Writing Shares Review

I found this writing site, Writing Shares, through a Twitter friend and wanted to share it with you. I have to stress that I have no personal experience with this site.

It looks like a fairly new site and currently has a page rank of zero, but I love the profit-sharing concept the site owner has created, with each article receiving one lifetime share in the site's profits, unless you choose a topic from a recommended list, then you get five lifetime shares in the site's profits.

The site owner does impose a quota of 30 articles in the first 90 days, in order to make sure writers are serious about writing for Writing Shares and do not just present one or two articles. After the 90 day initiation period is successfully completed, the quota drops to one article per month.

The site also offers bonuses to the most prolific authors each month.

If you have experience writing for this site, we would love to hear what you think of it, feel free to leave a comment below or drop by the forums and share your thoughts there.

2011 Year-End Online Writing Summary

With 2011 drawing to a close, I find myself reflecting on the online writing experience of the past year - on my own online writing adventure. Online writers faced some big changes and upheavals in 2011. Some (now former) "cash cow" sites, where writing quick, easy articles brought in a livable wage, crashed. Search engine changes left many writers who counted on residual earnings based on page views or ad clicks wondering where the readers and the money went.

As part of saying "Goodbye" to an interesting and challenging year, I thought I would offer a review of my online writing experience of this past year.

Paid Surveys

While not actual writing work, I tried a couple of paid survey sites and found them very time intensive for very little pay. Then, with payout around $50 on the sites, I gave up without ever reaching payout.  Two thumbs down - waste of time. (Though I did a few surveys on MTurk, and while still time-intensive for low pay, the pay actually came through quickly. So - my suggestion - if you want to do surveys, check out the surveys on MTurk Also, request permissions for the writing jobs, and transcription if you are a good typist. Finally, if you have other better- paying work, it makes sense to only spend fifteen or twenty minutes a day doing the extremely low-paying HITS offered until you get access to some of the higher-paying jobs. You won't get a shot at the higher paying tasks unless you do some, but if you can make more elsewhere it doesn't make sense to invest all of your time making 60 or 70 cents an hour either. Once you have over 100 HITS approved, they open up a few more options for you and over 1,000 even more tasks become available.)

Cloud Sourcing

For the most part, I am not a fan of cloud sourcing. The cloud sourcing sites I tried, MTurk, Cloud Croud, and Clickworker were all legitimate: all actually paid as promised. The problem was, for me, the wages worked out to be dismally low. I had the most success with MTurk after I was approved as a writer for one of their customers. At 2 cents a word, it wasn't getting rich, but the money was there quickly after approval, and so far, nothing has been returned for a rewrite and nothing has been rejected.

Wikio Experts to Overblog

Good while it lasted - current state - gone. The site owners have replaced Wikio with Overblog. Overblog did not hold my interest, but, since Wikio always paid honestly, Overblog is probably worth checking out for those interested in writing for residual-type earnings.

Factoidz

I don't have one bad thing to say about this one. It seems to still be going strong. The pay is not sky-high for general submissions but product reviews pay well, and for a site that pays for page views, the up front payments and activity bonuses are higher than average for an online content site.

Skyword

Another good one. Decent upfront payments. Good residual/page view paymets. Excellent editors. All around good experience. (No clue why I wrote that in non-sentences)

Demand Media Studios

Oh my! What a ride! I somehow managed to ride it out through all of the "layoffs" for lack of a better word, and I'm still writing for the site occasionally, but the titles are down to almost nothing and the editors seem to have upped the ante on unpredictability. They claim to have changes and new formats coming as well. It should be, at least, interesting to ride it out a little longer and see what they have to offer and what they ask.

Suite101

Suite and its writers have taken a really hard hit with the search engine changes this year. It should be interesting to watch as changes unfold over the next few months.

eBooks

eBook writing is moving to the forefront as one of the higher online writing niches. The two eBook publishers I can personally review are Amazon Kindle Direct and Smashwords. I have heard good things about Smashwords, though my own results were tepid. For me, Amazon KDP outperformed Smashwords by about double. My most recent eBook, released December 8th, 2011, is in KDP Select, so it's exclusive to Amazon for 90 days. In exchange they offer the use of some of their best promotional tools. If it proves worthwhile, I'll share more info on that later.

Smartphone Apps

I suspect smartphone app writing will pass eBook writing as the next big earning opportunity for online writers. Google has a drag and drop style app building program to help non-code-writers build their own apps.

Blogging

I really like blogging, but I tend to focus on other paying work rather than add content to my blogs. I know a lot of people make good money blogging, for me, probably because I don't invest enough time in it, the money is not there. I suspect blogs built around supporting or selling a product or membership are far more lucrative than blogs like this one, with occasional posts geared around providing information for writers and nothing actually for sale.

So, I'll close this post, along with the year 2011, by wishing everyone reading here a safe, happy, and prosperous new year.

Happy Friday

Hi All,

I'm just popping in on this beautiful sunny day to say "Hi."

I'm planning a busy weekend as far as writing and am looking forward to it in spite of it being a work weekend, and want to wish everyone a fun, productive, and safe weekend.

