BlogRush and How it Drives Traffic to Your Blog

Have you installed the BlogRush widget on your blog yet? BlogRush can make a difference to blog traffic. BlogRush is similar in concept to Blog Carnival, that I mentioned in previous posts.

You visit the site and watch a movie to see how it all works.

Also, check out About BlogRush to get the goods on how it works.

In a Nutshell . . .
* BlogRush addresses the # 1 need of bloggers: traffic
* BlogRush gives instant distribution of your latest blog posts across a network of related blogs.
* You earn syndication credits which means, in turn, that your blog posts are included in the BlogRush widget appearing on other blogs.

You can also add your blog posts to BlogRush, which also helps to advertise your blog.

Visit BlogRush to get the details

About Blog Carnivals--Reader Questions

Yesterday, I wrote about blog carnivals. A reader wrote in asking where he could sign up for Blog Carnival. As you'll see here, I've included a link to same.

Another important reason to submit quality posts to Blog Carnival is that, in addition to including a Permalink URL to the article you've submitted, on the form you fill out, you also include a trackback URL to your blog. Now, we all know the importance of trackback URLs.

If you want to see what a blog carnival looks like, simply scroll down on this blog and look over on the right.

And let me know how you make out.

Blog Carnivals and Why You Should be Using Them

Many bloggers have heard of blog carnivals and know that submitting to a blog carnival can help to promote their blog; however, the knowledge sometimes ends right about there.

Some bloggers even include the Blog Carnival Sidebar on their blog--and go no farther. They think that one day they will have time to submit something to a carnival.

Perhaps you aren't aware that you don't have to actually create a post. You can submit a blog post you've already created.

It really doesn't get any easier. In mere seconds, you include the Permalink URL of a post you've created at your blog to Blog Carnival. Think about it: the work is already done.

Lets take a painless look at Blog Carnival and why you should be using it.

* Blog carnivals collect links pointing to blogs on the same topic.
* Following a carnival topic that you are interested in is a great way to stay up to date.
* Your articles reach an audience of readers who are looking for information on a topic that interests them.

This is a good trade off. You, as a blogger are looking for more people to read what you have to say and you want to see an increase in blog traffic, carnivals need quality posts.

Paid Blogging Opportunity

If you would like to try your hand at blogging or are an experienced blogger and like the idea of getting paid for doing something you do anyway, Today.com may be a fit for you.

How Does Today.com Work?
You simply create daily posts of 100 words and are paid for each post + a percentage of ad. revenue that appears on your blog. As your blog grows in popularity, your earnings increase.

* If you are new to blogging, this is a chance to earn while you learn.
* If you are an experienced blogger, this is an opportunity to network with other bloggers and add blogging income into the mix.

I've just joined and am giving the heads up to writers/bloggers.

I've wanted to try out Wordpress for awhile and thought this would be a good way to learn about it.

My new blog at Today.com is called Write it! How to Break Into the World of Freelance Writing. Similar to this blog, I'll be helping writers to break into freelancing.

Work at Home Writing Jobs

Hello Everyone,

Today's post will be about work-at-home writing jobs. You'll notice on the right side of this blog that I've added a new feature. I've included a link capsule and am listing work-from-home writing jobs.

Freelance writing is just that: freelancing. In keeping with this concept, I will be adding more sites to the list, as I come across them. Please feel free to suggest any good sites that you know of and once I take a look at them, I will include them here, if I feel they have something to offer to writers.

As I've mentioned in previous posts, you can earn money from writing. If this is your desire, you can get started today and make it happen. Simply click on any of the links and you will be taken to the site of choice.

Some of the sites only accept writers from the U.S., others accept writers from Canada. Just check at each site to confirm that you are eligible.

Let me know how you make out.

Secrets of Writing for Cash

In my last post, How to get Started as a Freelance Writer and Earn Money from Writing, I mentioned the Nick Daws Quick Cash Writing Course. I'll will be referring to it often in coming months.

