Online Writing Jobs Blog

How to Make Money by Freelancing Online

2012-01-27T05:57:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the Internet, it is now possible to earn comfortably from home. These days, It is not uncommon to find many people working from home. Some years back, there weren't many work at home opportunities available. It is no longer the case now. There are plenty of online jobs if you have the talent and expertise. In the near future too, we can expect an even more increase in availability of online jobs. Who knows, working from home may soon become the norm everywhere.

If you wish to provide computer related services, you can get started by registering at freelance job portals such as www.Elance.com. Elance has a number of job categories such as programming, writing, consulting and designing. If you are proficient in these, it may not be very difficult to find a good project. However, there is intense competition and it may be sometimes be somewhat difficult to find a project that pays well.

To be able to deliver good services to your clients, it is important that you acquire new skills and upgrade them constantly. Personally, I feel that the best way to learn programming or web design is to join a good course. Short term courses do not cost much but get the ball going. Once you learn the basics, it becomes easier to learn advanced topics. True proficiency only comes with hands on experience.

Apart from skills, it is also important to create a viable business plan and stick to your goals. You should set achievable goals and ensure that you reach them no matter what. In the beginning, it may find it difficult to get results and you may not earn much. However, with efforts this will improve and you will start earning good income.

Apart from doing freelance works, you can also earn money by creating websites and promoting products for others. There are many affiliate networks that pay well. Commission Junction (www.cj.com), ClickBank (www.clickbank.com) and LinkShare (www.linkshare.com) are among the best affiliate works available today. You can also use Pay Per Click (PPC) ads on your websites and these do pay well if your sites have good number of visitors.

Starting a website is not very difficult. It is not very costly either. A domain name costs only $10 per year and it is not difficult to find reliable web hosting for as low as $5/month. There are also many free tools to create webpages easily. For starters, free blogging services such as Blogger or Wordpress are also a good option. I will post more about affiliate marketing and website creation strategies in coming days.

A matter of concern is that there are many work from home scams. You should be very careful about this. Always read reviews before signing up at freelance or work at home sites. Don't trust everything you see online. A little skepticism is all it takes to keep scams away.

How to Start an Office at Home

2012-01-15T05:32:00.001-08:00

Starting a home office can be confusing and tiring. You may not know what all you will need to give your home office a professional touch. However, it is not that difficult and it is not that costly either. You can create a home office that is very congenial to your work by investing a fairly affordable amount. Here are 6 things that you will need:

1) A Desk: You don’t have to buy the most expensive desk that is available in your local furniture store. A moderate sized desk that looks impressive enough when your clients come in should do the job. Ensure that it is large enough to fit your computer(s), files and phone(s). The desk should also fit in with your room. If it is excessively large, it can make your room feel congested. It is also a good idea to buy a smaller desk apart from your main desk to keep items that you won’t be using more frequently.

2) Chairs: If you were to ask me, I would say buy the coziest chair that money can buy. If your chair is not comfortable, it can affect your work performance. You should ensure that your chair provides proper support to your back. Sitting for long periods of time in improperly designed chairs can cause back-problems and affect your health adversely. Research well before buying chairs and sit on the chairs in the showroom and test them before buying.

3) Storage Cabinets: If your work involves lots of paperwork, a storage cabinet is must and should. You can neatly tuck away the documents and files and keep your office environment clutter-free. However, if your work is mostly computer-oriented, you may not need a storage cabinet. Nevertheless, you can buy a spacious storage cabinet just in case it comes handy.

4) Computer(s): Computers have become fairly cheap these days. You should have at least two computers in your office. Ensure that they are powerful enough to run the software that you may need. It is better to opt for LCD monitors as they consume less power and are less straining to the eyes.

Certain software can be costly. However, there are many free software that are equally good. For example, you can use Linux instead of Windows and Open Office in place of Microsoft Office.

5) Telephone and Internet Connections: Get a land-line and a good Internet connection. I would always recommend a land-line over a mobile phone because it gives your office a professional touch. You should also register a domain name and create a professional website. It is better to have an email address on your own domain rather than using a free email service provider.

6) Stationary: You will need letterhead paper, pens, pencils and a good printer. Then again, if your work involves more computer work, you may not need these at all. However, these is no loss in buying them just in case.

