More articles means more cash on Helium
By hisbabydoll
@hisbabydoll (228)
Ecuador
December 16, 2008 10:29am CST
Once again, let me preface this discussion with, "this is not a viable way to make a good living", but there are ways to make nice pocket cash with Helium.
I have about 155 articles on Helium right now. I tend to write only during their "rewardathon" periods. These are when they pay you 50c -$3 per article in certain topic areas. Payment depends on your number of writing stars/rating stars. The more you write/rate, the higher your stars - usually. You also have to watch your writing quality because the stars are affected by how people rate you as well.
1)Post a lot of items.
The more items you have up, the more money you'll make, simply because several articles will pay you a couple cents every few days after they have been posted. One of my original articles has made over $7 now. Not so great on it's own, but mulitply that with 155 active articles and I'm making about $10/month sitting on my laurels.
2)Steer clear of the contests.
Unless you are a great writer, steer clear of the contests. I find the contests pull down your writing rating. Stick to the normal channels. However, if you are a great writer, you can make money weekly by winning the writing contests.
3)Marketplace, yay!
Why not throw your hat into a marketplace title. These suckers pay $22-$120 if the publisher picks you. Unfortunately, if your article is not picked, it goes back into your writing portfolio and bad rating can affect your earnings in rewardathons.
4)Rewardathon, yay!!
Watch for rewardathon's. This is where helium will pay you per article, so you can somewhat control your earnings. 400 words for 50c to $3. Not horrible. If you have time to write several each day over the three month period, you can make hundreds or thousands of dollars.
5)Rating format - crappy!
The only problem with Helium is the user-rating system. People can click on articles willy nilly without reading them. Helium should adjust the system so you have to spend at least 2 minutes on each article page before being allowed to rate. That way someone might actually read them before clicking.
4 people like this
12 responses
@paid2write (5201)
•
17 Dec 08
I have been earning well at Helium for the past few months. I have 135 articles there now, and these are earning around 50 cents a day for me in revenue share. I have sold 11 marketplace articles and I received between $15 and $50 for each one.
In the past I have made money from rewardathon articles, and now I get upfront payments for all my new articles, as I have three writing stars. I think there is a permanent rewardathon at Helium with the new system, because if you have writing stars you qualify for upfront payments in many of the channels.
I have four rating stars, and if I gain another one and have 5 stars the end of the month I will get a bonus $3 payment. Rating without reading does not earn stars because the system can tell if you are being inconsistant or random in your choices.
2 people like this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
16 Dec 08
I've only written one article for Helium and that was way back when. I found what you have to say very interesting and great tips. My question is how do you get other readers to rate your work. I've been at Associated Content for quite some time and have built up a readership, but couldn't figure out how to do so at Helium. I am hoping to submit more to Helium in the coming year and would like to find out a bit more about them. You discussion gives me a great rundown on the basics. Thanks.
2 people like this
@unusualsuspect (2602)
• United States
16 Dec 08
There's no way to get people to rate your work. When you're rating, two articles come up on the same subject, with no author names. You have to choose the best one. That's how ratings are done on Helium. And, as the OP said, it's a lousy system. People rate without even reading the articles, and some of the raters wouldn't know the difference bewteen an excellent article and a crappy one if it hit them in the face.
Writing hundreds of article for a few cents each is ridiculous when you can write for sites like Associated Contnt and get paid upfront (if you're in the U.S.) plus get paid for page views. You can write for the Marketplace is you can find topics that you know fairly well, but if your article doesn't get accepted, it goes into the Helium database and back to collecting pennies.
1 person likes this
@munhozmib (3836)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
17 Dec 08
Hello!
Thanks for sharing these tips for the Helium users. I believe that Helium seems to be a nice website, by what you say. Have they ever paid you? Because, if they have, then I would also like to join. But I have to check the website first, see how does it works, and what are the payment methods. In fact, I will check it out when I finish myLotting.
Respectfully,
Munhozmib.
1 person likes this
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
16 Dec 08
This is a very comprehensive article about helium opportunities. Thanks for sharing them with others so they can opt to join too. It needs dedication and hard work to earn at any writing site. The advantage of helium is that it has many venues for earning. If you don't fancy writing contests , then the marketplace is there for you, and all the other venues you mentioned. The rewardathon is something to look forward too. Cheers and happy mylotting.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
23 Dec 08
Thanks a lot for such a descriptive discussion..I have joined it few weeks ago and have 10 articles up now with both writing and rating stars....I guess the system can tell if we don't take time while rating...Hope we all have a nice time there..I am hoping to earn well from there and also some writing opportnities...Have a nice day!
1 person likes this
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
18 Dec 08
Hi that was very informative.Where do you see your earnings accrued to you in the site/
I am also a member of Helium and only now I have started wriitng a few articles there and ahve also sincerely rated a few. But I am unable to locate how i can calculate my earnings.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
17 Dec 08
I don't read when I rate, except for the first paragraph. I refuse to read the articles especially since the new rule of forcing you to rate to be paid is wrong. It's the equivalent of being told you can't have the advance or royalty on a novel you wrote until you read all the books published by the publishing company. It's dirty and underhanded.
1 person likes this
@yoj118 (346)
• Philippines
16 Jan 09
I've just joined helium a month ago and I found the site really great and interesting. It helps boost my confidence in writing and even help me improve my skills. Though I only have 6 articles right now because I usually make articles if I have free time to do so. I already have gained 1 writing star and rating star though i also lost them when I wasn't active anymore. So I opt to be productive by writing articles and rating more. It's true that helium should be able to modify their rating mechanism to allow the raters to have ample time to thoroughly read the articles before rating them. In this way, rating of articles are really done in a qualitative manner.
Thank you for providing tips and suggestions. By the way what's your name in helium so I could also visit your account and be able to read your articles as well..
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
17 Dec 08
Thanks a lot for all the useful information that you have provided about Helium.I have been a member of the site for little over a month( joined on Nov 1st) and i find it a great site.I have submitted about 60 articles so far and come up to 2 star rating which is not bad and the rating stars are better i have 4 stars there as i rate a lot each day !
i have earned about 17$ last month and that is really good from my point of view, as i have just been on the site for a month.I hope to be able to earn $20 next month- all the best to you on helium and thanks once again for all the information :)
@mokbul (616)
• Singapore
17 Dec 08
Very good information about Helium. I am writing there for about one year but not so frequently. You are very right about contest.
I believe they run reward anthon program only during certain period of the year.
You are very right. This rating system can ruin anyone. They should better have some editorial system for rating like associated content.
1 person likes this
@Heartbreaker08 (684)
•
17 Dec 08
I think helium is improving and I love their upfront payment option. It gives us the opportunity to earn a small upfront payment for each article we submit. It encourages me to write more for them. I also like the fact that they will pay you $3 per month if you have 5 rating stars. This is quite easy to achieve, I have 3 writing stars but I am planning to get those 5 stars before the end of this month. I only have 13 articles at helium and I make 4-8 cents per day on revenue share, not much but not bad for such a small amount of articles. I normally only use helium when I am burnt out from updating my blogs. It is much easier to earn some cash from helium in the short term, whilst my blogging aim is a long term one.
1 person likes this
