Great content reduces the bounce-out rate, increases engagement, and persuades readers using a call to action. To write exceptional articles, a good writer takes a few minutes to evaluate the target audience and to understand the purpose of the website.
Before, during, and after writing an article, there are five crucial resources for a writer:
1. Grammar and Style Tools
The grammar check starts on the word processor. For that reason, avoid the temptation to write on Notepad or other source code editor because it lacks editing features. On your word processor, set the language preference to the client’s specifications, and set it to edit both the grammar and the style.
A writer’s eye scans a document for some errors, not all errors. Some errors like missing commas and comma splices need a grammar tool that works on the blind spots of traditional word processors and the human eye. Therefore, run your article through professional grammar editing software before submission. Some of the pitfalls for most writers are tense, passive voice, and run-on sentences.
2. Keyword and Audience Research Tools
The right way to use keywords is by using them to understand the desire of the reader. The content you write from such an informed position satisfies the reader by offering sufficient information before the call to action. Some writers assume that stuffing an article with keywords makes it a better pick for a reader. On the contrary, the essential factor is keyword relevance, not keyword quantity.
To write great content, use keyword tools to create a visual of the keywords and their associated phrases. For example, AnswerThePublic visualizes an interesting pictorial of phrases users are searching for online. Another great tool is Soovle that scours Internet forums and various search engines to generate search terms for a specific keyword. Your client might give you one or two keywords only. On that note, to write content that keeps clients coming back for more articles, analyze keywords before writing.
With access to a client’s Google Webmaster Tools, if you are handling a large content writing project, the performance tab offers insights into the main keywords that brought website clicks and impressions. These insights are all great ideas for the next few articles for such a project. Unlike blog topic generators, using analytics tools with the actual website data ensure the content is relevant to the audience and it is timely. For instance, if a client runs an online shoe store, data from the analytics tool might generate good content topics about the latest shoe designs, how to care for shoes, and the online purchase process.
3. Quality Checker
Some writers wait until they publish an article to see the Flesch readability score on YoastSEO. However, experts in writing for the Web do this earlier before they upload an article for publishing. To check the readability score, use a readability test tool. It evaluates the quality of an article against the intellectual level of various Internet users. When the readability score is too low, the article is difficult to read, and it needs simpler words and phrases. Remember, readability influences the time spent on the page and the conversion rate.
Another quality tool is the plagiarism checker. Thin content is one thing, and stolen content is another thing altogether. In addition to attracting a penalty from search engines, stolen content may lead to a legal battle because of copyright infringement. Therefore, as you write, attribute original research to the source, and use a plagiarism checker to make sure you did not lift excerpts without attributing them to their source.
4. Industry Journals
Writers avoid thin content by reading periodical journals in medicine, information technology, agriculture, and law. When writing for some of these technical fields, be conversant with the terminologies and processes in them. For some of these fields, a writer’s sources must be scholarly or trade publications and not popular magazines. For example, if you focus on cryptocurrency content, subscribe to top cryptocurrency journals and magazines. This way, you gain the confidence to take on any writing job, ideas to write about, and the best sources to corroborate your content.
Industry journals also include publications about content writing to improve your skills. They have regular updates on online research techniques, writing strategies, how to improve the writing style, and information about the best writing resources. You may also need grammar books to improve your language skills if English is a second language. A great writer reads.
5. Stock Image Tools
As you write, the content etches a mental picture that helps you choose the best image to publish with the article. With free image resources, such as Pixabay, you can get pictures to pair with the story. There are different image licenses, such as the Creative Commons that allows free distribution of images without copyright infringement.
Coupled with excellent image editing skills, a writer differentiates his/her offer by providing free pictures for every article. The ability to make or find appropriate GIFs and memes can also make a writer stand out. Additionally, some clients want writers who can simplify information for data visualizers or articles to use alongside infographics.
A bonus resource for writers is online search engine journals. To understand the difference between writing for the Web world and writing for traditional magazines and journals, subscribe to online journals that explain search engines and ranking factors for websites. These journals offer daily insights from experts in digital marketing and data analysis as search engines evolve. For example, in January 2020, Google announced that webpages showing on the featured snippet would not appear again in the organic results on page 1.
In conclusion, when you understand the changes in ranking and search engines, you will be a step ahead of fellow writers, and your content will fit the latest algorithm updates. Clients expect a return on investment when they hire content writers and being in a position to guarantee high ranking and better conversion makes you stand out as a writer. With insights about changes in ranking factors and algorithm updates, you will be sure of the quality of content you put out.
