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LifeTips Gurus Tips
Guru FAQs
Meanwhile, we've taken the time to put together your most frequently asked questions in an effort to try to help you along in the tip writing world. Read on.
LifeTips Content Assignments: Q: "Do you have any jobs available?" A: Yes, we always have jobs available. You can find those jobs by logging onto the Guru admin area and looking under "Tip Site Gigs" and "Client Gigs". Please apply for jobs through this area and if we choose you for a project, you'll get a note of approval from one of our editors.
Q: "Are deadlines flexible?" A: In a word, no. But we do make exceptions. If you choose to ignore a deadline or simply dismiss the deadline you were assigned, you will have forfeited your project and any subsequent cash payout. If you require an extension of your deadline, simply ask us. We're always willing to work with you and come up with agreeable terms for deadline projects.
Q: "Do I have to fill in..." A: YES, you do. Each and every tip you write must have a question, keyword association, mobile and most importantly, source area filled out. Should you choose not to fill out any of these areas, we will deduct payment from your overall project.
Q: "I'm an expert in a particular area, do I need a source?" A: If you directly quote someone, use statistics or offer any type of medical, legal or financial information you must source your information.
Q: "How long should tips be?" A: Tips vary in length, but are usually around 200-300 words, depending on the topic. The general rule: give as much information as you can so the reader leaves the tip with a definite plan of action.
Books: Q: "Did you receive my book proposal?" A: If you submitted your book proposal through the Guru Admin area, as required, then yes, we did get your book proposal. Please understand that we get over a dozen book proposals a day, so it takes time for our editor, Melanie, to go through each and every one of them. Once your proposal is accepted, you will hear from us!
Q: "When will my book be published?" A: The book publishing process is a long and arduous one. The books go through several editorial drafts before the content (inside of the book) is sent to design for layout. The layout process takes the most time, as we need to fit the tips into the allotted spaces, and sometimes add additional pages and design functionality for the books. Once design is finished it comes back to editorial for another proofing. As you can see, this is a back and forth process that requires many proofs and approvals. It can take a few months for your book to be published once your tips have been approved. We are excited, too!! But we take care to review and review and review your tips and the layout to ensure that the book looks its best.
Q: "How do I get paid for my book?" A: You get paid by live check once a month for any of your books that were sold the previous month through Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com or other retailers. You will be paid $2/book sale.
Q: "How can other people buy my book?" A: The books are sold on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and other retailers. You can order directly from those sites. If you have a situation where a client/consumer wants to buy in bulk (more than 100 copies) you can email Melanie Nayer and ask for a bulk rate.
Q: "Where can I find other books that you've published?" A: All the books in the LifeTips 101 book series are found on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and other online book sites. You can also find the most recent books published on Melanie's blog, which is updated weekly with new books printed, news on books, and other Guru jobs and information.
General LifeTips Questions: Q: "Did you get my W9?" A: Yes, we did. It might take up to 4-6 weeks for it to register online, as your W9 goes through our accounting department for processing, etc. Don't worry! If you sent it over, we're sure it's here!
Q: "What are the keywords/mobile/question areas, and what does it mean?" A: This is the foundation of tip writing. Please familiarize yourself with the keywords portion first. Keywords are essential for SEO and web content. You must include the keyword(s) you are targeting in your tips. The question is simply that.the question that answers your tip. This "question" will be featured on the FAQ pages of relating tip sites. The "Mobile" field is for opt-in cell phone subscribers to get mobile messaging on their phones. You should write a 140-character (one sentence) summary of your tip for cell phone downloads.
Q: "When do I get paid?" A: Checks are cut once a month during the first week of every month. If you were due any money, you can safely assume that your check went out the first week of the month after your assignment was approved by our editors. Please allow 10-14 business days for your check to arrive.
Q: "I didn't get paid $10 per tip - why?" A: We pay UP TO $10/tip, as stated in all the LifeTips documents and terms and conditions. The grading is based on spelling/grammar and overall tip content. Please review the terms and conditions agreement you signed when submitting your application for more details.
