Five Companies for Freelancers Writers

Freelance writing online has exploded over the past few years. As more companies use the Internet to reach a global audience and more people use the Internet as their sole storefront, people are willing to pay for information to fill their websites. Finding work as a freelancer with a reputable company can be tough, however. While I’m not endorsing these companies for any specific writer, they are some of the top sites out there for freelance writers.

Love To Know

This site uses a Wiki-based approach to depth content. Wiki (think: Wikipedia) is a specific language with tags and idiosyncrasies all its own. Writers for Love To Know write for specific topics, called “channels” in Love To Know vernacular, and new writers get anywhere from 10-20 articles per month. Pay right now is $20 per article plus a possible $2 for picture usage. Topics are assigned. To apply, visit their writer’s link. There is a 2-part interview process that can take up to 2 weeks. Love To Know pays monthly.

About.com

Often considered the Holy Grail for web writers, About.com, a New York Times-owned company, is a compilation of “guide sites,” or specific sub-domains on niche topics. About.com’s hiring process is complex, time-consuming, and controversial. Writers apply for a variety of available topics with a sample and their expertise. Selected candidates compete in a process called prep, a 17-day intensive period in which up to 5 writers vie for the job. At the end of prep, editors determine which, if any, candidate should get the job offer. Pay for About.com is $725 per month, guaranteed for the first year, with page-view bonuses.

Consumer Search

This site, also a NYT subsidy, works similarly to Consumer Reports magazine. Editors assign writers a certain product and brands, and the writer reads up on, tries out, and puts together a report on the relative merits of each brand. Pay starts at $350 per article and increases with the writer’s reputation at the company. The application process forConsumer Search consists of writing a sample report, which can take up to 12 hours, and submitting it for editors to review.

Associated Content

A content clearinghouse, Associated Content provides low-level content on a wide range of topics. Writers can sign up through the website; there is no interview process. Then the writers submit articles either for upfront pay plus a revenue-sharing bonus or just for the revenue-sharing bonus. Associated Content’s pay definitely falls far below the other sites covered here, but the barrier to entry is very low for new writers. Pay is through PayPal as articles are accepted.

Demand Studios

This company owns or is a partner in more than 60 websites. Demand Studios hires both writers and filmmakers. Writers complete a basic application, which asks for a resume and writing samples, and then are accepted or rejected by the editorial committee. Acceptance usually takes one week or less. Demand Studios’ pay depends on the project but tends to start around $15 for a 400-word article. Pay is weekly through PayPal.

By Brandi Rhoades