Are you just getting started in content writing online? Wondering whether it's still worth it? Check out my tips and thoughts for Steemit beginners here.
Is content writing online still a viable way to make some extra income - or even your entire income? There have been lots of changes in the content writing field in the past year or two, as many of the old platforms have faced challenges staying afloat, suffered "Google slaps" in ranking, or simply been unable to keep up with current technology and consumer demands. Things that worked well a few years ago sometimes no longer do, and if you're just starting out you might be wondering if it's even worthwhile giving it a try.
Tip #1: Have patience.
Being successful as an online content writer generally takes a fair amount of time and patience - just look at my earnings chart above! It takes a while to learn the ins and outs of creating pages for different sites, to their guidelines and requirements; time to promote your new content and get it into search engine results and build good back links; time to learn what makes for successful content and what doesn't.
Your early payouts from various sites and programs may be extremely small (just a few dollars, or pennies even)at the moment only Steemit pay huge but it totally depends on Whale huge STEEM power up-voters, and most sites/affiliate programs don't payout at all until you reach a certain threshold of earnings, anywhere from $5 to $100. Remember, too, that often earnings are delayed - you may have to wait 2 to 3 months for earnings to be available to your account, so don't count on seeing that "Christmas sales" money until February or March of the following year.
What all of this means is that if you are looking at content writing because you need extra cash - and need it right now - than this is probably not the right type of work you should be considering. (You might do better looking at a site like e lance where people are looking for freelance writers for specific, immediate jobs.) And if you see someone promising that they can teach you how to be making hundreds if not thousands of dollars writing online immediately, if you just take their course or buy their e-book, be cautious. That person may be promoting questionable techniques or engaging in promotional techniques that violate the terms of service of a content site
Tip #2: Consider your goals.
What is your ultimate goal in writing content for websites? Are you just doing this for fun in your spare time, encouraged by the idea you might earn a few dollars along the way? Or are you looking to turn this into a part-time or even full-time job, and if so what are your financial needs?
These are the things you need to consider in how you look to approach your writing, as well as your discipline in devoting time to it. If it's just going to be a hobby, then go for it and have fun. Learn the basic rules and guidelines and then write about what you want, when you have the time for it - and just don't let it interfere with your regular work and family time.
If you plan on doing content writing as serious source of income, however, you need to be more serious about it as well. Spend the time learning about effective keywords, SEO, promotion and how to market both yourself and the products you may want to sell. Invest in the things you may need in order to do your work properly, be it a better camera for taking your own photographs for articles, or books on grammar and how to improve your writing skills.
Set short term and long term goals for yourself: how much money do you want to be making in six months time? In a year's time? How much do you need to be making in order to pay your bills and expenses? If content writing is to be your job, then you must treat it as such in order to reach the levels of success you are aiming for.
Tip #3: Don't put all of your eggs in one basket.
So you've started writing here on Steemit, for instance, and you love creating content for this site. Great! But have you explored the other content sites out there to see how they compare, such as Goody Guides, Whyrll, or Spacial Anomaly? (All three, by the way, started by writers with long time experience on sites such as Squidoo, Wizzley and elsewhere.)
Creating content across different platforms will give you the chance to see where your best source or sources of income may lie. If you like writing specifically about current events and hot topics, a site like Persona Paper might work best for you because you can get published fast, and earn based on the hits you get quickly on your topic. However, if you prefer writing on more evergreen or specialized items, or want to promote affiliate sales, you'd likely do better elsewhere.
Another important reason to invest time into different platforms is that content sites can change their rules, guidelines and requirements at the drop of the hat - especially in response to how Google ranks and views their site overall. A content site could unexpectedly go under completely with only a few month's warning, if that. A site that is generating hundreds of dollars in income for you one month might suddenly introduce changes the next month that cuts your income in half - or worse! I've had it happen to me several times in the past and had to scramble to make up the lost revenue on another platform...if possible. If you have content on several sites going, however, the loss of one site as a source of income isn't likely to hit you as hard. You'll also be better situated to shift gears and focus if need be.
Tip #4: Don't spread yourself too thin.
Despite the advice above, don't dabble in too many different platforms and content sites willy-nilly and expect to see good results. There is a definite synergy that develops once you have a minimum amount of content on a single site, have learned what works there and what doesn't, and can interlink your content to develop a strong "niche". In my experience you need to create at least 20-30 articles/leaves/lenses/hubs/etc on a site before you start to see any small results, or even begin to get a sense of what type of content will perform best for you on that site. And it's when you hit 50 and then 100 items of content on a site that revenue begins to really start to build.
Working on too many different content sites at once can also be confusing, if you're constantly having to remember how to format images and text for one site versus another. It can also mean a longer period of time until you start actually receiving payment, depending on the payout minimum threshold for a particular site. So take the time to get comfortably established on one platform first before adding a new one into the mix.
Tip #5: Share your passions and knowledge.
When you create content about something you are personally knowledgeable about, it comes across in the authority of your writer's voice. You are more able to write in your own words and style, versus if you have to do a lot of research and end up having to quote and reference lots of other sources.
So what is it you really love, and perhaps know more about than most people? Are you a crafter, a collector or an avid reader? Do you love animals and have a lot of experience with pets - or maybe even raising farm animals? What about your experience as a parent, caregiver, or in your job/career? These are all subjects you can explore and turn into useful - and potentially lucrative - content for the web.
One caveat to this, however, is that you can't always assume there will be enough people interested in your particular odd little hobby or interest to make it a successful niche on a content site. You might have studied and developed a deep fascination for Tuvan throat singing...but are there enough people out there who share your interest? Of course, you never know until you give an article or two a try. I was surprised by how well my classical oil painting tutorials on Squidoo took off and became one of my best performing niches on the site, continually drawing steady traffic and product sales with little maintenance and updating work on my part. In contrast, other niches I've tried to develop, such as on some of my favorite bands and artists, are fun for me to write but don't tend to perform nearly as well.
Tip #6: Back. Up. Everything.
This is something we are probably all guilty of on occasion - or constantly! Are you saving copies of your content on your home computer after you've finished publishing it? How about any photos you used on your page or article?
Saving backup copies of your hard work is vital for many reasons. Say you go back to edit a Wizzle or other article, and a bug or browser crash loses your previous data (or the text you've just spent an hour typing direct into a module). What if a content site goes down for good, or goes on a content "purge" and suddenly deletes your previously articles? (I had that happen to me with Suite101.) If you didn't save a copy for yourself - even just a complete screencapture - recreating your hard work can be difficult if not downright impossible.
You don't want to lose all of your hard work and effort like that. There are many tools available to help you keep copies of your work on your home computer - and don't forget to back that up as well to an external storage device! I like the simple program Paparazzi! for Mac for taking full-page screen captures.
Tip #7: Take everyone's advice with a grain of salt - including mine
You know what they say about people and opinions...
No matter what you've read here, in other blogs, in eBooks and on forums, be sure to think critically for yourself and not be afraid to do things differently. Be true to yourself, your voice, and your instincts. Read advice with an open mind, but if someone tells you there's only one way (ie, their way) to be a successful content writer online, don't believe them.
Be original, be creative, be dedicated and be you. That's the most important piece of advice I can offer to anyone.