$5,771.85 Paid to Me from Associated Content and Counting

I can't remember where I first heard of Associated Content, but back in August 2006 when I submitted some of my first articles on "AC" -- as we affectionately call Associated Content online -- like My Night with Dave Chappelle on Tour or Writers: How to Pitch Your Stories to an Editor, it was a good time for me to dedicate more time to my writing career.

I'd just started a free blog on Google's Blogger / Blogspot in December 2005, but I didn't even realize writers made money online with their own blogs on sites like AC back then.

I was just looking for an easy way to show editors my published clips without having to send them snail mail or by fax.

Now, years later, it's interesting to see what stories have stood the Google SERP's test of time -- and how they continue to play into the all-important pageview, and therefore payout, factor.

My Most-Viewed Associated Content Articles and Their Backstories:

Beyonce's Master Cleanse Diet Fast Helped Her Lose 20 Pounds -
This piece continues to be the stalwart of the bunch, the highest pageview earner when sorted by all-time views of all the articles I've written for AC.

Published November 24, 2006 -- probably the same day I watched Beyonce sheepishly speak about the Master Cleanser on Oprah -- I find it curious how folks always return to this small but well-placed piece especially around this time of year, when spring is breaking and folks are wanting to shed weight.

Lil Wayne and Baby Kissing Photo... Rapper Admits it is Real -
When I first saw searches coming through Google Trends, no doubt, for "Lil Wayne kissing baby" I thought Lil Wayne was kissing a cute little baby or something. I didn't realize Baby was a rapper. Funny how the oddest things can just hit with people fascinating about the supposed machismo of hardcore hip-hop heads.

What Race is Barack Obama? Barack Obama Age? Barack Obama Religion?
It truly shows us how someone can skyrocket to fame in a short time. Back in October 2006, I wrote this piece because I saw President Obama on Meet the Press talking about seriously throwing his hat into the presidential contender ring.

Now four years later, Rush Limbaugh is talking about some BarackHatesThis.com website. Life is amazing.

Anyway, I believe this article benefited not only from the early timing of the subject matter (as did the others in the top 3 spots) but also because it answered many questions within the title that people found in the keywords. Lots of people were beginning to ask more about his race, religion, age, etc.

Lori McCommas' Photo -- Terrence Howard's Estranged Wife -- and the Picture of a Tumultuous Marriage as the Actor Says No Sex Till He Remarries -
Terrence Howard's wife was hardly photographed anywhere, so writing about her proved popular -- like writing about any other subject that doesn't have a lot of press ink all over it yet.

Sometimes you just won't know what those subjects are until you write about them, and then reader demand shows you later.

Tyra Banks Cries Over Basketball Star Ex-Boyfriend -
Okay, another pattern I can't help but notice in looking at my most popular topics is that they all contain African-American topics or subject matters. Not that there aren't a plethora of African-American writers and websites out there.

But maybe the ratio of writers/reads interested in these types of black entertainment stories just hit at the time I wrote them. Who knows? God alone. But I thank Him for the views.

LeBron James' New House Has Barbershop, Casino, Bowling Alley...but No Basketball Court?
I can see why this piece has withstood time. Everyone loves peeking at rich people's homes. In fact, I still take a gander through the trees every now and then when I'm nearby LeBron's home, making sure there's no Rolls Royce Phantom in the driveway -- verifying that Shaq was kidding about that birthday gift.

But that's where I have drawn the line...even though I haven't always drawn lines in my writing that I should. There's plenty of topics I could write and pitch and sell, but some don't sit right with my soul.

Either way, hope this little journey down my most popular topics on AC has helped someone.