Right, by now everybody knows my "The return of Slavery" thread, and through that thread lots of interesting discussions were raised on the subject of the worth of a writer, outsourcing, and rates. After all of this I thought it would be nice to write on a positive subject for a change, so this time I am going to bore you to death with how I got where I am today Ever since the Internet became available to the public I have been around, and always have made money off the web. I have owned some of the largest adult forums on the web, ran support for the largest free-hosts, been a traffic broker, but the one thing I found, I excelled at was writing. We are now talking approximately 4 years ago. I was working a day job, at a local ISP, where I had a management position, and actually did quite well for myself. In my spare time, I did a little writing for several blogs that existed at the time, and had fun. Then I discovered a web site called contentcurrent.com who were looking for writers, to write SEO optimized articles for them and they would pay for it. Curious I joined, first as a forum poster, later on as a fully fledged writer(Had to prove what I could do first.). They paid a whopping $ 6 per article of 500 words(Still do for that matter.) and there were plenty of writing assignments. Then the ISP got in trouble, and eventually went belly up, so I was faced with the choice to either start looking for a job, or do what I used to do, which is make money online. I chose the latter, and went in business for myself as a full time writer. Besides contentcurrent.com I found this place, and started taking on jobs at $ 1 per 100 words, and did okay. I also found constant-content.com and there I got my first high paying clients. Averaging $ 35 per article there, gaining a few long term clients from here(At also decent $ 0.02 per word rates) business was good, and I was back to my lifestyle I was accustomed to in no time at all. So here I was, proud of what I accomplished, and thinking I did well. Then I came here for the very first time(The Copywriting forum). Basically I thought let's shoot the shit with some fellow writers, but to my amazement I encountered Dyadvisor and clashed heads, as he barged into my thread and went off topic After bickering in a few threads I stumbled on a few SEO tips he posted, and me being no stranger to SEO thought: Hey, lets take those tips, throw my own knowledge into the mix and see what happens. What happened was the page on my blog I tested it on went #3 first page on Google overnight, for the terms I was shooting for. Right, so the dude(Dyadvisor) got skills. Over time I got to know him better, and he was kind enough to kick me in the butt, and dare me to write an article, his way, and compare it to my methods, and when you dare me, while I am convinced I am right, then you got me, so I rolled up my sleeves, wrote the damn thing, and, dang! 15 first page Google spots, all top 10 ones with 5 #1 spots! That was mind blowing, but it turned out to be merely the beginning. As we speak, I have re-designed my site a while back(Want to see? It is in my signature) got me an excellent set of SEO packages I can sell, and now I am averaging $ 250 per client as compared to my best one paying $ 150 a few months back. Right, still awake? We have now arrived at the end of the line, where I get to tell you the moral of the story, which is twofold: One, I owe my success to Dyadvisor, this man is the real deal, and it hurts me to see some people in here trying to diminish his good intentions. He is one of the few people on all of DP that actually wants to help you guys, without an ulterior motive, or hidden agenda, and I do recommend you will start listening, because he truly is a wizard when it comes to writing, and if you are able to duplicate only 10% of his skills, you will be set for life! The other reason for writing this, is to provide all starting writers out there, no matter what country you live in, with living proof that you can be successful, and do not have to accept the slave wages I talked about in the other thread. Dyadvisor was kind enough to teach me skills, I never even dreamed possible, and if I can do it, so can you. I am a Dutch bloke, with a good grasp on the English language, but it is not my first language, so let nobody tell you that just because you are not a resident of the UK, US, Canada or Australia you can't make it. You can if you possess the skills, and be a true writer. I sincerely want the slave wages to stop, not for me, because I am beyond them now, but for all of you that get suckered into them on a daily basis. For that reason I am stating; listen to Dyadvisor's advice, he gave my income a boost beyond belief and put me on a whole new level, with a much richer playing field. Whatever you do, do not sell yourself short, by being suckered into Slave wages. If after all of this you are still awake, I want to thank you for your attention I shall shut up now
Really inspiring! You know, we already have started following him[and of course, YOU too!]. The only thing that helps me get rid of "Native Writer" phobia is, Kraven. I'm happy that you are NOT a Native lolz...........Still managing to do wonders! Thanks a lot!
