How I Earned $1,000 a Month Freelancing on Helium
83Making money on the internet with freelance writing
Note: This is an absolutely true story. If you doubt its veracity, you can google something like "retired teacher earned $1,000 per month writing on Helium." I think the story was published in several periodicals. Now that that's out of the way...
How I got into freelance writing
A few years ago, I retired early from my career as a high school teacher of British Literature, American Literature, and creative writing. I loved my job, but because of nerve damage, I was approved for disability with Teachers' Retirement and later for Social Security.
For the first few months, I was pretty depressed. I missed teaching, I missed my co-workers, and I really missed my students. Some days I was in so much pain that I took enough pain meds to "knock me out." On those days, obviously, I spent a lot of hours in bed.
I would have pretty good days, too, however. On those days, I would be bored to tears - literally. I'd get on the computer and just wander around. That's how I stumbled upon Helium. I think it was in November of 2007 that I joined.
I've always liked to write, and freelance jobs were something I had considered for a while. I had a good stash of articles and stories that I'd written just for fun. These were on all sorts of topics. I discovered with a little tweaking, many of them would address some titles posted on Helium. Could I really make money on the internet with freelance writing?
Everyone at Helium was friendly and supportive, so I felt right at home. I wrote a few articles for Marketplace, never really thinking they would be selected by a publisher. My youngest daughter did most of my typing, many times while I was reclining on the couch in the office, dictating to her.
My first freelance writing jobs
Just a month after joining the site, I sold my first article. I really could make money writing online with freelance jobs! It was an account of my grandson's fishing at the beach on a then-recent vacation. It earned me a whopping $16. At the time, I didn't care about the money. I was ecstatic that a publisher chose my article over the others submitted, and that he was actually willing to pay for it. I could work from home on my "good days" with freelance writing!
The next week or so, I sold a few more articles, each for more money than the previous. I began thinking that if I worked really hard, I could really make money on the internet with Helium. As I already mentioned, all these articles didn't have to be "from scratch." I could re-vamp some of the articles on my hard drive and use them as freelance writing.
Later freelance writing jobs
Before I knew it, I was averaging about $1,000 a month from Helium. It was becoming a real writing job. One publisher especially liked my style, and I could always depend on selling numerous articles to them every month - for $40 each. Not bad for a pretty short article. I remember one day, I got an email from Helium informing me that this publisher had purchased thirteen of my articles - in one day! And while these articles were my bread and butter, so to speak, the occasional $100 and $200 articles were certainly rich gravy. I fell in love with freelance writing!
I wrote every day that I could in 2008, from January through June. Then in early July, my mom passed away. It was a real blow for me, of course, and it seemed for a while that my muse had died along with my mother. I just couldn't seem to get motivated to write much at all. Freelance jobs didn't hold my interest at the time.
By the time I began to recover emotionally, I discovered that my favorite publisher on Helium had disappeared. Publisher traffic was slow for a while, then it began to pick up some. I started freelance writing again on the site, but never with the enthusiasm I had before. Maybe I just got "burnt out," as my students were wont to say.
Still freelancing on Helium!
I still write on Helium when I see a Marketplace title that piques my interest, and I post on the forums sometimes, too. In addition, I get money each month for page views.
Is Helium perfect? Nope! Can you really make money writing there? Yep! But you have to be dedicated, and your writing must have a certain voice to resonate with publishers. If you want to make real money online with Helium you have to treat it like a real writing job. Freelance writing is popular, and most freelance writing jobs are pretty competitive. I've found that it's better to compete with a handful of other freelance writers than to compete against hundreds.
To read related articles about freelance writing, especially about specific tips for how to be successful on Helium, click on the article links below.
If you'd like to join Helium, contact me via Hubpages, and I'll be more than happy to send you an invitation!
- How to Make Money Writing for Constant Content
Can you really make money writing online? Yes, indeed! You wont get rich, and you certainly wont get rich quick, but you can add significantly to your income by becoming an online freelance... - Tips for Making Money Writing on Helium Marketplace
You can make money writing and selling articles for Heliums Marketplace. I did. I wrote an entire article about my experience. You can read it by clicking the link below this hub. Now back to the... - How to Get Social Security Disability
Note: If you're trying to scam the government with a false claim of an injury, illness, or condition, read no further. This article is to help people who are legitimately unable to work a full time job...
