I've written four articles so far, only one of which was purchased (written in response to one of the requests). Just by checking the content listings and my own personal experience, I'm getting the uneasy feeling that most of the content submitted to CC by writers is not purchased, and I'd like to know how many articles, of all the articles submitted, are actually purchased. Since there are over 7500 writers here, I imagine the percentage is low. Ballpark figure is fine. Thanks.
And what's the average wait for an article before it's purchased, assuming it will be?
It appears to me that CC makes a good chunk of its income from the earnings of writers who don't make that $50 threshold.
Maybe a little more attention to promotion of the site by CC to potential purchasers might be in order, or a little more pizzazz in the website design might help. Just some suggestions. :wink:
what percentage of content is purchased?
Moderators: Celeste Stewart, Ed, Constant
There is ongoing promotion of this site. Constant does this almost full time, and most of the money the site makes goes right back into advertising.
As for percentages . . . it varies widely. However, the more you write, the more you're likely to sell. The broader your subject matter, the more flexible you are with that subject matter, the more often you upload articles, the more topics you cover . . . these and other factors play huge roles in how many articles you'll sell. Quality is also a significant factor.
Authors here find that their articles can sell the next day, but likewise a year may pass before a similar article sells. Nothing is guaranteed, but the authors who have been here the longest can expound upon what I've said . . . probably with greater knowledge. However, in my experience, authors aren't wasting their time by submitting content. It may take one person a week to make $50 and another person 2 months, but almost everyone makes money here.
Ed
As for percentages . . . it varies widely. However, the more you write, the more you're likely to sell. The broader your subject matter, the more flexible you are with that subject matter, the more often you upload articles, the more topics you cover . . . these and other factors play huge roles in how many articles you'll sell. Quality is also a significant factor.
Authors here find that their articles can sell the next day, but likewise a year may pass before a similar article sells. Nothing is guaranteed, but the authors who have been here the longest can expound upon what I've said . . . probably with greater knowledge. However, in my experience, authors aren't wasting their time by submitting content. It may take one person a week to make $50 and another person 2 months, but almost everyone makes money here.
Ed
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Celeste Stewart
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tifferbugz
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Personally I think it depends on what you submit here as well. Unless I write an article for another place and put it up here for usage-only rights, I don't submit except for requests. I am going to start submitting for more public requests but I haven't had time to do much of that yet. If it's a public request you are still taking a chance that they won't pick your article, but in my opinion it's still better than submitting randomly.
There are many writer's sites that do not pay until you hit their minimums, this site is not like that as they will pay you if you ask for it. It's a great site to write for if you keep your expectations reasonable, work with the system (submit articles that people will actually look for) and realize that you will only get what you put into the site.
There are many writer's sites that do not pay until you hit their minimums, this site is not like that as they will pay you if you ask for it. It's a great site to write for if you keep your expectations reasonable, work with the system (submit articles that people will actually look for) and realize that you will only get what you put into the site.
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Alexandra Heep
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Even if you never make the threshold, and get suspended for some reason, they won't keep your money. I asked that question before and I was assured the money would still be payed.
Most of the sites I frequent have a payment threshold and it's taken me ages there to reach it.
The best way I have found to make money is to not rely on one site or source. Every site is different, and I work by the concept: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I also keep files and printouts of everything I do, as well as payment records.
I actually find the no-fluff design of this site refreshing.
Most of the sites I frequent have a payment threshold and it's taken me ages there to reach it.
The best way I have found to make money is to not rely on one site or source. Every site is different, and I work by the concept: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I also keep files and printouts of everything I do, as well as payment records.
I actually find the no-fluff design of this site refreshing.
Hmmm...tough question. Two months ago, I would have said that about 50%-60% of my work was selling. But then I had to take a brief break for 2 months (well, maybe "had to" is the wrong term...I was doing some short-term missions work and had no internet access), and while I was gone, stuff kept selling (every worker's dream, right? work that keeps on paying even when they aren't working?), so now I'd say about 75% of my stuff has sold. If I were to stop writing altogether, I imagine that number would creep up even farther...but as it is, I'm back and ready to start writing again, so I'm going to (try!) to push it back down to 50%-60%.
In a way, that sort of a number is rather irrelevant, because you *want* to write more than you sell...thereby creating more articles, which you can then sell. It's a delayed-gratification kind of thing, which makes it incredibly hard to measure.
