Personal Update: Lessons from a Near Death Experience [PODCAST]

Since we last spoke, I almost died.

Meningitis due to an allergic reaction has kept me from being with you for several weeks, but it’s left me with some lessons to share. We’re going to talk about disaster preparedness, the concept of fairness, and how aggressive actions create risk but may be worth it.

Let’s dive in.

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How to Craft the Perfect Writing Sample in 2020 (+ Examples)

Just when you thought you finally found your dream job, your hopes are deflated by two simple, intimidating words: “writing sample.”

You know the job is perfect for you. It feels like you were almost born for it.

And if you can just land this gig, your writing career will take off like you’ve always dreamed!

But you don’t have any writing samples. Even worse, you’re not exactly sure how to go about creating one.

Let’s do something about that, shall we?

This guide will show you how to craft the perfect writing sample. By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll have everything you need to land your dream job.

We’ll start with the basics…

What is a Writing Sample?

A writing sample is a document you submit when applying for jobs requiring a significant amount of writing or communication skills.

In a cover letter, applicants share their skills and experience to describe why they deserve the job. In a writing sample, candidates demonstrate those skills.

The type of writing sample you create will depend upon the job you want. If you want to be a freelance writer, you’ll have to create sample articles. If you want to enter graduate school, you’ll have to create a writing sample on a topic in your chosen field. And if you want a job in public relations, you’ll have to create a sample press release. (And so on.)

Whatever you’re applying for, to create a job-winning writing sample you’ll need a deeper understanding of the purpose of writing samples.

Note: While this guide focuses mainly on creating writing samples to win freelance writing jobs, the same process can be adapted to create samples for any job.

What’s the Purpose of a Writing Sample?

While you know you’re good enough to do the job you’re chasing, your prospective employer can’t just take your word for it. They need proof before they bring you in for a job interview (whether it’s a Zoom interview or something in-person).

That’s where writing samples come in.

Think of a writing sample as a trial run. Hiring managers will use your writing sample to evaluate your writing ability and see if you have what it takes.

Specifically, they’ll be evaluating the following:

Attention to Detail

First and foremost, your writing sample should have zero typos, syntax, or grammar mistakes. Zero!

Simple mistakes convey a lack of attention to detail. And hiring managers will assume you’ll make the same mistakes if they give you the job.

But job ads will also tell you what they expect of your writing sample with regard to topics, style, tone, format, etc.

Many writers, in the rush to end their job search, overlook some of these details. That’s why so many fail.

Be sure to read the job ad carefully, make a list of all requirements, and double check for errors.

Writing Style and Tone

All publications have a general writing style and tone. Hiring managers want to know if you understand it and can match it.

Some publications will want you to take complex subject matter and explain it in a casual, easy-to-understand way for average readers.

Publications with a more educated, professional audience — scientific publications, for example — may expect you to use complex terms and concepts relevant to their industry.

If an official style guide isn’t available, check out the content they’ve already published. By mimicking what you find, you’ll have a leg up on your competitors.

Grasp of Their Subject Matter

Many applicants will say they understand a topic. But writing samples don’t lie.

A big reason employers ask for writing samples is to see if you actually know what you’re talking about. If you don’t, your writing will expose you.

Good writing samples should demonstrate you understand the subject matter and can write about it clearly and accurately.

Grasp of Best Practices

Whether you’re writing news articles, email copy, press releases, or research papers, there are general best practices employers will want you to know.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as a blog article writer, employers will expect you to know on-page SEO.

If the job is for Facebook ad creation, you should know the ins and outs of creating optimized Facebook ads.

Luckily, most of this information can be found with a simple Google search ([Type Of Content] + best practices).

Ability to Do the Job

The best thing about writing samples is they have the potential to overrule all other evaluation criteria.

Job ads often list many “requirements” that don’t actually matter. They may “require” 5+ years of work experience, a Bachelor’s Degree in a specific field of study, or creative writing experience.

While some employers are sticklers for these requirements, many know that, at the end of the day, none of it really matters. Smart employers really only care about one thing: can you do the job?

Your writing sample is your opportunity to demonstrate you can.

How to Create a Perfect Writing Sample

A good writing sample will meet all of the criteria above.

But a perfect writing sample is one that’s so good the hiring manager will want to publish it.

Creating a perfect writing sample requires a change of mindset. Don’t see yourself as an applicant creating a writing sample. Pretend you already have the job and you’re creating a piece they’ve assigned to you.

To do so, you’ll have to employ a strategic process for creating a writing sample that’s perfect for them and their audience.

Let’s get started…

Step 1: Study the Job Ad to Identify Key Criteria

Almost everything you need to know about creating a job-winning writing sample can be found in the job ad itself.

That’s why it’s important to read the job ad thoroughly and make note of the specific criteria they’re looking for in a candidate.

Criteria #1: Topic(s)

It should go without saying, but your writing sample should be on-topic. For example, if you’re applying to a health blog, your sample should be on a health-related topic.

But look out for any other indications of the type of content the prospective employer wants.

Some ads will mention specific subtopics they’re interested in. In the screenshot below, the financial blog mentions they want content that focuses on “best practices with credit cards, money management, and investing.”

Some ads will get even more specific and describe specific headlines or article ideas that they want. The more specific, the better.

If the ad gives you topics or subtopics, use them to create your writing sample.

Criteria #2: The Target Audience

Most job ads will tell you who their target audience is. And as a writer, you’ll need to understand their target audience to create good content for them.

Make note of the audience they’re targeting and do some research to understand their problems, goals, and the type of content they love to read.

