If you want a good source of writing income, this is for you. Today, we’re reviewing CopyPress. They offer work for writers. As a writer for them, you’ll get a chance to write for companies such as MTV, Orbitz, and Macy’s.
A welcoming community awaits both beginner and experienced writers at CopyPress. Writers get to work on a variety of projects including white papers, sharebaits, and product copy. Experienced writers will find the assignments easy to complete and the pay competitive, while beginners will enjoy the detailed editor feedback and helpful writing guides.
Overview of CopyPress
CopyPress has created a community of writers that are dedicated to creating high-quality, compelling content for a wide variety of clients. Founded in 2009, the company has handled content creation campaigns for a number of clients that include Fortune 500 companies like Macy’s, MTV, and Orbitz.
CopyPress in 2014 launched an interactive community structure that allows clients to directly connect with writers. A graphics department was also added to the company, which allows clients to work closely with a pool of talented developers and designers.
Writing Opportunities Available at CopyPress
There are a number of writing opportunities available at CopyPress. There are numerous opportunities to write product descriptions, blog posts, sharebaits, eBooks, landing pages, white papers, infographics, and press releases. The content that is available will depend upon what campaigns are currently running.
Writers may be expected to find ‘royalty free’ images for certain projects. Projects that typically require a photo or image include blog posts or sharebaits.
All projects come with detailed instructions that must be followed. Instructions will include style and tone requested for the article, linking requirements, keyword requirements, word count, and any other client specific instructions.
Pay per article will vary depending upon which project is being worked on by the writer. The sharebaits/blog posts have an average pay of approximately .05-.06/word. This includes the requirement of an image and an article that ranges in word count from 500 words to 1,000. Some projects, such as the product descriptions or landing pages, can average .02-.03/word for anywhere from 100 to 500 words.
Due dates for assignments can vary. Some assignments have extremely fast turnaround times, while others can have a turnaround time of 2-3 days.
How to Sign Up for CopyPress
Interested writers who wish to work with CopyPress must register for their community. Registration can be found at http://community.copypress.com/register-or-login/. Once registered, an individual will have access to the open freelance job board, member directory, profile portfolios, and certifications programs.
Certification programs that are available for writers include sharebait, product copy, infographic, fashion, and travel. A certification is required in order to start receiving work.
How to Receive Work from CopyPress
Writers can only receive work in the categories in which they are certified in. Certification is awarded by the administrators and community director for CopyPress.
The certification process involves reading a detailed training guide, taking a multiple choice test, and writing a free sample using a specific style guide. Once the sample is completed, one of the editors/staff members at CopyPress will evaluate the writer’s work and determine if certification is awarded.
In some cases, like the sharebait certification, the sample is graded. That grade determines what campaigns a writer may qualify to participate in.
Writers that do not receive a certification may be able to take the test over again. Writers who are unhappy with their grade on the sharebait sample are also welcome to retest for a higher grade.
Reputation of CopyPress
CopyPress, despite being around for over 5 years, has kept very low key. There are very few complaints about the company posted online and on their Facebook page. The comments that have been posted date back several years.
Common complaints from several years ago range from late pay to lack of communication on the part of admin. Many of these issues, such as the payment structure, have been addressed and fixed by upper management within the community.
One of the reasons CopyPress has maintained such a low key reputation is due to the fact that admin discourage questions regarding pay, work availability, and other problems on the Facebook page. Writers are encouraged to reach out to the community manager, who handles such situations.
While the pay may be desirable, the community structure makes it difficult for many writers to really assess how much work is available and who receives what assignments. Work availability, current campaigns, and assignments are rarely discussed throughout the community.
The lack of an open forum to discuss projects prevents writers from knowing whether they are not receiving work due to poor performance or because there is no work available. Writers are encouraged to reach out to the community manager, who will address the ‘no work’ situation, but the answer will vary depending upon the writer’s work history, performance, and other factors.
Taking the tests and writing out an unpaid writing sample can be time consuming and comes with no guarantee. A writer could spend an hour or two completing the assignment, only to receive no work in the future. However, if the writer is lucky to land work, the pay is competitive.
My Personal Experience with CopyPress
The unique setup of CopyPress – the community setup, assignment process, and certification requirements – means the company is not for every freelancer. Most of the assignments were fairly straightforward, but occasional fast turnarounds made them slightly stressful.
Working at CopyPress is like no other experience. The unique assignment structure, certification requirements, and ‘community’ setup is not for every freelancer. However, those that are willing to put in the time at this company will find they are eligible to work on lucrative assignments.