About.com?

Further info from the acceptance email I got from them:

"About makes no claims to the content you publish on the sample site in
Prep. If you are selected, at the end of Prep we will offer you a Guide
contract which allows us to license the content you create for us, both
in Prep and thereafter. However, should you NOT become a Guide, we will
erase the sample site and will not use the content you created for any
purpose."

Audrey

That suggests copyright remains with the author, which is as it should be.

I am an About.com guide as well.

I'm not exactly sure I understand the question...Everything you do in prep remains your property. If they don't accept you they don't pay you and delete your sample site.

I actually went through prep for another topic before I was accepted for my current one and was rejected. I sold all of the articles I created in prep to other sources.

Congrats, Audrey. Good luck in prep!

Yes, the fact that they license your content means that it's your content and you're just giving them permission to use it.

kk, who applied for Freelance Writing and was brutally rebuffed

SeeEmilywrite said:

I am an About.com guide as well.

I'm not exactly sure I understand the question...Everything you do in prep remains your property. If they don't accept you they don't pay you and delete your sample site.

I actually went through prep for another topic before I was accepted for my current one and was rejected. I sold all of the articles I created in prep to other sources.

Click to expand...

I'm not talking about during prep. That part was clear in the application. What wasn't clear is whether or not you can recycle your articles and sell them to other publications after you've posted them on your About site.

Update

Began prep, immediately ran into a technical difficulty whereby I wasn't able to access the help forums etc that prep people are supposed to have access to. Support people and prep guide dude wasn't sure why.

Two days and a few conversations with support later, I'm in. All very nice people.

I'll post a periodic update if anyone is interested.

Audrey

about.com

Well, about.com only pays well if you write on a topic that's popular and is read a lot. Compensation is based on page views. It can often be a huge amount of work for not much compensation. I write for a city topic and they want lots of restaurant and bar reviews and for me to go to events, but they don't reimburse for expenses. It should be a full time job, at least for my topic, but it's not compensated anywhere near as such. (I made more in 4 months of temping, than I did in a year at About.com) Also the tools are quirky and they don't use HTML for most things, but instead use their own mark up language.
That said you do get to write about whatever you want within your topic so the freedom there is nice and you can post as often as you want.

congrats Audrey!!!

How many hours do you think the prep took?

And when will your column go live?

whiskeyz said:

Well, about.com only pays well if you write on a topic that's popular and is read a lot. Compensation is based on page views. It can often be a huge amount of work for not much compensation. I write for a city topic and they want lots of restaurant and bar reviews and for me to go to events, but they don't reimburse for expenses. It should be a full time job, at least for my topic, but it's not compensated anywhere near as such. (I made more in 4 months of temping, than I did in a year at About.com) Also the tools are quirky and they don't use HTML for most things, but instead use their own mark up language.
That said you do get to write about whatever you want within your topic so the freedom there is nice and you can post as often as you want.

Click to expand...

Yes I wondered about that too. A lot of the topics have subtopics so that means not only have you got a small little piece of the pie to write about but several other about.com writers will also be writing on the same topic.

You've given me a little nudge. Before I sign up I'll do a keyword search on my topic and see how popular that keyword is in search engine requests to see what I can expect

What are the most popular topics?

Aesposito said:

I'll post a periodic update if anyone is interested.

Audrey

Click to expand...

Yes, please do, Audrey!

I'm still waiting to hear back from them... trying to be patient... I have no patience. I would really like to write for the section I applied for so I'm just praying. How long was it supposed to be again? I think it's been almost 2 months now but it's still showing as an open topic.

I think Audrey (or someone) said it took them 8 weeks to get back to you, so you should be hearing something soon...

what was your topic shannon?

i think they do them in bunches, according to when they have mentors available for the topics so I wouldn't panic.

TaliaMana said:

what was your topic shannon?

i think they do them in bunches, according to when they have mentors available for the topics so I wouldn't panic.

Click to expand...

The topic was for weight training. I have what they were looking for I think (degree in Exercise Science and I was a personal trainer for 3 years, plus pretty much all the writing I've done is on weight lifting/nutrition) so it seems like I'd have a good chance... or at least I'm hoping (and praying! ) If they do them in bunches then I'm sure it's fine, I just need to learn to be patient. It's nice that they let you know either way though.

I haven't heard back on my application, either. For a while there, I kind of forgot I applied. XD But I really do hope to land it.

Shannon it sounds like you're qualified for the position so I'm sure they will give you a chance if the position is still open.

I'm going to do some keyword searches on the topic I applied for and try to get a feel for the popularity and breadth of the topic

I am also interested in the updates. : )
Talia, how can you tell the popularity of a topic via searching?
Shannon, I also have not heard back and I am getting close to the 8 wks.

Okay, well it's somewhat comforting to know at least I'm not the only one and all hope is not lost. The good thing with my topic is seriously there is endless stuff I could talk about so I don't foresee coming up with original content that hard. Plus, with the world of weight loss these days it's a fairly popular topic so I'd just have to market it right.

Do they guarantee you the $750/month (or was it $500??) or is that only right at the start?

they guarantee your income for the initial period - can't remember if it's 12 or 24 mths - of US$725/mo

Agree shannon your topic would be popular

midwife keyword searches tell you the popularity of a topic (number of people searching by that keyword)

for example I found that there are 10x more people searching for the keyword depression compared with seasonal affective disorder

A lot of the profitable topics are taken. I'd have loved the mental health topic - lots of variety and popular search item with big income potential

Some of those subtopics wouldn't earn much money

TaliaMana said:

they guarantee your income for the initial period - can't remember if it's 12 or 24 mths - of US$725/mo

Agree shannon your topic would be popular

Click to expand...

Ahh, I see. So I wonder how many guides can maintain this $725/month after the initial period, and how much is actually possible to make, do actually learn enough to support themselves off of it? (say 2-3k...that's probably an overshoot I would imagine?)

TaliaMana said:

midwife keyword searches tell you the popularity of a topic (number of people searching by that keyword)

for example I found that there are 10x more people searching for the keyword depression compared with seasonal affective disorder

Click to expand...

Hi Talia. I do understand that part, but how do you find out the number of people searching by a keyword? Thanks...Sorry if it is a dumb question.

shannon some guides earn 6 figures. I would guess topics such as stress management, weight loss, health and popular movies and their stars.

midwife - google the topic and you will find a number of different tools that will give you your answers...

Guides are guaranteed the $725 base pay for 2 years. As long as your page views grow even a little each year (which they should, if you are making new content), you will continue making at least $725.

http://beaguide.about.com/compensation.htm