You can learn more about their audience by:

• Studying the employer’s website and social media.
• Studying the websites and social media of their competitors.
• Researching industry reports about their audience.
• Studying online communities where their audience hangs out.

I once wrote an article for a client that sold marketing software to B2B companies. To understand their audience, I read reports on B2B marketing to learn about their challenges and goals, then used that info to create my article.

Criteria #3: Writing Style

Job ads often use certain keywords to describe their writing style and tone. Words like: authoritative, actionable, casual, practical, etc.

Create a list of keywords that describe their writing style (usually no more than 2-5) and use it as a guide when creating your sample.

For example, the job ad below asks for writing that’s “actionable” and “easy to understand” twice. It also provides examples of other blogs whose writing style they want to emulate.

Criteria #4: Length

Almost every job ad will describe a word count for the content they want you to create.

Sometimes it’s a direct number (2,000 words), sometimes it’s a range (1,000 – 1,500 words).

Your writing sample should be no longer than what they ask for. Employers aren’t impressed by your ability to write long pieces. They want to know you can write to their exact specifications.

Criteria #5: Format

Many job ads will describe frameworks for the type of content they publish.

Some will mention they publish “list posts”, “how to’s”, and “X vs Y” articles.

Others will give more information as to the framework of their headlines, like “best ___” or “product roundups.”

Your writing sample should follow the format they request.

Criteria #6: Employer Goals

At the end of the day, every business that hires writers does so to achieve a business objective.

They’re not simply trying to publish your beautiful prose. They want results.

To increase your odds of getting the job, create a writing sample that has the potential to help them achieve their objectives.

Doing so demonstrates that you’re not just a good writer who can produce copy on demand, you’re also good for business.

So, study the job ad and identify any business goals that are explicitly stated.

Generally, employers will have one of two goals:

1st Employer Goal: Traffic

Some businesses operate on a traffic-based model. That means they generate money from ad-revenue and need to send lots of traffic to their site.

These businesses include entertainment, lifestyle, and news blogs, or businesses that sell low-cost products.

To appeal to these types of businesses, you should create a writing sample that’s aimed at generating high traffic:

• Target high-traffic keywords.
• Use tools like BuzzSumo to identify related topics that are popular on social media.
• Identify the most popular content on their site and model it.
• Use high-traffic frameworks: how to’s; list posts; round-ups.
• Incorporate shareable images (charts, graphics, quotes, etc.).
• Create content that influencers will want to share.

2nd Employer Goal: Leads

Some businesses operate on a lead-based model. That means their main goal is to drive traffic that converts into leads that they can nurture into sales.

Companies that sell consulting, courses, b2b, and high-cost products depend on leads to function.

To appeal to these types of businesses, you should create a sample that is aimed at generating leads.

• Target keywords that show commercial intent.
• Check for lead magnets on their site and reverse-engineer content ideas from them. You can link to their lead magnet in your article or include a CTA for it at the end.
• Reverse-engineer your writing sample from their product or service. For example, create a how-to guide that describes how to achieve a desired result with their product.

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas for Your Writing Sample

Now that you’ve outlined the key criteria, you can start to brainstorm topics for your writing sample.

The goal of brainstorming is to come up with as many ideas as possible. Empty your brain on the page and, for now, don’t worry about the quality of your ideas.

If you censor yourself or focus too much on quality, your brain will clam up and stop producing ideas.

In the next step, we’ll discuss how to eliminate bad ideas and pair your list down. You’ll also likely find many of your ideas are repetitive or can be combined with other ideas. But for now, focus on quantity, not quality.

However, don’t just try to come up with ideas out of thin air. The key to good brainstorming sessions is to use questions and topics as a springboard for your ideation.

In my experience, the best way to brainstorm writing sample ideas is to:

• Set a time limit (say, 30 minutes or more) and don’t stop brainstorming until the time expires.
• Use the criteria you’ve collected as a springboard to brainstorm as many ideas as possible.

Brainstorm #1: Topics

From the job ad, we identified topics the employer wants to cover on their blog. Write those topics down on the top of your paper (or document). All of your ideas should center around these topics.

Brainstorm #2: Audience

What questions might the target audience have about these topics? What pain points do they suffer from with regard to the topics? And what goals do they have with regard to those topics?

Take some time to answer those questions. They will provide great subjects and/or information to include in your writing sample.

If need be, do some research on sites like Quora and Reddit to find out what the target readers are thinking.

Brainstorm #3: Format

Next, try to fit the answers to those questions into one of the formats listed in the job ad.

If the job ad mentions they want “How To” articles, try to create a headline in the “How To” format that focuses on each of the answers.

If they want “product roundups”, brainstorm ideas that focus on different products related to the target audience.

For example:

• “Top 10 Tools To Avoid [Pain Point]”
• “The 7 Best Tools To Help You Achieve [Desired Goal]”

Brainstorm #4: Employer Goals

You can also brainstorm ideas based on the goals of your prospective employer.

Try to come up with ideas that fit the topics and formats listed in the job ad while also serving the employer’s business model.

Traffic-Based Goals:

• Find some high volume keywords related to the topics mentioned in the job ad. Use them to brainstorm ideas for samples.
• Brainstorm ideas based off of the most popular content on their site. What did their popular content fail to cover? How can you go into greater depth than they did? Is there a part of their content that you can expand upon?
• Brainstorm ideas for Expert Round-Up Posts that influencers will want to share.