Via: http://www.adiwebs.com/start-home-office/

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5 Tips to Motivate Yourself at Work

2012-01-01T18:49:00.000-08:00

Do you feel that your job sucks? Has getting up in the morning and going to your office started to seem like an intense burden? This could be an indication that you have lost your motivation.

Building a career is very important for development and growth in your life. If you lose the motivation to work, it will not only affect your performance in the office but can also have a negative impact on your personal life.

Your job may feel to be a burden, in some cases, because it may indeed be demanding. In such cases, changing the job is definitely a good option. However, this should be your last option. First and foremost, you should try to identify why you are not able to perform and take appropriate measures to get your mojo back.

Here are some tips for getting your resolve back:

1) Talk with your seniors: Your seniors play an important role in the work atmosphere. In some cases, they may not have the time to give you the required attention. It is better to be very frank and open in such cases. Employees may often feel reluctant to discuss issues with their seniors because they are afraid of the type of reaction it may create. However, it is a good idea to be open about everything. Getting feedback from your boss will not only inform you not only where you are lacking but also will reinforce your position in the office.

2) Ask others for support: Support need not necessarily come from your boss or someone working in the office. You can seek help from others outside too. Even family members can help in motivating you. Never underestimate the impact positive words can have on you.

3) Challenge yourself to the task: If your job is boring and repetitive, it can have negative effects on your motivation levels. But there is no escaping from it and so you will have to take appropriate steps. The best option is to learn new things or technologies. Upgrading your skills will give you a new zeal at work. If your company offers you the flexibility, you can try to take up new assignments or even go for job rotation. If your company has other branches, you can also try for a transfer. Changing your location can give you a new way of looking at your job.

4) Look differently at boring jobs: Certain jobs can be boring but have to be done nevertheless. Just because they are boring doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun doing them—it all depends on the way you look at things. On way of doing them is to challenge yourself to do them faster. If a job normally takes eight hours, try to get it done in four. Another good option is to mix boring jobs with interesting ones and do them together. You can also listen to music and do repetitive jobs. Music can have a positive impact on your work efficiency.

5) Enjoy life: Your life is not all about work. Your job is just a part of your life. Don’t let it take over your entire day. Hit the gym regularly. Watch a movie once in a while and hang out with friends and family. This way your life will be more fulfilling and interesting.

Source: Motivate Yourself at Work from Adiwebs.com

How to Write Articles Faster in Clusters

2011-12-13T04:48:00.000-08:00

If you are new to writing articles for the web, you may find writing multiple articles in a short span not only difficult but also very time consuming. However if done properly, this is easier than writing articles one at a time. Since you will have to write on the same topic, you can write faster by 'reusing' the same information in different articles. At the same time, all your articles will have the same tone and continuity. Overall, it is faster and a more judicious use of your time and effort.

Here are some of the advantages of writing articles in clusters:

1) It saves time because you have to research about the topic once but reuse the same information again and again in different articles.

2) You can write more exhaustively on the topic. You can cover all the aspects on the theme and give it thorough coverage.

3) You get more content for your website or blog in a short span of time.

4) You can use the rewritten articles for submission to article directories or blog post exchanges, etc.

When you are writing for the web, you should ensure that your articles are of the right length. Normally, 400 to 500 words should be more than enough. However, you can stretch the word count to either side of this range. If you articles are too short, they may not be informative enough for the user. On the other hand, if they are too long, the key points may get hidden and distract the user. For this reason, you should write your articles right to the point and not waste words (or your time).

Once you have written your articles, if you find them to be too long, you can edit them to make them the right length. You can delete repetitive information or information that is too obvious. You can also copy and paste some of the lines, give them a quick rewrite and churn entirely new articles from them. Don't forget to give the new articles catchy titles.

As you write more and more, you may often wander off the topic. For this reason, it is very important to edit your articles with a fresh mind later on. If you find some paragraphs of your articles to be somewhat irrelevant to the topic, you can delete them and insert information that is more appropriate. You can also cut and paste in into a new file and create an entirely new article.

