Content Writing Resources

What are content writing resources? One would surely answer the things that are needed for web copy writing! Let me add the word ‘essentially’ here – otherwise the keyboard, monitor, mouse, internet OR pen, paper everything need to be discussed. I am talking about the things that are needed for WEB CONTENT writing, not for JUST ANY kind of writing.

Let’s divide the task the entire task of web content writing this way:

1. You get a topic OR a set of keywords
2. You are given a word limit (It’s a different issue that I hate limits)
3. You are supposed to do some research to make an idea about the topic if it is not known to you
4. You may need to take hard copy prints of essential study materials
5. Once you understand the topic and develop a clear picture about it, start writing
6. Consult both online and offline references
7. Proofread your copy at least twice; you can also get it checked by some one else as some errors may go unnoticed even after revisions
8. Check whether it is copyscape passed i.e., not a duplicated article. If you write by your own it should be copyscape passed – still having it checked with copyscape is like writing with enough protection (no pun intended)
9. You may need to upload the content somewhere to check the keyword density; be careful while uploading the content. Use a ‘no-index’ website so that it never gets crawled by search engine bots
10. Deliver the finished copy
    

The steps may differ depending on specific requirements. In case of technical writing, preparing documentation for a program or writing user manual you may need to interact with software developers or the experts in the field frequently. You can include such steps with points #3 or #6 as per your convenient.

Now some tools and resources that would make accomplishing the task easily – you may be aware of them, however, let me put them here again for those who are new in the field:

For Research and Study:

1. Use search engines to find relevant websites, articles, forums or blogs. You can visit ezinearticles.com or buzzle.com – these article directories contain huge number of articles on varieties of topics. You can gather enough information about practically any topic from these places.
2. Wikipedia, TheFreeDictionary or about.com are some other places where you can get plenty of information.
   

For Writing:

Frequently read blogs like problogger, copyblogger and alike to learn the latest writing trends. There are bloggers’ forums where you can find fellow bloggers to share your knowledge.

Copyscape is the tool that helps you check if the content shares any text-wise similarity with other online content. It is important to check copyscape otherwise, you may end up creating duplicate content (though that is quite impossible for a true copy writer, but it may happen when you write about ecommerce products or technical articles)

If you are in SEO web copy writing, you may need to upgrade your SEO knowledge regularly. So keep reading SEO Forums and SEO blogs as much as you can. Some more SEO and Content Writing resources are here:

• Questioning SEO Web Content Writing Doubts
• SEO Consultant and Internet Marketing Solution Portal
• Content Website
• Odd SEO – Moving on Spiders
• SEOmoz Blog
• Content Writing and Copywriting Blog
• The Copywriting Blog
• SEO Web Content Writing

Ghostwriting – another form of copy writing

Do you love your writings? Money OR your voice – which one is more important for you? I am sure a lot of writers would answer that they want money in turn of getting their voice reached to the mass or to the target audience.

But that may not be possible all the time. In ghostwriting – you do the research, you write, you pour your own voice into the content, but the matter is published in someone else's name – sometimes a fictitious name.

Especially when a writer is asked to write SEO web content, the matter generally is not published in his own name, unless the person is an icon of that niche.

How does it feel to see someone else's name below the article written by you? Well, it does not feel good, specifically when you took a lot of interest in the topic.

Even I did not like ghostwriting initially and I tried to associate my own name with my articles in several ways; arguing with my boss is one such way I tried.

However, I had invented a trick that I would share with you all here. This helps you somehow get recognized by your readers. This trick comes very useful when you are writing SEO web content like articles for submission purpose, blogs for third parties etc.

Choose a pen name for yourself; it should be a fictitious name. Now use this pen name for all the articles written by you. Most of the article directories accept author's name. Make sure your pen name is added with all your articles.

So all your articles are now recognized as written by the same author. Now, make a small declaration that it’s none else but you who use the pen name! This helps you claim your own articles in future and you can show them to your future employers too.

NOW, let me tell you the pen name I use. It's none other than Stanley Gallor :D You can find a lot of articles written by me on the web :D

Technorati Tags: Content Writing, Content Writer, Web Copywriting, Ghostwriting

Web Content Writer – Are you good at copywriting?

Web content writing or web copywriting, whatever you call it, is a prospective career. If you go through 10 Career Guide types of articles for teens, I bet at least 8 of them would feature content writing as a rewarding career option.

Have you ever wondered what should be the qualification of a content writer?

- I again bet, most people would answer that content writers should be a B.A. or M.A. in English.

Why so?

- Because, the content is to be written in English!

Is that the only criterion?

- Ummm, well, not exactly. The person should have an analytical mind and should be a fast learner too!

