5 Tips for Getting Started Writing for Yahoo! Contributor Network

So what's a writer to do when a friend messages you on Facebook that she thinks she'd like to start writing for Yahoo! Contributor Network? My first thought was to reply with some tips but as the tips kept rolling into my mind, I decided that this wasn't a message after all, it was an article topic. An article on getting started writing for Yahoo! would have at least an audience of one but no doubt there are many other friends who see almost daily links to articles on Facebook and wonder if they too could write for Yahoo! Contributor Network.

1. Start with the basics.

Before the creative juices get flowing there's some business to do. The first step is to join Yahoo! Contributor Network. Take this link to Yahoo! Contributor Sign Up and click on Sign Up. It's a fairly simple step by step process. Be prepared to upload your photo and fill out a profile page with a bio, motto and possibly links to other affiliations.

Now take the time to read over all of the FAQs. It's worth it because you'll find answers to your questions and even questions you hadn't thought of yet. Make sure you understand the three types of submissions: display only, upfront payment non-exclusive and up-front payment exclusive.

2. Decide on your niche.

Now that you have an account, what do you want to write about? One of the awesome things about writing for Yahoo! is that there are so many categories to choose from but to start off strong you'll want to narrow down your areas of expertise and build an audience with similar interests. Having a library of related content will allow you to apply for Featured positions down the road.

3. Choose topics based on what people will be searching for online.

One of my greatest mentors at Associated Content, Page View Millionaire Lisa Carey, gave me some great advice early on. Carey said, "Angela, you have to write about what people want to read not just what you want to write about." I still do a combination of both but keeping her advice in mind has certainly led to my modest success as featured writer and a top producer for the past two years.

4. Choose titles carefully.

This was one of my hardest lessons learned coming from a print magazine background. A title like "Splish, Splash, I was Teaching Math" is catchy for an article on water play in a print magazine but no one would ever find that title searching the internet. I started out with some real dud titles like "What a Child Can Learn from an Old Sock and a Wooden Spoon." It's a very informative article on the benefits of handmade puppets but alas it gets very few page views. On the other hand, a clear title like "15 Interesting Facts about Christopher Columbus" has garnished over 66,000 page views. So if you're thinking of an article like "How Chocolate Chip Pancakes Saved the Day," instead consider something like "Making Back to School Morning Routines Easier."

5. Lists are very popular.

Whether in print or online, readers like list. Lists of 3, 5, 7 or 10 work well. Some of my popular list articles include 5 Homemade Halloween Costume Ideas and 5 Cheap & Easy Ways to Create a Beach Themed Bathroom. So take your expertise and create lists as in "5 Tips for Starting a Photography Business" or "7 Tips for Surviving as a Pastor's Wife." You know who you are!