Lead-Based Goals:

• Go to the employer’s website and find their lead magnets. Is there a section of their lead magnet that you can expand upon in greater detail? Is there an overarching topic you can write about that will allow you to link to their lead magnet?
• Find some keywords related to the topics mentioned in the job ad that show commercial intent. Use them to brainstorm ideas for samples.
• Reverse-engineer ideas from their product or service. For example, create a how-to guide that describes how to achieve a desired result with their product.

Step 3: Select One of Your Ideas

Now that you have a gigantic list of ideas, it’s time to pick one.

Start by pairing down your list to the top ideas. Eliminate any ideas you feel are repetitive, incomplete, or low-quality. Combine similar ideas that can be included in one piece.

Try to narrow your list down to the 5-10 best ideas.

Then step away from your list for a few hours so you can return to it with fresh eyes.

When you return, pick the best idea by asking:

• Which idea makes me most excited?
• Of my ideas, which one meets the most of the criteria outlined in the job ad?
• Which idea do I think will best satisfy the employers expectations?

That should be enough to help you select an idea to write. If you’re still having trouble deciding, it probably means they’re all good ideas and you can just pick any one of them.

Step 4: Find Models To Emulate

Congratulations! You have your idea for your writing sample.

Now it’s time to find models you can use for inspiration.

You should try to find at least 1-3 models that are in your writing niche and match the job description in style, tone, target audience, topic, format, and length.

You can use these models as inspiration for your writing sample. Include the best parts of the models in your writing sample, and use them as a guide to match the required writing style.

How do you find models?

First, try Googling your subject. Check out each result to see if it’s a good enough model for your writing sample.

You can also enter your subject into tools like BuzzSumo and Ubersuggest. Not only will they produce articles on your topic, they’ll also give you data about how popular they are on social media.

The screenshot above shows Ubersuggest results for the keyword “writing samples.” For an article about creating writing samples, the first and fourth results would likely make good models. Unlike the other results, those two articles are on topic, they have great headlines, and they were popular on social media (suggesting readers liked them).

Step 5: Outline & Write Your Idea

Now comes the fun part. It’s time to create your writing sample.

Before you begin outlining, start by answering 8 important questions that will guide you during the writing process:

1. Who is your target reader?
2. How does your target reader feel about this subject?
3. How do you want them to feel about it when they’re done reading?
4. What questions or topics must you cover?
5. What questions or topics do similar articles cover?
6. Are there examples and data can you use to bolster your points?
7. What can you borrow from your models to include in your sample?
8. What are the models missing you can include in your sample to make it better?

Answering these questions will make outlining and writing your sample much easier. More importantly, it will make the final product much better.

A full explanation of the outlining and writing process is too comprehensive to include in this guide. Luckily, Smart Blogger already published the ultimate guide to creating a blog post that includes everything you’ll need to create a stellar rough draft. Use it to walk you through the process.

If you’re creating some other type of content like email copy or Facebook ads, then try running a Google search to find a good guide (like this guide to creating marketing emails from HubSpot or this guide to creating Facebook ads from WordStream)

One more tip: the process of outlining and writing a rough draft is similar to brainstorming ideas for your sample — for now, don’t edit yourself or focus on quality.

The goal is to get all of your ideas down on the page, even if it’s sloppy. You can polish it up in the editing process.

Step 6: Edit Your Writing Sample

Of all the writing skills and activities that go into freelance writing, editing is one of top dogs.

Editing is where decent writing becomes great writing. And while you’ll develop your own process as you progress, you can use this 5-Round formula to take your writing sample to the next level.

Round 1: Edit the Content

• Supercharge It: Identify any places where you can add more info, data, or examples to improve your points.
• Say It Straight: Identify any sections that are unclear or confusing and refine them.
• Go Pro: Identify any sections where you sound like a newbie and figure out how to improve them.
• Carve It Up: Eliminate any repetitive or unnecessary info.

Round 2: Edit for Writing Quality

• Sweat The Small Stuff: Fix any typos, syntax, or grammatical errors.
• Rhythm And Flow: Ensure each section flows smoothly and logically into the next.
• Up Your Game: Apply these 7 Editing Tips That Will Make You A Better Writer In 2020.

Round 3: Ensure it Meets the Job Ad Criteria

• Be Topical: Is it on topic? Does it properly address the topic?
• Trim It Down: Does it meet the required length?
• Maintain Proper Form: Is it in one of the employer’s preferred formats? Does the article consistently satisfy the format?
• Add Value: Will the target audience find this valuable? If not, how can you make it more valuable?

Round 4: Optimize for Best Practices

• Help Google Out: Is it optimized for SEO?
• Remember The Fundamentals: Does it meet all of the best practices of the format/framework?
• Make It Pretty: What images can you incorporate to make it more visually appealing and engaging?
• Build A Connection: Does the introduction connect with the reader?
• Inspire Action: Does the conclusion inspire the reader to take action?

Round 5: Polish to Perfection

Step away from the article for a day (if time permits), then return to it with fresh eyes and:

• Spot The Problems: Find any problematic areas to improve.
• Shine It Up Real Nice: How can you make it shine? Is there any way to make your sample extra special?
• The Critical Question: Give your sample one last read and ask: is this an example of my best writing?

How to Deliver Your Writing Sample

You did it!

Take a moment to give yourself a big ‘ole pat on the back. You created the perfect writing sample.

…well, almost perfect.

Remember, creating a perfect writing sample isn’t just about showing off your writing skills. It’s about creating a writing sample the hiring manager can envision publishing on their website.

