Pursuing the happy buck--focusing on the best approach

United States
September 8, 2007 11:08pm CST
Today, I was reading a lot of complaints about Yuwie. And a few people hyping it. All this got me to thinking. The ones who are in favor of Yuwie are those who are good at getting referrals (they know that they are good at it), while those who are not good at "networking" are looking at the payout and saying that it is a rip-off. Now, I can see both points of view. After all, I am of two minds about everything. It comes with the blood--bad upbringing and all--mom was the type of person that the only way to accomplish anything without her messing things up was to make it look like you were up to something completely different. I also have some economics classes and ten years of restaurant management under my belt, besides having been trained to take over dad's business when he retired (things wnet bad, hence my working for myself). So it is easy for me to see both sides. I can see, based on my own numbers that I will need about a million payviews to hit the fifty dollar payout on Yuwie. So a little over 208 years at my current pace. On the other hand, the site doesn't have as many members as MySpace--though based on my stats there and on nettribe, I doubt that I would ever succeed just on page count. There is also the fact that if one can get enourgh active referrals that a lot of the earnings would come from another source. Unfortunately, I am not very good at getting referrals or being a salesman. For me, Yuwie will probably never earn me a payout. But there is that whole social networking thing--just like MySpace--as a writer a good networking site is worth something to me. So I will probably stick around Yuwie and do the occasional blog about stuff, including the rare link to one of my current bits of writing. Which brings me to my point--yes, I had a point in mind--people should stick to what they are good at when focusing on the happy buck ("the happy buck" was something an afro-haired painter used to describe the paintings that people would actually buy). For those who are good at getting referrals, they should stick at that. Those of us who have other skills, like myself, should stick to those things that we do best. And we really should let say "live and let live." Each to their own. No forcing one another to adapt to the other's approach fo making money. So in my case, I should stick to the paid to write sites--Helium mainly for me (my luck with Associated Content is not the best) and other types of freelance writing. Now, there will be some that say that I will always struggle for money if I take that route. That idea is ignoring one of the truths about being a writer. Half a writer's income should be coming from royalities--ask the professionals and they will tell you that your upfront for the year should match the amount of royalities (residuals) that you made. Half of my time is spent on making money upfront, the other half is spent building up my stock of royality based material. It is just another form of doubling your money, through not from interest or referrals. In fact, those of us who are good at producing good content need those who are going to build up membership in sites such as Yuwie and Helium. On my own, I will never generate a million hits without an audience. But with some people driving people to the site, I might. Ok, it is a real long shot, but hey it could happen. So my basic opinion is that each of us should focus on our strengths when it comes to trying to make a buck. That is my opinion, and I am sticking to it.
2 people like this
5 responses
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Very well written! I literally laughed out loud when I read it would take you 208 years to read payout. I am not good at getting referral either so I decided against Yuwie. I just started writing at Associated Content. I have yet to try out Helium. I have heard both good things and bad about that site.
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Sep 07
Obviously I meant **reach payout! Sorry!
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Sep 07
Helium is good if you take the long view. It is "royality" based, and not upfront payment like AC.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Sep 07
To quote you.... ..." I can see, based on my own numbers that I will need about a million payviews to hit the fifty dollar payout on Yuwie. So a little over 208 years at my current pace. .." Now you nearly made me spit on my computer....LOL yup you're right...we should all definitely stick to what we know best...If I could mass a ton of referrals great, but I'm just really not into that and I too think I could only get payout in 208 years too ...I would rather stick to my writing..it gives me a sense of accomplishment, lets my mind think (I think), stretches my imagination and gives me my sense of bliss--who could ask for more...uh, well except more money for us writers to be recognized better for our work
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Sep 07
When I first started on Helium based on my first week earnings, I figured that it would take me seven years to hit their twenty-five dollar payout. So fourteen years if we made it fifty like Yuwie. That is a big difference--fourteen vs two hundred and eight. Yet despite the first numbers, I knew that I could shorten that time down. After all, I sell to print magazines--I know that I am a writer and possess a certain amount of skill in that field. Or maybe stubbornness. Trying to get a lot of referrals just makes me feel dirty. Blame it on my childhood. Or perhaps my personal ethics. Either way, I am unhappy trying to get referrals. It is slavery as far as my soul is concerned. Writing on the other hand, as you said, is bliss. For me, Yuwie will probably be used as a networking site (just like nettribe and myspace) to get the occasionally word out on some of my writing. And I will not be alone. There is at least one writer on Yuwie hawking her Lulu stuff--offering a discount on her vampire novel in a week or so. That is how us writers are going to utilize the site, but none of us (without a hundred referrals) are going to get much in direct payment. It is best that we stick to what we have the talent to do. In our cases, creative work. :)
@sunshinecup (7871)
9 Sep 07
LOL, what a nice read that went very well with my coffee this morning. Very insightful and very well thought out. Yes you do have a talent in writing I have to say. I can't really add much other than, yes you are correct, we should stick with our strengths when trying to make that dollar. One other reason for doing so, it will make it seem less like work and will help us continue to grow while doing so.
1 person likes this
@Pizza4u (45)
• United States
9 Sep 07
I also wanted to let you know that people with successful websites are great writers because the search engines pick up content. DO NOT buy one of those ridiculous affiliate marketing books. If you want me to provide you with some links for forums so you can investigate it, let me know.
1 person likes this
@Pizza4u (45)
• United States
9 Sep 07
I got my son a Yuwie account so he could try making some money. Regardless of the money-making opportunity, he prefers MySpace. All his friends are there. Yuwie will end up being a social networking platform for adults only because nobody is crossing over and showing the site to teenagers. Whoever is able to convince teenagers to bring ALL (and they have lots) their stuff over to Yuwie from MySpace is going to end up with really big pockets. This is a difficult task that I am not up for. The teens are happily camped at MySpace.
1 person likes this