You wait for over 2 years ... And then 2 come along at once!
@Sandra1952 (6047)
Spain
February 13, 2010 3:58am CST
I'm talking about Helium writing stars here. I've been a member of Helium since September 2007, and in the first month or two, I did gain a couple of writing stars, but they disappeared, never to be seen again.
I didn't worry too much, as I enjoyed my writing, and I was earning a modest amount in residual earnings from page views. Last month, two MyLot friends joined Helium, and we got together over there, just as we do on here.
My friends were surprised that I had no writing stars, and the practical one set about finding out why. She discovered that, although I have lots of articles in the top 5, the older articles which had slipped down the ratings over time were keeping my writing score down.
As I explained in another discussion, although I've always thought of leapfrogging on Helium as a waste of time, I set about leapfrogging the low ranking articles, and was amazed at the results. Thank you, friends - you know who you are!
My writing score has increased by 11 points in ten days, and yesterday, when I logged on, my first writing star twinkled merrily on my home page.I was delighted, and immediately went to the title finder in search of upfront payments. This morning, I have two writing stars - the frisky little devils have multiplied overnight!
My question now - mainly to the Helium starred members - is, now I have writing stars, how do I keep them? Is there a particular strategy that works for you? Is it better to write to titles with lots of articles to keep the score up, or go after upfront and empty titles? What's the best mix?
I'll be glad of any tips, please. I didn't think I cared about stars, but now I have them, I find I'm very possessive of them!
5 people like this
6 responses
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
13 Feb 10
Boy, someone needs to send me a "round tuit" I have not been to Helium in ages, and I only have twelve articles there. I should get motivated like you ladies are. Perhaps I have some stuff sitting that could go to Helium. I think there have been some changes since I was there before.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
13 Feb 10
Hello, Gerty. There have been some big changes over there. It's the only writing site I bother with now. I'd definitely say it's worth building up your portfolio. Once you have a writing star, there are some great opportunities for earning.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
14 Feb 10
You are a great encourager. I will PM you when I get going again. Maybe next week. Our current crisis has been worked through.
@divalounger (6117)
• United States
14 Feb 10
Hi Gerty,
I hope to see you over there. Here's to you and to your writing!
@BarBaraPrz (47667)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 Feb 10
Congrats on getting your stars back. Here's to many more!
2 people like this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
13 Feb 10
Thanks, Barbara. All I have to do now is hold onto them.
2 people like this
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
13 Feb 10
Congrats, Sandra. That's great news. It is fun to have stars, and definitely rewarding financially as well. Keep up the great work. Once you get a couple more stars, you will really notice a difference in your earnings. Now that you are on the path, you won't be able to stop, trust me. At least that's been my experience. It hasn't always been smooth (and this past week of nonwriting is a good example...sometimes life gets in the way). Still, if you keep moving toward your goal, you will get there.
Trensue offers a great plan. I am going to follow her advice, even though I have 4 stars now. It's hard to keep and maintain a balance, I find.
Good luck, and continued good writing!
1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
13 Feb 10
Hello, Art, and thank you. I'm determined to get more stars now. I've already noticed a difference in earnings. It's great having so many MyLot friends on Helium, and I've certainly picked up a lot of tips from you all. I think after over 2 years, I finally understand how to get the best out of Helium - and myself.
@wondericequeen (7876)
• Hong Kong
18 Feb 10
That's very good to hear! I have been a member in Helium two years ago as well, but I didn't stay there and I didn't get too serious with the site. But yesterday, I remember the site again and wanted to go in and check out the stuff there. I found I still have a writing star, but I don't have any rating stars. Now I really have to work hard on both writing and rating!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
13 Feb 10
Hello Sandra, I'm not too worried about losing them yet but the sooner I get tenured there the better. It's quite annoying having something suddenly slip right down the ratings and needing to leapfrog it when it's a non earner which most of my first ones were. I'm getting better residuals now with the finance articles I suggest myself, whilst the highest rated sits there earning a big fat zero. To keep the stars though I realise I'm going to have to churn out to some high number ones once a month for no payment but that will secure a bigger earning later on for the upfronts.
I might be the practical one strategising but I still had to have help getting my picture put on there you know.
1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
14 Feb 10
Hello, Thea. You've done so well in such a short time, so I shouldn't worry too much. Your stuff is good, and you're seeing good earnings already. Look at Trensue's reply at 1. What she hasn't worked out about Helium doesn't really matter, and she's always there to offer advice. As she's a Steward, her advice is useful. I'm going to write one to high number titles for every three upfronts.
If you write your high number ones under health, you should earn as well. I find the weight loss articles earn well - although with your figure, you probably don't know much about dieting. I wrote one about dance as exercise yesterday, and it went straight to the top - 1 of 25 - and it's already earning.
Re the photo: Helium doesn't take normal sized photos. You need to crop them to upload them, but you're there now anyway.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
14 Feb 10
Judith took my picture off mylot and made it smaller and I seemed to get it on there as a fluke, mind you it's mainly a picure of a wall. You can see how many you have in the competitive range on your Helium page and I'm only just going under 50% despite mainly doing empties all Feb.
I've never been on a diet in my life as have the theory that dieting makes you fat, but its just common sense, and I'm far too lazy to exercise.
Anyway you're used to churning out the high number ones unless those old ones were low numbers when you started. Catch you later my dear.
I don't mind now if my name gets round over there on here as it may help page views so feel free to drop in Katerina Nikolas.
I don't mind now if my name gets round over there on here as it may help page views so feel free to drop in Katerina Nikolas.1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
14 Feb 10
Hello, Thea. Yes, some of the old ones were low when I wrote to them, but if I like a title, I'll write to it however many are already there. Strangely enough, most of my number 1s are in titles with 20 or more articles. That's useful to know about the percentage of competitive titles - something else I've learned from you.
@avimra (456)
• India
14 Feb 10
Hey! actually on looking to your discussion title, I thought something else. Your title makes me to think like that. When I started reading your discussion I understand that you were speaking about stars. Really superb! congrats for getting stars.! I have no idea about that. I joined mylot just a month before. So, you can tell me about getting stars?
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
14 Feb 10
Hello, and welcome to MyLot. I'm actually talking about writing stars on another site, Helium. If you write for Helium, you earn stars as your writing score increases. It's taken me two years, but I've finally managed to become a Helium starred member.