Thank you very much for sharing your story! I bookmarked this thread. I'll be following your footsteps and I hope that I can achieve as much as you did. Good luck to both of us You're really a great help!
Great post, Kraven. What I find particularly annoying is when numbskulls attack DYA because his posts aren't 'pristine English'. He's posting on a *forum* for heaven's sake - he devotes as much time to it as he can, and he *is under no obligation to make his posts perfect* simply because *he isn't selling anything*.
and don't forget mate, the man is not as healthy as us. even typing takes some effort from him. but i digress, let's get back to the OP. I just noticed this today Kraven, and my friend, kudos to you
I joined this forum today for just this sort of thing. I've been earning a living, but barely, for 3 years now, on those "slave wages." I started on GetAFreelancer at about $2 or $3 an article. Today I'm making a whopping $10 average per article, and able to knock out two quality ones, without plagiarizing, in an hour. So about $20 an hour. The bad thing, of course, is that I can't find enough clients, so even at this, I'm still at the lower end of the middle class. I feel quite confident in my writing ability. I'm positive that I'm better than even that $20 an hour, but don't know how to climb up the pay ladder. Maybe your suggestions here will be the start of that journey.
I'm not a good writer but I don't think you are an excellent writer. It's also wrong to think you are. You always need to improve. About Dyadvisor, he didn't know how to present correctly himself to the community and so things weren't ok 100%. Good luck!
Gee, thanks for the welcome. I won't respond in kind by insulting your writing. I double checked, and nowhere did I call myself an excellent writer. I said that I am confident in my writing abilities. I am. I'm tempted to recite a list of accomplishments, but that would not be the way to begin my membership here. I'm sorry that you think that I'm wrong to be confident in my abilities. I was always taught that this was a good thing. If it makes you feel better, though, you have made me feel worse about them.
Look at the `diamond'... it does not know how to present itself correctly (it is covered in coal soot and what not)... but still people undertake all sorts of risks to take it out of the mine, obviously, it requires a trained eye to recognize a crude diamond... Dyadvisor shines like a diamond, you need a trained eye to recognize him. Look at the filth the lotus grows in, still it is admired as one of the most beautiful flowers on earth... Dyadvisor is like a lotus, you need a trained eye to recognize him.
Thank you for posting this! I'm a new addition to this website (joined today on advice from a friend) and have found your and Dyadvisor's advice extremely helpful. I have to admit I'm still quite confused about how all of this works, but I'm learning. Coming from a background in information technology and switching gears to writing, which has always been my true passion, its been a bit overwhelming. Its nice to see someone has found a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you again
Nobody Is Perfect, and................................I'm "Nobody"[lolz]. To be honest, neither excellent nor great, but striving to improve, A WRITER am I.[?] The great "critics" who spend the whole day "researching" on my sentences to find something "wrong", are making me strong. In addition, people like dyAdvisor and Kraven are mentoring along the way. Hey Mr Byliners, You have 2 options 1 - Grow with the great men 2 - Fight with the tough men And the results decide who you will become!
Nice dude - always interesting to hear how others get started. Been doing this 15 years now so might post my own path to where I am now at some point!
Words from an industry veteran of one and a half decade will be looked upon most favorably by everyone here, I believe.
I am a firm believer in the fact that we are captains at our own ships, and we have the power to determine the outcome of our journey. It's not the results that decides who you become, it's up to you to either accept those results, or fight on until fate does hand over what you want from it. There are two types of people in this world: 1. The type that lives life by the cards fate has dealt them. 2. The type that grabs fate by the throat and starts squeezing until it gives them what they want. I always try to belong to type #2