You may have heard that every day, another traditional writing market disappears. Don’t let that discourage you from writing! Instead, discover the thousands of lucrative publishing opportunities that await you on the Internet if you understand Internet marketing. Whether you’re just taking your first steps toward that dream of getting published, or you have a dozen books to your credit, this course will show you how you can start earning income on the Web right away. You’ll learn how to make the Internet work for you from a writer who has spent years exploring its potential. You'll find out how to sell e-zine articles, write for Webzines and online magazines, create a blog, sell manuscripts to an e-publisher, and self-publish your own work as an e-book or a traditional book using print-on-demand (POD) publishing.

You'll also find out about the unlimited opportunities to make income from your writing through advertising revenue. You can achieve that either by adding advertising to your own Web content or by letting a revenue-sharing site take care of the technical details for you. We'll explore both options. Then you'll learn how to query and submit your writing electronically, how to understand electronic submission guidelines and online contracts, and all about the future of Web writing.

So, get ready to publish whatever you want, whenever you want, and make good money in the process!

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Recommended Courses:

Students who enrolled in Introduction to Internet Writing Markets were also interested in the following courses:

Keys to Effective Editing

The Craft of Magazine Writing

Publish It Yourself: How to Start and Operate Your Own Publishing Business

Fundamentals of Technical Writing

Syllabus:

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

A new section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

Week One

Wednesday - Lesson 01

The Internet grows every day, and so do your opportunities to publish on it. In this lesson, we'll begin by exploring Internet publications. Digital information archivists have identified not only the characteristics of Internet publications, but also three specific types: Web magazines, Webzines, and E-Journals. By the time you've finished this lesson, you'll not only understand how these three differ, but you'll also know which type of publication best suits what you want to write. And to make sure you have all the tools you need to begin publishing on the Internet, you'll have the chance to learn about querying by e-mail and to read some of my electronic queries that have landed assignments.

Friday - Lesson 02

In this lesson, you'll learn what makes e-zines, or electronic magazines, different from the Internet publications we talked about in Lesson 1. You'll find out the history of the zine and how it evolved to become the e-zine, We'll look at the kind of content you can expect to sell to an e-zine. Of course, you'll get some of my best e-zine writing tips, too! You'll also see how to prepare and submit content electronically after an editor asks to see your work.

Week Two

Wednesday - Lesson 03

You can probably name dozens of businesses that have Web sites. Some use them as online business cards or brochures, while others use them to sell directly to customers. Today, you'll learn how to write content for all these types of sites. When you write for a business, you're likely to have a payment agreement in which the business owns the copyright to the content, not you. After this lesson, you'll understand the various ways you can license or sell your writing.

Friday - Lesson 04

The majority of Web sites you find when you're surfing aren't Web publications, e-zines, or business sites. Instead, they're content-focused Web sites. From your own experiences reading online content, you know that some content or information sites are easier to read and navigate than others. In this lesson, you'll learn how to write content that will capture the attention of the average online reader, who stays just 45 seconds on a Web page. That's right—you have only 45 seconds to draw your reader in, and today you'll discover some key writing techniques to help you do that! We'll also cover the key contract points to look at when you're selling your writing to an Internet market.

Week Three

Wednesday - Lesson 05

In this lesson, you'll learn the deepest, darkest secret of the Internet—how Web sites make it into the top 50 listings with search engines. Your writing style has a big impact on search engine ranking, so we'll go step-by-step through how to improve the focus and keyword density in the content you create. Even the way you organize your content makes a difference, and after this lesson, you'll know various strategies to make you an effective Web writer. You'll also find out how to make your Webmaster's job easier by paying attention to the keywords and headers that search engines notice.

Friday - Lesson 06

Did you know that 70% of Web surfers say they read at least one blog every week? That's a big opportunity to have your work read! In this lesson, we'll explore how writers are using blogs—some to make their big publishing breaks. In fact, one previously unknown writer landed a $300,000 book deal after just three months of blogging! You're going to meet some expert bloggers who are handing out blog awards and analyzing what makes a blog successful. Then, we'll take a tour of your options for getting started blogging.

Week Four

Wednesday - Lesson 07

Maybe you're interested in writing about a niche area. If so, then publishing your own Webzine could be the best direction for you. I've gone that route myself a few times! Today, you'll discover exactly what it requires to self-publish a content site on the Internet. You'll learn about Web hosting, selecting domain names, Web publishing software (some of it's even free), using images, and registering your Webzine copyright. Even if you're not planning to publish a Webzine, you'll find the information useful when it comes to creating a personal Web site or writing content for a start-up business.

