Vocal Media: You Are Incredibly Clever

I will also give you some tips on how one of my articles was recently awarded Top Story from one of Vocal Media's Moderators, for that same story/feature article to be shared on Vocal Media's social media accounts: Facebook and Twitter.

First and foremost, I would be of zero help to you, dear reader if I did not explain my journey to becoming a writer on this fantastic platform in the first place.

It really feels like once upon a time, just before the COVID-19 Pandemic, and I was not interested in becoming a writer. Vocal Media found me through an instagram feed. To be honest, there were a few negative comments saying that this site is a scam, and that you don't earn money on this platform. Guess what? Not every single writer is interested in earning money on this platform. Let me explain.

Vocal Media helped me recover from burnout, when I first put hands to keyboard (rather than pen to paper) back in January 2020. It helped fill the time between being in an entry level job, while I was in the waiting game for my studies to commence. Upon returning from a few days of rehab (only a few articles in), I decided to write for Vocal Media, and do my best to make it a valuable passive income source from the CPM revenue from my articles. I knew (hand on my heart) that I had to be patient.

From there, I was (and still am) stoked that an article on the Wolf of Wall Street is my most read article on this platform to date, as I knew I got the title right for SEO purposes, even though I was not a master at getting the image selection right. I had a royalty free image to use, yet the pixel size was not on my side. The article before that (my first ever article on earthing) is also in my top four, based on CPM revenue, where it did not appear in any newsletters. The article I wrote on my spiritual teacher was promoted on Facebook, and in the teachers newsletter. Evergreen content is key.

Moving on, I got bored of the passive income idea quite quickly, because I already had a couple of passive income sources under my belt.

Vocal Media also helped me get through the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic unexpectedly, with a few articles I wrote in the first lockdown, with the last one being an open letter to the Easter Bunny. Life got busy as a student, as well as my hours increasing at work due to the pandemic.

Therefore I took a 12 month hiatus from Vocal Media.

This clever site (called Vocal Media, as you know) knocked on my inbox (in other words, my cyber door) with an unexpected $5 reward for finally reaching 1000 views, and mind you I suck at marketing (despite majoring in marketing in my undergraduate degree, go figure). My patience was beginning to get rewarded, and just like that I was motivated to come back as a writer on this fantastic platform.

From there, I entered my first challenge, by writing about a gorgeous cat called Miel. At the time I had no clue on how to upload multiple photos and videos to my articles, and knowing that this site prefers you to use photos from Unsplash. I became better accustomed to the tools by joining the Vocal Media Creators Hub Facebook group, where everyone is so welcoming and supportive.

From there, I caught the Vocal Media writing bug, in addition to becoming addicted to entering challenges in giving my creativity a healthy outlet; and Vocal Media (see, you are darn smart Vocal) knew it, and invited me to become a Vocal+ member for a few months (I still had to pay to trial it), where I gave it a red hot go, and entered around 12 challenges, even trying my hand at fiction writing with this article.

My confidence in knowing what the moderators and curators (the latter for the challenges) are really looking for, began to shine in an article on protecting our mother earth, as part of the Wave Makers challenge.

I was starting to make some good money, even overtaking my monthly book royalty payments at one point, while the therapeutic benefits and respite from my UX Design business were (and still are) the main benefits of writing for this site. Additionally, my profile of published stories became a valuable extension of my portfolio for my freelance work. Although I am not a writer by trade any more, I still get compliments for my written work by clients, family, and friends; as well as from strangers, and from my partner.

I even took to this resource from the head honcho of Vocal Media himself, on how to win challenges. I knew that I needed to take the moderators and the judges (plus the readers) on a journey; and as a picture tells a thousand words, I knew I needed to add as many as I could in each article/story, as well as highlighting the key words I wanted to stand out in each and every paragraph. My voice started to change, and then I was rewarded with my first Stripe payout for that.

I was a full-time freelance writer and editor for three years (between 2011 - 2014), and therefore I had to pump out the same amount of articles in a week, than what I have written and published on this fantastic site in more than a year thus far. The articles I was writing were mainly reviews on leisure and lifestyle experiences that include bars, restaurants, theatres, and parks to name. There was no emotion whatsoever, and original photos were required. This then led me onto a journey of being a freelance photographer (side hustle only), and I was invited to many leisure and lifestyle experiences. I saw the top musicals, and I had to write about them, and on tight deadlines as well. My writing at the time paid my mortgage and my bills, but this time around I write for therapeutic reasons, while earning some extra pocket/treat money is an added bonus. Good experiences do not last forever, yet I was (and still am) grateful to have been a leisure and lifestyle writer pre-COVID.

Vocal Media is a site that attracts mature writers and readers. I was writing for other sites (while I was a full-time freelance writer) where editors choice awards (similar to being awarded top or awesome story on here) were handed out like jelly beans; no different to how a busy doctor gives out a lollipop to a very sick child that sees him for a consultation. You have to really earn those accolades on here. This is why getting any form of recognition on Vocal Media is honourable.

It was so honourable, that even my partner took me out to dinner, to celebrate that top story breakthrough (28 articles later) on the following article, of which was also written for submission in the Social Shock challenge.

Vocal Media is also a site that attracts a wise writer, and is a platform for different voices to be seen and heard. I have never shared a platform with any writer who is a fiction writer or a poet before, not to mention those who are experts in sonnets. That (to me) is more valuable than money, knowing how much I have saved in therapy in the first place; and Vocal Media has also been my saving grace during the recent (second) COVID-19 lockdown in my home city, of which I am over two weeks in now (as at the time of writing this), with no clear end date.

