Massachusetts based Helium launched its user generated article database yesterday and combines original writing with user rankings and profit sharing. It’s an interesting model that’s more compelling that proved more compelling than I thought it would once I started using it. The site is fun to use.
I should disclose that Helium is a sponsor for the upcoming TechCrunch New York Party, though to be honest I wasn’t going to write about them after the site was heavily criticized on Digg yesterday for the quality of the writing. After using it myself though I’ve decided that it’s got more potential than I thought it might. The group rating system in particular could take care of the fact that the site is currently dominated by short, unhelpful text obviously written by people for whom English is a second language. Quality content is already starting to rise to the top.
It’s not expert vetted, for that you’ll have to go to the mainstream media or Citizendium, and it’s not collaboratively written like Wikipedia. It’s not crazy (in a nice way) like Squidoo. It is collaboratively edited in a unique and compelling way.
Here’s how it works. Users are asked to write articles on topics from 25 categories and many subcategories, starting with nothing but a subject line. After writing one article, users are taken to a page to rank other articles in the topic area they just wrote about. Two articles written by other users but with user names removed are placed side by side and the reader is asked which is a better article. Any number of articles can be compared two at a time on a continuum (”article A is much better, or a little better than article B” for example). The best articles are then displayed on the category’s front page, followed by related articles in order of reader ranking.
Users can check the status of their articles – mine on “The best providers for internet phone calls” is currently at #11 out of 21 on the topic. It’s not clear what the revenue split on ads surrounding an author’s content is, but you can monitor your earnings and request payment by PayPal when you hit $25. You can also subscribe to the top articles on any topic by RSS.
Each author has a space to provide information about themselves, followed by a list of all the articles they have written and their rankings on that topic. It’s a well constructed site, if heavy on the ads.
Helium takes up a number of different trends we’re seeing around the web, the aggregate one click ranking reminds me of the Google Image Labeler (a game to build search metadata for images) and paying top users for content creation is clearly something many people are interested in. Question and Answer sites are proliferating rapidly, but the structured topics of Helium have a different appeal.
I think this has some real potential. It’s fun to click through sets of articles and click to rank them. If the ad revenue split is satisfying I can imagine some people jumping ship from places like shill central (PayPerPost) and taking up writing at a site with feedback, community and honesty about writers getting paid.
Interesting idea. I can see how it’d work well because I think all writers like to make money, even if it’s a tiny bit, and of course, they’re going to go out and hustle their work around the Web, potentially driving traffic to the site.
I want to see your article on VoIP call – my always-a-headache vonage (our building/ISP/whoever doesn’t yet provision calls) cut out during an important call today and of course, it took several seconds to get it a dial tone to call back (which seems like forever when you’re freaked out about said important being cut off in the first place).
This is a great site! What I think is really cool is that no one can win based on popularity or by ranking their own article. I love that! It’s way better than some other sites where that happens all the time.
Plus, I can totally see my mom writing about gardening on Helium; and that’s saying something!
This site definitely has potential.
While squidoo seems to be a good idea, the revenue model and sheer simplicity of Helium seems to position it where people will be more likely accept it as a substantial resource for information. Not sure I like the name in terms of brandability, but it is better than squidoo.
Why are the tech crunch feeds font to partial feeds? I want fullfeeds! http://www.fullfeeds.com/
In web 2.0 world, they have a big room for improvement.
It is good they are comfortable with hierarchical navigation system, but what if I would like to read about Business in Technology, or about Career in Science? Yes it’s about tag-based classification.
And while this clicking idea is interesting, how much of good writers would like to be constantly involved in this clicking game? Better provide something of value to them, and build ratings on it. See how del.icio.us works.
I agree with Lee, please bring back full feeds!
You want fullfeeds, Techcrunch wants to pay their bills.
Besides, if you’re reading every article you probably aren’t earning your salary at work!
Best web 2.0 name I’ve seen so far. Helium is a brand with a lot of potential. I wish them the best.
It seems like so many companies are launching now, trying to (basically) defeat the purpose of the Independent Web and people’s own blogs. The blog platform allows anyone to write about anything, but then startups like Squidoo and now Helium are trying to take content that *would* be published on somebody’s blog and control it, drop it on their own site, and then make a dime from it. While they pitch the ability to drive traffic back to your own site, is that really true? I just viewed a few Helium authors’ user profiles and while they had the name of their own blog on there I didn’t see any type of link, nor is there a link to their blog on their own articles.
Blogs are powerful, and I can see why companies are trying to take would-be blog content for their own uses, I just think it’s hurting the overall goals for the blog world — independent, unfettered opinions.
Isn’t this a little similar to what Newsvine is doing?
Mike, the company says one advantage they have over traditional blogs is that there’s an audience here whereas not every blogger can build up their own. I’d add too that this is a different medium that could be better suited to very occaisional writers. I’m glad you bring up the points you do, they are interesting and important, but I personally think comparing Hellium and blogs is apples and oranges.
Hey Marshall, thanks for the reply. I think there might be an overlap but what you’re saying does make sense — I imagine that people who *only* write on, say, Newsvine, Squidoo, or now Helium for money couldn’t be bothered (or don’t have the passion) to start their own blog on the topic. Maybe that’s the opinion of a guy who’s been blogging for far too long but it just sounds like the people who would write on Helium are *only* looking to make a quick few bucks. Kind of like most taxi drivers are just doing it to pay their bills, not because they’re in love with automobiles or enjoy human interaction a ton.
