Contently

Premium content marketing work for vetted journalists and writers.

Writing & Content ArticlesWhite PapersCase StudiesSocial Media
CategoryWriting & Content
Fee modelPremium rates; portfolio review required
Regions coveredGlobal (US focused)

Contently is a premium content marketing platform connecting top-tier freelance writers, journalists, and creatives with enterprise brands — Google, Walmart, and American Express are cited clients. Work spans articles, white papers, case studies, and video. There's no open bidding: a portfolio review gates admission, and matched work pays professional, often editorial-grade rates. It's US-focused but operates globally.

Portfolio Review and Getting Matched

You don't bid on Contently — you build a portfolio on the platform, and its team and algorithms match you to brand programs fitting your beat and experience. Admission requires passing a portfolio review, which effectively filters for published, professional-level work. Once in, assignments come through brand content managers with real briefs, professional editing, and dependable payment. The platform's managed nature means less hustling than marketplaces but also less control: you can't force matches, and quiet periods happen when your specialties don't align with active client programs.

Rates and Who Actually Thrives

Contently is known for premium, professional rates — a deliberate contrast to content mills — reflecting its enterprise clientele and vetted talent pool. Writers are paid per assignment at agreed rates, and payment reliability is a point of pride for the platform. The writers who thrive are specialists: finance, healthcare, tech, or B2B beats with clips from recognizable publications. Generalists get fewer matches. Practical advice: keep your Contently portfolio current with your best recent work, since matches are driven by what brands see. Treat it as one premium channel among several, not a full pipeline.

Tips for getting hired on Contently

  • Curate your portfolio ruthlessly; matches depend on your best clips.
  • Highlight niche beats; specialists get matched far more often.
  • Keep clips current so brand managers see your latest work.

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Frequently asked questions

What does Contently pay writers?

Contently is known for premium, professional per-assignment rates set with each brand program — well above content-mill pricing. There's no commission skimmed from writers; the platform's clients fund it. Exact rates vary by client and assignment type, but the platform's positioning is explicitly anti-cheap-content.

Is Contently good for beginners?

No — the portfolio review filters for professional, published work, and enterprise clients expect polished journalists. Writers without strong clips won't get matched. Build a publication record elsewhere first, then apply. For established writers, it's one of the better-paying platforms available.

How does Contently compare to Textbroker?

They're opposites. Textbroker is open to most writers and pays 1.3-7.2 cents per word by quality level; Contently is review-gated, matches you to enterprise brands, and pays professional rates. Textbroker is volume; Contently is premium. Many writers start on the former and aspire to the latter.