eHow alternatives - Where to write now that eHow closed

Like many I was stunned to receive a notification from eHow stating:

We wanted to let you know that Demand Studios is now the exclusive platform for writing new articles for eHow.com.

With the launch of these changes, we have updated our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Your continued use of eHow.com after May 8, 2010 will indicate your acceptance of the new terms of use and privacy policy.

For the most part I was angered that I will now have more writers to compete with at Demand Studios - a great platform, but one that has quickly become over run with poor title choices and a decreasing rate of pay.

So relax! This is the best thing that could have happened to you, using your same research and writing skills you can easily make much more money for your efforts at other publishing locations and well know you have a reason to look!

- For a short time, the Xobba Network is accepting new writers that are exiting the HubPages and eHow models. The majority of the opportunities are reserved for closed door discussions, but if you consider yourself to be a writer or marketer who puts forth their best effort and would like to move towards self sufficiency in your online writing career ... you should look into Xobba

The application process is informal - begin discussion about Xobba Opportunities, be prepared to show existing portfolio examples and converse briefly about marketing models you follow. Serious Inquiries will be rewarded, it is worth your time and the offer is only open for a very limited time. Traditionally, the network is invite only.

Xobba features

• 90% In Post Impression Share
• Geo-Locating Amazon Impression Share
• Backend tools including link shorteners and image editing
• Hyper Responsive Administration
• A community of writers from DS and HubPages
• Assistance in Learning the Wordpress Format
• Rewards that include Free Hosting and SEO tasks
• An intelligent community
• A closed door policy
• Monthly Contests
• ..more

Hubpages is a great place to write, especially if you are used to the restrictions at eHow. This is an example of a HubPage, you can write to any format and topic you wish. An easy capsule system allows you to incorporate multi-media options like video and images. Using this same capsule system you can include products for sale via ebay and amazon.

A very active community will spur your writing along and assist you in learning some new tricks about making money via your writing.

You earn directly from your advertising partners, so you never have to be concerned with another party being involved in your money.

Give Hubpages a try

Infobarrels is a relatively new site, not much different than Hubpages in design. Authors are rewarded via a similar impression sharing program with essentially the same group of advertising partners. They actuall offer a better sharing of impressions than Hubpages but dont have quite the same draw or intersite seo format. So HubPages is still the better earner overall. You can get a little boost b working your writing into their monthly contests for a more favorable impression share.

Infobarrels is a very good fomat for adsense earnings, which is surprising considering they dont look to be optimized properly and they dont work with a fancy optimization engine like yieldbuild (which hubpages uses). Not much of a format for product sales but is a still a viable alternative.

Keeping in mind that eHow just folded on you, spreading your writing around is a great idea.

So try out Infobarrels

The Examiner format is the closest in payout method to eHow. Its paid based on an impression scale and its rather favorable, if you know how to get your content viewed through keyword selection and promotion techniques you can do very well here.

Its also a good resume builder, as they are building a strong reputation.

They do have limited moderation and editorial review, the application process takes a little while. You will tend to write under one general topic, but with a little creativity one can work any topic into any other.

Get Started at The Examiner.com

Learn about Xomba and related paid to backlink and B level write short articles for money.

SEO Tips: How to get paid for writing your own backlinks

Constant Content - Write for calls to content and submit previously created (but not pulbished work)

So how did writers find places to write before the internet? Its pretty easy, one either had an agent who did the legwork for them or they used the Writers Market, a huge list of publications that will buy your work, they explain very succintly the submission process and what each publication is looking for in this, which is in essence THE resource for being paid to write in the offline world.

I recently was browsing at Borders and the Writers Market Deluxe was priced at $49.99, you can do much better via the online sources below. The Deluxe edition includes access to the online database which is well worth the price difference as it is updated and easier to navigate.

There are specific Writers Markets published for different select fields, i.e. Childrens, Art, Technical, Science Fiction, Fantasy etc. The general Writers Market Deluxe Edition should cover most users needs.

It can be difficult to figure out topics that will pay on a consistent basis and it is sometimes hard to figure out which platform will work best for different types of writing.

I work out a simple method of using each of these sites to do the work for me and stagger my submissions in such a way to guarantee I gain upfront payment and residual income.

Im rather proud check it out!

How to maximize your income and guarantee payment for your writing

If your familiar with even the most basic of SEO methods you should have experience with the link wheel concept, How about a link wheel that pays you from every spoke?

The Ultimate Writers Link Wheel Tutorial

After about a month many are reporting they are having difficulty being accepted into Demand Studios, either an influx of new talent or a backlog of application reviewers is making it seem like one should really out the effort into finding a diverse collection of sites to write for...never gain should you out all your eggs in one basket.

If you are a an accomplished writer making a residual income and you are hoping to expand on your passive sources of income, consider skipping the keyword learning process and jumping right in with an investment into the premier Keyword research tool - Micro Niche Finder