Surprise, I'm back! And here to stay... now, here's what I've been too busy to update over the past few months!
Income-wise, I have been writing a lot lately. My original income goal was to match the earnings of a part-time job, but I realized something important: why limit myself?! Sooo, I've set a new income goal. For the months of January, February, March, and April, I'm going to earn $1,000/month. This will help a lot towards paying off this semester, funding another California vacation, and giving me a little extra spending money.
I'm also going to be posting here every Sunday to keep myself accountable -- summing up what I had planned to do, what I actually did, and what I'm going to do next week to reach my income goals.
Numbers-wise, here's how the fall semester went.
September:
I really concentrated on schoolwork, and getting better -- my immune system took a huge hit and I was constantly sick for the first month or two! As a result, I didn't earn much.
October:
I earned about $98.45 from writing this month -- again, concentrating more on school than work.
November:
As I settled into my routine, I started to have more free time, and thus more time to work! Consequently, I earned $171.99.
December:
This month, I did very well! I got paid for my big Constant Content project, a few random sales there, some private client work, and overall, got paid nearly $1,000.
January:
Now I'm taking a three-fold approach to making money. I'm working on using the technique of "website flopping" to build a sustainable, passive income, listing some domain names I picked up on sedo.com, and writing articles. I'm going to launch right into it so I don't procrastinate by writing up what exactly I'm doing and why.
Currently, I have the opportunity to write at: Bright Hub, Constant Content, a travel blog, I could seek clients at DP and Name Pros, I have a client who orders weekly 10-article packs for $100 each, and I need to write a few articles for my own site that I'm going to flip. That's a lot of opportunity I'm not utilizing to the best of my ability!
THIS WEEK:
Sunday: Finish writing the article for my niche site (right after this blog post!), then write at least 5 travel blog posts in the evening.
Monday: Write 2 hearing aid articles.
Tuesday: Write 5 travel blog posts.
Wednesday: Hire someone to create backlinks to my niche site and write 2 promotional articles for directories. That finishes my work for the site until February, when I'll decide whether to keep or flip it.
Thursday: Write weekly client's 10 articles.
Friday: Buy a domain name for my next niche site and post an ad on Name Pros for writing services.
Saturday: Install Wordpress and template on the niche site, check Sedo-listed domain names.
By the end of the week, I should have:
--Finished work on the niche site, incl. writing articles for it and promoting it.
--Written 10 travel blog posts (2/day for each weeknight.)
--Written my weekly client's article batch.
--My second niche site will be ready to insert articles into.
--My 4 for-sale domain names (including 2 great LLLLL.com names) will be waiting for bids on Sedo.
Estimated earnings: $60 from the travel blog, $100 from the client, and ??? from the niche site/domain names. This doesn't put me completely on-track to make $1,000 yet, but a quick sale of my niche site may end up making up for that.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Thursday, August 13, 2009
08/13/09 Updates
Geesh, I have so many updates and so little time to write them in! I had a very relaxing two-week California vacation, and now I'm jumping back into the swing of things.
1. Helium
Not writing here anymore. Nothing against it, and I'll continue to collect my ad income and rate once in a while, and visit it for article ideas, but the pay is just too low for my self-esteem and need to build a freelance writing income.
2. Swagbucks
I'm up to about $50 in claimed Amazon.ca gift certificates, and waiting on another $5. I'm two thirds of the way to another $5, too! I'm not doing codes and stuff much anymore, I just don't have the time right now. The occasional search and my referrals will have to do!
3. Constant Content
This is the biggest success. I've earned $234.65 USD, ~$255.18 CAD from this site so far. I was just chosen for a huge project worth several hundred dollars. I'd like to keep the details private until it's complete, but suffice it to say I'll double my next CC total. I also have another private client who wants to work with me on a regular basis in the future, but I'm not sure yet how regular that will end up being. The client whom I wrote five articles for, unfortunately, never did open that private request. :( So I submitted the five articles, sent her an email to let her know I did it, and moved on!
I'm also working on getting 100 random (brainstorm) articles that aren't for public/private requests accepted on Constant Content before the end of August, since statistics show that 100 articles is the "critical mass", at which point you'll begin regularly selling articles. Sounds good to me!
Also, I'm trying to help two of my friends get into CC writing. I'm really hoping at least one ends up doing it!
4. Web Perspectives
I have earned over 2,500 points total. For each 1,000 points, you can get $10 on Paypal. Not all the points are added to my account yet though, some are still pending, grr. I had enough to redeem one $10 Paypal payment, and I'm waiting to get the other points so I can redeem another $10 (and then I'm halfway to a third payment!). I won't get it until September or October, but still... not too bad for free money!
5. TNS Interactive
$20 in Amazon.ca gift certificates total so far... not too bad, if I do say so myself. Their surveys are rare, but I always do them because they always have a $5-$10 gift certificate reward.
