I like article directories. Why? Several reasons:
- Article directories can drive traffic to a website like nobody’s business, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Yaro Starak of Entrepreneur’s Journey and Brian Clark of Copy Blogger released a free report back in 2006 on the use of article marketing as a traffic generation strategy.
- Article directories give you the chance to play around in a niche you otherwise wouldn’t write in. For example, I’ve written articles on things as diverse as starting a running exercise program to American Idol to avoiding work-at-home scams.
- Article directories give you a sandbox in which to test various techniques such as SEO and formatting before you use them on your production site.
Why do I mention article directories, and what do they have to do with a Helium SpongeBob and Powerpuff Girl balloons? Or is that just another one of Bob’s seemingly-random image selections?
Well, you might remember that, back on March 1, I decided to do an experiment. The experiment involved the article directory Helium and their Reward-athon promotion. Essentially, I wanted to see how much I could make on Helium in the 45 remaining days of the promotion.
I also invited readers to compete with me, and offered a prize to anyone who could top me. The Writing Journey was but a few days old at the time, and my readership was in the low double-digits. I got a few takers, but no one that really seemed to enjoy Helium as much as I did.
At any rate, I made $1,044.28 at Helium during the 45-day Helium experiment. I wrote for about two hours each day - around 33 work days. That works out to about $15 an hour. That’s not great, but there are other benefits. I’ve gained several regular readers (and some friends) along the way. I’ve had about 150 or so incoming hits from my Helium About page. (That’s nowhere near the hits I get from EzineArticles, but EzineArticles doesn’t pay me, either.)
What’s exciting to me is the residual income potential of the experiment. I’ve continued to earn about $2 a day on my articles. Given that most of my topics are timeless, I should continue to earn that $2 as long as Helium maintains or increases its popularity. Over a year’s time, that’ll raise my hourly rate by $11. In five years, Lord willing and the creeks don’t rise, it will be $70 an hour. In reality I expect that to be higher; Helium, I predict, will go gangbusters before too long. It will not surprise me if, by January 1, 2009, That $2 a day is more like $10 a day. Even if Helium only maintains, $70 an hour isn’t too bad.
So, I consider the experiment a shining success. In fact, it was so successful that I’m turning the experience into a free report. I expect to release on May 12, so watch for it if you’re interested.
In the meantime, since you all have so such varied backgrounds and differing stories about how you got started writing, I’m curious: What do you all think of article directories? Do you use them? If so, how do you use them? If not, why not?
24 comments ↓
I have shunned Helium since day one. It looked like some sort of kiddish game and offered pennies. No way.
It seems the game has changed. Now you’ve intrigued me (hey, I’m not above article directories!) and I’m tempted.
James bait. You knew it.
Very interesting and I look forward to your free report. I started freelancing in early 2006 and joined Helium back then but don’t think I’ve thought about writing there for almost two years. You’ve definitely piqued my curiosity.
Dana Princes last blog post..Canadian English: A US and UK Hybrid
@ James - actually, I didn’t expect this one to be James-bait. I didn’t figure you were too keen on article directories. Not sure why. I’m glad you’re not above them. The “ar-teests” are above directories, for sure, but so are some regular Internet writers.
To be sure, there’s a kiddish element to Helium. I’ve found Helium writing to be fun, in some ways. The contests are a blast - I wrote an article about “What to do when your street is a kitty drop-off zone,” for example. That was just a fun article, and one I’d never write anywhere else. Plus, like I mentioned, Helium is a bit of a sandbox; I can run an article idea up the flagpole and see who salutes (via the ratings system). But there’s also some serious stuff there, such as the marketplace.
@ Dana - I joined Helium in early 2007, and didn’t write a thing until I re-joined in March. Too many other directories, and Helium wasn’t especially unique back then. Not in my mind, anyways. They’ve really come a long way.
Hmm, I read this late in the middle of the night last night and then had to go find out what an article directory even was.
( always…more…to…learn…)
I sure learned something, but I don’t know how I feel about it yet. Your experiment is very interesting.
Thanks for the new class!
Wendi Kellys last blog post..Having Faith
@ Wendi - let me know what you think of the concept as you go along. I have a blast with directories. I’ve written for just about all of them, mostly under a pen name. My old favorite was Associated Content, but Helium just has more cool stuff with the Marketplace and Contests and whatnot (more on that, of course, as time goes on). I’m almost exclusive to Helium and EzineArticles right now.
Everyone else - read Wendi’s last post on Having Faith. It’s seriously good stuff.
I joined Helium too late to really take advantage of their contest, based on the time I had available each day to write and rate. Still, I’ve enjoyed flexing my non-fiction writing muscles and will likely continue to post articles there from time to time. Thanks for pointing me in their direction, Bob.
i joined Helium in September and made my first ever money online there. I think I got $75 for winning one of their channel contests. I kid you not, no other income I’ve made in my life before or since delighted me as much as that did. I was excited beyond belief. I’d done offline writing for so long that I just needed web samples.
I haven’t been back since October or November (when they ditched the contest I was aiming for) but I’m glad to hear it worked out for you.
I recently stumbled across (not actually) Helium and have been submitting articles at a much lower rather than you………one or two per week if I’m feeling up to it. I have three kids I homeschool, a husband in Afghanistan and a barn of animals to care for as well. I’m not as prolific as I would like to be.
I’ve been using it as a platform to hone my writing skills. At fifty-one, I’m just now venturing out into a passion I’ve had my entire life, but have not pursued for one reason or another.
I would be interested to know how you managed to make over $1000 with Helium. I’ve scrapped in a few pennies, but then again, earnings have not been my primary motivator there.
