Money Matters Archives – Page 2 of 4

7 Productivity Hacks for Busy Freelance Writers

Now that I am off the corporate clock and on my own time, I find myself working more than ever. There are no longer any start and stop hours to bookend the day, so I often find myself writing at 6am and then finishing another article up at 10pm. Weekends are for write-a-thons while hubby takes over the lion’s share of kiddie duties so I can work in peace.

It didn’t take me long to realize that I was going to need to figure out how to optimize my new work schedule. I wanted to ensure that I was getting the right things done at the right time as I continue to grow in my new line of work. Most importantly, I wanted to be productive while still having time for my family and other pursuits. Following are some tips based on what’s worked for me.

Create a Schedule

While trying to accomplish everything at once, I found that I was getting nothing actually completed. Bouncing between freelance assignments, blog posts, email, social media, and research was overwhelming and not conducive to progress. So I decided I needed to develop a schedule to keep myself on track.

I decided that I would complete all paid work during the regular work week, Monday through Friday. I identified the specific periods of time I could work – before the boys wake up, during nap time, and after they go to sleep. And I am disciplined about using that time only to work.

With paid work occurring during the week, that left all unpaid work (e.g. blog posts, research, and other) for the weekend. This was and remains much easier because hubby helps significantly with the kids.

Coming up with my own work schedule has helped me focus on what I should be working on at any point in time. It also helps me better assess what assignments I can complete within the remaining nap times or bedtime periods of the day. An added benefit is that a firm schedule allows me to be in the moment with my children when I’m not working, relieving any guilt I may have formerly felt about not working during every second of the day.

Set a Daily Earnings Goal

After creating a schedule, it made sense to back into a daily earnings goal based on the hours I had each day to dedicate to my work. I came up with a number that was a “reasonable stretch” and have so far had no issues achieving it. Some days I take on higher paying assignments, so am able to reach the goal sooner. When that happens, I simply use my subsequent work hours to blog, research, or work on other related items.

This helps me identify a clean “end” to each day – once I achieve my earnings goal, my work day has ended. I am no longer writing to the point of exhaustion simply because the boys are asleep. Instead, I can choose whether I want to continue to write or if I want to take the rest of the day off.

Set a Daily Volume Goal for Unpaid Work

The daily earnings goal was great for my paid work, but I still had a lot of unpaid work to do on my blog, website, and other items that I needed to fit in somewhere. So for my weekend unpaid days, I came up with volume goals instead. Meaning that I have a goal each weekend to write a specific number of posts and complete a certain number of related tasks on my To Do list.

As with my daily earnings goal, this helps me more cleanly start and stop my weekend work days. Some weekends I may bang out all the volume goals by late Saturday morning, and then have the rest of the weekend free. Other weekends, I spread it out during times when we’re not otherwise occupied. If I know we have a weekend trip coming up, I will increase the volume goals in the preceding weeks to make up for it.

This again helps me better structure my day in order to work around other activities throughout the weekend. Once my volume goals have been reached, I am free to enjoy the rest of the weekend without feeling that I should be working instead.

Come Up with Assignment Review Guidelines

Every writer knows that a piece could, in theory, never be finished. Sometimes perfectionism comes into play and I find myself reviewing and revising a piece over and over because it doesn’t seem quite impeccable yet. I knew that this would kill my rate and my sanity, so I decided that I needed to self-impose guidelines as to how many times I would review and revise a piece once written.

In my case, I allow myself no more than two read-throughs and one set of revisions – unless a glaring error is caught during the second read-through. Then I submit the piece. Even if it doesn’t feel perfect. And you know what? I have yet to have a piece rejected using those guidelines.

Understand When to Leave It

We’ve all been there – a deadline is looming, you’re trying to power through a piece, and yet it just isn’t working. Whereas writing usually just flows like a conversation, you’re trying entirely too hard to put this thing together. Forcing it. And ultimately spending a lot of extra time on something that simply isn’t gelling in that moment.

I have finally learned that in those situations, it is best to resist the temptation to force it. I can now recognize the signs that something isn’t flowing the way it should, and I allow myself to listen to those. I put it away. I sleep on it. And then I come back to it in the morning when my mind is fresh.

This has significantly helped me in terms of wasted time and drafts when my brain simply isn’t in the mode to write. Instead of struggling through hours on a piece, I wait until my mind is fresh and then let it flow. Now – I understand that sometimes pieces are just difficult, no matter how you cut it. But there is a difference between challenging subject matter and a temporary mental block when you just need some time to reboot.