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This is great info. I have written little on Helium because I found it time consuming and the tools stodgy, but after this, I think I'll give it another go. Thanks!
Neat info there habee,thanks for sharing!
you're welcome, Waren!
I love your story and When I first read your article I thought it gives all new writers a chance to make money doing what they love.I am new at the hub pages have you made any money on the hub pages.Tell me more..
Thanks. I'm pretty new, also. I joined 3 or 4 months ago, but really only started writing much here in September. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Good one ,Habee, thanks for sharing this experience.
I can tell you're a good teacher, I'm learning from you.
Sign me up!
Thanks so much, Mark! I don't think you need much help with writing skills!
ur language is really so easy to read and understand... wish i could write in so fluent easy to understand english...
Thank you so much! You will with practice!
Helium was not for me but I am glad that you did so well. How are your doing on Hubpages and what do you think the flavor on Helium is that will get publishers to select from marketplace?
Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope your pain is under control. Sorry about the loss of your mom. Glad you're here on HP! MM
I've never heard of Helium before, going to check it out, thanks for this good hub :) :) :) :)
I have never heard of Helium , will check it out for sure , Thanks
I looked at Helium, but didn't try it. Maybe I should take another look. Your writing is fluid and easy to read. Thanks
Thanks so much for sharing . . . very inspirational. I am retired at home and would love to be that successful as well but don't know that my articles are good enough. I am fairly new here as well and trying to build my library . . . and income. Any advice on my stuff? Thanks so much and take care. Sue
Nice article! Your writing flows effortlessly. Hope you are feeling better & sorry about your mom. I wish my writing was as good as yours :)
You are just great. Very good write up.
Thank you,Your guide useful.
Thanks, pals. The best thing I can tell you about writing for Helium Marketplace is to start small. The more seasoned writers are going for the high-dollar articles, so you'll have a lot more competition there. Keep your paragraphs short and your writing fluid. Also, from my experience, I've found that most publishers like some "personality" instead of just dry facts. Hope this helps!
Habee:---Thanks for your informative Hub! When it comes to writing, I am ( to coin a phrase from Gilbert & Sullivan ) "like a novice in a nunnery". Keep educating!
Currently I still earn a lot more money on Helium but who knows what time will bring :)
Thanks for introducing me to Helium!
I am grateful to Helium because it was the first site that ever paid me to write online and that was so exciting. I don't write there anymore, because I don't like the funky peer review process, but mostly what I don't like is they own the rights to your material and you can't take it down if you ever decide to remove it.
If I was earning $1000 a month I might let them keep all rights, but I never got anywhere close to that. Great hub, good on you for doing so well. :)
This is wonderful! Good for you :-)
Thanks, everyone, for the kind words!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Very good review.
I think it's nice that you shared your life experiences in this hub. Gave you thumb up for sharing.
Thanks! I just submitted a hub offering specific tips for Marketplace articles.
Okay, this answers my question. You're right that to earn money at any site one needs to write with discipline and focus. I really appreciate reading this Hub and knowing your story.
Thanks for the great hub and info. I am living in Yeats Country and should know more about writing than I do. I'm a new fan. Cheers,
Thanks, Sligo! Man, I envy your living there. Can I come visit?? lol!
This is a great hub. Sorry to hear about your Mother and the disability. It's sound as though you have made the best out of everything. Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much, Sandi!
good information thatnks
You're more than welcome, easy!
wow! I have bookmarked this and plan to check into this. I would like nothing more than to work from home writing. Since writing for Hubs I've rekindled my love for writing and find I'm learning so much reading other people's hubs and researching for my own. I have a degree in English, so of course, have a love of the written word! You are an inspiration. Kartika
thanks for the info, I have not heard about Helium but will check it out
I didn't realize Helium paid out that much. I used the site a few years ago but stopped. I'll check it out again because of you :)
Thanks, fellow hubbers.
