How reasonable is $1500 in 20 days

First show everybody your skills and knowledge by sharing valuable posts .

mike

If you don't get any takers for custom articles to get you started, just start writing article in a hot niche anyway. Once you have several article you can sell them in packs of 5-10 at DP if they are reasonably priced and somewhat decent quality.

The key is don't wait for order, start writing now.

Pick a hot topic like travel, health,weightloss,credit,finances...etc.

Thanks Mike for your answer. That is a great response. I would love for everyone to be able to appreciate me more by doing that but at the moment I don not have a huge amount of knowledge in the IM business.

I could rattle on about analysis or abstract algebra (I done my degree in mathematical studies) but I'm just not sure that would be to everyone's fancy or benefit.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Thanks a lot for all the responses guys. There is some really great suggestions there. A lot of them though included spending money to advertise my service and as I mentioned in the OP I just don't have the money to spend on advertising.

Keep the suggestions coming though I'm getting ideas from these.

Hi Ray thanks for the advice.

Yes at digital point I spent a long time writing the copy for my ad. I included a call to action if a prospective customer wanted samples of my previous work and I believe I had put together a package that offered real value for money.

I had thought of putting a site design package together but I thought that would be even harder than getting customers for article content.

Wow kamran I didn't know that.

Thank you very very much.

**edit just read the sticky in the 'warrior for hire' thread and their is a fee to pay.

You can earn $2-$4 submitting articles to Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

So you can earn while you build your portfolio.

Start a blog here at WF documenting your consistent high production rate, and pointing to your AC articles. You'll soon be getting custom orders.

If you can write magazine quality articles, consider Constant Content - Website Content, Order Articles

Write on these topics:
+ product reviews (esp. latest gadgets, latest video games)
+ finance (forex, debt management, avoiding bankruptcy)
+ computers (antivirus, data recovery, anti-phishing)
+ health & fitness (weight loss, acne, diabetes, hair loss)

Good luck!

Hi Freddie thanks for the tips. I know I have a very high command of both written and spoken English and I am prepared to work for less than the minimum wage in my country (one of the highest in the world) but writing an article for $2 just seems crazy to me. then again if its income its income and I may resort to it.

To be honest I would much rather write a well paid article that needs to be very high quality, I will check out the second link you gave me.

It seems crazy in these days that a university graduate who was expecting to walk into a job when finished university is living so close to the poverty line and working for less than the minimum wage online.

I have made an account with associated content and am going to start submitting content. Ill report back if its an earner or not.

edit* Just a quick question for maximizing the chances that my articles are sold. Is it better to heavily market a product the article may be based around or to just provide a very informative, objective article?

Hi Sarah, thanks for commenting in my thread. I understood Mikes advice and took it to heart. I do try to contribute to this forum by sharing ideas and knowledge, you could even say by the ideas generated by this thread I was doing just that.

I was also asking for contributions from members so maybe you should take Mikes advice and contribute more than just a quote and two words yourself.

I'm not trying to insult you I just believe your post was highly hypocritical that's all.

Start article writing.

I did it as an experiment (no previous article writing experience for this type of writing), and "made" about $900. That was last month (January). Now, it wasn't necessarily a sexy amount for the time and effort I put in (I think my effective 'hourly' rate was about $11/hour), but I did it.

Freddie again that is absolutely brilliant advice. I just submitted my first article to associated content but I am going to concentrate exclusively on valentines day content for the next few days.

Would you recommend submitting this to associated content or selling it as a plr package.

Again thank you so much you have contributed a lot to my thread (and I know these pesky threads spring up daily but I am trying to make a contribution with mine).

hey johnahon can you share with me some methods on how you got cusomers.

I would go to a site like elance, getafreelancer, rentacoder and craigslist to look for work. There are hundreds of people looking for a good article writer. Or just look around here and DigitalPoint. Warrior Forum and DP are full of people doing article marketing and niche marketing who are looking for writing work.

If you are that good of a writer don't waste time on AC. It doesn't pay nearly as well as it used to and you should be able to get at least $4-$5 per article at any of the above sites.

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the replies. I'm not really looking to outsource anything I am doing. I am looking to do some honest work that I will get guaranteed pay for. But thanks for the suggestions I'm considering them all while trying to get this article gig started full time.

I'm not trying to be a jerk...just wanted to point out that your posts have some grammar and spelling errors.

Mine do too, as well as most of us here...but when you're advertising writing services you need to triple check your posts so you look sharp.

I would not hire a writer without attention to detail that forgot letters or did not know how to use apostrophes to show possession.

Just a helpful thought if you're positioning yourself as a writer.

Hi LB I get this every thread I ever start someone comes along and criticizes my grammar and typos. That is why everyone in this day and age uses a spell checker. I even have a spell checker in my firefox but I am sure it is not as good as the one in MS Word.

