Check out the other posts in this series about Becoming an Online Content Writer:

• So You Wanna Write for the Web
• Building Your Online Writing Portfolio
• Finding Paid Writing Gigs Online
• Making Your First Money as a Content Writer

Why?

I know you’re a writer, but have you ever thought about having your own website? What has kept your from exploring the idea? Does it seem too complicated…too expensive? Well, it’s not. I’m a huge advocate for getting people websites! I found a super cost effective way to get, develop, and maintain my own sites. I’ve been trying to share this with the world ever since. There are TONS of places to build a FREE website online. If you’ve read this blog at any length, then you know that ProWebWriter LOVES free. BUT! In this situation, my advice: Don’t go free.

So, now that free is out, let’s explore the next best thing: CHEAP! Cheap is okay here. First off, let’s not mistake cheap for poor quality or bottom of the barrel software. I’m talkin’ top of the line here. We’ll come back to this in a minute, but first, we need to cover WHY YOU NEED YOUR OWN WEBSITE:

• It’s all about you! Chances are, if you’re following this series, that you’re trying to make a buck or two with your writing. Showcase it on your OWN site.
• Monetize it. Once you have established your site and you’re seeing some traffic to your articles or other writings, you can start making a little extra cash with an ad network like Google Adsense.
• Network like a pro! Having your own real estate on the web gives you a platform to network from. You can comment on other blogs, list your site on Facebook, Tweet your articles, and a whole host of other social networking tasks.

Get to the Cheap, Cost Effective Part!

It starts with WordPress. WordPress is a FREE open source blogging platform. Don’t let the blogging part turn you off. You don’t have to be a blogger or even include a blog as a part of your site if you don’t want to. ProWebWriter has not one, but THREE packages to get you started with your own WordPress website. Why WordPress? We’ll get to that…just bear with me for a moment. For as little as a one-time payment of $20, you can have your own website. That’s cheap, my friends. We don’t offer a package that costs more than $60. Click that link above to find out what’s included.

Why WordPress?

I don’t endorse WordPress just because it’s free. I endorse it because I LOVE IT. Let’s take a look:

• Search Engines love WordPress. WordPress sites index in the search engines almost immediately. Why is this important? Well, it helps people find your website when they search for stuff at Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.
• WordPress is incredibly easy to maintain. It has a comprehensive Dashboard where you can write, edit, and maintain ALL of your online content with a few simple clicks.
• Customize, customize, customize. WordPress can do anything! You can customize everything about your site. If WordPress out of the box won’t do it, there’s a plug in that will.

What Do You Think?

Not convinced? I’ll go a step further. I’m offering two free website set-ups…that’s a $40 value…FREE. The secret word is: CHEAPWP That’s all you need to take advantage of this offer. Grab the secret word and head over to the Contact Page. Send me a message including that code and we’re in business.  Oh, and you shouldn’t already own a website. This is for newbies only.

What You Can Expect

Two lucky people will get:

• 1 Domain name of their choice — One year paid — costs vary per year after, but as of this writing are running about $11 for dot com domains
• 1 month of free hosting — $2.95 per month after
• WordPress installed
• Free WordPress video training
• Free WordPress consulting with yours truly

*Extras available upon request for a nominal fee*

What I Need From You

Nothing. A testimonial would ROCK, but is not a requirement for this offer.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Next up? Monetizing your new website.

• So You Wanna Write for the Web
• Building Your Online Writing Portfolio
• Finding Paid Writing Gigs Online

Accepting Payments

You’ve got a solid portfolio and you’ve been cruising various sites looking for your first paying gig. The first thing you need is a method to receive payments. The most popular online payment processor is PayPal by far. It’s safe, fast and secure. PayPal also gives you the ability to accept payments by credit/debit card. Setting up your PayPal account may take a few days because you do have to confirm your account using your bank account. You can still accept payments without this step, but you’ll want a way to transfer the money your make into your bank account so you can access the funds. PayPal also offers a Mastercard debit card that is free and will allow you to have instant access to your funds wherever Mastercard is accepted. You can beat it!

NOTE: There are other options besides PayPal, but I’ll leave those up to your research skills. Also, keep in mind that there are fees involved anytime you use an online payment service. PayPal takes a small percentage of your money to pay these fees.

When you make a payment or receive money with PayPal, you don’t communicate any personal banking information. You only use your email address.

