eHow Landmarks: Inspiritation to all eHow Writers

This past week has come with blistering, mind-numbing chills (it seems that January is the new December, at least for Pennsylvania). However, along with the cold, cold winter came some announcements from eHow writers, with landmarks that will warm up anyone's spirits!

While I'd love to mention the numerous eHow writers who have written 100 articles, or passed their $100 or 200 goals indivudually, this blog would be longer than a phone book :)

However, the following is an amazing feat that does indeed need great recognition:

Jerrie Dean, an eHow writer since 2007, has written over 450 (465 last time I checked) articles. Recently, Jerrie stated a true milestone of passing... 1,001,999 views!!!

This has generated quite a buzz in the eHow forums, and it has certainly brought a reality check to all of us eHow writers: beyond the earnings, beyond the statistics, beyond the hard work... people READ eHow articles. EHOW IS REAL. Even more, the goals you want to reach through eHow is indeed possible!

Understanding that over one million people have read one, single writer's work is something to behold! I had the pleasure of chatting with Jerrie, wanting to get to understand this amazing feat a little bit better:

Me: What motivates you to write?

Jerrie: I have always been a writer since I was a kid. I never have been much of a talker, so being able to write gives me an outlet. It is so much easier for me to type out a paragraph than it is for me to think of small talk. I am also able to be creative with words and I love words and am humbled by how a paragraph can make someone laugh or cry. Plus, I love to teach piano and I basically just love to help other's learn, and I am able to do that online and reach thousands of people. That's motivation right there for me. I think most any successful eHower is a teacher at heart.

Me: Personally, why do you think you reached 1,000,000... something that I'm guessing no one has achieved?

Jerrie: I don't believe I am the first to reach one million views, but I can tell you that I believe it was a combination of many things. I consistently wrote 5 times a week, at least one if not two articles a day for over a year. I participated in the forums and commented on other's articles. I made sure that my articles were well written and informative and not just something I put out there to make a quick buck. I continuely try to stay ahead of the curve on current topics which I believe helped me to get noticed by the media and would get me on the top 10 eHow list, all which helped me dramatically with my views.

So, again I love bringing news, inspiration and motivation to all of us eHow writers... and while the journey of writing, whether it be pen and paper or internet based, professional contract or freelance liesure, writing is a carousel... going round and round, up and down.

Just remind yourself every now and then of why you got on the carousel, for the enjoyment of the ride.
~Jeff

eHowlity: 4 - The Official Jeff Beer Article Program

I decided to share my eHow process with others, whether you want to adopt or adapt my system is absolutely fine! After all, every writer has their own preferences... however I find that the more you stick with the program, the better off you will be.

So, it's my pleasure to announce The Official Jeff Beer Article Program!

The JBAP is going to take you through steps towards the goal of maximizing your earning potential from your work. As writers, our success is based on efficiency and effectiveness in your output. However, many people find themselves in dilemmas, and that lack of experience, understanding, or GUIDANCE is the reason for failure.

Since this is the first JBAP, I'm going to simply break down what the future JBAP sessions will look like:

Sessions:
1.) Getting started, and getting over the first hurdles.
2.) The Creative Process: How to Balance Fun with Work
3.) Write from your heart, and from your brain!
4.) Focus, focus, focus! (How to write 100 articles per month. NO EXCUSES!)
5.) Marketing your Work: Articles that sell themselves.
6.) Managing your Writing Career & the Synergistic Process
7.) Beyond eHow

So, as you see, there will be 7 sessions, and each one will be certainly a must-read for any writer! To conclude the First JBAP, I want every writer to take 5 minutes, and with a pen and 3 pieces of paper, make 3 lists (if you haven't figured it out yet, I love lists :D).
- List One, write all the things that you want to achieve... that's right, EVERY GOAL, DREAM, ACCOMPLISHMENT you want at this moment.
- List Two, write everything that holds you back from accomplishing these GOAL, DREAM, ACCOMPLISHMENT, etc.
- List Three, have SOMEONE ELSE write a list of your Strengths & Weaknesses.

Do your Homework, and have it ready for Session 1!
~Jeff

eHow Spotlight 4

This eHow Spotlight goes to...

Shirley Philbrick! (http://www.ehow.com/members/slphilbrick.html)

Shirley is a great eHow writer! I don't know where to begin... she is always so kind and humorous throughout the eHow forum. Even more, she'll never hesitate to lend some advice out to her fellow ehowers! After reading one of Shirley's many articles, you will want to read more! Her style is informative, yet enjoyable

So, here are some of my favorite article's of Shriley:

How to Get an Inside Look at Earning Money on eHow (Probably her best work, in my opinion. As well, this is one of her numerous eHow based articles)

How to Continue Writing When You're Tired (Another great article, and it truly was a benefit to read!)

