Write it!

With the start of a new year, many of us are looking at ways to grow our writing income. Today I want to share one neat strategy for finding writing and blogging jobs.

If you are are busy freelancer, you know that time is at a premium–which means that you, as the writer, have to become even more efficient.

Even if you are a newer writer, you’ll still be looking at ways to streamline the whole freelance writing experience. This, of course, extends to looking for writing and blogging jobs.

Writing and Blogging Jobs

I’m a great believer in having things come to me. My days are so busy, I look at any time-saving strategies to grease the wheels, as it were.

One site I really appreciate is Indeed. Freelancers can go there and type in a search query for writing and blogging jobs. Perhaps even better, you can sign in to the site, search for writing and blogging jobs and then activate e-mail job alerts. Why is this so exciting?

You receive notification of potential jobs! Writing and blogging jobs that come to you!

Simply type in your search phrase, lets say “blogging jobs.” Hit “Find Jobs.” Once the page comes up, click on “Save this search as an e-mail job alert.”

As well, once you sign in, you can view your visited jobs. You may see an opportunity but don’t have the time to apply for it with the necessary details. Using Indeed, you can return to it and apply when your circumstances permit.

May 2009 be the year that you find the desired writing and blogging jobs that are a fit for you!

Today’s post is dedicated to a discussion of writing income. I thought I would share what I was doing and invite readers to add their insights.

Writing Income

I earn writing income in a number of ways and don’t place my writing eggs all in one basket. That way, I’m not dependent upon just one opportunity.

How to Earn Writing Income

• I have 8 monetized blogs
• I’m paid to write reviews and blog posts
• At times, I receive job offers via my blogs
• I earn commissions from sales of products via my blogs
• I earn income writing HubPages, utilizing all of the income generating tools
• I write articles for PrintNPost
• I write articles for Triond
• I write for Suite 101

Now, the writing income I receive comes mostly from advertising and from revenue sharing. At other times, I take on freelance projects and earn writing income from those.

I’ve become pickier about my payrate, because time is money and nowhere is this more applicable than with freelance writing. 

I would rather work to grow my monthly writing income, over receiving a one-time payment; however, that is a personal preference.

Whatever you are doing, work to magnify your efforts and this will pay off down the road.

• What do you do to earn writing income?

I mentioned Bukisa in a previous post as another content site that writers could utilize to net earnings. I asked for reader feedback and received a good response.

Cantana wrote:

My personal opinion, after checking out this site a few weeks ago, is that anyone serious about being paid for their content should run in the opposite direction. First, their money setup is pretty typical of sites that use inflated predictions to make people think they’re going to make tons of money. Multi-level payments are just another form of MLM.

Have you looked at the info about copyright? Your material will be available for anyone, anywhere to use, whether you want them to or not. The site is headquartered in Israel, which means that if you have any legal arguments with them, you’re out of luck. Payout level is $50.00. That’s an almost impossible sum for the average writer to reach within any reasonable time.

John wrote: 

I write for triond and bukisa, and have done well,if you keep posting interesting material,you’re bound to get paid well.I have had numerous friends and fans that like both sites as well, If you want to get good viewership,it takes effort yes but in the end it’s worth it. Bookmark your published work anywhere you can, my favorite sites to bookmark my work are Stumbleupon,multiply,current,and myspace.

I have also posted my links to Xanga and Shoutwire,although I get good views on shoutwire I notice people there are not too friendly for the most part so it’s not the greatest place.

• Cantana’s point about copyright is well taken and if this is a concern, Bukisa may not be a fit for you. (I know I stopped writing for a similar site, Helium, because I couldn’t remove my articles.)
• John offers some good insights about content writing: doing the necessary legwork so that your work has reach and you reap greater earnings.

Most content sites offer advantages and disadvantages and the onus is on the writer to decide which opportunity is a good fit.

My personal insights on revenue share content writing?

