Pros and cons of writing on other sites, such as Squidoo.

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   Autumn Lynnposted 14 years ago

   As I am getting familar with linking I notice people discussing writing on other websites. I notice many hubbers mention writing on mutiple sites. Do people only place spun articles on multiple sites or are different topics sometimes covered? I am wondering what people's expereiences are and what the pros and cons might be.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Autumn, the trouble with revenue-sharing sites is that you're at their mercy. 
      
      There have been horror stories at other sites (Today.com going bust and everyone losing their blogs overnight; Helium, Factoidz and Associated Content making unfair changes to rules). 
      
      I'm not saying the HubPages team would do anything like that, but the truth is that we couldn't do much about it if they did!  So it's always a good idea not to put all your eggs in one basket.

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         simeonvisserposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Do you recommend moving on and starting your own websites once you have mastered the skills here? As long as HubPages plays the game fair we can continue to contribute here though.

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            Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, in fact I don't write at many other sites - I just started my own websites instead.  But I spent quite some time writing on HubPages first and learning from other Hubbers before I took the plunge!

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   2. 66

      qeylerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Other Sites....Factoidz is a Must Avoid.  This is why; you will have your work confiscated, you will NOT be paid.  On Factoidz they have 3 levels, a Staff Writer whose work is immediately published, a Writer whose work is moderated, and a Member...a Member is a person who receives no revenue for their work. 
      
      One is dropped to Member after producing about 100 items.  Hence where you maintain ownership of your work on Triond, Bukisa, Wikinut, and of course here, Factoidz takes everything you post, WHETHER THEY PAY FOR IT OR NOT.
      
      It is a rip off.

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         LondonGirlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Is that true about Factoziod? So after writing 100 articles, you don't get any passive income from past ones?

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            qeylerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            After publishing about 100 articles you are dropped to member so that Quac now collects all revenue that your stuff generates.  You get NOTHING.   There is no way to complain, no way to remove your articles. 
            
            Previously Quac used to have a bunch of shills running around inviting people to join.  Now he does it himself. 
            
            He may make it seem with your first articles that you are getting $ but he plays less than Triond, when he does pay.

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   kerrygposted 14 years ago

   Marisa's right. It always makes sense not to put all your eggs in one basket. I spread out my writing among HubPages, Squidoo, my own websites, and freelance projects for other people's websites, so if any one source of income goes bust, it won't be a complete disaster. At this point, taking out HubPages would hit me the hardest, but I'd still have steady income from the other sources while I rebuilt my HubPages income somewhere else.

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      ssaulposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      yep i write at squidoo, hubpages and also have my own website in case something happen to one. One has to be careful in these times.

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3. 69

   Autumn Lynnposted 14 years ago

   Thanks so much for the feedback. This is exactly what i need to hear from people who have been around a while. Marisa, you make a great point about taking the plundge with your own website. I also think learning from HubPages is the way to go.
   
   If I may ask for a few more details...Do you all write under the same identity on the same topics on different sights? Do you spin articles and put the same topics all around or do you use unique content for each revenue sharing site as well as your own website?
   
   Not putting your eggs in one basket is spot on but I really would love to know the mechanics of moving the eggs around amoungst the various baskets--ok enough egg talk- thanks again for the imput from all.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I do, but wish I hadn't! 
      
      If you're writing on various sites with the aim of creating an online presence, then it makes sense to use the same name and image throughout (and in that case, you might like to use a conventional name and surname). 
      
      However if you're writing to create links, you should choose different identities for different sites.  That way, when you mention another of your articles, it not obvious you're pushing your own work.
      
      
      
      If you're writing articles to earn money, then spinning probably isn't enough.  Spun articles are useful when you just want to create a post somewhere to get a backlink.
      
      
      
      This article might help:
      http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Ultimate-Wr … -backlinks

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   simeonvisserposted 14 years ago

   I think I'm still learning how to turn one egg basket into a money-making egg basket. Once I master that skill, I'll create multiple egg baskets

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      Autumn Lynnposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Ha ha--me too but I always like to think 2 or 10 steps ahead. If i decide to try writing for other sites is a good idea might as well get my toe in the water now. A website would be down the road for me--not clever enough yet.

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   Mikeydoesposted 14 years ago

   I am 100% sure that getting your own website is by far the best thing you can do as long as you know how to get traffic to it and can make it profitable.. I am still learning and plan very soon to do that myself.
   
   I have heard that "don't put all your eggs in 1 basket" saying many times here. And I can certainly agree with this.
   
   I find it hard to believe that Hubpages would be dumb enough to screw us over. Why would they screw the people making them money? But hey it very well can happen...

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      Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, that's the catch.  I started a couple of blogs before I joined HubPages and they went nowhere.  It's my Hubbing experience that enabled me to try again with more success.
      
      HubPages is a great apprenticeship - a bit like having a website on training wheels - because you have to learn about things like affiliate marketing, Adsense, SEO etc. BUT (unlike your own blog), you  get readers much faster, so you're less likely to get discouraged.  Not to mention all the stuff you learn from other Hubbers.
      
      And the fact that Hubs continue to be good earners in their own right.
      
      
      
      I do, too.  But hey, it has happened on other sites where members thought they were dealing with "nice people".  However, my own feeling is that it's much LESS likely to happen on HubPages because they've got their model about right and I assume they're making money.
      
      The reason other sites (e.g. Helium, Factoidz) have "screwed their writers over" is that they realize they're not making a profit, so they start tinkering with their setup - and of course, one way to make more money is to pay writers less!

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   GmaGoldieposted 14 years ago

   Marisa Wright,
   
   Love your term "website on training wheels" - you are so right.  The educational opportunities here are amazing.
   
   Great discussion, great posts.  So now we know what to avoid but what sites are preferred - IF you didn't have your own website - ezine, ehow - what would be the best?  Second to Hub Pages and your own website?
   
   Any thought on writing for local newspapers as a guest?

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      Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I've heard good things about Infobarrel.  I've only written a couple of articles there and not earned anything - but it's early days. 
      
      It's worth checking if you can qualify for BrightHub, too.
      
      There are many more revenue sharing sites but as far as I can make out, most of them don't pay as much as HP, Infobarrel and BrightHub.
      
      Print publishers still pay more than online ones, I believe, so a local newspaper sounds like a good bet.

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