What's up with Associated Content?

If you really want to be depressed, when I first started writing for Associated Content (before the pay for views was included), we used to make $8-10 for an article and some folks were making as much as $25 for something popular. I don't make that much on page views yet so it never supplements my upfront payment to that degree. I guess the thing that really upset me was seeing so many poorly written articles on AC and then getting rejected 5 times in a row. However, as Scheng pointed out, it likely has more to do with topics (and their popularity) than how well anyone writes.

I actually resigned my post as a category editor because I was sick of wading through the crap trying to find well-written, "feature worthy" articles that had a photo and a "real" byline ("John Smith" instead of JS840, or something equally unprofessional).

Oh I know it has nothing to do with my skills. I've gotten low offers before on articles but they tell me it's because there is already too much on the topic or the SEO is not high enough ....but this last one there was no explanation to help me fix whatever they thought was wrong.

Maybe you are right, and it is the end-of-the-year factor. I decided that I would just write to the Call for Content articles I have selected and head on over to Helium for awhile. Cool my jets, so the speak.

LOL. I think I need to concentrate some on Helium as well. I have a lot of articles that I can transfer over there. Most of them need to be re-written and spell checked. LOL

I hate caio. One of those things been, there, done that make more money on Associated Content and it gives residuals. This month I haven't written anything and I am over $16. Yeah! LOL

I think the economy is likely having an impact on the site, as well as it being the 4th quarter. However, they would save a lot of grief if they would just tell writers that instead of acting like the writing isn't good enough. I wondered if I had ruined my own luck with getting paid since I post a lot of previously written articles for page views only. They think, well, we can get it for free eventually, why pay her? Right now I am sticking to Call for Content articles, but you've got to jump on those offering money because they get snatched up fast!

You know, I have been meaning to write something for Constant Content, and maybe now is the time. I am not worried about my grammar because I used to be an editor. It is more about having the right topics and information that's in demand with Constant Content. You are right; there is no time better than the present to try them out! Thanks for the push.

Text Broker have a good reputation, only trouble is, last I heard they were still only recruiting from the US.

Well, that's discouraging. They didn't even send back the right article. Not that I want anyone to have their work rejected, but it makes me feel a little better to know that I am not the only one experiencing this. Good luck, maybe we should all focus on the topics of the month. I know one was personal finance (as Scheng pointed out). I'll have to go back and reread the email.

When I first started writing for AC, I was often paid $8-$10 and once even $14 for an article. Over the years, the pay has steadily decreased, and I'm pretty sure the quality of my writing has not. Earlier this year, I was being offered between $4 and $5.50 for almost every article I sent them. Then, in August, I sent in 5 articles that had offers like $2.00, $1.59, $2.56, or rejected entirely. Something is definitely wrong there. My page view pay is running about $11-$12 a month and I am at a clout 8. I think they have decided that most people, if they don't get an up-front offer, will go ahead and publish it for page views only, so why should they pay if they don't have to? It's really discouraging, because I was really enjoying writing there, but I refuse to waste my time producing articles for ten to fifteen cents an hour. I write there under my real name, Jeanne Gibson.

I think you are correct in your theory. There are so many people who are desperate to earn any amount of money they can that they will post articles just for the page views and not think about all the time they take with the writing and how the compensation isn't cost effective for them. I had been holding on to a couple of pieces not sure where to publish them but I think I will just put them on my blogs.

Most of mine were travel articles as well. The rejection seemed ironic because I had just done one of their Calls for Content on Art and Travel to NYC. So clearly, they do want travel articles, but just not where I have gone? It's a conundrum. Anyway, best to stick with what they request, if you can manage to snap up the articles in the Call for Content before everyone else does!

I am happy for you, you seem to have found your niche! Maybe I need to start reading all those fashion magazines I buy! Seriously!

I am so lucky with my health and beauty. I must have written a couple of hundred and everyone has been accepted for upfront payment.

Now is definitely not the best time to submit them, although you can see from what people have posted here that some folks are getting accepted as usual. For me, it has been very trying. I decided only to publish Call for Content (with guaranteed payment) or re-post old articles from other sites for page views. After 5 rejections, I didn't want to waste more time trying to guess what they are looking for.

Venkat, you are right to point this out. It's all about perspective. Yes, any upfront payment is better than none. Most of my articles are page views only, however, so you are not missing out on too much.