Writer Access

Writer Access is a website that I have recently begun writing for and operates much the same as Textbroker. Basically, writers are paid on a per cent basis, but unlike Textbroker, the rates are considerably higher. Here is out it breaks down.

• Level 2 earns 0.91 cents per word
• Level 3 earns 2.03 cents per word
• Level 4 earns 3.57 cents per word
• Level 5 earns 4.76 cents per word

After you have underwent the testing phases and been hired, you will be assigned a level which corresponds to your experience and overall writing ability. This will determine which assignments you have access to. For example, if you are a level 3, you can write level 3 and level 2 assignments. If you are a level 5, you have access to all levels.

In most cases, you will be rated after the completion of each assignment which can either increase or reduce your rating. In my opinion, the initial test I took was somewhat tricky and contained questions that would be difficult to answer without a reasonable amount of freelance and search engine optimization knowledge. Nonetheless, I've been through worse testing procedures for other websites and it wasn't too bad.

My main complaint with the hiring process is that it seemed to take forever to have my profile reviewed. I think it was somewhere around 2 1/2 to 3 weeks before I could actually begin writing which I found a bit frustrating. Consequently, don't expect the approval process to happen overnight if you decide to apply to Writer Access.

A downside with this company is that they only pay once a month, which is slower than other places like Textbroker and The Content Authority who pay weekly. You have to accumulate a minimum of $10 before the money is sent to your PayPal account. Along with this, the volume of assignments is somewhat bipolar, meaning some days there are plenty to choose from, and other days there is next to nothing. From what I can tell, Writer Access has too many writers and not enough clients.

On the upside, Writer Access now offers a program they call the casting call. Essentially, this is an area where people like blog and website owners can post writing positions which are long term in most cases. This feature allows you to apply for any positions you are interested in and create industry connections.

To summarize, I wouldn't recommend approaching Writer Access as a full time source of freelance income. However, if you are looking for some extra income and want to expand your portfolio, this website can be a good choice.

Click here to check out the Writer Access Writer FAQs

Click here to apply to Writer Access

Infobarrel

Infobarrel is a popular ad revenue sharing website where writers can earn a passive income stream from their work. After 2011's Big Panda from Google and the closing of eHow's writer compensation program, many writers chose Infobarrel as an income substitute. One of the best parts of about this website is that it has a pretty good rapport with Google and there is no mystery to how the earnings system works. For example, Infobarrel pays its writers 75% of all ad revenue and keeps the other 25%.

Another good thing is that this site allows writers to earn money from three different sources which include Adsense, Chitika and Amazon Affiliates. This differs from many other ad revenue sharing sites that only offer Adsense. The last time I checked, they also allow writers to place two links within the body of text. This means you can place affiliate links or a backlink to other websites you are working on. Consequently, this diversity can help writers earn significantly more income than they would by only using Adsense.

I would personally recommend Infobarrel to writers who are just starting out looking to learn about keyword research, search engine optimization and ad revenue sharing. Getting approved to write is pretty much guaranteed, and the publishing platform for this website allows nearly anyone with quality, original content to get published. They differ from other sites like Hubpages for the fact that each article is reviewed by an editor prior to publishing. This element helps to maintain the integrity of the site, filters out the crap and keeps the site Google and search engine friendly.

While I don't have extensive experience from this site, I've heard a lot of good things about it from credible resources. In fact, I've heard some serious success stories where a few writers earn in excess of $1,000 a month. Obviously this won't happen overnight, and it takes some hard work, but it seems possible for most people to earn a nice extra stream of income from Infobarrel.

Click here to sign up with Infobarrel

Textbroker

Textbroker is a freelance writing website that essentially works as a middleman between clients and writers.  Each writer is given an initial rating that ranges from 2 to 5 and dictates the amount of assignments that are available. One thing I like about this company is that there are a plethora of topics to choose from once you have established a decent rating of 3 or more. Another good thing about Textbroker is that even if you get a low initial rating, you can improve and raise it by producing high quality content for clients. 

The payment structure works by paying writers anywhere from $0.01 to $0.05 per word. Like most other companies, Textbroker pays its writers via PayPal and payments are made around the 10th of each month. Each writer must also complete a W-9 form and accrue at least $10 of earnings before getting paid. 

When compared to other freelance writing sites, earnings from Textbroker are on the low side. While I wouldn't recommend this site for seasoned freelancers, it can serve newbies well who are trying to break into the industry. In fact, Textbroker can be a good place to build your portfolio and establish your reputation as a solid writer. 

So if you're new to freelance writing, I would suggest giving Textbroker a try. Even if your earnings are limited at first, it could help you with building your resume and landing other gigs in the future. Along with this, the application process is rather straightforward and easier to pass than many other websites. 

Click here to check out the author's FAQs

Click here to apply for a writing position at Textbroker

WiseGeek

I have been writing for WiseGeek for almost a year and it has turned out to be a nice source of income. The thing I like most about WiseGeek is that there is almost always 500 plus assignments that can be taken at any time. While I predominately write about business and career topics, there are numerous topics to choose from that run the gambit from home improvement to medical information. Each article is required to be 400 or more words and pays anywhere from $10 to $14.

The payment system works by a copy editor reviewing your work after you have completed a batch of at least five articles. Once each article has been approved, you receive your payment. In contrast to other freelance sites that make you wait for up to a month, this type of payment is a major plus.

As of January 2012, WiseGeek has stopped creating new articles and has chosen to upgrade their existing database by adding pictures and videos to each article. As far as I know, they are only sticking with existing writers for the time being, but may bring on new writers for the transition. WiseGeek's application process is somewhat lengthy as they require you to complete several articles before hiring you on. However, you do still earn the normal pay rate for these initial articles.

I know that their new positions entail working either as a video curator, photo curator or performing general edits and optimizing existing articles. From what I've heard, the amount of money earned per assignment will be similar to the previous earnings each writer was making.

Personally, I have enjoyed working for WiseGeek and have gotten much better at fine tuning my writing and have seen an overall improvement in my writing abilities. A good thing about WiseGeek is that each writer is given a personal copy editor to work with exclusively. Unlike other sites I've written for with random copy editors, you get consistent feedback from only one person which helps prevent frustration and enhance your writing.

Click here to go to the WiseGeek application page