The Content Authority is one of the many content agencies that will hire you to help write articles for their clients.  It’s one I have mentioned in my content mills guide as well as my expansive how to land an entry level writing gig.  I haven’t reviewed it in depth, however.

If you want to start writing online and earning some cash or you want to add to the companies you already work with, then The Content Authority may be one to consider.

In today’s review, I will talk about the pay, how it works as well as who can sign up.  Also, as in all of my reviews, I will talk about what the internet thinks of it. Everything I review is 100% honest and I only recommend what I feel is worth your time.  So, with that being said, let’s jump in and begin.

Requirements

If you’re interested in working with The Content Authority, they do ask that you meet these basic requirements:

• read and comprehend English
• write formal articles using formal English grammar at a high school level
• perform accurate research
• follow instructions
• able to meet deadlines
• have a PayPal account

Compared to most content companies I have reviewed, these requirements tend to be very basic, which means you have a great chance of getting accepted.  Generally, as long as you can write, research and follow instructions, you won’t have a problem getting hired.

Applying

Now, the thing about The Content Authority is that they aren’t always hiring.  If they aren’t hiring, you will see a notice on the hiring page, which states they are not reviewing applications at the time. However, it doesn’t mean they won’t consider you as they are often looking for professional writers who have experience in a specific niche.

To put your name in the database, you will be asked to complete a simple application, which will include your basic information as well as a small writing sample.

These writing samples are at random and should be at least 150 words.  For example, as you can see from my screenshot, I was asked to write about successful container gardening.

If the company likes your writing sample, then you should hear back, anywhere from a few days to longer than a few weeks.  It depends on how desperate they need writers as well as which niche you need.

How it Works

If you’re accepted as a writer, then it works a lot like Textbroker or iWriter if you’re familiar with it.

When you log into your account, you will be presented with a list of articles you qualify for.  If you’re interested in writing a topic, then you can click on it, read the instructions and then decide if it’s a fit for you.  You can work as much as (or as little as you want).  Since you’re an independent contractor, you get to set your own schedule, which allows you to log in whenever you please.

Whenever you reserve an article, you can only take one at a time and you’re given an eight hour timeframe to complete it.  If you fail to complete it, then the article is sent back to the public pool.

The Tiers

How much you make as a writer is based upon a variety of factors, including the number of words, the type of article, as well as your “Tier.”

Like the many content websites, you will be rated on a Tier system, ranging from one, being the lowest, to as high as four, being the best, noted as an “expert.”  The higher you rate, the more you can make.  How you rank will be heavily based upon your writing quality and adjusted accordingly as you use the website.

However, when you first start, you will automatically be ranked at a Tier one, and you must write at least five articles before your account is reviewed by a staff member.  At this time, the company can advance you, keep you at the current Tier level or they can terminate your account.

How Much Does The Content Authority Pay?

Depending on your Tier, you can make less than one cent per word, about $0.007, as a Tier one writer to as much as $0.035~ a Tier four writer.  Overall, the rates are quite low, ranging from $0.007 to close to $0.035.  This means a 500-word article could net you anywhere from $3.5 to more than $17~, again, based on your Tier.  This is why it’s so important to ensure you rank high to maximize your earnings.

The website is very vague as to what you can expect to make, but the internet, as well as from personal experience, tells me the above information is very accurate.

All payments are sent out on Monday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time only for articles that were approved and you have at least $25 in your account.  If your account isn’t at $25, then it will carry over the next week until you hit the threshold.

What the Internet Says

A few Indeed reviewers gave the company a mediocre 3.7/5 rating.  A few complained about the pay, which is expected, but I did find some reviewers saying they liked the support and the amount of work available.  One even noted that the work was easy and most was accepted, unless you were a horrible writer.

Owen in his Medium article noted the pros and cons.  He liked that there could be a lot of orders and most were easy to write.  He also liked the consistent pay.  On the downside, however, the pay seemed low and a lot of clients had strict instructions, which could make the work harder.  However, as noted, you can choose whichever jobs you want, so I recommend you pick out the ones that make the most sense to you.  Owen said you should expect to make $50 a week using the platform.

Final Thoughts

7/10The Content Authority doesn’t pay much, and it’s the reason I have always considered it as a content mill.  However, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider it as it’s a great way to jumpstart your writing portfolio and give you some work in the meantime.  As long as you have the mindset that it’s a way to gain experience and network with clients, it’s not a bad gig at all.  It’s actually how I found a few of my private clients that pay me much more than the platform.

Don’t expect much in terms of pay, maybe a few hundred a month if you work on occasions.  But, if you find the right clients, you could make much more than the standard Content Authority rate.

If you like the concept of The Content Authority, then check out the more than 10+ companies that work just like it.  There are a lot of them out there if you don’t have much writing experience.  Remember that this one isn’t always accepting new writers but the others may be.  It isn’t the only player in town.

That’s going to do it for now.

As always, if you want to comment on The Content Authority, you’re more than welcome to do so in the comments below.  Thanks for stopping by!