Being an AC featured contributor
By Canellita
@Canellita (12029)
United States
May 5, 2010 8:51am CST
So I recently learned there may be some advantages to becoming an Associated Content featured contributor. I really like the idea of earning a minimum of $30 per month for three articles. That is one day of one week out of my life, depending on the topic.
It sounds good to me but I have had some trouble with AC taking my articles in the past. I only submit for upfront payment unless it is something I am just posting as an experiment for page views and whoever makes the decision at AC does not always consider what I submit worthy of upfront payment (though they will take anything for performance only).
I recently accepted a C4C assignment to do a piece on three books that should be made into movies and that was accepted and payment is pending. I like the fact that you don't have to wait all month to get paid from AC but I find it a lot easier to make money at Helium.
The most I ever earned from AC was $10 for a first person super bowl article. I was happy to receive the email and claim that assignment and I wish I would get more of those more often!
Before I would commit to the featured contributor thing though I am wondering if AC sends the article titles it wants each month or if the writer has to come up with three unique artices for their section.
Any thoughts? Feedback? Other comments to share on being an AC featured contributor?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
5 May 10
HEHEHE. You knew I would find this. LOL Actually, sometimes they send 4 articles that pay $10 each. Maybe more. I have only seen four at one time. The articles let you choose the title but they are explicit about what they want. Sometimes they give a wild card article call where you can make it on anything you want as long as it is in your category. If you did gardening they might send you a call that said to write an article about different plants that grow year round. They may even suggest using perinnial, or annually, or even evergreen as the keywords or in the title. It's worth while to do. The calls come out the first day of the month and you have until the end of the month to finish them. It's pretty easy money if it is something you like to do.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
5 May 10
You have the whole month to do it? Oh, I am so down with this! I am going to have to repost some low earning craft titles from helium and see what happens and then come up with something new to submit for upfront and then apply.
I have something in local already so I guess I can apply now. Heck, 4 articles is two days even with a regular job taking up your time.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
5 May 10
I am going to look over what I have contributed so far and see where I need to add articles and then apply.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
5 May 10
Thanks MsF! That really means a lot!
1 person likes this
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
6 May 10
you're welcome. i am praying for you to make more in writing! smile a lot!
@ArsonCuff (3114)
• United States
29 Jan 11
They do not tell you what to write about other then an open topic offer involving whatever category you become featured in. However, they do not want just any ole thing you feel like writing and scrutinize what they are handing the ten bucks over for.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
7 Mar 11
Sorry for not responding sooner; I never received notification for your comment. I have had a sort of love-hate relationship with AC and was put off a few times with regard to writing there. I wouldn't mind the guaranteed money from being a featured contributor, but I don't like the lack of communication or the lack of consideration they seem to have towards the writers.
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
5 May 10
Ok, you knew all your friends would find you. Here's my experience with the Featured Contributor post (from reading MommaJ's comments, it sounds like the categories are not all alike). When I first started, they only offered $8 per article, with 3 articles per month. Then, they increased it to $10. I have never gotten more than 3 per month, and for travel, they let you write whatever you want. There are no topics assigned like with Call for Content.
You do have the entire month to complete them. The tricky thing for travel is to choose a topic that hasn't been covered. I find that the most challenging, since there are a lot of travel topics already covered. Since being a Featured Contributor, it seems that there are more Call for Contents offered to me, but that could just be my imagination.
Good luck with applying. I know you'd do great!
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
5 May 10
Hi Anything, let me interrupt here (not like you have a choice). HAHAHA. As for the calls for content, yes you are supposed to be seeing more of them. You should actually be seeing them before other contributors. There is not really an accurate way to find this out since the calls for content don't go to every contributor anyway. As a featured contributor, there are a few perks.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
5 May 10
I think the best place for me to start will be local/New Orleans and then maybe crafts. I am working on adding to AC this week before I apply so that my chances will be better.
Thanks for the info!
@carolscash (9491)
• United States
18 May 10
I have been thinking about applying to be an AC featured contributor too. I am interested in writing as my career and I need to make some money on here soon or I may have to go get a job which I do not want to do. I hope to soon have a way of earning twice the amount of money that I have been online.
I am not sure of how you apply for it, but I am sure that you only have to write three articles a month for them in your featured section.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
19 May 10
Well, if you have not written to AC I would suggest you build up a cache of articles because you have to provide them with your links. If you have written for AC and you're satisfied with it then you should go for it.
I have been earning more from helium but I had a part time job and I couldn't devote as much of my time as I would like to writing. I have started blogging actively as well so I am exploring every option that I can.
@oscar6 (1938)
• United States
17 Jun 11
I have not requested to be a featured contributor. This is because I dont know how much commitment I can make to them since I am constantly moving due to the fact that my husband is in the military. I also just like to work whenever I want. That is why I love associated content so much. I can write articles in my free time and I make my own schedule.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
21 Jun 11
I know of at least one person who was dropped as a featured contributor for not meeting the minimum by deadline after having been diligent for a long time. There was no grace period and no one to easily contact about any problems that may have been going on. It's a content mill and if you're ok with that, post away. If you want to make real money, get a copy of the latest writer's market.
