Resources for Online Writers

Back after a break

2010-07-31T13:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long break but I took some time out to have a baby! Normal services to resume soon. Expect some articles on how to make a living as a writer at home with a baby in tow.

Best wishes

Books to improve your writing

2009-08-02T10:23:00.001-07:00

Things have been a little quiet on the blog front recently while I was on a completely unplugged holiday. It was wonderful to have a whole week without the Internet, phones or TV. What I did do was some old fashioned reading. A lot of reading - I managed to get through several great books. With so much spare time I took the opportunity to re-read a couple of my favorite books on writing and a new one which I had been wanting to read for some time.

Here are my recommendations for three top books to improve your writing:

The Elements of Style by Strunk and White

This is a book worth keeping on your desk or bedside table and re-reading every now and then. I try to go through it once a year to remind myself what I should be doing and to catch all those bad habits which creep into our writing.

The Associated Press Stylebook (Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law)

This is the bible for me. It's a very useful guide to have and to be familiar with. Many news companies and websites ask for familiarity with AP Style for job applications. If you start using it regularly in your freelance work then you will be ready for any copy tests at a job interview.

Stephen King On Writing

This was a new book for me this vacation. I've wanted to read it for some time after many recommendations. It's a fascinating combination of memoir of a great writer plus tips and encouragement. Much of the advice applies to fiction writing rather than news or articles but there are so many great points for all writers. My favorite is the advice to reduce your piece by 10% when you proof read.

How to eHow eBook - recommendation

2009-07-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

There are several ehooks available on how to write and make money using eHow. This is the one I bought when I first joined the site. I chose it based on some careful research on the authors of the available books and some recommendations from people who had purchased the book.

This ebook is a great help to any new ehow members it lays out the basics and tells you how to maximise your online income from writing. It's by a great ehow member called Janet Ford who is a full part of the eHow community. The ebook comes with a discount right now, down from $37 to $15. Click here to see more about How to eHow.

How I started freelancing

2009-07-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

Someone contacted me on Twitter recently and asked how I went about getting work when I first started freelancing. So I thought I'd write a post explaining my story in the hope that it might help and inspire you...

I have had two periods of freelancing in my life so far. The first was when I was at the start of my career. I had just finished a graduate course in broadcast journalism and the job market for radio journalists was looking pretty slow so while I applied and interviewed for staff positions I made some money by doing freelance shifts for local radio stations. Without much real experience on my resume and at just 22-years-old without much real life experience I basically had to just rely on enthusiasm and persistence.

My approach was this:

1. Write to every radio station within commuting distance asking for freelance work and including my resume

2. A week later phoned every editor I had emailed and asked if they had received my letter

3. Offered to come in and work for free for a day to show them what I could do (hardly anyone turns down a free worker and it's all good experience)

4. Followed up all meetings and work experience days with calls - and I kept checking back with emails week after week.

After a month or so I had three regular radio stations offering me work and within five months I had been taken on as a staff reporter. Now it makes it sound simple but cold calling and chasing contacts is hard work, sometimes depressing, sometimes embarrassing. (for example I got the brush off from maybe four out of every five places I tried)

Now in my second period of freelancing things are slightly different for me for two main reasons.

1. I have over 12 years of experience behind me in radio, TV and online journalism and more contacts in different parts of the industry.

2. The Internet has happened!

It seems hard to believe now but in my first staff reporting job, which was for a major broadcaster in the UK, we didn't have Internet in the office for two years. We used to have to rely on local knowledge, paper clippings files and each other for information. Now I can't imagine how we did without the web. So my approach to freelancing now is split three ways:

1. Networking with contacts in the journalism industry

2. Bidding for or having work commissioned on sites like elance.com

3. Building my own passive streams of income through my own websites and passive income article sites like eHow, Infobarrel and Squidoo.

In my next post I will explain how you can use these different approaches to build up your own freelance career as a writer.

The top money making websites for writers?

2009-05-27T07:51:00.006-07:00

The internet has really opened up the doors of the freelance writing world to the ‘ordinary’ or amateur writer at home with their computer. Free blogging sites mean anyone can publish their thoughts for the world to see. If you want to get paid for those thoughts though you might need to be a bit more disciplined about what you choose to write. The websites below offer the chance to contribute useful and sought after content and earn money at the same time.

