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Scripted – A Writer’s Review

As I continue to try out various online content brokers for fit, I was led to Scripted as a potential viable option. Reviews tended to be positive, with praise given for fair compensation (as far as content brokers go) to writers. I decided to give it a shot.

Overview

Scripted advertises the ability for businesses to order content on demand, without minimum, to be developed by “matched” writers within the company’s specific industry within five business days. Additionally, companies may solicit pitches from writers to generate content ideas. All content is edited by Scripted editors, and companies may leverage an additional round of revisions as needed.

On demand content pricing starts at $99 for a standard writer, and $149 for a specialist. For companies with high volume needs, a managed services package can be built. All pitch solicitations are free. Scripted editorial review along with included revision rounds provide the company ample opportunity to request changes as needed to help ensure the delivery of a quality product.

Writer Compensation

The pay depends on several factors: the type of assignment, the client, and the specific Specialty. I’ve seen standard blog posts of 350-450 words paying anywhere from $28-$60 so far. In my real-life experience, I’ve been paid anywhere from 7 cents to 14 cents per word. In comparison, WriterAccess pays its 5-star writers 5.6 cents/word and its highest 6-star writers 7 cents to $1.40/word.

Payment is distributed on the 15th and the last day of each month. A bit inconvenient is the fact that Scripted does not use PayPal, only Bill.com. Signing up is easy, however, and there is an option to receive payment electronically similarly to PayPal.

Hiring Process

The process to get started is relatively simple. Create an account online with basic name, email, and password information, and you’ll receive an email asking you to complete your online profile before applying to Industries. At that point you can select an Industry you’re interested in, such as Lifestyle & Travel, Medicine, Healthcare & Science, Food & Beverage, Customer Management Tools, Coding – you get the picture – the sky is really the limit. I believe there have been some changes made since I applied, meaning that you now only have to apply for Specialties instead of actual Industries.

You will be asked to fill out an online application and include a writing sample specific to the industry to be reviewed. I learned the hard way that the writing sample must be published online with your byline to be accepted – posts or articles that were ghostwritten or not published online will not be accepted. Once your application is complete, Scripted will review and get back to you with a decision within a few days (I have heard that this can take up to two weeks, but I received my response back within two days).

Once approved, you will be assigned a rating (on a 1-100 scale) based on your writing samples. This rating determines how quickly you will receive the opportunity to claim new jobs. Writers with the highest ratings have first dibs on pretty much everything so that clients are receiving top quality content. Important to note is the fact that your rating remains fluid. This is good news if you want to improve it – but once you’re at a rating you desire, you have to work hard to maintain it. Failing to submit work by deadlines and/or receiving negative client feedback can hurt your rating. Likewise, submitting work well before due dates and receiving client accolades will increase your rating. Clients who really love your work can “favorite” you, meaning that you will receive first right of refusal on any future jobs from that client.

Finding Jobs

Scripted makes this easy. Your dashboard will list all Unclaimed Jobs that you are eligible to accept. All pertinent information is included: what the assignment is, what the pay is, how long the article must be, due date, and any additional specific instructions (usually included as an attachment). Once you find a job you’re interested in and eligible for, you can accept it to begin working on it.

You may also pitch jobs for clients looking for article or blog content ideas. They will share a general idea of the type of content they’re looking for, and then you can pitch a few sentences of your ideas for review. I’ve had success with this and there always seems to be quite a lot of work to pitch.

Something that confused me in the past with Scripted is the difference between Industries and Specialties. The two seemed distinct yet overlapping. But I am happy to report that Scripted recently made changes that did away with Industries altogether, so that now writers must only apply to Specialties of interest. The more Specialties you are approved for, the better your odds of receiving work.

One aspect of Scripted that I really appreciate is the daily summary email that goes out. It lets you know what jobs are available, what jobs have been paid, and other interesting tidbits or opportunities related to you.

Submitting Content

Once you have accepted a job, it must be completed by the deadline listed or your rating will drop. Likewise, if you complete it well ahead of deadline, you will automatically have points added to each of your Industries/Specialties. Although I opt to create my content in MS Word, you could easily create it directly in the Scripted text editor – it is intuitive and auto-saves every few minutes.

Scripted formatting does have some nuances to become familiar with – for example, how various types of headings are used. If the client has requested an image, writers can select from free domain images right from within the Scripted platform.