To truly give them that vision, you’ll need to go one step further. You’ll need to deliver the sample in a format that helps the hiring manager visualize what it’ll look like when they hire you.

For article writers, it means publishing your article on free blogging platform like:

• WordPress
• Medium
• LinkedIn Publishing
• Contena

If you’re creating some other type of content, try to figure out how you can deliver it in a realistic format. For example, you could create a Facebook ad in Facebook (without launching it) and take a screenshot of the preview.

Taking this extra step can go a long way towards winning the job. It enables the hiring manager to better visualize your sample on their site. It shows you put in extra effort and attention to detail. And it helps you stand out among the competition.

Other Key Considerations

1. How to Complete Your Sample Quickly

Creating the perfect writing sample takes time. And you should invest as much time as you possibly can to make your writing sample shine.

But you don’t want to take too much time and risk losing the job to another writer.

So how long should you spend creating your writing sample? And how can you ensure you complete it quickly enough to still make the job application deadline?

It depends on two factors:

1. How recently was the job ad posted? Is there a due date for job applications?
2. How much time can you spend working on your writing sample each day?

First, you have to figure out how much time you have.

If the job ad gives a due date, then you should aim to get it done a few days before that date (give yourself some leeway).

If the job ad doesn’t provide a due date, then check when the job was posted. The more recently the job was posted, the more time you have to work on your sample.

According to a 2015 report from Indeed and the Centre for Economic and Business Research, 43% of job openings are filled within 30 days of posting a job ad. Though it’s not a bulletproof system, use Indeed’s research as a guide and aim to submit your sample at least 1 week before the 30-day deadline.

So if the job ad was posted 7 days before you begin, and you want to finish 1 week before the 30-day deadline, then you have 16 days to complete and submit your application.

Next, determine how much time you can spend on your writing sample daily. Then schedule each of the 6 steps into that allotted time.

2. What to Do if You Hate Your Writing Sample

In the beginning, you were excited to get to work.

You did all the required research. You picked a topic that would impress the hiring manager. And your excitement grew as you completed your outline.

But as you near completion, the original sheen wears off. And the excitement gets replaced with a feeling of dread…

Your writing sample sucks.

You just know the hiring manager will read it, laugh at it, and throw you into their “never hire” file.

What should you do now?

Luckily, there’s only one answer — finish your rough draft and edit the crap out of it.

First of all, your writing sample doesn’t suck. In fact, it’s probably much better than you think.

You only think it sucks because you’re nervous about getting the job and filled with insecurity. You’ve also read your sample so many times that you’ve become overexposed to it.

This is completely normal. In fact, it’s happened to me several times when writing this guide.

While you may be tempted to start over again on a new writing sample, chances are the same thing will happen: your nerves will get to you again and you’ll question the quality of your work.

Even worse, you’ll have less time to complete your sample, which will only make your nerves worse. You may end up missing the deadline or abandoning the job altogether.

The truth is, the writing sample you have is probably good enough to get the job. And all writing improves with editing.

Just finish and submit what you started.

Remember, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. You might not get the job with the sample you have now; but you DEFINITELY won’t get the job if you submit nothing.

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You Now Know How to Write a Perfect Writing Sample. Time to Go Get That Job!

Creating a writing sample is a nerve-wracking endeavor.

Between the hard work that’s required and the insecurity it produces, it can seem like an impossible task.

But with the approach I’ve just outlined, you can create a perfect writing sample that’ll impress any hiring manager.

Imagine how great it will feel to wake up one morning, check your inbox, and read those wonderful words: “We’d like to interview you.”

Imagine the validation and confidence you’ll feel knowing you have what it takes to do your dream job!

You don’t just have to imagine it. You can make it real. All you have to do is take the next step.

Study the job ad. Outline your key criteria. Follow the steps in this guide. And create the best damn writing sample they’ve ever read!

You can do this. Go get that job!

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Five Best-Practices for B2B Social Media Influencer Marketing

B2B influencer marketing has become "a thing"; it is alive and well and available to use as a tactic in your marketing strategy. Based on research and experience, here are five best-practice recommendations. Read the full article at MarketingProfs

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How the Medium Partner Program Can Make You Rich (Slowly)

Some writers are earning thousands in passive income every month with the Medium Partner Program.

Why not you too?

Whether you’re looking to write full-time, or you just want an extra writing gig on the side, this post will teach you everything you need to get started with the Medium Partner Program.

Let’s get started with a quick overview…

What is Medium?

Launched in 2012 by Ev Williams, co-founder of Twitter and Blogger, Medium is an ad-free blogging and publishing platform — open and free to anyone (provided you follow the rules).

If Twitter is fast food eaten in your car, then Medium is a slow meal enjoyed at a table full of scientists, business leaders, poets, and social commentators.

Do you need to be some high-falutin expert to publish on Medium?

Not at all.

But you will need to bring your “A” game.

How Medium Works

Non-members are limited to reading 3 free stories each month. The rest fall behind a paywall.

To read more Medium stories, the subscription fee is $5 per month or $50 per year, giving you unlimited access and a few other perks.

Readers engage with articles by:

• Highlighting passages
• Clapping (similar to likes)
• Commenting

Writing On Medium

Medium’s clean interface is a writer’s dream.

Its simple design minimizes distractions and keeps you focused on writing.

And it’s super easy to insert and format images.

Medium allows you to browse an extensive library of free Unsplash images right there on the page (attribution is automatically placed in a caption below).

Want to add a great quote?

You have two options: block or pull-quotes.

Or you can embed a podcast, YouTube clip, or tweet.