1. eHow

A ‘how to’ do almost anything website. Members choose their own subjects and write short articles to a set step-by-step formula. Income comes from a share of pay per click advertising on articles you write.
More on eHow and how it works: eHow explainer

2. Infobarrel

Similar to Ehow but with a wider choice of article styles. Members sign up and choose their own subject matter. Info comes from a share of pay per click advertising on your articles but you must have a Google Adshare account to be paid.
More on Infobarrel and how it works: Infobarrel explainer

3. Demand Studios

A company which commissions articles for sites like Ehow. Writers must apply to be accepted and then can choose to write articles from a number of available titles. You are paid either a flat fee upfront ($5-$15) or can opt to write articles for a share of ad revenue.
More on Demand Studios: Demand Studios explainer

3.Squidoo

Create content using the Squidoo creation of a lens. It’s basically an article with scope for adding lots of features and widgets to add value of readers. Squidoo offers option to donate or share your revenue with a charity.
More on Squidoo: Squidoo explainer

4. Suite 101

Writers must apply to write for Suite 101. Once accepted you must also agree to publish a certain number of articles per month.
More on Suite 101: Suite 101 explainer

5. Associated Content

Members get paid a small upfront fee then a performance payment based on how many page views the article receives.
More on Associated Content: Associated Content explainer

6. Hub Pages

Create articles (known as hubs) and get paid a share of the ad revenue and affiliate sales.
More on Hub pages: Hub Pages explainer

7. Bukisa

Members can earn income from both writing their own articles and signing new members up to the site.
More on Bukisa: Bukisa explainer

8. Xomba

Members can earn a share of pay per click ad revenue from both posting short articles and posting links to other content on the web.
More on Xomba: Xomba explainer

Additional income sources for writers

2009-05-27T07:51:00.005-07:00

For additional income from the web consider the following options. It’s sensible not to rely on just one income source but diversify and increase your chances of making money at home.

Affiliates

You can earn money as an affiliate seller from big names such as Amazon and eBay. You provide links to their products on your website or on your articles, if someone clicks on the link you have provided and then goes on to order something you will receive a commission.

Niche websites

This option takes a lot more work than the shorter articles you can publish on already established sites like eHow. However some people seem to be making a nice regular income from advertising revenue on niche websites. You will need some knowledge of internet publishing and basic HTML is usually a bonus if you are going to set up websites on your own.

For more on using niche websites to generate an income: Full article

Ebooks

Now everyone can be an author. If you know a lot about a subject and think it would make a popular book then consider writing an eBook. Written, sold and marketed only on the internet, this type of publication is becoming increasingly popular.

Bukisa explainer

2009-05-27T07:47:00.003-07:00

What is it?

Website publishing content site where members write articles on subjects of their choosing. Published content can also include videos, podcasts and images. Earnings are open to non-US residents with a valid PayPal account unlike some similar websites.

How it works?

It's free to sign up. You create a members profile and then start creating content. You can edit your content at any time once published. The site limits you to publishing 25 articles a day. You also have the opportunity to build up a network of friends and connections and increase your earnings.

How do you get paid?

You are paid via PayPal each month if your earnings have reached $10. If they haven't the money will be rolled over to the next month.

How much money will you make?

Bukisa's payment system depends on what they call their Bukisa Index. The index is a number based on the overall performance of the website's revenue streams and is updated once a month. What that means is if the Bukisa index is 4.00 that means you will receive $4 for every 1000 unique views for your content. If the index number is 2.00 you will receive $2. The Bukisa index can change so it is hard to predict what you will make. However what isn't in doubt is you need high page views to earn.

What you can do to earn extra money is use the site's referral scheme. By recruiting others to the site you have a chance to earn a percentage of their income in addition to your own. It's a three level referral tier so you also earn money when your friend's friends start publishing.

Hub Pages explainer

2009-05-27T07:47:00.001-07:00

What is it?

A publishing platform for user content. Articles, called Hubs, can be on almost any topic. It's free to join and you can earn money online through pay-per-click ads and affiliate sales.

How does it work?

Members create their Hubs using the online tools provided by the site. The pages are created by connecting a series of 'capsules' together. These are the building bricks of content you place on your page. You can move the capsules around to change the look of your page.

How do you get paid?

Ads are placed on your Hubs and if a reader clicks on them you get a share of the Ad Revenue. The site uses adverts from Google Adsense and Kontera. As you begin to generate views your Hub will show your Adsense/Kontera ID 60% of the time and the Hubpages site Adsense ID 40% of the time.

You can also earn money through Affiliate income from Amazon and eBay. You can add relevant products to your article. Again, 60% of the time it will show your affiliate ID and 40% Hubpages ID. If a viewer clicks through and buys something when your ID is showing you get percentage of the sale. If the sale is made from a click through from the Hubpages ID you don't get anything from that sale.

How much money will you make?

Like eHow and Infobarrel making money depends on the type of content you produce and promote. Hubpages claim they have some members making over $1000 a month but warn new members that it can be a slow start.

