“I’m an avid seeker of online writing opportunities,” says Johnston, “and I noticed there wasn’t a good directory for that area. So, I decided to create one.”

That’s a perfect example of seeing a need and filling the gap. Johnston’s eBook combines a directory of online writing markets with samples of successful query letters and “loads of tips on contacting editors, sleuthing out new markets, and more.” She explains the benefits of writing for websites, how to write follow up letters to editors, and shares other places to find online markets (bonus tips!). To learn more, go to The Urban Guide to Online Writing Markets. And, here are a few ideas for finding online writing opportunities…

How to Find Online Writing Markets and Write for the Web

1. Figure out what type of online market you want to write for. The internet is your oyster! You can write for e-zines or content sites such as Suite101 or about.com. You could dive into the world of bidding sites, such as Guru.com or Elance.com – or you could write for the websites of national magazines like Reader’s Digest or Health. One of my favorite online sites to write for is MSN Health (they don’t have a print magazine, just online content). Each of these online writing markets has pros and cons, which Johnston describes in The Urban Guide to Online Writing Markets.

2. Think strategically about how to earn money writing. Here’s one of my favorite freelance writing tips, from a widely published feature writer: “Analyze your revenue performance periodically to see what’s working, what’s not, and where the opportunities are,” says Emmy-award winner Iyna Bort Caruso. “Then adjust your business plan accordingly. Market aggressively. Send out queries and Letters of Introduction, get your URL on as many relevant website directories as possible, network with other writers and be generous with leads and advice, and experiment with joining organizations to see where the returns are.” It doesn’t matter whether you want to earn a living as a novelist, blogger, or freelance web writer…you need to be strategic about your career.

3. Learn the difference between writing for print and writing for online readers. Some web editors ask for articles that are search engine optimized, while others just require well-researched, well-written articles. Several web editors have asked me to write my article in a slideshow format (each tip in the article has its own slide or window), and others have asked me to link to other articles in their website. A great way to learn the difference between print and online writing is to explore popular content sites, such as Yahoo, MSN Health, and WebMD. Watch for linking strategies, slideshow presentations, and search engine optimization.

4. Write a professional query letter. Some freelance writers don’t have as much respect for online writing as they do print writing…but I think writing for money is writing for money! I earn a living as a full-time freelance writer and blogger, and I tend to prefer online writing over print. If you’re a writer who wants to earn money, you need to treat web writing as seriously as you do print writing. Write professional query letters, follow up with the editor in a few weeks, be clear about your writing assignment and pay rates, and meet all your deadlines.

5. Be open to writing for different online markets. Until I read Johnston’s eBook, I didn’t realize how many web writing markets there are! An online writer could stay busy for years with her list of possibilities – some of which accept reprinted articles, which is a big plus. Topics include finance, entertainment, grandparenting, dating, web development, freelance writing, and more. Johnston also lists the online markets by pay rates, so if you wanna make money writing right now, you know where to pitch.

What’s your favorite online magazine or website to write for – and what doesn’t work for you? Please comment below…

Susan Johnston is a Boston-based freelance writer and blogger who has covered business and lifestyle topics for The Boston Globe, The Christian Science Monitor, DailyCandy.com, Yahoo! HotJobs, and many other publications. Visit The Urban Muse or follow her on Twitter.

Selling the same article over and over - or different articles based on the same research – is what “selling your reprint articles” is all about. These tips for successful writers are based on info from freelance writer Gordon Burgett, author of Sell and Resell Your Magazine Articles.

Before the tips, a quip:

“To write what is worth publishing, to find honest people to publish it, and get sensible people to read it, are the three great difficulties in being an author.” ~ Charles Caleb Colton (an English cleric and writer, 1780-1832).

Selling magazine articles and book manuscripts has always been a challenge for writers — even the most successful ones! But, a key to earning a living as a writer is to sell your work over and over…and Sell and Resell Your Magazine Articles by Burgett is a fantastic resource for experienced and novice freelance writers. Click the cover for details, and read on for several tips on selling reprint magazine articles…

How to Sell Your Reprint Articles – Tips for Freelance Writers

“Once your article has appeared in print from a first-rights sale, you can immediately offer that very same article, without change, to any other editor you think might buy it,” writes Burgett. “It couldn’t be more straightforward.”

But remember to check your contract or writer’s agreement before you start offering reprint or second rights! All magazines have different copyright rules – and some magazines have different rules for print versus online articles.

When You’re Writing a Query Letter for a Reprint Magazine Article…

Make your article come alive! “Show the editor that you can write, discuss the topic on which you’ve focused your obvious talents, and explain why that topic would find high favor with her readers,” writes Burgett. This is the same as pitching an original article – you have to grab your readers by the throat from the first sentence.

Tell what you are offering – what rights are involved. Tell which magazine or website bought the first rights, where and when the article was published, and what rights you are selling (reprint or second rights). For more info on writers’ rights, read Magazine, Article, and Book Rights for Writers.

Describe additional items, such as sidebars or photos. Selling a reprint article may involve writing new sidebars or offering new photos – this could freshen the original article, and make it more valuable to the editor. Your sidebar could target this magazine’s readers, which creates a more specific article and angle.

Mention your credentials as a writer or expert. When you’re offering reprint or second rights, the article really does stand on its own, which means your writing credentials are secondary to the article itself. “The quality of the reprint cover letter will probably fill in as many gaps as the editor needs,” writes Burgett. Fellow scribes, I’ve learned that this is true when you’re pitching original articles, too. Your cover letter, article, idea, voice and style may pack more punch than your bio.

Know what to charge for reprint articles. The rule of thumb is 50% of what you originally sold the piece for. So, if you sold the article for $1,000, then you can ask for $500 for the reprint. Don’t mention this in your reprint query letter…if an editor is interested, he or she will broach the topic. What you charge is up to you – perhaps the additional exposure and the charge you get from seeing your words in print is payment enough (and you’ll let it go for free)!

Finding magazine markets for your reprint articles. To find magazines, scour the ever-touted Writer’s Market. Look on magazine stands and in libraries for publications that your article might fit. Some e-zines and websites may accept reprint articles; for example, I’ve seen articles reprinted from Women’s Health magazine on WebMD. Burgett recommends not offering your reprint to a magazine that you pitched a query to, who didn’t buy it. However, if a couple years have passed and if they didn’t get back to you on your original pitch, then it might be worth a try. For info on writing for the trades, read 7 Tips for Writing for Trade Magazines.

“The best thing about reprints is that through diligent and creative marketing, you can resell the same piece many times, so when the final tally is made, you might have earned more money for churning the same winning prose repeatedly than you made for selling the original,” says Burgett.

If you have any thoughts, questions, or tips on selling reprint articles to magazines, please comment below!