Archive for the ‘Article Writing Stuff’ Category

Spam All is Spam

Friday, June 19th, 2009

A full 70% of the comments made on this blog are spam – you never see them because I delete them.

And this blog is full of a different kind of spam – all the content on this blog is spam. I purchased from a content distributor. Pretty interesting stuff – you can buy almost any kind of content and pass it off as your own.  NOW YOU KNOW THE TRUTH.

For example you can see the Time Management article
here and
here
They bought the articles from the same place we did. For $30/month – you get more articles than you can deal with.

I put this blog up to see what Google would do with it – and now that we’ve had our fun – I thought I’d tell you about it.

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in Article Writing Stuff | 5 Comments »

Article Writers The Pros and Cons of Outsourcing

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

Are you an article writer?  If you are, you may prefer writing your own articles; however, there may come a point in time when outsourcing crosses your mind.  When you outsource your article writing projects, you allow another writer to do the job for you.  In turn, you will pay that writer.

As great as outsourcing is, is it the best decision for you?  This is a choice that you will have to make on your own.  Before making that decision, you should examine the many pros and cons of outsourcing.

The biggest pro or plus side to outsourcing is that it can help you when you are in pinch.  Are you working on a project with a strict deadline that you just cannot meet?  Were you denied a deadline extension or are you afraid to ask for one?  Are you sick or did a family emergency come up?  If you cannot complete an assigned project on time, outsourcing can save you time, money, and embarrassment.

Outsourcing can also allow you to pursue other article moneymaking opportunities.  Are you in the process of generating passive income through your own content filled websites and blogs?  Do you have so many ideas that you just can’you may want to outsource your work.  Outsourcing is easier when the articles written are for your own personal use.

Although getting help in an emergency situation and having time to focus on other moneymaking opportunities is nice, outsourcing also has its downsides.  If you are working with a client, do they have strict rules on outsourcing?  Is it prohibited?  If you do not know, ask first.  Yes, your client may never know that you outsourced their project to another writer, but are you willing to take the risk?

Finding a quality outsourcer can be hard because it is a decision that should not be made on a whim.  Never just take someone’s word that they are a good article writer.  Ask to see samples of their work, preferably samples with their name attached.  As a writer, you may know that many writers work as ghostwriters.  For that reason, you may have to accept samples without an author’s name attached to the work, but use these articles as a last resort.

And, there is always that worst case scenario where you arent provided with unique articles.  This can be embarrassing and harmful to your career if you outsourced articles that you were paid to write.  Most website owners will perform a copyright check.  There is nothing worse than learning the articles you turned into your client, which you actually paid someone else to write, were copied from the internet.  For that reason, always check yourself first.

In addition to verifying that the articles your outsourcer provided you with are unique, proofread all articles.  Even the best writers can make mistakes from time to time, but an extra proofreading can reduce or completely eliminate those mistakes.  Remember, if you are turning the outsourced articles into a client of yours, your name and reputation will be on the line.

As outlined above, outsourcing has its pros and cons.  Many writers only use outsourcing as a last resort, but you can use it and possibly profit from it anyway that you see fit.

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in Article Writing Stuff | 2 Comments »

Article Writers When to Outsource

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Are you an article writer?  If so, you may prefer writing your own articles.  Many writers find doing so much easier and more rewarding, but there may come a point in time when you need to outsource.  So, how do you know when outsourcing is recommended?

When you can’t meet your client’s deadline.  Are you a writer who receives upfront payment for writing articles for someone else?  Regardless of who this individual or company is and what they will do with your articles, do you have a deadline to meet?  If that deadline cannot be extended, outsourcing is recommended.  In this type of instance, outsourcing can prevent you from losing a client.

When you are in over your head.  Are you writing on a topic that you don’t know about?  Did you mistakenly believe you could research the topic in question, but is that research too difficult or taking too long?  When writing articles for pay, you need to make money, not lose it.  If you suspect that a difficult topic may be causing you to lose money, consider outsourcing.  Use the internet to find talented writers who specialize in the topic or subject you are struggling with.

When you are sick.  There is nothing worse than trying to write articles, especially articles with a deadline, when you are ill.  First, if you are working with a paying client, talk to them.  Most know that everyone develops colds and illnesses from time to time.  As long as you don’t come down with a cold every week, your clients should be willing to work with you.  If not, outsourcing can get your articles completed, while allowing you to rest and recuperate.

When you are faced with a family emergency.  Yes, writing articles online for pay and meeting your deadlines is important, but so is your family.  There are some instances when you may need to shut off the computer and place your attention elsewhere.  Did a close family member pass away?  Are you a parent with sick children at home?  If so, now is the time to examine outsourcing.  Outsourcing allows you to still get all article writing assignments completed, while being able to focus on your family.