Have a great one!

4 Steps to Using Links Wisely in Persuasive Online Writing

Author: James Edward Bond

Since I have begun using more links in my online writing, I find myself facing a dilemma. Since, I want to earn my reader's respect and show them respect by at least acknowledging the existence of views contrary to my own. I find myself wanting to provide easy access to a lot of information but at the same time not wanting to drive traffic to issues, opinions, or beliefs that run contrary to my views.

I hadn't given this much thought until I was conducting research with my wife this weekend. We were checking political websites and noticed how the links in articles of several blogs only linked to information that supported the views of the author. What got to me is that these where issues that were reported on in both very partisan and non-partisan ways.

Whether I agreed with the point of view or not, on websites that only had a circle of rhetoric I felt the author was insulting my intelligence and presenting a closed minded view of the issue at hand. My point is that there are ways of linking to neutral sources and then compelling an individual to see things your way, using argument and analysis of information. Doing this effectively presents your work as being well thought out and researched. It will also help your work speak to persons who are on the fence on the particular issue being discussed.

Here are 4 steps to make you persuasive online writing more effective.

1. Limit your links: What I have found, to work best with the types of articles I write (generally between 300-800 words) is to have no more than 3 links in the body of the article. To many links distract from your message and interrupt the flow as you are making your case.
2. Show opposition first: I always include neutral or opposition views first. This gives plenty of time to help the reader see things your way. It also helps send the subconscious message that …The initial point of makes sense in the beginning. But, after thoughtful analysis they discover that your way of thinking is more correct.
3. Give your view universal appeal: After providing your argument, belief, or feeling you want to link to information that expands on and supports your point of view… from varying perspectives. Take a look at who shares your view and choose two sources that make your view as universal as possible. For instance if you find support for you argument coming from a senior lobby, college students, labor unions, and local PTA, college professors, and local business. Mention them all and link to two groups that are as different as possible.
4. Appearance Counts: While websites certainly don't have to be flashy and sometimes (due to loading times) flashy ones are less desirable. Ensure the links you chose present your case in a way that can be heard by your audience. As you build an audience for your work it is important to keep them in mind when writing or linking information.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/4-steps-to-using-links-wisely-in-persuasive-online-writing-2860406.html

About the Author

James Bond lives in Southern California with his wife Janka and cat Wyatt. He works with a community college district as a coordinator of student activities. JamesandJanka also provide advice to couples on communication techniques and activities to increase intimacy in relationships.

Content Creation - How To Use Your Online Writing To Increase Credibility In Your Niche

Author: Connie Ragen Green

Your online writing is the key to your success in building a business on the Internet. I realized this almost immediately when I came online at the end of 2005, and decided to just start writing. Even though my writing was not as good as I believed it should be, I jumped right in. If your writing isn't as good as you think it should be I encourage you to not focus on that. Instead jump right in and get started. Practice will make you better.

It turned out to be the best decision I could have made, because readers just want you to present information to them in a clear and concise way, instead of writing in an academic fashion. Write content that teaches an important point about your topic, tells readers what steps to take to achieve their goal, and is easy to read and understand. You don't need to write articles that sound like a college professor wrote them. In fact that will work against you in most cases. You want your writing to be easy to scan, as that is what most people do online now anyway.

Start by setting up a blog on your specific topic and posting to it regularly. This type of writing will get you into the habit of writing every day, as well build your credibility on the topic you are specializing in. Your blog becomes your home on the internet. It is the place that people go to find out about you and what you believe on certain topics. Over time more and more people will be able to find you online and will respect your opinion presented through your posts. Turn these posts into articles that teach the readers something about what you know. I like to include three tips, ideas, or suggestions in my articles, so that someone who knows very little can take some action right away after reading my information.

Keep your online writing at the high school level for best results. Many people read English as a second language, so you want them to be able to understand what you mean right away. Others, even though they may come from an academic background, do not want to read information that is difficult to understand. By making your writing a quick and easy read, you will reach more people with your message.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/content-creation-how-touse-your-online-writing-to-increase-credibility-in-your-niche-4003435.html

About the Author

Remember that the reason to start an internet business is to give you the time and money to live the life you choose. Download a free teleseminar on building your online business by visiting Content Creation Online to learn how to write articles, blog, become involved in social networking and learn the technology needed to build a profitable online business.

Article Writing Basics - Three Secrets to Profitable Article Writing

Author: R Matthews

Do you want to to earn money on the internet writing articles? It probably will be disheartening in the beginning, I've been there. The great news is, it really is entirely possible to attain an excellent income online once you some of the basics. The best place to start is to create better articles. Listed here are 3 critical areas that will help you get your articles a lot more views and more click throughs.

1) Find your focus. One particular error new writers make is to write in general terms within the article. Don't try to cover too much. If you are marketing a book about vegetable gardening, as an example, do not write about gardening generally. That is too vague. Try to find a trouble folks have and handle that problem specifically. Consider writing an article just about growning cucumbers. You can narrow that down to focus only on insect pests that destroy cucumbers and the way to exterminate them. By being this specific, you'll in fact attract extra readers who are interested in one particular trouble.