How To Get Paid

We’ve discussed where to look for writing jobs. Now, you can accept payments. The only thing left to do is land that gig and get paid! Most gigs that you run into are going to pay you upon completion of the work. There’s nothing wrong with requesting up to half of the payment up front to begin the work and the other half upon completion. Becoming a content writer is about 75% writing and 25% marketing. You need to get that portfolio in front of as many potential clients as possible. It’s going to be slow at first. It really depends on YOU how quickly you advance in the business. Working smart and working hard will end in results.

Get To Work

Okay, let’s recap! So far you have:

• Made a decision to become a content writer
• Built an online portfolio of your writing
• Learned where to look for writing gigs
• Gained the ability to accept payments

Next up: I’ll tell you why you need a website and show you the cheapest way to get one! Yes, your very own corner of the web.  There’s much more to come. Subscribe so you don’t miss it!

• So You Wanna Write for the Web
• Building Your Online Writing Portfolio

There are hundreds of thousands of places to find paid writing gigs online. Some are better than others. None of them will make you rich, but it is possible to earn a comfortable living. That being said, you will be disappointed by the going rates as a writer just starting out. Until you learn where and how to look for better-paying gigs, you’ll be writing for peanuts. Like anything else, finding good-paying clients take a bit of luck.

Where to Look

Well, who needs web content the most? You guessed it! Website developers! Your best bet at securing some decent rates is to network with web designers and developers locally. That’s right, locally. This may require that you step outside your comfort zone and do a little offline marketing. If you’re just not ready to do that right now, start with webmaster and internet marketing forums.

Forums

I started at Digital Pointin 2006. Digital Point is a HUGE webmaster forum that covers LOADS of topics. In later years, it has been dominated by diminishing quality posts, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find work there.

Digital Point Forums

This next one is HUGE! If your portfolio is good, you will garner some attention at the Warrior Forum. The Warrior Forum is a large and helpful community of website owners and internet marketers. The rules are tight and there is a private area for paid members, but it’s not a requirement to find gigs and gain a lot of insight into doing this web thing.

The Warrior Forum

Bid Sites

Bid Sites are websites where you land gigs by bidding. Usually, the lowest bid will win the gig. There is A LOT of work on sites like this, but it is often difficult to win gigs in the sea of bidders. A little bit of research can give you some tips on how to make your bid stand out.

• Guru.com
• Elance.com
• oDesk.com
• GetAFreelancer.com

Craigslist

Craigslist has had its moments of scandal and scam, but you can find legit writing gigs there. It’s a good place to start locally. Plus it’s free advertising. Check out their Fact Sheet. Here are a few highlights:

• 30 billion page views per month
• 50 million users in the US alone
• More than 1 million new job listings each month

So now you’re thinking about how much time you’re going to spend searching all those cities? There’s a solution for that as well. You can search ALL of Craigslist in one easy place: SearchTempest.com

Google

Wouldn’t that be a dream gig? Write for Google! Yes, please! But alas, I’m talking about searching Google for paid writing gigs. There are dozens of keyword searches that will bring you millions of results. As a writer, you need to know how to use search engines effectively to do your research. Start now by finding some places that will pay you to write.

BONUS

This is a giant list of sites that pay writers. Good luck!!!

Next Up…

I will discuss making your first money online. How to do it, different ways to get paid, and the basics of what you’ll need to start getting some money!

So you’ve decided that you want to write content for the web. The first step in this process is to well, start writing. It’s not rocket science. The only requirement is a good command of the English language. It’s a good idea to know what good web writing is. YoU CaN’T jUmP oUt ThErE AnD wRiTe LiKe ThIs and using cliches like “it’s not rocket science” isn’t great either. There’s no place in content writing for text speech either. If u wrte like this, U will jst make ppl mad. You won’t land any paid work like that either. There’s a time and place for this type of communication…and it’s not in article writing or blogging.

Think of some articles you’ve read recently online. Maybe it was a link a Facebook friend posted, maybe it was another post in this ProWebWriter series…whatever the case, a well put together article is one that uses simple language and is consistent with its focus. It’s a good idea to format your online writing in digestible chunks using bullet points and subheadings. This caters to two types of readers: the reader who reads an article start to finish, and also the reader who scans for the specific information they want to read.

