Make Money Writing for Textbroker

The Textbroker website opened in 2008. They match clients seeking content with freelance writers. New writers signing up for Textbroker are asked to submit a writing sample. Textbroker assigns a rating based on that writing sample. Three is a rating typically assigned to new writers. Writers do not retain any copyrights to the work provided. All rights belong to the client after the article has been purchased.When Textbroker was getting started, new assignments were difficult to find. The website was difficult to navigate. Little was known about the company, so there was a fear by freelance writers that their work would be rejected, or they would not be paid.
Since 2008, Textbroker has flourished as a writing website and has earned a good reputation with freelance writers. The website navigation issues have been corrected and it is easy to find assignments. Clients often give very fair ratings to well-written articles. It is easy to earn a higher rating, by routinely providing clients with quality work.

Ratings and Pay

A rating of 3 earns only 1 cent per word. That isn't a lot of money, but it is quick and easy money. A rating of 4, earns .014 per word. A rating of 5 is reserved for professional writers that have provided their credentials to Textbroker. A rating of 5 earns .018 per word, or almost 2 cents per word.

Getting Direct Orders From Textbroker

Direct Orders are an excellent way to make money from Textbroker, and establish client relationships for future contract work. If a client knows a writer’s style and like it, they can offer direct orders to that specific writer at a rate of pay designated by the writer. The relationship is synergistic for both parties because the client is pleased with the writing style of the writer and the writer does not have to fear rejection or a low rating.
To get direct orders from clients, submit quality work. If a particular assignment is given a high rating by a client, contact that client and let them know the rating was appreciated and direct orders are welcome in the future. This can be done through the Textbroker email system.
Clients can then send direct orders. Direct orders benefit clients because they provide them with quality writing. Direct orders benefit writers by allowing them to earn a higher rate of pay for their work.

Textbroker Review

The client, and the Textbroker staff, review all assignments. For the most part, clients and Textbroker staff, give very fair ratings. Textbroker also provides feedback on every writing assignment to help writers improve their craft. Textbroker has developed a good reputation. In the rare instance that a client unfairly rejects a piece of writing, Textbroker will go to bat for the writer to collect payment.

Examples of Goal Setting for Home Office Workers

Setting goals is a critical component of being a successful home office worker. Here are some examples to get started.

Home Office|pCreate

More and more people are moving their offices to their homes. As a home office worker, these examples of goal setting will encourage success. Are there income, production, or time management goals?

Customer Service Agent

A very common job for home office workers is customer service agent. Many companies such as West, Cloud10, Arise, and Verifast contract or employ home office workers to provide customer service over the telephone. As a customer service agent, here are some useful goal setting examples:

1. Be on Time - Shifts are scheduled in advance. Always be logged in and ready to work when the shift begins.
2. Have a Contingency Plan - A home office worker needs dependable equipment. The phone equipment, computer, and phone headset must be good quality and functional to ensure that calls aren't missed. It is a good idea to have a back up power source and back up computer and phone equipment in the event of a problem. A contingency plan ensures you are always ready to perform your job regardless of your circumstances.
3. Have a Quiet Place to Work - Customer service agents working from home are often told that they must have a quiet place to work free from noise and distractions. You can not work with children or noise around you that will alarm your customers. Set up a quiet area in your home to work and make it your goal to provide quiet, noise-free, service.

Freelance Writer

A successful freelance writer produces quality content that people want to read. Most freelance writers have goals for production, quality, and income. Unlike a customer service agent, freelance writers are not paid a set wage per hour. Freelance writers would be wise to set goals for production that will help them earn the monthly income they will need. To be successful as a freelance writer, here are some examples of goal setting:

1. Income Goals - Freelance writers can earn either upfront payments, or royalties, on their work. In an upfront payment situation, a writer needing $1,000 a month and earning $20 per article, would need to write 50 articles each month.
2. Production Goals - Writers who earn royalties are dependent on fluctuations in the advertising market. It may be impossible to know from month to month how much profit writing will generate. For this reason, writers may opt to set production goals for what they wish to accomplish. If the goal is to produce 20 articles on the topic of wireless phones, and 20 articles about knitting in January, keeping these numbers in mind helps reach the desired level of output.
3. Quality - Many writers set quality standards as goals for their writing. Keyword dense writing without a lot of fluff, or error-free writing without need for editorial correction are some possible quality goals.