Time to sale also varies, but I write more stuff on spec, and less for requests, than most of the other authors who are making a living here, and I would say that--for work not written for requests--anywhere from two to four months is a good average time between the time I upload it and the time it sells. Of course that's only an average; I've had stuff sell that I uploaded 6 or 8 months ago, and I have stuff sell just a couple of weeks after I write it, even when it wasn't written for any specific request. (Stuff written for a specific request is usually bought within a week or so if the requestor is going to buy it. Otherwise, I start considering it "on spec" and it hangs around until someone else comes along to buy it, again, usually 2-4 months. But then, I generally only write for requests with broad appeal, so that it *can* be picked up by someone else later on if the original requester doesn't buy it.
Does that make any sense? I've been on the road all day, and I'm afraid my sentences may be running together...thank heavens CC doesn't suspend us for forum posts, no?
In a way, that sort of a number is rather irrelevant, because you *want* to write more than you sell...thereby creating more articles, which you can then sell. It's a delayed-gratification kind of thing, which makes it incredibly hard to measure.
Time to sale also varies, but I write more stuff on spec, and less for requests, than most of the other authors who are making a living here, and I would say that--for work not written for requests--anywhere from two to four months is a good average time between the time I upload it and the time it sells. Of course that's only an average; I've had stuff sell that I uploaded 6 or 8 months ago, and I have stuff sell just a couple of weeks after I write it, even when it wasn't written for any specific request. (Stuff written for a specific request is usually bought within a week or so if the requestor is going to buy it. Otherwise, I start considering it "on spec" and it hangs around until someone else comes along to buy it, again, usually 2-4 months. But then, I generally only write for requests with broad appeal, so that it *can* be picked up by someone else later on if the original requester doesn't buy it.
Does that make any sense? I've been on the road all day, and I'm afraid my sentences may be running together...thank heavens CC doesn't suspend us for forum posts, no?
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Gail Kavanagh
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I've never kept tabs on percentages, but there have been quiet periods when very little sold, followed by rushes when a lot of articles sold in a few days. There's no rule, but I like CC and this is why:
After years of slogging around the traps finding markets, formulating queries, writing articles and stories, sending them off, paying for postage (if they would not accept email) and waiting for months for a reply, being with CC is like having an agent. CC beats other sites cold because the editors will not accept anything below standard, they work hard to bring in quality buyers, and thoroughly deserve their percentage of sales. Best of all, when I cannot get down to writing (for example, family matters have now kept me out of the loop for weeks) the articles go on selling by themselves. I've done absolutely nothing this month, but still have money in CC.
It's very unfair to accuse CC of making money from writers who don't reach their threshhold, as you can request your pay out. Also the site is being constantly promoted and updated for our benefit as well as the buyers.
I have been with content sites that had absolutely no editing, no promotion, no respect for the writer, and it showed. But like everything else it takes time to find your feet, and come up with the kind of articles that suit your style and that will sell, sometimes over and again. Either that or wait months for an editor to tell you you've wasted your time and effort by submitting.
CC rocks.
After years of slogging around the traps finding markets, formulating queries, writing articles and stories, sending them off, paying for postage (if they would not accept email) and waiting for months for a reply, being with CC is like having an agent. CC beats other sites cold because the editors will not accept anything below standard, they work hard to bring in quality buyers, and thoroughly deserve their percentage of sales. Best of all, when I cannot get down to writing (for example, family matters have now kept me out of the loop for weeks) the articles go on selling by themselves. I've done absolutely nothing this month, but still have money in CC.
It's very unfair to accuse CC of making money from writers who don't reach their threshhold, as you can request your pay out. Also the site is being constantly promoted and updated for our benefit as well as the buyers.
I have been with content sites that had absolutely no editing, no promotion, no respect for the writer, and it showed. But like everything else it takes time to find your feet, and come up with the kind of articles that suit your style and that will sell, sometimes over and again. Either that or wait months for an editor to tell you you've wasted your time and effort by submitting.
CC rocks.
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Celeste Stewart
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my response and thanks to all of you for yours
Wow! I had no idea I'd get so many replies to my inquiry. First of all, I really didn't pick up on the fact that CC will pay you, upon request, if you make less than $50. Maybe it's mentioned in one of the FAQ's, but I sure didn't see it. I'm relieved about that, because it seemed unfair and it bothered me.
