Last month 3 Questions…and Answers published an article about eHow.com seeking freelance writers of how-to articles. Since then, we have found several other websites that use freelancers to provide articles on all kinds of topic categories from do-it-yourself auto repair to cleaning your jewelry at home. We're going to compare four that have come to our attention: Suite101.com, HowStuffWorks.com, About.com and Knol.Google.com.
Are the writers screened or evaluated by the sites' editors?
Three out of the four sites do require that a writer apply before he starts posting content. HowStuffWorks wants to see a resume and published and unpublished samples as an application. The editors will respond to the writers they accept.
About.com writers are "Guides" and there's a two-step process to become one. First, you have to apply with an email detailing what topic you want to guide and why you would be the best guide for that subject. Your expertise and you writing skills will be evaluated. If the editors think you are qualified you'll go into the Prep program, which is a 17-day self-guided online training program with all the things you'll need to know to be a Guide. One task will be to build a sample "GuideSite" that the editors will evaluate and decide if you have what it takes to be a Guide.
Suite101 also requires you to apply for acceptance. The application includes areas like your field of expertise, if you've been published and where and why you want to write for Suite101. You also must include writing samples. The management will evaluate your application and offer a contract within 48 hours if they like you.
Google's Knol project is not evaluated professionally. The readers decide what is good or bad. In fact on Knol's FAQ page, it states, " The Knol site allows anyone to write and manage knols through a browser on any computer.…We don't edit knols nor do we try to enforce any particular viewpoint."
Will you get paid for writing for these sites?
Again it breaks down to three out of the four sites you will be paid something. Google's Knol project is the odd man out. Since there is no evaluation process, it stands to reason that there is no payment for articles published through Google's Knol project.
HowStuffWorks pays once an article is accepted. They assign the article to you and if they like it, they buy it. It is a work-for-hire contract. This means that HowStuffWorks owns the copyright, not you, so make sure this isn't an article you think you could place elsewhere before submitting.
Suite101's pay system is similar to eHow in that it is based on a ranking system. However, an added feature is that Suite101 contracts with Google AdSense to publish ads on all the stories. The contributing writers get a portion of the ad commissions. Suite101 says it averages among all their contributors to be an earning of approximately $4.15 per page viewed.
About.com compensates their Guides, too. Compensation is based on the number of views to your GuideSite or page. Each year, the editors look at your "page view growth" to set the compensation rate for the next year. If you have more views than the last year, your compensation rate increases. New Guides are guaranteed $725 per month. Some Guides make over $100,000 per year.
What do the editors expect from their writers?
About.com requires its Guides to publish two full-length articles every 14 days and to blog one to three times a week. The website didn't defined full-length article. On the web in general, articles average about 650-700 words.
Suite101's contract for contributing writers requires the writer to publish 10 articles every three months. The articles must be 400-600 words. You may publish more than that but since the editors are looking for detailed and well-researched articles, 10 articles in 12 weeks will likely keep you booked.
HowStuffWorks doesn't list a minimum publishing requirement for its readers. The site does state it seeks writers who can "finish assignments in a timely manner (typically two weeks from assignment to completion)" and who can "adapt to the HowStuffWorks voice and article structure."
Google's Knol project has no expectations of its writers.
You may ask if it is worth it to sign on with one or all of these sites. (I saw no mention of exclusivity being required.) The web is growing and changing like no other market on earth. With the exception of Google's Knol project, these companies have spent 10 or more years providing information to web readers. If you have the expertise, the time and the inclination to meet their publishing demands, then you should give them a try. You have nothing to lose.
