Comments on: Review of Helium.com (update) http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/ We lose money so you don't have to! Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:20:22 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Gryniewicz http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/comment-page-1/#comment-10523 Gryniewicz Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:16:14 +0000 http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/#comment-10523 I too am a member of Helium.com. The site is a time commitment, but I can assure you that you can make money here. In a little over a month I've written almost 50 articles, placed in three contests and earned over $75. I wouldn't expect to make much on two articles there or elsewhere. I too am a member of Helium.com. The site is a time commitment, but I can assure you that you can make money here. In a little over a month I’ve written almost 50 articles, placed in three contests and earned over $75. I wouldn’t expect to make much on two articles there or elsewhere.

]]> By: Bluerabbit http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/comment-page-1/#comment-9126 Bluerabbit Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:45:49 +0000 http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/#comment-9126 I am a freelance specialist and a full member of the Authors Guild. More than 40 of my works have been published by major houses in my field. Last year I had a short break between assignments and decided to join some writing sites for exposure. Some were a good idea. Helium was not. Much of the writing on the site is only marginally literate. It is embarassing to have my work there, and, unfortunately, I cannot delete it. The money is absurd. If an editor offered me that rate, I would tell her, politely, that I was busy, even if being busy only meant taking the afternoon off for a picnic in the mountains. I am a freelance specialist and a full member of the Authors Guild. More than 40 of my works have been published by major houses in my field. Last year I had a short break between assignments and decided to join some writing sites for exposure. Some were a good idea. Helium was not. Much of the writing on the site is only marginally literate. It is embarassing to have my work there, and, unfortunately, I cannot delete it. The money is absurd. If an editor offered me that rate, I would tell her, politely, that I was busy, even if being busy only meant taking the afternoon off for a picnic in the mountains.

]]> By: Neva http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/comment-page-1/#comment-8653 Neva Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:49:59 +0000 http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/#comment-8653 Helium is not a good site on which to practice the craft of writing. Amateurs with little or no expertise in the subject will rate your articles. As a result poor articles (structure, grammar and expertise) rise to the top; better articles migrate to the bottom. Helium exploits is writers to keep its website alive without having to pay them appropriately. It is a lose/lose game to subject your writing to amateurs for review. More importantly, it is a lose/lose game to invest the time and effort required with no financial reward. Helium is not a good site on which to practice the craft of writing.

Amateurs with little or no expertise in the subject will rate your articles. As a result poor articles (structure, grammar and expertise) rise to the top; better articles migrate to the bottom.

Helium exploits is writers to keep its website alive without having to pay them appropriately.

It is a lose/lose game to subject your writing to amateurs for review. More importantly, it is a lose/lose game to invest the time and effort required with no financial reward.

]]> By: ostrova http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/comment-page-1/#comment-6777 ostrova Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:20:33 +0000 http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/#comment-6777 If the big thing about Heli-ho-hum is the learning experience and the wonderful community of writers who're gonna help you learn while giving you warm fuzzies, why do the ads tell you about the MONEY? Come ON. A lot of the writing just plain stinks, but that's what gets rewarded, so go figure. The contests have hot topics like "Fun With Doormats", and the debates somehow have all the reasoning left out. You never get to see the books. Interesting that lots of people who sign up because they hear they can make money (yeah, that's what draws 'em and I think Helium knows it) complain they don't get any. And the people who know what punctuation is complain that they keep getting outranked by people who don't know Colin Powell from this(:)--hey, just think how many Helium-ites ain't gonna get that, dudes. Wasn't that worth your college tuition? Now, the site (which I've sometimes referred to as Heli-dump, Heli-ho-hum, and probably worse) must need writers cause it's advertising on craigslist about how easy and fun it is to make all that MONEY (as seen on---oh, never mind). Speaking from my brief experience, I unnerstan I got me a #1 article on the site but I ain't goin back cuz I got banned for telling some born-again zealots on the boards (discussion portion of Heli-ho-hum) that I'd like them to quit "sharing" their religion with me--not that this stopped them. Does this affect the site? Well, I looked around a couple of days ago, and it sure looks to me like all the contests are about as exciting as extra fiber in your breakfast cereal. If the big thing about Heli-ho-hum is the learning experience and the wonderful community of writers who’re gonna help you learn while giving you warm fuzzies, why do the ads tell you about the MONEY? Come ON. A lot of the writing just plain stinks, but that’s what gets rewarded, so go figure. The contests have hot topics like “Fun With Doormats”, and the debates somehow have all the reasoning left out. You never get to see the books. Interesting that lots of people who sign up because they hear they can make money (yeah, that’s what draws ‘em and I think Helium knows it) complain they don’t get any. And the people who know what punctuation is complain that they keep getting outranked by people who don’t know Colin Powell from this(:)–hey, just think how many Helium-ites ain’t gonna get that, dudes. Wasn’t that worth your college tuition? Now, the site (which I’ve sometimes referred to as Heli-dump, Heli-ho-hum, and probably worse) must need writers cause it’s advertising on craigslist about how easy and fun it is to make all that MONEY (as seen on—oh, never mind). Speaking from my brief experience, I unnerstan I got me a #1 article on the site but I ain’t goin back cuz I got banned for telling some born-again zealots on the boards (discussion portion of Heli-ho-hum) that I’d like them to quit “sharing” their religion with me–not that this stopped them. Does this affect the site? Well, I looked around a couple of days ago, and it sure looks to me like all the contests are about as exciting as extra fiber in your breakfast cereal.