Secondly, being pretty much a newbie with only four articles under my belt (the only one sold so far, my first out of the chute, written in response to a request; another two also written in response to requests; and the fourth something I just enjoyed writing and want to sell but haven't yet), I also didn't realize that there can be a relatively lengthy waiting period before articles sell. So that's another bit of reassurance for me, since I'm impatient by nature and sometimes give up too soon.
As for writing for more than one website, I'm currently doing two, which is plenty for me since I'm a poor multitasker (multiwriter?) and I do a better job concentrating on not more than two at a time. I'm a slow, methodical writer who spends a lot of time fact checking and rewriting sentences, and then getting up and daydreaming, and since I have other things I have to do in "real life", two's plenty for me. However, I do wish I could get to the point where I could actually make a decent (not extravagant) living at Internet writing. Do any of you manage to do that? Any recommendations for good writing sites besides CC?
Also interesting were the percentages offered by Celeste the "geek". They don't sound too shabby.
I'm impressed with how content you all seem to be with CC. Maybe I'll stick around a while and see what comes up.
Secondly, being pretty much a newbie with only four articles under my belt (the only one sold so far, my first out of the chute, written in response to a request; another two also written in response to requests; and the fourth something I just enjoyed writing and want to sell but haven't yet), I also didn't realize that there can be a relatively lengthy waiting period before articles sell. So that's another bit of reassurance for me, since I'm impatient by nature and sometimes give up too soon.
As for writing for more than one website, I'm currently doing two, which is plenty for me since I'm a poor multitasker (multiwriter?) and I do a better job concentrating on not more than two at a time. I'm a slow, methodical writer who spends a lot of time fact checking and rewriting sentences, and then getting up and daydreaming, and since I have other things I have to do in "real life", two's plenty for me. However, I do wish I could get to the point where I could actually make a decent (not extravagant) living at Internet writing. Do any of you manage to do that? Any recommendations for good writing sites besides CC?
Also interesting were the percentages offered by Celeste the "geek". They don't sound too shabby.
I'm impressed with how content you all seem to be with CC. Maybe I'll stick around a while and see what comes up.
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Celeste Stewart
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Glad to offer reassurances. Many of us are doing quite well and a few of us are making a decent living here at CC. For others, it's a place to get some extra spending money and writing credits under the belt. It takes hard work and nothing is a sure thing but if you can find your groove here, you can make money 
Good luck, feel free to ask questions! This community is helpful and we rarely bite.
Good luck, feel free to ask questions! This community is helpful and we rarely bite.
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tifferbugz
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Sun May 20, 2007 6:09 pm
I make a living freelance writing. However, only a very small part of my income comes from CC. That's mainly due to having too many other things going on to do much more than private requests here. I think to make a living as a freelance writer it's very important to not put all your eggs in one basket, so to speak. I write for 5 companies consistently and generally have 1 or 2 side projects. That way it lessens the blow (somewhat) if you lose a consistent gig or if a site like CC slows down for a couple of months.^^
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Alexandra Heep
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- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:04 am
Since I have a full-time day job (not related to writing), I don't make a living here.
However, I signed up around 4th of July and met the threshold in time to get paid August 1st.
I am the opposite, I can not focus on just one thing. I am happiest if I have many things going at the same time. Unfortunately I get distracted by the daydreaming too ...
I only started writing in June, but I make enough with all the different writing things I do to keep my car filled with gas, and eat out once in a while. Not an easy feat considering the gas prices!
It would take me a very long time to get good enough to make a living with just writing. Then again, I don't really want to, as then it would take the fun out of it for me. Maybe in the distant future ...
Back to percentages: About 75% of my public request writings sold. However, I am probably not the best standard to go by. I currently only have nine articles up for sale, and only submitted about 15 in total to CC since July. For me it's more about supplemental income while doing something I enjoy.
However, I signed up around 4th of July and met the threshold in time to get paid August 1st.
I am the opposite, I can not focus on just one thing. I am happiest if I have many things going at the same time. Unfortunately I get distracted by the daydreaming too ...
I only started writing in June, but I make enough with all the different writing things I do to keep my car filled with gas, and eat out once in a while. Not an easy feat considering the gas prices!
It would take me a very long time to get good enough to make a living with just writing. Then again, I don't really want to, as then it would take the fun out of it for me. Maybe in the distant future ...
Back to percentages: About 75% of my public request writings sold. However, I am probably not the best standard to go by. I currently only have nine articles up for sale, and only submitted about 15 in total to CC since July. For me it's more about supplemental income while doing something I enjoy.