MC-Guide

Content Writing

Website 130: airbyte.com

How Can You Earn Money Writing For “airbyte.com” Website

This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to airbyte.com

You will learn what airbyte.com wants, how to test your idea, how to write a pitch, and how payment roughly works. You can use this like a small SOP.

Airbyte.com

Airbyte · Contributor Snapshot

Pay: ~$300–$500 per article (+ bonus) Style: Practical data engineering Topics: ELT · Connectors · CDK · Pipelines Audience: data engineers Difficulty: Beginner–Advanced

Ideal for hands-on tutorials and data insights that help readers build real pipelines. Your goal is simple: teach something useful, with proof (steps, screenshots, code, results).

Content Writing · Airbyte Beginner Friendly Target: Write for the Community

Guide: How to Get Paid to Write for Airbyte (Step by Step)

This guide shows you, in simple steps, how you can plan, write, and submit a technical article for the Airbyte community program — even if you are new to technical writing.

You will learn what kinds of topics get accepted, how to build a small “proof project” (so your tutorial is real), how to draft in a beginner-friendly style, how to submit using the official form, and how to reuse one article into multiple income opportunities (blog, guest post, magazine-style explainers, newsletter, portfolio).

Sentences are simple. You can treat this like a mini course + SOP. If you follow the checklist, you will finish with a publishable draft and a repeatable workflow.

Section 1 · Understand the platform

What Airbyte is — and what the reader wants from you

Airbyte is a data integration platform that helps people move data from many different sources (apps, APIs, databases, files) into destinations like warehouses, lakes, and databases. If you are new, the simplest mental model is: connect Source → connect Destination → sync data.

Airbyte readers are usually data engineers, analytics engineers, and builders who need to move data reliably and repeatably. They are busy. They don’t want marketing words. They want steps, screenshots, code, and real results.

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Reader mindset (how they read your post)

Most readers come with a goal like:

“I need to sync data from X to Y without breaking.”
“I need incremental sync, not full refresh.”
“I need to build a connector for an API.”
“I need to troubleshoot a weird error.”

Your job is to reduce their confusion fast: define terms, give a clean path, show what “good” looks like, and warn about common mistakes.

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What you can link to (and should!)

Airbyte content becomes stronger when you link to official references:

Links are not “extra.” They are your proof and your helper. Beginners learn faster when you give them the right paths.

Content type	What it looks like	Beginner-friendly?	Example angle (you can write)
Tutorial (step-by-step)	Setup → steps → screenshots → result	Yes (best start)	“Sync Postgres → Warehouse with incremental updates”
Connector build guide	Builder / CDK + API walkthrough	Yes, if you keep it simple	“Build an HTTP API connector using Connector Builder”
Data insight / opinion	Tradeoffs, architecture decisions, best practices	Yes, if you define terms	“ETL vs ELT: how teams choose in 2026”
Troubleshooting	Symptoms → causes → fixes → checklist	Yes (high value)	“Why syncs fail: timeouts, schema changes, and retries”

Beginner tip: keep a second tab open with the “What is Airbyte?” glossary entry and the Connectors docs page. When you write, you can link definitions instead of over-explaining.

Section 2 · Understand the program

How the “Write for the Community” program works (rules, process, pay)

This program is not “send random guest posts.” It is structured. You submit a draft for an unassigned topic, the team reviews it, you collaborate on edits, and then Airbyte publishes it on their blog and promotes it.

If you want to earn money from technical writing, this is excellent practice: you learn to work with editors, meet quality standards, and build a respected byline.

Rule 1

Submit using the official form (not random emails)

Airbyte asks writers to submit drafts through their official form on the program page: Write for the Community .

Prepare your draft in Google Docs (or similar).
Make sure your topic is unassigned from their ideas list.
Share your experience: data work, Airbyte usage, and writing background.

This tells the editors: “I follow the process, and I’m serious.”

Rule 2

Your draft can be imperfect (even bullet points), but it must show a real plan

Airbyte explicitly says your draft doesn’t need to be perfect. It can be a rough draft or bullet points. But it must show:

Structure (clear headings / steps)
Depth (not shallow definitions)
Practical value (what the reader can do after reading)

This is good news for beginners: you don’t need fancy writing. You need clarity and real experience.

