When your website is not exactly hopping with traffic and you are not sure how to change things, an article writing campaign can really jump start things. While reading a great post on article writing campaigns over at SiteproNews, I started to realize yet another reason that we are needed as article and content writers – for good quality content that is optimized for the web. Some website owners are more than capable of delivering their own content. Others have no chance whatsoever.

After careful consideration, I have come up with the top ten reasons that you might need an article writer. Here they are:

10. You do not know the difference between their and there.

9. You think keywording is naming your piano keys.

8. You have written articles and are still getting no traffic.

7. Your last article was around 1980.

6. You want dynamic and exciting content that can drive traffic to your site organicly.

5. You want tons of backlinks to your blog/website.

4. You are working in a niche that you are unfamiliar with on the whole. (not recommended)

3. You are short on time due to multiple ventures.

2. You want the best that the web has to offer.

1. Your website has grown stale.

If any of the above things apply to you, then you may want to look into hiring an article writer. A great content provider can make the difference in an good or a great website.

Titles are one often overlooked aspect of article writing. When you are dealing with the print market, the key is to come up with a catchy, intriguing title that will catch the reader’s eye. When it comes to article writing online, a great title is important as well, but it is more important that it will be SEO friendly.

What this means is that the title can be found when people search for the information you are providing. If you are writing an article about eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, for example, you would want to have that specific set of keywords in the title. Otherwise, you will get plenty of potential snake readers, but few that are looking for that particular type of snake.

The key is to get the keywords in, and to try to be as short and concise as possible. Keywords should also be placed as close to the front of the title as possible, so that the url will have it in optimum position.

The title with online articles should always include some foreshadowing of the information to come. You want the question that you are answering to be clear, and what the reader will expect to learn from the article.

Making a really creative and fun title is great as long as you are clear about what the article will give the reader, and it can be found. If you are not thoughtful of SEO and keywording, then you will never be found in the ocean of information on the Internet.

Spend some time on the Internet searching out information. Look at the difference in what titles come up on the front page of Google and Yahoo. You will quickly see that great titles on the web are not rocket science. They are clear answers to questions that people have.

Keep an eye out for future information about titling in future posts.

As the editor of several websites, it is part of my job to go through online writing applications on a semi-regular basis. These online writing applications are often by request, and they are supposed to include a few writing samples. Writing samples are supposed to be a snapshot of what the writer is capable of, and it will be the first impression that a potential client will have of you and your writing.

Unfortunately, most potential article writers give very little thought to the online writing samples that they provide. There are a number of tips about writing samples that I would like to pass along to those of you that apply to online writing sites. Hopefully, some of these might help you to secure more gigs, and make more money online.

Monkey's Rule (Except In Writing Samples)

1. Make sure that you send the writing samples as an attachment. Also do not pick some newfangled formats or funky files. A simple text file does rather nicely. If I have to download something to read your writing sample, that is a big fat no-no.

2. For goodness sakes, browse the website or company that you are applying to. For example, if the website is about the Dallas Cowboys, do not send over a writing sample titled, “The Washington Redskins Rule” please. You would be shocked. It happens. Know the niche you are applying for.

3. Another important note on visiting the website – Take a moment to read some of the content. Is the tone of the website bloggish, or is it more technical? This type of information is vital to your writing sample. Make sure your writing sample matches the website in form for the best results.

4. Make sure you send your best work. Do not send over a lackluster effort. If I read a writing sample and it is throwing out grammar issues in the first paragraph, I don’t bother to go on. The reason? If they do not care enough to proofread a writing sample while asking me for a job, they surely won’t once I am paying them.

5. Use a standard font when you submit article writing samples. No pink italics please. Also, I do not know Chinese, so do not send over that type of script unless the application asks for it. Straight English, 12 pt black – Times New Roman is perfect.

6. Do not send over custom writing samples. If people are requesting custom writing samples, then chances are they are scamming you. If they are willing to pay for them, then that is something else. I have seen jobs ask for a custom writing sample with no guarantee that you will be paid. That is very bad. An existing writing sample on the Internet is more than good enough to show if you fit the job. Watch out for the scammers folks.

