I'm Back: A Brief Update

Hi all,

As you may have already known from the last two posts... I have been focusing my energy on WritersHall and the WH forum, as it is something that I have been wanting to start for the longest time now! I am so happy to have some of you alredy on the boards posting away, and I am really trying my best to keep you happy and staying on WritersHall :D

Well, as those events have ultimately led to me neglecting The How-To World blog a bit, I wanted to give you all hope that i haven't completely abandoned this blog... trust me, I will never just up and dump this blog, and don't plan on doing so anytime soon!

However, I will have to find a way to implement this blog into WriterHall, a challenge to look forward to in the coming months.

On a final note, some things gonig on around The How-To World blog:
- The poll is closing up
- February is coming to a close -- I'll give a little post to the earnings, and overall thought on the month (I CANNOT beleive it's March already... SLOW DOWN 2009!)
- Trying to make a transition/partnership with WritersHall

I noticed that the followers of this blog keeps growing, and I have to take a moment to say thank you... I honestly was not expecting to have a SINGLE follower, but you all proved me wrong :) Again, I want to encourage all of you to check out http://writershall.com and the Writershall forum: http://writershall.com/forums

If you loved what you see on this blog, I PROMISE that you will love WritersHall ten-fold!!!
~Jeff

Attention All Writers!!!

There is an awesome website in the works as we speak. Whether you are just starting your writing career, or an established 10+ year veteran, we got the site for you!

Only interested in writing for eHow or AC, or perhaps you are starting a novel or eBook? No matter who you are, we are looking for you!

The site? WritersHall! (http://www.writershall.com)
It's going to be full of all great resources, and if WritersHall is purposed to help further everyone's career in the writing world! From Online Freelance to Paperback Publishing... WritersHall will tackle every possible subject.

So, we are hoping you are as excited as we are here at WritersHall... cause it's really going to be a blast, while at the same time enhancing everyone's success in their writing careers!

So again, check out http://www.writershall.com for the updates and progress
...it will be in its 'infant stage', so we hope you can take it in, and make it a part of your writing career family :)

~Jeff

URGENT UPDATE REGARDING The How-To World

Hello to all loyal readers, new and old. It is with great pleasure that The Jeff Beer is launching an online writing course! With recent discussions and devlopments, there has been a surprising increase of interest towards this, so if you happen to notice a slight decline in activity here, know that the energy is being focused into bigger and better things FOR YOU! :)

In the meantime, feel free to leave suggestions about what you would like to learn more about in writing, freelance, writing, online writing, or anything in general! :)

Here's to our future!

eHowlity 5: eHow Questions Answered

This eHowlity is going to be a little Q&A session. I'm trying to draft up a little spot on the blog where you can ask a question, and I'll answer it as soon as possible. *If anyone would happen to be of assistance on this, please do not hesitate to contact me! :D

So, let's get to the question:

Tonya said... Hello fellow Ehow writer! I am so thrilled at your 100th! I have many to go before that. I would love for your to have a spot on here for questions about ehow...cause I am already wanting to pic your brain! My friend and I tried this and are doing the opposite of each other. She has 300 "friends" I have 87...and so forth. We just can't seem to figure out the "system" in which it all works, why recommended numbers go down...why some articles are viewed over 300 times and it makes no money. Will definately be following your blog.

Great question, Tonya. You definitely threw the big one at me... but I'll try my best :) First off, great idea on working your experiment with someone else. Very effective and creative idea. Second, I'll break you comment into pieces, so I can answer everything as best possible:

'We just can't seem to figure out the "system" in which it all works' - This is by far the most common question on and about eHow. To be honest, there is no answer. Even to the veteran writers with awesome Google/eHow experience... the "system"* is made to be mysterious. I know, it's frustrating, but eHow does this in order to stay competitive and fair. If someone has discovered the system, they most likely won't tell... imagine if you found a huge crate of gold in your backyard. Most likely, you would keep this secret to the public. So the only advice/ answer I have is to simply not worry about this. Instead, focus on the 'true' system: write as many keyword-rich articles as possible, and research the keywords that people are Googling.* I should note that I am using "system" to represent the eHow earning compensation program... just to make clarity on the language.

'why recommended numbers go down'- To the best of my knowledge, Recommendations go down as a result from eHow's glitching. That means, when eHow goes through updating their website, which allows the possibility of losing recommendations. However, I want to get more into the idea of recommendations itself. As some of you have known, I have voiced my opinions towards recommendations as not being of importance. Why? I believe that recommendations have no value, since anyone could simply recommend anyone on a whim. While I would love to think that my almost 100 recommendations gives a presence that I am a good writer, I know that at the end of the day it did not create earnings. So, hate to be a bit pessimistic in that aspect, but don't focus on recommendations, and as I mentioned in last question... just focus on writing quality articles.

