Tips for Top Dollar Articles at Associated Content
There are many ways to practically assure that you command top dollar for the articles you write for Associated Content. The old pros on the forums can offer you a lot of helpful advice on this subject, and by searching the forums you will find threads to help you with this challenge. But I thought I would point out some basic tips here on my blog for those of you who are just starting out as a writer for Associated Content. These tips should help you make more money per article right off the bat:
1. Find a mentor at AC–I have picked The Barefoot as my personal mentor. No, he doesn’t know it, but he doesn’t have to. If you click on his link you will quickly learn why I have chosen him.
2. Chose topics that are of interest to readers–There has been so much written online, your first challenge is to find topics that haven’t been done to death. Think like a reader, think of things that interest you that are not so mainstream or common knowledge. Educate your readers.
3. Write breaking news stories–if you learn about something local on TV, for instance, something very newsworthy, write about it and submit it for instant publication. You won’t get paid for the article upfront, but chances are very good, that since you broke a story online, you will make a good Performance Bonus. (Performance Bonus is based on pageviews)
4. Use good keywords–Don’t saturate your article with keywords, but spread them naturally throughout the text. A good place to find the most popular keywords that are used by people using search engines is here.
5. Write to calls for content in newsletter and messages–I am convinced that you could command top dollar per article simply by following the instructions in the call for content submissions you receive in the AC newsletter and through the message system on your AC page.
6. Let your personality shine through in your writing–This really is important to becoming a success at AC or anywhere else as a writer. It doesn’t take talent to simply record facts, but it does take talent to relay your personality through the medium of text. My advice on learning how to do this is to let go of fear and just be yourself, of course following standard rules of writing etiquette. You’d be surprised at how much more your articles will command at AC if you follow this advice. It has worked for me. I have always been paid well above the average per article.
I hope these tips have helped you and will at least get you started on your road to AC writing success!
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Comments
Nice post. I write under a pseudonym at AC for reasons you’ve mentioned here before (writers being a snobby lot) when I needed some extra cash. Recently, I did exactly as you suggest in tip #5 for the Fall TV season. They suggested that instead of rehashing a show’s entire episode, you should take a new angle, which is what I did. So even though there were several articles about this show’s premiere, mine ended up on the Showcase page. It’ll be interesting to see what I earn in a Performance Bonus. I think a lot of us “serious” writers knock AC a lot, but they only make offers; it’s up to the writer to accept it or not.
I hear you Zoe. I think I would do well just to keep sending blog posts to AC and earning a little extra cash. I had to write them anyway, and the fact that I need 400 words of quality content gives me an incentive to write better blog post. So that makes it a win, win situation for me.
However, I guess I need to change the title of this blog! LOL
Well he knows it now. Wow. Such a compliment. Thank you.