Friday - Lesson 08

This lesson is a student favorite. Who wouldn't want to know dozens of ways to earn money from their own Web content? You've already learned about blogging and starting your own Webzine—now you'll learn how to turn blogs and Webzines into profitable writing opportunities. Take all that content you have archived on your computer and turn it into revenue-generating online content just by signing up with the programs of your choice and adding computer code to your Web pages.

Week Five

Wednesday - Lesson 09

Now that we've started talking about ways to earn money with your writing beyond simply selling it, today we'll look at publishers who share revenue rather than buy your work outright. Revenue-sharing sites let you upload and publish everything you write rather than go through the process of querying and waiting for an editor to accept your work. They're the fastest and easiest route to publication and to making money from it. We'll also talk about e-book publishers who share revenue with royalties, or a specified amount of what they receive for each of your books that they sell. Get ready to find out all about e-publishers and e-book contracts.

Friday - Lesson 10

In this lesson, you'll find out what kinds of writing sell well on the Internet and how to decide if self-publishing is for you. We'll also take a whirlwind tour of the latest trend for self-publishers: print-on-demand, or POD. With POD, you can turn your e-book into a traditional print book with little to no investment beyond printing costs!

Week Six

Wednesday - Lesson 11

Today, we'll look at Web 2.0, the intelligent Web, and see it in action. From blogging, to wikis, to open source licensing, Web 2.0 is all about putting publishing power in the hands of the creators. We're going to explore neat developments such as folksonomy and services like Flickr and del.icio.us, and you'll see how these tools can help you promote your writing. You'll also get some tips about writing for Web 2.0 publishing opportunities—tips that get you ready for the marketplace.

Friday - Lesson 12

In addition to being the intelligent Web, there's another aspect of Web 2.0—it's the participatory Web. You'll be headed into the future with this lesson as we explore social networking and how it has changed the way that we interact. We'll also talk about how you can incorporate multimedia in your Internet writing. Finally, we'll lift the curtain to see what Web 3.0 has in store. Imagine a virtual reality replica of the real world, along with some imaginary ones, where you interact with your own avatar. It's here now, just waiting for you to discover it!

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Linda Aksomitis.

Linda Aksomitis has a master's degree in adult vocational/technical education, with a minor in English. She has published 19 books for readers of all ages (fiction and nonfiction) including five e-books, and she has more than 1,000 publications in newspapers, magazines, and on the Internet. She's been an acquisitions editor for an e-publisher, Webmaster of half a dozen Web sites, and is currently the managing editor and Webmaster for an Internet magazine. Linda traces all of her publishing success to the Internet and the contacts she's made in cyberspace.

Requirements:

Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

Student Reviews:

"About 75% of the material was dead-center on target for what I was looking for. Comparatively, my experience with higher education would only rate at about 50%. Thanks for the great class!"

"A thorough course on internet marketing with current and emerging trends discussed. Wonderful references that will last me a long, long time. The teacher is definitely interested in the success of her students."

"A thorough course on internet marketing with current and emerging trends discussed. Wonderful references that will last me a long, long time. The teacher is definitely interested in the success of her students."

"A very informative class. My only complaint is that I wish it could go on for a few more months to cover all the resources presented! Linda is very knowledgeable and always ready to answer any questions that come up. Definitely worth the time and money for the course."

"Excellent course loaded with useful information. Attentive teacher, helpful and friendly. Great experience."

"Excellent Course! Particularly helpful were all of the links provided in both the supplemental area and in the assignments. These will be extremely helpful in launching a career in writing."

"Excellent course taught by a very experienced and dedicated writer. She covered a tremendous amount of territory over a short time span and provided a wealth of useful and practical information. The instructor was very responsive to student questions and also communicated enthusiasm about the subject matter which gave me a lot of motivation."

"Excellent course. Very helpful for novice writers like me. I will definitely recommend it to others."

"Great class. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a broad introduction to the world of online markets."

"Great class. I would take it again just to review and absorb the information. The instructor is extremely knowledgeable and helpful."

"Great overview. Very well organized. Professor was extremely helpful - offered great advice. Discussion areas were interesting."

"I enjoyed Linda's teaching style and presentation of materials. I found the conclusion chapters helpful for my review and quick reference. I appreciated the glossaries, where applicable. There was good solid content to this class. It addressed a range of writing styles. I appreciated her quick reply to comments I posted."

"I enjoyed the course and definitely got a lot out of it."

"I found this course very useful indeed and have already used some of the knowledge gained to contact a subsidy publisher who has agreed to publish a children's book I wrote four years ago. Thank you Linda so much for this lesson, if not for this course, my little book would still be collecting dust in the cupboard."

"I found this to be an exceedingly helpful, enlightening and informative course. It encourages me to take further online courses. If they are all of this level of quality and value, online education could be my new home. Thank you, Linda, for all your efforts and your astounding amount of research."