Once the writer is satisfied with the content, it can be submitted. It will be run through spellcheck along with an automated plagiarism checker, and any issues with either will be presented to the writer to either edit or override. Once the piece has been successfully submitted, it will go to a Scripted editor for review before being sent to the client.

So far I have mixed feelings about the Scripted editorial process. At times I hear nothing – but no news is good news! Other times, I have received very helpful feedback regarding formatting or the way something is laid out or presented. But I have had a couple of instances where I have received feedback that was unclear and/or simply opinion based (e.g. nothing was wrong, just the editor felt I should write a portion of the piece differently). It seems that there are a variety of editors reviewing work and your experience will likely depend on who is reviewing your piece. Interestingly, I seem to receive most editor revision requests in the evening (Pacific Time Zone).

Client Response

Once a client has reviewed and accepted your article, you will receive an email from Scripted letting you know and confirming that payment will be processed on the next pay day. I have not yet received revision requests from a client, but do know that they are entitled to one round. I do like the fact that Scripted will review any articles rejected by the client for a determination of whether the rejection reasons were valid – this gives the writer the benefit of the doubt and helps shield a rating from being decreased when not appropriate.

I have noticed that the editor and client turnaround at Scripted is not as fast as at some other content brokers – I have waited anywhere from several days to several weeks for a piece to move out of editorship. This doesn’t really bother me, but may be something to consider for writers who are depending on more immediate payment.

What I Like

Fair compensation for a content broker – I’ve received anywhere from 7 cents to 14 cents per word
Payment distributed twice per month
Ability to pitch ideas for various clients, with pitch opportunities always available
Opportunity to increase writer rating for work submitted ahead of deadlines and for client accolades
Opportunity to be “favorited” by clients who love your work, for first right of refusal on future projects
Emails letting writers know when a high volume of jobs has become available in their Industries/Specialties
Emails providing writers the opportunity to take over jobs that other writers were unable to complete
Fair deadlines, usually at least a day or two out

What I Don’t Like

Longer editorial and client review/approval turnaround than for other content brokers I work with – I have experienced several days to several weeks
Having to apply for various different Specialties individually – in my opinion, a strong writer should be able to research and write on a variety of topics, and understand which jobs are best suited for them
Payment via Bill.com, which is a slight inconvenience when others all pay through PayPal
Writing opportunities seem a bit sporadic – feast or famine within my Specialties; although this may be remedied by continuing to apply for more Specialties
Editorial process largely contingent on the specific editor assigned to review your work
No writer attribution (standard with content brokers)

Conclusion

I absolutely recommend adding Scripted to your content broker stockpile. Pay rates are some of the best I’ve seen for this type of writing, and the assignments I’ve taken have been varied, interesting, and inclusive of the appropriate level of detail to develop a quality article.

On the flip side, there is a relatively longer editorial process and payment via Bill.com as opposed to PayPal. But I feel that these can easily be overlooked for the type of work and compensation available.

As with other content brokers, I would recommend adding Scripted as a strong complement to all of your sources of work. Without being approved to write for many Specialties, there simply aren’t enough jobs to provide the likely income desired. But the jobs that do become available are high quality and enthusiastically endorsed by me.

WriterAccess – A Writer’s Review

As I get my feet wet in the world of freelance writing, I am trying out various content brokers while I build my portfolio and determine which brokers (if any) are the best fit for me. The idea behind a content broker (or “content mill,” in some cases) is that the broker finds the client, the writer claims and completes the writing job, and then both the broker and writer share the client’s payment to varying degrees. Instead of collecting a one-time finders’ fee, the content broker takes a percentage of the payment on an ongoing basis, as long as the client continues to utilize the broker’s and writer’s services. This means that it is in the broker’s best interest to prohibit direct content between the client and the writer, and content brokers will typically go to great lengths to ensure that this does not occur.

One content broker I have been working with recently is WriterAccess, and I would like to share my opinions on the experience thus far.

Overview

WriterAccess markets itself as a platform providing clients “great content created by U.S.-based writers.” The tagline is, “Our writers go through hell to get from us to you. They’re all US-based, tested, screened professionals.” Potential clients sign up for an account and then select an acceptable writing level, from two to six stars, that is priced accordingly. Currently, the pricing model is 2-star writing quality for 2 cents/word, 3-star quality for 4 cents/word, 4-star quality for 6 cents/word, 5-star quality for 8 cents/word, and 6-star quality for 10 cents to $2.00/word. This means, for example, that a 300-word article written by a 4-star writer would cost the client $18.70 for a pay-as-you-go, or free, account.

