Need encouragement

[SMCarson]

Hi everyone,

I'm not here to beg for pity or praise! I just feel discouraged. I've got five articles up now, and they get a lot of hits but no sales. I can't help but think that's because the topics are good but the writing is not. Good enough to click on, but not good enough to buy.

How many clicks do you get on your articles before they get sold?? I know it's a question with a million and one answers, I just wondered about other peoples experiences. My articles all have 9, 10 or 11 hits so far but no sales.

I've been writing here since Aug 21st so it hasn't even been a month. I have another article ready for submission but I just feel like maybe my writing isn't compelling or convincing enough.

Pity part is over.

Sue

[LindaM]

Hi Sue,

Welcome to CC! I can only speak for myself, but most of my articles have 30-50 hits before they finally sell and sometimes even more. On a few occasions, I've sold articles after just a few hits, but it is really a matter of when the right customer shows up. Also, keep in mind that many of the hits you receive are from your fellow CC writers who are simply curious.

Hang in there, if the editors accepted your articles, they feel that they're good enough to sell.

Linda

[WordCraft]

I never had any sales in my first month (in fact I think it took about three months). My articles, of which I have about a dozen up now, have between about 10-30 views each. Actually, a couple of my sales did come within the first 5 views or so, but the third (I've sold 3 total to date) was up for weeks. All are usage so they may sell again of course.

I've not personally noticed that requested articles do better - in fact all of the articles I have sold so far have been ones I just decided to write.

I've also noticed that the articles that get the most views tend to be ones either about writing or about technology - but only the latter seems to sell (I suspect it's all us writers looking at the former! )

Just keep submitting a minimum of (say) 3 articles per week (much more if you can) and give it 3 months before making any decisions.

[Elizabeth Ann West]

Hang in there Sue!! As a part-time writer, I have spells where I don't write anything and then come back with the same jitters. And I've been here since 2007! Like many previous posters said, write it and forget it. If it gets accepted, it has a VERY good chance of selling. Most of my articles have >30-50 hits before they sold. Some sell right away, like a piece I wrote on Libraries offering digital ebooks sold within in a week of posting. However, I priced it cheaply and it was an interesting topic (to me at least). I only wrote the 450 words because I noticed my library doing it and I live in a pretty rural area. I thought, hmmm, that's really cool! So not only do I now have access to free eBooks, but I made $16.25 writing about it (I priced it at $25).

Other stuff just takes longer to find a home. I also wrote a piece on alternative sports ideas for children. I know that will take longer to place, it's a longer article, and it's priced higher per word. We promise, once things start selling, they don't stop. I didn't write at all in July because I was traveling so much and I made a nice little $100 bonus when three older articles sold, while I was on vacation of all things. Now how many people can say "I made money on vacation?"

[Gouldm80]

Hang in there, Sue. I began writing for this site last month on the 11th. Up until a week ago I'd written about 28 articles, and none had sold. I got a lousy offer for usage and rejected that about a week and a half ago. Then a week ago someone bought one of my articles, and I was tickled pink. That purchase was followed by two more two days later, and that client is now sending me private requests. I now have 5 total sold with a private request waiting for editing (hopefully that will sell).
I had an article sell after just 3 hits, and there are others that have 15 or more hits and haven't sold. I think everyone's comments here hit the nail on the head. Sometimes you just have to ignore the number of hits or number of articles you've written and just keep forging ahead. This site is very addicting...I feel like I'm a C-C crack addict sometimes with how frequently I hit the refresh button. If I added up all of that time spent worrying about what was going on and who was looking at my articles, it'd probably be enough to have written at least two more articles.
I really like Elizabeth's spin on it. Any articles that don't sell immediately just might sell while you're off on vacation or maybe when you're at a concert or sporting event. I think that's a really great thought.
Anyway, there's (or should that be there are...editing has me second guessing everything... lol) my two cents. Keep plugging away and the rewards will come eventually.