Rule 3

AI drafts are not accepted (and can get you banned)

Airbyte says they do not accept AI-generated drafts and they can ban authors if they detect AI drafts. That means:

Do not paste an AI-written article as your draft.
Write in your own voice, with your own steps and proof.
It’s okay to be “not perfect” — originality matters more than polished marketing language.

You can still use tools for spelling checks or readability — but the ideas, steps, and wording must be yours.

Pay

How payment works (simple version)

The program describes pay as $300–$500 per article, including a base payment plus a performance bonus for high-performing articles that pass a view threshold in the first month.

They also encourage you to share your published article widely.
Payment is handled as an independent contractor workflow (they mention using Deel for agreements).

Treat it like a professional contract: deliver quality, respond to edits, and keep your receipts and details organized.

Stage	What you do	What Airbyte does
Submit	Draft + experience + links (form)	Receives + reviews for fit
Review	Wait + answer questions	Accepts / rejects; assigns topic if accepted
Edit	Apply feedback, improve clarity	Collaborates asynchronously (Google Docs)
Publish	Share it with your audience	Publishes + promotes on newsletter/social

IMPORTANT: Always re-check the official program page for the latest details before submitting: Write for the Community. Programs and pay structures can evolve.

Section 3 · Topic selection

Pick a topic that gets accepted (and that you can prove)

Beginners often fail at this step because they choose topics that are too broad: “What is ETL?” “What is data integration?” That’s not enough. A good Airbyte article has a specific problem + a specific path to fix it.

The official program page says your draft should be based on an unassigned topic from their ideas list (on GitHub), or you can submit a similar idea as an issue in their repository. Your first action is simple: open the ideas list and look for something you can genuinely explain.

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What “a good fit” looks like

A good-fit topic usually has these ingredients:

Specific: one pipeline, one connector, one design decision.
Deep: shows tradeoffs, not only “click here”.
Original: not a copy of existing docs; you add your learning.
Useful: the reader finishes with a working result or a clear decision.

Think: “If I did this last week at work, could I write the exact steps with screenshots?” If yes — that’s a good topic.

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What gets rejected (common beginner mistakes)

Too broad: “Everything about Airbyte.”
Too shallow: definitions with no real steps.
No proof: no screenshots, no logs, no sample config, no repo, no outcomes.
Overly promotional: reads like a sales page instead of a guide.
Copying docs: reworded documentation with no new value.

Fix: narrow your scope and add proof. Even one working demo makes your draft 10× stronger.

Topic bucket	Beginner angle	Proof you should include	Helpful links
Connectors	“How to choose a source + destination and validate data”	Connector selection screenshots, schema discovery, sample sync	Connector docs · Directory
Connector Builder	“Build a simple HTTP API connector (first win)”	API endpoint + auth + pagination + test results	Builder tutorial
CDK (Python)	“When Builder isn’t enough: write a Python connector”	Repo link, unit tests, incremental sync example	Python CDK tutorial
Troubleshooting	“Why my sync fails: logs + fixes”	Error screenshot, log snippet, root cause, fix checklist	Forum · Deploy troubleshooting
Concept explainers	“ETL vs ELT, explained with one real pipeline”	Diagram, sample flow, “when to choose which”	ELT glossary · Data integration glossary

Quick action: open the ideas list and pick one topic you can prove: program page → click the GitHub ideas link → choose an unassigned item. Then write one sentence starting with: “This article shows you how to…”

Section 4 · Build proof

Build a tiny “proof project” so your tutorial is real (not theory)

The easiest way to write a strong Airbyte article is to build something small first. Not a huge system. A tiny pipeline is enough.

Why? Because when you build, you naturally collect: setup steps, screenshots, errors, fixes, and before/after results. That’s the exact raw material a great tutorial needs.

Proof project A (easiest)

Source → Destination sync (one connector each)

Pick something simple that you can access quickly:

Source: a small database, a CSV file, or a common API connector
Destination: a database or warehouse you can spin up

Use this to write a beginner guide: “How to sync X to Y and validate it.” Helpful entry points: connector docs, connectors catalog, directory.

Proof project B

A troubleshooting story (high-value content)

Troubleshooting posts get shared because they save time. If you hit a real issue while installing or running syncs, document it:

Symptom: what you saw (error + screenshot)
Context: your setup (Docker, Kubernetes, cloud)
Cause: what it really was
Fix: exact steps to resolve

You can link to community threads for more context: Airbyte forum.