It is my mission to help other writers to do as I have done, earning income as a freelance writer. As part of that, at times, I point other writers to information I've found helpful.

There are tricks of the trade in almost every business and that includes freelance writing.

For example, did you know that writing 5-minute fillers is very lucrative? I composed a 5-minute filler and sent it off to Woman's World. What did I get paid for 5 minutes of work? $80.00. Not bad for jotting down something my young son had said.

The key to earning money from your writing is knowing where to submit your work to. The Quick Cash Writing Course I referred to in the beginning walks newer writers through the world of freelance writing, opening a window on markets that are easy to break into.

Nick's course takes you through 12 modules. Each session guides you through writing jobs. You are given the goods on markets you can write for immediately. Nick tells you everything you need to know to make it as a freelance writer.

When you click on the badge in the upper right hand corner of this blog, you'll have the chance to sample his course free of charge. You are given his free 5-part Quick Cash Writing Secrets Course. You can get a taste of what the course offers to you before purchasing anything.

If you later decide to purchase the course, you'll have access to free software and additional bonuses.

Either action will result in gaining additional knowledge about how to write and earn money from doing so.

Hands, down, this is a good bargain, however you look at it.

How to Get Started as a Freelance Writer and Earn Money From Your Writing

If you want to get started as a freelance writer, there are steps you can take to earn money from your writing.

How Can I Make Money from Writing?
1) The first step is to create content
2) The second step is to place that content so that it earns you money
3) The third step is to create a PayPal account to receive electronic payment

The formula is simple, really. You produce and you get paid. You really can earn money from your writing by implementing these steps.

For the sake of this article, I'm going to discuss writing for the Internet.

First of all, you should register with sites that allow you to post your content and that will pay you a share of advertising revenue on a monthly basis or that will pay you a one-time payment for each article.

I'm a fan of the first option. Why? I like the idea of getting paid over and over again for work I produce once. Now, while revenue share opportunities pay only a small amount per article, based on readers clicking on advertisements placed on pages, if you can produce regular content, this starts to pay off. You create an ongoing income stream and actually make real money from writing.

Okay, This Sounds Easy. Where do I Submit my Content to Earn Money from Writing?
There are a number of sites that pay you to produce content. Please see my articles:
* Earn Money Writing: Income Opportunities
* Write it! Why You Should Create HubPages

You will need to register with the sites of choice, include some personal information, and give your PayPal details. In most cases these sites are free-to-join. I would steer away from any site that claims you need to pay an upfront fee to become a writer on a particular team.

Writer Nick Daws also offers some excellent tips on how to earn money from your writing. He details writing opportunities that many people aren't aware of. His writing courses are inexpensive and can help you to make the transition from wanting to write to actually becoming a paid writer.

* Investing a little something to start your writing career is a good move if you are serious about earning money as a writer.

* Many of us are too busy to attend a night-school. Courses you take on your own time are a good strategy, helping you to brush up on your skills without having to set aside certain evenings.

You'll notice the banner on the right at the top of this blog. Click on it for additional information about Nick's writing courses.

You can start a career as a freelance writer, armed with the right information. Whether writing is a hobby or a passion if you create articles for sites that need content, you will get paid.

Please share your insights or questions by commenting.

A Paid Blogging Opportunity that Comes to You

I don't know about you, but I like the idea of work coming to me, over my having to chase it always.

Today I want to discuss one of the paid blogging sites. Blogvertise.

Now, I got started with Blogvertise some time ago and found that opportunities to do paid posts were limited. I hung in there, however, and as my blogs have grown, so too the amount of paid posts that I'm contacted to do by Blogvertise.

Did I say contacted? Yes, that's right. Blogvertise sends me an e-mail when they want me to do a paid post.

I really like this concept: work coming to me. As time has gone by, the payment amounts have increased, too.

I like blogging for Blogvertise. Posts are short--a couple of paragraphs--(100 words or more)and you insert simple links with anchor text.