"I have enjoyed this course very much. The instructor is excellent and gave the students plenty of useful information."

"I have taken several online courses and this was by far the best one yet. I would recommend this course to anyone considering a writing career."

"I'll be referring to these materials often -- they will remain an active resource file for me. I have learned so much -- THANK YOU! (Oops. I shouted.)"

"I really enjoyed this course. I want to get published, and think I have a much better chance online than I do in the traditional market."

"I really was exposed to a lot of information. I am 47 years old and have not received this type of education merely because of my formal education years and the growth of internet technology. It was a BLAST for me to learn all that there was to be learned, and I'm quite sure there's even more to learn! But it is a great start. Thank you"

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course and recommend it highly. It's a very useful course even if you don't want to write on the internet. It helps a person understand the psychology of an internet site. This is an extremely helpful thing for a writer to know and understand--which is why I was so surprised and delighted by this course."

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course and recommend it highly. It's a very useful course even if you don't want to write on the Internet. It helps a person understand the psychology of an Internet site. This is an extremely helpful thing for a writer to know and understand – which is why I was so surprised and delighted by this course."

"I thought this was a very informative class. There is a wealth of information out there just itching to be explored. Linda did an awesome job…Overall, I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn about writing and publishing on the web."

"I was familiar with some of the information, but this class gave me a better idea of how to put the pieces together. I also gained perspective from someone that is already self-published and willing to help others on that path."

"I would recommend this course to anyone, not just writers. I learned lots of useful, specific information about the Internet and how to use it more effectively. Linda is very thorough and knowledgeable. Her course is presented in an engaging format with lots of "aha" moments. Great teacher, great course."

"Linda Aksomitis is a top-notch instructor and I only wish I had found her very helpful mentoring sooner! With what I have learned in Linda's course, I'm able to create a successful blog and monetize it. I can't thank her enough for her encouragement!"

"Linda Aksomitis was an excellent instructor. The lesson materials were thorough and easy to follow and understand. The supplementary material and assignments also were excellent. She also always responded to discussion area posts in a timely and thorough manner. This is SO important in an online course. Thank you so much for offering this informative, useful, and inspiring course."

"Linda brought a lot of her own experience about writing for internet markets and shared it with her students! Long after this class is over, I will be exploring, in depth, the various links she gave us for both the assignments and supplementary material. So much information!!!"

"Linda has a wealth of knowledge to share, and she shares it willingly and thoroughly, but in a manner that is easy to understand. She is prompt at replies and very organized, and is also open to other ideas. Top notch!"

"Linda is an excellent instructor. Her lessons, supplementary materials, and discussions supplied lots of valuable information and resources. She is exceptionally attentive to the student discussions and continuously feeds the students additional information on markets and other related matters as she comes across them. I highly recommend this course."

"Linda, I wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed your course, although I am sorry I could not devote the amount of time to it that I would have liked. I am a bit of a technophobe, and some of it was a bit much for me but I learned so much, from both the professional aspect, as well as markets and technical information. Your teaching style was great -- you patiently explained things to people of all levels of skills, and I greatly appreciated that."

"Linda provided a very useful course. There is a wealth of information in the materials provided. In addition, she is very responsive to students' inquiries and comments."

"Linda provided us with an abundance of information. She spelled out specifically what needs to be/should be done to pursue and enjoy a legitimate freelance writing career. I will be referring to her notes and to our class assignments over the next few months as I progress in my freelance projects. Thanks, Linda!"

"Linda, this class is superb. With intuitive keenness, you offer insightful comments along with state-of-the-art information. You remind us to examine our personal goals, and to incorporate our new learning in achieving our dreams. Presenting a wealth of information in manageable segments, you allow us to get a “handle” on important concepts. Thank you for all the additional tips and supplementary materials. It will take some time for me to sift through it all. I believe it’s safe to assume that we, as a class, have benefited from your extensive knowledge and experience."

"Linda, this is a great class. You've succeeded in clearing some of the fog. I'm walking away with a lot of helpful info and experience, which will surely benefit me in pursuing my goals in writing. Thank you, and I will definitely recommend this class to others.all the best to you and the rest of the group."

"Linda was patient, well-informed, and a great encourager. IWM was all that I thought it would be and more. After being out of the job market for about three years, this course gives me hope for re-entering as a self-employed, freelance writer."

"Linda was quick to respond to questions with well thought out answers. She added spurs of curiosity about the information in lessons and assignments. The writing venues open to me are greater now."

"Loved this course! I learned so much! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"Of the eight online courses I have taken, this one is the best. The content is excellent and so is the writing. I hope that this instructor does more online classes because I have enjoyed the class and learned a lot."

"Really an excellent course! Met my expectations in full."