@ Kam - I’ve enjoyed your writing on Helium. You’ve got a decent non-fiction voice to go with your amazing fiction voice. (Incidentally, I think that Roleplaying Games is going to be a category in the weekly competition next week. I submitted a ton of topics, so I can’t compete, but I think you could probably fare well there.)
@ Naomi - The weekly contests are a blast. The rating system isn’t perfect, and I like to whine about it, but they do all right overall.
@ Magnolia - welcome, I’m glad you stopped in. I’m going to go into how I made gangbusters at Helium in the free report. The Reward-athon was the big thing, but I see the potential for ongoing revenue as even more significant. My $2 a day today will be another $730 in a year, $1,460 in two years and $3,650 in five, assuming Helium doesn’t grow in popularity at all.
Hi Bob, interesting post that gotten me quite excited about Helium. I just join Helium recently and has been thinking about it (probably I am thinking too much). Is it true that if I submit an article in Helium, I cannot post the same content on my blog? However, I can link to the article from my blog?
BKs last blog post..Breaking Through Your Limits!
Hi Bob,
Article marketing is a good SEO and PR strategy. There are hundreds of article directories and I’ve used a good many of them over the years. When I’m launching a specific PR effort, I’ll upload new articles to Ezine and use press releases. I signed up for Helium but did the math and opted not to spend time on it. Your experiment is interesting and for those starting out it could be a good option. Looking forward to the report.
Thanks for sharing your experience and I look forward to the report. Helium is one of those things I always get asked about - but I never have used myself. Those results aren’t too bad, and it sounds like you wrote on some fun topics.
It looks like it may be a good outlet for those “outside of the box” ideas that don’t fit anywhere else.
Courtneys last blog post..“Funny” Blog
@ BK - Posting at Helium only gives Helium non-exclusive rights to the article. You can repost the article at your blog (or anywhere else). The downside to doing this, though, is that it will hurt both pages in the search engine rankings because of the duplicate content.
@ Karen - I’ve not done much in the way of press release marketing. There are those who swear by it. Ezine is particularly effective for marketing. I found Helium to be less effective for marketing, but again, I actually see some cash from Helium. I still use Ezine for SEO.
@ Courtney - You’re welcome. Those results will be wonderful, over time, if Helium stays relevant. The “bird in the hand” is all right, but I’m most excited about the potential for recursive income. It will be interesting to see how sustainable it is. One of my Helium friends pulls in a consistent $200-300 a month in residuals. That’s not money you can live on, but it’ll pay my cable, electric and phone bill each month.
thats awesome… i’m a member of helium but no idea how to earn there
Hi Bob, thanks for answering my question. At least now I know better how it works. Thank you.
BKs last blog post..Life is Like a Box of Jigsaw
I recently signed up for Helium, but I’ve found myself staring at it, not knowing where to start with writing an article for it. I probably just need to jump in - I’m interested in it for the experience, really, though of course any money would be nice! It’s interesting to see other people’s experience with it.
So, did I miss something then? Is there a post coming on “the big report?”
Really, I’m quite impressed that you pulled in over $1000 there. What type of writing did you do?
I’m still trying to find my voice truthfully. I think I’ve got potential, but I can’t find what it is just yet. Do I sound like a frustrated artist? I am.
I think that voice in me is screaming to get out, but I just keep standing in the way. How to get out of the way? Suggestions would be greatly appreciated…….and, tell me what kind of writing you’re doing for Helium.
Magnolias last blog post..I see old people…….
Intriguing post, Bob. I had looked at Helium a couple of years ago, but there was something that didn’t quite feel right. Perhaps it’s time to take another look.
But, leads me to a question: I write for two blogs now, which takes some time since I type with my left thumb. Is it possible to over extend yourself and to over use your writing muscle and creativity?
@ Melvin - Stay tuned, and make sure to check out the free report when it comes out on May 12!
@ BK - You’re welcome
@ Catherine - I highly advocate jumping in. It can become addictive, though, I’ll warn you.
@ Magnolia - Like the 2nd to last paragraph says, I’m releasing a full report on May 12. As to the type of writing, Helium allows me to explore a bunch of different areas, from business writing to writing about writing (like I do here) to writing about hobbies. Some areas seem to make more money than others. As to your writing voice, just keep at it! Keep writing. Your voice will develop, in time, probably without you even realizing it.
@ Glenda - I actually had a similar experience. I signed up with Helium when they first started, but didn’t really “get it.” Helium has come a long way since those early days.
As to the question of being overextended, I use Helium to expand my creativity rather than using it up. I can do things there that I’d never be able to do here, because it just doesn’t fit.
Here’s a great example: I wrote an article at Helium (for a contest) on getting started with model trains. I’m not a model train collector, but I’m interested in the hobby from an observer’s perspective. Writing in that contest gave me the opportunity to learn a little about model trains and earn a couple of bucks in the process.
Thanks, Bob. Off to check out Helium. I like the idea of being free to write more than what I blog about, and, if a few dollars can be made, even better!
Interesting. I checked out Helium ages ago and didn´t really see much potential at that time. Time for a second look . . . sounds like they´ve improved and expanded.
I do not trust Helium for a minute my first article was top, they lost my second one I had taken hours to do and then they claimed id copied my third….no way…they are odd, dubious, pay pennies, exploit people.sod them
do not trust Helium for a minute my first article was top, they lost my second one I had taken hours to do and then they claimed id copied my third….no way…they are odd, dubious, pay pennies, exploit people.sod them
Лучше и не напишешь.
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