London — Relentlessly striving to regain its lost charm, web pioneer Yahoo, recently announced that it is to expand its Contributor Network, which it describes as an opportunity for freelance bloggers and writers to secure paid work, now making the jump across the Atlantic to hit UK shores.
While mirroring its US equivalent which launched over a year ago the site is seeking writers in lifestyle and entertainment to sign up for approval. And, unlike its rival, the Huffington Post, the Yahoo! Contributor Network will pay contributors, but they are paltry sums (£20 upfront with small bonuses based on page views).
Yahoo!’s quality content in vital editorial segments as well as offering media students, freelancers, bloggers and professional writers, who will be paid a standard rate of £20 per article, plus 70p for every 1000 page views the article receives, that reaches a potential monthly audience of over 26 million.
Warren Chrismas, Editorial Manager for Yahoo Contributor Network, said: “If you have got a passion for fashion and beauty or care about health and parenting and want to share it with others, sign up for Yahoo! Contributor Network. Your knowledge and insight could be shared with over 26 million people.”
Chrismas said, “Contributors will get a massive boost in page views when a story first goes up and could potentially go on earning from the article when it shows up in searches.” “Your knowledge and insight could be shared with over 26 million people,” he added.
Besides, Yahoo!’s commitment to originality can already be witnessed in content such as ‘Tactical Brain’ from Zonal Marking to support Yahoo!’s Premier League highlights, The Dugout content from Yahoo!’s partnership with the League Managers’ Association and Showbiz Shockers from the Yahoo! omg! Team.
Meanwhile, the move comes as Yahoo! Contributor Network’s UK beta launch in January, a contributed article — ‘Would you marry a Bride in Black?’ — has already run as a lead article on the Yahoo! Home Page, attracting hundreds of user comments and demonstrating the opportunity for contributed content on Yahoo!.
According to Yahoo! Vice President Luke Beatty, who co-founded Associated Content (now known as Yahoo! Contributor Network) back in 2005, noted: “Our hope is that by providing Yahoo UK’s users with the opportunity to become a true, contributing part of the media experience, they will have elevated sense of engagement while adding voice and perspective.”
Chrismas added–“This is part of a bigger plan to produce more high end premium content. These writers will bring something different to the table for us, that our journalists can not. It is a different point of view.”
However, in order to be accepted onto the network, aspiring contributors need to submit an application form with samples of work and personal information before being accepted, which can be done using Yahoo, Facebook or Google ID.
Once sanctioned, editors either select writers for specific assignments or put commissions up on the assignment desk for verified writers to see. Once submitted, all articles go through a plagiarism check before being sent on to the editor of each section for approval.
Chrismas said he anticipates that the move will increase visitor numbers as writers can promote their articles through social media and word of mouth.
You can create a new account at http://uk.contributor.yahoo.com/signup/ using your Yahoo!, Facebook or Google ID and await editorial approval