Who here has tried writing/submitting stuff to Google Knol? I've been receiving a lot of inquiries about this one and clients want me to ghostwrite for them. I'm still a bit wary since Knol requires "authoritative articles." Any tips? I suppose the content should be unique, well-researched and highly informative but are there other things that I need to pay attention to? As for rates...I'm thinking of charging the client for time spent on doing research and doing the writing itself. I hope that's a good way to go. Thoughts?
I've been talking about Knols with others for a bit (have an account too). Writing my first one has been on my to-do as well. While the article doesn't need to be unique, it will help. I've seen garbage content up there just like everywhere else. Here's an example of one I saw that seemed to be laid out well: http://knol.google.com/k/justin-d-harris-md/knee-surgery/3moakismmkmno/2# Big EWWWW to those pictures though. Charge like you would for any other writing. The client will/should want the item under his or her own account though. So, if you have to do the setup, make sure to add that fee in there as well. You may want to do a Knol of your own as a test, so you can see what's involved. It's not complicated though.
Thank you! I've always had this impression that only those with PhDs or MBAs could post over there I already registered a few hours ago...will still need to study the system. Yes, I suppose the client wants to put the write-up under his own account. So what will happen to the content over there? What if someone wants to cite it? Will the usual "you can use it for your own site, just make sure that you include a link to the source" do? I want to come up with one highly informative article (that's on my to-do list as well)...that'll be a great page to show to prospective clients.
This is also in my to-do list. I'm treating it like a college term paper or thesis. We just have to be really, really careful about the kind of information we put up there. And yes, it DOES look a little intimidating isn't it? -_-
Hmm..., I've heard many professional entrepreneurs have created their Knol. Maybe I should try to make one for myself as well...
Yeah, a little intimidating. I'm taking it as a big challenge, though. I feel that I have to submit top notch content there. Something that people will really learn from and get useful, doable, real tips.
I've been meaning to Knol for a while now but haven't quite got around to it with the recent high workload, but I promise myself I'll try it out soon!
Excuse my ignorance but I don't understand exactly what Google Knol is about, It seems to me like a sort of Google's eZineArticles version or an enhanced Google News version Or maybe I need to browse that site in depth and read more before opining
i treat it like Google's eZineArticles have already posted my knol and guess I should post more to cover all the aspects of my subject
Google Knol is the next Wikipedia, they say. Give it a few more months and basically any search result will yield the Knol page of that word/topic/phrase etc.
content is put by users google put ads = profit reminds me nupedia, but nupedia fail because lose time to check all the content btw i like more the wikipedia spirit
I don't think it is quite worthy to write for Knols. I have written a post myself. Here are my impressions. However, these days, I am quite put off by Knols and don't write anything at all.
It's worth it to write Knols if you have a business and want to further your brand. However, it's not like Wiki in that Knols are posted under your name. With Wiki, it's one topic, one page. Therefore, I don't think there's a reason to rush things. I'll be doing some Knols at some point. It still needs work and I don't see anything in the system that rewards one for acting early.
I setup a profile there at some point last week, but haven't found the time to really do anything with it yet. It's on my low priority list, but something I plan to play with. I don't really look at it as a competitor for Wikipedia though, but rather more directly in competition with things like Squidoo and Hub Pages, as you can choose whether or not to allow others to edit your knols and can earn ad revenue.
The Wikepedia spirit doesn't put ads but profits from the volunteering work of others through fundarising campaigns that aren't clear to me. Anway I believe projects that contribute divulging the authors' work are good from a writer perspective.
Michelle Michan i cant say about wikipedia funds and how spend money but one thing is clear wikipedia(mediawiki) is a non-profit foundation and google is a corporation any corporation have 2 main goals 1)get profit 2)make share holders happy
Yes, people have speculated that it is the new Wikipedia. I do agree with the people though that the feel is entirely different. Wikipedia is more friendly to my eyes and more student oriented. Knol, although students would benefit greatly from its tremendous amount of information, I think it's more suited for professionals looking for valuable statistics and almost-scientific approach to information. but that's just me and that's how I see it. I have yet to make my first one. I think I better start doing one now.
I don't question that Wikipedia is useful for surfers and an excellent school-oriented tool, but my family is connected to the Belgian government and there is too much speculation backstage regarding that fundraising campaigns. Sadly I can't give you the name of another foundation expressly made to get money from people using a noble non-profit cause because that will reveal you who I am behind my byline and who are the persons I'm involved with... or in other words, a person who is a few steps from me may kill me for feeding the gossip, LOL However, as I said, I believe that Knol can be useful for authors as volunteering contributions to Wikipedia help to people who cannot afford printed encyclopedias for their children, as well as other online researchers seeking for a quick reference.