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.