And when your post is all shiny and ready for the world?

1. Add a meta-description
2. Include 5 topic tags
3. Let Medium know you want to get paid for your work
4. Hit publish!

How Do You Make Money with Medium?

You make money writing on Medium through Medium’s Partner Program.

It’s free to join, and the process is straightforward (details below).

Then it’s time to write (a lot).

That’s because you make money based on how much time paying Medium members spend reading your articles each month.

You won’t make any direct income from non-members unless they become paying members within 30 days of reading your work.

According to Medium’s blog, “If last month a member spent 10% of their monthly reading time on your story, you will receive 10% of their share.”

Earnings are deposited via Stripe into your bank account around the 8th of each month, and you can see daily updates in your dashboard.

How Much Does Medium Pay Per Clap?

Medium moved away from factoring claps into writer’s payouts in October of 2019.

Instead, they decided that reading time is a better measure of reader engagement and appreciation.

However, claps are stats that do factor into how well your story ranks, which gives your article more opportunities to be read (and for you to get paid).

How Much Can You Earn From Medium?

In 2019, Medium paid more than $6 million to over 30,000 writers.

Wow!

According to their September 2019 update, a top writer earned $30,638.81 that month.

And in November 2019, a single story earned $7,384.22.

That’s a lot of dough, right?

But now for the buzzkill…

The vast majority of Medium writers make less than $100 per month. In fact, only 7% to 9% of writers earn more than that.

Ouch.

That’s because your results will depend on factors like skill, commitment, existing assets (email list, social media following), timing, and, yes, luck.

But don’t despair — making money on Medium is doable for real people like you and me:

After months of hard work, freelance writer Zita Fontaine started earning over $1,000 monthly in November of 2019.

Megan Holstein made over $10K last year — breaking the $1K mark in December 2019.

Shaunta Grimes, author of Viral Nation, reported earning over $1,000 per week.

Brian Rowe, editor of The Partnered Pen, hit the $1K monthly mark last year.

If they did it, so can you.

How Do You Join the Medium Partner Program?

It’s simple.

I’ll walk you through all the steps to sign up for:

1. A Medium account (super easy)
2. The Medium Partner Program (a little more involved)

Although you do need a Medium account, you’re not required to have a Medium membership (with the monthly/annual membership fee) to sign up (although it’s nice to give back to other writers on the platform, if you can swing it).

Set Up Your Medium Account

Creating your free Medium account only takes a few minutes:

1. Go to Medium’s homepage (medium.com) and click “Get started.”

2. Log in using Facebook, Google, or another email address.

3. Go to your inbox and click the link to confirm your email.

4. Complete your account setup by entering your name (pen names are allowed), and click “Create account.”

That’s all there is to it!

Now you can sign up for the partner program…

Join The Medium Partner Program

Joining Medium’s Partner Program requires a few more steps (and more information), but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Here’s what you do:

1. Click on the profile image icon in the upper right corner of your screen, and click “Medium Partner Program” in the drop-down menu.

2. You’ll be taken to a page promoting the partner program. Click “Join the Medium Partner Program” when you’re ready.

3. You’ll then be asked to agree to the terms of service. Give them a quick read and then check the box.

4. Next you’ll be asked to select either the Stripe Express or Stripe Standard account.

Note: If your country isn’t served by Stripe, you won’t be able to get paid through the partner program.

If you don’t have a Stripe account, you can sign up for an Express account through Medium.

Be ready to provide them with details like:

• Legal name
• Business address
• Business phone number
• Type of business: Individual, sole proprietor, or single-membership LLC
• Business website
• Routing number
• Bank account number

Also, you should know that if you set up a Stripe Express account through Medium, you won’t be able to connect that Stripe account to any other services. If you plan on using Stripe for other facets of your business, it probably makes sense to set up a Standard account instead.

5. If you already have a Stripe account, select “Stripe Standard account,” and then click “Set up payments on Stripe.”

6. You’ll be taken to the page shown below. Click “Sign in” in the upper right corner.

7. Two buttons will appear. Click on “Connect my Stripe account.”

8. Then sign into your account.

9. Congratulations! You’re on a roll. Why not take care of some tax documentation while you’re at it?

You don’t have to enter your tax info now, but you need to fill it out to get paid.

Fill Out Tax Forms (So You Can Get Paid)

Want to get this tax stuff out of the way?

Great.

Keep in mind, your tax forms may differ from those shown here:

1. If you’re not already on the Taxpayer information page, go here to enter your info.

2. Choose the appropriate tax form and click “Complete Form.” This page will help you decide which to choose.

Note: Most US Citizens will use a W9 (confirm with your accountant). The W-8BEN and W-8BEN-E forms are for non-resident aliens.

3. This is the W9 form:

4. And that’s it!

Remember, you forfeit earnings if you don’t submit tax info within 180 days after the Sunday of your first week earning.

Get. It. Done.

12 Tips for Earning Real Passive Income with the Medium Partner Program

You’re well on your way to earning your first buck on Medium.

But, if you want to make real cash, you must learn how to make the partner program work for you.

Let’s look at some strategies other writers are leveraging to succeed:

1. Write your best content

Success on Medium requires your best work.

Content should be informative, original, engaging, well thought out, and free of typos and grammatical errors.

It should be aesthetically pleasing, with great images and good formatting.

Never plagiarize, and always give credit and links where appropriate. And make sure you deliver on the promise of your headline.

2. Craft great headlines

Do yourself a favor and write at least a dozen headlines for every post.

