Website review: Associatedcontent.com
Make Money Writing Freelance at Associated Content Website
Associatedcontent.com has had a strong presence in the web since its inception in 2005. The site claims 200,000 writing members in its community, who contribute articles and earn money from the site on a regular basis.
Like its competing sites like Suite101, Helium.com, Howtodothings.com, Hubpages.com, ehow.com and so on, Associated Content too earns its revenue from context-sensitive advertisements from Google Adsense (and other advertisers) and shares a portion of the revenue with its contributing authors.
Though written articles are its mainstay, Associated Content also accepts and publishes videos and slide-show presentations too, in line with emerging trends on the web.
Information seekers can find more than half a million articles from this site covering variety of subjects under Arts and Entertainment, Automotive, Technology, Health and wellness, Lifestyle, Business & Finance and so on.
How to Become a Contributing Writer in Associated Content
Any writer above 18 years of age can join as a member in Associated Content; A writer’s first 3 articles can get published only after editorial scrutiny by Associated Content. Once the writers get past this scrutiny, they are at liberty to post more articles to the site.
Associated Content’s Three Modes for Acceptance of Articles under Different Payment Schemes
(1) Exclusive: The writers can submit their original, unpublished, articles for acceptance to earn an “upfront payment”. If accepted for publication after editorial scrutiny (which will take 1 to 2 weeks), the writer will get anywhere from 3 to 12 dollars per accepted article. Accepted articles cannot be published elsewhere by the writer and cannot be deleted from the site. Associated Content may also distribute the articles with its partners.
These articles are also eligible for “performance payment” (i.e. regular earning of pennies based on page-views they get) on a continuous basis.
(2) Non-exclusive: Here too, only original, unpublished, articles are accepted and are eligible for upfront payments, but the difference is that the writer is free to re-publish it anywhere else. Posted articles can not be deleted from Associated Content and the articles are automatically eligible for earning performance payment regularly. Sharing of articles with AC Partners is optional.
(3) Performance-Payment only: In this category, any qualified writer can post any number of articles freely and all such articles can earn performance payment. The articles need not be unpublished ones. The author is at liberty to delete his articles and also re-post his articles in any other site. Articles rejected for upfront payment too can be posted under this category.
Non-US-Resident Writers are Eligible for Performance Payments Only
This is one important policy of Associated Content which must be noted by non-US writers. Only US-resident authors are presently eligible for writing under upfront payment category and also for receiving any payments other than performance payment. Others however can earn their performance payment from their articles.
Rate and Mode of Performance Payment from Associated Content
Associated Content pays all its members only through Paypal. The payment is monthly and the minimum payout amount from accumulated earnings is as low as 1.5 dollars! Amounts may be automatically transferred to Paypal every month.
Associated Content has also declared that the average rate of payment is 1.5 dollars per 1000 page views. The page views are counted across all the articles published by an author. Authors who cross certain minimum page view levels get a very nominal increase in rates under different slabs.
Recognition of writers at Associated Content
This site recognizes the authors’ contribution to the site by giving them a “clout level” on a scale from 1 to 10. Higher the number, larger is the clout level.
The clout level is calculated based on a formula that covers both the number of articles as well as the number of page-views the author has got. The earning bonus is linked to the clout level. For example, currently a clout 10 writer gets 0.5 dollars more per 1000 page views as a reward for his contribution.
“Calls for Content” – a Special Feature of Associated Content
This website “calls” writers to write on some specific titles (“content”) on a regular basis. Writers who are desirous of writing on the specific subject have to register themselves first and contribute the article within a prescribed period. Selected article(s) will be eligible for upfront payment as per the advertised rate given at the time of the call.
Writing for Associated Content – Pros
- As the website seems to attract large number of visitors, many writers (who have written large number of articles and commanding high page views) enjoy writing and earning a sizable monthly income from the site. Of course, for US based writers, upfront payment for each article definitely adds to good income.
- Writers have potential to sell their articles to Partner Sites of AC to earn additional income
- The image of the site as one of good quality articles favors well with authors.
- A reasonably good scope of interaction with fellow writers through community boards. Scope of personal interaction with AC staff through periodic “Town hall meeting” programs.
- Minimum payout amount being 1.5 dollars, no need to wait for long to start earning money.
Writing for Associated Content – Cons
- Non availability of upfront payment for Non-US-resident writers.
- Articles posted under Exclusive and non-exclusive categories can not be deleted from the site, even if the author cancels his membership.
- 1 to 2 weeks of waiting time is involved for articles submitted under upfront payment. Sometimes, hot topics lose their relevance by this time.
Every writing site has its own dedicated writers who vouch by the site’s merit. That way, Associated Content too has many successfully earning members who are happy to keep writing in the site.
Related reading:
Make money writing freelance at Helium.com
An over view: How freelance writers can make money writing at websites
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