Article writing is a very tough way to make a living. Just ask any writer who has been in the business for a number of years. The basics of article writing will get you only so far, and sooner or later you find yourself longingly thinking of the days when you can actually make good money writing. If you have been piddling along making a few bucks per article and long for something better, then you have come to the right article. Here is how to make more money as an article writer step by step:
The first step is to understand that you do not know it all. The online article writer that assumes they have it all figured out is the article writer that will soon be without a job. The Internet is a fickle bedfellow, and what is working today is not always what will be working tomorrow. You have to understand that you can always learn something new, and search out that information ravenously. Spend a little time each day searching for writing tips you did not already know, and you will begin to make more money by default.
The next step to making more money as an article writer is to build a name for yourself. Online writing sites litter the web from one end to the other. Some pay a buck or two, and some offer nothing more than a byline. Bylines are more valuable than they get credit for. Some of the best jobs I have ever gotten have been directly a result of my getting a byline in front of the right set of eyes. Use all of these sites, and always use the same name. Do not pick a goofy surname if you hope to be taken seriously. It is fine to pick a surname, but pick one that sounds professional.
Next, you need to dive into the forums that allow you to offer your work for sale. These forums are absolutely essential to building a larger customer base. Private clients can be some of the best money in article writing, and you have the power to control what you earn to some degree. Be wary of payment terms, and always require half the money upfront. If you do not get half, you are risking being burned badly. A great example of these forums is Digital Point.
Once you get a client, regardless of the source, treat them like gold. They are your future references, as well as the person that is paying your paycheck. If you do not take good care of your client, then you will find yourself with no clients to take care of in the future. Always provide your best work.
While you should always value your clients, you should also value yourself. As you learn and grow in the field of article writing, you should also set your rates to accurately reflect your talent level.
Nothing is worse than working for a pittance of what you are worth. If you do not value yourself appropriately, then your client will not either. They are wanting to get your work for as cheap as possible. You have to be business smart and insist on what you are worth.
If you follow all of these steps above, you will start to see an increase in your online article writing pay. It is a process, and you usually have to build gradually. Do not attempt to skip the growing process. Learn, evolve, and grow in the business, and the money will follow.