Q: "I don't like the Guru Admin area; can I send you my tips in a word document?" A: We need you to use the Guru Admin area! The Guru admin area talks to our LifeTips tip sites which talks to our book publisher database.it's a lot of technical jargon, but it works! We recommend that you write your tips out in Word, if you feel more comfortable, and then copy them into the Guru Admin project area.
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Writer Memo: May 1, 2006
Words For Writers: Week of May 1, 2006 NEW VIEW: SOURCE As LifeTips brings bigger, stronger and brand name companies into our network, it's important that we maintain the level of professional writing and research LifeTips is know for. Millions of readers read our tips every day and wonder, "where did they get that information?" LifeTips is a reputable source and we strive to uphold the reputation of fair and ethical publishing. Going forward, all writers will be required to source their information for tips submitted. The source field will appear in your tip task box, and I encourage you to add the source on some/all of your tips for submission. When the client says, "This isn't true!" We can say, "Yes, it is!"
* Plagiarism will result in being removed from the LifeTips writer pool, and you will not be paid for any work submitted
Tip of the Week: From the Substance Abuse Tip Site, Authored by Jane Raeburn Tip: Abuse Prevention Early attempts to prevent steroid abuse concentrated on drug testing and on educating students about the drugs´ adverse effects. A more sophisticated approach has shown promise for preventing steroid abuse among players on high school sports teams. In the ATLAS program, developed for male football players, coaches and team leaders discuss the potential effects of anabolic steroids and other illicit drugs on immediate sports performance, and they teach how to refuse offers of drugs. They also discuss how strength training and proper nutrition can help adolescents build their bodies without the use of steroids. Later, special trainers teach the players proper weightlifting techniques. A program designed for adolescent girls on sports teams, patterned after the program designed for boys, is currently being tested.
Editor Notes: The tip is newsworthy, focusing on the recent steroid abuse in sports and how to prevent steroid abuse. Although the client of the site is Passages Malibu, the writer was able to work in another program aimed at abuse prevention without stepping on the toes of the Substance Abuse Tip Site client.
The Importance of Keywords: It's essential that you use the keywords associated with each category in your tips. Even more essential is that the keyword you use makes sense in the tip. Going forward, payment amounts will be deducted from a category assignment if all the keywords are not properly used.
Keyword Dos/Donts: You must use one keyword in at least one tip.
DO NOT stuff all the keywords in one tip.
DO NOT reword the keywords. (I realize some of the keyword phrases may be awkward, but we do have a responsibility to our clients. Please read the "About Us" section on LifeTips.com for more information).
DO NOT use the keyword just in the title.
DO use the keyword in the title AND in the text.
DO make sure the keyword you use for a given tip is used a few times in that tip.
For your purposes LifeTips has given you access on this job board to keyword research tools and keyword density tools. I encourage you to use these tools to learn more about the importance of keywords in tips, and find other keywords that will enhance the value of the tips you write.
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Writer Memo: May 8, 2006
Top 10 Ways To Get Top Dollar Here is a list of things to consider when writing your tips to ensure top dollar payments in your next check:
1. SPELL CHECK. Every misspelled word is $1 off the tip.
2. Avoid Run-on Sentences. Tips are short bursts of information that contain a powerful message. Make sure your message is clear.
3. Consistency Counts. Keep your writing consistent throughout your tips. LifeTips follows AP style guidelines for grammar and abbreviations. LifeTips style is to capitalize the first letter of each word of the tip title.
4. Fact Check and Source. Make sure to include the source of your information if you're citing specifics/statistics in your tip.
5. Use "Final" Keywords. The "keywords and phrases" must be used in at least one tip per keyword/phrase. For more information on how to properly use keywords, view the memo dated April 17.
6. Research Other Keywords. LifeTips has provided you with the keywords designated by the sponsor of the tip site, but does that mean those are the best keywords for your tip? We've included a few different tools on the job board to help you research keywords for your tips.