Associated Content explainer

2009-05-27T07:46:00.002-07:00

What is it?

Associated Content is a website publishing content on any topic. It's free to sign up and members can submit text, video, audio or images.

How does it work?

You sign up and submit content using the online submission forms which offer a number of different templates for your article depending on its topic.

How easy is it?

Associated Content is one of the more complicated versions of this type of website because you need to negotiate a number of different options for payment and posting rights.

How do you get paid?

For some articles you will be given an upfront payment as well as earning residual income. Whether you get an upfront payment and how much that payment is depends on the content you are offering and the level of exclusive rights you are offering AC. Payments are sent to your PayPal account.

How much money will you make?

The upfront payment depends on how much the editors at AC think it's worth from $1 to $20. Your work can also earn you money for the number of page views it generates, currently starting at $1.50 per every one thousand page views.

Suite 101 explainer

2009-05-27T07:46:00.001-07:00

What is it?

Online site offering freelance writers the chance to build a portfolio of work and earn money at the same time. You can write about any subject you like. Your work is monitored by a team of editors. It's free to join but writers must apply by sending in two writing samples.

How does it work?

Writers must agree to produce at least 10 articles every three months. Suite101 holds the exclusive digital rights to the content for 1 year. After that you are free to produce the material elsewhere.

How easy is it?

Unlike eHow and Infobarrel your application must be accepted before you are allowed to start writing Suite 101 articles. Once you are accepted you are offered support from the editorial team and the Suite101 community.

How much money will you make?

You earn money through ads placed on your articles. The residual income should increase overtime as your articles are found in search engines. It can't be predicted how much money you will make as it depends on the subject matter you choose, the searchability of your articles online.

Squidoo explainer

2009-05-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

What is it?

Unusally named publishing platform available to anyone to create pages of content. Squidoo calls its pages 'lenses' - basically overview articles on topics of interest. It also offers users the chance to donate part of all of any money they make on the site to charity.

How does it work?

It's free to use. You must sign up to be a member and then you can start creating content. There's a community associated with Squidoo and you can join any number of different groups to help you create your lens or improve your writing and creating process.

How easy is it?

Relatively simple publishing system with the option of adding in some HTML for those who want to get a bit more fancy.

How do you get paid?

The site makes its money from adverts and affiliate links. Squidoo offers you 50% of any revenue your lens makes. You then get the chance to give all or a percentage of your earnings to a charity.

How much money will you make?

Squidoo claims some of its authors are making thousands of dollar a year. As well as the revenue from adverts lens creaters can also add affiliate links to earn money. Some members also make lenses and sell them via the Squidoo community forums (Anything between $5-$40.

Click here for Squidoo

Niche websites explainer

2009-05-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

What is it?

Niche websites are exactly what they sound like. Websites set up to cater for niche markets. For example a website about dogs is for a wide market across the whole world. A website about Labradors is slightly narrower. A website for owners of Labradors in Alabama is niche.

How does it work?

The idea is that when people are searching the web for information if you have written about exactly what they want rather than a general article then you are more likely to get their custom. Your site is more likely to be at the top of search results if it matches the searchers keyword terms and they are more likely to want to click on you if you are promising to deliver what they were searching for.

How easy is it?

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of new websites and blogs being published every day. It’s relatively easy and in some cases free to set one up. The difficulty is in choosing the right subject. You will need to research your ideas to see if you are covering an already saturated market or whether there is a market at all for your idea.

How do you get paid?

To earn money from your blog or website you could use advertising, sell a product on your website or use it to advertise a service you want to sell. One of the most popular options around at the moment is Google Adsense. This uses pay per click advertising where you get paid if people click on the adverts on your website. Once you have a really successful website you might find advertisers approach you directly. And of course you can always hope that one day someone wants to buy your whole site from you for millions!

How much money will you make?

It’s hard to say. It depends on how good your content is, what the market is like for your content and how well you have marketed your site. Some site owners like to aim for the magical $100 a day but it will take a fair bit of work and an excellent product to make this kind of money through pay per click adverts. You can also aim to bump up your income using affiliate links to products you have reviewed or recommended.

Xomba explainer

2009-05-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

What is it?

A site where you can write short text pieces or post links to other web material (articles, images, video etc). When you post a link it’s called a Xomblurb and when you write an article or text piece it’s called a Xombyte. The downside to Xomba is the site is rather messy and crowded with adverts which can be a bit off putting.

How does it work?

You sign up to become a member and create a profile. Then you can start posting links or writing pieces immediately.

How easy is it?

It’s very simple to use. The Xomblurb needs just a headline and a sentence of text to go with the link. A Xombyte must be at least 100 words long.

