Recent sales

A place where authors can exchange ideas or thoughts. Talk about what categories are hot and which ones are not.

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jak

Recent sales

Post by jak »

I see that there have been a lot of sales of ridiculously cheap articles in the last couple of days, and no pattern in the topics. Am I right in assuming that someone is buying in bulk whatever bargains they can pick up?

As we only see the last 25, I'm finding it hard to judge the normal buying trends.
jak

Post by jak »

Same thing has happened today!
JD
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Post by JD »

Yes, the $2 buyer strikes again :) Looks like a lot of those articles are being bought (and, as you say, it's a ridiculously low price).
Ed
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Post by Ed »

There aren't any fast-and-true trends, really. Some customers buy because of price, others because they are looking for articles on a particular topic.

My guess is that a lot of these lower-priced articles have been sitting around awhile, and the authors have reduced the usage price to see if it will attract some buyers and quick cash. The authors may not even be active on CC right now.

Don't worry - there are still articles going for $100+ dollars. ;)

Ed
jak

Post by jak »

They're really splashing out now. $3 a go.
J. A. Young
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Post by J. A. Young »

I find a page's worth of 25 articles selling for $3. particularly depressing.....unless, of course, one only has to worry about coming up with dough for quarter beer night on the weekends at some random college campus. :lol:

I just don't like how this translates to other customers. Although I think it's just a momentary fluke that only occurs from time to time, if it continues, it may be worth *considering* only those sales that reach a higher payment threshold--say $10. or something. Any thoughts? --JA
J. A. Young
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Post by J. A. Young »

Will someone please tell me to shut up!!! Apparently I sold a use over night for $4. How the blankety-blank did I let that happen.....tail between legs......going over all my pricing today! :oops: --JA
JD
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Post by JD »

J.A., I agree with you in a way. However, when I took a looked at one of the articles that had sold the other day for $2 for usage, it was a short article and I got the impression that it might have been written by a college student -- maybe as part of a project he or she is working on. So maybe they're just capitalizing on the situation. (I also failed to spot one apostrophe in their article, too, but that's another matter -- or maybe it's not :wink: ) I think there are a number of reasons why authors price their work very low, and although I think a true bargain is very hard to come by, maybe some customers are getting just that.

I don't worry too much about how it reflects on articles priced more, shall we say, realistically. But then, at the moment, I'm not relying on the money I make at CC to help pay bills. Maybe my attitude would be a little different if I was.

Jane
J. A. Young
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Post by J. A. Young »

That's true, Jane. I suppose I'm not really worried, but I always think it looks so much better for the site to see prices ranging from $20 and up--which I think is the usual. Sometimes writers will blow out stuff that has been laying around just to improve their stats. This can be especially useful for a new writer that's simply needing to get some sales under their belt.

Anyway, I have a "day gig" too, but I wouldn't mind trying my hand at this full time in the near future.

Well, back to my tea article and cup of coffee! JA
Elizabeth Ann West
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Post by Elizabeth Ann West »

I have an idea... Ed has pointed out that many requesters leave the "default price" at $10-$20, but are willing to pay more. Why not move the default price to $20-$30, since it seems that is what the site and authors wish to be the real "low" threshold. Sure, make $10-$20 available, just don't make it the default. Make it so the customers that are um frugal, have to change the amount per article to $10-$20.

Just a thought.
Celeste Stewart
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Post by Celeste Stewart »

To each his own, but dang, it would take a ton of sales to make any money at two or three bucks a pop.

I'm wondering if it's worth CC's time to accept practically-free articles. It takes time for Ed to review and Copyscape them and the payoff is pennies for both the writer and CC.
melissan
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New to CC, unsure of pricing

Post by melissan »

Hi there. I've been perusing through the forums trying to get a fix on what CC is all about. I can't speak for anyone else, but I know that I priced articles low because I felt foolish asking more. I have been a writer since I could hold a pen but this is my first time trying to write freelance. The idea that anyone would purchase an article I write feels ludicrous right now. I have a full time job but I am bored and started posting on CC to push myself to write more often. I have trouble grasping that someone would need me to write them a 600 word article and then pay me for it. Weird. I wrote one article and it sold within hours of posting for only $10. My mistake. I agree that a list of $3 purchases gives other CC writers the appearance of charging too much for their aricles. I will try to price articles a little higher in the future.
melissan
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oh, and Jak....

Post by melissan »

Shut up. :wink:
Celeste Stewart
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Post by Celeste Stewart »

CC has a different model than the other sites out there and writers here do quite well selling their work at more equitable prices. Welcome!

Just an aside - why is it that we writers have so little confidence in ourselves? I can't think of any other professions where people are willing to charge way less than minimum wage for their time......We have a skill that many lack. That's just one of many reasons why someone would pay you to write a 600-word article. :)
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