ehow.com

Maiden · Apr 15, 2009

I was wondering how many use ehow?

I just started there today so I haven't added much content. This is actually my first time doing anything like this.

If anyone wants to add me here is a link:
http://www.ehow.com/members/maiden77.html?view=3rd

JenNipps · Apr 15, 2009

Hi, Maiden.

Welcome to AW. I've added you as a friend on eHow.

Out of curiosity, where in Oklahoma are you? I'm down in Ada.

Maiden · Apr 15, 2009

I am in Norman. Nice to see another Okie around.

JenNipps · Apr 15, 2009

There are quite a few of us around.

Ritinrider in the Freelance forum is an Okie. So are AstonWest (I think he hangs out in novels or short stories) and Ol' Fashion Girl (Office Party and Authors Roundtable). There are quite a few others, too, but I can't remember their user names off the top of my head.

Maiden · Apr 16, 2009

That's awesome! I seem to rarely run into other Oklahoma writers. It is always great when I do.

Of course I am the new guy (err well girl) so I haven't been about that long yet.

stldenise · Apr 16, 2009

I'm sure some of us write for eHow. I gave it a spin, but gave up because my articles weren't getting any money. More of us AW people write for DemandStudios.com, which is the parent company for eHow. DS hires freelancers to write on topics that DS hands out - often rather weird subjects, like how to build a robot out of old socks, or something equally stupid. BUT they pay upfront, from $5 to $15. They pay every Friday, with Paypal, no matter how much you write.

Some people feel more comfortable writing for eHow directly, because you have more control of the material and have full ownership. And a few people have lots of success writing there. But you have to promote it to get any hits. If you write for DS you give them full rights for the $5-$15 fee.

Give DS a shot. You'll need a simple resume and a writing sample. Feel free to use a good eHow article as your sample.

SouthernFriedJulie · Apr 16, 2009

I have a few old things on eHow which brings me the minimum almost every month. I have a bad experience with DS, they still owe me money. Others have good experiences, so it's really up to you which to try.

LOL@robot of socks. Too funny.

JenNipps · Apr 16, 2009

Perhaps a bit oddly, I write for both eHow and DS. I haven't reached the minimum payout with eHow yet, but I'm getting close.

Maiden · Apr 16, 2009

I have been looking into DS but with me being new to this type of writing I didn't want to get in over my head. With a toddler and an infant in the house (along with a preteen) I tend to get overwhelmed with the outside stuff lol

blueobsidian · Apr 16, 2009

Maiden said:
I have been looking into DS but with me being new to this type of writing I didn't want to get in over my head. With a toddler and an infant in the house (along with a preteen) I tend to get overwhelmed with the outside stuff lol

One of the best things about DS is that there are no minimums or output requirements. You can write or not write as much as you like. When I first signed up, I didn't write a single article for several months. So if you have a busy week, you won't lose anything by not writing.

stldenise · Apr 17, 2009

Yep - I used to write every day for DS, then I got bored. I go over there and pick up stuff when I'm in the mood.

You can also suggest you own topics at DS, but they seem to only pay $5 a piece. Used to be better. I did an experiment where I suggested a DS article so I could link it to something I wrote on Examiner. No idea if it is doing me any good or not! But I figured it was an easy $5, since I already did the leg work for my Examiner post. I just had to reslant/reformat it for an eHow article.

(If you're curious, I wrote a post for Examiner telling how to get cheap tickets to attractions in town, then did a couple DS how-tos on getting cheap tickets & free admission to places in St. Louis. I used my Examiner as a resource for the DS how-tos, plus some other sites not mine.)

inkkognito · Apr 17, 2009

JenNipps said:
Perhaps a bit oddly, I write for both eHow and DS. I haven't reached the minimum payout with eHow yet, but I'm getting close.

Do you see any advantage to that over doing rev shares at DS? I don't bother with eHow directly but I've been doing more rev. share due to the contest. I'm not impressed with the earnings so far, but I think that's because some of the topics they choose as rev. share are not good ones. Credit-related ones perform the best for me, and one of 'em that I did through DS even got chosen as an article of the day at eHow.

JenNipps · Apr 17, 2009

I haven't done any rev share assignments from DS, so I really don't have anything to compare it to. I wondered, though, how the rev share program was any different from eHow.

Button · Apr 18, 2009

I have both.

If I have an idea for a How To, I do not submit it to DS. I post it on eHow. I only do the flat fee DS articles and I try to only do the other ones (list or about), not the how to ones there.

I put more time into my eHow articles, and will add pictures and references and add more material when I think on it. I work on this when I've met my money quota for the week and have extra time.

The amounts I have made vary with different articles, but some articles have produced more in income than if I would have submitted it to eHow. I feel happy with working this way. It's less work to write one article that will continue to add up over time.

Clearly the more articles you have, the more income you'll make on there, but if you can find a good set of keywords, there's no reason your articles can't pull in a couple hundred a month extra income.

I have been slowly pulling up the revenue share articles that DS has been putting out. I did want to do a comparison. I don't have a comparison yet, but I am watching those.

SouthernFriedJulie · Apr 18, 2009

ButtonTheCat said:
I have both.

