Want To Earn Thousands Writing Online Articles?

You know what? I'm so over all the hype and overpromise about how to make money writing online that I want to start this article with a plain language statement that anyone hoping to make money writing online articles must understand. I want you to read it first, then decide whether you want to read the rest. Here it is:

Everyone 'wants to earn thousands'. But very few do.

Of the millions - yes, millions, writing online, the overwhelming majority earn very little, maybe nothing at all, some make hundreds, and that 'very few' make thousands.

Why?

1: Too few people understand that, no matter how good your writing, you won't make measurable money unless you write about things that thousands of people want to know; and thousands will search for, every day. Not just today, but tomorrow, next week, next month and well into the future.

2: Although low quality writing will stop you from even getting in the game, top quality writing, on its own, won't bring you those thousands. Or even hundreds. (Of readers, or dollars). If people don't find you, they won't read you. Which makes topic selection, and SEO (search engine optimisation) equally vital aspects. Along with things like adding visual appeal, charts, graphs, polls, embedded videos, links to other sites, and especially participating in worthwhile affiliate ad programs.

Now, the good news, is that the HubPages Learning Center has a wealth of resources to help you learn exactly what's important, and more important still, how to do exactly what's required to maximise your chances of success. More about this coming up later, if you decide to read on. Of course, I hope you do....

Now, where were we?, Oh yes,at the beginning:

There are many ways to make money writing online.

And some of them actually work.

.

HubPages works, by providing a virtual workplace where online writers, over 208,000 of us, and growing, can come together 24/7, to immerse ourselves in a warmly-welcoming, yet ultra-sophisticated, creatively-charged environment, that is completely conducive to writing great work.

HubPages writers draw inspiration and spark new article ideas, simply by being in the company of like-minded individuals, enthusiastically bound together by a single-minded passion for writing. We enjoy the energy, the buzz, the camaraderie, of a workplace that exists for only one reason: To help online writers turn their passion into impactful, memorable, evergreen, money-making, work. That's the only reason people are here. That's why we come to work every day.

HubPages writers thrive on support from HubPages staff moderators / mentors, and from other 'Hubbers', as well as advice (from technique to technical), hands-on help; and of course, the one thing all writers crave, and need - feedback from our readers. And from our peers. If HubPages were a bricks and mortar workplace, no-one would ever risk going home, lest their place be taken in their absence!

But, of course, that's the beauty of writing on the web. It's like the universe. Room enough for all of us. No boundaries. No barriers. Except one. And it's a biggie. The Biggie, in fact. It's the one thing you need to understand and accept, if you hope to succeed, and make money writing online. It's the rule that brings you back to the reality of the 'real-world', vs the 'virtual' workplace. Here it is:

Your success depends on the quality of your work.

. How well you write.

. How often you write.

. How well your writing works.

And, on how many people want to know what you're telling them.

. To earn thousands, you must reach thousands.

If that strikes you as too hard, too intense, or too much effort, then this would be a good time to click away, because neither HubPages, nor any other genuine online writing site, can help you get where you want to go, if you're not prepared to put the effort in, and work hard, for your own success.

On the other hand, if that strikes you as plain common sense, and HubPages sounds like the kind of place where you'd like to turn up for work every day, please keep reading. You'll like what you see, and we'll be pleased to see you around the place. Writing. Sharing. Learning. Earning.

The key thing about HubPages, is that it was purpose-built as a kind of Online Writer's Paradise, which means there are no unnecessary procedures or processes to hold you up, or hold you back, from just getting on with writing. And getting on with earning.

And, did I mention, this is all FREE?

I kid you not. The HubPages story begins on the sign-up page.......

Sounds pretty straightforward, doesn’t it?

That’s because it is.

Unlike building your own money making information-based website or blog, where the fundamental rule for success is that, to build an audience (ie: get traffic), you have to have a Real Passion for One Thing. Not just a passing interest. Not just a temporary fascination. Not just a pressing need to get something off your chest.

The prevailing wisdom is, if you hope to rank in Google's top 5, stay there, and make money, you have to have - and constantly display and refresh, a long-held, love-it-or-die Passion. For Just One Thing.

Now, if you happen to have such a passion, you’ll be delighted to know that HubPages will enable you to begin turning your passion into traffic from the moment you publish your first article. Literally. Depending on how fast you write, or how much quality material you may have already written, but not yet published, you can be showing your face to a world of interested readers, and hearing back from them, within minutes.

NOT spending twelve months or so, laboriously writing and writing and writing...and writing... your first hundred pages of content, before attempting to monetise your site or blog.