'why some articles are viewed over 300 times and it makes no money'- This is another common, but unanswered question. However, I will definitely be able to bring insight to this area. I am pretty certain that every eHow writer has at least one, if not several, eHow articles that are viewed hundreds of times, yet have yet to earn a penny! Why is this? Remember that eHow's earning are based on ad contracts, primarily via Google's adsense program. Therefore, eHow get's payment from reader's clicks on those ads, which you receive a percentage of that earning per ad clicked. So, you have an article that has 300 views, but earned nothing. How can you get it to start earning? There are two methods:
1.) specifically create a writing style that indirectly moves your reader to do further research the article's topic, which will enhance your chances of having ads clicked. I have found this through my years of online and freelance writing, but I am amazed as to how this technique is such a secret. While I preach highest quality in your writing... mixing it up with this little marketing technique will give a creative method for earning!
2.) Start marketing heavily on internet resources, so that you can get thousands of readers that can become frequent, loyal readers of your work. Best method for this is to start a blog, and become active on internet resources, such as Twitter. ***REMEMBER: it is against Terms of Service with Google Adsense that you do not state the readers to click your ads! While not 100% certain, I am 99.99% that eHow follows this policy as well. If you do this, you will be banned from Google's Adsense program, and 'possibly' be banned from eHow. Even if you did ask... readers will quickly lose interest in you anyways, so just avoid asking for clicks altogether.
Obviously, you want to mix both 1.) and 2.), but if you must choose one, go with 1.).

So, hopefully this answered your questions Tonya. I enjoyed this post, and hope to get more from YOU, my lovely readers :) If I can leave you with one idea, let it be this: Writer right, and yearn to earn! ...sorry, it's Friday. What I mean is write with quality, and in return you will see earnings be decent! I know, a 'DUH' statement, but you'll be amazed as to how many people don't truly understand the power of quality writing.

Wrap-up of January 2009

Good morning to all! I hope that January has been a warm welcome during this cold month. As it seems that 2009 is going full-speed, I felt that I have had an unusually large amount of down-time... something I haven't truly had in years. While I was working hard on eHow and my freelance writin, this down-time has allowed me to get back into my creative self, and with that I have accumulated numerous great ideas that I am certainly excited to announce in the near future! Some being career-related, and others being more artistic hobbies... but nonetheless January has been a great time to think, wonder, and meditate (it is safe to say that coffee also played a vital role as well).

But now I want to focus this bit towards my 'eHow' goals. Here is what my goals were back on New Year's Day:

1.) Have written 1,000 articles by end of the 2009 years.
2.) Make a $1,000 month by March (...so I got 3 months to give that done, oh boy!)
3.) Make eHow writing a steady income, thus making it a full-time job.

So, how is the progress? Not sure, I must say. I have passed the '100 article' mlestone... and while I wanted to announce it in the eHow forum, I decided not to. Why is this? Simply because I knew I could (well, should) have had those 100 articles written back in December. As well, I noticed that everyone and their mother (this can be both figuratively OR actually :P) announces their milestones, so I feel it has become a bit mundain.

Even more, I am a bit inconclusive in my progress report because my earnings are lower than Decembers (I still have a day or two to match or beat Dec.'s earnings... so keep your fingers crossed!)
Another bit of a bummer is the eHow's management lack of consistency in updates. Don't get me wrong I understand how much of a PAIN that is... but it has tested my patience for sure. Hopefully February will be a kinder month in that regard. :)

So, going into the new year, I may have bitten off a bit more than I can chew... but I have a big mouth, and an even bigger appetite... so I'm not going to back down from the challenge. Almost majority of my articles are over a month old, so I am looking forward to seeing this 'ripening' effect that all the veteran eHowers talk about.

Overall, I must say that eHow IS a full-time job, no matter what my earnings are, I can always depend on eHow to bring me success, month after month... I hope eHow does the same for you!

~Jeff

p.s.- I am going to start a little program for interested writers on this blog in February! It is going to tackle all the questions that I have found throughout my time as an eHow writer, but I will also get into discussions covering freelance writing to keyword research to marketing to working on the internet in general! So, please keep reading the How To World blog... I am deeply humbled by your support!

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