The barrier to entry is easy, yet you need to earn the moderators respect. It is also worthwhile knowing that non-writers love writing on this platform. Even marketers. I am a writer, yet I am not a writer by trade. There is something for everyone.

In saying that, to write on Vocal Media you need to have some patience, and keep producing great work, because it will get noticed at some point. As I said before, it is not easy to earn top story, and not every article can be awarded top story. I think Vocal Media do that deliberately, not only to motivate people to produce great content; but also to stay grounded and present to what you write. The ego belongs in the back door.

Even though I am an author of many self help books (the Motivation and Lifehack categories are my main niches on here); writing for Vocal Media has helped me to trust myself more, and to be brave, and to just follow my heart. By doing that, I was awarded top story by the moderators; and even better, Vocal Media shared that very same article on their Facebook and Twitter pages, where it also achieved 705 likes.

When you tell the truth, not only does it set you free, yet people are in tune with you and your story. In this same article that Vocal Media shared on their social media accounts (another lovely surprise and bonus); my story on not fitting in, in my career until now is true; and what I shared were my true unpleasant work experiences that led me to spend 2.5 hours writing this piece, while I was in tears, and experiencing an unpleasant headache prior. I was disappointed that the judges in the Social Shock challenge were unable to resonate with that story, because I thought I would be up for some prize money 12 challenges later.

Another added benefit was knowing how many people I impacted with that same article. I was getting a lot of "wows" from people I shared it with, and it was nice to know that four people (strangers to me) shared it to their Facebook group. This article is now second place in terms of CPM revenue gained on my stats, because that extra exposure (as well as being included in the Vocal Media newsletter) also gave it lots of traction, where that article has received the most hearts and likes, and I also received my first ever tip, in what are tough times.

I was also touched, moved and inspired by these comments, and then I realised that millions of people can relate to the headaches I once had of not fitting in, in my career (of which is definitely a social shock):

"Great article, and Im sure many women and men have suffered from the same problems of finding out who you are, by sticking to your beliefs, and making it your future. Keep doing it, be brave, and let your intuition fly."

"I read it, great article, and very much refers to the world we live in today. It is inspiring as well for all genders and age groups."

"Go girl Justine. Just you let everyone know how s**t workplaces can be! Let's hope a lot of Managers etc...will read it!"

This is why I was also disappointed that that particular top story article did not go any further, and yes it did deserve more than the 295 reads it has gained so far, as at the time of writing this. I am also just being brutally honest here, even though I don't regret spending 2.5 hours writing, editing, and putting this article together (including coming up with the article title, together with the image selection and placement. Just saying.)

Not to impress you, yet simply to impress upon you that this wonderful platform and content site, is not just allowing you to be vocal (yes, pun intended); but is also allowing others to do so in response. Even to this day, I was not aware that my writing would make such an impact on people, despite the fact that I have made almost $200K Australian dollars writing for audiences thus far.

I get it. It is difficult to make a buck on this site, yet you must be patient, and you must persist and persevere. Then have faith that the funds will start dripping in. Even if an article has only made you 9 cents thus far; just keep writing when inspiration strikes. Many writers take their craft on Vocal Media very seriously, and write every day. Learn about marketing if you need to, and even though I have shared my work on social media, and with loved ones; it can be frustrating when you feel like your hard work has not paid off, yet you have to stick to your guns, and believe in yourself. This is even coming from someone who has 13 eBooks published and distributed worldwide. My royalty payments are like pocket money each and every month, and guess what, there are some months where I have not received any royalty payments at all. Writing is a craft that is to be enjoyed. When you write from the heart with no BS, people pick up on that positive energy, and this is especially true on Vocal Media.

If you are a serious writer, then the Vocal+ Membership is for you. Although I love the site, I dropped my membership, because I see no point in paying to write, when writing on here is a side project after all; yet I love the support that Vocal Media gives to all writers, with the small financial surprises along the way. To be honest, I am once again disappointed that my entry in the Social Shock challenge did not make the impact that it was designed to make, as I knew that I was in with a strong chance. Such is life, and life can be very unfair.

I have had a few articles rejected too. That was my fault for keeping under 600 words on one, and religious content is a big no no. If you need to swear in order to prove a point (it has worked for book author Sarah Knight in context), just censor that little bit of profanity in order to keep your work clean and professional.

In saying that, I enjoy writing for Vocal Media, and if your heart is telling you to write on this site, then I am giving you permission to go for it. Start off with one niche, or you can spread your wings like me, and surprise the site and it's readers some more.

All in all, Vocal Media is a wonderful site to write on, despite not seeing the value in re-joining Vocal+ at this point in time, as I know that the site is doing it's best to earn ad revenue, and to then share it with us. Those people who call Vocal Media a scam really need to look beyond the money, and have ounces of patience and common sense. Nothing is handed to us on a silver platter. For anything worthwhile (even to heal, and to make an impact) you must put in the grit and the effort. On any site, articles do not write themselves, and images in articles do not get chosen out of thin air either. Vocal Media does not owe us anything.

I have faith that Vocal Media will continue to grow, and will get better and better, and with time more incentives will be awarded to writers who produce beautiful content. That is what I am choosing to believe. Even speaking to Sunny from support, to real time text messages regarding my Stripe payment; Vocal Media do care about their writers that do the right thing, and who respect the rules of this publishing platform.

Produce great work, and add value to people's lives. You have to convince a reader as to why they should give up at least five minutes of their life to read your work. Easier said than done, I know. It is a relationship, and relationships are far from easy. Just ask Gary Chapman, creator of the Five Love Languages. Give until it hurts.

Thank you very much for the opportunities, awards, and surprises to date Vocal Media; and I know I have given you immense value in return, and I continue to do so. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. May this partnership between all creators and this awesome platform continue to grow and flourish.