Writing on a topic that you don't much about can be a little difficult. It needs time to research the topic thoroughly and even then there can be difficulty in establishing flow in the articles. Whenever I write on a new topic, I collect general information on the topic, take printouts and give it a thorough read. This improves the flow and continuity in the articles and makes writing easier. However, once you write an article, rewriting is very easy. All you have to do is present the same information in different words and you have a brand new article.

4 Tips to Write Articles Fast

2011-10-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

If you can write articles fast, your online marketing efforts will have better dividends. People search the Internet for information all the time. And if you can provide this information, your efforts will be rewarded well. In this blog post, I will give you four tips for writing articles very fast.

Tip 1: Start by choosing the topics beforehand. Suppose you want to write articles on vitamin C, you can create a number of articles on topics such as "the benefits of vitamin C", "advantages of vitamins C", "how much vitamins C should you consume everyday", etc. It is very easy to create topics such as these. A little brainstorming and you'll have 10 or 20 article titles in no time. Once you have finalized the titles, you can start researching and gather information. One advantage of creating titles beforehand is that you can reuse the information gathered in multiple articles. It makes the process much faster.

Tip 2: Break down your article into multiple sections and start rating each one of them. For example, if you want to write an article on "the benefits of vitamins C", you can break that down into separate sections such as "what is vitamins C", "history of vitamins C", "foods that are rich in vitamins c", "vitamins C and heart disease", etc. If you run a search on Google for these terms, you'll have concise information which you can easily rewrite. When you combine all these paragraphs into one large article, you'll find that article is informative and good to read. You can use a mind mapping software to split the main topic into sub topics. Using a mind mapping software will make writing articles much easier.

Tip 3: Don't just write articles, rewrite them to create many articles. It is difficult to write an article because it takes a lot of time to research and gather information about a particular topic. However, once you complete an article it is very easy to write a very similar article. You can submit these articles to different blogs or article directories and get traffic and exposure to your main websites. Alternately, you can also give these articles to other Webmasters in exchange for links.

Tip 4: Use dictation software such as Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking. You can find more information about this amazing software from http://nuance.com/dragon/index.htm. The software is every cent worth the money. It not only makes writing articles 10 times faster but also makes it very comfortable. All you have to do is speak your ideas out and the software will write for you. This is the reason why many Internet marketing experts recommend this software.

5 Free Tools to Improve Your Productivity

2011-06-01T09:32:00.000-07:00

If you want to be an effective web content writer, it is essential that you use the right kind of tools. These tools will save you plenty of time and effort and also make your writing faster and effective. Overall, they will improve output and make you a more efficient writer.

I am very sure that you will find these very useful in improving your efficiency:

1. Launchy: If you have a large number of software applications installed on your computer, it can very difficult and confusing to locate them. This is where Launchy comes in. Using this software, you can launch any application installed on your computer by just typing in the first few letters in the name of the application. Launchy is 'intelligent' and determines the application even if you type some letters wrong. It also comes with other features such as a Google search function, calculator, file indexing, etc.

I find Launchy to be an indispensible application for my computer. I will rate this app 5 out of 5.

2. AutoHotKey: This is a utility for capturing keystrokes and mouse clicks for automating complex tasks. Automation is the key to improved productivity. Why do something manually when then same can be done without effort using a software utility?

I found AutoHotKey somewhat difficult to learn. However, everything was a piece of cake once I played with it for sometime and tinkered with all the menus and functions. IMO, time well spent and worth the effort.

3. Audacity: Audacity is a free audio recording application that comes with many advanced features. Using Audacity, you can record notes for your articles or record entire articles for transcribing them later.

Recording and transcribing it later is a better use of your time. There is better continuity in the article and at the same time, it also saves time. You can record article after article lying down on your relaxing chair! Its even more fun if you have a bluetooth headset.

4. Roboform: Roboform is an excellent tool for managing your passwords. It also enables you to automatically login into websites and fill web forms with a few clicks of the mouse. It also comes with a password generator for creating strong passwords.

Roboform is a commercial software but there is a free version that is pretty good enough.

5. Google Docs: Google Docs is very useful for storing and editing your documents online. It makes it very easy to share docs with others. Also, you can access your documents from anywhere even if you don't have access to your computer. Google docs is especially useful when there are other writers working with you. It makes collaboration very simple and effective. Google Docs supports all popular office document formats.

