When someone sets out to write as a career, I’m pretty sure that writing for content mills isn’t high on that someone’s list. The pay stinks, and you are often subjected to odd subject requests and even more arbitrary style guide rules. However, not all content mills are alike, and some pay a halfway decent rate. (Of course, my definition of a decent rate may differ from yours, but if you’re just starting out, $2.50 for a 100 word article is not bad.) Read on for my Crowdsource.com review, one content mill that pays a halfway decent rate for beginners.

How Do I Get in on the Action?

Now before you get all excited, getting the decent-paying jobs on Crowdsource is not an easy task. First, they have to be accepting new writers on their website, Write.com. If they are, then you will need to take their test, which is a series of multiple choice questions on their style guide and submit a written sample. From what I’ve read on forums such as WAHM.com and Workplacelikehome.com, a lot of people with excellent writing skills don’t pass. For some unknown reason, I passed.

If you are one of the lucky ones to pass, then you will be assigned the lowest level of writer, which is Writer I. It goes all the way up to Writer IV. The only way to get to Writer IV, and get the best paying jobs, is to write a certain number of articles that get accepted with minimal editing. That number seems to change, though, so I’m not listing it here. Because I haven’t done much writing, I currently stand at Writer II. That was pretty easy to get to, I have to admit.

What Types of Writing Are Available?

There are different types of articles to write, such as how-tos, lists, Q&As, and reviews, which range anywhere from 100 to 400 words in length. The 100 word articles currently pay $2.50 at the Writer I level, the 200 word articles pay $5.00, and longer ones pay more, of course (it varies). I do have to say that some of the subjects are odd, as with most content mill writing. I’ve had to spend some time finding subjects I know I could find enough information to write 400 words with headings.

What Is the Editing Like?

My biggest piece of advice to you is if you don’t know the AP style guide, read the Crowdsource style guide, and then read it again…and again. I’m not used to AP style, at all, so I have to have it in front of me when writing for these guys. Transitioning from the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) to AP is not easy (lack of serial comma, anyone?).

The one thing that bothers me about the editing is that you must write in the present tense. I have read that this is a client-specific request, and the client is a stickler for using present tense. I’m not sure why the client loves present tense so much, because sometimes the lack of future tense can make for awkward writing. The client also seems to be fixated on not using “filler text” (e.g., using should, could, would, maybe, etc.), but again, I think that totally leaving out filler text can make for awkward writing. Not everything is a certainty!

What Is the Approval/Rejection Process?

I’ve only had two outright rejections out of about 50 articles, but I’m very choosy in what I write about. The feedback was good, and I now know what to look out for. (I got dinged for filler text and tense, sigh). Granted, I don’t think editors for Crowdsource are allowed to go without finding something wrong with an article. That’s not a criticism on my part, only something I’ve read on various forums.

However, my only rejections, ever, came from writing callouts for articles. That stung, especially since the task seemed pretty easy. I got the most hated criticism an editor can give, and that is to “read the instructions.” Um, okay. That’s about as constructive as telling someone who’s new to, let’s say, drive is to say, “why don’t you just turn on the ignition and drive.” That drives me batty, especially since I’ve done my fair share of editing, not to mention the fact that I did read the instructions…

Would You Recommend Writing for Crowdsource?

If you are just starting out, or you can stick with it long enough to get Writer IV status, yes! While the pay is not stupendous, they often have writing bonuses, such as earning an extra amount of money for a certain number of approved articles. They send out emails notifying everyone of these bonuses, so keep an eye out for them!

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