Publish

At this point, you should have a topic you’d like to write about. If you’re really proactive, you might even have some content that’s ready to publish. Now the question is where? Where to publish? Here are some options:

• Content Mills — I don’t necessarily condone doing much work for content mills, but it’s a great place to start and change your status from unpublished to published. What is a content mill? A content mill is one of the many places online that hire A LOT of writers to populate a site. It might pay or it might not. Either way, don’t expect much. Very few writers have made significant money this way.
• A Free Site or Blog — There are a lot of places on the web where you can claim a free website or blog. It’s a good place to start publishing your content. You can always move your work later if you upgrade to a paid website. Some places to get a free site are Blogger.com, WordPress.com, Weebly.com and Webs.com.
• Your Website — If you have your own website, there’s no better place to publish your content. It’s a good idea to write for a couple other places as well though if you plan to procure freelance jobs in the future.
• Guest Posting –  Write a guest post on a friend’s blog or site that is already established. Don’t know anyone? You can contribute to ProWebWriter. Contact me by writing your idea or pasting your original article directly into my Contact Form. I will be in touch with you within 24 hours.

Promote

When you begin publishing your writing on the Internet, share it. Post up a link to your Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Google+ or all of the above. The more the merrier. (another cliche) Not only will you get support and feedback from your friends, but it lets them know that hey, you can write for the web. It’s basic “word of mouth”. In addition, this begins building traffic to your site or articles you’ve written on other sites so it’s easier to monetize in the future.

Then What?

Next, ProWebWriter will discuss how to find paid writing work online. Having a few pieces published on the web is essential to this step, so what are you waiting for? Get started! Subscribe or bookmark us, so you don’t miss the next step!

I had this epiphany in 2006, and I’ve pursued it in various ways in the last 6 years. You’re reading one of them. I figure if those people can do it, then so can I…and so can you! There’s a lot of things to know about getting paid to write online. I’ll be covering these right here at ProWebWriter. Now is a good time to subscribe to the feed in your favorite Reader.

Gather Your Resources

Whadya got? No, I mean on your hard drive…what kind of writing do you have saved there? Pull it out. Your best stuff that shows you have the ability to not only string 2 sentences together, but do so coherently. It can be creative or informative. It can even be a school or college paper. Get out your diary/journal. No, I don’t want to see it! Thumb through it. I’m sure there’s something there that is brilliant and worth sharing. Find it and bookmark it.

Brainstorm

I am an avid brainstormer. Sitting within arm’s reach right now, I could show you no less than 8 brainstorming lists. I’m not saying you have to write a list, but you need to think about what kinds of writing you like to do. This will help you consider what areas of online writing you should focus on. Consider the websites you like to visit and what kind of writing you read there. If you’ve ever visited a site and thought, “I could write better stuff than this”, you are probably right.

Do Your Research

If you don’t know how to use a search engine, NOW is the time to learn. I don’t mean just “Googling” things…I mean seriously know how to find answers using a search engine. Here’s your first assignment: research some sites that will help you learn what effective online writing is like. Here are a couple hints: “writing articles for the web”, “writing for the web”, “copywriting vs. article writing”

Up Next…

I’ll tell you how to get started. Yes, making money from writing…now. Don’t forget to subscribe, so you don’t miss it.

PLR stands for Private Label Rights. PLR can included different types of content and media such as articles, web copy, autoresponder series, images, video, and music. These “rights” include nearly all the rights to a created work such as web copy, articles, images, video clips and music. PLR usually does not include resell rights unless otherwise specified. This post will concentrate on written content.

Why PLR?

Because it’s cheap. PLR averages about $1 per article or page. Custom ghost-written content of the same length can cost $25 and up. There is a place for both, but if you’re looking for a lot of content fast, PLR is your best bet.

The One Rule

When you use PLR content, the one rule is that you MUST rewrite it. There are exceptions to this rule. It’s not necessary to rewrite the content if you:

• Use it as an autoresponder series
• Use it in a print campaign
• Use as a mail info pack
• Use it as a newsletter

Why Do I Have to Rewrite It?

One simple reason…search engines do not like duplicate content.

If I Have to Rewrite It, I Might As Well Write My Own Stuff…

Not necessarily. There’s a number of options. First of all, you need only add in your voice and reword it to your taste. If you’re pressed for time or you’re just not a writer, here are some options:

• Use article spinning software (not recommended)
• Hire someone to rewrite the content for you

You can usually hire someone to rewrite the content for your at fairly cheap rates since the main ideas of the content are already there.

Ways To Use PLR

Well, besides the obvious like blog posts, web copy, etc. I’m going to provide you with a link. This isn’t just any link. It could be the most valuable link you’ve come across online in ages. You might already have it.

