studios claims to employ over 2,000 freelance writers but is always looking for more. Although it can be a lucrative client, Demand Studios is also a stressful client to work for. If you have a thick skin and do rely on just Demand Studios for income, then it can be a decent place to work for a freelance writer.

How It Works

The average pay-out for a 400 word article is $15 and a 150 - 250 word article is $5. They supply the titles. Although there is a feature where you can suggest titles, you get next to nothing in payment. There is also a list of articles that pay in revenue share only, which vary wildly in actual payment to you. Payment is weekly via PayPal.

You are expected to download Style Guides for each template that an article is listed as. These are similar for all of the templates. You are also expected to provide one non-copyrighted image and at least one website that can back up your article's claims. Some websites are not allowed to be sources, such as Wikipedia, About.com, Associated Content, HubPages or Helium.

How Articles Are Accepted

You have one week to submit the article. When submitted, the article is then thrown into the copy editor queue. Demand Studios also employs hundred of copy editors and a handful of their supervisors called the Editorial Team.

Here's where things get fun.

Whether your article is accepted depends entirely upon the whims of whatever copy editor gets a hold of your article. Although there are many copy editors who behave in a professional manner, some do not. They may bring personal agendas to your article. You are given one chance at rewriting to the copy editor's specifications. If the copy editor still does not like your article, it is rejected. You have no chance at getting that title back. Be sure to save a copy so you can try and see if a site like Helium or Associated Content will accept it.

You can write to the Editorial Team asking them to look at your article before you submit it for the final time, but keep in mind that they will always back up the copy editor and they cannot reverse an article rejection, even if the copy editor's facts were wrong, even if you have a master's degree in the subject you are writing about - the copy editor is always right.

Weighing The Options

Demand Studios is a good place to write for as a stepping stone in a freelance writer's career. But keep in mind that they are constantly in a state of change. About every two months, there will be a major change in the way they accept articles or in the amount of articles you are allowed to claim or changes to the style guides. These changes will not be announced. You have to follow any announcements from the Editorial Team on the Demand Studios forums.

If you go into Demand Studios and realize that this will be a high-stress job that unpredictably rejects articles for no reason but still accepts most of the articles submitted, then it's a good gig. But do not rely on Demand Studios to be a steady employer. Even while working there, always keep a look out for a better job.

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