And, then of course there is the need to make money.  If you play your cards right, you can make money outsourcing articles without doing any work yourself.  As for how you do so, you may acquire a paying client online.  Instead of writing the articles they are paying you to write, you turn around and outsource that work, but for a lower rate.  Although you must pay your outsourcer, hiring them at a lower rate enables you to make money.  Your profits may be small for each article writing project, but they can add up overtime.

Before deciding to outsource your next project, know that it does have its pros and cons.  Usually, it depends on how you use outsourcing.  If you can write articles yourself and if you are doing so for a client, outsourcing usually isn’t recommended.  You are putting your name and reputation on the line.  Does the client in question allow outsourcing?  Is the work that you are attaching your name to plagiarized or poor in quality?  Many writers find it too risky to outsource unless they have a legitimate reason for doing so.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags:
Posted in Article Writing Stuff | 2 Comments »

How to Avoid and Overcome Writer’s Block

Monday, November 17th, 2008

Are you interested in writing articles for money?  If you are, you should know that there will likely come a point in time when you experience writer’s block.  Many new writers make the mistake of believe that only book writers experience this problem, but web content writers can face it as well. So, what should you do?

One of the best ways to prevent and overcome writer’s block is to reduce or completely eliminate your distractions.  Unfortunately, for some this may be easier said than done.  If you are a parent who is looking to use article writing as a way to generate extra income, you may find yourself writing with the kids screaming in the background.  When possible, try to reduce your distractions.  This may involve turning off the television or moving to a different room in the house.

In keeping with eliminating distractions, one problem that many web content writers face is the internet.  It is ironic in that the internet helps to generate income for article writers, but it can also serve as a huge distraction.  If you do not need to do research, but still find yourself surfing the internet, temporarily disable it from working on your computer.  This can help to keep you focused and on task.

Another great way to avoid writer’s block is to create a work environment that is comfortable for you.  As previously stated, some may find working with background noise, like the television or radio, to be a distraction, but you may find it comforting and inspirational.  You need to create a work environment that is ideal for you to work in.

If you do experience writer’s block, frustration will set in right away.  In the back of your mind, you may know what you want to write, but the words just don’t come out.  You may also have a deadline to meet, but just can’t seem to write.  This is the time when you need to step back and take a break.  The more you focus on your inability to write articles, the more difficulty you will have overcoming writer’s block.

Try something fun.  Are you a parent?  Take your children to the park for an hour or two.  Or, you can put in your favorite movie or listen to music on your headphones.  Even if you only write articles part-time or for extra money, we all need a break from work.  After having a little bit of fun, you may feel refreshed, recharged, and ready to start writing again.

In addition to doing something fun during a small break, try doing something inspirational.  One of the best ways to do this is to go for a walk.  This can help to clear your mind or even give you new ideas.  Remember one of the best ways to overcome writer’s block is to step back and take a short break.

As previously stated, you need to create a work environment that works for you.  Are you tired of being stuck inside or do you want a change of scenery?  If you own a laptop, have you ever thought about working outside?  If the weather is nice, you may find the change of environment to be inspirational and calming, which may reduce or completely eliminate your chances of experiencing writer’s block.

Brainstorming and creating an outline can also reduce your chances of writer’s block.  Whether you are writing articles for your own website and blog or for a client of yours, start with a short brainstorming session. Write down the article titles you need to write and then state a few points that you want to cover.  When you have a general outline to follow, you are less likely to experience writer’s block in the middle of your writing.

Finally, it is important to know when to ask for help.  The above mentioned tips can help you avoid or overcome writer’s block, but they may not work for everyone.  Since it can hinder your ability to write articles and make money, you may need to ask for help.  That help can come from outsourcing your work to another freelance writer.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , ,
Posted in Article Writing Stuff | 7 Comments »

How to Find Article Writing Jobs

Sunday, November 16th, 2008

Are you looking for ways to make money writing articles online?  If you are, you will find that there are two main approaches that you can take.  These approaches include writing for yourself or obtaining clients to write for.  If you are looking for quick payments, you will want to find clients who pay you to write articles for them.  So, how you can do so?

Online, you will find a number of job boards.  These boards are often similar in style to online message boards, but job postings are listed and discussed.  There are job boards that can be found online, with a standard internet search, that focus on freelance web content writing.

In addition to online job boards, you will also find online job websites.  Some of the popular websites, like CareerBuilder.com, may have article writing jobs listed, but your best bet is to find those that specialize in freelance writing projects.  These websites and blogs can also be found with a standard internet search.  They are nice, as someone else does the research for you!