6. Hubpages
I've earned about $1.90 so far from one Hub with Google Adsense, thanks to the affiliate program all set up there already. (Nothing from Amazon, by the way.) So it isn't the be-all-and-end-all, but it is giving me some interesting ideas and the chance to write some "fun stuff" that I might not write for articles.
7. Blogging for cash
About $0.43 in Google Adsense from this blog, which is surprising! I never expected to earn anything from people clicking on ads here, so a big "thank you" to whoever did so, haha. :D I have another blog set up here: Ur Finances. So far, no earnings, but I'm continuing to add content in the hopes that I'll help someone out, at the very least. :)
8. Bookmooch
I've received eight books and sent out seven. I have 5.8 points, enough for 5 Canadian books or 2 foreign books and one Canadian book. I'm pretty happy, overall, with this site. :)
9. Private Clients
I've been looking at freelancing ads and applying for some worthwhile jobs. No bites yet, but hopefully I'll see results at some point. I'll keep applying!
I have a crazy two weeks lined up.
Packing for university, writing about 80,000 words including my articles, and a novel and short story I'm doing, saying goodbyes to friends in this town, applying to new jobs while working on current projects...
Needless to say, I won't be around here much, but I'll update (and calculate amounts earned) whenever I can!
1. Helium
Not writing here anymore. Nothing against it, and I'll continue to collect my ad income and rate once in a while, and visit it for article ideas, but the pay is just too low for my self-esteem and need to build a freelance writing income.
2. Swagbucks
I'm up to about $50 in claimed Amazon.ca gift certificates, and waiting on another $5. I'm two thirds of the way to another $5, too! I'm not doing codes and stuff much anymore, I just don't have the time right now. The occasional search and my referrals will have to do!
3. Constant Content
This is the biggest success. I've earned $234.65 USD, ~$255.18 CAD from this site so far. I was just chosen for a huge project worth several hundred dollars. I'd like to keep the details private until it's complete, but suffice it to say I'll double my next CC total. I also have another private client who wants to work with me on a regular basis in the future, but I'm not sure yet how regular that will end up being. The client whom I wrote five articles for, unfortunately, never did open that private request. :( So I submitted the five articles, sent her an email to let her know I did it, and moved on!
I'm also working on getting 100 random (brainstorm) articles that aren't for public/private requests accepted on Constant Content before the end of August, since statistics show that 100 articles is the "critical mass", at which point you'll begin regularly selling articles. Sounds good to me!
Also, I'm trying to help two of my friends get into CC writing. I'm really hoping at least one ends up doing it!
4. Web Perspectives
I have earned over 2,500 points total. For each 1,000 points, you can get $10 on Paypal. Not all the points are added to my account yet though, some are still pending, grr. I had enough to redeem one $10 Paypal payment, and I'm waiting to get the other points so I can redeem another $10 (and then I'm halfway to a third payment!). I won't get it until September or October, but still... not too bad for free money!
5. TNS Interactive
$20 in Amazon.ca gift certificates total so far... not too bad, if I do say so myself. Their surveys are rare, but I always do them because they always have a $5-$10 gift certificate reward.
6. Hubpages
I've earned about $1.90 so far from one Hub with Google Adsense, thanks to the affiliate program all set up there already. (Nothing from Amazon, by the way.) So it isn't the be-all-and-end-all, but it is giving me some interesting ideas and the chance to write some "fun stuff" that I might not write for articles.
7. Blogging for cash
About $0.43 in Google Adsense from this blog, which is surprising! I never expected to earn anything from people clicking on ads here, so a big "thank you" to whoever did so, haha. :D I have another blog set up here: Ur Finances. So far, no earnings, but I'm continuing to add content in the hopes that I'll help someone out, at the very least. :)
8. Bookmooch
I've received eight books and sent out seven. I have 5.8 points, enough for 5 Canadian books or 2 foreign books and one Canadian book. I'm pretty happy, overall, with this site. :)
9. Private Clients
I've been looking at freelancing ads and applying for some worthwhile jobs. No bites yet, but hopefully I'll see results at some point. I'll keep applying!
I have a crazy two weeks lined up.
Packing for university, writing about 80,000 words including my articles, and a novel and short story I'm doing, saying goodbyes to friends in this town, applying to new jobs while working on current projects...
Needless to say, I won't be around here much, but I'll update (and calculate amounts earned) whenever I can!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
My Latest Revelation
I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Mostly on blogs, sometimes other places, but all about how to make money online from freelance writing. Some interesting things have happened.
--I realized that freelance writing is what I want to do as a career. Took me long enough!
--I began to understand how foolish it is to waste time on low-paying sites. I'll still keep using Swagbucks and Constant Content, and that's about it.
--I found some great blogs. Master Dayton's Freelance Writing blog found here, for one. Bianca Raven's Freelance Writing Income From Home blog found here, for the other. The time I've spent reading through their posts has been well worth it!