Clients then have the option to sign up for different accounts if their needs evolve beyond the pay-as-you-go model. Depending on the client’s needs and required support, they can opt for inclusive accounts costing between $500 and $10,000+ monthly.

Writer Compensation

WriterAccess is equally transparent with writers in terms of compensation. Pay increases as the writer’s quality level increases, with current compensation yields as follows:

2-star writers: 1.4 cents/word
3-star writers: 2.8 cents/word
4-star writers: 4.2 cents/word
5-star writers: 5.6 cents/word
6-star writers: 7 cents to $1.40/word

This means that a 4-star writer would receive $12.60 for a 300-word article, just over 67% of what the client pays. This is not bad for 4 or higher level writers when compared to payouts from some of the other major content brokers.

Payment is distributed bi-monthly via PayPal, and I’ve not experienced any issues with getting paid.

Hiring Process

The hiring process for WriterAccess is pretty involved, as advertised. It is clear that they’re looking for quality writers. The first step is to create a Writer Account with typical resume, contact information, and social media profile information. The writer must then write a summary of experience, in the third person, of up to 500 words. This is followed by additional third person summaries for various industries and asset types that the writer has experience in. Once submitted, it takes a few days for WriterAccess to review the application, at which point they will email the writer with a yay or nay decision.

If approved, the writer then becomes part of the Reserve Directory which, as far as I can tell, really means there is minimal (if any) odds of actually receiving work. To become a part of the Rated Directory, the writer is instructed to complete their writer profile, including additional third person summaries for experience, specialties, interests, and finally including various writing samples. So yeah – it’s a lot of writing. PayPal payment information and a headshot are required, and then the writer is asked to complete a General Writing Test.

Being a longtime writer, I assumed that the test would be a breeze and honestly sped through it – but was surprised when I didn’t score as highly as expected. I scored 75% on the 44 question test, placing me in roughly the top 80-85th percentile of all tested writers per the handy-dandy graphic. At this point, I had completed the necessary steps to submit my Rated Directory application.

A few days later, I received an email congratulating me on my acceptance to the Rated Directory, and advising that my debut ranking was Star Level 4. At first I was a bit disappointed with the ranking until I was told that apparently 4 is the highest level a new writer can be assigned. The good news is that the debut ranking doesn’t remain static; rather it fluctuates over time based on the volume, speed, and quality of content developed as rated by platform editors and clients.

Finding Jobs

This is the fun part. Once accepted, you have a user-friendly dashboard available to you that lists all of your personal profile information, statistics, and job opportunities. There are two ways to find jobs on WriterAccess: the first is to search Available Content Orders (only those offered for your specific writing level and lower), and the second is to pitch for Available Casting Calls. Once you find a Content Order you are interested in, or are selected as the winning pitch for a Casting Call, you are able to claim the order which then prevents other writers from viewing/working on it. Each order will have an associated due date, and will list the total pay ray rate for the requested number of words.

Submitting Content

Once you claim an order, you have an obligation to create quality content within the timeframe and guidelines specified (or risk a lowered writing level). Although there is a text editor included on the site, I prefer to draft my content in MS Word and then copy and paste into the editor, correcting any formatting issues as necessary. Once completed, you will be prompted to save the content and then the site will run it through Copyscape to identify any plagiarism issues. Once you approve a final version, it will be sent off to the site/editors and subsequently the client for review.

Typically within a few days, you will receive either an email confirming acceptance of the content or requesting revisions. Fortunately I have not yet had any revision requests, so am not quite sure how many requests (if limited) can be made.

Client Response

Upon approving an article, the client can send the writer comments via the platform’s messaging service and is asked to rate performance on the assignment either Below Expectations, Met Expectations, or Exceeds Expectations. This information is then maintained on your dashboard.

A great surprise that I didn’t initially realize is that the client can also opt to tip you for your work! So in addition to your regular rate, you can receive as much of a tip that the client feels appropriate (so far I’ve seen about 20%). A very nice and welcome feature that further encourages great work.

The client, if pleased, can then opt to add you to their Love List, which is a list of their preferred writers to approach directly for future assignments.

