That's a fair question, so I guess a rough who am I is in order.

I'm from Australia and have called myself a webmaster (internet jack of all trades and master of none) for the last dozen years. That has included writing, coding, designing, SEO and marketing my own websites primarily for affiliate marketing purposes. I don't consider myself great at any one of those skills but sufficiently competent to achieve what needed to be done.

With respect to writing I don't consider myself a competent writer but again have written the content for several reasonable sites where my knowledge of the subject has covered up or made up for my poor writing style. Several years ago I ran an online writing competition, the site for which is still up and running today although it hasn't been updated for years now.

I'm researching this industry for the same reason I research any industry I am looking for opportunity. Can it be done better, cheaper, faster or can I find a competitive advantage. In all honesty I will be looking at everything from the very simple such as an adsense site, to the potential for more demanding projects such as setting up another service. Then again I might just walk away muttering that was interesting as I have done in the past.

So in summary I'm a potential competitor if you run an essay service or similar, a potential employer if you are a writer or a nobody if I can't make the numbers add up. Can't think of anything else that is relevant at this time but if you have questions fire away.

Major
Spammers, scammers and outright thieves are just one of the hazards of working online that you quickly learn to deal with or go out of business. I've had so many images, titles, pages and in a few cases whole sites stolen that it doesn't phase me anymore. Amusingly I have even had pages stolen where they failed to remove my linking codes ad have made sales from them. I simply assess the damage then apply a fairly standard response set.

WritersBeware
I am yet to come across an industry that could give an unqualified "no" to that question. It can be amazing what a fresh set of eyes sees that experienced yet perhaps jaded eyes miss.

Thanks for the feedback, I am happy to get any input at present. It is very possible I could eventually come to the same conclusion. Who do you consider are the "top dogs" of the industry?

Well what this thread lacks in detail it makes up in laughs.

smirk
If you were aware of the income certain referal links generate you wouldn't think it strange at all.

Ok no one is naming names, I guess that might be against TOS. So a new subject, seasonality has raised its head, so does anyone want to talk about that? The high and low months would be...

Thanks for the assist guys. An old post suggests ~ March - May and October - December are (roughly) the high periods if anyone would like to confirm.

A few observations. (Opinions I am starting to form as I look further into the industry.)
- This sector of writing seems to be looked down on somewhat by other writers, as it is construed as helping cheaters. Anyone else feel this?

- The industry is very self destructive with many sites having warnings about others.

- I have already run into some of these site operators in other industries.

- There are some very distinctive groups each with strengths and weaknesses but overall none that look to be doing anything that couldn't be done better.

Major
From a management perspective it is always nice to know your expected high and low periods. Ensuring you have sufficient numbers to fulfill orders, timing of marketing/advertising campaigns, when not to take holidays and more all need to be considered. It's just one of many questions I like to know the answer to when considering whether to make an investment in an area.

Major
If I enter this market it will happen quickly and on scale, I don't do things by halves, I'm either in and very well prepared or I'm out. If I wasn't already looking at such things I'd just be another dreamer without any skills hoping to make billions from this interweb thingy.

Major
I seem to be answering all of the questions, so I will pass on those 4 for now.

WritersBeware
WHAT? What? Are those terms too colloquial? Or are you questioning that I would seek to take volume in the market quickly.

How someone can be construed as a thief for simply asking a quesion is beyond me. Having seen the various websites and what they are lack I don't think it would be difficult to come up with something superior to what is already around. It would be nice to get some feedback from genuine writers.

WritersBeware
Grins, she'll be right mate, I won't be the one writing essays.

WRT
It would be interesting to know on what you are basing your assumptions.

Your intimate knowledge might apply to this industry, but certainly not me. I won't be accepting or conceding anything until I have sufficient information to make an informed decision on the viability of entering this industry.

If you would like to share your knowledge and suggest what they do so well I would love to read it. From what I have seen I really have to question the professionalism of some of the participants in several areas.

I can sincerely say I am not nor have I ever been a thief. I'm not certain what I have supposedly done but your childish provocation won't work on me, I subscribe to the sticks and stones theory :D

WritersBeware
No if I was conducting industrial espionage I would be wearing black balaclava sneaking from behind tree to tre whispering "pssst the first one to get me a copy of ze back end vill be paid ONE MILLION roubles". :D

I just looked back and in my 2 threads you have made 12 posts, none of which have been constructive or really even on topic. On the contrary most most have been either provocative or abusive. So as it appears you have no interest in either subject but to disrupt them, so I would ask you refrain posting in them.

essayscam/forum/ot/personal-attacks-must-stop-1938/

Simple likes and dislikes would be sufficient, improvements they would like to see even better, but to be honest any straight answer would be gratefully accepted.

WritersBeware
You are obviously a do as I say not as I do kind of gal/guy. I've been up front, remained civil, asked you nicely to keep out of my threads but you just keep coming. You now have my attention.