7. Go The Distance. Supply useful information that goes beyond the obvious in your tips.
8. Watch Your Tone. Know your audience, and write appropriately with the right tone and language for your target audience.
9. Don't Duplicate. Don't reuse tips in order to fill all 100 tips, and don't duplicate content from another source or tip site. Instead, brainstorm with your editor about ideas for more tips.
10. Stay On Target. The tips you write should relate to the specific category. Be careful about adding off-the-wall tips that don't make sense. It's not relevant to the consumer, the reader, the client, or LifeTips.
Tip of the Week: From the Child Protection Tip Site, Authored by Susie McGee Tip: Red Alert Notification Because the risk of new sexual predators moving into an area continues to be a very real issue, the National Alert Registry eliminates the need to continuously check the Website or contact a local law enforcement agency. They have created a Red Alert notification. As the national sex offender registry is continually updated, the Red Alert is an e-mail that is sent to individuals alerting them to a new sexual offender in the area. You no longer have to search through sex offender registries to see if a new sex offender has moved to your neighborhood! A notification that includes the date the sex offender has moved to your area, along with information about that predator will be included. Editor's Note: The tip is newsworthy, value-driven and to the point. It makes use of the keyword "sex offender" on multiple occasions.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the fastest growing consumer tips site on the World Wide Web. At LifeTips, we strive for quality and excellence. Readers come to LifeTips for information and familiarity on every aspect of their life. From gardening and crafts to divorce and disease, LifeTips is a powerful tool for all knowledge seekers.
As your Editor, I'm here to help and guide you during the tip writing process. Whether it's brainstorming on a tip site, answering user questions, or facing writer's block, you should feel free to contact me.
There are many projects to complete here and I will come to know you all very well, as we'll work closely together during the duration of your assignments. But you're probably wondering, who in the world is this person and who gave her an “Editor” title? Here is a little background on my professional career and knowledge base:
After five years in the mutual fund and investment industry, I checked out for a career in journalism – my first true love. I've been a reporter for almost a decade covering business, economics, politics, community relations, and consumer spending and marketing. After receiving my master's degree in journalism from Boston University, I set out to conquer Washington, DC. After five months as a Capitol Hill correspondent covering everything from FBI trials to Pentagon proceedings, I traded in my press pass for a steady job writing business news for Banker & Tradesman in Boston. After two years with Banker & Tradesman, I moved on to Boston.com and The Boston Globe where I served as online editor for the business section and a contributing writer for the newspaper. Today, I am thrilled to be the Editor for LifeTips, and I look forward to seeing the company, and its writers, soar to great heights.
I look forward to working with you all in the future. Thanks for being an integral part of the LifeTips family.
Best,
Melanie Nayer
p.s. Please take some time to review all the subcategories in this Tip Site. They are designed to help you through the writing process, and also provide insight on how each project works.
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Writer Memo: April 24, 2006
Words For Writers
Sell Yourself: When applying for jobs on the job board, make sure you include links to published articles, or source documents that you've written about in the niche topic you're applying for. Include URLs to specific online articles with your application.
If you're interested in the topic but have no previous written work to document, provide examples of tip ideas that you would write about, and why it's important for the consumer.
Tip of the Week: From the Running Tip Site, Authored by Malcolm Smith Tip: Choosing the Right Running Shoe Different running shoes are designed for different biomechanical needs, and matching a shoe to your needs can be a little intimidating at first. That's where the “shoe finder” comes in. A running shoe finder is simply a system that helps you select a type of shoe that best fits your body's needs and your style of running. An online search will reveal many options. Shoe finders from magazines are generally the least biased. Large retailers come next – though they only list the shoes they carry. Manufacturers only list their own shoes, so their finders are of limited help. To use the finder, enter answers to a few simple questions (sex, weight, etc.), and the finder will return (usually) several shoes of the type best suited for you. Make a note of the models the finder suggests. Try several finders, and note which shoes are recommended time and again. Finally, visit a good running shoe dealer, and try on as many of the recommended models as possible. Jog around the store in each one that fits well, and select the model that's most comfortable.