Every once in a while in the world of online writing, you come across a kindred spirit. You meet someone that for whatever reason, spurs you on to bigger and better things. If you are really lucky, that person turns out to be a pretty fine human being to boot. My good buddy Randy over at Barefoot Scribbles is just such a dude. I dare say that it is hard to imagine how anyone could be unaware of his blog by now, but if you have not checked it out, click that pretty link above and give him a visit.

You can thank me later.

What is so cool about Barefoot Scribbles is that you can learn something about online writing while laughing your arse off. His writings are always chock full of great advice, while still entertaining as hell. He is what I aspire to be – A writer that keeps people coming back for more, if only to find out what he is up to.

On a personal note, this guy has always had an open door policy with me. From the first day I met him in Associated Content’s forums, he has made himself available to help. That is rare in the cynical world of web writing. I hope that I have been that same thing for others, and followed his honorable lead.

If you have a budding online writing career, I would highly suggest that you head on over and subscribe (after subscribing here of course) and dive into his huge amount of content. You will find more advice than you will ever need on virtually any subject you can think of where writing is concerned.

Thanks Randy for being a friend and mentor as well.

Article writing is a very complicated way to make a living. Your money is limited by how many article ideas you can generate. There are a million ways to get article ideas, however. The thing is, most article ideas will never actually generate any page views. How do you generate article ideas while still making sure they are articles that will be viewed and generate income?

This article will help you figure that out. Here are a few ideas for how to generate money makers, based on my own experience and the advice of others greater than I:

1. Use Google Trends - Google Trends is a great resource to know what is hot. It is a list of the hottest search trends on Google. If it is hot on Google, you can be relatively sure it is hot everywhere. The thing about using Google trends is that it is often being used by thousands if not millions of other online writers. How do you bypass that?

Simply by finding your slant. Here is a tip. Find a hot Google Trends story. Now find another one on the list that is related. How can you mix the two together? For example:

Free Money is a hot trend. (always)

Playing Games is a hot trend. (always)

Why not do an article about how to get free money playing games? (yes, you can do that believe it or not)

Google Trends is valuable.

2. Sign Up at Wordtracker.com – This is one of the coolest little tools on the Internet. You put in a search term and it sends you back hot article titles. Honestly, this is the coolest thing ever and worth your time. Give it whirl. You will be glad you did. This tool is my favorite thing. Just punch in ideas and get free information. Free is always good.

3. Sign up for Problogger.com’s email updates – While you may or may not be a blogger, this guy always puts out information that can really help with article ideas. The email updates are very non-invasive, and they always are worthwhile. I take the time to read everything that comes from him, and it has made a huge difference.

4. Keep a journal of article ideas on your person 24 hours a day. Seriously. I have a pen and pad beside my bed. I never leave to even go to the store without it. If you do not write it down, you will never ever remember it tomorrow. Write it down!

5. Watch the local news – If you need ammunition, then the news will give you all the article ideas you can think of. Foodie writers have it made. They can simply turn on the Food Network or Emeril and have tons of ideas. Us writers that write on boring stuff have the same resources if we think in that way. Think outside the box and use those 5000 channels your satellite service provides.

I hope that this will at least get you juiced up and ready for some great writing. Be sure and subscribe to the blog, and I will see you tomorrow!

If you’re a freelance writer who is looking for some extra cash, you may have thought about www.examiner.com. The website is considered to be comparable to Associated Content. Is Examiner really worth all the hype though? Or is it nothing more than just a waste of time? Here’s one writer’s opinion on the Examiner.

How it Works

Examiner works a lot like Associated Content with its Display Only content option. Once you have been accepted to the website and have written your first article that requires approval, you will be able to publish whenever you want. You are required to publish 3-5 times per week. Keep in mind that the more you publish, the more you will have to show for in terms of your monthly earnings.

One of the main differences between this website and Associated Content is that you will not be allowed to write about just anything. You will need to write within the channel that you get accepted to. At this point, writers are able to have up to two channels. Another one of the differences is that Examiner requires you to apply either at the National level or at the Local level, which means that you may be writing for the Miami edition.

Payment

The Examiner does not pay any type of upfront offer for content that you submit. This means that you are only getting paid for website traffic. Does this mean that www.examiner.com is worse than www.associatedcontent.com in terms of money? Absolutely not. Associated Content pays up to $2.00 per 1,000 page views, depending on your performance as a member. The Examiner pays a flat rate of $10.00 per 1,000 page views. Payment is sent out on the 20th of the month following the month of your earnings.

