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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Earning Money with Internet Articles

How to Cash in on Internet-based Earnings

There are a number of sites that accept articles written by freelance writers and offer income generated by clicks on Google ads. Understandably, many people are sceptical about this type of work and may have tried it, only to find they earn 10 or 20 cents a month. Do these sites really work, and if so, how do we go about generating an income from them?

Long Term Investment
The first thing to remember is that this is a long term venture. It will not make you rich overnight. Rather it will give you a residual income as you regularly add articles and people keep reading them, month after month, year after year.

Do they Really Pay
I tried several of the sites and after analyzing my meagre earnings, decided to concentrate on Suite101. It suited my style and I liked the support given to their writers. They pay out once your earnings reach the $10 mark and I accomplished this after six weeks. I now receive a regular income each month. My work is still on some of the other sites and I get occasional payments from them as well.

How to Join up
Each site has its own rules and requirements. Some are blocked to me as I am not a US resident. Others require samples of your work and a copy of your resume. Look under membership and FAQ to find out what a particular site is looking for.

What Can I Write About
The field is wide open apart from erotica. Virtually any other subject is acceptable and most sites have a wide choice of categories that inspire and suit. It’s a good idea to start by writing about something you are familiar with, whether it be hobby or career-related.

How to Structure an Article
Each website gives guidelines of how to compose an article and includes information such as word limits, style, point of view and key words. It is quite simple to write an article using a given formula such as these.

Research
Once you have mastered the basics of putting an article together, it’s easy to do some research and write on subjects you are not familiar with. I have only made two scrapbooks in my life, but by reading scrapbooking guides and examining the supplies and tools in stores, I have written seven articles about the subject. I find books are great sources of information and are also credible references to cite at the end of an article. Make use of your local library to find fresh ideas.

How Much Should I Write
I currently have 69 articles on Suite101 and am contracted to add 10, every three months. I have got it down to a fine art now and can produce and upload an article, complete with photos in less than two hours. I often adapt work I have written for other publications and put that on Suite101 as well. They demand exclusivity for the first year so I’m always careful to make sure it appears different to the original.

If you are new to writing or have time on your hands, I encourage you to give article writing a go. It develops your skills and increases your general knowledge as well as providing a potential source of income. Have a look at these or do your own search to find some that suit you. (At your own risk – I haven’t tried all of these)

Suite101
Helium
Triond
Hub Pages

Associated Content
Orble
Xomba
eHow

Debbie Roome works as a freelance writer from her home in New Zealand. Read some of her work at Suite 101 , Take Root and Write and Faithwriters.

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2 comments:

Mary said...

Deb,

When I wrote for Suite101 from 1998 to 2002, they paid $36. I was also a Editor of several topics and the manager of Kids' Korner, which they discontinued. When they went to this system of pay, I resigned. It just isn't my thing. I also wrote a few workshops for them. It was a nice gig back then. Enjoy!

Debbie Roome said...

Thanks, Mary. It was interesting to hear some of the background of Suite101.