How do you get people to read your articles on Helium?
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
July 21, 2007 9:05am CST
After I wrote about 10 articles on Helium, I waited for some money to come in. A couple of weeks went by and not even a penny came in. I went to the Community Board with my plight. There, I learned, writers should "drive people to the site and their writing." Then I read articles on doing that, but when I tried some of the suggestions, the pages were "not found."
MyLot is about the only one that did come up. The other pages had mostly expired. Since I put my about me page in another mylot blog, my readership has increased. I went from 50 cents to 91! I also have that at the bottom of my regular emails. Most of my friends think it's a scam and still haven't gone there. Also one of my articles was featured on the home page and my pennies came in to start with. So what have you done to get people to read your articles? How successful has each way been for you? Are there any ways we should watch out for?
4 people like this
6 responses
@unusualsuspect (2602)
• United States
22 Jul 07
If I'm going to spend my time writing articles I'm not going to waste the effort by hoping for pennies and beating the bushes for readers. If you're a good writer, there's no reason why you shouldn't get paid up front. Try Associated Content or Digital Journal.
3 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Jul 07
I've never heard of Digital Journal. Is it like Helium? The only things I've tried are myLot and Helium. I've been meaning to check out the other sites. But we've had 2 power-outages in a short time and other things have come up. I have about 3 or 4 sites to check out before I shut this topic down. Thank you for responding.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Thank you for these two options. I will look them over and report back.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
21 Jul 07
I joined Helium a long time ago but just recently started writing there. I have three articles currently in the ratings (one of them is rated number 1 out of 18, and that's the only one I've seen any money from... $0.81)
The other articles are rated low, and I haven't made any money from them yet. I don't use any techniques for driving readers to my site, but maybe I should. Also, I think it would be a good idea for me to start writing more articles on a regular basis.
I'd like to read your articles if you'll send me your user name. Mine is Jennifer Ivy if you'd like to read any of mine.
Thanks for the post. It's always good to hear from fellow Helium writers.
3 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Yes, I think writing articles on a regular basis is a good idea. My goal is at least one new article per week. Do you have any ideas on what a regular basis would be for you? 81 cents on one article is good. I've made 91 cents on 10 out of 13 combined so far.
Thank you for offering to read some of my articles on Helium, I'll check out yours, too. My name is the same there as it is here, Writer's Edge.
Yes, I hope you do look into techniques for getting readers to your part of th Helium site. If you're successful, please let me know what you did/used. Thank you very much for responding.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Just checked out your three articles. The crafter one was a hoot! Are you sure you didn't know my Mother? The song one, I guess I should be able to write a song according to that criteria, but I think I'd still need a few more skills. The one about writing was informative.
I don't know where I heard this saying before, but I get the feeling that you "find the laughter behind the tears." I look forward to more articles written by you.
2 people like this
@jfeets726 (775)
• United States
22 Jul 07
I am not sure if I can help you, as I do not write for Helium, but I am a freelance web content writer. I use message boards to create traffic for my articles, mostly the ones that can be found on Associated Content.
There is one message board that I belong to and some of the writers there post links to their Helium articles, looking to get an increase in traffic.
If you try this approach, if you haven't already done so, is join online message boards where you are able to post a signature. This is a message that always appear at the bottom of your posts. Post a link to your helium articles and you will hopefully see an increase in readers and page views.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Thank you very much for the advice and the explanations. No, I haven't tried any yet. But message boards sound like an interesting idea. Tomorrow, I will check this out and get back to you. Thanks again.
1 person likes this
@wondericequeen (7876)
• Hong Kong
14 Aug 07
I have been getting people to read my articles through a number of things like yahoo answers, my own blog and website. I think what you are doing is right. You should promote your own articles whenever you can, otherwise it would be very slow in earnings. I think yahoo answers is a good source and you can try to find relevant questions to your written topics and then give a link back to your particular articles. Wish you good luck on there.
2 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Too bad I already chose best answer. Your answer is really good. Thank you very much Wonder Ice Queen, pretty name. After I heal up from my accident, I'll have to check that out.
1 person likes this
@Pablothehat (99)
•
27 Sep 07
Hi, I must say that I use similar method to you wondericequeen. I use Yahoo Answers to both inspire new articles generated by some of the questions asked, and to drive potential readers if they ask questions which I have already written an article about. I also have links to my online writings on my blog sites.
I also reuse articles on other sites such as Ciao as they do not object to accepting previously published stuff.
http://www.helium.com/user/show/203705
This is my Helium Profile link if anyone would like to have a look.
http://thetaoofblog-pablothehat.blogspot.com/
and my blog if you would like to see how I link them.
You will find a link to Ciao there too.
Any feedback would be most welcome.
Good luck to all who are trying to make a career on line, it is lot of effort for a very minimum reward.
@scarywhitegirl (2766)
• United States
21 Jul 07
Helium doesn't necessarily make a whole lot of money for me, but it is fun to write for them occasionally. Mostly, I've discovered that if I've written a full length article that is rejected for publication elsewhere, I can put it on Helium and possibly earn a bit of money for it. I have plenty of articles there that have never earned me any money, but the key is to write a lot of articles to increase your chances of making money.
@rahallahan (52)
• United States
22 Jul 07
I can't help you. I cant' seem to make any money on that site either.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
23 Jul 07
Then this BLOG is for you. Read a couple of people above you and a few below you. Look at their ideas. See if you are interesting in giving any a try. If you try any, then you can report back.
Please write at least four sentences so that you can get paid at myLot for responding. What is the address at the top of your "about me" page so other people and I can read your articles?
1 person likes this