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-internet-marketing-discussion-forum/566982-unique-ways-use-private-label-rights.html

 Where to Get It

Try my new PLR site: http://prowebplr.com

Don’t see a pack you can use? Try my friend’s site: http://plrcontentmarket.com

Waughtown Roundabout Daffodils Spring 2012

Spring has sprung in ProWebWriterville. I got the cleaning out the way last month. I rolled out a new theme and gave you a sneak peak of a few exciting things coming to PWW. I didn’t anticipate the evolution of events. I had originally planned a rather large relaunch of PWW that would include a store where readers could purchase content. However, in thinking the concept through a little more completely, I launched a new site instead.

It’s been a quiet launch so far as I am testing things and ironing out the kinks. This is my first e-commerce endeavor and well, I have to say so far, so good. Within the next month, I will be building up to an official launch inviting friends and contacts from various places around the web. I thought it would be nice though, to offer my readers an exclusive peak at what I’m working on.

Buy PLR?

ProWebWriter.com Homepage

If you’ve visited the homepage recently, you can’t miss the gigantic banner inviting you to “BUY PLR”. That’s right, ProWebWriter is now offering the most affordable solution to web content: Private Label Rights content. At $1 per article, you can’t beat it! Clicking that banner will take you to PWW”s new sister site: ProWebPLR.com Give it a click and check it out. Keep in mind it’s still under development.

Anything Else?

Yep. There’s another secret I’m keeping. I’m gonna share it with y’all though. If you’re following along and paying attention, you deserve the sneak previews of everything that’s going on. Last year, ProWebWriter had a couple exclusive offers. The first one was the $50 website. This offer promised you a website of your own on the same quality level with what you see here at PWW. That offer had NO takers, but it still stands. I’ll be promoting that offer more strongly as time goes on. Right now, it’s linked on the homepage and well, in this post.

The second offer I launched was an invitation to contribute to ProWebWriter. I had a couple offers and even some posters who contributed some great articles to the site. This offer also still stands and is linked above and on the homepage. ProWebWriter is for Writers and Readers. Our offerings are limited by takers at the moment, but you want to get in on the ground level of what is going on here. More on this in a moment, but let’s get that secret out of the way.

ProWebPLR.com Homepage

With the expansion into e-commerce and PLR content, ProWebWriter in association with ProWebPLR will be offering stock photos at DRASTICALLY reduced prices. Get a sneak peak of what it’s all about over at ProWebPLR.com/photos/ . This is the only live link to see what’s going on over there until the official launch next month. I’m still working on the store, but everything you can see there is live and currently up for sale. You won’t find stock images cheaper anywhere else for the largest size. Our smallest camera is 14 megapixels and all our images are the largest size available for a buck. That’s right ONE dollar.

That’s Nice, But I’m a Writer and I’m Looking For Writing Stuff

It’s coming! Now is the time to subscribe to PWW in your favorite RSS reader AND to our updates. Sign up now using the simple form to the right –>, and receive a free copy of WordPress Websites for Writers…the e-book that has sold more than 100 copies on Amazon and is currently in its Second Edition.

In the coming months, ProWebWriter will take you on a journey to developing your own content writing empire. We’ll show you how to self publish using Smashwords and give you insider tips. Big things are happening, and we are looking for takers for what we’re giving. ProWebWriter now staffs an Editor and Photographer. The next staff member could be YOU.

As Always…

Thanks for stopping by and reading. Check the links, ask questions, and join the conversation in the comments.

It’s a feat to do this web thing on your own. It’s not impossible, but if you’re doing it right, it eventually becomes a full-time endeavor. If you look over any of my other sites, you will find they are in varying stages of production. Unless you have an endless cash flow that enables you to buy stock images and hire help as needed, then you’re about the busiest person on the planet.

Behind the Scenes

Maintaining a website or blog is a ton of daily tasks. Skipping a day could mean skipping a dollar or several dollars. Aside from the obvious like writing content, here’s a glimpse of the daily behind the scenes here at ProWebWriter:

• Check Analytics
• Check and reply to email
• Brainstorm topics
• Make lists of things to be done
• Create graphics
• Find royalty-free images
• Take pictures

That list is JUST for PWW, and doesn’t include any special things like theme and page updates or integration of services like AWeber and e-commerce.

Who Should You Hire?