Online classified advertisements are another one of the many ways that you can find freelance article writing jobs online.  The most popular being Craiglist.org.  The only downside to taking this approach is that you are more likely to run into scams.  The good news is that it is usually easy to see the warning signs for these scams ahead of time.

Online bidding websites are not new, but they are increasing in popularity.  Online bidding websites work by allowing those who need projects, like articles written, to post their project online.  Bidders, who are freelance writers, will place a bid on the project.  This bid outlines how much they are willing to do the project for.  These online bidding websites can be found with a standard internet search.  Look for those that offer you protection from scammers.  This protection may involve having buyers escrow the funds so that you will get paid no matter what, as long as you complete the project.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) companies also hire article writers.  These companies specialize in internet marketing.  They are hired by webmaster to improve the views and search engine rankings of their websites.  Since article writing plays an important role in this, many companies are on the lookout for new article writers.  These companies may advertise on the above mentioned job boards, but many also have an employment section on their website.  You can perform a standard internet search with the phrase search engine optimization, or SEO, to find these companies and their websites.

If you are serious about making money writing articles, like if you want to use it to work from home or to replace your current job, you will want to create your own website.  This website does not have to big, fancy or elaborate, but there are some points you will want include.  You will want to list or link to sample articles that you have written online, outline your rates, and post summaries of some of the topics you specialize in.  This approach is often considered a unique way to find article writing jobs and projects, as the clients come to you.

Another easy way to find article writing projects is to offer to work with clients again.  After you finish a project with a client, regardless of how you found them, offer to work with them again.  Include a note saying if you were satisfied with my work, I would like the opportunity to work with you again.  When clients know you are looking for long-term work, they are likely to offer it to you.  And, repeat clients are the best to have, as you already know their expectations and that they pay on time.

One of the easiest ways to write articles for money is to do so online.  With that said, it isn’t the only market that needs articles.  If you would like to write magazine articles, you can find information on magazines that accept submissions by purchasing a copy of the Writer’s Market books.  These books are available for sale in most bookstores and online.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: ,
Posted in Article Writing Stuff | 5 Comments »

Writing Articles for Money: Tips to Avoid Embarrassment

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

Are you new to making money writing articles?  If you are, you will likely experience a few moments of embarrassment. These moments may leave you saying aloud “I can’t believe I did that.”  Despite the fact that these are common moments that all writers have, there are a number of steps that you can take to reduce their frequency.

First and foremost, know what is expected of you before you apply for or accept a project from a paying client.  There is nothing worse than writing a project only to find out that it needs to be saved as a Open Office document, which you don’t have installed on your computer.  Speaking of Open Office, you should download it, as it is considered a great writing tool.

If you do use Open Office to write and save your articles, rely on its spell check and grammar check programs.  On that same note, do not rely on them too heavily.  They are nice to use, but they aren’t always accurate, especially the grammar checker. When in doubt, go with what you know or what sounds best.

In keeping with Open Office, be cautious of accidental clicks.  Do not accidentally add misspelled words to the program.  If you do so, they will not be recognized as errors anymore.  For that reason, always take your time when correcting errors that you are alerted to.  It can be embarrassing to submit articles that have a large number of spelling errors.

It is also important to be cautious of Open Office’s auto correct features.  It is a nice feature to utilize, but the auto corrected word may not be what you needed.  That is why proofreading is very important, even with all of the helpful tools that you are provided with.  Although an error or two is not uncommon on occasion, proofreading can help to improve the quality of your articles.

If you are outsourcing your work to another writer, due to an illness, check that work for yourself.  Proofread to make sure that there are no spelling or grammar errors.  Next, make sure the content is unique.  There is nothing worse and more career damaging than submitting articles that were copied from the internet.  Never trust another individual’s word that they wrote quality or unique articles, verify for yourself.  After all, your name is the one that will be attached to the work.

Another easy way to avoid embarrassment is to only accept projects on topics that you know about or ones that you don’t mind researching.  Do not claim to be an expert on a subject that you know little to nothing about.  Chances are, you will only be embarrassed when it comes time for your work to be reviewed.  You may find the best luck writing articles on topics that you already know about.  At the very least, make sure you have the proper amount of time to devote to researching unfamiliar subjects before accepting or applying for a project.

As a recap, we all have those “what was I thinking moments,” from time to time.  No one, not even professional article writers are perfect.  That doesn’t mean that you should just wait for your moment of embarrassment to arrive.  By following the above mentioned steps, you shouldn’t have to deal with an awkward, uncomfortable, or a potentially career ending moment.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: ,
Posted in Article Writing Stuff | 2 Comments »