Anyway thanks for your input, it is duly noted.

Also please reference my missing letters to prove your point?

Do you have and know how to use an Adwords account?

1. If so, open your Yellow Pages. Find local businesses with websites listed.
2. Go on Google and search on keywords that should come up for their business.
3. Pick some that don't show up on the first page of Google. (This won't be hard. Most of them won't.)
4. Contact the business owners and tell them they aren't showing up on the first page of Google for their keywords and you can correct that problem.
5. Charge them a setup fee of $497 and a monthly maintenance fee of $97.
6. Find three who say yes.
7. $1,500 in less than 20 days plus a $300/month residual income. Done.

Thanks Peter and Don for your advice, I would love to be able to do that but unfortunately I am not a very sociable person and I'm sure my negotiating skills would get me absolutely nowhere. I am determined to find clients that would hire me for article writing (as I like writing and it is online) but I'm just having a hard time. maybe I should lower my price.

mrsteady:

I do not have enough posts to send you a PM but I did send you a skype message if you can look at it.

Thanks.

Joyce

Hi Joyce I'm available on skype now. I didn't get your message for some reason.

Hey paidtoempower you would create a ppc campaign for each business you signed up. Thanks for all the support guys I think I may have got my first customer for custom articles and on my way to clearing this $1500 before the end of the month.

Hey OP! How much were you charging per word over at DP? I charge $.02-.03 per word and get steady work.

Your problem might be in your grammar errors. I am not knocking you, but there are a few errors in your original post.

You said "What my real question is though is how to get some work." That sentence is a little messed up.

You then asked "Do any of you warriors have any ideas how I can improve sales pick up of my outsourcing skills." Questions usually end with question marks, not periods.

You need to be mindful of these things when posting in forums such as this. People here who need content will see your mistakes and turn away - especially when your sig. is advertising writing services.

Hi shkad, yes that point was brought up before in this thread thanks for bringing it up again. I didn't proof read my post, I should have I know. A PM would be more polite than posting that information here though.

Thanks for clarifying you position skhad. Sometimes I forget that these posts are for the good of the forum, not the individual.

Anyway your comments are duly noted. Thanks for your contribution.

I am still finding it hard to get customers. What do you guys think of offering a free article as a way to attract customers?

Thanks for that list skhad, I'm making a profile on Elance now and don't worry of course I'll proof read the ad copy

Mate,
If it has to be done in this short time then I would send out 100 letters (see warrior member mookinman
David Black post and letter
to local businesses

a great letter he sends to offline businesses


then get some tutoring in how to give them the results. $1500 is NOTHING for a business to spend.

hope it helps
Stephen

ps or write sales letters, they are more highly valued than articles

A couple of ideas that could help you.
1. If you are OK with this, you can try producing custom videos, for customers. If you have Windows Movie Maker, on your computer this can be done at no cost. The still images and videos can be supplied by prospects themselves. You can use copyright free music on the web.
2. If you have a good voice, you can convert ebooks to audio books by reading the book yourself and recording your voice. You can edit the noise, add some free music using open source sound mixing software called Audacity.

These are not "hard" times. They are only "hard" if you think they are.

You need to change that part of your attitude. You're surrounded by more opportunity than there has ever been before ... And that is also the problem ...

Hi alankay,

Can you tell me what your post has to do with making $1500 as a content writer?

Here's an idea that you may not have thought of yet - since you are proficient in mathematical concepts why don't you create a complete package of instructional material that would help others? You could combine with your writing skills with your math skills, help others and make money at the same time.

This package could be worked on while you are waiting on orders. In the end you would have a nice product that could prove to bring in some profit now and in the future.

As far as your writing errors here in the forum - yes, as a writer you will be judged by what and how you write but I think others should understand that as a writer...while posting here I do not always take the time to focus on grammar and spelling. After all, this is a totally different type of writing and we are among friends.

With that being said, having samples of your work is important. So just as others have suggested, it is a good idea to begin writing articles even if you do not have any orders. Consider writing about some of the more popular topics and create PLR packages.

Thanks for all the tips guys. OK, I think I have finally learned my lesson about proof reading all the posts I make, I am trying to market myself as a writer after all.

I have began working on writing content to sell. I have chosen some niches that I think are selling well on DP. Is it better to sell my work as a once only sale or as PLR? Every PLR pack I have seen on DP has at least 100 articles with it. If I create a 10 article pack and say it will only be sold ten times will I get customers? What is a reasonable price to sell PLR for?

Im getting anxious about making the $1500 before the end of the month when the bills arrive. I thought I would be able to earn some money, if even a small amount daily by writing content and doing hard work. As of yet I am still to make a single penny.

Anyway I will continue this endeavour as it is my last chance to get the required money.

I've found that combining skills will get you far more money than each individual skill would get you.

