Review: Constant Content

[Chris]

Constant Content is a new service aiming to bridge the gap between website publishers and writers. How it works is writers join and submit their works for sale, if a sale occurs Constant Content takes their cut and handles payment and delivery. Overall it really makes the process easier for all involved.

One thing I really like about Constant Content is that it is geared specifically for website publishers. Very few sites exist that cater specifically to this group of people, but Constant Content is one of them. Quite frankly it looks like the site was made more or less as a result of the tremendous success many webmasters are achieving with Google Adsense. With Adsense all you really need is content and Constant Content provides it.

One of the most suprising things about Constant Content, for me anyways, was the size of their library. Admittedly this is a new site but they already have a large and capable group of authors working. I was quite surprised at both the depth and breadth of their article database. They have hundreds if not thousands of articles already and their mostly pretty good. They have articles on everything from Web Development to Gardening to Wedding Planning.

One nice feature is that you can request content to be written for you. I did this twice and within 3 days of each request I had atleast 3 submitted articles, that's fast by any sense of the word. In a way it was like a contest, multiple authors submitted work, and I chose the ones that sounded the best. I was also informed that you will soon be able to request changes and customizations to articles after purchase.

Things are not entirely smooth sailing though. While the content selection is large there is substantially more in certain categories than in others. It seems that categories that have received content requests described above have naturally filled out. I expect this to even out over time. Also, many of the articles are basic in nature, meaning they're short and do not go into very much depth. Long in depth articles are more likely to be found useful, and as such are more likely to be included in directories or otherwise receive link. So the short articles are somewhat disappointing.

The site also very much seems to be in beta, many features do not work or do not work correctly, but as with the content distribution I expect that to be fixed over time.

Naturally with duplicate content filters being used by search engines you do not necessarily want to publish an article that has been used more times than the village bicycle. Constant Content tackles this issue in two ways. For one, each submitted article is checked against various database and search engines to make sure it hasn't simply been copied from somewhere else (authors who do this are banned). They also allow you to purchase unique rights to articles, which will take the article off the site so no one else can buy it.

Pricing is mostly fair, but since each author sets their own price, prices do vary. I for one do not mind paying for quality content. Public domain content such as Wikipedia is free, but its also published everywhere so it does not add to the unique value of your own website. Also many free articles found elsewhere exist for nothing more than the self promotion of the author either their a signature nearly as long as the article or through the fact that the article itself promotes the author's business. Now Constant Content does offer free articles, and some of them are of the type I just described, but they are few.

Payment is by PayPal or with Credit Card through 2CheckOut. Delivery is almost immediate. Delivery can come in a variety of forms, pdf, doc, rtf, txt, html, in general though, even with html files, you will need to edit the markup for your website.

All in all I have to highly recommend Constant Content. There are a few glitches in their system still but it mostly works and it's a great easy source of good content for your website. I've personally bought 7 articles from them so far and I plan to buy some more.

Article originally published at: http://www.websitepublisher.net/article/constant-content/

[Generalissimo]

Highly expensive and I'm not going to buy without being able to read the whole thing. I can get writers to make exclusive articles that are 1000 words and very well written, with SEO in mind, for just $7.50. Why would I pay 3 times this for an non-exclusive license?

[James]

Why would I pay 3 times this for an non-exclusive license?Just so you could say "I get people to write articles for too much; look how lavish I'm living!"

[Generalissimo]

Ha Ha, I'm not Chris ($400 garden plant...)

[MarkB]

Wasn't that $400 plant an orchid?

Anyway - this looks like an interesting site. The time saved in having to hire someone, and explain my needs to them, would make a purchase from this site worthwhile (providing I had the budget allocated). My wedding site could do with some articles.

However, I do agree with Sean about not being able to read full articles.

(Sean, where do you find your writers?)

[Mike]

Doesn't look bad, some articles seem good value while others seem a total rip off.

Is that owned by a member at sitepoint?

[chromate]

I've been dabbling in content creation recently (see sig). I don't write the content myself, my girlfriend does for some extra cash (she's a student) :).