How to Make it a Great Day ! (A random pick, I must admit. However, this article exemplifies Shirley's style... she knows how to mix information into an enjoyable read!)

So, thanks for being a great writer Shirley!

**BE SURE TO COMMENT, GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK TO OTHER eHow WRITERS THAT YOU THINK DESERVES THE SPOTLIGHT!**

eHowlity: 4 Make the Most from Writing for eHow

I don't want to speak as a 'Say all, Be all' type... but I noticed that numerous eHowers are in need of some guidance. Whether you have been on eHow a year more than myself, or just created your account tonight, be sure to take these notes, and make something from it.

I have found that eHow and I are partners to love/hate relationship. eHow is awesome for potential income (I still refuse to use any other article websites), and I write as many quality articles as possible, with an occassional humorous how-to here and there. However, I go to check my stats, and find that nothing gets updated. So, I get mad at eHow, and start living my life... and THEN, eHow teases me back by giving me some updated earnings.

While I am certain that this accounts for 99% of other eHowers... everyone handles the situation differently.

Here are some pointers for all of us eHow writer's:

1.) Worry/focus more on writing than earning. Check your views, $ earned, and all those other stats once AND ONLY ONCE a day. If the stats aren't updated, then check tomorrow.
2.) Write about what you enjoy, NOT about what will EARN MORE. I learned this lesson when I wrote freelance for some website... I wrote hundreds of content articles on topics I wasn't familiar with, but knew the money would be good. The result? I got burned out, and was happy when I ended my contract.
3.) Read other writer's work. Yes, reading helps you out too. It's amazing that somehow writer's have stopped reading all the sudden, as if reading another eHower's how to's will hurt your earnings? Reading enlightens you with what works, what doens't work, and how you can adapt your writing style.

So, hope these tips help you out... and remember that it's all about enjoying what you do! It's almost like karma, if you love what you do, it will love you back :) As well, if you read other's work, others will read your work.

Stay warm,
Jeff

A Little Bit About Myself

I am going to take this post in a direction slightly away from eHow, for I think it's necessary for you, the wonderful viewing audience, to see who I am.

I am Jeff Beer, 22, male, from Pittsburgh PA. (Ya, I just did A/S/L)
I am in my senior year of college, majoring in Philosophy with emphasis in Psychology, and in May '09 I will be officially done with college.

... a standard introduction, but, there is WAY to more it. And hopefully, you can take some time read about me. My life. My story.

While I have been blessed with friends, family, loved ones who will support me no matter what... from triumphs to my dumbest choices, I am in a challenge, a personal hurdle. I am in a dilemma that includes me, myself, and I.

I have been in the process of trying to figure life out (aren't we all always in this process though?). I could/can be anything I want, I could/can do and accomplish whatever is physically, mentally, emotionally possible. What gets at me is that I have had so many resources at my disposal, right at my fingertips... all that could have been professional contacts/connections to very successful business opportunities to once-in-a-life experiences. While I took some of those opportunities, I did not utilize as much as I should have. While I have changed my major, a symbol of my career and who I am suppose to become, 4 times (Music Industry to Special Ed./Elementary Ed. dual major to Psychology Counseling and Philosophy to Philosophy with Emphasis in Psychology) ... I am preparing myself for what I want to do, want to be.

In reality, I should have decided on this years ago... but the Real World is not so real.

So now, presently, I am trying to make something for myself. A career. A lifestyle. Definition for who I am. I am very self-intellectualizing, and I love being eclectic. Recently, I have adopted Edison's 'Light Bulb' Philosophy... for I didn't find one major, one career, or one lifestyle, RATHER I found 3 majors/careers/lifestyles that didn't work for me.

As I have grown with a family that instilled a character of hard-work and that you can get anything you want, achieve any dream... that is what exactly I will do. While many throw disbelief and pessimism at me, that my challenge may be too difficult to accomplish, I turn that into motivation... to prove them wrong. My goal, my dream, is to create a career and lifestyle that adopts everything... a very entrepreneurial spirit and method. With this, I want to create businesses, both online and brick-and-mortar. I want to write articles, essays, books, ebooks on topics on extreme spectrum. I want to create the art that has been burning inside of me for years. I want to discuss, think, and help others. I want to do it all. I want to be known as someone who was able to think AND act.

In a way (as most of these stories' morals go), the experiences I learned these last years have been almost over-compensating for what I missed out on, the opportunities I didn't take, and this is something I should be thankful for.

Don't take this post as a sympathetic beg, or think that this is a poor attempt to rub my ego onto you. Rather, actually take time to think about this, my story. I am just trying to tell you not how I failed, but rather HOW I WILL SUCCEED.