While netting you smaller article earnings per article, these opps. pay off over the longterm because earnings are ongoing–which means that in the final analysis, you earn far more per article.

Writing for the sites mentioned here requires patience but you do get paid for your efforts.

Bukisa is a newer site where writers can produce content and get paid for their efforts.

This morning, I was reading through a writing blog where the author shared her experiences of writing for Bukisa. She mentioned Bukisa as another opportunity for writers to get paid for content.

What is Bukisa?

Bukisa allows authors to share their knowledge/expertise and earn profits from Bukisa’s sharing model.

The Bukisa Index conveniently shows how much an author can make per 1000 unique visits to his or her pages.

Bukisa categories are fairly standard, embracing a wide range of popular topics, such as pets, business, health and nutrition and hobbies, etc.

Readers can easily locate information germaine to their interests or read articles answering questions they may have.

If you are presently engaged in writing for content sites, Bukisa may prove a welcome addition to your list of paying sites.

Today I want to discuss another online writing opportunity that was brought to my attention by a fellow writer. The site is called Life123.com

Life123 provides information on a wide range of subjects, answering questions about, as is suggested in the title, life.

Life123.com is the stopping place for readers searching for how-to’s.  Even better, visitors don’t have to spend hours searching the Internet trying to find answers because Life123 delivers wanswers.

Life123.com:Topics in 11 Life Categories

• Beauty & Style
• Celebrations
• Food & Drink,
• Health & Wellness
• Home & Garden
• Money
• Parenting & Family
• Relationships
• Technology
• Travel & Leisure
• Work. 

Life123 Writer Community

The Life123.com Writer Community is comprised of serious writers and quality writing nets greater rewards: recognition and ultimately higher earnings. Join the Life123 Writer Community.

Life123 delivers answers “at the speed of life.” In other words, this site provides information that modern searchers are looking for.

If writing for any of the topics appeals to you, Life123.com may be a good fit.

If you’ve decided to take the plunge and have joined HubPages, you’ll be wondering how to make the most of your experience. After all, if you are going to do the work, you want to make sure your efforts pay off.

The best advice I would give is to create “content-rich” HubPages. What I mean by this is that you want to create pages loaded with topic-relevant information. Why?

When search engine spiders are crawling the Web, they are looking for quality pages. So much content is out there cluttering up cyberspace–but what makes it stand out? What pushes it to the top? One of the factors is the quality of the content.

Another advantage of creating content-rich HubPages is that readers are more likely to bookmark these pages and return to them. Think about it. Which pages do you keep for future reference? Usually it’s pages that offer you the most information on a subject you are interested in.

Most of us don’t want to spend time scouring the Web. When we find a comprehensive source of information, we tend to trust it as a credible source of info–and we know that it will likely address any questions we want answers to.

What’s the End Result?

If you create content-rich HubPages, this will result in more readers, repeat readers, and increased earnings.

I’ve written in recent posts about the advantages of creating HubPages.

Today I want to talk about HubPages vs Helium.

HubPages vs Helium

Helium is another writing opportunity where writers submit their work and are paid a portion of ad revenue; however, I’ll outline why I think HubPages has more to offer those who create content.

When you create HubPages, you have the option of including pictures. Now, this makes a huge difference for your readers. For example, I submitted stories about my parrots over at Helium, then later put the same stories up at HubPages. The stories looked far more appealing with photos showing what my birds looked like. These stories received a wider readership over at HubPages and readers wrote in commenting on the pictures. (Incidentally, I tried to remove my avian stories from Helium and was informed that this wasn’t an option. I later pulled the stories from HubPages with much regret but because of Google’s duplicate content rule).

Now, while you earn ad revenue at Helium, HubPages allows you to include actual product capsules which also include pictures of same. Your HubPages not only earn you ad revenue but also commissions on products that readers purchase via your E-Bay/Amazon capsules. I’ve had readers of my Hubs purchase movies, music, and appliances.

