My AC Addiction: A Guide for Maximizing Your Associated Content Income

I write for a Teen Trend Magazine, among a few others, for a living. It's great because that allows me to work from home, which means I don't even have to get dressed if I don't want to. I am lazy by nature. Even though I typically get out of bed between 5:30 and 6:30, my heart does not officially start pumping until around noon.

The problem with that, though, is I can only submit so many articles per issue. That is why I joined Associated Content, and that is why I post so much here. With AC I am not limited to how many articles I can post each month. No, I am only limited by my own daily laziness factor.

I have noticed a few new folks ask around if AC gets mad if you bombard them with articles. This was something I was afraid of when I first joined too. So that is your first tip from me: Post. Post. Post. Like I said, the more the merrier where AC is concerned. In fact, the more you post, the more likely you are to get higher offers, and get offers on some articles here and there that they normally would not buy at all.

If AC turns down an article for any reason, delete it and post it anyway as non-pay. Why? Because it is going to boost your hits. Having high hits will boost your offers for subsequent articles, and you are going to make a bit on those free articles due to the new Hit Bonus. I love the new bonus for that very reason.

My next bit of advice to you is to Network. Use every available tool to you. I was here about a month before I realized how much of a difference this makes. Once I started reciprocating comments with other AC writers, things started moving and shaking. Then I realized what those book-marking icons are really for at the bottom of each article. For the longest time I thought they were for readers to use if they wanted to bookmark my article. No. They are for you, the writer to use. Each and every time you have an article posted, go immediately and bookmark it everywhere you can. I like Digg the best, but use them all. Even one hit from each place makes a difference in that bonus cumulatively.

Use those silly sites like My Space. This is a tip I just learned myself. Put up a banner there and similar places. Post up a blog about AC with a link to your own writing. I did that very thing today after someone suggested it, and I already am seeing results. Do it.

Do Not Spam. I know, this sounds contradictory to what I just said, but it isn't really. Network, yes, but when you spam the same people with email constantly, you alienate them. Use your head.

Now, it is true that time spent reading other people and commenting is time away from writing, but until you reach the top of the heap here, you need to do just that or you will never get there. I'm still working on it. It has already proven to be worth the effort, and as an added plus, I made a few friends.

I have also heard tell of some idiots around these parts scoffing at people who write for AC. They want to take some warped superior stance and claim this is not real writing. Let me tell you something, folks. No writing is wasted, anywhere. Magazine Editors frequent these kind of places. I got my first magazine gig because the editor of Teen Trend Magazine liked my reviews at another website. She is on AC now. She reads this stuff. Posting on websites is not wasted time... you never know who will stumble on your work and publish you.

About every week or two, AC will send out a little email telling you the most popular articles of the week. Go read those articles. You need to size up what it is readers are looking for. Learn from those articles.

Also in the email will be special offers for certain articles. While I do not always jump on those offers, you really should. Not only are they more likely to get hits, but it will put you in better stead with those nice folks who are making your offers...

If you have any questions, ask someone. Seriously. Most of the people around here are just as nice as could be and willing to help you out. There is a forum here just for such questions... or you can simply leave a comment for someone you like and ask them. Also, there is the option to send a note to any writer here.

Have Fun. That is probably the most important thing I have learned. Write what you know, and do it your way. There are a zillion people who proclaim themselves as experts who will try to tell you how to write. Do not follow them blindly over the cliff. I got published because I break the rules quite frequently. My most popular articles are the ones where I horse around, not the ones where I try to be 'professional.' Find your rhythm and style and stick to it.

Do not worry if you get some nasty comments. That means people are reading you. Laugh it off. Hell, they just gave you a hit.