Writing for Money on AC and the Internet

Writing for the Internet is different than writing for a book, newspaper or magazine.
Here are key tips to keep in mind if you want to develop a career writing successfully online.

1 Remember Why People Go Online

Visitors mostly search on the internet for information. They're going to start with Google, Yahoo or MSN and type in a topic to find information they can use.

Ask yourself - why do you go online? Think back through your own habits. It could be searching for information related to current events like the Bhutto assassination, how-to topics like changing a sprinkler head, or easy ways to save money.

Do you write on topics based on your knowledge that are of interest to others and meet their need for information?

2 Treat Your Writing like a Business

You need to create quality content on a regular basis.

This means you're going to meet the need of people searching online. This is related to point 1. It may mean you'll develop a niche area and focus most of your content on specific topics. You'll develop your own style. For me, there are certain areas where I feel qualified as an expert, but I also enjoy interviewing people which is how I got the material for my article Rose Bowl Parade: A Money Maker for Pasadena.

I also suggest writing up your own personal "editorial" calendar for each month. I've done this on occasion and found it helpful to prevent me from asking "hmm, what will I write next?"

You need to write with an online style that readers can scan easily.

Write in short paragraphs and use bold headings throughout the article. I didn't do this at the beginning of my submissions to AC. This is similar to writing a brochure which uses bold headings to introduce a section and then easy-to-read content below.

You need to promote your content on a regular basis.

This is your "marketing plan" as an internet writer. Here's a sample plan for promoting your articles on Associated Content:

A. Write and publish article

B. Link to the social bookmarking sites on your AC page

C. Make sure your AC page is submitted to Google, Yahoo and MSN

D. Participate in AC forums 1 - 3 times per week (or more if time allows) by asking questions or answering questions. Become a resource AC writers respect.

E. Read 3 - 5 articles per week (or more if time allows) from your favorite AC writers and comment on them. Forums and commenting give you visibility within AC.

F. Go to other blogs, web sites and participate and use your AC url when possible and appropriate. Try to read 1 - 3 blogs or sites per week and comment or more if time permits.

G. Other blogs, web sites, MySpace, Facebook, etc pages also serve as conduits to your AC site. However, I'm finding it tough to keep up a MySpace blog and submit to my Hey, Don blog and AC.

H. Email family and friends with a link to your page.

I. Print up a business card with your name, email and AC page as your url to hand out.

I'd like to know of other specific ways AC writers promote their material on the Internet.

3 Stay informed

Do you think the internet will stay the same for the next several years? Do you think producing online content won't change much? Keep up-to-date as much as possible on new technology that could affect how your writing is distributed and look for new opportunities.

4 Relax and Have Fun

For many of us, writing on AC is a hobby even if we're paid for writing in other areas. Or, we want to produce a significant stream of income here and on other sites. If you sweat it out and never step back to simply read for the fun of reading then you could get burned out.

I've been writing for pay since college, but it's only in the past six months that I've really learned how to write for online outlets. I look forward to continuing to improve.