What I Like

On-time payment via PayPal
Transparent and fair compensation relative to other content brokers, with the opportunity to increase your rate
Opportunity to receive tips at the client’s discretion!
Interesting writing topics and opportunities
Ability to apply for Casting Calls for additional work
Opportunity to be added to Love Lists for more steady work from previous clients
Fair deadlines (haven’t seen assignments with 2 hour turnarounds, for example)
Community forums with general writing information shared amongst writers

What I Don’t Like

Long (excessive) application process with many writing summaries and samples required, along with a more challenging than expected test
Work opportunities seem sporadic at my writing level: feast or famine
No writer attribution (standard with content brokers)
Potential for writing level to be decreased if not every deadline is met, or if client is unhappy with the content

Conclusion

At this point, I consider WriterAccess a strong content broker in my freelance writing arsenal. Although the application process is long and tedious, it makes me feel confident that I am working in the company of strong writers. I enjoy the writing topics available, and love the fact that clients can tip me on top of my rate when they love my work.

On the flip side, I am unclear as to how and at what point I will be re-evaluated for a (hopefully) increased writer rating. It also concerns me that potential negative feedback from a client could impact my rating (what if the client was unreasonable, for example?) I do find that writing opportunities are sporadic, at least at Level 4, with either many or none being offered at any point in time.

That said, I see WriterAccess as a strong addition, albeit not primary, source of work for my writing portfolio. I would recommend WriterAccess to other freelance writers looking for interesting content opportunities, fair compensation, and the opportunity to pick up ongoing clients (albeit through the platform).

BlogMutt – A Writer’s Review

In my pursuit of worthwhile content brokers to add to my freelance portfolio, I recently decided to check out BlogMutt. I have to admit that I was initially hesitant, swayed by some online reviews I had read regarding low pay, but ultimately figured I would give it a shot myself to see what I thought.

Overview

BlogMutt is advertised as, “Your business blog’s best friend” and “Your copywriter’s secret weapon.” Potential clients sign up for an account, select a desired blog post length (minimum of 250+ up to 1200+ words), and then choose one of 12 monthly plans (from $89/month for one 250 word blog post per week up to $2959/month for five 1200+ word blog posts per week).

Once signed up, clients enter desired blog post topics and/or keywords, and then wait for writers to submit content. Once blog post submissions are received, the client has the option to accept posts, send them back to the writer for (unlimited) revisions, or reject posts altogether. If there are multiple posts that the client approves of, they can be scheduled out for future posting. For an additional fee, BlogMutt will create, review, and publish all content directly to the client’s blog for a hands-off option.

Writer Compensation

BlogMutt pays writers the following flat fees for each client-accepted blog post. Payment is not available to the writer until the content actually posts – so, if you write a post that the client schedules for a month from now, you will not be eligible for payment on that post until one month out.

250+ Words: $8 (up to 3.2 cents/word)
600+ Words: $19 (up to 3.2 cents/word)
900+ Words: $40 (up to 4.4 cents/word)
1200+ Words: $72 (up to 6 cents/word)

All writers start at Level 1, meaning that they are only eligible to submit 250+ word blog posts for $8 each (if accepted). As writers write a higher volume of high quality content, they earn points that eventually move up their level rankings and allow them to write longer posts. A unique perk for writers is that they begin receiving shares of the company at Level 8.

Assuming a company is on the base $89/month plan for one 250+ word blog post/week, this rate means that a Level 1 writer is being compensated at approximately 39% of what the client pays. This is definitely on the lower end for some of the higher-paying content brokers (WriterAccess, for example, compensates at approximately 67% of the client’s rate for a Level 4 writer).

Also, the kicker is this: writers are only paid if the client accepts their blog post. If a client rejects a post, for whatever reason, the writer is not paid. BlogMutt estimates that this occurs roughly 10% of the time (obviously more for newer writers, and less for more seasoned writers). What many writers will do when this occurs is re-purpose the content for another client, or move it to a personal blog. But this takes additional time, which should be factored into the overall pay rate.

The upside is that BlogMutt pays promptly each week via PayPal, and I’ve experienced no issues getting paid.

Hiring Process

The hiring process for BlogMutt is very simple, a welcome relief from the writers-cramp I endured when applying to some of the other content brokers. Prospective writers sign up for an online account and then complete a very brief online application requesting basic contact information, social media and blog links, and the answer to a one-question test. That’s it!