The Pros

When you go to the “Publishing Tool” on Examiner, you will have a dropdown tool available to you. You will be able to select from “Today,” “Yesterday,” “Current Week Sunday to Saturday,” “Current Month,” “Last Month,” “Current Year,” and “Last Year.” If you click on one of these options, you will be able to see the amount of money that you earned during each time. This is great if you want to have a new way to keep up with your financial records, which can be challenging as a freelance writer.

Unlike certain websites, such as www.demandstudios, you will not be required to do a whole lot of research or follow a particular formatting structure on Examiner. It is recommended that you choose to write in a channel that you love or are a specialist in, so that you will not need to do too much research. There is not a set word limit, but you should try to keep your articles at about 250 words. This is nothing compared to the minimum word requirements at many websites.

The Cons

Unlike on Associated Content, you are not able to click on each article to see how well it is doing in terms of page views. It has been said that this is a function that Examiner is working on getting due to complaints, however.

The Examiner also often has a lot of technical problems, but what website doesn’t? The turnaround for getting them fixed does seem slightly quicker than other sites though.

Is Examiner Worth the Hype?

Yes, it is definitely is. As long as you choose the right channel to write for and consistently produce high quality pieces, it is likely that you will be quite pleased with your earnings on Examiner. This freelance writer highly recommends you to apply to write for this website if you haven’t already.

For years I wanted to have my very own blog, and was always unsure of doing so. Not because of content or information. I had oceans of that. The problem I had with starting my own blog stemmed from my dependence over the years on Blogger.com. I did not think I could actually get my own domain name, and start a “real” blog. I thought it took extensive knowledge in areas that I knew little about, and that my limited knowledge of html would be a huge problem.

Man, do I feel stupid now.

I wanted a wordpress blog, and briefly had a free one. I loved the simplicity of the blog, but I did not like that I could not put adsense on it. Again, I feel stupid now. Adsense is allowed if you get your own blog hosting and domain. I did not know that either.

Anyway, I finally took the plunge blindly, and went over to Bluehost.com. These guys set me up with hosting and domains, and simplescripts loaded up WordPress services quick and painlessly. Now I have that blog that I have always wanted (three to be exact) – all with their own domains and complete control on my part.

Having finally done it, I would say that you need not worry about it. The process is simple as it can be, and you are up and running fast. I am new to the blogging world in this way, but my blogs are already doing better traffic wise than older ones I had on Blogger for months.

In other words, I am now converted. Never again will I have to take the route of free blogging on Blogger to monetize a blog. I am quite happy thus far. If you are considering getting your own blog with WordPress, I can honestly say that you need to do so right away. The service is fantastic, and the interface is easy as pie.

If you are just getting started writing for the web, then earning a little cash has to be on the list of things you are looking to do. Getting your start is not always easy. Earning money as a writer can seem nearly impossible at first. Inevitably, new writers turn to the online writing sites that litter the web.

While these online writing sites are wonderful at their best, they are horrid at their worst. The key is to find the good ones and not waste time with the others. To that end, I have decided to tout the three online writing websites that helped me the most as a new writer. These websites all have their ups and downs, but they all are beneficial to a new writer.

Here they are:

Associated Content - This web writing giant has had a number of ups and downs over the years, and they certainly are not perfect. One thing I will say about Associated Content is that they are quite punctual with payment and they generally do a good job of keeping your web writing in the search engines. They pay an upfront amount for your work if it is well done, keyworded, optimized for the web, and they do not already have a large amount on the subject. They also pay you a page view bonus each month based on the number of views you garner.

Associated Content also has a special place in my heart for another reason. They awarded me 5000 bucks for a contest.

Demand Studios - Demand Studios is a step up in compensation and expectations. They are a little tougher than AC when it comes to editing, etc. Still, they offer upfront money as well. I earned a great deal of money from them over a year’s time, and they taught me a lot about writing for the web. I highly recommend them to anyone interested in writing for the web and earning money.

