Blog Archives

Earnings challenges: We all are facing them

Earnings challenges: We all are facing them

As Google rolled out their latest Panda update, content farms are facing more pressure than ever before. Demand Media, Helium and Suite 101 are among the casualties (again) of this update. It is becoming even more challenging to earn a living writing online. However, that does not mean that all hope is lost, it only means that writers need to pay more attention to what they are doing and work smarter.   For beginners, freelance writers should be exploring every opportunity that is available to them. I’ve given up on many of the sites I was writing for but, I...

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Slow days – How to stay productive

Slow days – How to stay productive

We have all had slow days where there does not seem to be enough work to keep us busy and help us stay focused. However, there is no need to allow those days to go to waste. For a freelancer, having a free day can be a bonus – having a slow day can be even better. One of the many challenges of freelancing is that we must do our own marketing and promote our own work. It is not always easy to create and work on a marketing plan when we are incredibly busy trying to meet deadlines and...

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Blogging and income

Blogging and income

For those who maintain their own blogs, chances are that you have discovered that the income from those blogs tends to be very erratic. It seems that regardless of how frequently you post, how rich in keywords your posts are or how well written your blog is that there is simply no rhyme or reason to your earnings. In some cases, this is not only frustrating but, it can also feel like you are wasting a lot of time working on your blog (or blogs) for very little return. Because most blog income is a result of page views, the...

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The truth about FTC and disclaimers

The truth about FTC and disclaimers

I have made a commitment to myself as well as those who take the time to read this blog to call out less than honest people (and honest people) who are taking people for a ride. Many of the people who read this blog are freelance writing people who have done website content for clients. As a writer, I’ve done the same thing.  Bloggers who participate in affiliate programs such as Google Adense are required (per the Google TOS) to include a Terms of Service as well as a Privacy Policy on their website or their blog.  There are a...

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Rampant and repeated scam

Rampant and repeated scam

You have to admit that scammers are a persistent lot.  In fact, I found this Blog about an Email Scam dated May 6 of 2011. Guess what? She’s back.  She’s changed some things in her email such as: Her email address was: info@mcsp-online.com and now it’s fpsfoundation33@gmail.com. Interestingly enough she hasn’t changed the “batch number” or the reference number (laughing).  The old “Foreign Transfer Manager” was some poor slob named Steven Magua and now his name is James Marshall. His contact information is different as well. The biggest problem with these things is that there are people who are not particularly...

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Another Email scam taking hold

Another Email scam taking hold

“There’s a sucker born every minute” – George Hull These words ring true as the Internet takes up more time each day. Internet scams run rampant and regardless of how much people try to avoid getting taken in, this type of scam is likely to make people at least take a closer look: Dear sir/madam This is a personal email directed to you. My wife and I won a Jackpot Lottery of $11.3 million in July and have voluntarily decided to donate the sum of $500,000.00 USD to you as part of our own charity project to improve the lot of 10 lucky individuals...

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Career challenges and goals

Career challenges and goals

At some point or another every person faces challenges in their careers. These challenges range from demotions to promotions, battling middle child syndrome or considering a career change. Not everyone handles these challenges the same way and in some cases, they are more challenging to overcome the older you get. Having the tools and information that you need to make the most of the challenges that you may be facing during career changes can be helpful. This series of articles provides some general tips that can help you better deal with career challenges and help you set goals. TweetRelated...

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When failure is not an option

When failure is not an option

One year ago at this time I was averaging about $1,100 a month from freelance writing online – mostly on content sites. This month, I’m well on track to earn a whopping $500.  This is a staggering drop in income and some of it I have no control over; other aspects I do have control over. Failure is simply not an option.  Part of the problem is that nearly all of the writing sites were hit during Panda. The other problem is that many of these sites have changed their strategies making it harder than ever to earn money....

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New brand of spam

New brand of spam

You have to admire people who are working hard to get new backlinks on sites that have a decent page rank. In fact, they get even more credit in today’s “post Panda” Internet.  But the level of stupidity of these marketers is absolutely dumbfounding since it is clear that they do not even bother to check out what they are doing and how it is working. I suppose the theory is that if you throw enough stuff out there something will stick. Some time back I was forced to block comments from the site because I was averaging about 90...

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Some of my most popular work

Since this week was disrupted so heavily by Hurricane Irene, I have not had as much time to contribute as I’d like. Instead, I’m going to cheat a little and show off some of my most popular work. So, here’s a rundown of some of my most popular titles on writing sites: Bright Hub Learn the Ins and Outs of VC Investments Defining and Understanding Redemption of Shares Can You Sell Your House to Your Children for a Dollar? DIY Steps on How to Do a Title Search Yourself Fannie Mac & Freddie Mac Rules: What Are the Major Differences? How do You Qualify to Buy...

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Procrastination is your friend

Procrastination is your friend

Most of us have a day when we simply cannot find the strength or the energy to write a blog post or come up with one more article. For whatever reason, our brain goes on hiatus and simply refuses to cooperate. Instead of forcing yourself to churn out an article that simply does not want to come out, do some other things that can help make your next work day(s) more enjoyable.  In spite of what most people tell you, procrastination is your friend provided you make the most of it! How is your computer working? One of the best things...

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Meeting new guidelines

Meeting new guidelines

Perhaps one of the bittersweet results of Google’s Panda update was the need to change how our writing impacts our page rating and our ability to earn money. Regardless of which content mill you are working for (and as I’ve previously stated most of us are working for one or more content mills), chances are that requirements have changed. One of the challenges is that each site you work for has its own set of guidelines. As freelancers, its hard enough to meet the needs of clients when we are hired for writing jobs, it is almost amusing to...

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Saving on the High Cost of College

Saving on the High Cost of College

While many parents have children entering grade school in September, as many parents have children in high school. It is time to consider thinking about how to pay for their college education. Scholarships, grants and other methods can help reduce the cost of college. Preparing for College Money for College With school coming back into session, many parents are sending their students to high school understanding they need to begin preparing for college. The cost of college ranges widely from about $3,000 a year for a two year college (including tuition and fees) to...

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Freelancing and ethical treatment of non paying clients

Freelancing and ethical treatment of non paying clients

Unfortunately, not every freelance job is going to result in that often long awaited day – the day you are paid for your services. This is a fact that most freelancers accept as part of their commitment to running their own business. The Slow to Pay or No Pay Client The Right Path All too often, we allow our emotions to get the best of our better judgment when we are attempting to be paid for a job that we did according to our clients instructions. It’s often difficult for us to step back, take...

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Home Based Business vs. Telecommuting

Home Based Business vs. Telecommuting

Today, in spite of a slow job market, more companies are offering telecommuting opportunities. Too frequently, people mix up telecommuting and a small home business. These are not the same types of work at home opportunities, but both have significant advantages to them. The Primary Differences: Home Based Business vs. Telecommuting Comparing differences There are some key differences between a home based business and telecommuting. Some of these are easy to identify, and others may seem rather blurry. Here are the similarities of telecommuting and home based businesses: * Both allow you to work at home * Both...

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