So you've found Helium.com, had a look around and are now thinking about taking the big plunge-committing yourself to an article that will be published instantly, will belong, in part, to Helium forever, and will likely outlast you on this great green orb of ours. You are not the first to wonder, just how good does my article have to be, before I hit the 'publish' button?

In one sense, your article need only avoid profanity and not be hateful toward members of any particular ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or religion. Assuming it does, and you have written on an existing title, it will be published instantly and take its chances along with the other similarly titled articles as it works its way through the ratings engine. But there is the distinct possibility that without a little regard to how it will fair during the ratings process, your article may languish at the bottom of the heap of articles on the same title and be relegated to no or low earnings for ever and ever and ever.

An ambitious writer, then, has to think a little more strategically about how to position his or her articles in order to ensure that they not only rank well in the ratings, but also that they are sufficiently well written to attract readers to the the writer's other work. Readers who happen upon well written articles are extremely likely to look for other articles by the same author. The opposite is true too. Readers who happen upon an article of remarkably poor quality are extremely likely to avoid other work by the same writer.

In closing, an article need not be much more than understandable to find a permanent home here, but writers who hope to find a permanent home at Helium need to focus on producing the highest quality work of which they are capable.

For writers who are trying to grow, there are some fantastic resources right here, including 'peer review' in the "Writer's Workshop" on the community boards. I would also recommend articles under the following titles:

"Should my answers on Helium be short and simple or long and complex?"
http://www.helium.com/tm/24058 0

"What's the best strategy of making money on Helium?"
http://www.helium.com/tm/16305 3

"How does a question get to be a top-paying question?"
http://www.helium.com/tm/13142 0

"On Helium, how do I get my answers rated at the top so they get more views?"
http://www.helium.com/tm/12639 9

Learn more about this author, Russell Dawson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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