Writing for Yahoo
@belindayhughes (1096)
United States
January 19, 2013 12:03am CST
I've been a contributor at Yahoo for some time now. Lately I am trying to write more often there and take advantage of their upfront payments. The guidelines are a bit strict for the articles seeking upfront payments. No poetry, fiction, reviews, opinions, links, videos, research-based or previously published material can be submitted under this classification. That pretty much leaves knowledge-based articles, which are non-fiction pieces about things you know from experience. So far, I've created a series on Living in the Country and have found many things to write about, having spent many school holidays with my family in the country. So I write these pieces, carefully edit and submit them, designating Non-Exclusive Rights, so I can republish them elsewhere afterwards. Usually within a few days, they respond with an offer. All I have to do is accept and the article is published in a few minutes' time. Since I have my contributor account set to automatically acknowledge payments, it goes flying into my Paypal account. Some of my writing friends support their families and make extra money using their Yahoo earnings. We also support each other, reading each others' articles on Yahoo, leaving beneficial comments, circulating the articles via Twitter. All these things increase the writer's performance payments, which is another way to earn money as a Yahoo contributor. It may not pay as much as other opportunities, but it's really a wonderful experience for a writer.
4 people like this
18 responses
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Thanks for sharing this and for giving such specifics on how Yahoo's process works. I am going to look into it--I write a lot for Triond but it just doesn't pay enough, so I am going to try and branch out to other writing sites.
Are you the same name on Yahoo? I will look for you....
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Hello, Suzieqmom, and thanks! My Yahoo name is Belinda Y. Hughes. If you're unhappy with Triond's payment rate, in addition to Yahoo, you might consider Textbroker, ContentCurrent, The Motley Fool and Hubpages. They all pay better. Cheers!
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Thanks for the tips. Do these sites also have an option to allow you to keep rights to your articles? That's always my big fear....
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
20 Jan 13
I understand and agree with your fear. Keeping rights is a big issue for me as well. In the case of Textbroker and ContentCurrent, clients not writers get bylines and all rights. But I'm ok with that in the situation of that type of content writing. I don't feel that I've lost anything, because content writing alone does not define me, it's just a super hot writing market that pays the bills. You'd have to check the guidelines at Motley Fool, as I do not recall at this moment how things go there. But I have a feeling they're generous as far as rights. Hubpages lets you keep all rights, and you write about whatever you wish.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
19 Jan 13
I got started when it was Associated Content, but when it went to Yahoo, I was busy doing other things so I haven't contributed much at all since then. I still get a payment from them each month, though.
I should get back and start writing for them again, at least now and then. Is your name there the same as it is here? I'd like to read some of your country living articles.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
20 Jan 13
Awww, ty peavey. Thank you so much for the kind comments! I will have to look up some of yours, as well.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Hey peavey, that's when I started, also. My name there is Belinda Y. Hughes. Would love to see your comments on my work there. What's your Yahoo contributor name? Cheers!
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
20 Jan 13
Please send me a link so I can check it out. I have a plethora of information on animals floating around in my brain. If I can help other people, animals, get my name out there all while making a few dollars, it would be great.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
21 Jan 13
You'll need to friend me first so I can send you the link. Also, if you have a pet blog, you'll want to join in chats with other pet bloggers on Twitter. I'll look some up and make recommendations for you. Yahoo is just the tip of the iceberg.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
21 Jan 13
I'm a Yahoo Contributer also. I have over 1300 articles and poems. I'm quite successful there. I don't do up front payments anymore because I feel I'd be losing money if I don't publish right away. I'm making between $7 and $10 a day with my page views so I just publish right away. The only time I submit for payment now is when I accept a beat assignment, which isn't very often.
I find Twitter and Facebook to be a huge help to my earnings on Yahoo. I'm mainly a health writer, but I also write haikus when I feel inspired to do so.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
22 Jan 13
Wow, this is incredible to hear from someone so experienced at Yahoo. I also use my social media to promote my writings at Yahoo and thus increase performance pageviews. While I am knowledgable about natural health, I haven't written about it much, as yet. It's very nice to meet you, PQ! Thanks for your generous response.
@kristiane (112)
• Philippines
19 Jan 13
I'm also a freelance writer but not in yahoo. I would love to try writing for that site but can you tell me the price they usually pay for their contributors? I usually earns around $4 for every 500 words articles. Seems low so I want to find other ways to earn higher.
@kristiane (112)
• Philippines
20 Jan 13
I have writing gigs in fiverr and my clients are the one who chooses the topics that I should write. Writing something that I have no idea about demands time and research and it sometimes leads to a writer's block for me. I'll try your suggested sites, thanks.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
24 Jan 13
I need to put up new gigs on fiverr. That's a great site, too. I've got some friends on Yahoo, and that encourages me to stay, as well as the upfront payment, which I haven't known how to write to until very recently.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Hello, kristiane, and thanks for joining in here. Yahoo pays $3 for Non-Exclusive Rights, which is all I sell, in order to republish elsewhere at a later time. Who do you presently write for? To increase your present earnings, look into Textbroker, ContentCurrent and The Motley Fool. Cheers!