--I've gotten a few private requests, and sold a few more articles.
Here's what my earnings look like now. That's right, my next payment (on August 1st) will take me to my $500 mark... my first $500 earned online! I can't wait.
I've Earned:
Money: $395.85
Amazon Gift Certificates: $45 ($15 from TNS; $30 from Swagbucks)
Pending:
Money: $114.40 USD from CC
Amazon Gift Certificates: $20 ($15 from Swagbucks; $5 from TNS)
What's next? Well, let's just say I have some ideas now!
--I realized that freelance writing is what I want to do as a career. Took me long enough!
--I began to understand how foolish it is to waste time on low-paying sites. I'll still keep using Swagbucks and Constant Content, and that's about it.
--I found some great blogs. Master Dayton's Freelance Writing blog found here, for one. Bianca Raven's Freelance Writing Income From Home blog found here, for the other. The time I've spent reading through their posts has been well worth it!
--I've gotten a few private requests, and sold a few more articles.
Here's what my earnings look like now. That's right, my next payment (on August 1st) will take me to my $500 mark... my first $500 earned online! I can't wait.
I've Earned:
Money: $395.85
Amazon Gift Certificates: $45 ($15 from TNS; $30 from Swagbucks)
Pending:
Money: $114.40 USD from CC
Amazon Gift Certificates: $20 ($15 from Swagbucks; $5 from TNS)
What's next? Well, let's just say I have some ideas now!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
To Do List
Here are the offers and sites I'm currently researching or pursuing (aside from what I've been putting in my regular updates). Most seem legit, so far.
Nevertheless, this is everything I have on the go:
1. Reward Ladder/LuckySearch
3. Prize Rebel
5. Neobux
6. ClixSense
7. LinkGrand
8. Treasure Troopers
9. JUVAA
10. Hausernet
11. Yuwie
12. Mechanical Turk
13. Flixya
14. Opinion Outpost
15. Quotas
16. Bukisa
17. PayPerPost
18. Gamesville
Expect EVERYTHING on this list to have a full review and its own "in progress" (or hopefully "completed"!) post soon. Also, if you have any requests or suggestions, please comment!
Friday, July 3, 2009
07/03/09 Update
Time for some more updates already! Things are really picking up speed now. Not only that, but I realized that I'm keeping track of some of my earnings in USD... oops! All earnings are now in CAD and I'll update previous posts when I get a chance. Sorry about that!
(To my American blog followers, it shouldn't make too big a difference, but you can always go to google.com and type in the amount, then enter "CAD to USD", and hit Enter. It'll show you how much that amount is worth in USD. :) )
1. Helium Payment
These were calculated on July 1st. Turns out that last month, I earned $195.09 USD = $226-odd CAD from one week of intensive writing. Pretty darn good! I requested payment already, so this should move from Pending to Earned within the next week.
2. Swagbucks
Also going great. I have a few more referrals and I'm actively searching, getting pretty much every SwagCode that comes out. At this rate, it looks like I'm getting an Amazon.ca gift certificate approximately every four days. If I can keep this up for a year, it'll be over $450 in gift certificates. Niiice.
3. Constant Content
The opportunity I talked about in my last post might not be gone after all! I had sent a quick "thank you, keep me in mind next time" note to the requester and it turns out it was her other request that was being filled by other people; she said she'd open a private request for the one I wanted when she gets back from vacation! How. Cool. Is. That.
I have about five articles ready for her so far, and I'm hoping to get done about five tomorrow, Sunday and Monday (unless she's back by then), so I'll have at least 20 ready to give her.
Payment for each article will be about $0.08 per word, my target rate for unique rights, yahoo!
Also, my payment came in via Paypal on July 1st for that one article I sold to a requester (my first C-C sale!) last month. Another $30, cha-ching!
4. Web Perspectives
I filled out my user profile and got another couple surveys already. I'm at 900 points now, and I need 1000 to cash out. I'm looking forward to it! I haven't completely decided which option I want, but I'm thinking about the Paypal or free theater ticket (going to Harry Potter this month with a friend!), or possibly Indigo-Coles money, but less likely. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
5. SurveyLion
This one came out of left field. I registered for the panel here around May 24th (a month and a half ago or so?) and I suddenly got my first survey invitation. It was worth $2, so I did it, but it only pays via cheque so I'm not requesting payment yet ('cause really, a $2 cheque?! Not that desperate yet!). I'll wait another couple months and see if more opportunities come from this site so I can combine them into a slightly bigger ($5? Haha!) amount first.
I've Earned:
Money: $172.57
Amazon Gift Certificates: $30 ($15 from TNS; $15 from Swagbucks)
Pending:
Money: $226 from Helium
Amazon Gift Certificates: $15 ($10 from Swagbucks; $5 from TNS)
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