Make Money Writing - Start Your Writing Business

Writing for Money - An Overview

1. Getting Your Career Started. Everything you need to know to start your freelance writing career and get gigs and clients. This will also include a nice list of websites you can use to make money with your writing. We will also talk about starting your writer's website and portfolio.
2. Residual income. One of the big mistakes I made was that I waited too long to start working on my residual income strategies. We will talk about things such as Squidoo, Hubpages, and article marketing. In other words, this will offer some strategies on using free methods to take your online writing income to the next level.
3. Websites and Blogs. You should already have a writer's website. Does it have its own domain or is it on a free site? At this point, you should get your own domain and also start setting up websites or blogs on topics that you are passionate about. This is also a good time to get into strategies such as Niche Blogging.

Strategies for Putting Together your Writing Portfolio

• Write Articles at Associated Content. When I started trying to find clients, I noticed that most wanted samples. So, I started writing at Associated Content and I wound up using my profile link to direct potential clients to my work.
  
  This is the best option for people living in the United States because you could get paid for your articles. You can also make some residual earnings based on page views. Granted, the residual income payments are small, but it is still something. Once you have around 20 articles posted on a variety of topics, it is safe to say that you have a portfolio to show potential clients.
• Use other sites besides Associated Content. Don't feel like using Associated Content? You can use any site really as long as you get your name published with your articles. Bear in mind that Associated Content can be used outside of the US, you just won't get paid.
  
  Other sites you can use include any of the article posting sites such as goarticles.com and ezinearticles.com as well as some of the residual earnings sites like hubpages, squidoo, and infobarrel.
• Post samples on your blog or website. If you are totally new to writing online, you likely don't have a website or blog yet. If you are using this lens to start your career from scratch, I haven't told you to start a site yet so don't sweat it.
  
  If you do have one, you can post some samples for clients to see. You can also direct clients from your website to your articles wherever you have posted on them.
  
  But, if you are a complete newbie, ignore what I just said here. We'll talk about creating your writer's website in a little bit.

Make Money Writing with These Websites

• Associated Content. Actually, I think it is called the Yahoo Contributor's Network now but I will always think of it as Associated Content. Besides being a good place to start your portfolio, you can also use it now and then to make some extra cash.
• Constant Content. Some of you may remember that I've had a hard time getting articles accepted here. Well, it is as I suspected deep down in my gut - they are sticklers for following the guidelines. With each article I submit, I bet it will get easier and easier to get an article accepted.
• Fiverr.com. You can post writing gigs on here. I know, it seems rather pitiful to get paid $4 for an article, but you can use this to draw potential clients and direct them to your profile on the bid sites or on your website where you'll charge more.
• The Content Authority. I use this site when I need extra cash. The articles can be written fast and the higher up in the tier structure you get, the more you'll make. In other words, write great articles and wait until you get promoted to a new tier, and as always try not to get discouraged.
• Textbroker. Similar to The Content Authority but I find the site a little confusing to navigate.
• Blog Mutt I've started writing at Blog Mutt recently. I see the potential of this site. I'll keep you all posted.

Finding My Writing Joy

Two things to get me warmed up...

1. Creative Writing Exercises. I basically purchase the Writer's Digest each month (I know, I should subscribe) and work through the articles and creative writing exercises that I find. I try to do this daily.
2. Recap journal. I travel A LOT and I am starting to forget stuff. Plus - I tend to revisit places I like. What was the name of that restaurant we ate at in Luxembourg? Before I did this, there is no way I'd remember. No, thanks to my recap journal, I can look back. I write in it every day, even if it says, "had headache, ran errands, market was way too busy - ugh." lol
3. 12 Month Challenge. I am not going to log my progress with it because it gives the challenge away and isn't fair to the ebook writer. Let me just say that it is simple and exciting and totally doable. I can wait to get started!