I expected to hear back within a week or two, but was pleasantly surprised to receive an acceptance email within about a day. The email included a link to an instructional video along with some tips – and then I was ready to go!

Finding Jobs

This is where BlogMutt really shines – it is so darn easy to find work! The Writer’s Dashboard is by far the most user-friendly I have seen to date, with information on the writer’s level, points, content submissions, and available work. “Urgent 7” work is highlighted, referencing clients who are in the most need of upcoming blog posts (perhaps improving writer chances of submission acceptance). Outside of the Urgent 7, there are currently 29 pages of 30 clients each – all looking for content on a variety of topics.

Writers can search for work by filtering on columns listing the required number of posts needed, the number of posts currently in queue, minimum word count, days until next post is needed, and the client’s velocity (posting speed/frequency). Writers can also search by specific topics and interests. There is never an issue of not having enough work, and there are enough different topics to interest every writer. I actually enjoy browsing through the list.

Because all writers are encouraged to write for any client of interest, there is no need to claim jobs at BlogMutt. If you find a topic that you’re interested in writing about – go for it! If the client receives multiple posts on the same topic, one or more will be selected.

Submitting Content

Once you select a client, you will be directed to a client page listing out desired blog post topics, keywords, and related articles to assist with research. Additionally, each client lists their website, blog, and Twitter account information so that writers can get a better feel for voice, tone, and style. Clients are also encouraged to provide other notes to help guide the writer in what they are looking for. This all makes it extremely easy for a writer to have all the information needed right at their fingertips.

Another feature I love is the list of queued, posted, and rejected blog posts for each client. This allows you to read through what the client liked, what they didn’t like, and their comments as to why. Again, very helpful when working with a client for the first time.

BlogMutt is unique in that there are no deadlines. Writers can pick a topic, start on it, stop it, pick it back up, etc. for as long as they want until they’re ready to submit. I love this feature, as it eliminates the time pressure I sometimes feel with looming deadlines for other content brokers. It allows me to write when I am ready and in the right frame of mind.

Once you have a post ready to go, you enter it into the BlogMutt text editor (I typically draft all my posts offline), ensure that the already embedded keywords are placed appropriately, and then submit for auto-review. The auto-review will immediately identify any potential spelling or grammar errors which you are free to change or not. Once that is done, you can then submit it to the client.

Client Response

Once content is submitted, the client has the opportunity to review and respond to it. They may approve and schedule it, provide feedback or notes, or reject the copy altogether. The client is also prompted (but not required) to rate the post 1-5 stars. Fortunately for me, my content has so far been approved without comment, so I have not yet leveraged the messaging feature. But I can easily see my submissions on the dashboard along with their statuses, such as posted, scheduled, or in review. Again, a very intuitive dashboard that makes it clear where your submissions stand.

Once the post is published, your dashboard will reflect that and you will then become eligible for payment.

What I Like

Prompt weekly payment via PayPal
Great writers’ portal and dashboard – the best I have experienced for content brokers
Abundance of work always available for a multitude of clients, industries, topics, and interests
Necessary information to write a good post is all available right on the client’s page
No deadlines
No assignments
Short 250 word blog posts
Tight-knit online community of supportive fellow writers
Prompt client reviews
Straightforward application process
Interesting and engaging company blog
For committed writers, opportunity to eventually own company shares

What I Don’t Like

Low pay, especially at starting Level 1
No opportunity to join at any level higher than Level 1
Payment is contingent on the client’s acceptance of the work (some posts will be ultimately written without pay)
No writer attribution (standard with content brokers)
Volume of points needed to increase level rankings

Conclusion

Despite my initial trepidation, I am being won over by the benefits of writing for BlogMutt. While starting writer pay is low, I value the fact that there is such a myriad of work available, and that I can write on my own time when it is convenient for me. I appreciate not having the pressure of deadlines nor assignments, so that I can choose to write content for clients I’m interested in as I am able. The site’s user interface is clean, intuitive, and actually enjoyable to browse, and the BlogMutt team appears to be very involved with the writers and in social media.

Overall, I recommend BlogMutt as one of multiple sources of work for freelance writers. Considering the starting pay rate, additional writing sources will be needed for improved income opportunities. On the bright side, $8 posts are only 250 words long – so as writers become more familiar with the system and ongoing clients, they should be able to knock out 2-3+ posts an hour. And the benefits of interesting clients, a great system, varied topics, and an engaging community make BlogMutt a fun broker to work with.