Today I want to talk about the different choices you have when it comes to ghostwriting and getting paid to write. There are lots of discussions around the internet for each of the methods that I am going to list here so you can do research and find out what is best for you if you want.
If you are just starting out it is easy to get sidetracked with all the different types of ghostwriting jobs. They can however be broken down into three simple choices. These are:
- Content Mills
- Bidding websites
- Private work
Content mills is where you write articles and content for different websites and you either get paid on a per article basis, you get a share of the revenue earned or you get a set amount per thousand page views. There is a lot of bad press related to these content mills but I like to stay clear of this. In my opinion these websites wouldn’t exist if people weren’t making money from them.
The website that I would be most familiar with in this category is Helium. I have an account with them and I have no complaints. Helium pay you per article and you also get money for page views too. I have to admit, that I don’t use it very often but the articles that I do have on this website continue to earn me money every single day. The more you promote these articles the more money you will make. I know that one of my articles that I published on this website earlier this year has already made me over $200 so I guess that’s not bad for a 500 word article. You have to have $25 in your account before you can request a payment and payment is via paypal.
Other content mill websites include Demand Studios, Suite 101, Associated Content and About. If writing for these websites sounds interesting to you all you have to do is visit them. Be sure to read all their terms and conditions and make sure that you understand exactly what you have to do to earn money.
The second option you have is bidding websites. These are websites such as Elance, Odesk or freelancer. You have to sign up for an account with these websites and there is normally a monthly fee. Then you basically look through the ghostwriting jobs that are listed and you place a bid for the work. The rates on these websites can vary greatly from as low as $1 per 500 word article to $20 per article. If the dollar value is worth a lot in your country then freelancer could be the right choice for you. This website is very busy and there are hundreds of writing jobs posted each day. The rates on this website are anywhere from $0.50 per 500 words to $3 per 500 words. If you require higher rates then Elance is the better choice. You can usually get at least $10 per 500 words on this website.
Private work is where you look for the ghostwriting jobs yourself. You will need an up to date resume and samples of your best work. There are websites that list ghostwriting jobs on a daily basis and you can also go through Craigslist and Indeed. Private work and having people search you out for work should be one of your goals. You will need a website and you will have to learn how to market and brand yourself too. If you are just starting out this can be very intimidating and you might like to test the waters and enhance your skills using the other methods first.
I started off with Elance and I still have an account with them. I don’t use it that often but I like to keep it open so that clients can contact me.
Becoming a ghostwriter is like any other career or profession. It takes time to build it up and it takes commitment too. I might go into more details about each of the methods listed here if anyone would like further information. Just post your questions in the comments section.
Until next time,
Keep writing
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vWorker.com (formerly known as Rentacoder.com) is a viable 10 year old online employment marketplace as well providing access to programming, writing, illustration, even data entry jobs. (You can get a sense of the broad scope of work available here: http://bit.ly/a4WzGy).
I think your point about taking the time to build is valid. So many folks think that if they just hang a shingle they will get all the work they want (or need). I know that I’ve learned so much in the last two years that I couldn’t imagine I needed to know.
George
George, as always it is lovely to have you here.
Yes you have to build your profile, your brand, yourself and it takes time. I have been freelancing online now since 2004 (I think) and I am still building my brand and myself. I have learned so much too that it often amazes me especially when out on social occasions and I find myself sprouting off information about different topics all because I have written about them. It’s amazing what you pick up and retain when you write about it. Ask me anything about vacuum cleaners lol.