Annoyed with Associated Content
@GenesisOne010 (21)
United States
November 8, 2010 1:16pm CST
Earlier this week, if someone would've asked me to recommend a website where one could earn decent money, I would've recommended Associated Content as one could seemingly earn six dollars an hour, depending on one's typing skills.
Now though, I wouldn't recommend the website as a good place to earn money. I started writing for Associated Content less than two months ago and have currently earned close to one-hundred and five dollars after submitting about fifty-five articles. I was being paid a little over two dollars an article, but I didn't mind so much because, when motivated and focused, I could do three articles an hour an earn over six dollars. Almost every article I submitted was accepted for upfront payment. Last week, I thought things were looking even better as I was earning over three dollars per article. Just as things started looking even better, everything came to a grinding halt as now they're rejecting pretty much everything I submit for a reason that I'm not buying: they say my content doesn't differ enough from existing content on the website. That I don't believe because the product reviews I'm submitting are on products that haven't been reviewed by anyone else, so my content is unique and offers a perspective on items that no one else has written about on the website.
Thus, I suspect they're being dishonest with me and probably didn't like I was earning fast money with them. For anyone that is considering writing for Associated Content, you may be able to get one hundred dollars out of them, but then expect the website to only offer performance points for articles as opposed to an upfront amount plus performance points. I'm very disappointed in them and refuse to allow them to have my work for the pathetic amount that they pay per performance points. Has anyone else experienced something similar when dealing with Associated Content?
8 responses
@lilblondiemjd (857)
• United States
9 Nov 10
Associated Content sucks a$s sometimes. I did an article on makeup tips for pale skin, and they said the same thing to me..."We already have existing content on this topic." HM, that's weird, since I'm PALE and I never can find anything!
Also, I find it HILARIOUS that they accept unprofessional articles from people who spell words like "to" wrong, yet they don't accept well researched articles for stupid things like them having similar content, or it having to many "bold words" (I've gotten that one before as well).
@GenesisOne010 (21)
• United States
9 Nov 10
I see I'm not the only one then that has been subjected to Associated Content's phony excuses. Don't you wish that they would just be honest and upfront rather than tossing out copied and pasted rejections that don't make an ounce of sense and insult our intelligence?
The article quality is all over the place because apparently the editors don't follow any sort of guidelines. Some accept whatever gets sent in while others have higher standards. It's a mess and my opinion of the website has dropped considerably since I registered there.
1 person likes this
@GenesisOne010 (21)
• United States
9 Nov 10
Do you still write for Associated Content or have you moved on to other websites? I know there are other websites out there that will offer upfront payments like Associated Content does, but they usually assign topics to writers or the writers market themselves to prospective clients. That's not really something I'm overly keen on because I know the competition is fierce and I'll be the first to admit that my writing skills could stand some improvement here and there. Plus, I liked that Associated Content let me write about what I wanted and rewarded me for it. I thought I was good enough to write for Associated Content, and apparently for a couple of months I was since I earned over one hundred dollars, but apparently the editors have decided that I'm not now.
Do you still write and submit articles to websites nowadays or have you moved on to other online earning activities?
@ivaylo2009 (973)
• Bulgaria
8 Nov 10
I understand you very well.I regret about your happening.Actually you must have a good price for your work.I have one question for you.Do you promote your article to more users or it's automatical action.I'm newbie in writing of articles so i probably have strange questions.Is it needed to promote your own article to gain some more money from it.I hope you answer me.Sorry again for my dully question.Thanks in advance!
@ivaylo2009 (973)
• Bulgaria
8 Nov 10
I understand cearly what you mean.Thanks that you clarify that question for me.It's very usefull information for me.So i must direct my attention in SEO.What is amount that you earn per seven hundred views.I need to know because want to make good calculation for me if is needed to invest some money.Thanks again for exceptionally good explanation.
@GenesisOne010 (21)
• United States
8 Nov 10
The amount of money Associated Content pays for page views is pitiful. My most viewed article has received one hundred and eighty nine page views, and yet that only adds up twenty-eight cents. I currently have seven hundred and eight page views total, which adds up to a grand total of one dollar and six cents.
How exciting! Not.
Unless you are really good at promoting your articles and receive hundreds of page views per day per article, Associated Content, in my opinion, is a waste of time.