To be fair, monetising your own work on HubPages does take a little longer than mere minutes. Like eight to ten weeks, tops. (Yes, weeks, not months!) If your work is good, and your readership begins to build accordingly, you and Google AdSense, Amazon Affiliates, and e-Bay could be business partners, before you even have time to say “Show me the money!”

But, what if you don't have that live-or-die passion for Just One Thing?

Here’s why HubPages is the choice of over 230,000 online writers. Because at HubPages, it doesn’t matter!

If you’re the kind of person whose interest is piqued not by Just One Thing, but by all kinds of things, things that many other people are also interested in, and you’re able to convey that in an engaging, informative, and entertaining way, you’ll be right at home on HubPages. Building traffic. Building a reputation. Getting support, encouragement and hands-on help from people just like yourself. People with a passion for writing, more than simply finding new ways to say a lot about Just One Thing. People writing on a range of topics. People making money. Right now.

Once you begin, you may be surprised at how much you know about stuff that no-one else does; but would like to. Joining HubPages and writing online about those things is an Easy, No-Risk, No-Cost, way to find out. As a start point, just put “How to” in front of something you know all about, and start writing!

You’d be amazed at all the things people write about on HubPages. And all the ways they write. Informative to Esoteric. Highbrow to Humorous. Arcane to Awesome. Do they all earn from it? Don’t know...but I do know that writing is very absorbing, and fulfilling, in and of itself; and it’s exciting to see your own work in print. Or in our case, online.

“I wish I could write like that.”

Unfortunately, many people get unnecessarily intimidated, admiring what others have written, while lamenting “I wish I could write like that”. But everyone has their own personal writing 'voice’. If you just write as it comes out, you can get the content down quite easily. Then craft and finesse it to get a nice easy style going. Your own ‘nice easy style’. People like to read words that come from the heart, words that reveal something of the author, as well as clearly conveying the actual content. You certainly don’t have to assume some ‘expert writer’ persona; just be knowledgeable about your subject, keen and enthusiastic, and provide worthwhile information; as though you were talking to a person sitting in front of you, who keeps nodding in assent, very pleased to be learning what you’re sharing.

To help you develop all the skills you need to succeed, HubPages has a dedicated Learning Center, accessible at no cost, to every Hubber, including newbies (which we all were to begin with). It’s a literal treasure trove of information, containing hundreds of in-depth articles, covering every aspect of writing online, including 'mystery box' topics like Keywords and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), the creative use of which is every bit as important as the ability to write well. Experience-based, proven tips and advice that, in company with HubPages class-leading technological framework, can get you up and earning, sooner than you may ever have thought possible.

As you're working up your articles, which can accommodate words, pictures, graphs, videos, polls, hyperlinks, you name it, you'll find the HubPages platform incredibly sophisticated, yet extremely user-friendly. For example if you’re not totally happy with anything you’ve written, you don’t need to publish it right away. Saving your work, online at HubPages, and invisible to anyone but you, is a breeze. In fact, many writers, including me, will tell you that it’s good practice not to publish straight away, even when you are happy. Leave your work alone for a day, then review it with fresh eyes, and keep on revising and crafting until you get something you like. And something you’re confident your readers will like. Even though I've spent most of my working life as a copywriter, I spend days revisiting and crafting the articles I write about copywriting. (And, even longer on the topics I know nothing about, and have to research, in order to write about them....). That's why I smile when I hear people say "I wish I could write like that." Like anything else, the real skill lies in making it appear easy. HubPages provides much of the knowledge, and many of the tools you need, to create that professional effect.

What’s The Secret To Making Money, Writing Online?

.

- 1: Don’t focus on the money. Focus on the content.

- 2: Write for an audience of thousands, but write to a single individual.

- 3: Recognise the critical importance of the headline.

- 4: Write what you mean. Mean what you write.

- 5: Write for humans first; search engines first equal.

.

How simple is that?

Any online article that hopes to draw and hold a reader, must have a sharp focus, starting with a powerfully descriptive, attention-grabbing headline, that connects with engaging, informative, flowing content, with a Beginning, a Middle, and an End. Or, if you're selling something, (like I'm selling HubPages in this piece), a Proposition, a Pitch, and a Call to Action.

It should also express a clear point of view, a unique perspective, even be controversial, if that’s what you feel. A person reading it should be left in no doubt about the message, whether explicit, or implicit. You want to make the reader feel something, help them to learn something, cause them to respond in some way. Otherwise, it's only vanilla.

