by Joan Inong

Created on: April 03, 2009

The best word to describe Helium would be "potential," but many new Helium users make the mistake of not using Helium to its potential. In short, they underestimate its value and toss it aside. Though the mistakes that new Helium users make are many and various in their nature, one thing is for certain: if they do not use Helium to its maximum potential, then they are certainly not getting a true Helium experience.

Quality is something that many newcomers to Helium take for granted. It is really not until they see that Helium is a professional website, though sometimes casual at the very least, that those new writers begin submitting articles that are of publishing quality. Quality is perhaps one of the most important details that a Helium writer should remember; quality work means that the writer is acknowledged by his or her peers, praised by others, and considered by numerous publishers. Submitting quality work also means that the writer takes time to fully develop his or her thoughts, whether he is writing a poem or she is writing a product review. Taking the time to "Leapfrog" articles is also important to a Helium writer's "career," though many new Helium users take this advantage for granted.

New Helium users very often forget that Helium is designed to be a community. In short, it is a gathering place for all sorts of writers, whether they have been writing for years or they have only started last week. Nevertheless, because it is a community, people should communicate with one another. They should share thoughts, ideas, criticism, praise, etc. This is the best way to better one's writing, and what makes Helium so useful to writers. New writers seem to ignore the "Community" link found at the very bottom of the page. By clicking on that link, users are directed to a forum that is full of information, whether from Helium moderators or other fellow members. So, all new Helium writers should take time to navigate and learn about the whole website. They should click on every link until they are thoroughly familiar with the website.

Last but not least, new Helium users are often intimidated by "Marketplace." But, that is actually one of the best opportunities to make money and at the same time build one's reputation, especially with publishers. New writers, however, think that only "really good" writers can write publisher-quality articles, but that is simply not true. By writing about what one truly cares or knows about, even the new Helium writer's article could be purchased and published.

In short, it is important that every new Helium member writes quality articles, learns how the website functions, and take risks that are, more often that not, worth it. Doing so will add practice to the new Helium user's repertoire, and soon he or she will become a seasoned Helium community member.

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