Kartika, nice to meet another English major.
Yeah, Casper, check it out!
Tim, I answered your email.
I was utterly disappointed because they say in the ads that you would get from $3 upwards and in advance. Also when you write an article from the title list and you are the first one to write it you would get another $1. When I looked at my account there $0.23 or £0.27 in there. When I queried it they send me an email saying that I should read the instruction and it says that after 100 click so much and 200 clicks and 500 clicks and they never said all that what I stated.
hello
thanks for you imformative hubs its very useful
Hello, hello, I'm sorry you had a bad experience. Most of the money I made came from Marketplace.
Filipino girl, thanks for visiting!
Thanks for the info. I'm really surprised at how much US publishers are prepared to pay for articles. I've been writing for an important Spanish literary website for some time now and get 5 measly euros for essays that take a great amount of time and effort. Of course Spanish is my main language, so I don't know if I'd really be worth anything as a writer in English :)
I join in the praise of all of the above I'll be bookmarking this one and checking helium when I get the chance Thanks!
Thanks, Hammer. I'm still trying to recover from your cooking article. lol! I think I need one of those e-cigarettes...
Thank you for this habee.
Welcome, Joebhoy! Thanks for visiting!
Hi, habee. Nice hub. I also cannot leave Helium because it is the only site where I earned real money. I am not earning that much but it gives me a monthly pay for my bills. I have been with hubpages for more than a year and I still am enjoying the site.
Bravo!
dt
www.WebSlingerzzz.com
Thanks, fellow hubbers!
Thank you for sharing your personal story with us.
You're welcome! Thanks for visiting!
Thank you for you post!
As I'm working on a review for a New product: Google Sniper Method, I search on Hubpages I come across your post. I learn a lot form it.
Your personal story adds a special touch on it. It makes the goal more acheivable for every one.
I will share it with my suscribers, while they are studing this Affiliate Marketing Method!
Wow, $1,000 in one month. That's really something. Wish I could write in Helium but they don't allow non-US residents there :(.
Great work.
Thanks for stopping by, pals!
Thank you for the article I just started writing articles here and a few other sites . Had not heard of helium I will have to check it out
What a great inspirational story!! Thanks for sharing
Glad you stopped by to read it!
yeah your right emie... but great article you've just whipped out habee...
Thanks, General.
Hi Habee, I just joined this site tonight, and I have to say....I think I will have a good many hours of interesting reading here. :) I am not a writer, but still love to write for my own personal use.
I enjoyed your article, it was very informative. Your story is inspiring! I, too, have a disability and wish I could earn some money online, but all I've ever found out there were the online businesses where they ask you for money just so you can read their information! :( I think Helium sounds interesting, but I noticed someone mentioned that you have to be a U.S citizen to write there, which is disappointing. I am a Canadian.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your story and advice. :)
That's interesting. I have read in forums and in other places how Helium was good but now things have changed. I here they have new policies now. Do a search and you will see what I'm talking about.
To be honest, you didn't suck me in praising Helium. You sucked me in because I too used to teach full-time and no longer do. I had to see what a fellow educator had to say.
Hi, WSP. Thanks for visiting. I still write for Helium Marketplace sometimes. In fact, I sold an article there last week. Have you tried Constant Content?
Wow, that's impressive! I signed up for Helium, but got discouraged at the idea of writing on spec. Good to know it actually worked for someone! Maybe I'll give it another try!
Hi, Erika. Thanks for stopping by!
The most I make from Helium is just over $300. I think I will jump for joy if someone buys my article.
You'll get there, Scheng1. Thanks for reading!
When 333 of my articles are still missing, I can't say that Helium plays things straight. Also, people should know that Helium changes their TOS at whim. I sold 9 articles on the marketplace and probably made money too BUT later, they no longer could explain why my 333 articles simply vanished.
Wow! What was their explanation? That must have been awful! I cannot imagine.
Hey Sybil (got to love your name!) I loved your article, I can so relate! I am a behavioral tutor by trade and have been out on disability for 2 months now. Working on my writing has really helped. I am loving Hubpages, I will check out helium.