If you are a good content writer, I would suggest writing 10-15 articles about a topic, and quickly teaching yourself the basics of an open source graphics package (like Photoshop, but free - there are a few of them out there, but their names escape me right now).

Though you won't be able to design anything high-end in the next 20 days, you could probably learn enough about graphics and html in 1-2 days to be able to design adequate sites using $1 stock images.

Something like this could sell on eBay for $5-50, and you could sell it multiple times.

Unless you didn't sleep for the next three weeks, you couldn't earn $1500 from this method alone, but it might make enough to help - and it could set you up for additional income in the future.

I would bet there are other ways that you could combine your writing with other skills and make far more money than writing alone. I actually did something similar to this a few years ago, and parlayed it into a sustainable business that allowed me to quit my job and stay at home full time.

Hi Rod, that is really good advice, thank you. I already have my own affiliate marketing plans and have a few websites set up. I really need this money by the end of the month though so these products have been put on the back burner until March.

So far I have $130 from current clients. One of these clients has offered me repeat business which is great. I also have 2 people interested in a $20 article pack I have listed for sale on DP, I have sent them samples and waiting for a response.

I believe if things keep going the way they are I will be able to get the money I need. Next month I plan to continue writing articles but to lower my output a bit and concentrate that time on my own affiliate marketing plans.

With regard to graphic design; I am fairly proficient with GIMP and am also quite knowledgeable with flash. I spent a long time in the past making flash animations solely for personal satisfaction, maybe I can develop this into a profitable hobby but I don't think there is a huge market for it in IM. In my opinion IM'ers prefer static HTML sites or Wordpress blogs.

I think robd1302 is on to something good here - that making small sites and flip them on Ebay / DP / SP might be the way to fill time between clients.

WSO's and networking are the way forward.

It shouldnt take you more than about an hour or so to put together the $20 needed for a WSO - I usually do this if my paypal accounts are low - rather than bother transferring money from my account...

Put together two or three article packs of between two and four articles. Use them on popular, high paying subjects like Weightloss etc. Put these packs up for sale on the content section of DP and someone will grab them as long as you price them low enough. Don;t be too worried about selling these articles low as they are just a means to an end

Once you have done that then you have the money to post a WSO with what you are best able to do (design, writing, audio etc).

Networking is simply a case of using the likes of Linkedin to target IMers, companies etc with your services. Make use of facebook groups, linkedin groups etc. i have made a large amount of money from doing this on linkedin

Business tartegtting is also meant to be very lucrative but is not a method I have followed for online work, only for recruitment, so know very little about it.

Hope that helps

I've seen some pretty basic sites/blogs on DP and SP that have sold for a couple hundred bucks on up. What I do is find a subject/niche, then look through the 10,000+ PLR articles on my hard drive and just rewrite 10 of them. A couple of hours is all it takes to rewrite 10 articles into unique content.

Then start WP blog (if you have hosting), upload a nice theme (just search and you'll find hundreds of really good free ones), then post 5 of your 10 articles as posts. Be sure to add images to them - people like images! Since you know some graphics stuff, upload a new banner and make it look professional and fresh.

If you have PLR products, find a related one and and a page (not post) that pimps it - this would be 100% commission for you.

Do a Google search for IM WP plugins and install those. Things like all-in-one SEO pack - you'll find lists of the best ones with a quick search. I also like to add an eBay plugin and make a separate page for related auctions. If you want throw in some adsense, an Amazon mall, or something similar.

Now with the other 5 articles submit to Ezinearticles.com, GoArticles, Squidoo, Hubpages, and another of your choice. There are plenty that will work on getting you indexed quickly.

Browse some forums and make posts with a sig back to your new blog. Web 2.0 works good, too. Maybe even try something like JetSubmitter to send unique articles to like 400 (600? - not sure how many) submission sites to get a ton of backlinks (and each article is unique).

If you can get some sales on that site in under 5 days, it's worth selling. I've seen sites that are brand new with just a few days worth of traffic and sales sell for $197 or more. Granted, this might not get $1500 in 20 days, but if you're good at the article rewriting and setting up a WP blog, you could have several hundred in a week probably.

Offer as many services that you can think and get to work. And never look back

Mrsteady,
You can ousource your articles to few people at small price,then sell these articles at a higer price to associatedcontent.com or order articels..

good luck !

Hi folks,

Just thought I'd chime in to let you know how my progress was going. I have sold quite a few articles packs and a few bulk orders and have netted myself about $300 so far. Don't think I'm gonna make the $1500 by the end of the month though.

I am incredibly happy at the moment though because I just made my first affiliate sale Really I always saw posts here about people making their first sale but to get it just made me ecstatic. I am continuing on article writing for the moment as I still need the money but I am dedicating one or two hours a day to improve the site.

Thanks for following