Question about Associated Content

@byfaithonly (10698)
United States
September 11, 2008 6:11am CST
I know there are a lot of myLot members who write articles for Associated Content (AC). I also know I could post this on the discussion forum over at AC but I want to get the opinion/experience of myLot members. If you write for AC could you tell me how you post your articles for earning. I mean as far as the rights, upfront pay, etc. Please share your experience of what has worked or not worked for you. I'm not writing just to earn money but I really really could use it and want to get them most for my efforts if possible. Please don't give the link to the page at AC that lists the different options - I want life experience good or bad.
5 people like this
13 responses
@DreamOn01 (146)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I do write for Associated Content occasionally, but I don't go out of my way to create content for them because of the low pay and time constraints because of other projects. When I do submit articles, it's usually nonexclusive rights because I have either submitted the article elsewhere or intend to submit it elsewhere. I ask for upfront pay if I can get it, but there are certain types of articles that they will not accept for upfront pay. I was averaging between $4 and $8 per article (depending on the length of the article) although they seem to have become more stingy of late. It's not a bad site, and people do give feedback/comments.
• United States
11 Sep 08
The first few articles I published there had been published elsewhere, and I still received upfront payment. But that was two years ago. Kelly3 is right. Now, if you want upfront payment, you need to submit to AC first. Previously published articles can only make money from page views. I should have been more specific in my original explanation. I hope I didn't cause too much confusion.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
12 Sep 08
DreamOn I added you to my favorites over on AC - hope you don't mind. I'm trying to figure out how what format I should use for my first article over there :(
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
11 Sep 08
Maybe you could answer a question for me. I have an article I think very suited for AC but it has been published elsewhere. When submitting nonexclusive can you submit things that have already been published some place else? I've heard several people say they always submit to AC first and then other places.
1 person likes this
@sweetdesign (5142)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I usually post upfront non exclusive rights. That way I can always use the same article for Helium. Make it do double duty. lol. I have had 3 articles accepted and one is now pending review. the first article I wrote there I did not go for upfront payment so it is just earning money by how many times it is veiwed. I prefer to get paid up front and get the residual income from page views.
2 people like this
• United States
11 Sep 08
Well the first article brought in $2.20 it was short with no research and an easy write so no biggy. The second and third both brought in only $1.24 each cause they were too broad in scope. So I am not bringing in a lot but it is more than I had before I started to write for them. Hopefully now that I have some idea of what they want I will start making more.
2 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
11 Sep 08
Yea that's not much but much better than some I've seen - better than what I'm supposed to be doing now and I have to do a ton of research before I even get to writing.
3 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
11 Sep 08
Ok, I'm dieing to ask this question and if you don't want to answer fine, or if you'd rather answer via pm that's fine too but I'm guessing others have the same question. May I ask how much your getting paid upfront for your articles?
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Sep 08
I joined AC 3 years ago and my personal experience is to submit exclusive rights and the upfront payment plus performance payments so you have a chance at some royalities each month. You won't get rich off of AC or anything but it will give you some extra cash. If you submit non-exclusive AC usually will offer you a lower rate for your work. I most of the time submit exclusive mainly because I'm not going to try to reprint my work else at the moment.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
11 Sep 08
From what you and others have said I may split it a little, do some exclusive and some not. Some articles I write if nothing else I want to use on my web site so could do those non-exclusive.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Sep 08
I'm glad I bumped into this discussion as I was reading some of the posters responses..and I didn't know that...I've always submitted my articles as upfront payment and exclusive thinking I could get more...but now I'm reading it really doesn't matter that one can submit as upfront payment as non-exclusive and get basically the same...think I'll do that for now on...wish I had known that sooner.. Thankfully lot of the articles I write I really wouldn't use anywhere else anyway..but still, will for now on submit as upfront payment and non-exclusive, so if I DO want to submit them somewhere else I can.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
12 Sep 08
Yes, I was thinking the same thing - more pay for exclusive. I'm also glad I posted this discussion as I've really learned several things and nice to learn from those who have experience. kelly was actually one of your responses on another discussion that gave me the idea of posting to both. Just bummed I had already posted 4 articles at Helium before I read it but oh will it's good experience for me and they were easy easy articles.
