It’s no secret that many brands are hitting a wall with Contently. Launched in 2011, the freelance content platform was revolutionary for the time. Now, a decade and a half later, it struggles against poor user reviews, functionality issues, and losing top talent to other, more flexible platforms. The result? Brands are thinking more and more about replacing Contently with another solution.
If you’re starting to feel the strain, asking the right questions can provide clarity on your next content management platform.
1. What Are You Actually Paying For?
CMOs and content leads are under pressure to justify spending. Every dollar has to work. Many content writing platforms, including Contently, obscure true costs through layered pricing, agency markups, or bundled services.
On Contently As A Platform
On paper, Contently might seem like the ultimate solution. They’ve got the longevity. They’ve got a massive portfolio of huge brand names, like Walmart, Marriott, RBC, and even Google.
Contently also appears to be moving with the times. Their messaging has shifted from promises to rank in the SERPs to visibility in Google’s AI Overview and other LLMs.
The platform also includes recently added performance analytics and dollar-value dashboards. Additionally, they seemingly handle all aspects of training, hiring, and vetting freelancers so that you just focus on the creative side.
Yet, the reality is often too good to be true.
Several users throughout the years have reported expensive pricing, confusing billing structure, poor support responses, and a clunky user interface. Writers have faced portfolio issues, low assignment rates, and a work experience reminiscent of their early days on Upwork or Fiverr.
Transparency Content Creation is Key
Ultimately, if you’re using Contently, it’s worth taking a closer look. What exactly are you paying for? Does it match up with what you’re actually getting?
With nDash, our owner-operated model has always been straightforward. Our talent network is wide open, and we’re an on-demand resource. Brands pay for what they use without packages or marked-up freelance work. We’re also proud to feature at-a-glance Google-powered analytics for brands directly in-platform, which makes strategy tweaks straightforward.
The nDash experience enhances the experience for our clients and writers, while also making budget planning and performance tracking easier for busy CMOs.
2. Do You Have Full Visibility Into the Process?
When managing campaigns, stakeholders, and deadlines, while also being accountable for budget, visibility becomes a must-have.
With Contently, in some cases, data has become messy. One user shared, “Some of my analytics were mixed in with another team’s data, so each month, I spend a lot of time scrubbing and piecing my true data back together.” That kind of friction slows everything down and makes it harder to measure performance accurately.
The right platform will offer transparent progress tracking, easy access to writers and active assignments, and intelligent integrations. Accountability with external vendors is key for successful campaigns.
Watch out for platforms that ‘black box’ their processes. This appears to involve rigid rate requirements, a lack of writer transparency, and minimal insight into the actual state of your content. You see your content brief go in, and you see it come out, but you don’t see who works on it. Website copy is actually a good indicator of this. Watch for foggy copy, unclear service pages, and posturing instead of presenting.
Quick onboarding, visibility into writer communication, project timelines, and approvals have a significant impact on content quality and speed. nDash gives marketers transparent access to freelancers, with intelligent progress tracking tools. Writers can upload within the assignment, communicate directly with you, and revisions are tracked in real time. Great work is completed more efficiently and published faster.
3. Can You Work With the Same Writers Long-Term?
This is a core, often overlooked element of a successful CMS vendor relationship. Maintaining a consistent brand voice is a major concern for content managers. A common frustration with platforms like Contently is the high turnover rate. This means you may not work consistently with the same freelancers.
Finding the right writer, especially in the age of AI, where written content has started to feel homogenous, is like finding gold. You build a relationship where revision cycles diminish, and you spend less time onboarding. Your brand reaps the rewards of writer continuity.
Ask yourself if you’re consistently bogged down with onboarding and revisions, or have you found a core team of writers that consistently deliver?
Moreover, ask yourself if your platform is actually serving the freelancers you want to work with. When looking for content platform alternatives, it’s important to see both sides of the story. Consider investing in a platform that has everyone’s best interests in mind.
With nDash, you can cherry-pick your own team of go-to writers. Communication is direct and easy, the user interface is straightforward, and payment is seamless. This means easy creative continuity and quick onboarding for new projects.
