About The Free Resource (TFR) and FAQs

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Created in 2010, The Free Resource was designed to promote the sharing of quality educational information and credible resources on the web. Each one of the research documents you read on The Free Resource has is supported by some of the most authoritative resources on the web, like Harvard University, the Smithsonian, or NASA. The end result is a resource that delivers not only the information the reader wants to know, but direct access to the quality source from which the information came and additional resources that go deeper in depth about the topic at hand.

The research on The Free Resource are tailored towards students, teachers, and education professionals. This guides our choices when determining if a resource that is given for a piece of research, or the research itself, is credible. We determine this credibility by asking, “Would a teacher accept this resource if it was included in a paper from a student?” If the answer is no, then it is not included, but if the answer is yes, more research is done to determine other trust metrics around that research before it is published.

A privately-owned company based out of Chicago, The Free Resource hires dedicated teachers and education professionals to create the material that our audience is seeking. For readers, we aim to provide an unparalleled free research experience. For our researchers, we seek to provide a platform for establishing credibility and authority in their chosen fields.

How The Free Resource is Different from Other Writing Sites

There are many sites on the web that support user-generated content. That is, they allow almost anyone with an internet connection to create the articles and information. However, that format allows virtually any information to appear credible, when in fact, it is poorly researched or based on opinions more so than facts.

The Free Resource employs journalists, teachers, and researchers – to create the information our readers seek while also providing links to credible trusted resources for the reader to learn more.

We welcome applications from researchers of all backgrounds, but do have strict acceptance policies. Researchers with a background in journalism and education are strongly encouraged to apply, as are researchers with three or more years experience writing for the web.

What We’re Looking for at The Free Resource

Researchers who will excel writing for The Free Resource will have:

• a basic knowledge of keywords and keyword research
• experience finding credible sources, such as educational websites
• the ability to follow a style guide and accept constructive feedback
• a schedule that allows for publishing at least one article per month
• a background in writing for the web, journalism, or education

What The Free Resource Will Not Accept:

The goal of The Free Resource, above all, is to provide quality, trustworthy material to our readers. In line with this mission, we will not accept:

• research that has been published elsewhere on the web
• affiliate advertising links or sponsored material
• links to a researcher’s other material on other sites, unless they are widely considered to be a authority or expert in the subject matter
• a place for a writer to market their other sites and get links for seo value
• research written in the first person
• opinion pieces not backed by trusted resources

For More Information:

News and Press Releases
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 16, 2010 TFR: The Free Resource Compiles the Best Web Resources in One Easy-to-use Site”
TFR iPod Giveaway Press Release: The Free Resource is Pleased to Announce Its First Contest for Researchers
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) September 20, 2010 TFR: TheFreeResource.com Gives Journalists a Place to Write Online, Without Risking Their Hard-earned Reputation

Participating in the Community
Submit a Researcher’s Application
Request Research

Join Us Socially

TFR Blog
TFR Blog and Writing Tips for Researchers.

Bonus Education Research Winners
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Samuel
Hilary
Amy
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How To and FAQs

When you were accepted in the Researcher’s Program at The Free Resource, you were given a user name and password along with writing guides and the information below. The information below will help you get started publishing your research. Before you begin, if you have not already submitted your bio for the researcher profile, please do so by emailing it to ask@thefreeresource.com, with your name and “researchers’s bio” in the subject line or you can enter it into your profile it page after logging in by following the instructions below.

Using WordPress

The Free Resource (TFR) uses WordPress as its publishing platform. WordPress is easy and intuitive to use, and is one of the most widely used content management systems today.

How To log-in?

Go to: http://www.thefreeresource.com/wp-admin
Enter your username and password and you will be taken to the area known as “The Dashboard.” The Dashboard is the area you will be using most often. Here you can change your password, write drafts, access saved drafts, or publish your research, or edit your profile.

How To Change Your Password?

Click on TOOLS, then scroll down to the bottom, and enter the new password you would like to have twice. Save the changes to complete the process.

How To Create an Article?

From the Dashboard, click on POSTS. Then, Click ADD NEW. Enter the title of the research article, and then the body. You can save your research at any time by choosing to “SAVE DRAFT” in the upper right-hand corner.

Once you have written, proofread, chosen a category (only one, please!) and added the resources to your research, you can choose to submit it at any time, by hitting “Submit for Review” in the upper right-hand corner.

From this point, your research will go into the publishing queue for the editorial team to review it. Once reviewed, the research will be publishing and considered “live” on the site.

How To Check on Your Research Content?

There are several reasons you may want to look at your research articles. To do this, you start at the Dashboard, then click on POSTS. Here, you will see a list of research articles that are published, in draft, or in the review process. Each resource will be updated with a status.

If the research has been published, the status will denote the time and date the research was live on the site. If the research is currently under review, the status will note that it is “Pending Review.” A research article that is in draft mode will not only indicate that it is a draft, but it will have the option of “Editing” the draft, as well.

How To Edit Your Profile?

Once you have logged into your account you can edit your profile. First, click on the profile link in the left hand navigation of the dashboard. From this page you can enter your bio, change your password, and how your name is displayed.

How To Add an Image to Your Profile?

We utilize gravatar.com to include your image. Please sign up with that site (it takes about 2 min) and make sure you use the same email that you used at TFR (The Free Resource). Once you are signed up and add your picture to that site it will automatically get imported into TFR.

