content.de
Writing
Germany-based content/writing platform.
Terms of Service
Rejection:positive rating Change:positive rating Warranty:positive rating Client Contact:positive rating Worker Contact:positive rating
Rejection:positive rating
Change:positive rating
Warranty:positive rating
Client Contact:positive rating
Rejection:positive rating
Platform Overview
content.de is a Germany-based marketplace for text, mostly but not exclusively in German. The platform mediates between freelance writers and clients. Clients may post jobs for multiple writers to submit offers on (“open orders”) or may contact individual writers through the platform to ask if they would like to work on a job (“direct orders”). The platform evaluates writers with a star-based ranking system, and the ranks in the writer ranking system correspond to levels of quality that a client may ask for.
The content.de homepage advertises texts for search engine optimization (SEO), marketing agencies, domainers (i.e., people who buy large numbers of internet domain names), bloggers, operators and affiliates of online communities and shops, webmasters, and companies, as well as professional translation and text in multiple languages.
The platform offers a list of minimum prices per word. Minimum prices vary with the required quality as well as the type of order; “direct orders” addressed to a particular worker typically carry higher prices than “open orders” posted to the platform. Open orders at the lowest quality level (2 stars) have a minimum price of 1.3 cents per word (EUR), while open orders at the highest quality level have a minimum price of 7 cents per word.
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Platform History
content.de was founded in 2010 by Dr. Arne-Christian Sigge, based on findings from research into search engine optimization.
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Business Model
The platform describes itself as a marketplace. They charge clients a fee for “open” and “direct” orders (i.e., orders placed through the platform) and also offer more tailored customer service.
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Worker Classification
Workers are self-employed. For each job completed, the platform contributes to the German “Artists’ social insurance” (Künstlersozialkasse) on behalf of the writer.
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Jobs and Clients
The platform offers text of all kinds, mostly for websites — for example, text for search engine optimization (SEO), category and product descriptions for online stores, blog entries, “how-to” text, glossary entries and other technically specialized text, e-books, press releases, and erotic text. The platform also offers translations and text in multiple languages.
Example Clients
Zalando, Fahrrad.de, Hellweg, otto.de, Deutsche Pflegering, search engine optimization companies.
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Work Process
For open orders, clients prepare a briefing (if available, including an example text) with length, quality requirements (according to the platform’s rating system), and an offered price per word. Writers select tasks from the pool they are qualified to complete. After the writer completes a task, the client must review the submitted text within three days and either accept it as-is or return it to the writer for revisions.
When a writer first creates an account on the platform, they must submit a “sample text”. The sample text is reviewed by a human employee of the platform, who assigns the writer a quality level (2, 3, 4, “4+”, “4++”, or 5 stars). After they have received a quality rating, uploaded a photo, and created a short written profile, the writer can begin accepting writing tasks.
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Worker Reviews
We have not yet surveyed workers on this platform.
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Ability to Refuse Payment Rejection:positive rating
A written explanation for rejections (nonpayment) must be provided. In cases in which the worker objects, the platform makes a final and binding decision. -
Change to Terms of Service: Change:positive rating
The platform agrees to inform workers of changes to the terms. Authors have two weeks to register complaints or objections before changes take effect. -
Warranty Warranty:positive rating
Authors have a right to make improvements if a submitted text does not meet the author's requirements. -
Contact with Employers Client Contact:positive rating
No prohibition. -
Contact with Workers Rejection:positive rating
No prohibition.