Can I Make Money on Associated Content?

When I first started writing for Associated Content, I was very new in writing for others online. Of course I had my own blog, but it was a personal blog. I really wanted followers there more than expecting pay for my writing, and insights. I came to AC with the understanding that as a writer, I would be paid for my efforts. And I did, at first. The economy was a little better, so paid writing sites could offer a little more upfront per article. A few months into, not so much.

I tried sporadically for a few years, but never hit my stride. I had very few page views, visitors, fans, activity, and the effort was too much work for so little of anything. Last year around the Holidays, I did my last article, and went on AC Leave.

Since then I have written for startups, found other social groups to join that actually enjoy social networking, and retooled my blog. I even started writing for another online paid writing site. Things started to come together. That's why I decided to come back to AC, to see if I can make it work for me this time.

Here are the differences for me, then and now:

1. No Twitter, FaceBook, etc.
At least they were not very popular. MySpace was the "in" thing but that was not the best tool for a writer. There was not enough social interaction on that platform so there was no way I was going to use it. (Anyone who "stops by and shows luv" in the form of a greeting card, does not read online writing sites. They just don't.) In the beginning I tried Twitter and FaceBook but it took some time for me to understand how they would work for me.

2. My family and friends not much into social media.
None of them really understood the idea of working from home, in any form. They were not going to visit any of my sites, because they didn't understand the concept.

3. I wasn't part of any real networking groups.
This is important. The groups I was part of had normal day jobs, then met socially. They didn't use technology to catch up except for a phone call or text to announce a meeting. Sure we would meet to do crafts, but the leaders didn't have a blog or announce a meetup on Twitter.
I had to trade those groups in for business professionals. Then I learned about blogger conferences, tweetups, and how social media works in real life. Though I am a writer/artist or artist/writer, I learn from my online friends more everyday on how to use the internet to connect with people in real life.

4. Other bloggers were not very helpful.
This point relates to the above mentioned. I remember contacting bloggers and writers for advice or link exchanges. I would get no response at all. Now I have a whole group of people that I can contact directly. We exchange advice and ideas freely.

How things have changed. Now I plan to use all that I know, and continue to learn, so that I can make the best of writing online. Let's try this thing again, AC.