What’s an Insider?

iNewsUSA.com is assembling the world’s largest team of dedicated subject-matter experts/writers, known as Insiders, who are credible, knowledgeable and passionate contributors from all walks of life. They are musicians, magazine writers, entrepreneurs, PhDs, college students, stay-at-home parents, seasoned journalists, retirees, etc.

Insiders create unique and original content to entertain, inform and inspire readers on thousands of subjects every day. Unlike most other online writing platforms, iNewsUSA.com is not a blogging site; rather, our Insiders are local influencers who provide reliable intelligence and resources on local and category-specific topics.

Insiders are Independent Contractors, meaning they choose where, when and what to write about within their selected topic. Write from home, school or wherever inspiration strikes!

What does an Insider do?

Insiders provide information, resources and tools related to their area of expertise that can be useful to the people within their communities. For example, a Sports Insider in Chicago may write about the Chicago Cubs, including covering updates on draft, trades, the latest game, where to find statistics and video, etc. Even more important, however, would be to add local perspective, such as: What’s the liveliest place in Chicago to watch the game? Where can you buy tickets? Which hot dog stand in the stadium serves up the best goods?

With our help, Insiders create a web page on iNewsUSA.com within their appropriate city and category. They keep their page current by regularly updating it with informative, clear and concise articles, often using pictures, videos, and links to make them even more appealing. iNewsUSA.com works behind the scenes to help make content visible to information-seekers online and Insiders often appear at the top of Google and Yahoo search results.

Don’t worry if publishing online is new to you. iNewsUSA.com provides the training and tools needed to publish and promote articles. Access to these platforms will help you grow your audience and brand, as well as provide a forum where you can connect with other Insiders.

Our most successful Insiders also spend time promoting their content to their social and business networks using tools such as Twitter, Digg, Facebook, LinkedIn, StumbleUpon, email lists, message boards and word-of-mouth. If you are unfamiliar with these networking tools, iNewsUSA.com provides the resources you need to learn and master online marketing.

How much time will this require?

We simply request that you keep your topic fresh and relevant, so we suggest 3-4 articles per week to help you build an interested audience. On average, an active and successful Insider spends 4-6 hours per week writing and publishing articles on iNewsUSA.com, responding to comments from readers, and marketing. Some Insiders choose to invest more time, even publishing multiple articles per day. The time you spend is truly up to you, but frequent publishing is one major key to success as an Insider.

What do I gain from becoming an Insider?

Through their contributions, Insiders often gain local, national and international media coverage and have appeared on The Today Show, NPR, E!, CNN, Fox Sports, ESPN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Discovery Channel, The Wall Street Journal, and many others. The exposure that Insiders receive from their articles can lead to numerous career opportunities from fulltime jobs to being approached to write for major publications, work on books, and other rewarding projects.

“As a direct result of publishing of my Chicago Baseball Insider articles, I was hand picked for an assignment to cover the 2009 World Series! I’m moving to Chicago for a few months to cover the entire Series and this would have never been possible if I didn’t have my Chicago Baseball Insider articles published on the iNewsUSA.com network for readers/editors to read, and for that, I want to thank your company for giving me the chance to put my content on the local iNewsChicago.com website”

Insiders also have access to professional development, including training and support on various topics such as: How to Write for the Web, Social Marketing, Photo Editing, Using Web 2.0 Tools, and many others.

Will I be compensated?

Yes. Insiders are paid a very competitive rate based on standard Internet variables including page views, unique visitors, session length, and advertising performance. This is not a full-time “quit your day job” kind of opportunity, but Insiders can definitely earn some extra cash while gaining exposure through their writing.

Will I be asked to purchase anything or pay a fee?

Insiders may choose to purchase business cards, t-shirts or other official iNewsUSA.com items if you desire to do so.

How to become an Insider ?

Simply complete the form below detailing your passion/area of expertise and a sample  article that you have written recently on your favorite topic with a local angle.

If you are experiencing any problems with the automated sysyem, simply send  your details in an email to iRecruit@iNewsUSA.com with the word INSIDER in the subject line and we’ll get back to you quickly. Thank you for your interest.

What happens once I fill out the application?

Once you click the submit button on your application, it goes to a member of the Content Management Team for which you have applied (Politics, Business, Finance, Sports, etc). They will assess writing style, voice and tone, knowledge within the topic, experience, etc., as well as technical factors such as grammar, spelling and punctuation. Every application is reviewed, though sometimes it can take up to two weeks due to the volume of applicants.

If the Content Management Team thinks you would be an asset to the team, you will be contacted via email.