The Freelancer Perspective
As we know, high turnover at platforms like Contently is an issue. Rates are on the lower end of industry standard. As well, the platform has a checkered history with removing portfolios and a difficult user interface.
In terms of usability, a Reddit user hilariously likens using Contently to playing a complex fantasy game. “[Contently] in particular seems like you’re playing an RPG and find buildings that don’t have visible doors. You need to find the right item, cast a spell, or talk to an NPC who gives you a quest.” This checks out – freelancers report months of silence and limited opportunities to re-engage with clients on Contently.
The 2023 Portfolio Removal
In 2023, multiple Reddit users reported that their hard-won portfolios were suddenly “unapproved” with zero notice.
Previously, all portfolios were visible to the public, regardless of whether the writer was vetted to work on the Contently platform or not.
Some were removed entirely from the platform, and others were simply removed from public visibility. After inquiring, users received communications from Contently that their portfolios would be reactivated if they “fit what their clients are looking for.”
Writers the world over have enjoyed Contently’s independent portfolio use, and this was a big hit for them. What was once a renowned platform for content writing portfolios has completely shifted in a different direction. Many skilled writers were forced to rebuild their portfolios elsewhere.
4. Are You Locked Into a Long-Term Commitment?
As a marketer, you know you live in the fast lane. Times change, needs shift, budgets wax and wane. In 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported that marketing budgets have fallen to 7.7% of overall company revenue. This is down from an average of 11% overall since the pandemic.
For small brands, it’s particularly hard to be locked into annual agreements that don’t match their needs. Small brands will experience significant fluctuations in revenue during their first few years, making flexible solutions a must.
This is why we at nDash adopted our on-demand model. We know that budgets range and writing needs shift; we’ve dealt with it ourselves. We also believe every brand deserves quality content, regardless of whether they can sign a contract or not.
5. How Much Control Do You Have Over the Creative Process?
Control over briefs, deadlines, and feedback cycles is a requirement for executing a content strategy at scale. You need full control over briefs, deadlines, revisions, and writer relationships to hit your goals.
Platforms like Contently often will limit that control by acting as the middleman between your team and their freelancers. This lack of control has plagued other content mills like Upwork, where high fees and clunky communication end relationships prematurely.
Ask yourself now how much control you have over creative briefs and outlines. Are you able to request revisions easily? Track changes? Having control over the creative process means you set the tone for efficiency and quality. This makes it easier to meet your deadlines and manage your stakeholder relationships successfully.
When content marketers and freelancers are both empowered, this creates long-lasting relationships that produce quality content. The best freelance content platform will act as a tool and an extension of your team.
Replacing Contently Starts With Asking Smarter Questions
In the interest of balance, many teams start out with Contently with success. We’re all human, and what works for some may not work for all. Yet, it’s after the first few months that users report the strain of using their clunky platform and high pricing.
Ask yourself if the numbers add up.
- Do you have creative control?
- Is the cost affordable?
- Do you have the visibility you need, or do you feel out of the loop at times?
- Is the platform easy to navigate?
There are also the harder metrics to consider:
- Content velocity: Turnover rates can affect how quickly you get your content
- Revision cycles: Are you currently sitting on a V3 or a V4 for the second time this month? It might be time for a change
- Freelancer retention: If you know exactly who is working on your content, are you working with them once? Frequently?
- Budget utilization: Evaluate the percentage of spend that goes to production vs. fees
Asking these questions will cut through the noise and give you clarity on switching from Contently. You deserve a content solution that offers real collaboration and flexibility. Consider exploring content platform alternatives that provide you with what you need without a long-term lock-in.
About the Author
Katie Major is a versatile marketing professional with a passion for content creation and strategic storytelling. She leads creative initiatives as Lead Creative at Major Marketing and serves as a Content Strategist and Copywriter at Katherine Major Creative. To learn more about Katherine — and to have her write for your brand — be sure to check out her nDash profile page.