Test Scorer

Pearson and Educational Testing Services are two companies regularly hiring home office workers to score aptitude tests. To be retained as a scorer for these companies you must meet certain performance standards. These standards are considered below as examples of goal setting:

1. Accuracy - As a aptitude test scorer accuracy is the single most important statistic from which performance is judged. Scorers should ensure they can grade according to benchmarks and standards. Take the time to review all the training materials given in detail and anytime scoring accuracy drops, review the training materials to maintain accuracy.
2. Speed - Another critical goal for home office workers scoring tests is speed. Slow scorers usually are not retained. Keeping the work environment free from distractions to improve speed. Showing up for the shift rested and ready to work will also improve speed.

An important part of achieving home office dreams is taking the time to set goals. These examples of goal setting should help workers get started thinking about what is important in their field. Setting realistic goals and continuing to work toward them is the path to success.

How to Write an Article at Squidoo

Create Lenses at Squidoo

I started writing here at Squidoo in March of 2008. I've learned a lot about what helps to make a great lens and what doesn't work over the past three years. I created this lens to share those ideas.

If you want to start writing here at Squidoo, but don't consider yourself a writer, remember that each and everyone of us has something of value to share and Squidoo makes that easy to do! In fact, that's what I love about Squidoo, it's a place where ordinary people can share their experience online. Below, you will find an introduction of writing at Squidoo for the newbie and a little more for those who want to make their Squidoo lenses earn money.

For Newbies

An Overview of Writing

To begin writing at Squidoo, you will need to sign up. Signing up requires that you choose a username and password, and begin making your first lens. (Articles are called lenses here at Squidoo.) When considering topics for your first Squidoo lens, think about what your friends and family consider you an expert at? Don't sell yourself short, we all have expert skills.

Once you have your topic, think of a title for the lens. Then categorize your lens. Once you have this done, it's time to start writing. You can save your drafted lens anytime and Squidoo now considers you an official lensmaster!

When writing your first lens, begin with an introduction that explains your experience with the topic you've chosen. People want to know what makes you an expert before they read on. Share your experience in the introduction paragraph. Move on to the details later in the lens.

Eventually, your lenses will indeed make money. The money they earn can be paid to you via paypal, or you can opt to donate your earnings to charity.

Sign UP!

Sign UP!

Making More Money

How to Write an Article for the Not So Newbie

My first year at Squidoo, I earned only a few dollars. After a year or so, something magical happened, my lenses began to take off and earn. I currently average $2-3 per lens a month. For example, I have 120 published lenses and I am averaging $300 per month.

Revenue Sharing
Squidoo pays their writers a percentage of advertising revenues as many websites do. Here at Squidoo, they throw all the ad revenue into a "pool" and then divvy it back out by lensrank. More specifically they divvy it out by lens tier. Tier 1 gets a large percentage of the pot. Tier 2 a slightly smaller, yet significant share of the ad revenue pot. Tier 3 gets a smaller amount, etc. You can learn more about how Squidoo tiers work here. Obviously, if you are hoping to earn more money here at Squidoo, it will help to get your lenses ranked in the top tiers.

Affiliate Links
Another way to earn money here at Squidoo is through affiliate links. I would have to say the most beautiful thing about a Squidoo lens is the ability to place HTML tags anywhere in your writing and link to information exactly when and where your readers want it. This applies to affiliate links also. Squidoo enables it's writers to place links to products in their writing. Amazon generates the bulk of affiliate sales for most writers here at Squidoo. You can sign up as an Amazon affiliate here and begin placing links in your Squidoo lenses. After signing up with Amazon, don't forget to come back to Squidoo and enter your Amazon associate ID in your profile!

Write Your Story!

Write Your Story!

Why Write Here?