5 Simple Tips to be a Power Writer

2011-05-30T07:27:00.001-07:00

In my opinion, a power writer is someone:

- Who can write high quality articles,

- Meet deadlines, and

- Work under pressure without affecting the quality of content.

It is really difficult to be a power writer because writing quality content consistently is something that can only be achieved through hard work and practice. Writing is an art and, like all other arts, it time and effort to achieve perfection.

If you want to become a power writer, here are some tips…

Create a time table: A proper time table is very important to be able to write good web content. You may have a fulltime job or may be writing web content for additional income. It is essential that you invest the proper amount of time in your writing works. Also ensure that there are no conflicting schedules. Conflicting schedules can delay writing projects or affect your ability to write effectively. It is always best to write for sometime, take a break and then start working again. You can schedule other activities during the break.
Ensure that you have the right tools: A comfortable chair is a must and should and so is an ergonomically designed computer desk. Your computer monitor should also be moderately bright to prevent eye strain. You can also invest in a suitable keyboard. Ergonomic keyboards cost a little more when compared to normal keyboards but they are well worth the price.
Research well and take notes: If you want your content to be useful, it is essential that you research the topic well. Look at the topic from all directions, brain storm sub-topics and find information on them. If you find something interesting, incorporate it into your articles—what is interesting to you is also interesting to website visitors.
I have found that noting down points on a piece of paper makes me more productive. There are many “note-it-down” software that you can use, but I have found that they can never be a substitute for the plain old pencil and paper.
Write fast and edit it many times over until it becomes perfect: Many writers often write a line, analyze it and keep editing it. This is a mistake because this approach will slow you down. You will stuck with the line and won’t be able to proceed further. It also stagnates the flow of the article. You should write fast—from start to finish, take a break and edit it with fresh mind. I have found that this method makes my articles much better and as per my expectations.
Don’t be obsessive about your writing: If you are not able to get ideas to write, let go for sometime and start afresh with a blank mind. Don’t be too obsessive and whack your brains about it. Approach with a fresh mind and you will come up with new ideas. Also don’t let boredom take over you. This world is full of so many beautiful things that you can write about. Think about it.

How to Become a Freelance Writer

2011-05-29T02:56:00.000-07:00

Working as a freelance writer has many advantages. In a way, it is better than the typical 9-5 job. You won't have to stick to a specific schedule--you can work anytime you want right from your home. You don't have to give any explanations to your boss because you are your own boss. And if you work properly, you can make more money working online than from a typical 9-to-5 job. Many freelance writers have chosen this career path because of the flexibility it offers.

You must remember one important fact – when it comes to freelance writing online, your marketing skills are equally important with your writing skills. You should be able to market yourself properly and find the right kind of paying customers. Not everyone is willing to pay money for quality content. The best way to find good paying customers is to build a reputation in the market and a good portfolio.

It is very important to be able to write quality content if you want to make more money. If your grammatical skills are not up to the mark, chances are no one will buy your content or hire you for their writing projects.

You can learn to write content more effectively by reading articles online and trying to write on your own. You should also make it a habit to write everyday. Writing everyday will not only improve your style, but also make your writing more fluid and consistent.

If your writing skills are not at par, I would recommend a course in tech writing or even studying a degree course in journalism or English. Training with writing instructors and other writers is a definitive way to improve your writing skills.

Online writing projects often demand working under pressure because they have very strict deadlines. This is something that you should keep in mind. Missing the deadline may often mean no pay. You should be able to write faster without compromising on the quality of the content. This is something that you can learn only through practice.

Often people ask me--"What is the best way to market myself?" In my opinion, the best way to market yourself is to open a personal blog or website. Posting quality articles and opinion pieces on your blog is a sure shot way to grab the attention of the clients. It will also make you look well established and reputable in the industry.

It is very important to print professional looking visiting cards--especially if you want to find local clients. As I mentioned before, this is another way to make yourself look more professional and reputable.

Initially, it may be quite difficult and daunting to work as a freelance writer. But trust me, it is very profitable once you learn the tricks of the trade. It will give you complete freedom and flexibility. In a way, it is a sure shot path to regaining control of your life.