by Carol Gioia

Created on: December 08, 2009

Rating articles is an important component of the Helium writing site. Members submit articles to be read and rated by others and, theoretically, share a responsibility to read and rate the work of others in return.

To ensure each member does their fair share of rating, Helium has established a requirement of one rating star in order to be eligible to receive ad revenue monies for your existing articles.

Some members enjoy rating, others dislike the activity, but most agree that rating is necessary, if they are to enjoy the benefits of feedback and compensation for their writing.

Rating has a quality factor attached to it and many Helium members are befuddled about how to reap a high percentage, in order to garner, or maintain, rating stars.

Discussions in the community forum suggest there is a knack of rating with proficiency that some writers fail to achieve, even with great effort expended. New members often lament their inability to figure out the rating process.

On a personal note, having maintained five rating stars consistently over a long period of time, I would like to share some potentially effective rating tips I have acquired, through trial and error, along the way:

Some dos and don’ts for rating Helium articles:

* Don’t rate when you are tired

When you submit a new article, the rating screen defaults, suggesting you rate at that specific time. There is no mandate on Helium about when to rate. If you are tired from researching and writing a complicated article, that is not the best time to rate. Passing judgment on the quality of writing in two separate articles requires scrupulous reading and attention to detail.  Refrain from rating when you are tired.

* Don’t rate when you are rushed

If you have used up your allotted time writing, don’t rush to rate a few articles, in the misguided notion that your duty will be done. Chances are, if you rush through a rating session, your judgment will be skewed and you will lose rating percentage points, jeopardizing rating stars in the process.

* Don’t over rate

Some writers do huge numbers of rates in one rating session, in their impatience to obtain a rating star, and actually inhibit their overall progress.

Rating percentages are calculated for 30 day and 90 day cycles. 10 to 99 quality rates over a 30 day period enables new members to earn stars soon as possible, in order to garner earnings. Established writers’ rating percentages are calculated over 90

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