A revenue share site can be a good way to make money writing online, especially if you’re in it long-term. But you need to find a legitimate site.
You need to look out for signs that a revenue share site is legit before you apply.
There are so many making wild promises. They’ll tell you the number of views the site overall gets or the amount their “average” writers are getting. They want you to come write for them.
Other people only have good things to say
Before I even think about joining a website or looking at further details that the site chooses to share, I’ll look at what other writers say. One of my favorite search terms is “[Revenue Share Site] reviews.” It’s a powerful term, as in the majority of cases the reviews will show up.
If a website has decided to overpower the third-party reviews showing up in search terms, that always tells me a site is trying to hide a negative truth.
However, just because one writer has had a bad experience doesn’t mean a site is a bad egg. I’ll look at the details of the review. Some of the things I want to know is:
- Whether the site paid on time
- If the tech team/customer support was good
- How long the writer stuck around
- What types of topics the writer wrote about (not always possible to find out)
- Why the writer left/hasn’t
- Whether the writer is still creating content there
The more I can find out the better. This tells me if the writer had a bad experience due to high expectations and bad content or whether it really is the site at fault.
The site pays on time every month
Sometimes, you won’t find all the information in one or two reviews. You’ll need to do some digging on social media platforms and in comments. Twitter and Facebook can be your best friend.
Twitter is usually the place someone will go for complaints. It’s public, after all.
If there’s a problem with a site paying on time, you will usually find the complaints there. Facebook is another place, so take a look at the mentions of the site or brand.
It’s worth checking out if there is a Facebook group for the site. You can often request to join—and it doesn’t cost you anything to join the group (and even the site just for testing purposes). Take a look in the group to find out what people say, especially when it comes to the comments on posts.
If a site doesn’t pay on time or there are lots of complaints about moving goalposts, stay well away! The revenue share site isn’t worth the hassle.
The appearance of the revenue share site is professional
The way a site looks will always tell me if a revenue share site is legitimate or not. Take a look around and listen to your gut.
If a site is difficult to search on or find topics, then it’s not going to be the best place for your content. How are others going to find something if you can’t? Sure, this doesn’t mean the site is a scam, but it’s not the best option to make money online.
A bad layout can also be a warning sign that the site won’t pay regularly or on time. It could also be a sign that you don’t get anything from it. Poor sites will likely be badly managed. This is just something I’ve noticed from experience and I’m not calling out any sites that I’ve worked on.
However, many of the sites that were badly laid out have since shut down!
You’ll also want to look out for the FAQ and About Us sections. If you can’t find them, the revenue share site isn’t worth your time.
MORE: 5 revenue share site application mistakes to avoid
Customer support is happy to answer questions
I highly recommend getting in touch with the customer support on the site. This is one of the best ways to test what the response is like. You’ll get an idea as to whether stock responses are used or whether the customer support staff actually listen to concerns.
If a site as a Live Chat function, definitely try that. However, you will also want to test out the Contact page or any email addresses listed. Those that have poor customer support for general users to the site will have poor customer support for their writers.
Do keep in mind that a site may have good support for those new to the revenue share site. After all, they want to keep readers and new writers. You’ll also want to test the customer support after you sign up to make sure it remains.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about a rough idea of the average amount writers make. You don’t want to know what the top writers make, just the average. If the customer support can’t answer that, then the site isn’t worth it.
The forums are active
Some revenue share sites have forums to visit. This is still the case with the likes of HubPages and Wizzley. Others will have Facebook groups, which is the case for Blasting News and a few others. You’ll want to check out the forums if you can to find out more about the site and writing there.
The forums are where a lot of writers will ask questions. They may share their income—or lack of it—and discuss payments and issues they’re facing. If the forums are quiet, this isn’t always a bad sign. The writers just may not have anything to say and focus on their writing. Or the site may now be a ghost town. It’s worth judging the forum use by the number of posts on the site.
In the groups, the moderators can prevent people from posting directly into the group. This is to help manage the types of posts going through. That’s something to keep in mind, especially if comments on the questions are all about negative issues.
The payment terms are clear
Always look out for how and when a revenue share site will pay. The scams will have very little information because it’s not like they are planning on paying you.
Some can have outrageous terms that make it near-impossible for you to meet them. Terms can sound good, but you’ll want to make sure through the forums and reviews that the site sticks to the terms.
Look out for sites that say they pay in their own credits. You want to know the amount of cash you’re paying. Paying in something like a site coin or gem is a warning sign that the owners don’t treat this as a serious business. It’s a game to them and they could treat you like a plaything.
Also, check out the payout terms. Is there a minimum amount you need to meet? This is common; even Amazon and Google have minimum amounts. However, you want to check the actual amount to see if it’s a realistic one to reach. Many will set $50+ knowing writers never reach that so will never have to pay out to them.
Not all sites will post their payment terms. This is something included when it comes to offering you a place. If there’s a full application process, it’s a good sign for the revenue share site.
MORE: 5 effective tips to come up with new post ideas on revenue share sites
Checking a revenue share site is legitimate before you start wasting your time on it is important. There are far too many out there taking you for a ride, so following the above tips will help ease your worries and know where you spend your efforts.
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