Thoughts on Winning Best New Source of May 2009

This past Friday, I found out that I had won Best New Source for May 2009. To be honest, I was taken aback by this news. Though I write and am published frequently on Associated Content, I had never thought of myself as a viable candidate for winning Best New Source. In this article, I am going to describe the things that I do that I think made me a candidate for winning Best New Source and am going to give general advice for all Content Producers.

As I said, I publish frequently. I think this is key. I've published almost 100 articles in a little over two months of being registered on Associated Content. I am sure that I publish more than a lot of people, but I am also sure that a lot of people publish more than I do.

I also take time to ensure that my submissions are of good quality. I try to use correct grammar, precise wording, and search engine optimization in all of my articles. All Content Producers should attempt to do this. Articles written in an unclear manner are unlikely to bring in much in the way of upfront payments and are also less likely to make readers want to look at your other writing. This limits the number of page views that your articles will generate and will limit the income that you receive from Associated Content.

What advice would I give a person aspiring to win Best New Source?

I would recommend publishing frequently, and publishing a combination of assignments and original articles. Write about the things that you know well or the things that interest you. Try to have some variation in your topics, however. For example, a lot of my articles are about education, specifically college. This makes sense, as I am a college student and have thoughts and opinions about the university experience. But I've also written about green issues, health and disease, television, and writing for Associated Content, among other topics. Even if what you enjoy writing about doesn't bring in Upfront Payments, continue to write. You'll make money from page views and will increase your clout index more quickly.

Write clearly, and make sure that you take time to proofread your writing as you go. Even if you don't win Best New Source, you'll produce quality content that will generate more page views for you. Learn how to use search engine optimization in your writing. This will increase your number of page views.

Find the best way to market your content. For some, it might be through Twitter. This is the marketing tool with which I have had the most success. For others, word of mouth might be effective, or perhaps a link in a forum signature. Good marketing and clear writing make your content more valuable for Associated Content and you, making winning Best New Source more likely.

Keep track of the page views that you get on a daily basis, as well as the total number of page views you have. Also record your clout index and the number of articles that you publish. I use a spreadsheet for this, and have written about why I do. However, different people have different preferences. Keeping track of your page views will allow you to know the effectiveness of your marketing techniques.

Even if you don't think you can win Best New Source, produce the best content that you can. In the long run, you will benefit from the increased number of page views and higher upfront payment that your articles generate. Likewise, don't be disappointed if you don't win Best New Source. Only three people win this award every month, so the odds may or may not be in your favor. This is no reason to quit trying. Thank you for reading, and thank you to Associated Content for this award!