I don't care if your 30 years older or younger than me. It's a lesson that I think we all pass off too much, I think we all get off the path every now and then, which is fine... in fact needed occasionally, but the real personal challenge is how we get back on it. Personally, I think we all have grown lazier mentally and physically every day... and those that are most happy are the ones who have understood this, and overcame it.

So, I hope I inspired. Made someone actually stop their world for a second or two, and helped you create a thought, a belief... that anyone can rise. Anyone can do anything. Whether it be in success or failure is not of importance, rather it is within the attempt that is of essence. As well, I hope that you have come to see my true self. I think the internet creates a split personality, and an inability to see our true selves, and with that I have shed my 'internet skin'.

If anyone has been interested of my personal stories, I would love to further my story through my other blog: The Meta-Entrepreneur (http://metaentrepreneur.blogspot.com/)

On this blog, I mix posts from 'How to succeed on the internet' to personal stories like this one'. I think there are too many 'black and white' blogs... that are either business/work/success based OR are completely 'Dairy-esque'. So on that note, I hope you can keep reading my blogs, find interest, and take something from them.

Thanks for reading.
Jeff

Quick eHow Experience Update

First off, I must say thank you to all of my new readers, since I know that 99.99% of you are from eHow itself... this is the best support I could have for this particular blog! Why? ...because this blog is purposed for YOU!!! :) So, thank you so much for this support, comments, praise, etc. I am certainly going to keep focus on this blog.... whether it makes nothing or thousands of dollars, sharing my experience on eHow with you is priceless ( that was rather Hallmark-esque).

Anyways, I just wanted to give a little progress report on my eHow success and experience:

Well, it's been almost seven full days into the new year... so technically it is by default a full week in my eyes :P So how have I been doing? The best way to dscribe my progress, here is a comprison from 12/31/08, and then today's (1/7/09):

12/31/08
Articles Written: 56
Article Views: 2,397
Earnings in December $20.46
----------------------------
1/7/09

Articles Written: 85
Article Views: 2,397*
Earnings in January $2.57
*Those views haven't been updated since the 8th Grade Picnik... so I am sure my views are WAY HIGHER.

...so as you can see, I increased my articles by almost 30. As well, my daily earning average dropped a good bit, mainly because I had a New Year's article that was my main earner. As well, I should state that I have a TON of articles in draft (almost 200 to be exact). I know that this is not a good thing, for I should just work one article at a time, then get it into Google/eHow system ASAP to maximize earning... but I am wanting to make the most quality out of each article, and would sacrifice a few pennies now to make a few dollars later. :) (I think I'm going to quote that from now on!)

I am still being optimistic, in that I know the eHow earnings takes time... but I have high expectations for myself. I want to make $10/day... at the least. No matter what I earn, I will have to keep writing solid articles, and just let them run its course. I guess I could do some marketing for them, but that's not in my philosophy right now.

So, outside of eHow, I have been launching some new stuff. I am always looking to start some new ideas, for life is always about new things and experiencing as much as possible, right? :)

http://donateexperiment.blogspot.com (it is BRAND NEW, so don't be alarmed if you absolutely nothing on it)

I am always using my philosophy background to test new ideas, and I want to see how people will act on a humanitarian level right now, in the current economic struggles we all face. While I know that we all range in incomes, many people still keep giving, no matter what! So, The Donate Experiment will be my project, form which I ask for donations of nothing more than $1.00 (USD) *Though, if you REALLY want to donate more, then be my guest :) However, I want to see how this project will result... and I will announce daily progress reports of the experiment, so everyone can see what is going on. As well, the more success, by more donations, I receive, the more possibilities will open up on the blog.

Sounds interesting? I think so, and look forward to seeing what will happen! :)

Success or failure, it's going to open some eyes to us all.

Again visit the link above, or here (http://donateexperiment.blogspot.com)

So, thanks again for the support, and hope you will find interest in the new project!

Jeff

ps- Check out the Latest eHow Spotlight! :)

eHow Spotlight 3

Another eHow Spotlight!

jkmom2007
http://www.ehow.com/members/jkmom2007.html

Priding her self as a mom of 2, she is an excellent writer for exercise topics!
Here is a list of articles I have thoroughly enjoyed of jkmom2007s.

How to Choose a Running Route (I personally found it as an informative article, for I am a runner myself :D)

How to Save Money at The Grocery Store (We all need to learn to do this nowadays)

How to Find a New Job When You're Not Looking (a very cleverly written article)

So, as one could see she is an awesome writer, coming up with some very useful topics for the How To. While she may be new to eHow, I foresee her making an impact towards the community! :)

Until next time,
Jeff