Proof project C

Build a connector using Connector Builder (great for writers)

If you want to write a “wow” tutorial, do this: build a basic connector for an HTTP API using the Connector Builder UI.

Choose an API with simple pagination
Use the Builder to configure auth, streams, and pagination
Test it and show results

Start here: Connector Builder tutorial .

Proof project D (advanced)

Custom connector with Python CDK (only if needed)

If Builder cannot handle your API (complex auth, custom logic, special incremental patterns), the Python CDK is more flexible — but requires more skill.

Write one stream first (small win)
Then add incremental sync
Then add tests and docs

Start from: Custom Python connector tutorial .

Shortcut for beginners: If you’re not sure what to build, open Tutorials, Guides and Use Cases and pick one tutorial you can reproduce. Reproduce it once, take notes, then write your own beginner version.

Section 5 · Plan like an editor

Write a strong outline (this is what gets “yes” decisions)

Editors decide fast. A good outline shows: scope, steps, depth, and proof. If your outline is strong, your draft becomes easy.

Below are two outline templates you can copy: one for tutorials (most common), and one for data insights (more magazine-like). Choose the one that matches your idea.

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Template A: Tutorial outline (best for beginners)

Title: “How to [Result] with Airbyte: [Specific scenario]”
Who it’s for: 1–2 lines (example: “data engineers who…”)
What you’ll build: 1 paragraph + simple diagram
Prerequisites: accounts, tools, knowledge
Step 1: setup (Airbyte instance / environment)
Step 2: configure source connector
Step 3: configure destination connector
Step 4: create connection + sync settings
Step 5: run first sync + validate data
Troubleshooting: 5 common failures + fixes
Next steps: incremental, scheduling, transformations, alerts

Link to docs where needed (connectors, builder, deployment). Your tutorial becomes “easy mode” for beginners when every step has a reference link.

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Template B: Data insights outline (magazine style)

Hook: a real pain point (“pipelines keep breaking because…”)
Context: define terms (ETL/ELT, CDC, connectors)
Problem: why this issue happens in real teams
Options: 2–4 approaches + tradeoffs
Recommended approach: when to choose it
Example with Airbyte: one pipeline or workflow
Checklist: do this / avoid that
Conclusion: clear takeaway + next steps

This style works well if you want to be seen as a “thinker” and not only a tutorial writer.

Outline element	Why editors like it	How you write it (simple)
Clear audience	Shows who benefits	“This is for data engineers who…”
Proof plan	Shows it’s real	“I will include screenshots of…”
Step count	Feels doable	4–8 main steps, not 25
Troubleshooting	Saves readers time	List 5 likely failures + fixes
References	Accuracy + trust	Link to docs + glossary terms

Mini-exercise (5 minutes): Write 6 headings (H2) for your article. If the headings already look like a clear story, your outline is ready. If not, narrow the scope (smaller pipeline, fewer features).

Section 6 · Write the draft

Write in a beginner-friendly style (even for technical readers)

A “beginner-friendly” Airbyte article does NOT mean “basic.” It means: clear, structured, and easy to follow. Your reader may be an experienced engineer — but they still want fast clarity.

Use this writing approach: Show → Explain → Verify. You show what you did, explain why it matters, and verify the result.

Writing rule 1

Start with the outcome (not background)

First 6–10 lines should answer: “What will I be able to do after reading this?”

“You will sync X to Y”
“You will validate the data”
“You will fix common errors”

After that, give a small context paragraph and link to definitions: Airbyte glossary.

Writing rule 2

Write short paragraphs + label steps clearly

A technical reader scans. Make it easy:

Keep paragraphs 2–4 lines
Use “Step 1, Step 2…” headings
Use bullet points for options and settings

If you use the “Tutorials” structure, your article feels familiar: Airbyte tutorials.

Writing rule 3

Always include “proof” in every main section

Proof can be:

A screenshot (UI settings, sync success)
A log snippet (short, relevant)
A sample output table (“rows arrived”)
A small diagram (source → destination)

Without proof, tutorials feel like theory. With proof, beginners trust you.

Writing rule 4

Link to the right docs instead of rewriting everything

Don’t copy-paste docs. Link them. Examples:

Connectors list: docs/integrations
Connector Builder tutorial: builder tutorial
CDK getting started: python CDK tutorial
Deploy troubleshooting: deploy troubleshooting

Your value is the path, the explanation, the mistakes, and the decisions — not rephrasing official pages.

