HELIUM
Helium is a somewhat more difficult site to write for, than Triond or Bukisa. There are also more ways to earn money from this site, which makes it one of the premier sites for both beginners and freelance writers.
It differs from Triond and Bukisa because you have set topics your articles must be written on. While this sounds somewhat confining, it really isn`t, as there are literally thousands of every day topics to choose from. You can also suggest new topics that you are interested in writing or reading about, so the list of topics is always growing.
To start earning money on Helium, you have to achieve at least one writing and one rating star. In order to get a star you must publish at least four articles that rate in the top 25% of the articles written on that topic. You can earn a total of five stars in both writing and rating and with each star you earn, you recieve a higher upfront payment for qualifying articles.
Helium, like Triond and Bukisa allows you to earn money based on the number of views your article recieves. It also pays upfront payments for the first 5 artcles written on any title and if you are the first person to write on a title, you get a dollar bonus for that article.
Along with these options, Helium also offers weekly contests you can compete in for additional money. These contests are on different subjects and most contests have 15 topics you can choose from. You can write on as many or as few of these titles bas you wish, as long as you write enough titles to place you first, second or third in the contest.
Good money prizes are awarded for the first three places in each contest. You also get paid upfront and per view earnings for each of the contest articles you write. One contest I wrote for earned me $15.50 for each article, by the time I counted my prize money, my upfront payment and a couple of empty title bonuses. I did not add my pay per view earnings for these articles.
There is also a Market Place on Helium, where qualified writers can write articles that people or businesses are looking to purchase the full rights to. If your article is purchased you are paid throught the site. If not you can still earn upfront and pay per view payments.
Helium like Bukisa also has a referral system where you can make extra money by having people signing up under you.
While I think referrals are good, I normally don't go out of my way to recommend them to people, but in the case of Helium, joining under an established writer, helped me learn how to navigate all the different ways to make money on this site. I also had a mentor who gave me advice on the contests and article writing in general and this resulted in my making over $200.00 my first month on this site.
If you choose not to use a referral, please visit the Helium forums and ask all the questions you need to, in order to get off to a good start on this site. It really helps to have advice.
Making money on Helium
http://www.ehow.com/how_5337468_successfully-write-helium-contest.html
How and when to use Heliums leapfrog tool
http://www.ehow.com/how_5413517_use-heliums-leapfrog-effectively.html
Referrals
http://webupon.com/web-talk/referral-links-the-good-the-bad-the-maybe-not-so-ugly/
Anyone wishing to join Helium under my referral can email me at mailto:emobys@yahoo.com and I would be happy to send you an invite.
