The Pros and Cons of Writing for Associated Content

Associated Content is one of the most popular online content writing sites. The reviews make it sound too good to be true. You write what you're passionate about and get paid. There's got to be a catch, right? Check out the pros and cons listed below and you'll be ready to judge for yourself.

PROS

~Associated Content accepts almost anything. Whether it is non-fiction, fiction, poetry, video, or audio, there is probably a place for it on Associated Content. There are some exceptions, so check their terms and FAQs before posting anything questionable.

~Different types of licenses are available for your content. If you don't plan on publishing the content anywhere else, you can choose to publish exclusively for upfront payment. These will receive higher offers than non-exclusive. There is also an non-exclusive option available for upfront payment; however, you must publish at Associated Content first. The last option is Display Only. You will only receive page view payments for this content; however, you retain full control over your work.

~Content makes more money over time. Associated Content has a page view bonus program that pays $1.50 for every 1000 views. With the right promotion, your content can be quite profitable.

~The Calls for Content section of the site helps authors know what Associated Content is looking for. Authors are told upfront what the payment for the content will be. The more calls you do, the more likely you are to receive personalized calls, which pay much higher than anything else you can submit.

~The community section of Associated Content is a major help to beginners and pros alike. There are detailed tutorials on promotion, submitting, finding topics, and much more. There is also a very active community forum. You can ask questions, have others review your work, meet other members, and even find other online writing gigs.

CONS

~Even though Associated Content accepts reviews of products, movies, books, and websites, the odds of receiving upfront payment are slim. Unless the review is a sneak peek, you will have to settle for page view payments only.

~Though the site boasts $3 to $20 upfront payments, most upfront payments, even for exclusive articles, stay between $3 and $6. No one has been able to fully explain how offers are calculated, which is a common complaint from their members.

~The approval process takes up to two weeks. Even in the News category, the process can take up to a week depending how who is reviewing your work. For many, this delay can ruin how much an article makes on page views.

~Finding the right topic to receive upfront payment can be difficult. When you receive a rejection, Associated Content is pretty vague as to why it was rejected. Finding a unique topic can be almost impossible for some. It pays to really look at the topics and previously published content before submitting your own.

~Anyone can submit their work; however, only American citizens can receive payment.

Associated Content can be a good place to make some extra money, and some even make a decent living from the site. However, it is up to you to decide whether writing for Associated Content is right for you.