Constant content is an interesting site. But it seems to fall short in so many respects. A lot of the articles seem very expensive. I took a quick look for some articles I might be able to use; 500 words, for $50? No thanks. As a comparison, my content creation service offers 500 words for $15. They're excellent quality, unique articles. And I know that you can get articles even cheaper than that, as Sean points out.

elance.com is perhaps a better alternative. I've used elance recently to get some content written. $10 for 750 words. 10 separate articles, all to be completed within a week. You get to view samples and read other people's feedback on the freelancer. Once you've found a few freelancers that you like working with, you've got a constant flow of content at a decent price. The other advantage is, the freelancer gets to know the style you're looking for and they get better at providing it.

So - constant content is a site with potential - but right now, I think there're better alternatives.

[r2d2]

Yes, some of the content at Constant Content seemed pretty expensive - and I would think its only worth buying if you buy it unique.

I will have to look at this elance site, and I was also going to ask you chromate about you content services - I could do with some articles for my new money site, would your lady write some finance related articles? Investing, debts that sort of stuff?

[chromate]

Possibly. It would depend on the specifics. But she has no background in finance. To be honest you may be better off trying elance first, in this case, as they have so many writers that there are bound to be a few with some experience in the financial field. But if you're stuck, feel free to PM me with specifics.

[r2d2]

Ok, thanks chromate. Have just been looking at elance, and it looks pretty good - I shall have a good look at it later and should be able to sort something out there.

Cheers,

Chris

[Chris]

I think you get what you pay for. $50 for 500 words is alot, but there aren't many like that, I got 5 articles for $80, each one was atleast 500 words, one was 1200.

If you pay $7.50 what are you really getting? Something written by someone who uses english as a second language? Little grammar errors. Or maybe something just ripped off another site.

Obviously the writers need to feed their family too. I'm sure they can afford to sell something for $7.50 if they spend a half hour on it, but unless they're an expert on the topic already they aren't going to be able to write an accurate 1000 word article in half an hour.

Although maybe I should try Chromate's service as well.

[Generalissimo]

The writer I use lives in Concord, MA, USA. She is a student and writes incredibly well and incredibly originally. She definatly speaks english as a first language, and there has been no grammer errors. I've been getting biographies done mainly, so these may be easier to do, I know I can write 1000 words in half an hour in good quality, as I have done many a time for my websites.

[Chris]

You should go on Jeopardy then. I would imagine most writers would have to do research before writing an indepth article, I guess you know it all already.

[chromate]

When we get content requests, it takes HOURS of research before pen hits paper (or fingers hit keyboards, I should say). Unless you're already expert in what you're writing about, the research phase is critical. Good research takes time. There's no two ways about it.

Knowing how long my gf takes over the research she does, $15 is abysmal. But it's the going rate and she's a student ;)

$7.50 for 1000 good words is taking the p*ss. Sean, in my opinion, you should OFFER to pay more. It's hardly "fair trade" is it? Even for 500 words, that price is not enough. But that's a completely unfair rate for 1000 especially considering your writer is in the US and there're no exchange rates in play that make it worth it.

On the other hand, if it's like some of the articles I've seen on elance, then perhaps they're only worth $7.50. I've seen a lot of writers that are clearly writing purely just to meet the minimum word count. The words are there for the sake of it.

As I said to Mark in a PM, quite often we find that an article reaches a natural conclusion at way over the word count requested by the client. If that's the case, so be it. We don't charge extra. It's rare that the article needs "bulking out" just to meet the requested word count. Again it comes down to research, which = time = money.

[James]

$7.50 for 1000 good words is taking the p*ss. Sean, in my opinion, you should OFFER to pay more. It's hardly "fair trade" is it? Even for 500 words, that price is not enough. But that's a completely unfair rate for 1000 especially considering your writer is in the US and there're no exchange rates in play that make it worth it.
Sean would beat up a hobo for a nickel.

Chromate, how long are you planning on keeping that unique content thing going.

[Nintendo]

Why worry about the price? There is free content there!! Case in point... (http://www.constant-content.com/view/72/20/Web-Development/)

[James]

Because the fact that it's free means that it's like a hooker: it's nasty and can hurt you (hookers all have STDs) and has been EVERYWHERE.