Hi, Sybil. That's my first name, but I go by my middle name - Holle. My favorite part of Helium is the Marketplace. Some nice money to be made there. Thanks for reading!
You have proved that it can be done! There are ways of generating cash income from the internet! Your hubs are always great! : )
Aw, thanks, Cheeky! You're no slouch yourself!
I've never even looked at Helium but from what you say it might be worth a gander or two. I'm still figuring out all the ways of working with hubpages. Thanks for the information.
How many months in a row did you earn $1000 on Helium?
Hi, Peggy! Check it out. I think you'll like it!
Nicomp, I think it was for 7 months in a row. BTW, I just voted for you for "Best Avatar on HP"! It always makes me laugh!
Great hub! Thanks for the info! I absolutely love writing for helium. I've made $25 in less than 2 weeks on there myself.
Thanks for voting for me. I must credit my idol, Hal Licino, the wizard of Photoshop. Someday I may learn edge detection from the Master.
Missmarsh, I'm glad you had a good experience on Helium. Thanks for reading!
You're welcome, and thank you for reading my hub!
Interesting!!!
CM, I need to get busy on Helium again, but I seem to be addicted to HP! Also, I can't write as much as before because my hands and arms are getting worse.
Very interesting article! Thanks for all the information. :)
Greg
Thanks for stopping by, Greg!
I've looked at several article marketing places and never really liked what I saw. Maybe, I didn't have enough confidence to try Helium's article market. Don't you have to put a price on your article? I have no idea how much a new member would charge.
No, Dolores. Helium tells you what the publisher pays.
A lot of great info here, habee! Thanks for posting this! You have a new fan! :-)
Thanks, Liminal! I'm your fan, too! I love witty people!
Well, maybe I'll give it a try! (I think I say that about too many things)
I do the same thing, Dolores. We have SO many choices these days!
I didn't know about Helium - I'm going to check it out. Thanks.
Hope you like it, Nadp!
Sounds too easy yet when it comes to practice, it's a different story.
Musa, I had to work at it!
Color me impressed! I gave Helium a go about 3 years or so ago. I never was impressed with the earnings. Same with Squidoo. But Hubpages has been right up my alley. I get nervous about putting too many of my eggs in one basket. I do have other projects, but most of my time is spent here. Long live Hubpages!
I love HP, also, Angela!
Encouraging article. Surely your gifts and talents will make room for you.
I sure hope so, 2be!
thanks for your hub....and information...
Welcome, Sweety! Hope it helps!
Thank you for a fantastic hub. Not just on how to make money on Helium, but also on how you bravely got through some of life's greatest trials, and still kept going and even manage to be successful. I'm so sorry about your mother's passing away, I'm very close to mine, I could never imagine how hard it was for you to get your enthusiasm back. I can see you have a wonderful daughter. Your hub is an inspiration. Thanks for helping me put things more in perspective.
Writer, thanks so much for your kind words! It was a tough time, but my family was very supportive.
I find your article extremely misleading. In actuality, there have only been 2 (possibly 3) instances where someone has earned more than $1000.00 in a month, and as you stated it was not paid by helium, but the publishers. That 13 articles that you sold could have gotten you the same $1,000.00 (maybe even more) had you used some other venue.
I made money at helium also, competing in the contests and I also sold some articles. But I really work my butt off. When I divided the number of hours I in put into writing by the amount of money I got, it worked out to be about a $1.00 a day.
Before you all go running over to helium, google "helium scams" & "helium sucks." Do your research.
I do have one question for you, "if you are averaging $1,000.00 a month for your 481 articles at helium, why have you submitted 597 articles here at HP?"
I think you need to re-read this hub. I explain why I joined HP. 13 articles a month?? Where did you get that number?? I sold 13 articles to the same publisher in one day! HP is much better for Adsense income. Most of the money I made on Helium was for Marketplace purchases.
I still write for Helium MP. In fact, I sold 2 articles there last week for $160.
