by Nick Somoski

Created on: July 21, 2009   Last Updated: August 14, 2011

As a Helium writer and member, I'm sure you know that you can make money not only from upfront payments, not only from recursive income, not only from contests and Marketplace, but also from inviting new writers.

Writing at Helium is an experience I'm glad I've come across. I get to write great articles and meet wonderful and talented people, all while getting paid at the end of the month. Even better, I get to tell my friends and family all about it. When I first joined Helium, I actually didn't know you could even invite a writer. So, when I started seeing the money come in, I started letting some of my friends and family in on it. They were psyched - they wanted to get into this right away, and some of them actually did.

The sad part for me is they joined the site and became full members before I had a chance to invite them. Since then, I have invited a few writers who have made small profits, but it's something you have to look out for.

If you're interested in inviting a few of your friends and family members to join Helium, you can do so by two methods.

1. Invite-a-Writer

If you want to earn money from your invites, this method is for you. First go to your "My Helium" page. In the left-hand column, click on "Send Invites." From this you can invite anyone you want, just as long as you have their email address. Type in their first name, last name, and email in the appropriate columns, customize your invitation message in the box below, and click "send." In no time the people you invited will receive your message, having the choice to join Helium or not.

This is the preferred way to invite writers by most Helium members, because as long as they click the Helium link in their invite email and join, you'll be able to earn 5% of all the article earnings they get. It isn't huge money, but it is extra money you can cash out on at the end of each month.

2. Banners

Invite-a-Writer is a very upfront way to get people you know to join. If you're looking to make things more "general" you can post a Helium banner on your personal web-page or website. If you have a site that gains a lot of traffic, and are just looking to get new members to join the Helium community, this way is perfect for you. Just place a banner on your site and anyone who clicks on it will be redirected here or to your Helium page.

The downside to this - you most likely will not know who joins and who doesn't without asking them. You also won't earn any money from their earnings because you didn't invite them directly. On the other hand, everything is kept completely general and up to the viewer whether or not to join. It can easily be placed on your website, showing your friends and family that Helium is a place you want them to check out.

Inviting a friend or family member to Helium can be a great experience. I recently invited a friend here, showing them around their first day, and so far they love it. You get the satisfaction of having invited someone to this wonderful community, and hopefully that person will do the same in the future.

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