You set up a User Profile with your picture, you submit a blog/blogs, and, if you are a Blogger blogger, you are set to go. Blogvertise is no longer approving Wordpress accounts because Wordpress deletes blogs with paid content on them.

Blogvertise is another site that allows you to earn income from your blog.

If you haven't done so already check out Blogvertise, and soon, you may be earning additional income from your blog.

More Ways to Earn Income from your Writing
* Blog Monetization: How to Wring Money from your Blog
* Adding Twitter to your Website
* How to Find and Use the Google Adwords Keyword Tool
* Get Paid for Blogging

Where to Look for Blogging Jobs

If you are trying to make a living freelancing, one of the first things you'll wonder about is where to look for blogging jobs.

Blogging is an attractive adjunct to freelancing because you don't have to go to the work of researching and crafting an actual article. Blogs posts are reasonably easy to create and usually short in length. A regular blogging gig, in fact, can be a good way to supplement your income.

A good rule of thumb is to subscribe to sites that outline blogging opportunities. If these come in to your In-Box all the better. While you are sipping your morning coffee, you can look through potential blogging jobs.

One site I like is ProBlogger. ProBlogger offers a handy Job Board with the latest blogging jobs.

ProBlogger also offers excellent articles on blogging, such as How Bloggers Make Money From Blogs
or Earning a Six Figure Income From Blogging

ProBlogger offers Blogging Tips for Beginners which I can't say enough good things about. Wow! What a treasure trove of good information! If you've ever had questions about blogging, this is the place to find answers.

You can subscribe to ProBlogger to keep abreast of all things blogging.

I give this site a 3 thumbs up. If you want blogging jobs, ProBlogger can help you to earn income from blogging.

Additional Reading:
* Paying Sites for Writers
* Blogging Pays
* Write and Get Paid
* HubPages Income

E-How

Paying Sites for Writers (Part II)

As part of my series, "Paying Sites for Writers," I'm going to discuss e-How and why it may be a good opportunity for freelancers.

If you enjoy crafting easy-to-write how-to articles, e-How offers you the chance to share your ideas and earn for your efforts.

* You register for e-How's Writer's Compensation Program (only available to US residents) to get started.

* E-How offers a Writers Academy, which offers insights on how to make the most of your published how-to articles.

* Under the section: Write Great Articles hints are given on writing topics with mass appeal.

* Suggested article lengths run from 400-600 words but looking through the site, I see that many are shorter.

* E-How's submission form comes with a handy spell-checker.

* Writers also have the option of adding photos or videos to their content to give it wider appeal.

* E-How offers insights into effective use of keywords and other tips on how to drive traffic.

* Writers have access to E-How forums and a community.

Article formats are easy:
1. An intro
2. necessary items
3. Step-by-step instructions
4. Conclusion

Some Articles at E-How
How to Make Strawberry Shortcake
How to make a Pine Needle Basket
How to Build a Flagstone Garden Path

All around, e-How looks like a solid opportunity for newer writers who want to learn the in and outs of online writing and for established writers who want to create another income stream.

Part I Ground Report--submit news stories.

Paying Sites for Writers

It is becoming easier and easier for freelance writers to earn a little something for their writing by signing up to online sites, where they are paid for content.

In the coming weeks I'm going to review some of these sites so make sure you continue to visit, to get the goods on opportunities you may be interested in joining.

The first site I'll discuss is Ground Report. Ground Report covers news--and plenty of it! Writers can submit breaking news stories, videos, and photos and are paid for their efforts, based on the traffic their reports generate.

News topics cover a wide range: world, US,politics, tech, sports, to name a few.

What is Ground Report?

Ground Report includes timely information in their FAQs which address questions such as:

* How does Ground Report pay writers
* Who owns rights
* Why does GR share revenues

The site makes this claim: "As soon as you post on Ground Report, you will start earning money."

GR receives a wide readership and if you enjoy news writing or reporting on current events, it may be a good fit for you.

I invite readers to submit their comments about Ground Report. If you found this information helpful, please share it.