Writing for Triond vs. Writing for Ehow

I started writing for Triond in October of 2008.  This was my first time writing online.  Of course, I thought I’d start publishing articles and be able to quit my job in no time, just live off the residual income.  It was a foolish fantasy, one born out of ignorance.  Online article writing is not an easy way to get rich, it’s a lot of work and the rewards can be large or small.

I published my first article on Ehow in Deceomber of 2008.  By this time, I had some experience and knew to stay away from personal stories, life lessons I’d learned, and pretty much blog topics.  People don’t want to read the Bozsi Rose blog of how my life is going.  They want good, fun articles. 

I’ve been writing for each website for several months now, and this is the comparison I’ve drawn up so far:

Earnings

I earn almost the same amount on each website.  I currently have 44 articles on Ehow and 22 on Triond.  My articles earn more, individually, on Triond.  I find that the articles I write for Triond are much more likely to get picked up by third party websites, sending more traffic my way. 

A big reason why I earn more money per article on Triond is that Triond pays per view as well as ad clicks.  On Ehow, you only make money when someone clicks on an advertisement.  For example: My best article for Triond has received over 16,000 views and has earned over $16.  My most viewed article for Ehow is well over 12,000 views and has made just over $2.

Freedom

Between the two, Triond allows you more freedom both in subject and in form.  On Triond, I can write anything from a How To article to fiction.  I can publish a poem or a review of a book.  I can review websites, give stock tips, or do an article on how sharks keep the population of jellyfish in check. 

On Ehow, I have to write How To articles and they all follow the same form.  You have to write it in steps.  My article looks exactly like every other article on Ehow, except that I can add photos to make it a little different.

Knowledge

While I do feel I’ve learned a lot from Triond and it’s users, I’d have to say that Ehow is much more informative when it comes to strategies for online article writing.  First, there are a ton of articles on key word optimization, SEO tips, finding niche markets, and overall strategies for boosting your search engine rankings, which leads to more views.  Second, the forums on Ehow have been around for a long time and are also full of good tips and are a good way of getting more views as well (from other users).

Community

Both Ehow and Triond are blessed with amazing communities of writers.  Both websites are filled with helpful and friendly people.  I feel completely comfortable asking friends from either site for advice or feedback.  One thing that does give Triond a bit of an edge is it’s an international community.  Ehow only pays writers that live in the United States which discourages writers from other countries from joining.

Feedback

Here, I’d have to say Triond wins again.  Only Ehow members can comment on Ehow articles.  On Triond, anyone can comment.  I like that any person that reads my article can leave a note.  I don’t even mind if the note is negative.  All feedback can be helpful and we’re all trying to improve as writers.

Exposure

I think Triond is great for exposure.  It’s an excellent way to build a web presence, sharpen your skills on many different kinds of articles and is great practice if you want to start your own blog or become a freelance writer.  The fiction published here can easily be sent as links to friends, family, publications, and possible agents or literary contacts.  It’s a nice, easy reference when you’re trying to build a name for yourself.  Also, the fact that third party websites pick up articles or link back to the original article builds your exposure even more. 

In Summary

Both Ehow and Triond have a lot to offer.  Ehow can be a real way to make money.  Many users make over a thousand dollars a month.  I don’t hear many Triond users claiming that, but I have heard that some writers make hundreds of dollars a month. 

All in all, I prefer Triond.  I like the freedom, the exposure, being paid for page views, and having friends from all over the world.  Maybe one day my Ehow earnings will get into that thousand range, and maybe then I’ll be singing a different tune.  For now, Triond is my top pick for a website for online article writing.