Developing an online writing strategy is important for a writer to have fun and eventually earn money in the process. Knowing why you're submitting to particular web sites allows you to focus.

Like writing and submitting to magazines, study the various web sites where you plan to submit articles and then begin to understand the differences that exist between each site. It occurred to me that the sites all want original, quality content yet the focus is slightly different for each one.

For two years, I’ve been writing online starting with my own business blog. I then started writing articles for one online site and I posted articles similar to ones on my business blog. But I got frustrated because there were so many popular articles that, in my mind at the time, were seemingly unprofessional and yet they seemed quite popular.

I expanded my writing to a second article-based web site, a, a third . . . I started a second blog last year on marketing and then this year I had business and personal needs to focus on and I felt overwhelmed by my online writing. There was little time to write and yet ideas kept coming to mind about topics that I could cover. But there were so many ideas, and while I would create one article on Hubpages and then try to write a second article elsewhere I felt overwhelmed and my writing suffered.

But I feel in control of my writing now by developing my own online strategy.

I have created two blogs – one is Cash Flow Tips for Companies and the other is Free Marketing Tips. I also enjoy writing here on Hubpages. I submit articles to Associated Content, Helium and I just joined eHow. I’m also going to join Suite 101.

I used to feel scattered when posting to each one but now I’m beginning to feel more organized.

Here is my online writing strategy I’ve developed. My Blog Strategy

My blog on Cash Flow Tips for Companies is a niche within a competitive field of business writing. I’m going to focus more attention on tips and resources in the Southern California area where I regularly meet business owners, communication directors, salespeople and others. When I first started writing, I covered so many different business topics but I was diffused. I did have success when the Wall Street Journal Online picked up one of my posts and linked to it.

I plan on writing one long post once a week, a digest of business articles from around the net once a week and once every two weeks write a tip from one business owner or knowledgeable source to another.

For my marketing blog, I’m going to develop a few marketing lessons and case studies and write to that once or twice per week. There – that’s my Big Picture strategy for my two personal blogs. To monetize them, I have Adsense on them and I will develop affiliate programs and I may end up writing an eBook.

Hubpages

Hubpages is a great site that allows writers to creatively incorporate pictures and video with the text to present how-to articles and other information. Writers who only post text miss out on the fun of using the different capsules effectively.

When writing on Hubpages, I now consider if I can use an image and video clip to complement what I write. My high performing Hubs here relate to gasoline (Top tier gas – I would have never believed it!) and landscaping. While I will write other content, I plan to keep writing on articles related to energy, fossil fuels and personal landscaping ideas.

To monetize, I see Hubpages as my main source for earning with Adsense. By the way, I’m earning on Adsense every day now! Some days it’s only 5 cents but other days a couple of dollars. Creating content here has made that possible. It will be a good complement to my blogs and I also look forward to learning how to earn with eBay and Amazon.

Associated Content

I have read from AC editors that they like local content. They really want unique content that’s not already in their library in order to qualify for upfront payments. One of my best performing articles there focuses on Hiking in Idylwild, California. It got linked to another online magazine and regularly brings in page views without my promoting it.

So another part of my strategy is writing local content. Hmm, I live in Southern California and I certainly have enough to write about. So it will primarily take my local content and my personal opinions on politics, etc. Helium

I like Helium, yet I also find it the most frustrating site because of the rating system. Since writers earn when they have stars you can also lose your stars if you don’t write or rate for a while. I had earned two stars in writing and three in rating with about 40 articles submitted and then I lost them all. I’ve regained one of my writing stars and two rating stars.

You have to enjoy a challenge with Helium and be comfortable submitting your best writing and not worrying about the ratings. I am impressed with the earnings I have on Helium with 45 articles. It's still in the loose change realm of income but it's steady and I can see how it will build as I write more.

eHow

I just started writing on eHow and I’m going to like it. Simply title an article with How-to in front of it and write away.

Suite 101

I’m looking forward to submitting on Suite 101 since it will be the site to most easily complement my business blog. My focus will be submitting business related articles in the third person.