Make Money Writing for the Internet

Authors: Blake Webster and Steve Boga

Introduction

Let’s start with this: The world needs writers more than ever. Text—and increasingly online text—is still our strongest communication tool. Of course, words communicate much more than their literal meaning.
Your online text should perform multiple tasks. Ideally it should:
• Offer benefit
• Present an image
• Set a tone
• Entertain
• Appeal to search engines
• Draw traffic
• Generate links
• Promote or market

Set Yourself Apart
With the rise of the Internet and the fall of the economy, aspiring writers face formidable competition.  If you want to generate income writing online content, you must stand out from the crowd. 
You might start here:
• Pay attention to keywords in titles and headings.
• Answer the reader’s question, “What’s in it for me?” in the lead.
• Develop a distinctive voice in the first-person.
• Write about a variety of topics . . . and become an expert in one or more. Develop a niche. 
• Do the research; use facts in your writing and quote reputable sources. 
• Eliminate spelling and grammar errors, which shred your credibility and can cause an otherwise quality article to be rejected. 
• Consider your name and writing as a label or brand. Keep the same username across sites to help you expand that brand.
• Learn how to write about sensitive or controversial topics.
• Keep it short and simple (KISS). No wasted words.
• Include a call to action (sign up, join, visit me).
• Slow the reader’s eye with speed bumps. Break up large blocks of text. Use bullets for easier reading, and caps and/or boldface to make subtitles pop out. Whitespace, too, gives the eye a break.
• Anticipate your readers’ questions and provide the details necessary to answer them.  Don’t make them search elsewhere. 
• Be aware of your online presence. When you post in forums, they come up in searches. Tone down wild accusations. A potential employer may be reading.

Now, are you ready to take up the challenge of writing online?