Constant-Content.com’s “Three strikes” rule has become almost legendary on the CC forum, especially amongst newcomers. Yes, CC does have a policy that can lead to permanent account suspension after three article rejections. This rule is enforced; however, its enforcement is discretionary. Some writers will have their accounts suspended after just one rejection while others may receive periodic article rejections totally far more than the stated three.
Why the discretion? I believe this policy is a “we reserve the right to refuse service” policy and that the number three is a guideline. Just as CC reserves the right to not accept articles, it also reserves the right to continue working with writers that show promise and make only minor blunders here and there.
What will get your account suspended from Constant-Content.com?
Plagiarism
A lack of basic English skills
Repeatedly submitting articles with the same mistakes
Continually submitting articles that are not suitable for the Constant-Content.com site
What types of rejections aren’t likely to lead to an account submission?
Newbie mistakes like submitting the file in a 10-point Times New Roman font instead of 12-point
Minor typos in otherwise solid articles
If you have strong English skills, can spot your own mistakes, and can learn and adapt when an editor points out a writing flaw, you’ll be fine.
Constant-Content Tip: While you can submit articles that you have published elsewhere (and continue to own the rights) for usage rights, consider writing original articles specifically for Constant-Content on your first few tries. By following the guidelines and creating an article with those guidelines in mind, you’ll be less likely to have your article rejected for things like first person voice, hyperlinks, or plagiarism (if your article appears elsewhere under a different name or with no name attributed to you, your article could be rejected because it can’t be verified).
One of my goals this year is to send out newsletters. Today, I took the first step and posted a “Sign up for my Newsletter” link here on the blog. If you want to receive periodic news, sign up. I promise not to abuse my mailing list! In fact, I expect to send newsletters out quarterly and there’s an opt-out option if you find that the newsletters aren’t for you.
My mailing list is managed through EliteMail (aka EliteAnswers). I like this service because it’s a pay-as-you-go email marketing program with no monthly fees, no hosting, and no minimums. It also features all of the CAN Spam tools to ensure that the messages comply with this act. If you’re looking for an alternative to the more expensive email marketing services, check it out:
I’ve also been busy today compiling newsletter article packs for customers to use in their newsletters and ezines. I guess I have newsletters on the brain today
Every now and then, I’ll have a client ask me to write two versions of the same content. For example, the client may want to post one article on his main Web site and then use a similar version on a different site. However, because of worries about duplicate content penalties, each article must be completely unique.
One way to make sure that the two versions don’t accidentally contain common phrases is to to write the first document, close it, and then write the second document several days later from scratch. However, waiting isn’t always an option. I prefer to close the original document so that I’m not tempted to refer to it as I write the second.
When both articles (or product descriptions) are complete, you can use Microsoft Word’s Compare feature to compare the text of each document. In Word 2007, this feature is found on the Review tab. Simply click Review > Compare and then choose the two documents when prompted. Soon, your screen will be divided up into several panes where you’ll see the documents compared side-by-side. Duplicate text will show up in red, allowing you to quickly see potentially troublesome phrases and sentences.
The other day, a fellow Constant-Content.com writer asked if he could interview me. Of course, I was happy to oblige. Read the interview over at JadeDragon’s Innovative Passive Income blog.
I just joined EyeJot so that I can send quick video emails as well as write intelligently about the service for a client of mine. Anyone else use this service?
