While CNET used to be one of my major clients, I hadn’t heard of Metro, a CNET Content Solutions Platform, until recently. I did a little investigating. Here's what I found out about this freelance writing site.

You Have to Take a Test

One of the hurdle you have to take to become a writer for the platform is an English comprehension assessment. The test has 20 questions and has a time limit of 15 minutes. I am a native English speaker and have been writing professionally for more than 20 years, and I have to admit, the test is tricky. Not because it’s hard. It just has some answers that are similar, so you need to be careful to read each choice carefully before you make a selection. I passed with about 7 minutes to spare.

Pay

As of right now, I have only seen product descriptions in the Available Work queue. These descriptions are short (31 to 250 words) and pay 3 to 7 cents per word. So, not great. To get better pay you need to submit and gain a better rating.

According to Metro's site:

You may increase your credential score/level over time by submitting quality work on METRO. Please note that METRO uses algorithms and formulas that consider a number of factors, including number of tasks submitted and grades received. The scoring system is not linear and rejections carry more weight than approved tasks.

While there is a learning curve for all members, most of our community members earn an average of $18-$25 per hour. More experienced, higher skilled members may earn well over $30 per hour.

If you're okay with the rate, from what I've seen there are plenty of assignments to keep you busy. Hundreds get added each day.

Editorial

I haven't submitted any pieces to Metro, so I can't say firsthand what the editorial process is like. Here's what the site has to say:
Submitted tasks are subject to a multi-step review process as determined by the settings for each project on METRO. You will receive a notification once a task has been reviewed, including an alert should a task require further revision(s).

While submitted tasks are typically reviewed within hours from the time of submission, there are instances when a task takes longer to be reviewed based on current queue and priority. If your submitted task has been pending review for more than 2 days, please use the Contact Us form from the Support drop down menu to send us a message.