Focus Only on the Task at Hand

I’ve always been the type to bounce between my work, social media, text messages, and anything else that beeps or rings for my attention. And this was killing my productivity, especially when I max out at only a couple of hours at a time to work. So I decided to turn off the distractions. The phone goes on the shelf in the other room. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and all the rest of them get shut down completely. Ringing phones go to voicemail. And I completely focus on the task that I’m working on.

This tiny change has saved me an immense amount of time. Whereas before I justified the interruptions as just a few seconds each time, I now realize that I was not taking into account the several minutes it would then take me to get my thoughts realigned back on whatever piece I was working on. Eliminating those distractions keeps me focused and able to concentrate on the task at hand.

Schedule Time for Play

Anyone who works for themselves understands the slippery slope of finding yourself working all the time. While that is doable and even necessary for short term goals or spikes, it is simply not sustainable over the long term. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

So now I consciously schedule “me time” into my weeks. And yes – it has to be conscious or you simply won’t do it. Whether it’s a meal with friends, a movie, a day out with the family, or a weekend or more of no screens, this time refreshes and re-energizes me. I come back to work with a new perspective, rested and ready to go. And it shows in the quality of my work.

These tips, combined, have saved me time and anxiety as I’ve settled into my new role. They’ve allowed me to maximize the organization of my days and work to encourage optimal productivity. What other tips do you have for busy freelance writers?

34 Money-Saving Tips From Real People

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, earning me a small commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are 100% my and contributors’ own.

As we begin the new year, it is a good time to take a look at financial plans for 2016. If you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for ways to streamline your budget and save money. Working for myself has only increased my desire to find ways to buy for less.

So I wondered if there were any new tips I could add to my arsenal. I tapped some of my favorite people and communities and was rewarded with a list of realistic tips that can easily be implemented, along with my own.

Learn 34 money-saving tips from real people! #Budget #Saving #FrugalLiving Share on X

Shopping

Ebates: I LOVE Ebates!! I have $83 waiting for me just for this month alone!
-Lissette

Ebates: The Ebates cash back shopping network is currently offering a $10 Gift Card bonus when you open a new account and spend $25 or more at your favorite store. Earn cash back on over 1,800 stores when you shop online thru Ebates.
-Anna

Paribus: Now there’s a service – Paribus – that automatically gets you a refund on the price difference at 18 different retailers including Amazon, Macy’s, and Target. Paribus is like insurance that you’ll always get the best price, even when retailers like Amazon change their prices many times each day. It’s free to sign-up and Paribus charges only 25% of the refund amount AFTER they’ve secured you a refund. Just connect Paribus with your email account in a few clicks, and shop online as you would normally. Whenever a price drops or you miss a deal, Paribus files a price adjustment, scoops up the difference, and sends it your way.
-Miriam at The Very Best Baby Stuff

Garage Sales & Consignment Shops: As a family of five, we spend around $1000 a year on clothing (including shoes, underwear, socks, coats). Total. If I had to guess, about 90% of our family’s wardrobe comes from garage sales. The other 10% comes from the sales rack and consignment shops. I can’t remember the last time I paid full price for anything! Here are some tips I use when I buy second hand clothing.
-Rachel at Holy Craft

Mobile Apps: Take advantage of money-saving apps and sites for a variety of stores.
-Anna

Target: Sign up for the Target REDCard to save 5% off every single purchase, AND free shipping when purchasing online.
-Faye

Clothing Swap: Host a clothing swap. Everyone brings clothing that their kids have outgrown. If you bring a bag, you take a bag.
-Alison

Food & Meals

$50 a Week Food Budget: Think a $50 a week food budget for five is not possible? You might just be convinced otherwise! Take a look for some super tips on how to feed your family on $50 a week. For these tips, I am basing it off my family of five.
-Michelle at Thrifty DIY Diva

Freezing Food: If you’re like most people in America, you probably end up throwing away your fair share of food. I know I have the best of intentions for everything I put in my shopping cart, but inevitably end up having to throw items away from time to time because I didn’t get to them in time. With a bit of forethought, you can limit your trips to the trash can. 10 Things to Stop Wasting and Start Freezing.
-Aileen at Aileen Cooks