As if you needed it, Squidoo is Google juice for your blog, zazzle store, article libraries, or anything else you wish to promote through a lens!

Tiers and Earnings

Squidoo pays their contributors advertisement revenue through a tier payment system. There are currently 3 tiers of payment. This is a breakdown of the payment at each tier level for February, 2011 payment. Earnings are paid two months following, so the revenue paid in February, 2011 was actually generated in the month of December, 2010.

Tier 1 - $5.60 from Infolinks / $1.01 from Chitika / $23.15 from Ad Pool = Total 29.76
Tier 2 - $0.95 from Infolinks / $0.17 from Chitika / $3.94 from Ad Pool = Total 5.06
Tier 3 - $0.05 from Infolinks / $0.01 from Chitika / $.20 from Ad Pool = Total .26

As you can see a lens ranked at tier 1 will earn substantially more than a lens ranked below tier 1. To earn more from your lenses, it's a good idea to get most of your tiers ranked in tier 1 or 2. Your tier 1 lenses will probably earn more than $30.00 a month because they also earn affiliate income. Amazon earns me, by far, the most affiliate income here at Squidoo.

What is a Tier 1 Lens?

How to Write Articles that Rank in Tier 1

Tier 1 average lensrank of 1 to 2,000.
Tier 2 average lensrank of 2,001 up to 10,000.
Tier 3 average lensrank of 10,001 up to 85,000.

The word average is important here because it is the average rank for the entire month, NOT the rank on the last or first day of the month. The average for the month can be seen in your lens stats. Lenses ranked beyond tier 3 (tier 4) won't earn any advertisement revenue, but they can earn affiliate earnings. The ranks for each tier above are a rough estimate, as they change a little with each payout. I've had lenses ranked in the mid-2000 earn at tier 1 for the month.

More Information on Tiers

Learn more about the tier payment and how it effects your earnings when you write for Squidoo.

Time for Tier Change?

There has been much discussion on Squidoo about the need for change in the tier payment system. More specifically, expansion of the tiers to include a wider range of lenses. Read more here, or sound off and voice your opinion on the Squidoo tier payment system.

Greekgeek's Squidoo Stats: Charts of Tier Payouts

Greekgeek shares many years of tier payment tracking and history here on her lens. If you want to see a detailed history of tier payments check out her lens.

How Do You Write a Lens and Get it to Tier1 Rank?

Writing an Article

There is no definitive answer to this question, but the rank is derived from traffic to your article, affiliate earnings, and likes. If you get a lot of traffic to your article and a lot of positive like responses, it will rank well. Getting some affiliate earnings will also help your lens rank.

Affiliate earnings will rise with well placed advertisements within the lens and traffic. So, consider your ad placement and write a review of the products you choose to advertise, then get lots of traffic and your lens will take off. How do you encourage traffic to your article? Run a health check!

My Earnings Record

See How Squidoo Earnings Build Up Over Time

The thing I love about writing for a percentage of article revenue, or revenue sharing, is that articles I wrote in 2009 are still earning me money here at Squidoo. If I take a month off, I'm still earning money on everything I've written in the past. This is my record of past earnings from revenue sharing here at Squidoo. Watch how it grows over time!

2009
Oct - 9.07 <------articles before="" br="" d="" earning="" finally="" i="" long="" money.="" started="" written="">Nov - 24.41
Dec - 24.60

2010
Jan - 66.22
Feb - 121.99 <------i a="" at="" br="" did="" few="" for="" here="" me="" niches="" on="" squidoo.="" stumbled="" that="" well="">Mar - 106.49
Apr - 102.73
May - 128.23
Jun - 92.35
Jul - 143.55 <--------i at="" began="" br="" had="" here="" investing="" it="" more="" potential.="" realizing="" squidoo="" time="">Aug - 232.54
Sep - 191.97
Oct - 173.29
Nov - 187.68
Dec - 198.53

2011
Jan - 260.94
Feb - 324.32
Mar - 373.85
Apr - 386.49 <--------it 1="" almost="" are="" at="" average="" been="" began="" br="" earnings="" here="" i="" investing="" just="" month="" more="" my="" per="" s="" since="" squidoo.="" time="" under="" year="">May - 361.09
Jun - 459.25
Jul - 610.54
Aug - $717.74
------------------
$5,324.17 <----------------total date="" div="" earnings="" to="">

Writing for eHow

Make Money Writing for eHow!