Mike

[Celeste Stewart]

Yep. What they all said. Hang in, keep submitting, and adjust as needed. Try not to fall in love with your articles and fret over them. Write 'em, submit 'em, and forget about 'em. Hits really don't matter because all it takes is the right customer to find that article, not a bunch of lookie-loos. Plus, a good deal of the hits come from other writers.

[Antonia]

Sue, I took a quick look at your articles and they look great to me. Engaging, fluent and informative. What others have said is true - the number of hits is not really an important indicator. Just keep submitting! I found what helped me when starting out was to set a goal of # of articles, rather than worrying about how many sold. You could set a goal for 20 articles submitted and challenge yourself to get there in (x amount of time).

One thing that jumped out is that your prices are inconsistent. Looking from top to bottom, #1 is overpriced for the wordcount. Numbers 2 and 3 look right on target though.

[Gouldm80]

The first article is for the personal request for Kennedy's All-American Barber Shop, and the purchaser specified that they would pay between $100-$150...I know because I wrote an article for that same request (along with about 6 other people, and they haven't purchased any of them). The rest of what Antonia said is right on. I set a goal of having 40 articles on this site within my first month. So far I have 37 w/5 pending edit, and I have two more days. I can write three articles in two days no sweat. I think it helps tremendously when you set goals that rely less upon purchase and more upon actual production. I've had quite a few articles sent back to me for editing, so I'm setting some goals for myself in that regard as well. I'd love to go for at least a couple of weeks without having any rejections.
You can kind of see what sells on here and try to write articles that target those purchasers. It's also great though to just go with your gut and what you already know really well. For example, I wrote an article about preparing a car for the winter because I was thinking about doing that very thing with my own car, and it sold within 11 days and after only 3 hits. I made a little over $20 for something that took about 40 minutes to write, edit, and post. You should hang in there and keep working away at your craft.
While it does drive up hit count, it would be a good idea to browse through some of the other articles to get an idea of what's out there. You'll find some articles that are pretty drab, and you'll also find ones that you think are fantastic. Try not to doubt your ability as a writer just because no one has purchased your work. You could have written a masterpiece, but the right client just hasn't come along yet. Heck, Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick" wasn't regarded as literary genius until years after he was already dead...not that that's what I'm hoping happens with C-C content, but I think it just illustrates a point.

[SMCarson]

WOW I am just so pleased and encouraged by you all. I talked to my hubby and we decided I should 'go to work' one night a week outside the house. I am a stay at home mom and the time away is good for fresh thoughts and getting my space. So here's to writing and growing my portfolio!

Thanks everyone for taking the time to give your advice

I'm excited to start devoting actual time to writing articles other than nap time!

Sue

[Elizabeth Ann West]

Just be careful Sue, I think that's how Celeste started and look what happened! I can appreciate trying to balance writing with kids, I do it all the time. I'm sure you will get hooked as soon as you start seeing sales. When Catelynn was a tiny baby, I took her out to Atlanta Bread Company and other places with free Wifi and most importantly, other adults. Now that she is a full-speed toddler, I dread taking her out of the house.

[SMCarson]

Elizabeth my daughter's name is Caitlyn too! Spelt differently though. I also have a son named Liam. They are 4 (liam) and 2 (caitlyn), and it's very hard finding time to write right now!

[Evelyn]

Sold two articles for use rights today to the same customer. First was posted on August 27 and sold after 46 hits. Second was posted on September 7 and sold after 9 hits. I have one article with 168 hits (it's sold once for use rights, after 94 hits). Yep, I wrote three or four more on that topic!

BTW, as the mother of a daughter who just moved away to college, I can tell you that it's not easy to be a freelancer until the kids go to kindergarten at least. However, if you wait to get your career going (no matter how part time), you'll regret it immensely and be starting out WAY behind in 3-5 years. Keep at it.

[SMCarson]

I am so happy!!!! Just sold my first article for full rights for $50!! NOW I'm really addicted

Thanks everyone for this great community
Sue.

[Debbi]

Congratulations! *happy dance*

[Gouldm80]

Congratulations, Sue.