Thread: BLOGGERS: Sites make it simple to sell your writing online

Sites make it simple to sell your writing online

Are you an aspiring journalist or beginning freelancer? Or, do you just want to earn extra cash by writing? A growing number of sites will help you turn your writing into cash. You don't need to be a professional writer to use these sites, but your writing skills should be above average.

EHow.com

EHow.com publishes how-to articles in a variety of categories. It doesn't matter if a particular tutorial already exists. You can write your own version. EHow accepts the articles automatically. However, it may remove articles that don't meet its standards.


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EHow also provides an extensive list of articles it needs. These usually come from requests from site visitors. EHow doesn't pay a flat rate. Rather, you're paid based on the number of times an article is viewed. So, you'll get residual income, assuming people find your articles compelling.

AssociatedContent.com

AssociatedContent.com accepts articles on a wide variety of subjects. It also accepts videos and images. Associated Content offers upfront payments for certain articles, ranging from $1 to $20.

Additionally, you'll receive monthly payments based on page views. The more your articles are viewed, the more you earn.

Associated Content may reject articles that don't meet its standards. It also reserves the right to edit content.

Helium.com

Helium.com also offers upfront payments on specific types of articles. The payments range from 50 cents to $2.50 per article.

But you can also earn $1 if you write an article on an empty title. Empty titles are articles Helium wants based on visitor feedback.

Helium also gives you a share of revenue. The amount is based on traffic, article quality and advertiser interest. Helium may license your content to other publishers. You get a cut of the sale.

At the Helium Marketplace, publishers can request articles. Completing an article can pay as much as $200.

Constant-Content.com

Constant-Content.com has more stringent requirements than most other sites. It seeks professional-quality articles. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it frequently rejects articles for quality issues. Constant-Content sells your content to publishers.

You upload your articles and set your price. There are also a few licensing tiers. Opt for Usage licensing, and multiple buyers can purchase your work. With Usage licensing, you can also publish the content elsewhere.

With Unique and Full Rights licensing, your content can only be purchased once. It is then removed from the site. Obviously, Unique and Full Rights licensing command higher prices. Get a grasp on the licensing types before deciding.

Scribd.com

Scribd.com was designed for sharing documents with others. You can upload articles or other content you've written. Others can use it, free of charge.

Recently, though, Scribd launched the Scribd store. This means that you can charge for access to your content.

You must sign up for an account with the store as well as the site. After uploading content, you can set the price for your work. The minimum charge is $1.

Scribd also offers Automatic Pricing. It determines the best price for your document. It uses an algorithm that looks at similar content, among other factors.

Plagiarism

These sites take a harsh stance on plagiarism.

Basically, you can't copy another's work word-for-word. Nor can you paraphrase it without adding any new ideas. If someone makes a point you like, you can cite that, but you have to credit them. Never try to pass off the work of others as if it were your own.

Heed these rules, and there shouldn't be any question of plagiarism.

Kim Komando hosts the nation's largest talk radio show about computers and the Internet. To get the podcast or find the station nearest you, visit www.komando.com/listen . To subscribe to Kim's free e-mail newsletters, sign up at www.komando.com/newsletters . Contact her at gnstech@gannett.com .

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I wonder if internet readers are any smarter than magazine subscribers?