Freelancing Tips That Will Save You From Heartache

One thing I’ve learned trying to establish myself as a freelance writer, is that we are a dime a dozen. We start out, getting accepted to write for article sites, excited that we are actually doing what we like, and then reality hits. Some of us get discouraged and quit, thinking “This will never work out!”, or realizing that writers don’t always get to choose their own content, and we put the idea of being able to stay home typing away on the computer all day on a shelf, labeled as a bad idea. I can see why some of us are like that. As I’ve said before, getting established as a good freelance writer can be difficult. This week’s theme is writing smarter, not harder. There are ways to get past the discouraging feeling of not being able to make it as a freelancer and earn money at the same time.

Research the website you are applying to write. This is majorly important!! Some Revenue Share Article (RSA) sites have a very low payment per 1,000 page views. RSA sites can be a good thing, because unlike other sites that pay upfront, you will always continue to get revenue for your articles, for as long as they are posted on a website. Once you have established yourself with a very good number of RSA’s, raking in the money is pretty easy. Sites like Demand Studios, where you can write for eHow, will pay you anywhere from $3-$20 dollars per article you write, but after they pay you for your article, you won’t receive any money for the number of page views. Other sites, that are mediators between blogs and sites and writers, will tell you that they pay per article, as well. However, getting a job on those sites can be difficult and take a while for someone to offer you a writing job. Also, if the site doesn’t offer to pay pal, chances are you aren’t going to get paid at all.

Don’t overload yourself. Nothing says “WHOOSH” like the time of a deadline flying by. Don’t wear yourself thin with 5 articles due at the same time. Likewise, try to stick to just one or two revenue share sites that earn you the most money. You won’t make much if you have only 4 or 5 articles on 6 or 7 different websites. The more articles you have on one website, the more revenue you will accrue.

Have knowledge about your content. If you don’t know anything about vehicles, don’t try to write an article on how to take the dashboard off of a Ford Explorer or install a new stereo system. The more you know about a subject, the better your article will be. Also, if you get the chance on RSA sites, like Suite101 to choose your own content, write about things you enjoy. You will have more fun and a better chance of more page views if your article is written well. Sometimes, you may have to research your own stuff, and that is optimal. Never guess on a fact when you are writing an article. Always make sure your articles are written to the best of your knowledge.

Read every websites writing guidelines. Don’t assume you know the style that an article should be, always read the guidelines for posting. Knowing what the expectations are will help you provide a better article, and for sites that require an editor to look over your content before it is fully published, it ensures less re-editing and rejection.

Set goals and deadlines. Know what you want to get done each day. How many well-written articles can you get done in one day?  If you have articles that have to be written by a certain day or time, get them done first. In your spare time, write your own articles. If you come to a writer’s block in one of your articles, take a break from it, and write something else. Don’t forget about it, though. Keep writing “I don’t know what to say” until something comes to you. The best way to get rid of writer’s block is to fight it.

Always remember that some articles will be more popular than others. Always try to write articles that will always have some form of relevancy, not ones that will expire or go out of date. For fashion, it’s always best to make sure you tell when something is in fashion, and keep in mind it won’t be in fashion for long. If you write articles with an infinite time limit, you will have the best shot at continuing to earn money.