If you are an experienced writer who wants more work, then Ebyline just might be for you. I have earned $3,000 with them, with assignments often paying $250 or more. Because they connect you directly with some of today’s biggest publishers, Ebyline has the potential to be a very profitable egg to have in your basket as a freelance writer.
If you’ve been in the freelance writing industry for more than a couple of years, then you’ve probably got the gist of this line of work figured out. Although the industry itself is always evolving, especially in terms of being more digital than paper, a freelance writing career is definitely one that can be financially — lucrative if you play your cards right. And this especially rings true if you can secure an approved profile at Ebyline.
What is Ebyline?
Ebyline is an online platform that directly connects publishers with some of today’s best online writers. It provides an easy-to-use interface, making this site an excellent way for already-connected clients and writers to connect with one another.
Take for example that a local newspaper has 15 freelance writers that it works with, but communicating and switching drafts and revisions sometimes becomes a tangled mess. With Ebyline, writers can communicate with their publishers, turn in assignments, and be paid all under the same roof site. And unlike content mills, Ebyline only adds a charge of eight percent to any transaction that take place. So if the Daily Mail pays Susie Q. $125 for an article, then the total cost is only $135. This is quite attractive when compared to online content mills that typically add on a fee of 30 percent or more of the overall transaction price.
Writing Opportunities on Ebyline
When I signed up for Ebyline, I didn’t know any of the publishers working on the platform. However, within a month of being on the site, I managed to snag my first assignment; 500 words for $250. All assignments require a pitch, and you get to choose which assignments you are interested in. If an assignment looks like something you are interested in, you can make a pitch, which needs to include a brief overview of your experience and any questions that you may have in regards to the specifics of the assignment.
The assignments tend to trickle in slowly, with an average of probably one per day, but still yet, the accompanying pay makes them well worth making a pitch for. I have been with Ebyline since March 2014, and I’ve made a total of 67 pitches. I’ve been awarded the opportunity to complete 21 of those assignments. That means I ‘win’ nearly 30 percent of the jobs that I apply to.
What Is the Pay Like?
To be honest, the pay is just a tad bit more than fair. I’ve completed 21 projects and have probably spent a total of 30 to 35 hours total in working on these assignments. Still yet, I’ve cleared more than $3,000 with Ebyline. That equals out to more than $85/hr.
It’s imperative to keep in mind that making pitches and winning assignments isn’t the only way to make money on Ebyline. In addition, you can do what I do and submit completed articles to some of the publishers on the platform, and more times than not, I’ve had my articles accepted.
Take for instance the time that I created a $30 article for a client on Writer Access, yet the client didn’t like it. I took that same article to a publisher that I had met through Ebyline and asked for $125. The publisher didn’t hesitate to pay me for it, and he even said that he would like to see a more in-depth article on the same topic.
I should also mention that unlike many content mills, you are allowed to be in contact with the publishers that you meet outside of the Ebyline platform. In fact, one publisher that I met via Ebyline sent me two assignments in which I had applied to, and then asked if I could submit 20 additional articles each week. We currently work off the Ebyline platform, and it reaps me almost $500 per batch that I complete.
How to Sign Up?
Signing up for Ebyline is a lot different than signing up for other online writing platforms. Take for example Blogmutt; you don’t even have to be an experienced writer to get signed up with them. With Ebyline, though, you have to prove yourself, and by prove yourself, I mean you have to show lots of examples of already-published works, and these works can’t be via mediocre sites, such as Wisegeek or Suite101. Instead, they must be through current, reputable online sites, like Insight and Forbes.
The overall process of signing up for Ebyline takes a few weeks. Do keep in mind, though, that anyone can use the Ebyline platform in terms of connecting with publishers. However, they will not be allowed to apply to open assignments unless they have an approved Ebyline profile. In 2014 alone, only 300 writers have been approved out of the thousands that have applied.
Ebyline Reputation Status
I’ve connected with many people who work on the Ebyline platform. They have nothing but good things to say, however, there is one area in which a lot of them suggest an improvement, and that is the fact that publishers should be required to give a “no thanks” thumbs up when they don’t want to work with a certain writer on a specific assignment. I personally understand where these people are coming from. I have many pitches sitting in my queue that have never received a response. It would be nice to know if I should clear them out.
My Personal Experience
Is Ebyline a platform that I would recommend to new writers who have just entered into the freelance writing industry? Absolutely not. Even with lots of experience, you still aren’t likely to be approved. However, if you have experience and multiple pieces of content already published on the web or in print material, then you have a shot at getting an Ebyline profile approved. Just remember that this is a site that you need to check on a daily basis and make pitches to orders as soon as they come through. There will be times that you won’t hear anything for two months, and then bam, all in one week, you’ve landed three (easy) jobs at $500 a piece.
