User Guide

Writer's Guide to the Helium Marketplace

Writers, welcome to Helium Marketplace. Your real freelance writing career begins here.

HOW MARKETPLACE WORKS

Helium’s Marketplace is the only place on the web where publishers are posting the titles for which they need articles right now. Our partner publishers regularly pay up to $100 (or even more!) for each selected article, so you can earn more when you write here and your article is the one picked by the publisher.

Are you tired of having to read publishers’ minds and pose query letters that then get ignored? Do you want to break into freelancing but don’t have a body of clips to show yet? In Marketplace, you see the titles that publishers need. And no one’s prejudging you because you haven’t been previously published – your work for the publisher right here is the only credential you need!

All you need to do is join Helium and start writing.

FINDING THE MARKETPLACE

Find the “Marketplace” link in the blue Highlights navigation bar at the top left, right under the Helium logo. Just click on that to find your way there! (It doesn’t hurt to click your heels twice, too!)

NAVIGATING MARKETPLACE

Sorting and filtering your Marketplace view

Easier to navigate than the yellow brick road, Helium Marketplace offers sorting capabilities to help you find your perfect assignment. Are you a matchmaker or car enthusiast? Your best bet then is to sort by channel (Relationships & Family or Autos). Fan of a particular publication? Filter your view by publisher to see the titles they’ve listed. Maybe you’re just feeling greedy (we don’t blame you) – click “Writer payment” and ogle over the biggest payouts.

Here’s the breakdown:

To filter the Marketplace view by channel:

• Select a channel from the drop-down menu.
• Click “Go.”
• Now you see only the titles in the channel you selected. (Or click the column header labeled “Channel” for an alphabetical list.)

To filter the Marketplace view by publisher:

• Select a publisher from the drop-down menu.
• Click “Go.”
• Now you see only the titles for the publisher you selected. You may also click the column header labeled “Publisher” for an alphabetical list.

To sort the Marketplace view by assignment deadline:

• Click the column header labeled “Days left.” Click again to change the sort order.
• Mark your calendar, and be sure to complete your ideal assignments on time. Click again to change the sort order.

To sort the Marketplace view by number of articles submitted:

• Click the column header labeled “# of articles.” Click again to change the sort order.
• Check out how many articles have been submitted to the titles you’re interested in.

To sort the Marketplace view by payout:

• Click the column header labeled “Writer payment.” Click again to change the sort order.

YOU’VE FOUND A MARKETPLACE TITLE OR ASSIGNMENT OF INTEREST. NOW WHAT?

Read the assignment guidelines, article deadline and writer payment. Each publisher details the assignment length and style. Raters will now also see the assignment guidelines and you will be rated according to how closely your article complies.

To view assignment guidelines:

• Click “Show assignment guidelines,” located directly below the title of interest. It’s really important to write your content to the publishers’ guidelines. The guidelines will be present as you write and while your article is being rated!

Article deadline and writer payment are listed to the right of your title.

It’s a good idea to review background information about the publisher. To do this, click the publisher’s name. Now, if you’re ready to take on the assignment, move to the next step: How to write for the Helium Marketplace.

HOW TO WRITE FOR THE HELIUM MARKETPLACE

Considering you’ve found the ideal assignment, it’s time to actually write your article. (If you haven’t yet pinpointed a great title, back up a few steps to “Sorting and filtering your Marketplace view.”)

To submit an article to Marketplace:

• Click the “Write now” icon, located below the title of interest.
• Land on the Marketplace Write page. Again, be sure to review the assignment guidelines.
• For more general guidelines about writing on Helium, review the Helium Writing Standards. This will ensure your article’s long-term success on Helium.
• You will submit your article in the text box. However (Pay attention here: This is important!), we don’t want you to lose your article or the formatting, so please write your article first in Word or another word-processing program on your computer. Save a copy of your final version in plain text. Paste the plain-text version into the Helium text box. At the least, save a copy of your article on your own computer.

• Use the spell-check feature. Click “Spell check now” below the text box. When finished, click “Exit spell-check.”
• Check the box that states that the article is your own creation. (Plagiarism, or unauthorized copying, may result in your account being terminated.) You must also check an additional box that specifies the particular publisher’s publishing terms and rights.
• Click “Submit to Publisher.”

TIPS FOR WRITING BETTER MARKETPLACE ARTICLES

• Know your publisher. Sure, this may seem difficult when most publishers in Marketplace are listed anonymously. Please take some time to look at the Publisher’s Marketplace page. The Marketplace team strives to put as much pertinent information about the publisher there. Special format requirements, style comments and other information may be found at the Publishers Marketplace page (click on the Publisher’s name to go there!). There are also other ways to find out what the publisher wants. For instance, are you writing for a website, a newspaper or a print magazine? There are writing techniques and styles associated with each medium do your research. Most important, follow directions. The article requirements should provide you with all the information you need for success. If a publisher calls for an article written in the third-person voice, you don’t want to be rated down because you began your article with “I.”
• Review the Helium Writing Standards. This will ensure your article’s long-term success on Helium.
• Scour Helium’s training forums. Find writing tips, peer critiques and writing advice. Go to the Writer’s Workshop forum on our Community discussion boards to unlock your writing potential.
• Get your very own writing mentor. All Helium members are available via private email to help you further develop your articles. If you would like to be paired with a mentor, please forward the article you would like help with to mentor@helium.com. Write “Looking for a mentor” in the subject line. Or maybe you’d like to mentor someone? Write “I want to be a mentor!” in the subject line.

