How I Earned $1,000 a Month Writing on Helium
76Note: This is an absolutely true story. If you doubt its veracity, you can google something like "retired teacher earned $1,000 per month writing on Helium." I think the story was published in several periodicals. Now that that's out of the way...
A few years ago, I retired early from my career as a high school teacher of British Literature, American Literature, and creative writing. I loved my job, but because of nerve damage, I was approved for disability with Teachers' Retirement and later for Social Security.
For the first few months, I was pretty depressed. I missed teaching, I missed my co-workers, and I really missed my students. Some days I was in so much pain that I took enough pain meds to "knock me out." On those days, obviously, I spent a lot of hours in bed.
I would have pretty good days, too, however. On those days, I would be bored to tears - literally. I'd get on the computer and just wander around. That's how I stumbled upon Helium. I think it was in November of 2007 that I joined.
I've always liked to write, and I had a good stash of articles that I'd written just for fun. These were on all sorts of topics. I discovered with a litle tweaking, many of them would address some titles posted on Helium. Everyone was friendly and supportive, so I felt right at home. I wrote a few articles for Marketplace, never really thinking they would be selected by a publisher. My youngest daughter did most of my typing, many times while I was reclining on the couch in the office, dictating to her.
Just a month after joining the site, I sold my first article! It was an account of my grandson's fishing at the beach on a then-recent vacation. It earned me a whopping $16! At the time, I didn't care about the money. I was ecstatic that a publisher chose my article over the others submitted, and that he was actually willing to pay for it!
The next week or so, I sold a few more articles, each for more money than the previous. I began thinking that if I worked really hard, I could make some real money at Helium. As I already mentioned, all these articles didn't have to be "from scratch." I could re-vamp some of the articles on my hard drive.
Before I knew it, I was averaging about $1,000 a month from Helium. One publisher especially liked my style, and I could always depend on selling numerous articles to them every month - for $40 each. Not bad for a pretty short article. I remember one day, I got an email from Helium informing me that this publisher had purchased thirteen of my articles! In one day! And while these articles were my bread and butter, so to speak, the occasional $100 and $200 articles were certainly rich gravy.
I wrote every day that I could in 2008, from January through June. Then in early July, my mom passed away. It was a real blow for me, of course, and it seemed for a while that my muse had died along with my mother. I just couldn't seem to get motivated to write much at all.
By the time I began to recover emotionally, I discovered that my favorite publisher on Helium had disappeared. Publisher traffic was slow for a while, then it began to pick up some. I started writing again on the site, but never with the enthusiasm I had before. Maybe I just got "burnt out," as my students were wont to say.
I still write on Helium when I see a Marketplace title that piques my interest, and I post on the forums sometimes, too. In addition, I get money each month for page views.
Is Helium perfect? Nope! Can you really make money there? Yep! But you have to be dedicated, and your writing must have a certain voice to resonate with publishers.
To read related articles, especially about specific tips for how to be successful on Helium, click on the article links below.
- How to Make Money Writing for Constant Content
Can you really make money writing online? Yes, indeed! You wont get rich, and you certainly wont get rich quick, but you can add significantly to your income by becoming an online freelance... - Tips for Making Money Writing on Helium Marketplace
You can make money writing and selling articles for Heliums Marketplace. I did. I wrote an entire article about my experience. You can read it by clicking the link below this hub. Now back to the... - How to Get Social Security Disability
Note: If you're trying to scam the government with a false claim of an injury, illness, or condition, read no further. This article is to help people who are legitimately unable to work a full time job...
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
This is great info. I have written little on Helium because I found it time consuming and the tools stodgy, but after this, I think I'll give it another go. Thanks!
Neat info there habee,thanks for sharing!
you're welcome, Waren!
I love your story and When I first read your article I thought it gives all new writers a chance to make money doing what they love.I am new at the hub pages have you made any money on the hub pages.Tell me more..
Thanks. I'm pretty new, also. I joined 3 or 4 months ago, but really only started writing much here in September. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Good one ,Habee, thanks for sharing this experience.
I can tell you're a good teacher, I'm learning from you.
Sign me up!
Thanks so much, Mark! I don't think you need much help with writing skills!
ur language is really so easy to read and understand... wish i could write in so fluent easy to understand english...
Thank you so much! You will with practice!
Helium was not for me but I am glad that you did so well. How are your doing on Hubpages and what do you think the flavor on Helium is that will get publishers to select from marketplace?
Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope your pain is under control. Sorry about the loss of your mom. Glad you're here on HP! MM
I've never heard of Helium before, going to check it out, thanks for this good hub :) :) :) :)
I have never heard of Helium , will check it out for sure , Thanks
I looked at Helium, but didn't try it. Maybe I should take another look. Your writing is fluid and easy to read. Thanks
Thanks so much for sharing . . . very inspirational. I am retired at home and would love to be that successful as well but don't know that my articles are good enough. I am fairly new here as well and trying to build my library . . . and income. Any advice on my stuff? Thanks so much and take care. Sue
Nice article! Your writing flows effortlessly. Hope you are feeling better & sorry about your mom. I wish my writing was as good as yours :)
You are just great. Very good write up.
Thank you,Your guide useful.
Thanks, pals. The best thing I can tell you about writing for Helium Marketplace is to start small. The more seasoned writers are going for the high-dollar articles, so you'll have a lot more competition there. Keep your paragraphs short and your writing fluid. Also, from my experience, I've found that most publishers like some "personality" instead of just dry facts. Hope this helps!
Habee:---Thanks for your informative Hub! When it comes to writing, I am ( to coin a phrase from Gilbert & Sullivan ) "like a novice in a nunnery". Keep educating!