What do you mean, "invest some money"? What do you plan on doing?
@oscar6 (1938)
• United States
14 Jun 11
I really enjoy associated content. I am sorry that you are having so much trouble with them. I remember getting a lot of articles denied before I realized the kind of articles that they paid upfront payment for. My advice is to just keep at it because I have made a ton of money with associated content. I have even won a couple awards on there. Good luck! :)
@elvyra (35)
• United States
17 Dec 10
AC is a terrible place. They did not pay me for two months and forfeit it while I was sending them my paperwork. Two months, they stole about $100 from me. Never answer my email. Treated everyone so bad. Now they're sold to YAHOO. So I hope Yahoo kick them out, since they're no good. They play so much games with you. Try writing for textbroker.com, get pay good there.
@redthaidevil (1047)
• Thailand
9 Nov 10
You could always slow down and use other alternatives though, AC isn't the only place to write for.
I'd say, trying to find a strategy now to make your articles be popular would be a great idea, a challenging one too.
I'm sure there are similar people out there who are facing the same problem, for me, they should officially state that there should be a growth filter... but I'm sure most people know about this at the start any how.
@GenesisOne010 (21)
• United States
9 Nov 10
What was appealing about Associated Content was how I could write about the topics of my choosing and I would be able to get paid upfront for my work. Other writing websites either don't offer upfront payments or they assign writers topics. That's not as appealing to me.
I feel that I was making progress on a daily basis, but apparently the progress I was making wasn't good enough for them. The website is clearly misleading in how it explains writers can earn money. I don't recall ever reading on Associated Content that upfront payments would stop if the editors felt one's page views weren't high enough. They are misleading with their e-mails, too, telling me that my content doesn't differ enough from what's already published on the website when I'm submitting content that hasn't been written about before. That's misleading, deceptive and downright dishonest.
I realize that they're in business to make money, but at least make it clear that a certain number of page views much be achieved / maintained in order to receive upfront payments. They're keeping it a secret and that's not right.
@ReViewMeMedia (3785)
• United States
9 Nov 10
I disagree with the person who said Helium is a waste of time, sure you have to write a lot to get some decent money but it's worth it because if you think about it, you're getting paid for something you usually do for free and I've only had one article deleted by Helium, and I rewrote it and put it back up and they haven't deleted it again. Writing sties like Helium and Triond take time to make money from because you have to write quite a bit to get decent money, but I don't mind, it's just that I tried to sign up with AC and messed up my email address and they never fixed it for me.
@GenesisOne010 (21)
• United States
9 Nov 10
Helium and other websites like it, such as Bukisa and Triond, are great if the objective is to build passive income. If one has the time to invest in those websites, then the passive income can add up quite nicely eventually. Once I have more free time down the road, I hope to try and build up a passive income stream, but unfortunately, present circumstances prevent me from pursuing such an attempt right now. That's what was nice about Associated Content - I could make money upfront and build up passive income too. Now though, things have changed for me and so Associated Content is no longer an option.
You should keep e-mailing Associated Content until they resolve the problem for you. You deserve a chance to write for them just as much as anyone else.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
9 Nov 10
i can totally understand how you feel... i will feel exactly the same like you if i am being treated like that for my hard work... i never join associated content before as i am not that good in writing articles... but i had heard about it before and this is the first time i heard about people complaining about this site... anyway, i hope you can find other site that can pay you better for your articles... good luck... take care and have a nice day...
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
11 Nov 10
Hi Genesis, at least you are able to earn upfront payment from them.
International writers do not have a chance to earn even page views payment unless they want to sign up as featured contributor.
I read in the forum about the link between upfront payment and average page views. Most writers notice that if the average page views is more than 400 per article, they can earn better upfront payment.
If the average page views is very low, their articles are rejected for all kind of silly reasons.
You may like to stop contribution a while, to let the page views pick up. Start to submit the articles only after the average page views is more than 400, preferably closer to 500.
Spend some time in article promotion. Try to use social bookmarking and social networking websites.
This will help in the ranking of your articles, and helps in traffic generation too. Do not forget that Associated Content is a profit entity.
They want more articles that make money, so the rejection of your articles does not necessary mean that your articles are bad.