I think that is the most important skill web copy writers should have! A copywriter in Kolkata may need to write an article about Cantonese and Mandarin translation or, Medical Malpractice laws in the United States of America or, Florida Incorporation or, Texas Hotels, or, Paris tours and travels or anything that you can and cannot think.

So the content writers should have the ability to understand a new topic very fast and to notice the way of writing in that particular field. Furthermore, they should have the interest to research and study the new topic so that the adequate and right information is presented through the content.

Besides, they should have the basic knowledge of how Internet and Search Engines work. (Let me assume keyword analysis would be done by the SEO guys.)

Then comes the ability to communicate in English. The content should be written in plain English. People search internet for information. So the content should be informative. People browse the web pages glancing at bold texts, lists and headings; rarely somebody read entire article. So easy-to-understand and precisely written content is what they prefer.

Long paragraphs and complex sentences damage readability. Writers should be careful about it. Proper use of images and diagrams add to the quality of the web content.

So the web copywriters should be fast learners, should understand the basic technicalities of internet, websites and search engines, should identify human psychology a bit and should be able to communicate properly. Are you suitable for the job? Then click on: Content Writing Jobs in Kolkata. Cheers!

Technorati Tags: Content Writing, Content Writer, Web Copywriting

Applying Web Copywriting Tips

Since I started writing for web, I surfed a lot to find good Web Copywriting Resources. I looked for tips, suggestions and techniques on the internet. I found quite a few and always kept those in mind while writing for web.

Unfortunately, sometimes it becomes so difficult to develop content maintaining all the standards. Here is a catch 22 that I have experienced:

Good copy writers always suggest to write in short. They say to proofread your copy again and again to find out if you can cut some unwanted words and make the content smaller and precise.

At the same time, there are clients who ask web content writers to write 600 word articles and they are very strict at word count. Writers are paid on the basis of word count only! I find it really painful. When the subject does not demand more, why should I write a lengthy article?

Hence, I have to compromise with the standards. I cannot apply the web 2.0 copywriting techniques as I need to meet the word limit! It hurts!

But, last week I got the chance to write for my company’s website. And I applied all the content writing standards:

• I wrote just as much as needed, did not care about word count
• Did proper keyword research and put related phrases in the copy
• Added bulleted lists to make it easy for the readers
• Added proper headings
• Innovated some catchy phrases
• Proofread the copy again and again to cut unnecessary words
  

I was really happy with this work. I am sure that not only the readers, but search engines would rate the page high. It will take no time to appear in the SERP as soon as the page goes live.

But some webmasters and web businessmen still follow the older notions. They believe that more content you put on your page, higher is the chance to get a rank. They impose the idea on content writers when it comes to write articles, press releases or web pages. As a result, a lot of garbage dumps on the internet. I really don’t know where we are heading; I am searching for a solution, if you have got any, do comment here.

Technorati Tags: SEO, Content Writing

How to become successful Content Writer: Part V

1. You need to UNDERSTAND the subject you will be writing on.
2. Everybody has their OWN WAY of understanding.
   

Most people know the first phrase, but the second one is what I have learned while working. When I begin working on different web copy writing projects, like anyone else, I wanted to complete it fast. So what I used to do?

1. Gather information as much as I can
2. Read them fast
3. Start writing within 1 hour
   

The problem that I faced with this process:

1. I needed to consult the original copy several times
2. It took much time to complete writing the content
3. I got panicky
4. And it took even longer time to finish
   

I thought that it’s my failure that I could not write fast and I should write faster and all good content writers complete their articles faster than me and alike.

But the thing that amazed me was the speed that I used to pick up at the latter span of the writing. For example, when I was asked to write 10 articles of ‘Breastfeeding and Nursing’, first 4 articles took 3 days, whereas, I completed 6 articles in a single day working 8 hours only.

Of late, I started realizing that once I could grab the subject, the speed would increase automatically. I also realized that I can digest the subject after at least one sleep, I need to go to bed with the topic in my mind – that helps me understand it very well.

Now, I follow these techniques whenever I get a new assignment. I know I need some time to get a hold on the subject. So I spend time searching resources on the web, reading websites and blogs, newspapers etc. Then I start writing slowly. If it takes 50% of time to read and understand, I do not panic. I know I can finish it up in the slog over!

The reason I shared my own experience with you is I wanted to tell you that follow the way you are comfortable with. Understand your way of thinking; that will really help you in your work.

Technorati Tags: Content Writing, Web Content Writer, Web Copy Writing

How to become successful Content Writer: Part IV

"Know your target audience" – the phrase has become an adage now. I do not want to repeat the same words here again, but I have to as this is really important when it comes to web copy writing or web content writing – whatever you call it.