Note, that this is in direct contrast to the type of online ‘articles’ that are driven entirely by the desire to grab the attention of search engines. Keyword-laden, incoherent headlines and disrupted content that can cause you to risk blindness, or madness, if you try too hard to decipher it. This is the type of output that you won’t see on HubPages.To help the site moderators maintain standards, Hubbers have a groovy little device called the HubHopper. Where spam and substandard content can be 'Hubbed' clean away; dull and boring content 'Hubbed Down' for revision. And we are all of us the better for that discipline. They don't call HubPages the 'anti-content farm' for nothing.

As to the money aspect........

Obviously, no thinking person takes seriously those GRQ schemes that promise to show you 'how to make money online without even trying'. But, neither do you have to lower yourself to pouring your heart and soul into low-paying rip-off content gigs, where you make all the effort, and someone else gets all the rewards.

Earning from writing online articles is just like any other form of making an income. Work hard. Focus. Apply yourself. Develop your skills (which will need to include more than the writing alone), but above all; Write well, to earn well.

Around about now, if I’m writing this article well, you should be feeling that writing on HubPages is not only something you’d like to do, but something you WANT to do.

So, here’s the Call to Action:

If you've got something you're passionate about, and want to share it with the world, or even if you just love to write, - why not do it through HubPages? Costs you absolutely nothing, but gives you the opportunity to begin earning quickly; takes only a few minutes; and, you can join the moment you finish reading, by using the link at the end of this article. I hope to see you soon, writing and earning on HubPages.

Now, let's get back to where we were.

I'm sure you can see how enthusiastic I am about the opportunity that HubPages gives online writers, but I certainly don't have all the answers. So, I've enlisted the help of three talented Hubbers, each of whom has priceless information to share with you, regarding the points I made earlier about 'The Secret to Earning Money on HubPages', and to help you get off to a flying start, should you decide to join us.

NOTE: As you finish each article, your browser's back arrow will bring you back to here..

.

Let me introduce you to:

brianlokker

brianlokker's article displays his in-depth knowledge of the 'black art' of writing headlines that boost search engine traffic. This is vital information if you're serious about earning from your work, because no matter how good your writing is, you won't draw a big enough audience to make money, if your articles aren't easily found:

http://hubpages.com/hub/writing-web-page-titles-that-boost-search-engine-traffic

Now let's hear from ZarkoZivkovic

When I read this article, it was like a breath of fresh air to me. Of all the plainly spoken advice, expressing exactly what he meant to write, I was personally encouraged the most by ZarkoZivkovic's comment that he "has faith that with search engines enhancing algorithms, every writer will be forced to write high quality content." Those are the rules I like to play by, but am constantly disappointed at the dross that nevertheless appears to be rated well by search engines. So I hope Zarko's right:

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Write-a-Good-Article-The-Road-Less-Taken

Bringing up the rear, it's me, writeronline

I wrote the article below not long after joining HubPages, in response to a point of view expressed in a forum, with which I disagreed, about the use of the HubHopper (refer above). Please also read the comments section, where I subsequently learned, especially from fellow Hubber rmr, about the HubHopper's real role and purpose.

I've linked it here because it describes my belief that, for an article to really hit the mark, engaging, informative, easy-to-read content must matter more than anything else. That is, content assessed by human beings. To me, when Google et al become the unchallenged arbiters of quality content as well as the 'determiner' of the piece's fate, as measured by SEO metrics, (barring ZarkoZivkovic's prediction), we may as well give individual expression away:

Why The Hub Hopper is a Risk to Creative Expression.

Thanks for staying until the end; here's your bonus.

HubPages is all about helping online writers to succeed. Formal help, like the Learning Center, and informal help, from fellow Hubbers. The kind of help that caused me to post the comment below, after reading this article written by Sweetsusieg, a paragon of the HubPages community.

“Thanks for publishing such an informative, easy to read article, to help us newbie Hubbers find our feet. As you point out, HubPages Learning Center is replete with helpful information, and I'm reading it as fast as I can! But it's like the old days of going to the library to research stuff isn't it? You know that all the information you're looking for is in there, but as you enter the room, it's so much nicer to receive a smile, a friendly greeting, and some tips on 'best practice'. That's how your hub felt to me as I read through it. So 'Hi' again to you - and thanks again.”

This top-ranked article has benefitted literally hundreds of ‘early-stage’ Hubbers. Take a read yourself, and recognise the reality involved in successfully writing, and earning from HubPages.

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-get-started-earning-money-in-HubPages

One Last Thing...

..before you zoom away to check out Sweetsusieg’s input to your fledgling HubPages career:

If you're ready to Join HubPages , why not do it right now, before you go? And, welcome to the family!

©Copyright writeronline. All rights reserved.