[chromate]

Well, I've been surprised at how much demand there is for it. But, as I don't write the articles myself, I'll just leave it running until my writer decides to quit ;) But at that time, as the demand has been pretty good, I may try increasing the prices and then outsourcing. But really, it's only a small trickle of money compared to other things - so who knows.

[ChrisRoss]

Well, I've been surprised at how much demand there is for it. But, as I don't write the articles myself, I'll just leave it running until my writer decides to quit ;) But at that time, as the demand has been pretty good, I may try increasing the prices and then outsourcing. But really, it's only a small trickle of money compared to other things - so who knows.


I'm not a writer but your sites have all kinds of spelling / grammar errors. I would proof read them again.

Thanks for the review of the site Chris. I own Constant Content if anyone has any questions.

[chromate]

I'm not a writer but your sites have all kinds of spelling / grammar errors. I would proof read them again.

Well, i'm not what you would call a writer either, as you observed ;)

[Billyray]

I own Constant Content if anyone has any questions.
Congratulations on your site Chris, I think it's a brilliant concept and great implementation. You must be very happy with it.

[ChrisRoss]

Congratulations on your site Chris, I think it's a brilliant concept and great implementation. You must be very happy with it.


Thank you, we are working hard everyday to make it better. We just introduced a new request section where the writers and requesters can exchange questions an answers.

As for the price... Its all over the board some articles you can get for $10 others $50. Also most of the writers are starting to post the entire article so you can read the whole thing before buying.

[pas]

Naturally with duplicate content filters being used by search engines ...
Proof?

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.

[James]

Believe me, there are most definitely duplicate content filters. Proof is all the sites that have been dropped from the SEs for having the same content as other sites.

[pas]

What sites? Seeing is believing (and I haven't seen actual proof).

[ChrisRoss]

We have free content as well that is all over the internet and we have yet to be dropped. With that said I believe this exists, but I’m just not sure how it works. As for Constant Content, you can buy an exclusive or full rights licenses and the content is removed and never sold again, so duplicate content is not an issue with us.

[Peter T Davis]

Concord Mass is one of the more expensive places to live. Anywhere. Out of 140 or so houses for sale there currently, more than half of them are listed at over a million dollars. I'd make a guess that the person in Concord writing for such small amount of money is interested in other things than just the pocket change. Just a guess.

[James]

Near Malibu beach, there is a trailer being sold. You don't own the land (you rent it, or something) and the price is above $700,000.00

[James]

What sites? Seeing is believing (and I haven't seen actual proof).
Well, I can't think of a way to have it visualized. So just blindy assume.

[chromate]

As for Constant Content, you can buy an exclusive or full rights licenses and the content is removed and never sold again, so duplicate content is not an issue with us.

A lot of the articles have both "usage" and "exclusive" licences. Presumably the exclusive licence option gets dropped as soon as someone buys an article under the "usage" licence, right?

[pas]

Well, I can't think of a way to have it visualized. So just blindy assume.
Blindy assume? What nonsense is that? No thanks. Anybody who thinks there is a "duplicate content filter" should investigate whether the plethora of news site that subscribe to and publish reuters and other feeds are getting "dropped."

[ChrisRoss]

A lot of the articles have both "usage" and "exclusive" licences. Presumably the exclusive licence option gets dropped as soon as someone buys an article under the "usage" licence, right?

It works just like Template Monster... As soon as someone buys the exclusive license it gets dropped. It lists the number of downloads so you know if has been bought before.

[chromate]

Ah right. I missed the bit showing the number of downloads. I think it would be a good idea to include the number of downloads somewhere close to the price so people are aware it has been used before. I just assumed "unique" actually meant unique ;)

[dgaranin]

Buying content is an excellent idea!

I am thinking how to integrate the bought texts into the web site. The best way is probably to use a script that splits texts in chunks, inserts navigation between the chunks and ads. Does anybody know about scripts of this kind?

Thank you,

Dmitry

[kewldude]

good review

[kewldude]

nice. .

[Thoughtgrid]

Check our web application and mobile application services!!!

[Creative]

Blindy assume? What nonsense is that? No thanks. Anybody who thinks there is a "duplicate content filter" should investigate whether the plethora of news site that subscribe to and publish reuters and other feeds are getting "dropped."

Doesn't google check which is the oldest content and determines that it is the original contant?