Writing rule 5

Add a beginner “glossary box” inside the article

In one small section, define 5–7 terms your reader may not know.

ETL / ELT: ELT definition
Data integration: definition
Connector: what a connector is
Catalog / streams / schema (link to docs/glossary as needed)

This keeps your tutorial welcoming, without making it “too basic.”

Writing rule 6

End with a “Next Steps” ladder (how readers go deeper)

Give readers a clear path:

Try another connector from the directory
Learn connector development (Builder/CDK)
Join community support: forum
Explore training: Airbyte Academy

This increases saves/shares and helps your post perform better.

Remember: the official program says AI drafts are not accepted. Write in your own words. Use your own screenshots. Verify steps yourself. If something is uncertain, say so and link the official doc.

Section 7 · Submission workflow

Submit + collaborate in review (clean, professional, easy)

Think of submission as packaging: you want the reviewer to understand your topic, your plan, and your credibility in 60 seconds.

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What you submit (minimum package)

Draft link (Google Docs or similar)
Topic reference (unassigned item from ideas list)
Short author bio (what you do with data)
Proof links (GitHub repo, demo, screenshots)
Past writing samples (even small blog posts)

Submit through the official page: Write for the Community .

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How the collaboration typically feels

Airbyte describes their process as asynchronous and collaborative, often using Google Docs. Your editor may:

Ask you to clarify steps
Ask for more screenshots or examples
Ask you to shorten or tighten sections
Ask you to add links to docs

This is normal. Don’t take edits personally. The goal is to make your article easier for readers.

Submission SOP · Step 1

Open an unassigned idea and “claim it” the right way

Airbyte says drafts should be about an unassigned topic from their ideas list. So you should:

Pick one unassigned topic you can prove
Start a draft that matches that topic
In your form submission, reference that topic clearly

If you have a similar idea, they mention you can open an issue in their repo (linked from the program page).

Submission SOP · Step 2

Make your Google Doc reviewer-friendly

Before you submit, do these quick fixes:

Use Heading styles (Heading 1/2/3)
Add a table of contents in the doc (Google Docs feature)
Put all links as full clickable links
Add a small “Prerequisites” list near the top
Highlight “TODO” sections so the reviewer sees your plan

Bonus: add a final section called “What I still need to validate” if something is not fully tested yet.

Submission SOP · Step 3

Fill the form with clarity (not long stories)

When you submit, keep answers tight:

1–2 lines for your background
3–5 bullets for what the reader will learn
Link to your proof project
Link to 1–3 writing samples

You want the reviewer to think: “This person can deliver.”

Submission SOP · Step 4

When edits come, respond fast and show your changes

Editors love clarity. When you apply feedback:

Reply with a short checklist of what you changed
Ask a question only if you are stuck
Re-test any steps you updated

This makes you easy to work with — which increases future acceptance.

Pro tip: Save a copy of your draft for yourself. Later you can repurpose it into your own blog post, a guest post, or a LinkedIn newsletter (see Section 9).

Section 8 · Performance bonus

Promote your article (so it performs and you unlock the bonus)

Airbyte says they will promote your article in their newsletter and social channels — and they also encourage you to share it widely, because performance can unlock the bonus.

Promotion is not “spam.” It is helping the right people find a useful tutorial. Below is a simple promotion plan you can follow for 14 days after publishing.

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Day 0–2: Strong launch

Post on LinkedIn with a short story (“problem → solution → link”).
Post on X/Twitter with a 5-bullet summary + link.
Share in relevant Slack/Discord communities (only where allowed).
Send to 5 friends/colleagues who do data work (personal message).

Use a strong preview line: “If you’re syncing X → Y, this saves 2 hours.”

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Day 3–14: Repeat with different angles

Turn your tutorial into a small thread (“Step 1… Step 2…”) then link.
Clip 1 screenshot and explain what it shows.
Answer 3 questions in community forums and include your article as reference.
Write a “common mistakes” post and link back.

Best practice: do not repeat the same exact post. Repeat the value from a new angle.