UPDATE: Unfortunately, the eHow writers compensation program is now CLOSED. All articles currently submitted to eHow, are submitted through the Demand Studios website.

I've been writing for eHow since the end of March, 2008. When you write for eHow, you retain ownership of your article. eHow uses a formula to pay writers a percentage of profits from advertisements. I've tried many other paid writing websites including: Triond, Helium, Hubpages, Associated Content, Constant Content, myLot, textbroker and freelance sites. For me, eHow and Constant Content yield the highest earnings.

A few of the articles I've published with eHow have gotten #1 google rankings! I was rather shocked, but google seems to love eHow articles.

I don't like hype so, I'll tell you exactly what to expect. I have one article that made over $20 in 3 months and it is still earning. I have a few more articles that have earned almost $10 in 2 months and they are still earning. On average, I earn $1 per month per article. I currently have 44 articles and I expect to earn approximately $40 this month. Last month I had 30 articles and earned $30. The same for the month prior, 20 articles ad earned $20. So, earnings have been very consistent.

The best thing about eHow is the passive income. If I stopped writing today, I would continue to bring in money from my existing articles.

Photo by iChaz

How to Earn Money on eHow

This is how I earn money on eHow. It seems to work well for me.

First, sit down and write a few articles. The eHow form makes it quite easy. It doesn't take a lot of effort. Just make sure you write about something you know well. Also, make sure you spell check your articles. Try to get at least 5 written initially.

If you have a Digg account, you can submit them to Digg, but don't go to a lot of trouble promoting your articles initially.

After your articles have been out there at least a month, calculate the earnings per view. To do this, take the total earnings for the article and divide it by the number of page views. Figure out which articles are earning the most per view.

Use what you've learned to your advantage. Write more eHow articles in the categories that are earning well for you. Also, I take my top earning articles each month and promote them to forums and answer websites.

Keep writing! Keep calculating the pay per view on your articles each month and see what is working for you!

Writing for eHow FAQ's

Is eHow a scam? Nope

How much does ehow pay per article? They all pay differently. My best article earned me close to $100 it's first year. I have a few articles that have earned only pennies.

ehow or Hubpages? Absolutely eHow

How much does ehow pay per article view? eHow doesn't pay per view. It pays a percentage of ad clicks. I currently average .0026 cents per view.

Can you earn money from the resource links on ehow? Yes.

How often do you get paid writing for ehow? Monthly

What are the best topics for ehow? Whatever you are an expert in, or enjoy researching well.

Why aren't my eHow articles earning? I see this question all the time in the eHow forums....
It takes 2 things to earn money with an article. Views and ad clicks. To consistently get views your article needs to show up on the first page of a Google search. To get ads clicked you need to make sure the ads showing up on your article are relevant to the article.

My Writing Income

December 2009
eHow - 335.77
Squidoo - 23.95
Suite - 16.00 (Estimate)
WiredFlame (Forum Posting) - 10.20
Life123 - 10.00
Adsense - .95
Associated Content - .02
---------------------
396.89

November 2009
eHow - 288.08
Suite - 25.00 (Estimate)
Squidoo - 9.01
eCopywriters - 23.30
Life123 - 5.00
Adsense - .65
Associated Content - .03
---------------------
351.07

October 2009
eHow - 378.26
Suite - 25.00 (Estimate)
Squidoo - 21.77
Textbroker - 14.29
Adsense from Info Barrel - .99
Associated Content - .07
---------------------
440.38

September 2009
eHow - 354.33
Textbroker - 118.93
Examiner.com - 35.80
Suite - 21.00 (Estimate)
Squidoo - 6.57
Associated Content - 2.50
---------------------
539.13