You need to see the world from your readers’ eyes. That’s very important in web content writing. You need to present the content in such a way that your readers find it useful and the Search Engines index it properly.

What else you need to do?
Simple! You need to ask yourself what is going to be done with the article or teaser or abstract you are writing? Once you know where on the web the content is going to be placed, your job becomes easier.

For example, if you are writing an article that will be published in one of the good article directories, you should adhere to the editorial guidelines provided by the article directory.

Good article directories are very strict with their rules. Contents that conform to all the editorial principles are published only. So apart from keeping your readers in mind, you need to consider the rules of the article directory and the general protocols of web copy writing.

That’s why I always say that web content writing is different from any other form of writing.

Technorati Tags: Content Writing, Web Content Writer, Web Copy Writer

How to become successful Content Writer: Part III

I have just finished the assignment. I know I could do better if I was allowed to work when I want. I also know how awkward it is to tell I prefer writing in night when the world is calm and quiet!

It was Jan 7 when I got the assignment. The topics were unknown, completely unknown. Though it was pretty cool in the first week of January here in Kolkata, still I started sweating. I did not work on this sort of project before. However, I talked to myself and gave it a start in my own way.

As I prefer scientific and research-oriented subjects, I took interest in the subject. It was about environment and microbes. After spending some time on the resources, I could digest the matter a bit. However, it was taking too much time for me to get started. Hence I did these things:

• Created a new file in MS Word and saved it
• Drafted the format, made a list of points which I will be elaborating in the article
• Calculated what should be the word count for each point
• Started writing, consulted the resources as required
• Once I finished the first article, it did not take longer to finish the tenth one

Content Writing Mantra #1: Don’t panic if the topic is new. Remember, you are a researcher and you are here to present the right information to the readers. So do your research, take your time, digest the matter and then start writing.

Content Writing Mantra #2: It’s the first article that takes time. Once you are familiar with the subject, you can write lot, a lot.

Content Writing Mantra #3: Editing and Writing are different. Don’t start editing when you write. Complete the job and then review it to edit the errors.

The thing that I found more challenging is writing multiple titles, descriptions and author’s biographies for all the 10 articles. I suspected it to take a lot of time; hence I pushed Meta writing at the end of my schedule. Soon after I finished the last article, I started writing Meta for all of them.

Content Writing Mantra #4: You are a human being. It may be difficult for you to shift to a whole new job readily. Group similar jobs and schedule them as per your convenience.

Then there was another assignment to complete. But this topic was not scientific and one of the topics I do not like to write about. But, as everything has a history, I got the food for my head!

Today, just few minutes back, I have completed the whole task. It took less than 12 working days to write 15 500words articles. I had to write multiple titles, summaries and biographies for all the articles and did HTML formatting for all of them too. I am feeling relaxed today.

Technorati Tags: Content Writing, Content Writer

How to become a successful content writer: Part II

Write for alternative media:

Never limit your domain of work to any specific topic or a particular website. To come out as a good content developer one should be able to write on vast range of topics. According to me, a content writer is he who can write on any topic based on thorough and extensive research. If you have a satisfactory level of I.Q. you can also become a good content writer.

I would strongly suggest maintaining personal blogs on single or multiple topics. Participating in collaborative projects like wiki is also important. It let you interact with knowledgeable person who enrich your understanding. It will be an additional help for you to write for Print Media to as well. Print Media helps you reach more people, especially in countries like India where Internet is not that much popular even.

Another reason behind suggesting to write for different media is to achieve a better understanding about readers’ psychology. Readers of news paper go through articles in a different way than the web surfers. Once you are acquainted with the reading style of your readers, half the battle is won. I would cover readers’ psychology in my coming posts. Stay tuned.

Technorati Tags: Content Writing, SEO

How to become a successful content writer: Part I

Working is the best process to learn. You can learn things fast at your work and that is the reason employers put so much stress on work experience. I have learned the a b c’s of content writing once I started handling the content independently. And now I think, I shall share it with all to:

• Help those who are interested to have a career in this field
• Improve my knowledge bank as well

Here goes my first tip:

Extend your writing beyond your domain of work. If you are working dedicatedly for one or more niche specific website(s), then you have to develop content to be published on other sites as well. Now, by other sites I mean social networking sites and social bookmark sites like del.icio.us, digg.com, topix.net etc. You may also like to participate in active forums where people from different sphere come and discuss various things. Now, this participation is a tricky one; beware of being tagged as spammer. I am not saying that you should not promote your site or your product, but you have to do it using correct and useful words. And always try to be relevant!

Technorati Tags: blog, bloggers, content, content writing