"Thank you for offering this course. I have learned a great deal and look forward to using all of the resources you gave us."

"Thank you for the wonderful class. Over the last year, I have taken eight online classes in addition to journalism classes at the local community college. Your class is the best written and contains the most useful information of all of those classes. I have learned a lot, and I have a notebook containing every piece of information, so that I can use it along the way. I will recommend this class to others at my community college and to those on the newspaper staff. Thanks for all of the hard work. It shows."

"Thank you so much for this course. It gave me so many resources to help me with my book. The lessons were great and the instructor was very helpful at answering all of my questions!"

"Thank you so much for writing and designing an excellent course! I enjoyed it very much."

"Thank you so much for your informative course. I really enjoyed reading the lessons and challenged in the discussion group and assignments. I thought the questions you posed really got one thinking and provided a connection to the lesson. The material for us less-than-computer-literate could have been frustrating and maddening, but you simplified the material, making it easier to grasp the sometimes complex concepts. Thank you so much for all your patience and guidance in answering my many questions."

"The course really expanded my horizons and was delivered in a way that retained interest."

"The teacher did a great job! Thanks. Very informative."

"This course has been more than I ever expected. I learned of search engines, computer language, copyright laws, how to negotiate a contract with publisher, how to write e-books, and how to get an e-book published. Whether self published, or by a publisher on demand. I even got a frame of reference for making a web page. It truly is worth its weight in gold. There is no doubt that the internet has become a useful tool, and believe it or not there seems to be a web site for everything that you will ever need. The question is how do you find what you are looking for? This is the class that will teach you how to find anything. Believe me, “there are search engines that you never heard of, and good ones too.” In addition to all of this you have a teacher that cares about your learning, and goes to great lengths to answer any and all of your questions. Without a doubt Linda Aksomitis, our dedicated teacher, is well versed on the internet, and always makes you feel important, and never like you are an interruption. You just can’t ask for a better class, a better teacher, and a better classroom situation. You can work at your own pace without any pressure. The information that you will glean in this class will always be used as long as there is an internet. Since it is here to stay, it is as much of a necessity as learning how to drive a car. This is the class that you will never regret taking. You will learn the value of web-sites, and this teacher knows where and how to get them all. She will give you every site that you require. All you need to do is ask. I couldn’t be more pleased."

"This course helped me to narrow my focus on what to write for the internet market, but it also taught me to how to broaden my search for where to market that writing and how to receive remuneration for it. Linda's greatest strength, besides her experience, is her knack for encouraging the novice writer, like me, who needs some direction to get started."

"This course is packed with such valuable information. It way exceeded my expectations."

"This course provided valuable information about writing for the Internet. Everyone that writes should take this course. You will be amazed at what is happening in cyberspace. This course opened up a whole new world and market for my writing. Excellent course. The supplemental materials are excellent. Most have been bookmarked for further study and use. Thanks for a great course."

"This course was a very practical one and has opened up a new world on the Internet as well as giving lots of information that a writer should know. I especially appreciated Linda's prompt responses for assignments and queries. Terrific teacher."

"This course was good and answered a lot of questions I had about writing for the internet. The instructor provided a lot of useful URLs for further study when time permits."

"This has been my very favorite of the ed2go classes. Linda was a fabulous instructor and I value her insight and the knowledge that she imparted. Wish I had time to take the course again. It would take several times through to absorb all of the information contained within the class. I would give this class and the instructor the highest rating possible. Thanks for the opportunity to learn from such a personable seasoned veteran."

"This is a fantastic course as a starting point for beginners and a wealth of information for anyone interested in internet writing. Actually, I learned a great deal about the internet itself! Thank you very much, Linda."

"This is a good introductory course to the technology involved in marketing one's self as a writer for internet markets. The websites given in the assignments were especially helpful."

"This was an excellent course. I learned much more than I expected I would. This should be a mandatory course for anyone considering publication."

"This was an excellent course. The instructor was very helpful in the discussion area."

"This was my first online class of this type, and I was really pleased. The information more than met my expectations, and the instructor was great. I would take another online class from Linda in a heartbeat!"

"This was my first online course. I liked the course and the tools for reading the lessons, commenting and taking the quizzes. I thought it was a very good job by the instructor."

"This was one of the most impressive courses I have taken online. The amount and quality of the information was amazing. I was not able to partake in the discussion area as I had planned, due to time constraints. However, I know when I investigate the links provided, and follow some of Linda's advice-- I will be able to get published online. Thanks for a great class!"

"Very helpful course and you know the instructor will help a lot in getting you the information you need. The lessons are helpful, and Linda's responses in the discussion areas maybe even more so. A very complete and helpful course."

"We were provided with many online resources which will be very useful in future writing."