Editor Notes: The keyword phrase specified in this tip is "running shoe finder" and the writer used variations of the phrase throughout the tip, without compromising the tips value to the consumer. As a result, the company moved their ranking up to the No. 6 slot in Google for this searched phrase.
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Grading Tips
When writing your tips, please make sure you complete the following:
1. Fill in the question line: What question is your tip answering?
2. Fill in the mobile line: This is a version of your tip - 100 characters - that opt-in subscribers can download to their cellphones.
3. Watch your spelling/grammar. Spell check before you submit.
4. Your tips need to be clear, concise and provide an action for the reader or consumer seeking information. Most importantly, tips need to add value to the readers life.
5. Do not put hyperlinks in the tips.
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Example: Good Tip
2005 Standard Deductions for Individuals
There are two main variations on the filing status for individuals. You can file single filing status or head of household. To file under head of household status, you have to be unmarried and have paid more than half of the cost to maintain a home for yourself and your claimed dependents or another qualifying person. The 2005 standard deduction for the head of household filing status is $7,300. To file single, you must be unmarried, divorced, or legally separated. The 2005 standard deduction for single filers is $5,000. Before you decide to claim the standard deduction, however, you should familiarize yourself with items you may claim as personal tax deductions to see if you could get a tax cut by itemizing. Generally speaking, if your itemized federal tax deductions exceed the standard deduction, your taxes will be lower—and that's like money in your pocket.
* This tip received a $10 grade. It offers insightful information for the reader, gives the reader action steps and offers value to the reader. To read more, you can visit our Taxes Tip Site
Online Car Buying Resources
Why leave your home? There are so many online resources available to today's consumers that buying a new car can be done almost entirely from home. Instead of wandering car lot after car lot, narrow your choices down by researching your options online. You can:
• Build your car online, carefully considering options in the comfort of your own home instead of succumbing to last-minute, high-pressure sales tactics at the dealership
• Crunch the numbers by researching transaction values (what buyers are paying for the car in your area), or what Edmunds.com calls "true market value"
• You can request car quotes from multiple dealers online (doing so puts you in a much better negotiating position)
*If you're comfortable with online transactions, you can complete the transaction online conducting dealer communication by e-mail and having the car delivered to your doorstep. In this case, paperwork would be completed by mail.
* This tip was also given a top dollar rating. It provides the user with action-based options and value-added information that will them a consumer.
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Separation of Church and State (Tips)
I've received a lot of questions about the new way we're writing tips, and I'm hoping to clarify them in this area. First with a review, then some answers to your quesions. Here is how it works: When you log on to your project, you'll see required keywords and suggested keywords in the left side column. The REQUIRED keywordds are necessary to include in the "Client Related Tip:" callout section in 30 tips. Visit the Nailcare Tips for an example.
*It's up to you to choose which 30 tips you feel are relevant to the client's site and pull from those 30 tips an additional tip that will incorporate the required keyword.
For example from the Nailcare Tip site:
Cuticles Have a Purpose Ever wonder what your cuticles are actually there for? According to some sources at Valeriia.com, "The cuticle protects the nail root from bacteria." This is why it's important to always take care of your cuticles. Always use a cuticle polish remover instead of cuticle clippers to remove cuticle clippings. If you open or remove a cuticle, bacteria can form straight to the blood stream. Avenue You Tip: (the client): Having the right nail care products will help keep your nails in good shape. Find the necessary nail care implements for your at-home manicure set, and keep your cuticles and nails healthy and groomed.
Keyword: Nail care implements
Things to remember: 1. You are writing 100 tips 2. In 30 of those 100, you'll write a related tip that focuses specifically on a required keyword. (So, for each required keyword you write a "related tip".) 3. In the description area of your project, I'll highlight the sponsor so you can write related tips, but I would also expect you use research from competitors and informational sites to create tips. 4. PAYMENT: You get $10 for each tip that includes a "Related Tip," then the additional 70 tips are rated on a scale from $1-$10, as usual.
