Suite101 began in 1996 and is one of the oldest article sites on the Internet. Even before Google was created, Suite101 was shaping the Internet with its large repository of freelance-written information.
The site now has a Google page rank of six and is a respected venue for freelance writers to write about their favorite topics. Suite101 publishes articles in 20 categories and hundreds of subcategories.
Applying to Suite101
The site requires writing samples as well as a detailed account of the potential writer's experience in their chosen topic or topics. While the writers apply to write in specific topics, once accepted they are free to write in other topics as well. It is estimated that about 15 percent of those who apply are accepted to write for the site.
Suite101 Pay
Like many Web content sites, Suite101 pays on a revenue-sharing basis. Each article receives a portion of the income it earns from ads published on the article page. This income continues to be earned for as long as the page remains on the site. Writers who decide not to continue writing for the site continue to be paid their share of the revenue for the articles they wrote while under contract.
Writing for Suite101
There are two types of Suite101 writers- contributing writers and feature writers. New writers to the site are accepted as contributing writers. They are required to write 10 articles for the site every three months. Writers who don't complete their minimum requirements are released from their contract.
There are 10 Suite101 editors, each handling specific categories on the site. The editors then contact contributing writers that they believe understand the Suite101 house style and who may be interested in becoming a feature writer. If promoted to feature writer status, the writer must complete one article each week in their designated subcategory.
Feature writers are given a raise in pay that is based on a higher percentage of the ad revenue for their articles. They are also given a blog that they can use to market their articles or for additional information regarding their category. The blogs are voluntary for feature writers and are also subject to revenue-sharing payments.
Article Requirements
The site publishes informational articles only. There is no poetry or first-person commentary allowed. The only exception to the first-person rule is blog posts that are written by feature editors.
Suite101 articles must be a minimum of 400 words in length. It is suggested that the articles stay under 600 words, but writers are free to create longer articles if the topics requires it. The site suggests that the articles be written with basic SEO keyword principles in mind. This makes it possible for more people to find the information through web searches.
All Suite101 writers retain the copyrights to their works. They are free to republish their articles in print at any time. The writers may choose to republish their articles online after they have been on Suite101 for at least one year.
Lizz Shepherd - I am a freelance writer specializing, for now, in Web writing. The Web is an enormous place and I have been carving out my own little ...