If I have an idea for a How To, I do not submit it to DS. I post it on eHow. I only do the flat fee DS articles and I try to only do the other ones (list or about), not the how to ones there.

I put more time into my eHow articles, and will add pictures and references and add more material when I think on it. I work on this when I've met my money quota for the week and have extra time.

The amounts I have made vary with different articles, but some articles have produced more in income than if I would have submitted it to eHow. I feel happy with working this way. It's less work to write one article that will continue to add up over time.

Clearly the more articles you have, the more income you'll make on there, but if you can find a good set of keywords, there's no reason your articles can't pull in a couple hundred a month extra income.

I have been slowly pulling up the revenue share articles that DS has been putting out. I did want to do a comparison. I don't have a comparison yet, but I am watching those.

I like your method. Would say more, but baby on arm.

inkkognito · Apr 18, 2009

Yowza! Just checked my updated earnings at eHow, and my article that was selected as Article of the Day made crazy good earnings. That front page exposure is awesome. Now I have my fingers crossed that another of my pieces gets chosen at some point.

Maiden · Apr 18, 2009

Are there certain keywords that do better then others on ehow? SO far I ahve only put in two articles but I just started

Had to attend a book signing today so my free time this week has been limited.

Button · Apr 19, 2009

Yes, there are certain keywords that do better. I've experimented with a variety of different ones, I wanted to see myself which ones people prefer. Anything with health and relationships seems to do very well, followed by technical, car things, and some business topics. My best ones are my relationships (how to flirt with a guy/girl) and how to lose weight articles.

I don't have a wide variety of knowledge on much else, I tend to write eHow articles on things I think I could actually help people with.

Maiden · Apr 19, 2009

ya I have only done the two. Anyone who wants feel free to add me as friend on there.

So far I haven't had a whole lot of success but then again I also haven't even been at it a week yet so I am not in shock or anything

WriterintheWind · Apr 25, 2009

I just signed up for eHow as a supplement to the Demand Studios gig (loving this!). I'm not sure if this is the correct link to add me as a friend, but I will reciprocate.

http://www.ehow.com/members/smahaffey.html

Appreciatively,

Gretad08 · Apr 29, 2009

I have kind of a dumb question but here I go anyway:

If you're published online through ehow or DS do you list that in any of your query letters?

WriterintheWind · Apr 30, 2009

I have yet another question . . .

I've discovered I have two different accounts on eHow! One is where I signed up myself and I've written five articles to start out with.

I was doing a search for some Demand articles I've sold and see them listed on my account name I use there!

Is there a way (or should I) to consolidate the two accounts?

The Demand account has me as an eHow Editor/Authority, while the other is eHow Member/Enthusiast.

MrsHannigan · May 2, 2009

I write for both eHow and DS

with eHow, I have about 100 articles up and for the past 2 months I've made about $100- I only write for DS because I need the cash this summer.

The DS revshare program only pays for 5 years, as opposed to the eHow WCP which pays forever.

With the current $50/10revshare bonus plan, the smaller articles are actually a good idea- fact sheets & abouts are always $5 so to get the $5 plus revshare isn't a bad plan.

Someone here said "you have to promote" and I totally disagree- the SEO draws visitors, you don't need to promote.

I also make a few hundred each month from affiliate links in both my ehow and my DS resources section- plus I use that section to direct readers to my articles on other sites (like Suite101)

I think the whole "friends" thing is really a distraction

WriterintheWind · May 3, 2009

Thank you for your helpful insight into eHow!
Sheryl

MrsHannigan said:
I write for both eHow and DS

with eHow, I have about 100 articles up and for the past 2 months I've made about $100- I only write for DS because I need the cash this summer.

The DS revshare program only pays for 5 years, as opposed to the eHow WCP which pays forever.

With the current $50/10revshare bonus plan, the smaller articles are actually a good idea- fact sheets & abouts are always $5 so to get the $5 plus revshare isn't a bad plan.

Someone here said "you have to promote" and I totally disagree- the SEO draws visitors, you don't need to promote.

I also make a few hundred each month from affiliate links in both my ehow and my DS resources section- plus I use that section to direct readers to my articles on other sites (like Suite101)

I think the whole "friends" thing is really a distraction

inkkognito · May 3, 2009

Gretad08 said:
If you're published online through ehow or DS do you list that in any of your query letters?

I would never list eHow. They take anything from anybody, and the quality of many of the articles there reflect that policy. I don't personally use DS, but I don't really need to. If I really needed to list some experience, then I might. The difference to me is that you have to go through an application process there and your work gets edited, so it has more legitimacy as a reference (at least in my mind).

ehow.com

Maiden

JenNipps

Have you JHS today?

Maiden

JenNipps

Have you JHS today?

Maiden

stldenise

Scout Mom

SouthernFriedJulie

Hidin' the bodies

JenNipps

Have you JHS today?

Maiden

blueobsidian

stldenise

Scout Mom

inkkognito

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya

JenNipps

Have you JHS today?

Button

Resident in Question

SouthernFriedJulie

Hidin' the bodies

inkkognito

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya

Maiden

Button

Resident in Question

Maiden

WriterintheWind

Gretad08

WriterintheWind

MrsHannigan

WriterintheWind

inkkognito

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya