Image by © dabawenya © (one down… two more pa!!!!) via Flickr

Many aspiring writers ask themselves that very same question.  Especially those who decide to go freelance verses the more traditional path.  It can be difficult to know for sure even while producing work for these sites.  Is it worth it?  Am I just wasting my time?

Michelle Devon, freelance writer and owner of Accentuate Services, recently started putting popular online content sites to the test.  She has currently completed 30 day challenges for both Associated Content and Helium, with plans to “grade” Suite101 soon.

What Michy discovered during both challenges is inspiring to those of us in the trenches, and the new writers.  You’d have to read Michy’s results to get the full story.  The whole challenge can be found on Michy’s Freelancing & Fiction blog.

Associated Content recently interviewed Michy about how the challenges went, and what she found out about each site.  Once again, the information is inspiring.  The Q & A session can be found on the Associated Content blog.

What are your thoughts?

Image via Wikipedia

And yes, this post is written in it.

Windows Live Writer is one of those programs.  You know the kind, that come bundled with something else and are promptly disregarded.  Chances are, you already have Windows Live Writer on your computer, if you currently use Windows Live/MSN Messenger.  It will be hiding in your Windows Live folder.

I dismissed it too.  Never even opened it to see what it was all about, until I kept coming across references to it.  Went to download it, so I could play with it, and yup, you guessed it…it was sitting pretty on my computer already.  Boy did I feel stupid.

Let me tell you, if you have even one blog (Blogger, WordPress, Typepad etc) then this program can help you become more productive.  If you have half a dozen or more, you simply need this program.  Don’t argue, just do it. 

Everything I need to blog on all my blogs is right at my fingertips, in one program.  And its fully customizable, so you can add many of your favorite blogging plug ins to it.  I’m still finding out all the nifty little things Windows Live Writer does.  You can watermark pictures, tag, insert various media…its literally an all in one blogging tool.  Let me know what you find in the comments!

Yes, I am addicted.  Its made my life easier.

I’m already starting to figure out my May goals, the most obvious being to increase my income.  Which means I have to write more articles.  Its not like I don’t have zillions of ideas, I’m just not putting out the amount I would like in a finished form.  I’m aiming to change that in May, and churn out at least double what I did in April.  Should be even higher then that, but that’s a great starting goal.

I am excited about what May should bring…so many possibilities!  What are your plans for the month of May?

Ugh, I can’t seem to get motivated at all.  Sure I’m getting an article here or there done, but nothing like where I want to be.  I’m not sure if its from quitting smoking or just transitioning…but everything seems stale and done to death to me.  Perhaps my perfectionism is just rearing its head.

I have ideas, and more are coming by the moment, but actually getting them in article form is like pulling teeth right now.  I love writing, I love what I do…maybe I just put too much on myself.  I suppose I shouldn’t get irritated at myself, since I am making progress.  But everything just seems stale and dead to me.  Its strange.

Any ideas for getting re-motivated?  Or a kick in the patootie?

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1659752/swiffer_wet_jet.html

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1631862/the_decision_to_quit_smoking.html

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1638407/pyloric_stenosis_diagnosis_and_treatment.html

I’ve done a lot of tweaking to my webcopy work, trying to get the most bang for the buck so to speak.  And to test if there really is something to the various hypes out there, or if its just another marketing scam.

SEO is one thing that can make a profound difference.  While I wouldn’t even start to claim any excellence in it, I have noticed a dramatic improvement between SEO’d articles and off the hip articles.

I “tweaked” an article that I was writing for AC, a product review.  Now my last product review for a similar product didn’t do very well, in fact it is hovering at about 45 page views for three months.  Not exactly the results I want.  So I wrote another one, only this time SEO’ing it, tweaking it if you would.  In 3 days my page views on the new review article hit 121.  That is definitely an improvement.

I also SEO’d two articles that I submitted to AC for upfront payment, but as of yet I haven’t recieved an offer on them, so I can’t tell you if it has made any difference whatsoever there.

The Two Articles In Question:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1634938/herbal_essences_long_term_relationship.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1378432/product_review_garnier_fructis_sleek.html

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1634938/herbal_essences_long_term_relationship.html

I have learned so much the past few weeks on writing webcopy articles.  I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but I’m so glad that my writing is definitely improving.  And as it improves, I’m finding myself more motivated to write.  I still have a ton of learning left to go though!

One thing I learned about was how to apply SEO to my articles.  Most of the articles I had posted on sites such as Associated Content had taken me all of about 10 minutes to write.  The actual mechanics of writing is easy for me, but I’m learning how to improve in ways I never would have thought of before taking this step.

Sure, writing off the cuff might work for fiction or even print, but I want to make some money with webcopy articles, and off the cuff just doesn’t cut it.  In order to get page views, people have to find the article!  I can see bits of it entering my blogging as well, though most of it is still off the cuff.

One aspect of my writing I know needs work is learning to write for a title.  I’m not used to prompts or preset ideas, I’m used to creating my own.  So I’m going to take the time to write to at least one preset title a week, preferably one per day.  I need to get used to researching, taking notes, and then summing up in my own words.  Never liked it much in school either…was always the free form gal.

Maybe there is hope for Helium yet…