Homemade Pasta: Over the course of the year, your family will save $123.76 – more than ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS just by making your own homemade pasta!
-Cassie at DIY Jahn

Meal Planning: Always shop your kitchen first, then the sales. Write a list and stick to it every time.
-Alison

Don’t Buy Coffee: Don’t like coffee? That actually saves me quite a bit of money. I save all the money that would have been spent on coffee, along with my change.
-Glenneth @YourPathToFit

HomeCancel Cable: Cancel cable and sign up for Netflix and Hulu instead.
-AlisonSwitch Cell Phone Carriers: Cut your monthly cell phone bill by 50% or more by switching to a low-cost carrier. Many of these low-cost carriers are owned by the big name carriers, meaning you receive the same service and same towers for a percentage of the cost.
–Faye

Switch Landline to VoIP Carrier: By switching to a low-cost carrier, I am now paying only $10 a month for TWO land lines (personal and business). This includes add-on services such as voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, etc. as well as free long distance to Canada.
–Faye

Laundry: As the mother of four, laundry was a huge expense. If I used the cheap soap, the stains wouldn’t come out, so I’d have to toss the clothes and buy new. But the better brands (Tide) were so expensive. My solution was to use Tide on whites and colors, and cheapo on jeans, sheets, towels, and stuff that really didn’t matter.
-Karen at ADHD Inattentive

Declutter Your Home: We made the decision to become debt free and live a simpler, happier life and since then have taken many steps to make this decision/goal a reality… The one I want to focus on today is decluttering our house – and how life-changing it can truly be. How cleaning our house helped us to pay off our debt.
-Cassie at DIY Jahn

Stop Using Paper Towels: I stopped using paper towels and that has saved me a lot of money! I did it gradually, introducing cloth napkins first and then finally washcloths on the kitchen counter instead of paper towels (which now live under the sink!) This is how I did it.
-Brittany at Champagne and Cheerios

Baby Proofing: Basic baby proofing doesn’t take much effort and doesn’t have to be expensive. We used the humble pool noodle, yes, pool noodle, very effectively throughout our home. Just slice down the middle and stick onto wherever you want to create a bumper.
-Maja at Mumma Hack

Reuseable Baby Wipes: Make your own resuseable baby wipes with cotton flannel squares. Then mix up 1/2 cup of baby wash with 1/2 cup of baby oil and 1 1/2 cups of water in a spray bottle. At each diaper change spray the baby’s bottom with the solution and then wipe clean with the cotton flannel squares. Wash the wipes with hot water and dry in the dryer.
-Alison

Fun

Library: We use the library for everything – not just books! Our local library offers free tickets to local museums, so that is how I take my kids places. The library has lots of movies, so I tend to let my kids pick out movies to borrow from the library, versus buying or renting. They also have lots of free entertainment in the evenings that we attend. Plus, they have several meetup style events during the day for small children that we attend regularly (free play, story time, legos, movies).
-Aileen at Aileen Cooks

Library: Use the library! Borrow books, movies, and take part in free library activities. Mine hosted a gingerbread house decorating party, a kids Christmas party, pumpkin decorating, and more. All activities are free.
–Alison

First Birthday Parties: I approached the moms of my son’s four neighborhood friends and asked if they would be interested in a joint celebration for just our babies and the parents. They all loved the idea.
–Miriam

Other

Did I Need It Yesterday?: When I’m faced with small purchase decisions, I ask myself, “Did I need it yesterday?” It’s easy to remember, simple to use, and 100% effective at keeping me from buying things I don’t need!
-Lena at What Mommy Does

No Spend Challenge: The challenge is fairly simply, yet fairly intense as well: Throughout the entire month of January we will not be allowed to spend a dime. Why did we choose this challenge? Simple: so that we could change our lives and our spending habits by jump starting the new year with no spending at all.
-Cassie at DIY Jahn

Sell Your Stuff/Services: As a Mom, it’s hard to make extra money sometimes, especially if you are a Stay at Home Mommy. It seems like we are always invited to attend fun play dates or activities that cost money. I’m going to share a few ways I have made some extra money that are (mostly) easy.
-Shannon at Daily Momtivity

User Testing: Got 10 minutes on your hands and like checking out new websites? Sign up to become a User Testing tester and earn $10-$15 for every short test you take. I make an additional few hundred dollars each month doing this in my spare time, when I am on the computer already.
-Faye

Budget: Make a budget and stick to it. THIS is the biggest money saver. Create a zero dollar budget so that every dollar is accounted for. Stick to the budget and see where you can cut things out or down.
-Alison

Bill Yourself: Treat your own personal savings the same way you treat your bills. Make it a line item on your budget and pay a set amount to it consistently every month. Better yet, set it up so that a specific amount is transferred to a separate savings account each month – just as if you were setting up automatic bill payments. This ensures that you’re “paying yourself first” and becoming accustomed to living on what is left over.
–Faye

So there you have it – 34 great tips being used by real people. These are a great way to jump start your 2016 budget in the right direction.