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Hello, vernaC, and thanks for joining this discussion. Curiosity can be a good thing. At the moment, I still have enough life experiences to draw from without having looked to mylot yet, although that is a great idea. Cheers!
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
20 Jan 13
Indeed it can. I had never thought of it that way. I have only just realized it is a great resource for feedback from other people who share my interests.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
19 Jan 13
Wow you've certainly found a niche for your passion of writing my friend, that is good to hear, and it's certainly keeping you busy, all these writing sites you belong to. It is good that other people are benefitting from your experience. Keep up the excellent work!
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Hya sdas, and thanks for your response. Just about anything non-offensive, they will accept. Cheers!
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
20 Jan 13
I view such sites with a great deal of suspicion. Usually the pay is low, insultingly so when compared to the amount of. labour required to produce an article, and the subjects to be written about restrictive. That is not to say that a little money cannot be made and if you write long and hard enough you can earn a reasonable top up 'pin money' income if you can sustain the effort. However, if you just write for the sake if it, as a relaxation technique, then a dollar or two here and there is a nice bonus for seeing your words on someone's website. I rather like this site: http://timetowrite.blogs.com/weblog/2011/12/is-it-worth-a-writers-time-to-write-for-yahoo-voices.html
His thoughts resonate with mind. Good luck with your writing.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
20 Jan 13
Hiya p1kef1sh, and thanks for responding. That looks like a link worth checking out. Thanks for sharing.
@thewonderboy (7501)
• India
20 Jan 13
That is so good for letting me to know another world of writing. Anyway I have to see the world and to find how nice it is.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
20 Jan 13
Hell, wonderboy, thanks for joinging in on this convo. You're welcome for the market leads. The world is one great adventure you have to take at your own pace.
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
19 Jan 13
That is an interesting commendation and one that is new to me. I may look it up, but over a period of time I have come to the conclusion that so much time is wasted going from site to site that is is better to stick to one and be consistent.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Hello, Combedale, and thanks. That is a very good observation. Personally, I enjoy the expanded community of writing at different sites, and all that I learn from the experiences, but that's just me. Cheers!
@coxjoseph5 (209)
• United States
20 Jan 13
Hi Belinda, I write for experts column, it doesn't pay much. I wrote some for Triond, but never did get paid. I want to expand to another site. I write about anything, have alot to write about, personal experiences, etc.
what do you reccomend.
Joe
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
20 Jan 13
Hi Joe, and thanks for joining us. If you like writing as an expert, Yahoo is one of many great sites to write for. That's basically what I'm doing now. Like you, I've done some living, pursued diverse interests and learned a lot. You can also blog about the stocks related to your interests at the Motley Fool, and get a mice payment for it. Demand Media loves experts with credentials and has a few sites that they hire for. Hubpages pays better than Squidoo, I'm told by numerous freelance friends. You can also check the writing ezines Funds for Writers and WritersWeekly for market leads in your areas of expertise. Cheers!
@edvc77 (2140)
• Philippines
19 Jan 13
I would like to be a Yahoo contributor too however it is not open in our country. I also submit articles to one good writing site. And it is a good experience too. I like writing much and it relaxes me. Good luck in your
writing job!
Please visit my writing website. It is in my profile page. Thank you!
writing job!
Please visit my writing website. It is in my profile page. Thank you!1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Hello edvc, and thanks! It is always good to make more writing friends, such as yourself, and sharing leads, as you are doing. I love writing so much, too! I will definitely visit your profile right this minute. Thanks again.
@Janurmas (642)
• Indonesia
19 Jan 13
You are a lucky person with an excellent skill in writing. Seems that you've made a lot of contribution for Yahoo in writing. I like the information you've written here, and I also would like to try it. Could you please tell me how to start writing for Yahoo voices, and what are the qualifications to be a writer there? Thanks in advance.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
20 Jan 13
Hello, Janurmas, and thank you. Friend me here and I'll send you a Yahoo link and a few more notes.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
19 Jan 13
You're welcome. It's called Yahoo Voices, if you want to do a search on it. Or I can message you a link, at your request.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
19 Jan 13
That's nice!Writing is fun and even more if you earn from it. It's good you have that opportunity and I wish you earn more and more from yahoo. I also wish I would have extra time so I could venture into writing with yahoo as well. I wonder when would I ever have free time though.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Hi salonga, and thanks! Yes, I know the feeling about not enough time. Time and money never seem to occur at the same time. I either have one or the other. But I am hoping that by committing to my career as a web-based freelance writer I can finally create balance and have both at once.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
21 Jan 13
If you live in the US you should. They also partially accept Canadians. They don't pay them for upfronts though. And they have to earn $100 before they get paid and only receive $70 of that. I get paid every month.
1 person likes this
