This will be a two part series on getting started writing for content websites. You may wonder why you should listen to me about this topic. After applying to and being accepted with four of these sites, I just want to write this series to let my readers now what helped me get accepted. Some people may not think this route is for them because they are more interested in working for private clients, but Part 1 can help you no matter which type of work you hope to receive.
When beginning in freelance writing, it is important that you write articles and submit them to online directories. Frequenting these directories will expose you to good content, as well as provide you with public writing samples when you begin submitting your own articles.
The two places I recommended getting started at are Associated Content and InfoBarrel.
- Associated Content – Payment can come in two forms: upfront pay or residual income based on page views. This website has a good Google Pagerank, and articles posted here can sometimes make the first page of Google for its keywords. You are free to publish topics you enjoy writing about, or you can claim an assignment for an article the company is currently looking for.
- InfoBarrel – This website is newer than Associated Content and some of the other residual income websites, but is quickly gaining a good reputation with the search engines. Pay with this site is based on ad clicks, so you must have a Google Adsense account to sign up (the website shows you how to do this, it’s no big deal). The site accepts a variety of articles, from how to’s to reviews.
Submitting your writing to either (or both) of these two sites will allow you to sharpen your writing skills in preparation for applying to content creation websites. As I mentioned above, they will also give you a public space on the Internet for your articles, which can be used as writing samples when requested by content websites (or private clients). There are other places you can submit your content, but these two places will give you the chance to get paid, so that is why I recommend them.
In Part 2, I will discuss the best time to begin applying with content websites, which ones to start with, and how to make yourself standing out amongst the crowd of applicants.