How do you get paid?

You get paid a share of advertising revenue if people click on the ads on your page. It’s also a useful site to drive traffic to your other residual articles on other sites.

Join Xomba here

Infobarrel explainer

2009-05-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

What is it?

A site promoting a collection of articles on many different subjects. Unlike Ehow it’s not just a ‘How to’ site but does include that kind of article as well. Infobarrel encourages its writers to try different formats and styles. The site is also user moderated and you are able to copyedit other people’s articles for spelling mistakes etc.

How does it work?

You sign up as a member, create a profile and start writing articles. Your first ten pieces must go through a moderator before they are published. This apparently aims to cut down on spammers and keep the quality of writing up on the site.

How easy is it?

The way the site is set up is very easy to use. There are more options to create different styles of articles which may be more difficult for some people as with the open format it helps to have a basic knowledge of HTML. However there are several set formats which are easy to follow. Coming up with new and fresh material may be your only problem. Although, it’s a newer site than ehow so there are not as many articles already on the same subjects.

How do you get paid?

You receive a percentage of the advertising revenue from your articles. You need to have a Google Adsense account. Once you have one you submit your Adsense number to the Infobarrel site and you will receive your money straight into your Google adsense account.

How much money will you make?

Infobarrel says (at time of writing) it will give you 75% of the revenue made on your articles. You will need to pick the right subjects and make the pieces search engine friendly to optimise your income. Again it’s not a get rich quickly scheme and you will find your revenue increases over time. Especially if you increase your writing volume.

Join Infobarrel here

eHow explainer

2009-05-24T20:58:00.000-07:00

What is it?

Ehow is one of the most popular of the residual income sites you will find on the internet. It’s essentially a ‘how to’ site and contains thousands of articles on how to do almost anything from bake a cake to build a shed. The articles are written by a combination of paid editors and unpaid members. (As in not paid upfront)
The quality of the writing standards can vary considerably but the site is reasonably well placed in Google searches.

How does it work?

To write for Ehow you must join up as a member, create a profile for yourself and then basically start writing. The articles all come in the same formula with an introduction, followed by at least three steps. You can also add images, tips, warnings and resources links to your articles.

How easy is it?

It’s very simple to join and the process of writing in the set ‘how to’ formula is very easy to understand. The site talks you through how to add each element to your article. The only difficult part may be coming up with new and fresh material.

How do you get paid?

To get paid for your writing you must sign up to Ehow’s Writers Compensation Scheme and you must provide your social security number and real name. You get paid a share of any advertising revenue generated by your article. So basically if someone clicks on your article and then clicks on an advert sitting on that page then you get a percentage of the revenue that ad click makes. Your earnings add up until you have reached at least $10 before you are paid the money via PayPal.

How much money will you make?

It’s not a get rich quick scheme but many people are making money. Some claim to make at least $1000 a month but to reach that kind of payout you need to have a high number of popular articles (say up to 500) and let the income build up over many months as your articles gain in popularity and therefore turn up more often at the top of searches.

How to write for eHow and increase your earnings?

This ebook is a great help to any new ehow members it lays out the basics and tells you how to maximise your income. It's by a great ehow member called Janet Ford who is a full part of the eHow community. The ebook comes with a discount right now, down from $37 to $15. Click here to see more about How to eHow.

What is Demand Studios?

2009-05-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

What is it?

A company commissioning articles from freelance writers. There’s also work for copy editors and filmmakers. Demand Studios provides content to sites like eHow and travel review websites.

How does it work?

Writers (and copy editors, filmmakers etc) must go through an application process to be accepted. Once in you have an online profile where you can search for articles to write. Subject matter and titles are already chosen (although you can suggest new ones) and you must write in the house style and format. Articles are then reviewed by a copy editor who will either publish it or send it back for a rewrite.

How easy is it?

You will need an example of your writing to apply but it doesn’t have to be a published piece. Once accepted if you spend some time learning the house style before beginning to write you will find fewer articles being returned by the copy editors. The format of most articles is relatively simple and easy to learn. You are given 7 days from choosing an article title before you must submit or abandon the title.

How do you get paid?

Different articles are worth different amounts of money. You can choose between those which pay a flat fee and those which pay residual income from advertising. As each article is approved and published your earnings are totalled up in your profile and you are paid once a week into a PayPal account.

How much money will you make?

It depends on how many articles you can manage to write. Flat fee articles usually pay between $5-$15. New writers have a cap of 10 ongoing flat fee articles. This means if you have written your ten and they are all waiting to be edited then you will not be able to start any new articles until they have been published. If you are consistent and published regularly without any major issues then your article limit is usually increased.

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2009-05-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

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