Writing for a Content Network
A content network, as I use the term, refers to one of the many large sites that are broken down into topics/categories/channels or what have you. They maintain collections of articles and other content organized within these topics. About.com is a widely-known example of a content network.
Most (but not all) content networks hire on freelance writers to produce articles, based on a single topic. You are responsible for continually managing that one topic.
Are these good places to write?
Well, of course it depends on the network, but generally I would say yes. Though the pay can vary widely from one network to another, the basic benefit of writing for a network is exposure. An inter-linked collection of dozens or hundreds of sites can bring in far more traffic over all than a single website. No guarantees of course.
Another benefit is that you are not trying to pitch ideas all the time. You are hired on to cover a topic, and you can write on anything you want within the topic scope. Payment may be a flat monthly fee, or a pay schedule dependent on traffic or ad revenue.
Personally, I have written for About, Suite101, BellaOnline, and AllInfoAbout. I like content networks and consider my work with them to be the cornerstone of my portfolio. The relative freedom is great and the income can be substantial.