Currently I still earn a lot more money on Helium but who knows what time will bring :)
Thanks for introducing me to Helium!
I am grateful to Helium because it was the first site that ever paid me to write online and that was so exciting. I don't write there anymore, because I don't like the funky peer review process, but mostly what I don't like is they own the rights to your material and you can't take it down if you ever decide to remove it.
If I was earning $1000 a month I might let them keep all rights, but I never got anywhere close to that. Great hub, good on you for doing so well. :)
This is wonderful! Good for you :-)
Thanks, everyone, for the kind words!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Very good review.
I think it's nice that you shared your life experiences in this hub. Gave you thumb up for sharing.
Thanks! I just submitted a hub offering specific tips for Marketplace articles.
Okay, this answers my question. You're right that to earn money at any site one needs to write with discipline and focus. I really appreciate reading this Hub and knowing your story.
Thanks for the great hub and info. I am living in Yeats Country and should know more about writing than I do. I'm a new fan. Cheers,
Thanks, Sligo! Man, I envy your living there. Can I come visit?? lol!
This is a great hub. Sorry to hear about your Mother and the disability. It's sound as though you have made the best out of everything. Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much, Sandi!
good information thatnks
You're more than welcome, easy!
wow! I have bookmarked this and plan to check into this. I would like nothing more than to work from home writing. Since writing for Hubs I've rekindled my love for writing and find I'm learning so much reading other people's hubs and researching for my own. I have a degree in English, so of course, have a love of the written word! You are an inspiration. Kartika
thanks for the info, I have not heard about Helium but will check it out
I didn't realize Helium paid out that much. I used the site a few years ago but stopped. I'll check it out again because of you :)
Thanks, fellow hubbers.
Kartika, nice to meet another English major.
Yeah, Casper, check it out!
Tim, I answered your email.
I was utterly disappointed because they say in the ads that you would get from $3 upwards and in advance. Also when you write an article from the title list and you are the first one to write it you would get another $1. When I looked at my account there $0.23 or £0.27 in there. When I queried it they send me an email saying that I should read the instruction and it says that after 100 click so much and 200 clicks and 500 clicks and they never said all that what I stated.
hello
thanks for you imformative hubs its very useful
Hello, hello, I'm sorry you had a bad experience. Most of the money I made came from Marketplace.
Filipino girl, thanks for visiting!
Thanks for the info. I'm really surprised at how much US publishers are prepared to pay for articles. I've been writing for an important Spanish literary website for some time now and get 5 measly euros for essays that take a great amount of time and effort. Of course Spanish is my main language, so I don't know if I'd really be worth anything as a writer in English :)
I join in the praise of all of the above I'll be bookmarking this one and checking helium when I get the chance Thanks!
Thanks, Hammer. I'm still trying to recover from your cooking article. lol! I think I need one of those e-cigarettes...
Thank you for this habee.
Welcome, Joebhoy! Thanks for visiting!
Hi, habee. Nice hub. I also cannot leave Helium because it is the only site where I earned real money. I am not earning that much but it gives me a monthly pay for my bills. I have been with hubpages for more than a year and I still am enjoying the site.
Bravo!
dt
www.WebSlingerzzz.com
Thanks, fellow hubbers!
Thank you for sharing your personal story with us.
You're welcome! Thanks for visiting!
Thank you for you post!
As I'm working on a review for a New product: Google Sniper Method, I search on Hubpages I come across your post. I learn a lot form it.
Your personal story adds a special touch on it. It makes the goal more acheivable for every one.
I will share it with my suscribers, while they are studing this Affiliate Marketing Method!
Wow, $1,000 in one month. That's really something. Wish I could write in Helium but they don't allow non-US residents there :(.
Great work.
Thanks for stopping by, pals!
Thank you for the article I just started writing articles here and a few other sites . Had not heard of helium I will have to check it out
What a great inspirational story!! Thanks for sharing
Glad you stopped by to read it!
yeah your right emie... but great article you've just whipped out habee...
Thanks, General.
Hi Habee, I just joined this site tonight, and I have to say....I think I will have a good many hours of interesting reading here. :) I am not a writer, but still love to write for my own personal use.
I enjoyed your article, it was very informative. Your story is inspiring! I, too, have a disability and wish I could earn some money online, but all I've ever found out there were the online businesses where they ask you for money just so you can read their information! :( I think Helium sounds interesting, but I noticed someone mentioned that you have to be a U.S citizen to write there, which is disappointing. I am a Canadian.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your story and advice. :)
That's interesting. I have read in forums and in other places how Helium was good but now things have changed. I here they have new policies now. Do a search and you will see what I'm talking about.
To be honest, you didn't suck me in praising Helium. You sucked me in because I too used to teach full-time and no longer do. I had to see what a fellow educator had to say.
Hi, WSP. Thanks for visiting. I still write for Helium Marketplace sometimes. In fact, I sold an article there last week. Have you tried Constant Content?
Wow, that's impressive! I signed up for Helium, but got discouraged at the idea of writing on spec. Good to know it actually worked for someone! Maybe I'll give it another try!
Hi, Erika. Thanks for stopping by!
The most I make from Helium is just over $300. I think I will jump for joy if someone buys my article.
You'll get there, Scheng1. Thanks for reading!
When 333 of my articles are still missing, I can't say that Helium plays things straight. Also, people should know that Helium changes their TOS at whim. I sold 9 articles on the marketplace and probably made money too BUT later, they no longer could explain why my 333 articles simply vanished.
Wow! What was their explanation? That must have been awful! I cannot imagine.
suziecat7 says:
2 months ago
Thanks for this honest Hub. I don't do much with Helium (no time) but I may check it out again.