Which is Better: Triond, Helium, Newsvine or Associated Content?

All four sites have their own advantages and disadvantages but, for me, Helium is the best for a variety of reasons. However, let's look at each of them in turn.

Associated Content is a very good site, it seems to attract a lot of people and the actual visual impact is appealing. However, I dislike it at present because it operates an unequal policy with its writers. All articles from American writers are bought for a decent rate each. However, all international writers are exploited by simply getting paid per thousand views because of some spurious and unexplained reason as to why their articles can't be bought. It means this dual, exploitative policy might benefit and reward the efforts of American writers but it does little to truly recognise and respect the efforts, talents and expertise of international ones. That is not a good message to be giving your writers. If Helium and Newsvine can pay all writers equally, AC can do the same. So though I have a few articles on there, I have stopped adding any more to them until they change the policy.

Triond is better in that it pays a decent rate per number of viewers and is very professional. But I think it's unrealistic demand for original articles only, when it is not paying exclusive rates, is robbing it of articles it might get from writers. That is a pity because I like it very much, but would not be particularly keen to give it my articles first when there are better payments for original articles elsewhere.

Newsvine is my second best site because it is the only one with a real feel of community to it. Perhaps because there are comments attached to each article, one gets to know the people visiting one's column to develop a rapport. It puts emphasis on voting articles upwards though that can be open to abuse. One's groups can easily vote up an article whether it deserves it or not. I also believe that not enough variety is exposed on Newsvine so one tends to get more of the same articles daily and politics seem to guarantee front page coverage. For me the comments actually make the site, and as comments show interest and generate traffic they should be given greater weight. The worst aspect is the money. One has to work so hard for very little each month, so it is not for anyone trying to make a quick buck! However, the interaction with others make up for that aspect greatly. One of the best sites on the Internet in a class of its own.

Helium is simply the best writing website for me. I joined it last year January when it was just coming into being and struggling to make its name. I remember earning 2 cents in all of February and thought: Right, if I cannot get payment until I reach $25 dollars, 2010 here I come for my first payment! I was rather cynical about progress. But by March it was $1.87 and May saw it reach $10 for the month. My excitement knew no bounds. This month I earned over $620 in their writing competition, yet I joined it three weeks late and could have earned up to $2000 if I had the time for it.

The site has improved dramatically over the past year and its star system for boosting good writing is certainly a great idea which adds to the motivation. I am not sure about its rating system as that can be open to bias and, with not enough people rating pieces, an article can hang around at the same position for ages. But otherwise, it is the site of the future for writers. It is certainly changing the face of writer recognition on the Web. I predict that all these free article sites will have to change to keep up with Helium as most of the good writers will go there instead.

I am pleased to be associated with Helium and Newsvine because they have certainly improved my writing on all fronts, they have spread my name and reputation far wider than I could have imagined, they offer regular payments and they raise the enjoyment and motivation levels rather high. That's the least I expect from a good writing site which is genuinely international.