Promotion asset	What you publish	Why it works
LinkedIn post	Problem → 3 key lessons → link	Data engineers share practical wins
Short thread	Steps + pitfalls + link	People save it for later
Newsletter snippet	“If you do X, read this.”	High intent audience
Community Q&A	Answer + link as reference	Searchable long-term traffic
Mini video	30–60 sec “what you’ll learn”	High engagement, more clicks

Helpful places to participate (and learn content ideas): Airbyte Community Forum and the Data Glossary. If you answer questions and share your article only when relevant, it drives clean, helpful traffic.

Section 9 · Earn more

Repurpose one Airbyte article into multiple income streams

The best writers don’t “write once.” They build an asset. One strong technical tutorial can become: a personal blog post, a guest post pitch, a magazine-style explainer, a newsletter, a portfolio case study, and even a small paid consulting lead magnet.

This is how beginners turn one good piece into a long-term career.

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The simple “income ladder” for tech writers

Level 1: Get a paid byline (Airbyte program) → build trust
Level 2: Use byline to pitch other sites → more paid articles
Level 3: Use portfolio to get freelance/consulting → higher pay
Level 4: Create a small product (course, template, workshop)

Your Airbyte article is a credential. Use it.

♻️

Repurpose map (what to create from one article)

Turn the “steps” into a short LinkedIn carousel.
Turn “troubleshooting” into a checklist PDF.
Turn “setup” into a YouTube short demo.
Turn “tradeoffs” into a magazine-style opinion piece.
Turn the demo into a GitHub repo + README tutorial.

You can also cross-link back to Airbyte resources: tutorials, docs, directory.

Repurpose format	Best for	What you reuse	Extra work needed
Personal blog post	SEO + portfolio	Most of the text + screenshots	Rewrite intro + add your personal voice
Guest post pitch	More paid publications	Core idea + outline	Change angle for that publication’s audience
Newsletter	Recurring audience	Key lessons	Shorter, more personal story
Mini course	Higher income	Steps + troubleshooting	Add exercises + templates
Consulting case study	Client leads	Results + tradeoffs	Show numbers (time saved, reliability improvements)

Rights note: If you plan to republish the same article elsewhere, always check what the publication agreement allows. Some outlets require exclusivity for a period. When in doubt: ask the editor.

Section 10 · Finish strong

Final pre-submission checklist + FAQ

Use this checklist every time you submit a draft. It keeps you organized and increases acceptance.

I opened the official program page and followed the process: Write for the Community. My topic is unassigned from the ideas list (or I submitted a valid alternative idea as an issue). My draft is original and written in my own words (no AI-generated draft, no copying). I included proof: screenshots, sample output, logs, or a small repo. I linked to official docs/glossary where needed (not rewriting docs). I added prerequisites and made steps clear (Step 1, Step 2…). I added troubleshooting (at least 5 common problems + fixes). I proofread for clarity, removed fluff, and kept paragraphs short. I prepared 1–3 writing samples and links to my data projects for the form.

FAQ: Beginner questions (quick answers)

Do I need to be a senior data engineer to write?

No. But you must be hands-on. The program wants depth and usefulness. If you can build a small pipeline, document it clearly, and explain choices, you can write. Start with a small tutorial and include proof.

How “complete” should my draft be when I submit?

The program page says it can be imperfect and even bullet points, as long as it shows your plan and expertise. Still: a stronger draft increases acceptance. Try to include headings, steps, and at least some proof.

Can I use AI tools to help me write?

The program page says AI drafts are not accepted and can lead to a ban. The safest approach is: write the draft yourself. If you use tools at all, use them only for small edits like spelling checks — not for generating the article text.

Where do I find official learning resources to write better articles?

Use these as your base: Documentation, Connectors, Tutorials, Data Glossary, Community Forum.

How do I choose a topic if I’m overwhelmed?

Choose the easiest proof project: one source connector → one destination connector → run a sync → validate data. Then write the guide around exactly that. Use the connectors directory to pick a popular connector: Connectors Directory.

What makes an article “high-performing”?

High-performing technical posts usually have: a specific problem, a clear outcome, proof, troubleshooting, and a helpful “next steps” section. They also get shared because they save time. Promote it with a 14-day plan (Section 8).

How do I build a long-term writing career from this?

Use your published Airbyte article as a flagship portfolio clip. Then pitch other publications and freelance clients. Repurpose the article into smaller posts, checklists, and case studies (Section 9).

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