What other tips do you have to add to the list?

9 Reasons I Love the Target REDCard – And You Should Too

Typically I shy away from store credit cards like the plague. And why wouldn’t I? High interest rates, limited usage potential, and another balance to carry – all for a teaser of Would you like to save 20% off your purchase today? No thanks. I will stick with my own carefully researched high-reward credit cards.

Target was one of the worst pushers. Every single shopping trip, for years, I would be asked if I wanted to sign up for their REDcard. And every single time, for years, I said NO.

Until I quit my job and became more focused on savings opportunities. I finally looked into the REDcard in more detail, decided to sign up, and now love it. I genuinely wish that I had signed up years sooner.

What Is It?

The Target REDcard is a store-specific credit or debit card that will save you 5% on every purchase. Now this is an important distinction – credit OR debit card – yes, there is a choice. I had mistakenly believed that only debit cards were available, which I am not a fan of for a variety of reasons. But a credit card option is offered as well (and is what I went with).

The Target Debit Card is chip-and-pin enabled and draws directly from your checking account. I discourage the use of debit cards for payment, even those that are chip-and-pin enabled, for security and other reasons. But this may be a viable option for someone who is building credit and may not qualify for the Target Credit Card. When paying with the Debit Card, the cardholder will save 5% off of every purchase. In addition, the cardholder can withdraw up to $40 at store checkout. There is no annual fee for the card.

The Target Credit Card similarly provides the cardholder 5% off every purchase with no annual fee. But there is a credit check process to go through at which point a credit limit will be assigned. Note that the APR is very high at 22.90%. This means that the card only saves you money if you pay off your entire balance each month. If you typically carry credit card balances, you’re better off going with a lower interest rate non-Target credit card for your purchases.

Application Process

As any Target shopper knows, you can simply sign up during your next shopping trip – the cashier will ask you lest you forget. I chose to sign up online. I went to Target’s Website, clicked on Apply Now, and entered the requested information for a Target Credit Card. The system ran my credit and within a few minutes, I received my approval, credit limit amount, and temporary card number for immediate shopping. The physical card arrived in the mail within a couple of weeks.

Why I Love the Target REDcard Credit Card

I save 5% off of every. single. Target. purchase. If you’re anything like me, you find yourself shopping at Target quite a bit. This 5% really adds up, especially when combined with Ebates (see my Ebates review), the Target Cartwheel app, Target coupons, and manufacturer coupons.
Shipping on all online Target purchases is FREE (with no minimums).
No annual fee.
Additional 30 days for returns (beyond standard return policy).
Ability to manage account online or via phone app.
Target donates 1% of your REDcard purchases to the K-12 school of your choice.
Two card options to suit cardholder preferences – Credit or Debit.
If Debit, the ability to withdraw up to $40 cash at checkout.
No more annoying cashier requests to sign up – small, but true.

Conclusion

Don’t wait for years like I did – I kick myself over the missed savings opportunities (I can’t even begin to tell you how much I spend at Target on an annual basis). Sign up and start saving today: Target Red Card.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are 100% my own.

User Testing – A Tester’s Review

I’ve discovered the world of online user testing, and have so far really enjoyed it. It is easy, fast, and fun – and I get to learn about new websites or changes that different companies are thinking of making to their existing websites. There are a few companies that pay testers to test, and I have been trying them out to determine which ones I should be spending my time on. User Testing is the first site I signed up with.

Overview

User Testing offers “videos of real people speaking their thoughts as they use websites, mobile apps, prototypes, and more.” They provide clients with video and audio of real users within one hour. Two account options are offered: the Basic account, for $49 or $99 per video, and the Pro account, which is based on the needs of the customer. Past and current clients are listed, including large and recognizable companies.

