My Experience with SEED.Com

Many people who engage in the online writing world have heard about SEED.com. This Web site, run by AOL properties, allows writers to claim a variety of articles for their partner sites. If accepted, your article may be published on well-known sites such as Gadling.com, StyleList.com, Spinner.com, ParentDish.com, ThatsFit.com, Asylum.com and even AOL.com.

Getting a byline on such a well-respected site is an obvious pro to writing for SEED.com. Other pros include:

The Pay
SEED.com offers competitive payments for their articles, ranging from $10 for 100 words to $400 for fully researched, source-based writing.

The Communication
SEED staff communicate often with their writers and can put you in touch with the editors of a certain piece you're writing for. They are quick to respond to any queries, complaints or glitches you may experience.

The Diversity in Articles
Because SEED is AOL-owned, the types of articles available go to the various AOL properties. This presents a plethora of article topics, including parenting, traveling, luxury, mens' interest, womens' interest, Internet, fitness, health, food and beyond.

With the current structure of SEED (still in its Beta form), there are a few obvious cons to consider, as well. These include the following:

Long Review Times
When you claim an article at SEED, it's important to look at the due date. That's because your article won't be checked until at least five days after the due date, some of which are 100+ days out. That's a long time for a writer to wait for an acceptance/decline. SEED also has been slow on reviewing articles whose due dates have already passed. While it's something they're working on, that's definitely something to consider.

Feels Like A Competition
When you write an article for SEED, it's possible that dozens, maybe even hundreds, of people are writing the exact same article. For articles where only one will be accepted, this makes for a "competition"-like atmosphere. Some appreciate this, saying it creates a drive in them to complete their best work. Others, however, find it disheartening and even frustrating when their article is rejected.

Full Release of Rights
At this point in time, SEED assumes full rights to the articles that are accepted and published. However, there is some confusion about this. Listen carefully: If SEED does not accept your article, rights are released back to you.

Other information that is good to know before stepping into the world of SEED:
Payments are weekly, the opportunity for one-on-one assignments exists, photography assignments are available and source-based stories/interviews are often required.

My Personal Experience:
I have had a lot of success at SEED. Not only have many of my articles been accepted there, but it's also led to a contract with AOL's Web site, Asylum.com (which is now my primary source of income). I love the diversity in articles and the ability to interject my own voice into the pieces. I also feel more in touch with my journalistic roots because I often need to call several sources for one story and use quotes. That's the kind of writing I was taught how to do in college and I like that my degree is paying off.

Money-wise, I find that SEED pays very well. The majority of the pieces I write (including for Asylum.com) pay between $50-100 per, though the highest paying article I had accepted there was $405.

In the end, I would say that SEED is not for everyone and sometimes it can feel like a gamble. But if you can make it work for you, it's a great place to be.