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The Writer's Job Board
The Job Board is available to you for work and resources. It's in your best interest to read the job board on a regular basis, as I'll be posting updates and new projects on the board. Soon we'll be rolling out a new community bulletin board where all writers can connect with one another through the job board. Also, the job board has very valuable resources including keyword density tools, keyword research tools, and links to resources online that will be able to help you complete projects.
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Error Messages in Job Board
ATTENTION WRITERS: This is an example of what your job board tip area should look like now:
If it does not look like this, do not attempt to write tips. Instead, email melanie@lifetips.com and aaron@lifetips.com with a screen shot of what you're seeing in your tip folder. Thank you!
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Deadines and Due Dates
Each tip project is different and thus every project has a different deadline. When you've been approved on a project, you'll receive an email from me with your deadline date. This date is non-negotiable, except for extreme circumstances. In most cases, a writer will have three weeks to complete an assignment. Before you apply for a job, make sure you're available to see the entire project through.
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Writer Memo: May 22, 2006
Words For Writers: FAQ From Writers Here are some answers to your most frequently asked questions:
* What is the "mobile" field? LifeTips is working with a mobile marketer to supply "Tip of the Day" messages to opt-in cellphone subscribers. The "mobile" field is a smaller version of your tip that will downloaded to cellphone subscribers.
* What do I include in my bio? Your bio for a particular Tip Site is used to introduce you to our clients and our more than 3 million monthly viewers. You should write your bio so that it accentuates your expertise and credentials.
* What is the difference between "required keywords" and "suggested keywords" on the tip projects? Required keywords are keywords that the client of the site wants to optimize for in their Tip Site. Those keywords will be linked in the tip and MUST BE USED. In addition to the client keywords, our team researched other keywords that are popular and heavily searched, and we suggest you use those keywords in the tips, too. Using the suggested keywords in concert with the required keywords only boosts the value of the tip in the search engines.
* How do I know if I've been assigned a Tip Site project? Within one week of your application, you'll get an email from Melanie Nayer with a due date. If you do not get an approval email, keep applying for more jobs!
* Can I apply for more than one project? Absolutely!
Tip of the Week: From the Diet Tip Site, Authored by Tanya Zilberter Tip: How to Look Slimmer, Instantly With the same body weight, the better your posture, the slimmer you are perceived by others. Here's how: Standing in front of a mirror, lift up your shoulders, rotate them back and press them down. Keep your shoulders as far back and down as you can for the count of 16. Relax your arms. Make your neck long and straight, do not tilt your head. Flatten the lower part of your back and contract your abdominal muscles to flatten your stomach. Take a minute or two to 'memorize' how your body feels while in this position. Remember this feeling every time you want to look slimmer. Editor's Note: The tip is informational and helpful, and adds value to the reader. Tanya did her research and found one of the most popular asked questions, and focused on the keyword "slimmer" in her answer.
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Answering User Questions
The point to answering user questions is to create more tips for LifeTips. Our theory is that if a user is asking the question, it's probably on the minds of others. So let's make the answer available to everyone.
If you're assigned to answer user questions, you'll be prompted every time a user submits a question to your "site" to log on to the writer's admin and answer the question.
The goal is to turn the answer into a Tip that can be used on the specific tip site you're answering for. Each tip you reproduce is worth up to $3.
When you've finished answering the question and writing the tip, submit it to me for approval. It's that simple!
TIP FOR WRITERS: You can answer as many as you like before submitting.
PLEASE REMEMBER: ONLY SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS. IF A QUESTION IS IRRELEVANT OR A DUPLICATE, JUST IGNORE THE QUESTION.
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Deadines and due dates for writers
Every task has a deadline, and as professional writers, you're expected to meet those deadlines.
* For assignments that ask for 30-50 tips, you will have one week from the day you are assigned the task to complete the assignment.
* For assignments calling for 100 new tips, you will have up to two weeks from the day you are assigned the task to complete all the tips.
* For site clean-up projects, you will have up two weeks from the time you are assigned the task to complete the tip clean-up project.
