There are various ways to make money from home. You may dream of being a work at home mom, but may not be sure where to start. My first start was with revenue share sites, which helped me realize that writing online was possible.
They’re not for everyone, but they are good for getting your feet wet. As a blogger, they can also be good for testing out a niche before you put money into your own domain. You can also use them to improve your writing skills before finding private clients.
And they can be useful for those in other areas of business. They can help photographers show off their work or could give crafters a place to share their tips and experience.
Not sure if you should put in the time? Here are the five signs that revenue share sites could be for you.
You don’t want to take the financial risk
How do you know your own blog or website is going to take off? Is a niche viable or will you enjoy writing in a specific niche? It’s normal to have all these questions and this is certainly where revenue share sites can be beneficial.
They allow you to try out content without taking on the financial risk. Someone else pays for the running of a website. They will pay for tech support and the management of the overall running of the blog. You then get a set amount based on views or work you do.
If you took on your own blog, you’d have to take on the expenses of your hosting, buy domain names, and you may need to spend money to outsource. All this money could be better off in your pocket, especially when you’re not even sure you can make money online.
When you don’t want the financial risks, revenue share sites are for you. However, you don’t have the control over the running of the site. Just putting that fact out there.
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You want to learn
Some revenue share sites will have a team helping you to improve on your writing. That’s something I’ve found with Hidden Remote.
When I was a writer there, the editors would offer their tips. It’s something I’ve continued as one of the co-editors.
There’s also the overall FanSided senior management. I love the access to the FanSided Huddle, which is full of tips on improving writing skills, improving site ranking and so much more. You can take these tips and place them on your own website when you decide it’s time to step away from the revenue share sites.
Not all sites will offer the chance to improve your writing abilities. This is where you’ll need to look into reviews to find out if the site is good for you. Inquisitr used to but I didn’t find the advice the most up to date or anything more than I already knew; great when you’re just starting out but not when you’ve been writing for a few years.
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You want to figure out a niche
Some residual income sites will focus on a particular niche. Others will give you the freedom to choose your niche and test out different ones. This is a great way to assess whether a niche is good to move into your own blog. Think of it as a testing ground.
This is why I used a few revenue share sites at the start. They were my chance to figure out more about how to add affiliate links, test out different types of posts, and find my niche to write in.
Without the sites, I wouldn’t have found FanSided and everything the brand offers. I wouldn’t have found my niche.
You need a little pocket change
If you’re looking for a way to pay your bills, revenue share sites are not going to be for you. I’m just making it very clear that paying the bills isn’t something these types of sites offer anymore. Things have changed considerably over the years, especially when you get know-it-alls on Twitter who make a comment answering a question to “save you the click.”
But if you want pocket change, then the sites are worthwhile. My income from writing at Hidden Remote for my holiday fund. It was there whenever I wanted a break with the family. My private clients are where I get most of my income to live.
You’re not sure what to do beyond revenue share sites
There are plenty of people coming into writing with absolutely no clue where to start or what to do. When I first started writing online, I had to Google if it was possible. That was when I found the now-defunct Suite101. I tested that out and then moved on to other places. I then learned more about private clients and starting my own blog.
When you’re really not sure what to do or whether freelance writing is for you, a revenue share site could be a good place to start. You can talk to other writers on these sites and find out what they do for a living, learning more about the writing world in many cases.
MORE: Why freelance job boards aren’t always the best place to find work
Could revenue share sites be exactly what you need? Are they going to be worth your time? Consider the five signs above that show you will find the residual income sites the best place to start writing.
I was invited to do a guest post at Mostly Blogging (mostlyblogging.com/make-money-with-adsense) and discussed sites with revenue-share plans. These sites are useful if for no other reason than Number 4. That pocket change comes in handy! LOL.