by May Monten

Created on: October 06, 2010   Last Updated: November 07, 2010

Demand Studios (recently officially renamed "Demand Media Studios" to better emphasize the connection with its parent company, Demand Media) is one of the largest contractors of freelance writing. The company produces thousands of new articles every day, so it needs a large group of writers to create them. At the same time, Demand Media is trying to position itself as a provider of content that meets certain quality standards, so the company accepts only a fraction of its applicants.  To accomplish these somewhat contradictory things - having a large writer pool while rejecting many applicants - the company advertises extensively, insuring there will always be a large applicant pool.

* Applying to Demand Studios

Some content sites accept anyone who wants to write for them and ask for nothing more than an email address. Demand Studios, though, requires a formal application. You will need to submit a resume and writing sample. Be sure to highlight any work, volunteer, or hobby experience you have in areas that eHow covers. Tip: If you have any experience working with cars, do mention that, as auto writers always seem to be in great demand at DS.

There doesn't seem to be any clear pattern as to who DS accepts and who it doesn't. Some people with a lot of writing experience have been rejected, while others with less experience have been accepted. There's some speculation that DS is looking for different subject-matter expertise at different times, but that's only speculation.

* Sites that use Demand Studios content

Most of the articles written for Demand Studios end up on eHow. Demand Studios supplies content to many other sites though, some that it owns and others that it contracts with to provide material.  

When you are accepted at DS, you are automatically authorized to write for eHow. Writing for any of the other sites, which generally pay more, usually requires a separate acceptance, and often requires specific experience or credentials. For example, LiveStrong, a Demand-Media-owned site about health, currently requires a health care degree, work experience, or significant writing experience in relevant subjects.

* Working for Demand Studios

New DS writers start off on probation, and their first three articles are reviewed by editors assigned to evaluate and help newcomers.

Writers pick titles from a long list of titles generated by the DS secret-sauce algorithm. The writing is very structured - it's literally typed into boxes - and should follow the site's detailed guidelines. It should also follow AP style.  

After writers submit their articles, the articles are reviewed by CEs (stands for "copy editors" and/or "content editors"). The CEs can accept an article as is, or return it for revisions. If a writer does a rewrite, it goes back to the CE who can then only accept or reject it - the writer gets only one chance to do a rewrite.

* The future of Demand Media

At the time I wrote this article (early October, 2010), Demand Media had filed for an IPO (initial public offering), but no date had yet been set.  If DM does, in fact, go public, will that change anything for the writers? It's hard to say without a crystal ball, but it would be wise for writers to avoid putting all of their freelance eggs into the Demand Studios basket. Just as diversification minimizes risk in investing, so too does it minimize risk for freelancer writers who depend on their freelance income.

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