11 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
11 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Freelance writing and other stuff

by Yellowcake
10 replies
Hi folks hope you are all well

I've posted on here before regarding starting a freelance writing business. I'm a magazine editor in my day job and want to start things moving on the freelance side. I'm based in the UK.

Here's the plan: I've registered a domain and started to build a pretty basic Wordpress website detailing the services I intend to offer. I'll populate it with articles etc.

Now the only problem is that no-one knows about me. I was wondering if submitting some of my articles to article directories would be a good idea after loading them to my own site first? The intention is that I'll get some backlinks back to my own website but more importantly, through syndication, others may want to use my articles on their own blogs and I'll get some backlinks that way. The whole objective will be to get some traffic back to my own website where I can advertise my freelancing services.

With this in mind, are there any article directory sites that you guys could recommend? With all the Google updates in recent months I'm not sure any of them actually carry any gravitas any more but as with most things, I'm sure that some are still OK. I'd be interested in your thoughts on this.

I notice with some article sites that they don't allow you to post anywhere else. The one that springs to mind is Infobarrel. Are there any others that enforce this rule too? What are the rules generally about posting articles on multiple sites?

One of the other things I intend to do is advertise in the 'Warrior for Hire' section. I'm not intending on competing with the $5 an article brigade - I want to operate a bit more upmarket than that. My hope is that people that want high quality articles written may give me a shout!

Finally guys, I was wondering, bearing in mind what I'm trying to do here, if it's worth submitting anything to social bookmarking sites like Reddit, Stumbleupon, Digg and Squidoo? It's always confused me as to what these sites actually do and why people use them? Forgive my ignorance but could someone enlighten me and is it worth me considering using them?

Thanks folks. Appreciate any help you can give me.

YC
#freelance #stuff #writing
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Johns
    If you submit the content on your website as is to EzineArticles I believe they will reject it because it is duplicate content and they want unique articles on their site. However, you can rewrite it and submit it.

    I don't use any other article directories except EZA to be honest.

    Social bookmarks are always worth having so long as they are genuine and not from accounts that are full of links promoting sites.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7273123].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author icoachu
      Originally Posted by Jason Johns View Post

      If you submit the content on your website as is to EzineArticles I believe they will reject it because it is duplicate content and they want unique articles on their site. However, you can rewrite it and submit it.

      I don't use any other article directories except EZA to be honest.

      Social bookmarks are always worth having so long as they are genuine and not from accounts that are full of links promoting sites.
      Sorry but that's just wrong. EZA does publish duplicate content. That's why they got dinged by Google updates in the past and their traffic has shrunk. Also, while many people think they will get 'syndicated' if they post on EZA, their stuff actually just gets scraped and their links don't survive. As much as many people here like to pretend--article marketing is going through a transition right now.

      Here's a hint: Matt Cutts says writer IDENTITY will be a bigger factor in the bank. Identity plus the constant carping about content quality and BRANDING tells me something big is in the works and PLR is not going to make it... at least, not in its current form.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7277210].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Inspired, Inc.
      Originally Posted by Jason Johns View Post

      If you submit the content on your website as is to EzineArticles I believe they will reject it because it is duplicate content and they want unique articles on their site. However, you can rewrite it and submit it.
      for as long as you include a link to YOUR website, EzineArticles will approve your articles.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7282176].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ParkerArrow
    I would concentrate on writing guest posts for popular blogs. Frequently. Bet you've got the chops, right?

    Just make sure your blog is organized and you're ready for social interaction.

    I use one thing I like, a Tweet Old Posts plugin for Wordpress. Keeps the blog titles circulating. Just make sure you keep adding new stuff.

    The other stuff I would only do if I were going to be active on those sites. That means, interacting with Other People's Stuff too.

    Best of luck to you!
    Signature

    PLR Modifiable Content
    PLRmod.com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7276974].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Hi,

    I understand your desire to be paid well for your writing. I imagine you can find some here who may be willing to pay you a reasonable amount. And you can try finding them. But the majority of IM people are looking for great content at rock bottom prices.

    Unless things have changed at EZA, you don't have to rewrite anything to publish there. But EZA is a relic and not worth your time. You mentioned backlinks from EZA - forget it. Worthless. EZA may be good for some, I guess, but for what you want it's not worth your time.

    If you want to get paid well for your writing, then you have to find those who are willing to pay well. Go elsewhere.

    Here's a WSO you may like as it is basically a compilation of sources for getting good work that pays well. I have not bought it, so check it out.

    http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...st-awaits.html

    Also, check out Writer's Digest, Write Better, Get Published, Be Creative | WritersDigest.com

    They have a lot of excellent resouces, and I think you can join them for $5 a month. Among many other things, you can get access to tons of resources for exactly what you're looking for. They have contact information for magazines, editors, all that good stuff. And it's for writing articles, featured articles, etc.

    I would focus on Writer's Digest, and the WSO may be good as well. Does not cost much if I remember.

    Good luck.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7277096].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jesse L
    You might try winning some awards and pushing that around, not to mention picking up a few bucks along the way.

    Find Creative Writing Contests, Poetry Contests & Grants | Poets & Writers=*
    Signature

    The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. – Vince Lambardi

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7277109].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Here are two more very cool things, three actually.

    You can submit an opinion essay for publication to the Washington Post. The very established newspaper in Washington DC.

    Local op-ed Submission Form - The Washington Post

    Also... last year I found a link or page where you can submit your work to be considered for hire or contributing writer for the Washington Post. One of the requirements is to have 10 published articles. They don't have to be published in big name magazines, just published somewhere that's respectable.

    You'll need to search for it but it exists. Can't remember where on their site I found it.

    Also, you're in the UK, so I don't know if you've ever heard of Capital Hill. It's in Washington DC... Congress, the politicians, etc.

    Well, there's a site or blog that's called, The Hill.

    The Hill - covering Congress, Politics, Political Campaigns and Capitol Hill | TheHill.com

    I remember reading on their site that they'll consider publishing anyone's article if it satisfied various criteria. And they were not impossible. Things like: the topic needs to be timely and relevant to their site. But they have different categories. Things like that.

    It's worth a shot, and if you keep submitting articles to them, then you never know.

    That is how you can establish your name and get great writiing gigs that pay.

    If you're serious, you can do this.

    Forget EZA... peanuts.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7277122].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    RE: Ezinearticles.com

    You CAN publish them on your own site before submitting to EZ. Every article I ever submitted to them was posted on my own site first.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7277144].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author fpdeziner
    Yes. Yellowcake,
    Write some unique articles and post them is different article directories and also on ezinearticles.com. This is very great way and from this way you can get traffic on your website easily.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7277180].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Here's a plan for establishing your name. A link to a list of US newspapers
    for placing classified ads. But here's a list of US newspapers with all the
    data about them.

    Maybe you can find something similar for the UK.

    Participating Newspapers - Classified

    What you can do is start small and build. Contact newspapers, or
    visit their sites, and see about contributing articles.

    That way, you can quickly build up a portfolio of published articles.
    Then you can move up the ladder to bigger and more well-known
    papers.

    With a dozen or so articles published in various newspapers, you will
    have a solid portfolio to show.

    I'd do this if I had an interest. I'm also a full-time freelance writer. But
    I have bigger fish to fry.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7277206].message }}

Trending Topics