]]> By: Tenebris http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/comment-page-1/#comment-3856 Tenebris Fri, 09 May 2008 03:39:52 +0000 http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/#comment-3856 To any thinking to join Helium at this time, it should be noted that its earnings model is in transition. For now it is still fairly easy to cash out once a month (minimum $25 required) with a couple of hundred decent articles or even a single good strike. (As a note, a few of my best earners are not in the top ten or even in the top half, so earning is not all about rating.) However, it is much, much easier to achieve this minimum through contests or the Marketplace; and it is likely to become ever more difficult to do so solely through adshare. To any thinking to join Helium at this time, it should be noted that its earnings model is in transition. For now it is still fairly easy to cash out once a month (minimum $25 required) with a couple of hundred decent articles or even a single good strike. (As a note, a few of my best earners are not in the top ten or even in the top half, so earning is not all about rating.) However, it is much, much easier to achieve this minimum through contests or the Marketplace; and it is likely to become ever more difficult to do so solely through adshare.

]]> By: Tamara Hanson http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/comment-page-1/#comment-3688 Tamara Hanson Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:15:46 +0000 http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/#comment-3688 I'm not part of Helium but do write for Suite101.com...fairly similar. I've written 10 articles in 3 months and received $10. If you have the time to write for these types of websites knowing full-well that monetary compensation won't be that much, then fill your boots. If anything, it's good exposure. I've had a few people comment on how much they like my work and if I could write for their websites. Also, the key is to write articles that will generate hits. Money, relationships, or seasonal type articles are all good. I wrote a Valentine's article just before Valentine's Day that received 1000s of hits. By the way, I think I've Tried That is great! I’m not part of Helium but do write for Suite101.com…fairly similar. I’ve written 10 articles in 3 months and received $10. If you have the time to write for these types of websites knowing full-well that monetary compensation won’t be that much, then fill your boots. If anything, it’s good exposure. I’ve had a few people comment on how much they like my work and if I could write for their websites.
Also, the key is to write articles that will generate hits. Money, relationships, or seasonal type articles are all good. I wrote a Valentine’s article just before Valentine’s Day that received 1000s of hits.
By the way, I think I’ve Tried That is great!

]]> By: Annette Albanese http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/comment-page-1/#comment-3023 Annette Albanese Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:50:45 +0000 http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/#comment-3023 I am also a member of Helium.com and I believe it's important to remember the learning experience from this membership, not the money to be made. You must go to this website NOT with the intention of making money but with the intention of loving to write and read as well. I feel Helium is a great site for this purpose, especially because you have a chance to get your articles rated by your writing peers. This feedback can be very important to the up and coming writer of any genre. Of course, the allure is always the money. We're all looking to make a buck or million. There are contests on this site though that can get you great exposure to the real world of writing. I do agree that you have to write hundreds of articles in order to usually make any money. If you are a member of this site, I would say to just enjoy the writing and the peer support and you won't be disappointed. That's really the essence for me. I am also a member of Helium.com and I believe it’s important to remember the learning experience from this membership, not the money to be made. You must go to this website NOT with the intention of making money but with the intention of loving to write and read as well. I feel Helium is a great site for this purpose, especially because you have a chance to get your articles rated by your writing peers. This feedback can be very important to the up and coming writer of any genre. Of course, the allure is always the money. We’re all looking to make a buck or million. There are contests on this site though that can get you great exposure to the real world of writing. I do agree that you have to write hundreds of articles in order to usually make any money. If you are a member of this site, I would say to just enjoy the writing and the peer support and you won’t be disappointed. That’s really the essence for me.

]]> By: R.K.Loonsfoot http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/comment-page-1/#comment-3016 R.K.Loonsfoot Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:34:43 +0000 http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/#comment-3016 I joined Helium also , I was sent an invitation to this site. So, having the writing gene in me , I thought what the heck! Give it a try. I did write a few articles for there and some got rated well and my poetry bombed right away. I was in shock, it was well written. Ok so I can deal with criticism. I don't mind doing the rating either, as it is a learning thing. I have read about many things and had the desire to learn more , so I went and looked up more on these subjects, like the Quran, Humanisn, Creationism, etc... I like this site and will keep writing and learn more to improve myself. I joined Helium also , I was sent an invitation to this site. So, having the writing gene in me , I thought what the heck! Give it a try.

I did write a few articles for there and some got rated well and my poetry bombed right away. I was in shock, it was well written. Ok so I can deal with criticism.

I don’t mind doing the rating either, as it is a learning thing. I have read about many things and had the desire to learn more , so I went and looked up more on these subjects, like the Quran, Humanisn, Creationism, etc… I like this site and will keep writing and learn more to improve myself.

]]> By: Arlene http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/comment-page-1/#comment-893 Arlene Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:06:39 +0000 http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/#comment-893 I posted a reply last week on this so I guess it was deleted. The catch with Helium and again I say I hate to be the grim reaper is that you have to be voted as number one to make any money. The up side is that you do get some kind of exposure if your article makes it to the top twelve.When a search is done under that particular topic the results usually come up in the first page of the search engine. I posted a reply last week on this so I guess it was deleted. The catch with Helium and again I say I hate to be the grim reaper is that you have to be voted as number one to make any money. The up side is that you do get some kind of exposure if your article makes it to the top twelve.When a search is done under that particular topic the results usually come up in the first page of the search engine.

]]> By: Joe http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/comment-page-1/#comment-840 Joe Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:46:08 +0000 http://www.ivetriedthat.com/2007/09/01/review-of-heliumcom-update/#comment-840 Thanks for the kind words! The "no surprises" aspect of Helium.com is one of its best features. It's a lively, supportive community of writers. Just don't plan to get rich and you'll enjoy your time there. Thanks for the kind words!

The “no surprises” aspect of Helium.com is one of its best features. It’s a lively, supportive community of writers. Just don’t plan to get rich and you’ll enjoy your time there.

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