Good headlines get clicks. And clicks lead to reads (and pay).

Great headlines should:

• Generate curiosity (don’t go “full clickbait,” Medium doesn’t like it)
• Elicit emotion
• Leverage number psychology
• Contain power words
• Demonstrate a clear benefit to the reader
• Feature a keyword (especially if you’re trying to rank in search engines)

3. Produce consistently and prolifically

According to an analysis conducted by The Startup, writers who earned the most were consistent publishers.

Why?

Because, as your audience grows and your content is increasingly found, read, and shared, your earnings compound over time.

Some of the most successful earners post multiple times per week, and have been doing so for months or years.

By writing more, you will:

• Build skills
• Increase your chances of writing a winner
• Gain clarity about what works

Quality always trumps quantity, so don’t publish half-baked material just so you can stick to a schedule.

4. Please Medium’s curators

If you meet Medium’s curation standards, there’s a chance the Medium editors will promote your content across their platform (including their email list), giving your story tons of exposure.

Medium recently suggested these articles in my inbox:

Articles deemed exceptional are featured on Medium’s front page (cha-ching!).

Even if you don’t get curated (often you won’t), your post will still be eligible for earning through the partner program. You just won’t get nearly as much traffic.

5. Optimize for search engines

Medium has millions of readers.

That doesn’t guarantee your post will get the attention it deserves. And having your posts rank well in search engines will drive tons of views (and more income).

This strategy requires keyword research and a basic understanding of SEO principles.

Make sure your post includes:

• A great headline that includes the keyword
• Alt-tags for images
• Proper header tags: H1, H2, H3
• Custom URL
• Customized meta description

6. Engage the community

Medium is a place for people to gather around ideas.

From the beginning, you should build relationships by leaving thoughtful comments on other writer’s stories.

Follow writers you like.

Mention and link to them in your articles when appropriate.

And if someone takes the time to leave a legitimate comment on your post, make sure you reply.

7. Leverage your connections

Give your Medium articles a boost by sharing them with your email list, in Facebook groups, LinkedIn, Reddit, Twitter, and on other social media platforms.

But remember, the connection goes both ways.

Connect your social accounts to Medium to gain new followers. Link out to your blog in your Medium bio.

And don’t forget to link to your Medium posts from other articles you write, either on Medium or other places (like your blog).

8. Publish with publications

Medium’s top publications are followed by hundreds of thousands of readers.

Writing for them can dramatically increase your reach.

And there are thousands of publications on a wide range of topics that you can submit your work to.

To submit your work, go to their Medium page and click on “Write For Us” or “Contribute.”

9. Go long, but no fluff

According to Medium’s Data Lab, the optimal length post takes 7 minutes to read (that’s approximately 1,600 words).

But remember, quality always trumps length.

The more time readers spend on your posts, the more you get paid. But, just making content longer isn’t enough. If you can’t hold readers’ interest past the first paragraph, it doesn’t matter how long your post is.

10. Profit from popularity

Where attention goes, money flows.

Study successful Medium writers and their stories. What’s working?

Write about popular subjects, like:

• Tech
• Entrepreneurship
• News
• Culture
• Productivity
• Marketing
• Artificial Intelligence
• Business
• Design
• Love
• And many more

Popular topics have large pools of readers. And that means more exposure for your work.

The bigger the pond, the more fish you can catch.

11. Add layers of interest

Yes, write about popular topics.

But don’t be a clone.

Draw upon what you know — areas of expertise or things you have some deep interest in or connection to.

What unique perspective can you bring?

Dare to be different:

• Provide some historical context
• Take them on a journey through your senses
• Write about real people in real life situations
• Be vulnerable and humanize a topic
• Add color with personality
• Elicit emotion
• Go big on research and data
• Take a contrarian stance
• Give them a glimpse into a hidden world

12. Lead your reader

Tell readers what to do next by giving them actionable advice.

Providing them with some amazing insight or new perspective is great, but what do they do with it?

How can they go out and put it into practice today?

Have the courage to not only share ideas, but also lead with them.

The Medium Partner Program Pays

Can you make serious coin on Medium?

You know it.

It won’t happen overnight (for most of us, anyway).

But that’s okay!

Every piece of content you write is an asset — an investment that will compound your earnings over time. That means your articles will keep working for you, even while you’re out there hustling for other paid writing gigs!

And that’s really the key here.

Plan on writing a lot over a significant period of time. Plan on learning and pivoting. And always plan on failing along your path to success.

Why not start that first article today?

Happy writing!

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WordPress Hosting: A Brutally Honest Guide (to Save You $)

This is painful to say, but…

Most of what’s published out there about WordPress hosting is total crap.

Not just incomplete information. Not just half-truths.

I’m talking outright lies and boldfaced scams.

You can’t even get straightforward answers to basic questions like…

• Should you go to the trouble of setting up a WordPress site or just start a blog for free on Medium?
• Which company is good? Who can you trust?
• Are there any decent free WordPress hosting services?
• What’s the difference between all the different options?

It’s infuriating, but listen…

I make money blogging because I have built and run some of the most popular blogs in the world, scaling them from nothing to millions of visitors per month. During that process, I learned a lot of valuable lessons — often the hard way — about what makes a good WordPress host.

And today, I’m publishing the guide I wish somebody had given me.

It’s brutally honest. It’s full of technical details (that I do my best to explain). It’ll also save you tons of time and money.

The Different Levels of WordPress Hosting Plans

To start, here’s an infographic explaining the typical path most bloggers take:

They start with a shared hosting plan, and then they grow to a Virtual Private Server, and then they grow to a Dedicated Server.

