Seed.com is a relative newcomer to the online content distribution industry, and is part of the AOL network. The launch of its own content production makes sense for AOL, which has many of its own sites that require a constant rotation of fresh, new articles and reports. Like other sites, Seed.com has its own set of benefits as well as some drawbacks that should be considered.
The Benefits of Writing for Seed.com
One of the best parts about creating articles for Seed.com is the considerably high pay rate that Seed offers its writers. Most online content sites offer just pennies per word, if that. Seed.com, however, offers considerably higher payments for articles that are accepted into the AOL/Seed network. Many of the articles start at a pay rate of $50, and can go well into the hundreds of dollars depending on the topic, as well as the network on which the article will appear.
In addition to the higher pay rate, Seed.com offers tutorials that can be walked through at the writer’s individual pace. While Seed.com does accept everyone for writing, they also have a selection process that is far more strict that that of most of its competitors. And, because much of the content appears on some of the most-viewed websites in the world, a byline at one of these sites can be impressive for many writers.
Drawbacks in Writing for Seed.com
While the payout can be considerably greater for Seed.com writers, getting an article accepted for publication is more difficult. Unlike other sites, Seed.com pitches one writer against the other, and will only accept the best articles for publication. The pre-determined articles are not for the selection of one writer alone. Rather, any number of writers can select a title. Once submitted, the staff at Seed.com will select the one, sometimes more, article that suits the site the best.
In light of this, it can take several submissions, or many more, before a writer has an article accepted. Because of this, a lot of unpaid time may be spent writing.
Another drawback to publishing within the AOL/Seed.com network is that the article may not appear on one of AOL’s sites. They may also elect to license the content to a third-party. Also, once an article has been licensed by Seed.com, the author does not have the right to the article.
How Seed.com Pays Writers
Seed.com pays its writers weekly, every Thursday, either via PayPal or electronic funds transfer (EFT). Writers will be paid a flat fee, as listed next to the article when the writer selects the title. There is a minimum amount for a writer to request payment. Once the minimum has been met, the writer must manually request that payment occur. Otherwise, the amount owed to the writer will remain in hold until the writer asks to be paid.
While the potential earnings for Seed.com are far higher than many of the industry norms, there is also a likelihood that many attempts must be made before an article is accepted for payment. Experienced web writers will be more likely to earn substantially at Seed.com, but it is not recommended for beginners.
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