Writing for the Web

    Writing about writing articles and getting heavy traffic from coaching other writers seems to me a job that only a few freelancers do well. Maybe you have read a few articles that are pitting one paying website/publishing service against another. Authors contend that site A is better than site B because of so and so… and the conclusion we get is simple and straight: We benefit from them.
    This type of which-site-pays-better article is prevalent and is even persistent in egging someone on joining a particular site. While I attempt to share my view on how freelance writers can benefit from writing for the web, I am not exclusively writing about the site nor adopt and share parochial views that will only lead to any writer’s demise.
   
What should I write?

    Anyone can write or claim that they can write but proving that you write it well initially depends on the subject you choose. Given the expansive world of human experience, why does the writer stop and search for the next subject, hatch a good though not bankable idea, throws one and accept the other and ended up talking to the blinking cursor?
    Not knowing what to write stems from various factors. Some slightly know and have the feel of writing about a particular subject and dismiss it simply because the topic may not generates thousands of page views every week. We cannot do away with the fact that, in the information age where the Internet figures on the center stage, the search engine rules. SEO articles are highly in demand because people are almost always looking for the same popular content. Hence, keywords are kings.
    If you think that the topic is not interesting enough for you, although it may not guarantee you heavy page traffic, think of ways that would make it interesting for others as well. You cannot force a reader online to welcome your views about a controversial issue but you may entice them into reading your article by crafting sensible arguments and engaging sentences.
    Most articles I’ve read that are intended solely for the search engine are stale and are lacking in perspective. Read articles that also discuss the subject that you wish to write about and see how differently or similarly they are written. Don’t forget that writing it not a solitary task. Reading is a pre-requisite for writing.

    Where should I write?
    Searching for the best paying website is a task that many freelancers have worked at initially for themselves and eventually for others. These authors are assumed to be credible sources because they are actually working for and paid by the paying website. While I respect their reviews, I would like to focus on the types of paying websites particularly the pros and cons of each.
    There are websites that serve as marketplace for employers and freelancers, both of which are active in looking for providers and companies respectively. This type of sites does guarantee payment but are not without pitfalls. Primarily, a reliable and credible company is hard to find. Some will pay you at a price different from the initial bidding. Some will request for samples and leave you behind without a trace of gratitude. The rule, therefore, is clear and simple: be careful in choosing the party or company to work for.
    Getting a contractor to pick you among the lengthy list of provider/freelancer is the next hurdle. The answer lies within how you present your competencies and exhibit your professionalism. Make sure that you beef up your performance by giving samples of your previous work. And don’t forget to provide a good profile and portfolio.
    The next type of website pays writers base on the traffic generated by an article. This is a relatively complicated than the previous type of website. Some sites belonging to this category pays well while others do not. I have tried almost all of them but I am not in the position to tell you which is better because, as I have observed, what works for a particular writer ma not work for others. Knowledge about this type of website should be acquired firsthand.
    After submitting quality article, it is up to the writer to monitor the progress of his or her earnings. If you wish to have quick cash, stay with a website that pays per article. But if you don’t mind saving your revenues for later, stay with a website that pays per page view. The former will save your need in the short term but the latter, depending on the site, will give you payoff in the long run. A mixture of both will even be necessary.