When writing for a Marketplace publisher, be aware that different publishers require different styles of writing. For more information, check out our Writer’s Resource page on Helium Article Types.

HOW TO EDIT MARKETPLACE ARTICLES USING LEAPFROG

You may Leapfrog an article when the title associated with that article is in Marketplace Active status. You cannot Leapfrog an article when the title is in Marketplace Closed status. (For information on your article’s status, please review “Tracking your Marketplace Submissions” below.)

It is important that you allow ample time for your frogs to leap. Do not expect a successful Leapfrog hours before the Assignment Deadline. Why not? Because your Leapfrog could end up in a “Pending Leapfrog” or “Unresolved Leapfrog” status. In these cases, the publisher will review your original submission. If you are not selected by the publisher, you must attempt your Leapfrog again when your article transitions to the live Helium site.

To Leapfrog your Marketplace article:

Follow the instructions to Leapfrog a traditional Helium article.

How to fix a few Marketplace typos (without Leapfrog):

Marketplace articles are missing from public view. Unlike traditional Helium articles, we cannot locate Marketplace articles by URL.

To fix typos in your Marketplace article:

• Email the Content & Community team with “Marketplace typo fix” in the subject line.
• Include the following information in the body of your email:
1. Your pen name
2. Publisher’s name
3. Title of article (as it appears in the Helium Marketplace)
4. Up to three typos: Example: 1st paragraph, 3rd line: their should be there
Please understand the following:
• Marketplace typos can take up to three days to process.
• Your Marketplace typos cannot be processed while your title is closed, in the publisher review process.
NOTE: When your typos have been corrected, you will receive a note from Helium stating that the changes have been made. The changes typically will show on the site within an hour after you receive the email. However, they can take longer. If that happens, please wait at least 12 hours before emailing us about why the change has not taken place.

TRACKING YOUR MARKETPLACE SUBMISSIONS

You’ve successfully submitted your article to a Marketplace title. Where does it go? How long does the process take? Well, it varies. Typically, publishers have 48 business hours after the Article Deadline to make selections. Not all publishers meet this deadline. You can always track the status of your Marketplace article by looking on your My Articles page. The key below will demystify the status of your submission.

Key to Marketplace article status

• In Review Your article is in Marketplace Active status. The Article Deadline has not yet passed.
• In Review Your article is in Marketplace Closed status. The Article Deadline has passed. The publisher is reviewing your submission.
• Purchased Congratulations! Your article has been selected by the publisher. Look for the earnings to appear in your account immediately.
NOTE: If your article is not purchased by the publisher, it is in a Completed Marketplace status. Your article will soon transition to the live Helium site and revert to the traditional Helium look.

PUBLISHER SELECTION PROCESS AND PAYMENT

As a general rule, publishers have 48 business hours after the Article Deadline to review submissions and make selections. If your article is selected, you will be notified by email. Earnings will quickly appear in your Helium account.

MARKETPLACE WRITER FAQS

How do I find Helium Marketplace assignments?

Click the “Marketplace” link in the HIGHLIGHTS navigation bar at the top left of any Helium page outside of the Community forums. Or click the “Write” tab in the top navigation bar, then the “Go to Marketplace” button in the Marketplace box on the “Write” page.

How do I write for Helium Marketplace?

Click any title in the Helium Marketplace that you want to write to. Then click the “Write now” link. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to do so. You may now write your article. Be sure to address the description provided by the publisher for article length, focus and style. For more information, navigate to “How to write for the Helium Marketplace.”

Can I see other writers’ submissions?

No. And that means that other writers cannot view your submission either.

How can I check my article?

You can see your Marketplace article submissions on your My Articles page. You can also leapfrog your piece if you want, as long as it’s before the deadline.

Can I Leapfrog my Marketplace article?

Yes. Navigate to how to edit your Marketplace articles using Leapfrog for more information.

What is the status of my submission? When will the publisher make selections?

Publishers have 48 business hours after the Article Deadline to make selections. For more information on the status of your submission, navigate to “Tracking your Marketplace submissions” above.

What does it mean when a publisher is requesting to purchase “ghost-written” articles?

Publishers may request ghost-written articles for one or two reasons: 1) They would like to reserve full editorial control of the article. 2) They may or may not give the writer credit in a byline. You will still be paid for the piece.

What if a publisher contacts me through my Helium account?

If you are contacted by a publisher through your Helium account, you need to contact us right away. We’ve helped some members discern scams, and we can ensure that no Helium Marketplace publisher is violating a contract with us. There are other factors to consider too, and we can help guide this process properly. Write to partner@helium.com, with the subject line “Helium Marketplace.”

This protects Helium’s interests as well as opportunities for our writers. Since the inception of the Helium Marketplace program, we’ve seen payouts to writers rise steadily while the number of publishers involved has grown exponentially. That is because of competition. If another publisher comes and tries to circumvent that process, this drains our resources, while undercutting opportunities to our writers.

It’s fair business practice and benefits our members to have publishers follow proper procedures.

What will stop publishers from reprinting Helium Marketplace articles without paying for them?

When Marketplace publishers enter into a partnership with Helium, they sign a Memorandum of Agreement that has been drafted by our legal staff. The document addresses issues regarding selections, licensing, payment and terms. We work with our publishers to make sure that they adhere to these guidelines.

What if my question isn’t answered here?

Look in the Marketplace News Forum on the Community boards. There are lots of FAQs there – please read them first since your question was probably already asked by someone else. Or post your question or comment and veteran Marketplace writers will help you.