Entries Tagged 'Article Submission Directories' ↓
(Before you read today’s post, check out Yaro’s Blog Mastermind opening page. He reopens the program at 10 AM today. If you want to learn to make money blogging, sign up. You won’t regret it.)
If you want to make it as a writer, you’re going to have some bumps along the way.
Make no mistake about it. You’re going to have a client who drops off the face of the earth right after you send her $500 worth of work. You’re going to farm out some work to someone who proves to be unreliable. You’re going to lose a gig somewhere, not because you couldn’t land the client, but because you couldn’t find the damn order in the middle of your chaos.
In my freelance writing business, I’ve been going through some growing, although most of it hasn’t been painful. In the last three months I’ve landed several new clients and found cause to bring some other writers into the fold. I’ve even been able to bring my wife, Angie, on board to help me keep tabs on everything and to help get new clients.
Yes, there have been some dips and hurdles, but overall this growth is good.
I’d just like to say, while I’m here, that Angie is amazing. She’s got something like a 60% conversion rate when bidding projects already. We wondered at first if it was beginner’s luck, but the gigs keep on coming. Yeah, my portfolio is impressive. I do excellent work, and it speaks for itself. But she’s got the goods when it comes to hooking clients and getting them to really consider hiring us.
Along with this growth, I’ve had to modify my business plan. I’ve written many times about the need for both vision and flexibility in that vision. While you can’t guarantee that a given endeavor will or won’t succeed, you can adjust as needed to ride the unexpected waves.
What am I getting at with all of this? Just sharing my journey, folks. That’s what this blog is about, after all.
I’m curious about your stories, though. If you’re a freelancer, are you working solo? Have you had growing pains, and what sort? If you’re not yet making a living with your writing, what do you envision in the long term? Will it be just you, will you have a writing team, or will you just have support staff?
Can I rant for a minute? Yes? Good.
As you may know, I spent a good bit of time back in March and April doing an experiment with the article directory site Helium. I had some amazing success, earning more than $1000 writing part time over 40 days. The potential for residual income seemed to be high, as well, and if my Helium work continued to earn the same rate it had been earning, I’d have been looking at $100 a month or so in residual income.
I detailed my experiences here, and even wrote a few posts telling you how to do well in Helium contests. I even put together a report detailing my experiences and offering advice on how writers can make money at Helium.
Some of my readers joined Helium and experienced some success. At least one managed to sell an article in the Marketplace, and another won money in a writing contest.
So, why am I disappointed, frustrated and angry? Here’s why:
- The changes to Helium’s earnings policy have turned the potential $100 a month into around $3 a month. They’ve claimed to be making changes to the structure, but after several weeks of waiting I’ve not seen it.
- The rate of recursive income my recruits are getting is scary, if Helium is doing things the way it says it is. I’ve recruited nearly 40 writers, of which I should be getting a 5% bonus based on their earnings. To date, that’s been $.05. This means my 40 recruits have earned about $1 – total – between all of them.
- Helium claimed they were going to make changes to the article writing interface, offering more exposure to the author and possibly outbound links. This has yet to be done.
- The contest structure has been revamped, with about half the weekly amount of prizes.
I’ve been one of Helium’s most vocal advocates in the blogosphere, and have recruited a good number of writers. Helium’s changes and failure to follow through have made me look bad. The fact that my 40 recruits have earned $1 makes me look like a shill.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of Helium. I want it to work. I like the combination of the marketplace, contests, and residual earnings. I’m also a big advocate for the ratings system. Helium has the potential to be the greatest of all the article directories.
But I earned more money last month with five eHow articles that I wrote in January and February than I earned with the nearly-400 articles I have on Helium. My dozen or so Associated Content articles did about the same that Helium did.
No matter how hard I try, I can’t come up with a good excuse for that.
None.
So, what will change my mind, bring me back on board with Helium? There are three things Helium needs to do to regain credibility:
- Restructure their payment formula to be at least within striking distance of other directories.
- Offer at least one outbound “resource” link in each article.
- Figure out what they’re doing with contests, both in terms of structure and rankings, and stick to it.
What will NOT help is the status quo.
So, what do you think? Was it a mistake for me to promote them to begin with? Am I being too harsh? What else could Helium do to restore credibility? How is Helium doing for you these days?
photo credit: Spigoo
Wow.
I’ve got to say that, if I’d have known where this project would take me, I probably wouldn’t have promised to give you all The Helium Report free. What I thought would be a 10-page/2,000 word document quickly became a 30-page/5,500 word document! As I went along, I realized there was more and more great information I wanted to share with you all.
But, honestly, I’m OK with it. I’m a man of my word. You can get The Helium Report today, free as promised. If you find it useful, I’ve included a PayPal donation button on the download page. Feel free to use it 
Be sure to download your copy today. I will likely begin charging for the report no sooner than May 30, 2008.
Here is the link:
Enjoy, pass it around, and let me know what you think!
Hi folks. Happy Niebuday!
Just wanted to give you an update on the Helium Report. I’m putting the finishing touches on the report today, and will post it late tonight or, more likely, some time tomorrow. I’ve discovered that I have a lot more to say about Helium than I thought at first. The word count is over 5,000 at this point! I’m thrilled to be passing along so much good info.
While you’re waiting, make sure to check out a couple of my favorite posts from the last few days. Some are useful, some not so much. I’ll let you decide which are which:
A Mother’s Gratitude
Should You Specialize in Website Content?
Why PoeWar?
Chris Brogan: est Social Media Advice From This Site
How to Get More Freelancing Work from Your Writing
I Am Not Useful. (And Why You Should Be Cool With That)
Should You Tattle On A Bad Client?
5 Tips to Grow Your Twitter Presence
How To Stop Regretting The Past And Start Building Your Future
Are You Cut Out for Freelance Writing?
Have an awesome day, folks!
I have to admit, I occasionally worry about referring folks to Helium. After all, the fact that I’ve had amazing success with it doesn’t mean that everyone will. It’s not that I think I’m that good of a writer, but I’m much better putting my word behind something that won’t change (like the Freelance Rockstar eBook I recommended earlier in the week) than something that I can’t control, like Helium.
The results of this weeks contests, however, have made it worth it, and reminded me why it is I am comfortable recommending Helium. One of my readers and my good friend Kameron won first place in one of the Helium contests this week. Good form, Kam!
For myself, I only entered one contest, and placed 3rd. This week could be especially fun, as there’s a “Writing Online” category. I’m going to try that one, and It’ll be cool going up against some of the best and brightest and Helium (and maybe some of you!)
I have to say that the one area I’m most interested in right now on Helium is the marketplace. I’m trying to score you all an interview with one of the big marketplace writers, and hope to post it next week, but we shall see.
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If you missed it earlier in the week, make sure to check out Eight Violent Truths About Freelancing – Part 1 and Eight Violent Truths About Freelancing – Part 2 over at Freelance Folder.
Enjoy your Friday evening, all!
