
UPDATED 1/4/2014
I was browsing around Facebook and came upon a site called Bubblews. A friend had been posting content from there, so I decided to try it out. Is Bubblews.com worth it for freelance writers?
Is Bubblews worth it? The answer to that question will depend on each individual person's writing needs. However, I personally find it both fulfilling and profitable. I can speak my mind about whatever I wish and get paid to do so. I can also interact with fellow writers.
What is Bubblews? The best way I can describe Bubblews is that it's like blending Facebook and your own blog together with some simple submission guidelines -- and getting paid to use it.
How much money can you make? Earnings at Bubblews are based on page views, comments, and other activity on your postings. How much you earn depends on the effort you put in, as well as how much people are interacting with your work. It is also based upon the ad revenue being generated by the site. Therefore, it does fluctuate now and then. I generally earn an average of around $13 per 1000 views, give or take. When I am receiving more activity on my posts, that number is higher. Bubblews also pays for referrals. But the amount per referral is low, fluctuating based on a variety of factors and credited each time a referral makes their first post. I've seen it at anywhere from a penny to just under a dollar. Therefore, the real earnings are in the writing, as it should be on a writing site.
How do I get paid? Payout is achieved as soon as enough is earned. The minimum redemption amount is low and there are several payment options, currently including PayPal, check, Visa Gift Card, and an option where you can shop online and choose to have Bubblews pay the bill with your redemption. While the other options are listed, last I checked, PayPal payment was encouraged/preferred.
What do I do besides write? Networking is a big part of the site and you will find it integrated into pretty much all actions there. On the articles themselves, you can like or dislike, leave comments, click on tags that lead to related content, find other members to interact with via their comments, share to other social sites, and more. Profiles display a member's posts, offer more personal commenting, and display other activities as well. You can also connect to your favorite Bubblews members to get notified of their newest posts. Though not required, networking is heavily integrated and can be beneficial in many ways.
Would I recommend Bubblews? After being a member of the site for a while, I would definitely recommend other freelance writers try it out and see how it works for them. It's an experience that must be examined by each person individually to see if it's right for them. Like any other site, it's not everyone's cup of tea. I know people who do well with it and I also know people who found their experience less than enjoyable. As for me, I am enjoying putting the site motto "Speak Freely. Write Your World." into action and have received many payouts already. Looking to try it out? Sign up today!