Wondering how that applies to you?

Here’s the short answer:

TLDR: The Best WordPress Hosting Right Now (In My Opinion)

If you’re under 100,000 visitors per month, don’t torture yourself by getting a VPS or dedicated server. Just grab a cheap, no-frills shared hosting account and install WordPress. Most hosting providers these days offer one-click WordPress installation, which makes the whole process a breeze.

Is it the best WordPress hosting in the world?

No, but it’s way better value than the alternatives. Here’s a pricing comparison:

The more expensive things get, the more complicated and frustrating it gets too. You’ve never experienced misery until you try to optimize a dedicated server for the first time.

My advice?

Keep it simple and cheap. Use a shared host.

Now, that begs the question…

What’s the Most Cost-Effective Hosting for WordPress?

Personally, I use SiteGround (affiliate link) for all my new WordPress websites. Here’s why:

• It’s the best balance I’ve found of quality and price. You can find cheaper hosts, but you can’t find anyone cheap that’s as good as them.
• They are optimized for WordPress. The load times for your site will be faster there than on many hosts
• I use them personally to host most of our sites, and both their servers and support have always been excellent.

That being said, I’ll be straight with you…

SiteGround isn’t the only great host in the world. They’re just the one I personally use and recommend to our 3+ million readers. I wouldn’t endorse them publicly without having a lot of confidence in them.

But there other good companies with a different approach.

Who Is the Best WordPress Host, Regardless of Price?

WP Engine (affiliate) has an impeccable reputation for flawless hosting, high performance, great uptime, and a dynamite support team. In my opinion, there’s no question they are better than SiteGround, but they are also 10X more expensive.

Is it worth it?

If you want a managed WordPress host that can take unlimited traffic, offer perks like site migration and WordPress staging, and has WordPress experts standing by to help you with pretty much anything you need (plus you’re hosting an e-commerce website with a significant budget), maybe it’s worth the extra cost.

Quite a few big blogs host with them, and they believe it’s worth every penny.

I’ve also been to their offices in downtown Austin and met with the executive team. It’s a solid company that’ll be around for years to come.

The bottom line:

If you want to skip the rest of this post and just choose a host, go with SiteGround (affiliate link) if you have a small budget and WP Engine (affiliate) if you have a large one. You won’t regret going with other company.

Before you choose any WordPress host though, here’s an important point you should understand:

Most Reviews Are Bought and Paid for

Pretty much every blogger making a hosting recommendation is getting compensated by the host. And yes, that includes me.

The difference?

I’m not hiding anything. I’m proud of the partnerships I have with SiteGround (affiliate link) and WP Engine (affiliate), because I have personal experience with both companies, many of my students are customers, and they treat everyone extremely well. I would happily recommend them even if they weren’t paying me a penny.

And that’s NOT true for other bloggers.

Most don’t even use the host they are recommending. In my opinion, that’s just unethical.

Especially when it comes to one particular company…

Many Hosts are Owned by the Same Terrible Company

Do any of these sound familiar?

2slick.com
AccountSupport
A Small Orange
ApolloHosting
AptHost
Arvixe
Berry Information Systems
BigRock
BizLand
BlueDomino
BlueFur
Bluehost
BuyDomains
Cirtex Hosting
Cloud by IX
Constant Contact
Directi
Dollar2Host
Domain.com
DomainHost
Dot5Hosting
Dotster
easyCGI
eHost
EntryHost
Escalate Internet
FastDomain
FatCow
FreeYellow
Glob@t
Homestead
HostCentric
HostClear
Host Excellence
HostGator
HostMonster
HostNine
HostYourSite.com
HostV
HyperMart
IdeaHost
IMOutdoors
Impress.ly
Intuit Websites
iPage
IPOWER/iPowerWeb
IX Web Hosting
JustCloud
JustHost
LogicBoxes
MojoMarketplace
MyDomain
MyResellerHome
NetFirms
Networks Web Hosting
Nexx
PowWeb
PureHost
ReadyHosting
ResellerClub
SEOGears
SEO Hosting
Site5
SiteBuilder.com
Sitelio
Sitey
Southeast Web
Spry
StartLogic
SuperGreen Hosting
TypePad
USANetHosting
vDeck
Verio
VirtualAvenue
VPSLink
WebHost4Life
WebHosting.info
WebsiteBuilder.com
Webstrike Solutions
Webzai
World Wide Web Hosting
Xeran
YourWebHosting

Ever heard of Bluehost?

Or maybe Hostgator?

Both hosts are owned by a conglomerate called Endurance International Group (EIG). In fact, EIG runs most of the big hosting companies, and it continues to buy new ones all the time.

So what makes them so awful?

After they purchase a host, they lay off support staff, stop investing in new technology, and funnel the money into increased advertising and payouts to shareholders. Sure, they usually try to entice customers by offering perks such as free domain names or unlimited websites, but these relatively small perk aren’t worth it. In every case, the reputation of the host plummets.

Of course, you might be wondering how you find out if they own your host. Or for that matter, how do you know if your host is a good one if nearly every review is bought and paid for?

The answer:

The Best Way to Get Unbiased Reviews

Web Hosting Talk is the biggest forum on the web about hosting platforms, and it has literally millions of hosting reviews. They don’t allow affiliate links either, so you can count on the reviews to be unbiased.