2) Examine the subject matter and give great information. Let's go back to our cucumber bug idea. Your potential readers may not know about the insects that have been eating their cucumbers. Do you know squash vine borers, squash bugs and cucumber beetles all destroy cucumbers in different ways? Do your research and provide excellent, relevant subject material to the reader. Give him a good reason to read your whole article down to the resource box.

3) Don't solve the reader's trouble in your own article. That is a huge error made by new article marketers. What happens when you provide the reader all the the right answers? He's content and continues his merry way with out clicking your hyperlink. Your reader has a challenge. Tell him about it and share with him some very good information and facts but not everything. Then write a fantastic resource box which will present the answer to his difficulty only once he clicks your link. Bear in mind, the whole point of your article should be to get the reader click your link.

There are a lot of tips and tricks to earning money on the Internet as a writer. You should write article titles that catch the eye, summaries that generate curiosity and resource boxes that convert. The learning curve is often daunting, but there is help to get you earning quickly.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/article-marketing-articles/article-writing-basics-three-secrets-to-profitable-article-writing-3965415.html

About the Author

If you're serious about an online career writing articles, click http://www.howtobecomeawriter.net/. Sign up for a free report that will help you get started today. Click How to Become a Writer now.

The Real Writing Jobs Reviews

Author: Irene Estrella

With the economy on the fritz all over the world, it's no surprise that people are turning to some of the less conventional jobs. One of these jobs is Internet writing and while it might not sound too promising, there are many people out there who have found it to be an excellent full time job opportunity. One of the best parts about online writing is that you are not limited by the minimum wage in your country. Often times you might find yourself working for an American company that is willing to pay you quite a bit more than you would make in your country of origin. Real Writing Jobs is a company dedicated to helping you find the jobs you need in a relatively short time.

As with any Internet-based opportunity there are bound to be pros and cons attached to it, and we will go over them in detail for you:

Pros:
1. You will have a great opportunity to work from home and do something that you love to do.
2. By working from home you will have more time to do the things you want and spend time with your friends and family.
3. You will be able to work for multiple companies and ultimately make even more money depending on your level of skill and the type of writing you are going to be doing.

Cons:
1. Some writing jobs may require a certain level of skill and if your writing skill is below that level you may be rejected by employers or you may be stuck with jobs that pay much lower than you would prefer.
2. You will not be able to clock out at any specific time. If you do not complete your work quickly you will be stuck at your computer all night trying to finish, and it becomes rather tiresome after a while.
3. In many cases you will need to proofread your own work, and with that being the case you will need to develop a rather keen eye for errors. It's not always easy to catch your own spelling mistakes but certain employers will require it.

One of the best aspects of Real Writing Jobs is that they have already done the dirty work for you. They have forged relationships with companies that need content writers, and you may be just what they are looking for. You will be provided with writing opportunities and you will be able to take those opportunities and run with them. There are not many jobs out there like this and so long as you keep that list of pros and cons in mind, you should be able to come out on top.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/book-reviews-articles/the-real-writing-jobs-reviews-3747240.html

About the Author

Start earning now in article writing jobs. There is no experience needed but a good motivation to earn extra money in writing article to big companies.

Web Writing Jobs

Author: Steve East

Remember the olden days when you had to physically go out to knock on doors (and bug business owners) when you were looking for a job?

Well, those days are now ancient history, thanks to the internet.

Right now, I'm referring to "writing jobs," which are in great demand.

You see, many marketers require a large number of articles online pointing towards their "product or service" website. The reason they need this is because articles create "backlinks," or "votes" for the page, and when that happens, the page will "rise" in the search results.That is exactly what they need, because if their site is not on the first page of a google (or Bing or Yahoo) search, then forget about traffic.

Traffic (page views) leads to clicks, and of course a percentage of those clicks turn into sales!

Most marketers simply don't have enough time to write for themselves. One article is not enough, they need a lot of original content to make this work. This is where you come in, because they are willing to pay you for each article you write.

Most will pay you via PayPal, which is the most widely used money transfer service online. It's great because you can earn money right away with no delay. Not like a regular old fashioned job where you have to wait for payday, how awful that would be.

To take advantage of these opportunities, you need to go to a jobs dashboard to see a summary of people who need you to write articles for money.

To browse internet jobs, you simply scroll through the jobs listed. You will see the offer of how much they are willing to pay, and how much time you would have to complete the task.

If you are interested, then you would respond with a "bid," which would list your time required to finish the article,and your expected pay.

As you gain experience, you would build a reputation for good work, and your payments will rise. You will also find that "repeat business" will form a large part of your business.

This is a growing type of business on the internet, and you can start this full time right away. The income potential is really only limited by your willingness to put in the time required to complete the writing jobs.

Good luck to you in this rising market!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/article-marketing-articles/web-writing-jobs-3591197.html

About the Author

For more detailed information to help you get started please take a peek at: Write Articles for Money Thank you!