Another advantage of HubPages is that you can continue to add content, which seems to make a difference with the search engines. I like the option of adding the news capsule because I believe that when it is updated, this makes a difference with the search engine spiders,

In a nutshell: HubPages allows for creation of content-rich pages which seems capture search engine attention.

These are only a couple of reasons why, when I think of HubPages vs Helium, HubPages comes out on top.

• You can create HubPages and earn ongoing income!

Readers will be aware that I’ve  encouraged writers to create HubPages. Why? Is it really worth the effort?

I’m a fan of HubPages because this free-to-join publishing tool allows writers to create any number of pages and then optimize them for HubPages income.

Optimized Pages for HubPages Income

• Articles that include photos or videos are popular articles, bookmarked and returned to often. You can create HubPages income by adding these great items to your articles.
• Even better, your HubPages income continues indefinitely! Some have argued that the earnings are small. My answer is that this depends on your subject matter, the number of pages you create, and how you optimize your pages.

The main point I want to get across in today’s post is that whatever your earnings with HubPages, these earnings continue, month after month. Now I don’t know about you but I liken this to a jar where someone drops in Looneys and Tooneys regularly.

There are so many ways you can earn HubPages income. In future posts, I will outline the different methods I use to earn HubPages income.

If you want to earn a living as a writer, a necessary stepping stone is freelance writing income. This may seem obvious but have you really given serious thought to strategies for earning it?

Earning freelance writing income means being dedicated, writing as much content as possible and being willing to work a number of opportunities so that you have streams of writing income coming in from different sources.

A good rule of thumb, especially when you are first starting out: do not place all your writing eggs in one basket. What I mean by this is that it may not be possible to earn enough income from any one writing gig. Pinning all your hopes on one writing opportunity is a probable recipe for discouragement and failure.

Freelance Writing Income
You should try to grow your monthly earnings from each of the ongoing writing gigs you are writing for.

This advice is especially applicable to online writing opportunities such as revenue shares or content sites.
* Keep submitting and net monthly earnings.
* Decide on the total monthly earnings you would like to earn from each opportunity
* Determine which sites pay more
* Place more of your work with these

If you are willing to work hard, you can eventually earn substantial freelance writing income from your efforts online.

If you’ve been following this blog, you will have seen how to get started with online writing and should be on your way to earning freelance writing income!

If you are looking for online writing opportunities, another site worth mentioning is Demand Studios.

What is Offered to Those who Write for Demand Studios?
* Demand Studios recruits freelance writers and videographers, offering compensation for submitted material.

* Your articles and videos are optimized for the web and reach a wide audience of readers.

* You are paid for approved assignments.

Getting started With Demand Studios
How do you get started with Demand Studios? You fill out a Demand Studios application, providing general information along with a resume and work samples. Demand Studios matches you up with suitable writing opps. based on your interests and skills.

What Do Demand Studios Writers and Videographers Say About Their Experiences?
Testimonials include insights about prompt payment and a helpful team to work with.

Demand Studios offers yet another way to earn from online writing.

If you have been searching for sites that accept content from online writers, you may have come across a site called Associated Content.

In today’s post, I will describe AC’s offerings.

Associated Content
Associated Content allows you to publish content in different formats, ranging from text to video to audio to images–and you get paid for it.

You decide what you want to submit, or, if you are stuck for ideas, check out Associated Content’s “Call for Contents Program,” which generates topics for you.

A Sampling of Associated Content Categories
Arts and Entertainment
Automotive
Health
Home Improvement
Opinion
News
Politics
Sports
Travel

These are just some of the categories you can write for when you join Associated Content.

Fast Facts About Associated Content
* Associated Content is free to join
* Associated Content is a platform that helps you to develop a readership and a following for your content
* AC pays you based on the performance of submitted material
* You keep earning on your content
* Associated Content allows for different rights: Exclusive, Non Exclusive, Display Only
* Your content earns you Upfront Payments and Performance Payments

Flexible Content Requirments                                                                                                There is no minimum or maximum for content, which means you, as the creator, have lattitude.