There are a ton of ways to make money from a blog (AdSense, all the ad networks, building your own traffic, etc.) but I guess if all those ways fail, or the author doesn’t have the drive to try any, sites like Helium that are content farms could be an option. I’ll stick to doing it the old fashioned way
Well Mike, the commitment that blogging often requires is not something that everyone can or wants to make. I don’t think that writing occaisionally on topical questions means you’re just in it for the money. Other motivators could include trying to get ranked high on the site, learning from others, modding down what you think is crap from other users, etc. But good luck with the old fashioned way of doing things!
Marshall /Mike or Can someone from TechCrunch answer the partial feed issue ??
/pd I’ll see what I can figure out – I’m just in charge of writing blogposts and being handsome.
I hate to play the devil’s advocate here, but doesn’t anyone else see the huge potential loophole in this whole system. In my opinion, combining writing for money with pay-per-click is a recipe for disaster. You are opening up the gates for an enormous inflow of low quality, perhaps even copyrighted material (yes, i know it’s agains the TOS, but do you think this will stop some users?). I’ve already seen some posts clearly made just for the sake of posting and the potential of earning something.
Furthermore, has anyone considered the fact that people will eventually start clicking on their own ads? Does anyone know how Helium will counteract that?
I am frustrated with the brevity in answers, concerned with the authority with which some users will post, and also noted that some of the items I browsed through were blatant adds. Not to mention that the add banners are everywhere.
So some things are done well (getting adds in my face), while others could be far better (almost evertything else).
/Sink it.
Pretty interesting idea. Marriage of content creation with community based valuation models.
most confusing rails site ever.
i’m a big confused to the business model. google takes 2/3 of the ad revenue, giving 1/3 to helium. maybe they give 1/3 of that on to you. if you’re really good at writing articles you might as well set up your own site/blog/whatever and cut out one of the two middlemen (at least until theres a nice open ad market cutting out the other one)
The review process sounds similar to how Coppola’s zoetrope.com operates. But before you can write you have to review other people’s work. Of course their business model has a printed magazine and they take a cut of anything that turns into an actual film.
Hmm.. I don’t know about Slideshare. It is no wonder good but I see that the conversion *.ppt to a flash file does mess up with the slides.
The “clicking game” sounds like a way Helium differentiates itself from other similar services. I am not sure it will proove itself traction-wise as it is not aimed at the user motivation of being there in the 1st place. It may be fun – however not fun enough to justify producing/consuming of more content.
As for myself – for the purpose of monetizing my content – I prefer http://www.triond.com
Marshall, I don’t care if your handsome or not.. (maybe your other readers do !!)
anyhoot, thanks for full feeds now !!
Hi,
I’ve been writing on Helium for several months, so I thought I’d chime in on the subject. It’s a fun place. Since I’m in and out of the house all day, the relatively short nature of the articles fits my schedule, while still providing a creative outlet. A bit of pocket money doesn’t hurt either
The community at Helium is another attractive feature. There are members from all over the world, which can make things informative and entertaining. This really shows on the Helium Discussion Board (under Community.)
The Board also shows the other great thing about Helium, the staff. There’s some good people working at this place. Not only are they a fun group, they actually listen to what we have to say.
Over all, my experience with Helium has been most rewarding.
Why haven’y you guys done a story on Associated Content yet? They probably have the best user generated site on the web.
Visit http://www.asso...atedcontent.com
they are way betten the this Helium site.
Why haven’t you guys done a story on Associated Content yet? They are probably the best user generated site on the web.
Visit http://www.asso...atedcontent.com
they are way better the this Helium site.
(sorry for the typos)
Again with the payperpost. Michael…I just don’t know what to say.
Did you enjoy my writing there? I’m a member of Helium. I also write on my blogs for BLOGITVE, PPP and Blogsvertise to earn income. Oh, I’ve blogged for Review ME and Creamaid too. Thanks for the heads up!
Hey, why don’t you ever mention Blogitive when you criticize “get paid to blog” sites? They were the first on the scene…well if you don’t count
http://www.marq...oggers_FAQ.aspx
That was a big, big controversial move on their part. Wasn’t it?
In the end, bloggers that participate in companies like this are trying to earn some extra money. Unfortunately, we don’t rake in the bucks like you do.
Well, not yet…
One more thing, when one of your buddies posted the PPP blogroll on their site to “out” particpating bloggers-they forgot my blogs. Hey, I can use the traffic too!
One bad thing about this site is the fact that you can’t identify yourself in the article. I guess it is good on the behalf of Helium because you can’t jump ship and bring your readers with you, but at the same time I think that personalities are a HUGE selling point on educational material. Would you rather buy the Official 2007 Gadget Guide or CrunchGear’s 2007 Gadget Guide? The brand is Helium, but Helium doesn’t have any names attached to it. The only way I can think of coming across the site is if it showed up in my search results.
Lets make it much easier to get to things once logged in. I could’nt find what I have written for a half hour or get to where my next work would constructed. The whole thing should be as easy as 1,2,3! and not a maze for us newcomers. I love HELIUM! but where can I quickly read any comment about my entry? Lets make that 1,2,3,4,5,-BADABING!! Thanks for your great site!
Steven W. Rogers(lucky13@clab.net)