As always, please feel free to email the editorial team at ask@thefreeresource.com with any questions or problems you may have.

Who is eligible to be a researcher?

The Free Resource is open to anyone who would like to be a resource. However, we do have certain criteria we are looking for in our research team. Professional journalists, librarians, freelance researchers, educators, and those with proven experience in research and writing are strongly encouraged to apply. We accept roughly 3 out of 10 applicants.

What are you looking for in a writing sample?

The Free Resource is built upon non-fiction research that point readers to credible resources for further reading. Before submitting a writing sample, look at some of the research on our site to get a feel for the overall tone and style of our resources.

Blog posts, first-person accounts, opinion posts, poetry, fiction and short stories are not allowed, and are therefore discouraged for use as a writing sample. Previously published material is acceptable as a sample only, but please include a link to the location at which it is published.

What can I publish if accepted to write for The Free Resource?

Researchers at The Free Resource are encouraged to write about any topic of their choosing. However, each article must be researched using credible sources and must follow the style guide provided at the time of acceptance. Only unique, previously unpublished research articles are allowed on The Free Resource.

What are considered credible resources?

Credible resources include sites run by government and educational institutions, as well as reputable publications. For example, Wikipedia can be edited by anyone, and is therefore not always accurate or considered credible. But resources from Harvard, the Smithsonian, or the National Institutes of Health are widely considered to be “credible” sources, and are therefore acceptable.

When in doubt, please feel free to submit the resource, and the editorial team will decide whether or not it meets the quality standards.

How do I publish my articles?

The Free Resource uses WordPress as its publishing platform. Each writer is given their own unique username and password upon acceptance.

How much do I get paid?

The Free Resource pays its researchers through a revenue-sharing program. Each researcher will earn 50% of the revenue generated from every resource published on the site. Each researcher can also graduate to a per article dollar amount once they have been with us for a while and get the hang of the quality TFR strives for.

When will I get paid?

Researchers are paid via PayPal at the end of each month, once they earn at least $10 in revenue. For example, if you earn $8 in January, and $15 in February, the $8 carries over and you will receive $23 at the end of March.

Am I considered an employee?

No. All researchers at The Free Resource are independent contractors, and therefore responsible for reporting any and all income earned.

If my research is in draft mode or require edits, how long do I have to edit or finish them?

We are always trying to keep our research fresh and give researchers the opportunity to write about many different topics. If our editors notice you are making progress on a piece of research, or are making edits you will be ok. If a piece of research sits dormant after edits are requested or is just never finished we will give the writer 1 month to finish the research. After the months time the partial research will either be assigned to another writer to rewrite or will be deleted from The Free Resource. If this happens consistently we will send you an email letting you know your account has been closed and you will need to reapply.

Is there a minimum number of research articles that I need to publish monthly?

Yes. To earn a consistent amount of money it is important to consistently write and publish research. We ask that you write a minimum of 2 research articles per month. If a month goes by that you have not written at least 2, we will overlook it, if you have not written 2 the next month we will email you and let you know you will need to reapply to The Free Resource.

Can I insert affiliate links into my research?

No. The mission of The Free Resource is to provide trusted sources and credible information for its readers. As such, affiliate links are not allowed. Any writer submitting a piece of research with affiliate links will be immediately removed from the writer’s program.

I write for other sites, too. Can I use those as resources for my research?

No. There are many user-generated content sites on the web that offer writers an opportunity to showcase their work. However, The Free Resource does not consider them to be credible as resources for our readers. The only exception would be a writer linking to their work in a credible publication, such as a medical review journal, or high-profile magazine or publication.

I own a business. How can writing for The Free Resource benefit me?

Business owners are experts in their field, allowing them to provide consumers (readers) with professional insight. Business owners and industry experts are invited to contribute research that showcase their expertise. Once published, you can create a link to your research article on The Free Resource to demonstrate your thought leadership to your current clients, potential clients, and peers within your own field. Apply Here

I own a business and would enjoy sharing some of my knowledge, but I don’t like to write. Is there any way I can still be a part of The Free Resource?

Absolutely! Pitch your idea to our editorial team and if we think our readers would find your information valuable, someone will conduct the interview and write the research for you. Please submit your idea here

Why does The Free Resource prefer applicants with a journalism background?

With online news and information taking over the print world, many journalists are interested in writing for the online audience. Professional journalists have many of the skills that we seek at The Free Resource. Unlike many “content farm” websites, The Free Resource can provide journalists with a credible, reputable platform for publishing their online work. Apply Here

I think readers of my own blog or website would like some of the research on The Free Resource. Can I link to the research articles?

We invite anyone to link to our research online. Please keep in mind that links are welcome, but copying the research and pasting it on your website is not. The research is owned by each individual researcher, and The Free Resource has exclusively electronic licensing of them for the first year. We include writing tips about how to increase traffic to your research for our researchers as well which includes the benefits of getting links to your research.

Do you give bonuses to researchers?

Yes. Each month we do giveaways and bonuses. These include an, Money for Teachers Giveaway, and a $150 bonus to the researcher who submits the most research that get approved and receive the most page views. Future contests will include Kindles, iPads, free memberships to research article websites, and many other fun things.Apply Here