How to Get Started on Associated Content

Many people have written for themselves. Some have even done freelance for others. However, the idea of writing on Associated Content for others to see your writing under your name can be, at the least, a little daunting; especially if you are just beginning the freelance game. Imagine, hundreds upon thousands of people looking at your writing, critiquing it, or passing it along to others. The horror! Never fear; this easy three-step guide will help you start with style and confidence. Good luck!

Do Your Homework

Before, or even after, signing up as a Content Producer, take the time to do your research. There are several places to help you find out more information about Associated Content and their requirements. First, take a look around the community resources section. There, you will find forums, FAQ, and tutorials. You can also sign up for town hall meetings and the bi-weekly newsletter. This will give you the basic information you need without asking anyone directly.

Once you have filled your mind with that literature, take what you have learned and scope out other content producers. Take a few days to browse the content. See what articles have already been produced and what people are interested in reading. It is true that you do not want to submit copycat articles, but it never hurts to get ideas. Perhaps you have a different perspective you want to share. Or, perhaps you can expand on a general topic. Use your strengths and you cannot go wrong.

In addition to reading articles by content producers, research the actual CPs and which ones are doing best. You can even contact them to find out if they have any tips for a newbie that they are willing to share. Writers, and creative people in general, tend to stick together, so go ahead and pick their brain (just remember to return the favor when you are an experienced CP).

Submit Your First Article

Submitting the first article will always be the scariest. What if they don't like it? What if they don't accept it? So what! At least this will get you going and give you a starting point. From there you have no place to go but forward (or upward, depending on your point-of-view).

Take what you have learned through your research and write that first article. Perhaps you have an article that you have already written. Dust it off, polish it, and submit it. Otherwise, put the pen to the paper, so to speak, and see what becomes of it. Once you have your first draft, you can revise until you are ready to submit.

Bonus Tip! Before submitting your article, it is a good idea to let it sit for a day. Go back and reread the article, first looking for grammatical mistakes and then for content changes. It is hard to see your mistakes when the information is fresh in your mind. Every "is" reads like the "it" that it should have been and so on. Instead, take a break and look at it with a clear mind. You can also let others read your submission and see what suggestions they might have. Remember, you cannot change your article once it is published, so you want it to be your best. Yes, you might have a few articles with small mistakes (almost everyone does), but overall, you want the perception to be that you are a solid writer.

Keep Going

With every piece that you write, you will get more confident in your writing and that confidence will shine through in your future articles. You will also find that you gain more knowledge and that knowledge will be evident in your depiction of your article topic. If you do not feel that you are confident (or knowledgeable) on a topic, do not write about it. It is as easy as that. Pick a different topic and try again. It never hurts to test the waters in different areas, but you can always go back to your strengths.

Part of the appeal of associated content is not only getting your writing noticed, but getting paid for it. If your first payment is not all that you expected, keep trying. Reread articles and suggestions for getting more money. Reread your own articles and look for things that you can do differently next time. You also have the opportunity to promote your articles and gain income from the performance bonuses.

Remember, writing is subjective. Even if Associated Content did not feel that it was initially worth a high upfront payment, it may make up for it on the back-end due to popularity. Everyone is interested in different things. As long as your article is well thought-out and well written, you will be successful. Now go, write, submit, and enjoy. Trust me, Associated Content is waiting to see what you can bring to the table!