by Kimberly A. Smith

Created on: February 07, 2009   Last Updated: February 11, 2010

Submitting articles to Helium seems to be a simple process. You find a title, write your article, and click the "Publish" button. However, there are many tips and tricks to help you improve your articles and save trouble later. Try these easy steps when you are writing your next article.

Find a Title That Inspires You

The key to successful writing is to write about things that you have passion for. Begin by browsing through your favorite category to see what kinds of titles are out there. If something grabs your interest, then that should be the article that you write!

Write in a Word Processor

Writing directly into your browser can be problematic. If your internet connection times out or something else malfunctions, you may lose all your hard work. Write in a separate word processor, preferably one that saves your work automatically. Many programs can be set up to save every few minutes.

Check Spelling and Grammar

Simple spelling and grammar mistakes can lead to your article being rated down. It is critical that you run a spell check AND proofread the article. Your spell checker will not tell the difference between "their" and "there" if you make an error. Try reading your article one sentence at a time, from the bottom of the article. This may help you spot errors that you otherwise would have missed.

Learn About SEO

The more traffic your article receives, the more money you will earn. Most of this traffic will come from search engines like Google, so learning some Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques can help your income. Google offers many tools to improve your SEO, such as the Keyword Tool. However, it is important to find a balance between keywords and quality writing. If your article is packed with nothing but keywords, it begins to lose substance. Use the Google Keyword Tool to find terms you might not have considered, but make sure your article is informative and concise.

Upload and Add Links

When your article is completed, click on the "Write Now" link to begin. Copy and paste your article into the box. If you use a newer version of Word, you may want to save your article as plain text first to make sure that no stray coding comes into the article. You can also add relevant links to your article now, giving readers further information on the subject.

Leapfrog for Success

If you check your ratings and notice that one of your articles is doing poorly in the rankings, you might want to consider leapfrogging it. Adding additional content or changing the formatting of your article can improve its position quickly. The more Helium articles that you write, the better that you will become. Use these new skills to rewrite your first paragraph for another quick boost in rank.

Writing for Helium successfully is all about practice. After you submit your first few articles and rate regularly, you will begin to learn what techniques work best for internet writing. Keep practicing and you will begin to see the cash rolling in.

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