Problem with Helium

Problems with Helium

I have been writing articles and posting them on Helium for a long time. I have 200 or more articles there. They do not pay much, but overall the experience has been pretty good. On occasion I have proposed a title for a new article rather than writing under one of the titles already in use. That nearly always goes well, but once in a while one of their editors objects to my proposed title. When that happens, we have a back-and-forth discussion via email until we arrive at a title they like.

In the past couple of months, though, things have changed, and not for the better. I had one title rejected for what I can only describe as a silly reason. I responded to their email notification. I explained that they already had two titles on my proposed subject, and both of them were based on false premises. I could not post my article under either title, because I would have been categorically denying the title. It would be like finding several articles under the title: “Lee Harvey Oswald Acted Alone” and writing an article filled with the most outlandish conspiracy theories in existence. An article like that could be properly removed, under their guidelines, because it was off the subject.

I proposed a couple of re-writes of my title and sent them an email. They never responded. That seemed odd, but I am busy and I did not worry about it much. I thought that somehow my correspondence had just been lost or something. Now I think it was the first instance of what has become a pattern with them. They rejected an article title yesterday because it was not the kind of article they handle, even though there are hundreds of similar titles on their site. They also notified me that an article I had written and posted under an existing title had been deleted for being off the subject. This was because, in their words, “a loved one is not necessarily a family member.”

I sent them a message about my concerns but I do not expect a response. I do not know why they no longer have a professional, helpful attitude, but things have certainly changed. I expect I will continue to try to post things there until I reach the minimum for payout. I am very close and should reach their $25 minimum this month. At that point I may well take down everything I have posted there and sever my connection with them.