There are several options. I began with family members. I’ve had my brother proofread for me, or my partner check over a graphic for an objective eye. Most recently, I’ve hired my nephew to proof for me and will be paying him. You can always outsource any aspect of your tasks as a website owner. There are tons of sites that allow you to hire freelancers who do just about anything. Elance.com and GetAFreelancer.com are a couple ones that come to mind. Even more affordable are sites like Fiverr.com that allow you to hire people to do all sorts of things for $5. It’s worth perusing that site just to get some out-of-the-box ideas. Proceed with caution. You are trusting your content into the hands of a stranger.

How Am I Supposed To Pay Them?

Well, this is where family and sites like Fiverr are helpful. If you’re not rolling in the dough, you have to pay for services as you can afford them. Like with my nephew, I’m paying him Fiverr prices for editing. He and I have agreed on a word count and dollar amount. It’s affordable to me, I can trust him totally, and he will learn some new things in the process. Heck, he’ll probably teach me a thing or two! If you’re hiring freelance, you will more than likely need a PayPal account, so you might as well get that out of the way.

It’s Not For Everyone

Maintaining a site has meant years of acquired skills for me; an evolution if you will. If you’re only running one site say to display your writing or simply a personal blog, then a staff will not be necessary. For those of you putting your blood, sweat, and tears into your little corner of the web, outsourcing a few of your tasks could be the answer.

I’ve promised you a lot of new stuff coming, and if you clicked on the Home page the other day, you’ve seen a few non-working links to what’s in store. The Home Page is still a mess, so don’t look at it…SERIOUSLY.

Today, I’ve been running a small promotion on my Facebook Page. Ten “Likes” and I’ll post a sneak peak of the new design…WITH an added bonus. A glimpse at the train wreck of a PSD I was putting together to slice and code by hand. Feel free to post your “LOL’s” in the comments!

A Little History

This was ProWebWriter about a month after it’s launch courtesy of the WayBack Machine; dated March 26, 2010.

Click all images to view them in a larger size.

I thought this was pretty snazzy at the time, but whew, it’s got problems! Moving on.

I’m not going to run through the whole history. More recently, ProWebWriter took on the following “cleaner” look.

Well, it seemed “cleaner” compared to the previous um, look. I was pretty proud of those banners. They took a couple hours in Photoshop and some finagling to get “right”. They served their purpose. It’s time to move on. Can you believe before I put the logo as the background for these, it was giant picture of my face? Ugh. Narcissistic much? Not really a label I want to claim.

In the last couple weeks, ProWebWriter has been sporting this:

Gah! I know! It’s a WRECK. This was an experiment in headlessness…er, or headerlessness. Whatever. It’s not very modern. It *looks* quick and dirty. I hope what I’m working on right now, won’t.

Without Further Ado

So here’s the sneak peak you’ve been waiting for and that I have promised my amazing Facebook friends. This is what 10 “Likes” will get you. Murder my darling honestly in the comments if you wish. Please keep in mind that this is DRAFT ONE of the design and I’m presenting it to you in its rawest form…freshly squeezed. I will be visiting this multiple times over the next few days. You know how it is when you sleep on things. ProWebWriter WILL be sporting the finished product Monday, March 5, 2012. Bookmark me and check back!

Oh wait, I almost forgot…the BONUS…

Ugh, this is embarrassing. I guess it explains why I quit my degree in Graphic Design and settled into writing. Laugh! It’s funny.

As I said in my last post, PWW is undergoing some major changes. DON’T click the Home button…no, no, don’t…awwww. You did, didn’t you? It’s a mess over there. So, for the time being, I’m going change the Home Page to the blog posts. It may stay that way, but as of right now, I like the idea of having a Home Page that will launch you to all the most popular areas of the site.

The problem is…the theme.

While PWW has always had a custom theme, it’s been one of the quick and dirty variety. So, I’m delving into theme development. SERIOUS theme development. As soon as I finish typing this post, I’m heading over to Photoshop and mocking up the layout. I’ve done this before, but never used the resulting theme because I never completed it. This is where my ADD is apparent. You’ll never meet another person as enthusiastic about starting a project. Here’s the rub…I have a follow through issue. I often run out of attention and enthusiasm between 50 and 80% completion. Can you relate?

Waaaaait for it…

I have no idea how long this will take, but I’m running out of time. I’ve already missed my relaunch deadline, but keep in mind that I am working on this while maintaining a full-time job. Please bear with me. Good things are coming! I promise! This site is for YOU…and especially for Writers. Please bookmark it and check back on the regular. I’m still available via email via the various contact forms around the site, but the Contact Page is the best place to start.

Nothing but raw honesty here…

I will keep you updated and some GREAT content backed by a shiny new layout is on the way in the very near future. Thanks for reading!