Pros and Cons of Writing for Textbroker

*Originally published on 5/8/12



When it comes to online writing, one of the most common pieces of advice given is not to put all your eggs in one basket. You want to find a plethora of sites to write for as some sites tank, but it also gives you multiple revenue streams, which can come in handy. On the other hand, you don't want to be too open as the pay systems of some sites don't work as well as others; it's best to focus on the sites that do pay you well as opposed to wasting time on sites that don't generate any cash flow.

One site that I've recently come across is one called Textbroker. It differs from other sites in that you deal directly with clients, as opposed to just generating content. This means that you have a list of open assignments to choose from, as opposed to other content sites where you are, more or less, given free rein on what to write.

They remedy this, to some extent, by having a vast list of assignments in topics that you frequently see on other websites. There's a category for music, the internet, sports, hobbies, games, travel, etc. Yet, for all the assignments that they have listed, it still feels like slim pickings. Some of the content they ask for is just bizarre or too obscure to feasibly write about. Between the NFL, NHL, and NBA, one would think that there would be a plethora of assignments concerning them in the "sports" category. Such is not the case; instead, a lot of focus is put on sports in England. Having such articles is fine on its own, but giving writers more options and a wider variety of assignments to choose from is never a bad thing.

Still, if you can find an assignment that suits you, this is one of the more profitable sites that you can write for. They dispense with the usual pay based on page views shtick and offer compensation based on word count. Admittedly, this leads to some bizarre offerings for 100 word articles that only pay you a dollar, but with a majority of the articles figuring in the $7-$10 range, you can make some good money by writing for this site. It's probably one of the few where a person could feasibly write for this site and this site alone and make a living.

One minor caveat is that they require you to submit a tax form before any payment is sent out. This stands in contrast to most sites where they'll pay you up to $600 before requiring taxes. It's a minor inconvenience at best, but it was still worth mentioning.

It has its faults, but Textbroker is definitely a site worth checking out. The whole "assignments everywhere and not a one to pick" can be mildly frustrating, but good ones do turn up from time to time, allowing you to make a decent amount of money for your work.