I have been making a living writing online for about twelve years now, and let me tell you, if you go about it the wrong way, the frustration is a killer. Not to mention the lack of money! When I first started out, I used all the rules I had been taught about writing for the offline world. Well, it didn't take long to realize that wasn't going to work in the digital world.
The key is to get your articles accepted by online Article Directories like EzineArticles, AssociatedContent and GoArticles. These directories allow you to place your content on their site for free. You can put a link in your article to a website or affiliate offer, and make money when someone clicks through. Believe me when I say that you can make a good living this way. However, getting approved can be hell if you don't know what these directories are looking for.
You see, people on the worldwide web want FAST. They prefer a quick dose of information, not a book. And it may surprise you to know that writing at a very high intelligence level is guaranteed to get your article passed over. So, what should you do? Let me give you some tips about getting accepted by the many Article Directories on the web.
1 - Follow the 3 Cs!
Content, Caring, and Consistency. You need to truly care about your reader, offer them original, quality content, and consistently churn out work. If you do these three things alone, you can be a success, and EzineArticles (the grandaddy of all article directories) and the other directories will be happy to publish your work.
2 - Write about what you know. When I first started out, I wrote about one of my passions, Fantasy Football. That was years ago, and even though some of my articles were about the 2008 football season, they still get massive views! That is because when you write about what you love, it comes across. This is exactly what directories want! They want original, quality content they can pass along to their viewers.
3 - Write on a 7th grade level. When I found this out, I was floored. I was trying to write over my head, and use big words. Then I read a few articles that, quite frankly, seemed childish. When I saw how many views they were getting I couldn't believe it! I researched, and found that the average net reader reads on a 6th to 8th grade level, and likes short sentences and small words, regardless what they are reading about.
Guys, these are just a few tips to get you started. A true, in-depth study of the situation is far beyond the scope of this article. Just remember: the 3Cs, passion and "dumb it down", and you will be earning income online through the article directories before you know it.
Mainstream Marketing Basics
{beating head against wall}