How to Make Money Writing Online - Really!
Tips for Successful Writing
Upon presenting my monthly Google check for cashing one day, the clerk asked me if I worked for Google (stars were in hie eyes I tell ya!) After explaining to him that I was a writer and wrote articles on the Internet, the next question he asked me was "Can I make money writing online too?".
Never one to miss a possible chance to help someone, network and have a possible fledgling writer as one of my new affiliate writers, I whipped out my business card and handed it to him.
Tip #1. Get some business cards made.
Go to Vista Print and design one yourself or use one of their templates. Business cards speak legitimacy. Someone that goes to the trouble of having business cards made shows professionalism (and no, writing your hubpages url on the back of a piece of paper does not convey the same message - yeah it's cheaper but pretty tacky)
If you are going to make money writing on the Internet you need to market yourself, and having a decent business card is professional and effective.
You Need a Writers Platform
I have to admit that getting that monthly Google check still makes my heart go pitter patter. To know that my writing actually makes me money is still a wonderful thing to me (I don't think that excitement will ever go away) Which brings me to tip #2 for making money by writing online.
Obviously you need a place to write!
Tip #2. If you haven't already, sign up for HubPages here: HUBPAGES SIGN-UP
This is where i make the majority of my money as a Google affiliate. I have over 150 hubs (articles that I have written) that are bringing in my check every month. I also have a blog that gets some traffic, and have dabbled in websites. So far though I have found HubPages the easiest, friendliest and best learning environment for making money online with my writing. I have signed up and participated in other online writing communities but found Hubpages to be the best site on the Internet for monetizing my writing. Once again, sign up here (and just remember whatever name you sign up as will be your "pen" name) So choose wisely!!! People remember me simple as "Dorsi" on the Internet, which is part of my marketing.
Be simple yet effective. It's much harder to remember a writer that signs up as didim4920 or something like that (you get the picture) If you are going to be successful as a writer you need to market, market and market yourself. A big part of this is your pen name. So choose wisely my friend!!
And of course have your blog url or hubpages url on your business card. This is very important because this is your business location!
Good Writing is Key
Tip #3. Write good content.
This cannot be underestimated. People don't want to read junk nor do they want to land on a page that was obviously bought just to monetize the page (you know those urls with little content but lots of ads) Savvy readers know when they are being fooled - and fast. Write something catchy at the beginning (making sure you are using appropriate key words) and go on to tell your story. I like to write essay style, grab um in the beginning, give them some meat and potatoes in the middle - then wrap up at the end with a nice summary. Visuals are great, the more pics you add the better to add interest to your article. If using others pics make sure you have permission (or give the website or photographer credit) This is also another good way to get back-links - you rub their back and they rub yours) This is basic 101 business networking.
Networking is what businesses do every day (I owned and operated a brick and mortar business for 14 years so I've been there and done that) Similar rules apply to us as online writers - we are our "own business".
My name ranks well with Google
Online Writing Resources
Writers Need to be Social!
Tip #4. Join social networking sites.
This also cannot be underestimated. One of my goals in 2010 was to reconnect with business associates and friends from the past. I have achieved this through sleuthing around on Facebook (I have over 600 friends/family and believe it or not I actually personally know most of them) I have a LinkedIn account where I have done the same, and of course my MySpace account which I have had forever (I think I was one of the first "old" people to be on MySpace, much to the horror of my then teenage sons)
You will notice here in this hub that I have also included links to my MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. It's important to make it easy for your friends, family and readers to find you.
Of course you never want to "spam" your friends but real friends and family are probably going to really want to read your writing! (There is something mystical to them about the fact that you are a writer, trust me on this) When I tell people I am a writer/photographer and an artist I can see the curiosity in their eyes (non creative people usually love to be in contact with us creative types) So indulge them!
More of my Online Writing Advice
There is so much more to making money writing online but I hope that these few tips will help you in your pursuit of a career writing online. I have written various hubs (articles) about writing and making money here on HubPages. They are chock full of great real life business tips on how to be successful writing your stories and articles. For more hubs check out some of my other hub links next to this paragraph. Some are tongue in cheek but there are valuable tips in each hub.
Thanks for stopping by and good luck with your online writing career. I hope I have answered in part the question for you on "How can I make money writing online?".
(Dorsi Diaz is a freelance writer/publisher here on the web and writes about a variety of topics. She owned and operated a small business for over 14 years in Fremont, Ca. Her areas of expertise are marketing, communications and visual media)