Hubpages – Hubpages is a bit different in that they do not pay upfront. Instead you put your adsense code in and are paid on a percentage basis of your views. The thing I love about Hubpages is the fact that you can really garner some serious page views. Also, you are free to add pics, Amazon, Ebay affiliates, and a number of other great earning sites. Finally, Hubpages gives you a fantastic way to build pages that can include video, pics, polls, and more. Hubpages is highly addicting! You can make money on Hubpages!

Hopefully you will check out some of the great websites I have listed, and do not give up. Though you are starting there, you will not finish there if you are dedicated. More earning power will come from these sites over time, and you will quickly find private clients are more than willing to pay for great content!

Many freelance writers work without the television on, as it can be a major distraction. There are others who make the decision to listen to music while they write, however. Not only can it be entertaining, but it can also help ensure that the time passes by slightly quicker for you. Listening to the right type of music can make all the difference when it comes to writing. Some types of music may be able to improve your work day. Here are some of the different types of music to listen to while working on freelance writing projects.

Upbeat Music

Have you ever heard that listening to upbeat music can help you workout quicker? It is also known to make people drive faster. Well, there are many typists who believe that upbeat music can also make you type quicker. Listening to artists such as Beyonce, Michael Jackson, or Justin Timberlake can really help you get the job done in a timely manner. All that you need to do is put on some of the songs that you would normally listen to when working out, or taking an aerobic dance class.

Soothing Music

There are other people who believe that the best type of music to listen to when writing is soft, soothing music. It is important to keep in mind that the actual artists or songs that meet this description will vary according to person. Some people feel that the Fray is the most soothing, while others would prefer to listen to LeAnn Rimes or even Hans Zimmer. Whether you find country or classical to be the most soothing, it can help prevent you from getting too distracted to finish your work. If you like the idea of just relaxing and listening to music while you work on writing the day away, then soft music is a great choice.

Inspirational Music

Are there some songs that just really inspire you? A good example of an inspirational song may be “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban. Another good example may be “Strong Enough” by Cher. Just try to think of artists which inspire you to do better. This can really depend on what you want to be inspired to do, and your own musical tastes. Many writers find that inspirational music is one of the most effective ways to get through the work day.

When selecting music to listen to while you are writing, the best thing that you can do is see what works the best for you. Some types of music may be more likely to help you succeed, while there are other types which really may be nothing more than a distraction. Learning what will help you get the work done in the timeliest manner is really the best thing that you can do when selecting music to listen to for writing purposes. Although there are some types of music which are ideal for some writers to listen to, other types of music may do more harm than good.

If you are looking for a website that will allow you to sell your articles for a price that you set on your own, there are two popular options. The first is Constant Content. The second is Daily Article, which is a website that is not quite as popular among freelance writers. Is Daily Article worth trying out? Here are some things that you should know before applying to this website.

Daily article is not quite as popular as Constant Content. What this means is that they see less buyers than CC does. Does this mean that you won’t sell the articles that you put on Daily Article? Absolutely not. I have personally sold about 75% of the articles that I have posted on Daily Article.

Pros

The percentage of money that Daily Article keeps is known to be lower than what Constant Content keeps when you make a sale. The website only keeps about 4% of the total sales rate. This is not bad at all for a website like this.

When you submit an article, you need to write a brief description about your article. If you are good at this, it can be a great way to help you secure a sale.

You do not need to pay any type of fees to signup to or remain a member of Daily Article. This means that trying out DA is of no cost to you.

As with most other websites that writers use, payment is made via PayPal.

Many writers have found that Daily Article’s requirements for content are less stringent than Constant Content’s. The content is checked for plagiarism, but it is not denied on the basis of bad grammar.

Cons

Just like any other website where you post an article, it can take awhile before you actually make a sale. It has taken months before I have sold several articles on the website, while others have sold after about a week or so.

Payment seems to be made randomly, which can be considered either good or bad. From my personal experience, it seems to come on the 30th of the month. However, it has also come during the middle of the month as well. It may be that payment is sent when there is a sale.

You are giving up full rights to your content when you make the decision to sell it on Daily Article.

The Verdict

Daily Article is absolutely worth trying out. It is important to keep in mind that the types of content that you write will determine the overall amount of success that you have with DA. Articles in certain areas, such as health and marketing, are known to do better than those in other areas. It really depends on the exact topic that you are writing about, however. While it would be a bad idea to rely on Daily Article for all of your income, it is a great option if you are looking for a new place to earn some extra cash.