Three Years on Associated Content: What Have I Learned?

Well today is my three year anniversary as a Content Producer on Associated Content. It seems like a whirlwind since I first discovered this amazing site and wrote my first piece (review of the, at that time new Shins record). I have achieved Level 10 status; I'm nearing half a million organic page views; I've published more than 1800 pieces; I've partnered with Associated Content partners and written commercial copy for outside sources, I am a featured content producer in three categories; business & finance, arts & entertainment, and travel, and I have for this month achieved Associated Content's new "Hot" status as a Hot 500 member. Writing for the web has afforded me a lot of great opportunities and I'm grateful for all of them. But I've also learned a few important lessons about being a content producer for Associated Content over the last three years. I'm sure there's more; I'm sure I can't think of all of them. So, in no particular order, here's my answer to the question; "What have I learned?"

Pick Your Poison: Why do you want to write for Associated Content? Do you want money? Fame? Millions of hits? Loyal readers? A platform from which to rave and rant? A bridge to new opportunities? You need to decide what you'd like to do because while all of these are possible, they're not all directly compatible. That is, you can write searchable, discoverable content about timely matters and pack them full of discoverable keywords but unless SEO is your 'style' of writing, you are not going to maximize your potential. For me I decided a long time ago that I'd write what I wanted to write, how I wanted to write and I'd hope the work would speak for itself. Yes, there was a time last American Idol season that I took some of those American Idol calls for submissions; I did alright with getting readers of that. But my heart wasn't in it. I saw the work of a content producer today who's been on Associated Content for less than a year and she already has 6 million hits. That's great for her and maybe she's been able to strike that balance of writing about stuff she likes in a discoverable way, but I haven't gotten there yet.

Never Cut & Copy: I got banned from AC for a day or so; I'd taken copy from a website and cut and copied it and submitted it directly. Oops! My baby brother told me about HTML and AC & I worked it out (I cited the content; I just didn't clean it up enough, I guess). But anyway, if you're taking other people's stuff (song lyrics, large bodies of quoted work, etc) make sure it's kosher.

Make Friends: I haven't been as good about this as I could have, but making friends amongst AC producers is a great thing. I have a few close friends who are CP's and I'm always trying to make more. I like to read other people's stuff, make a thoughtful comment, and recommend their work. Flattery is the quickest way to make friends. At least just say "good job" and let them know that others are out there reading their work.

Keep Writing: This is the biggest thing; just keep writing. I love the new layout of Associated Content; I love that they're always coming up with new ways for us all to maximize our exposure and drive traffic; so if you're a writer and you've got the spare time, switch off the TV and get to work. I did work for other anonymous freelancers online in 2007 and 2008 and it was nowhere near as interesting as the stuff I've done for Associated Content. Moreover, I don't even know where that work ended up. People would say to me, "where can I read your stuff?" and I'd have to say, "I don't know!"

Associated Content has afforded me some amazing opportunities these last three years. While I hope to be doing something else someday, I'm sure I'll always choose to come back to vent or mouth off or rant and rave or honor those who've helped me get all that I have today. So on this day, to all my readers I say, thank you!