@babostwick (2036)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I've been there for about a year now. With inital articles I tend to try exclusive though I'm trying non-exclusive as I started discovering other writing sites. I always go for upfront personally. The ones that seem to draw the most would be the one video game guide on Twilight Princess I wrote a while back and a tech article (Not sure which one). I think in the end you get good experience and you could gain some confidence as a writer.
2 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I am seeing all around that video games and tech articles are in high demand. I was thinking last night I would like to combine efforts with my 17 year old son - he can play the games (which he loves to do) and I'll write the reviews on them from his point of view. Not sure if he'd go for that though :)
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Sep 08
The only way to find out on that would be to see if he would go for it and give it a shot. Then see what happens. Maybe sometimes you can find something that can generate lots of page views at once and have it continue on a regular basis but that's not easy. It's always hit or miss.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
11 Sep 08
That's the same thing with all pay per view type things but guess here I'll need to really rely on my writing abilities, thanks for the info and I am going to ask my son about helping.
1 person likes this
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I always submit for upfront payment, non exclusive so I can post them elsewhere. I don't think the pay difference for exclusive rights would be enough to make up for the money I can earn with the same article on another site. Most offers are less than $5, but the performance payments make up for that.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
12 Sep 08
Sounds like the popular way of doing it - I'm just afraid I'll be the one that gets no one reading my stuff :( Ok, little lack of self-confidence sneeking out there :)
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
13 Sep 08
I considered trying it a while back but never did.. maybe this discussion will give some more information!
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
13 Sep 08
I think this is one of the most informative discussions I've posted - you really need to read the responses if your interested because other members have provided a wealth of information.
• United States
11 Sep 08
I always use non-exclusive because I believe that is the best way to get money for my work, but I hear that sometimes, that is not enough. They pay you through paypal. I have gotten a lot of payouts so far, it is never anything major, but it is enough.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
12 Sep 08
I'm surprised to learn how many submit non-exclusive - I'm going to do the same. Hey may not be major but there are times every little bit helps. I was reading an article on AC last night that said it can take a year or more to really start making 'good money' on AC.
• United States
11 Sep 08
I've only been there for a few months and I mostly do slideshows. So, most of my payments are display only. I usually like to choose Non-exclusive for upfront pay articles because I like to have the rights to reprint them elsewhere. Some articles that I don't think would qualify for upfront payment, but I want to write anyway, I put up as display only. With good promotion, you can actually make pretty good money with page views. One article got rejected twice for upfront payment actually made me money with page views.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
11 Sep 08
Oh now I learned something else - so even if an article gets rejected for upfront payment you can still submit it for page views. That's a pretty good deal. I'm not real sure about 'good promotion' I have a lot of internet marketing knowledge but don't do the greatest at putting it into action.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
11 Sep 08
I wrote a couple of articles, but since I am Canadian I only get paid for views and people looking at the page. So I have not written for sometime. I am sticking with myLot, and also with my novel writing. I am terrible at article writing. If they announce that Canadians get paid the same as Americans, since we are all on the same content, I might decide to rejoin.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
12 Sep 08
Yea that is a shame that Canadians can't get the same deals and I see that in a lot of places. I don't understand it but maybe it will change someday.
@nitesh512 (153)
• Nepal
13 Sep 08
I recently joined AC so i am also looking ways to earn money. But the first article i wrote for AC took about 1 week to get published. I don't know whther this happens to everyone or is it just because i am new.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
13 Sep 08
You need to read this entire discussion - there are tons of great suggestions here from members who are really making money on AC. If it took a week it's because I'm guessing you submitted for 'upfront payment' that takes a week or more. If you submit for just page views it should be a couple days. I have really learned alot about AC from this discussion.
@iakulchen (615)
• Singapore
11 Sep 08
Since I'm not a U.S resident, I'm not eligible for upfront payment, so I can't share much on that area. Mostly I just use the "Display Only" option on AC to submit articles that I have written elsewhere, like Triond and Helium.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I took a quick look at Triond some time back but never pursued it. I should take a closer look sometime.
@a_ali14 (49)
• Pakistan
13 Sep 08
Well as far I know AC pays a fixed amount of money per accepted article. In past it used to be $3 but I haven't checked in for a while. The problem with AC is that they only pay via paypal. So If paypal is not available in your country as in my case you can't get paid.