Tester Compensation

A standard 10-20 minute test pays $10. The rate is the same for computer, smartphone, or tablet tests. Occasionally a test may take longer, but the tester will be notified upfront and the pay rate will be higher to compensate for the additional time.

After successfully completing 10 tests with acceptable ratings, users have the option to sign up for camera testing. User Testing sends the tester an IPEVO camera to record smartphone navigation. These tests pay $15.

Occasionally, testers are invited to participate in moderated sessions. These are usually scheduled for a specific date, but at a time slot of the tester’s choosing. If selected, the tester will receive a predefined amount (I’ve seen $40 much of the time).

All tests are paid out via PayPal exactly one week (to the minute) after the tester has taken them. I have taken many, many tests and have never experienced an issue with payment.

Hiring Process

Easy. Simply sign up for a tester account online, and you will receive an email asking you to take a sample (unpaid) test. The first time feels a bit weird. You are asked to navigate a site per the steps listed, and speak aloud all of your thoughts and expectations. I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right but went ahead and submitted it anyway.

Once your test is submitted, you’ll receive an email indicating that it may take them up to a week to review it. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a response the next day though, indicating that I could now fill out my tester profile to begin receiving payment for tests. That’s all there is to it.

Taking Tests

Based on the information listed in your user profile, you will be invited to take tests via your online dashboard. If your dashboard is up, you will hear a ping to alert you that there is a test available. You can then answer a series of questions to determine if you are eligible to take the test or not. If you are eligible, you can accept the test and then have no longer than 15 minutes to begin before it gets sent to another tester in the pool.

Tests go FAST, so you need to be on top of your game. As soon as you hear the ping, you will need to click the “View Test” button on your dashboard to walk through the qualification questions. Sometimes even then, you will be told after qualifying that all test spots have been filled.

Once you accept a test, you can plug in your headset/mic and then begin. Your screen and voice will be recorded as you walk through the test. The key is to read the steps provided, follow the instructions, and constantly explain what you’re doing and why. Honesty is important. If you don’t like a site’s layout or had different expectations, companies want you to state that and to state why. Once you complete the steps provided, the recording will end and you will be directed to answer 1-4 online questions (where you type in the answers). Once that is done, your test will be uploaded and your Payment Pending amount will be updated.

Client Feedback

Clients have the opportunity to provide feedback on your tests (completeness, level of detail, clarity, helpfulness, etc.) The Completed Tests tab should be checked periodically to see the feedback being provided so you can modify your approach as necessary. Only about 25% of clients take the time to provide feedback – when they do it is based on a 1-5 star system, with comments. An overall star rating is assigned to you based on the results of your last 12 tests. Your star rating is extremely important as it will determine how quickly and in what priority you receive future tests. Too many 1 or 2 star ratings and you will stop receiving tests completely.

What I Like

Prompt weekly payment via PayPal
$10 for 10-20 minute screen tests and $15 for IPEVO camera tests
Fun and interesting work – I enjoy perusing sites and providing my feedback
Opportunity to see and provide feedback on beta websites for major brands before they roll out
Many tests available if you are quick to accept
Friendly help when needed – I’ve emailed the Help Desk several times with questions and have always received quick and clear responses
Opportunity to participate in additional studies and/or moderated sessions for increased compensation
Clear and intuitive dashboard
Pause capability – I can pause the test and recording if I have to step away

What I Don’t Like

Tests are sporadic – this definitely is not going to provide a full time income
At times it seems like tests fill up extremely quickly – even when responding within seconds, I often find that a test has already reached the required number of testers
I have had issues with a lag between my iPhone and the dashboard notifications – I will receive a notification for a new smartphone test, yet my iPhone shows no tests available
The quality of the test itself depends on the client – some questions may be confusing, navigation may be difficult to understand, etc.
Star rating is completely contingent on a client’s perception of how you took the test – while I have not yet experienced any issues, you could conceivably have a client rate you poorly simply because they didn’t like what you said, instead of for a legitimate test-taking reason

Conclusion

Of all of the user testing companies I have tried, User Testing is my favorite. There is a steady stream of available tests, prompt weekly payment, and friendly help. On the flip side, tests get snapped up quickly, and consistency is sporadic – I may take four tests one day and then zero the next. But overall, I feel it is a great legitimate company offering fair compensation for easy (and fun!) work. A nice supplement to income for just a few minutes of work. I highly recommend User Testing if you are interested in testing and providing feedback on various sites and applications.

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.