Submission Requirments
Associated Content Frequently Asked * Questions.

Before joining Associated Content, make sure you check that your country of residence qualifies for content creation that will net you payment.

I’ve heard from writers who are happy with their experience writing for Associated Content.

If you already write for Associated content, please share your experiences and I will include them at this blog.

Could you write short how-to articles? If so, E-How might be the perfect fit for you.

E-How allows you to share your ideas and earn for your efforts.

What I like about E-How is that article lengths are generally shorter. As well, how-to articles follow a certain, easy-to-implement format.

You describe how to do something in a series of logical steps. For a newer writer, this style of writing may be one of the easiest to manage.

E-How Article Format

1. Intro
2. Necessary items/supplies
3. Step-by-step instructions
4. Conclusion

Getting Started With E-How

• Register with E-How’s Writer’s Compensation Program
• Check out the Writer’s Academy for tips on how to make the most of your published articles.
• Become familiar with “Write Great Articles” to choose topics with wide appeal.

E-How’s suggested article lengths run from 400-600 words; however, many of the articles are shorter.

Why I Like E-How

• You can include photos or videos with your content.
• E-How offers insights about effective use of keywords and insights on how to drive traffic to your articles.
• Writers can join the E-How community and forums.

I’m in favor of writing opps. that do double duty: you get paid; you receive training about writing for the Internet.

What Do E-How Articles Look Like?

• How to Avoid Making Emotional Decisions
• How to Get Rid of Fleas

In sum, E-How looks like a solid opportunity for newer writers wanting to cut their teeth on online writing.

Writing for PrintNPost

In a recent post, I detailed writing for Triond.

Today, I’m going to discuss another site where you get paid for submitting content.

Writing for PrintNPost

You compose short articles (called blogs) and longer pieces. Advertising is placed on your pages and you get paid ad. revenue.

You’ll need a Google Account. You will have to include your AdSense Client ID and your Channel ID at PNP but once you do, you are set to go.

1. You write for a number of different categories.
2. If you submit content on a regular basis, you will see your earnings increase.

For newer or seasoned writers, writing for PrintNPost offers a way to make income from your writing.

* Please comment and let me know how you are making out.

Credit: Ronnie B

In my last post, I included a link to one of my articles detailing why writing for Triond is a good idea for fledgling writers.

Especially if you are relatively new at the writing game, writing for Triond offers the chance for you to get your work out there–and nicest of all, you get paid a little something for your efforts.

Okay, This Sounds Good . . . but How do I Get Paid Month After Month? 

Triond is a revenue share so what that means is that you produce articles and then earn each month from advertisements that appear on pages where your articles appear.

If you are an experienced writer and can produce content relatively quickly–and lots of it–writing for Triond can mean adding an additional income stream to the writing mix.

Some Triond writers make a few dollars, other writers make far more. Whatever the scenario, writing for Triond will give you experience and ultimately monthly earnings.

Hello Everyone,

Today we will discuss writing jobs that will help to get you started on your career as a freelance writer. Now, I know this may sound backwards: Hey, don’t I have to be a writer first . . . before tackling writing jobs?

Not necessarily . . .

Okay, This Sounds Good . . . Where Do I Look for Writing Jobs?

With the advent of the Internet, freelance writing has taken a whole new turn. It is becoming easier than ever to find writing jobs and to get paid a little something for your efforts.

Finding writing opportunities/writing jobs will help you to transition from wanna-be into actual paid writer.

Each time you undertake a writing project, you gain invaluable experience.

While writing can be learned through courses and books–and these are invaluable–you also benefit from hands-on experience, learning the ropes as you go with writing jobs that are open to newer freelancers.

Are you ready to jump in?

Additional Reading:

• Why Triond is a Great Opportunity for Writers