I like you started my writing career on Helium. I started because my daughter was sick with Lupus, still is. I did not make a thousand, five hundred, or even 25 dollars for most of the first year. But what I did get was a ton of people who went to my website and bought articles from me personally, later they would tell me it was on Helium that they saw me. However, because that first year I learned that 30% of all the jobs I got was because they had seen some article I wrote at Helium, I decided I would write for them a couple of articles a week. However soon enough I started getting more money in and now I do pretty good. I love Helium.
Good for you, Kayte! Keep up the great work!
wow that's amazing you are really talented writer and prolific, I have a question(s) which site do you prefer? Hubs or helium
and which one pays better residual?
thanks x
Thanks, John! HP pays better residual, but I like selling articles on Helium's Marketplace.
That is really an impressive story! Hope you will be able to make in hubpages too in the same way.
That would be nice, Lex!
Hubs like this make me lean toward revising some of my helium articles to see if i can bring my score back to where i can make significant money again.
good info.. !! keep it up..
Dobson, good for you!
Thanks a bunch, Indianjohn!
Pretty inspirational story habee.
Have been freelancing around for the last 3-4 years, but mostly on sites like Elance, Guru, GAF etc. Have got pretty sick of writing for people that are willing to pay nothing more than peanuts while asking for the moon.
As for Helium, it is clear from the comments its not meant for non-US people, unfortunately. There's a world of talent out there just waiting to be tapped.
Are you aware of any other similar sites that offer services like Helium for people other than US residents?
Non-US folks can write and earn on Helium!
Thanks for sharing. I've read a few of your articles and found them all informative. I'm trying freelance writing and waiting a semester out to take one class to move to a real college or uviversity. I'm a Mom of a few kids,3 I had biologically,and some more that followed mine home or had been one of my friends or family's juvenile delinquent. I have the touch ith kids. I would like to join Helium. Could you invite me? Like you I am disabled from nerve problem in my back, hip, and legs. This might help my family a bit and I feel I can do it. Thanks, Lynda
Best of luck, Lynda!
Habee, your hub is very informative and I enjoyed too. I can say that you are inspiring me. Thanks for sharing.
I'm so glad!
Just to echo Habee, you certainly can write for Helium if you are outside the USA! I am and I do!
It has been hard for me to earn a decent amount at Helium. Thanks for sharing this hub and congrates on your income with Helium.
Thanks for adding that, Organicsi!
Tammy, don't give up on Helium!
Have never tried Helium, but am looking to expand my options. Thanks for an honest and informative look into your experiences there.
Best of luck, LL!
Could you tell me how I can find out more about Helium? Thanks
Hi, Brie! I have several hubs about Helium. You might also go to their website and look around. It's helium.com.
Great account...I've read this hub before, and this was part of my motivation to check it out!
am looking forward on joining helium.
Thanks so much, Sage!
Ahmed, best of luck!
Hi, I found your hub to be very inspiring and motivational. It's one of the best hubs I've read so far! I like your story...sounds believable and honest. I've stopped writing for a while...practically gave up. But now, after reading your hub, I feel motivated to keep on trying. I'm going to start writing again. But this time, I'll concentrate on topics that I enjoy writing about. Thanks a lot for sharing!
By the way, Demand Studios is another website you can submit articles, and get paid a flat fee of $15 per 400 word article. Check out my hub about making money with DS for details. Thanks again!
Olga, never give up on writing online! There are tons of opportunities.
Hi Habee
Just recently received an invitation to write for them, With this article, I think I'm gonna give it a go! Nice hub...Habee.
Ray, best of luck with freelancing!
Hi! Is there a way to see the types of categories Helium has to choose from before deciding to join? Or, looking at my HubPages profile, would my favorite topics fit on Helium? Thanks for your helpful hubs about it!
Dee, Helium has thousands of topics!
Fine example of good writing.You deserve to earn. I found helium a bit time consuming but I guess if you want to see the green you have to get past that screen!
I was there and stopped and later came with this article http://www.helium.com/items/2174803-challenges-of-
How do I make it with this article on helium
suziecat7 Level 5 Commenter 2 years ago
Thanks for this honest Hub. I don't do much with Helium (no time) but I may check it out again.