by Gail Kavanagh

Created on: February 03, 2009

The Internet is information - written information. If you know anything, and can write crisp, clear copy, you can make money writing for the Internet. You just have to be aware of the many opportunities out there.

There are three major aspects to writing for the Internet: content sites, such as Constant Content, act as online agents for thousands of writers. You post your articles to the content site for buyers to peruse when they are looking for website content; direct selling to online publications, where you find their guidelines through sites like Writer's Weekly and pitch your ideas just as you would with print publications; and biddng sites, like Guru where you bid for writing jobs against other writers.

No one method is better than any other. All work well for the writer prepared to put a lot of effort into writing and submitting. But the opportunities don't stop there - you can also set up a blog, and make money through Google advertising, or set up a website, and offer your expertise in various commercial writing and editing jobs. The rise of EBooks has also seen the rise of self publishing sites such as Lulu, where you can peddle your wares direct to the Internet public.

Let's take a look at each method, and see how you can make the most of the opportunities each offers.

Content is one of the richest areas to mine. Content can be virtually anything, but you can be sure that whatever your area of interest, there will be a website operator looking for content about it. Writing for the Internet differs from writing for print. Reading off a computer screen can be hard on the eyes, so articles need to be short and snappy. Longer articles are often broken down into shorter page bites to make it easier on the reader. Pack your article with information and remember that no one has the time or the inclination to wander off topic with you.

The better content selling sites have some form of editorial control. This means your article will be read and judged for quality and style. At Constant Content, standards are high and you will be rejected if you do not follow the writers' guidelines. When accepted, the content is offered for sale and when sold, Constant Content charges a fee of 35 per cent of the sale. A fairly new content site is Daily Article, which has a similar editorial policy. With both these sites, you set your own price for the article.

Associated Content buys some content upfront from US writers. However, AC does not pay non-US writers upfront. Instead

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