Granted, every host — be it SiteGround or WPEngine, DreamHost or A2 Hosting, GoDaddy or InMotion hosting, or one of the less-than-ideal hosts mentioned above — gets a bad review now and again, but you can comb through dozens of reports to get a much better feel for the reputation of the host, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

Also, here’s a little hack to save you some time…

Instead of using the search tool built into their forum, which can be a little clunky, grab the URL of the forum you want to search, and then put the following in Google:

site:URL “host name”

For example, if you wanted to verify the reputation of SiteGround (affiliate link), you can go to their list of forums, right click on the one that seems most appropriate, and copy the link:

From there, use the search parameter above in Google. In this case, it would be:

site:http://www.webhostingtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1 “SiteGround”

And voilà, you have a listing of reviews you can easily look through for reliable information.

In particular, here’s the biggest factor that should influence your decision:

How to Evaluate Customer Support

Customer support. When you’re a beginner or small business, it’s more important than anything.

No surprise there, right?

But here’s the big lesson…

It’s not just about wait times or the intelligence of the technicians. It’s also about the method of support, what the host supports, and the helpdesk schedule.

For instance:

• Do you have to submit tickets through their helpdesk and wait for a response, or can you do a live chat or phone call with a technician and actually have a conversation?
• Do they offer WordPress support, including the most popular WordPress themes and plug-ins? It’s shocking, but unless they specifically mention it, many don’t.
• Do they offer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or is it only during normal business hours?
• Do they do daily backups?

Personally, I want a host with technicians I can interact with in real time (either through phone or chat), have a thorough knowledge of WordPress.org, and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And that’s actually relatively difficult to find at an affordable price.

That’s why I think SiteGround (affiliate link) is the best host for most beginners. They give you all those things for an entire year for less than the cost of a dinner at a nice restaurant.

And here’s what’s even cooler…

Their servers are also configured especially for WordPress. Let’s talk about that next.

The Configuration Matters More Than Tech

Chances are, you’ve seen a hosting package that looks something like this:

Almost like a foreign language, right? Disk space, RAM, page views, MySQL, cPanel (control panel), data centers, unlimited email accounts, SFTP, WooCommerce, downtime, CMS, WP-CLI, Git integration, add-ons, SSDs — what’s it all mean? And for that matter, how are you supposed to know which hosting plan is right for you?

Actually… you don’t have to. If you’re running a relatively simple WordPress site, none of those technical details matter much. You can ignore them.

Here’s proof:

In 2012, a fellow named Ewen Leith managed to get a $15 server to run a WordPress site receiving 10 million hits a day.

Granted, it was an extremely simple site using a set up that would be tough for a novice to manage, but it’s still proof the configuration of your web host matters much more than having high-end hardware or a free CDN (Content Delivery Network) like Cloudflare.

That’s another reason why I recommend SiteGround (affiliate link) – their servers are configured specifically for WordPress. Your site will be able to handle far more traffic with far fewer resources. Over the long term, it translates into significant savings, because you have to upgrade less often.

Granted, SiteGround isn’t the only host who does this. If you decide to search for someone else, here’s what to look for:

• Litespeed or Apache NGINX
• Database caching through Memcached
• Support for PHP version 7 and HTTP/2

RAM, SSD storage, bandwidth — for a normal WordPress site, none of those specs really matter much. Ignore them and focus on the three above details.

But, also remember:

Installing Too Many Plugins Can Mess up Any WordPress Host

So, you found a host that’s perfectly optimized for WordPress. Your site should be nice and zippy, right?

Actually… not necessarily.

If you install too many WordPress plugins (or even just one really bad one), you can slow down your site or even cause your host to cancel your account. It’s the most common source of problems. (Plus, an out-of-date plugin can make your site vulnerable to malware and other attacks, so the more you have, the greater your risk.)

So, how do you know which plugins to install and which ones to avoid?

The short answer: install as few as possible, and if you ever have problems with your site, the first thing you should always do is try deactivating plugins. For a detailed answer, take a look at our post on essential WordPress plug-ins.

Make Sure You Get a Free SSL Certificate

Ever since Google announced that having an SSL certificate is now a ranking factor, it’s become essential for you to have one if you’re serious about your content being seen in search engines.

What’s an SSL certificate?

It’s an extra layer of security and reporting around the safety of your WordPress website. Any site using SSL will have the prefix “https” in the URL.

In the past, you had to pay a yearly fee to register your SSL certificate, but most of the top web hosting services are now offering one for free via services like Let’s Encrypt. You should take advantage of that savings and have your site on https from day one.

The 7 Things That Really Matter When Choosing the Best WordPress Host

By this point, I wouldn’t blame you if your head is spinning.

We’ve covered a lot of technical details in this post, so I thought I would conclude with a quick checklist to help you choose the best WordPress host for you. Here are the seven most important things to remember:

1. Unless your site is massive, you don’t need a VPS or dedicated server. Stick with shared WordPress hosting.
2. For the love of God, avoid any hosting company owned by EIG.
3. When evaluating customer support, look for 24/7 live chat and/or phone support.
4. The configuration of your web host matters more than the technical specs
5. Go easy on the WordPress plugins. They can slow down your site.
6. You should expect to get a free SSL certificate. Use it.
7. If you’re tired of thinking about all this stuff, go with a managed WordPress hosting solution like SiteGround (cheap but good) or WP Engine (premium). SiteGround offers a hassle-free, 30-day money-back guarantee, and WP Engine offers 60 days for new customers.

Follow those recommendations, and you’ll save yourself tons of time, money, and headaches. I speak from experience.

Ultimately though, the decision is yours. Choose wisely, my friend.

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