Tuesday, December 13, 2011

How to Write Articles Faster in Clusters

If you are new to writing articles for the web, you may find writing multiple articles in a short span not only difficult but also very time consuming. However if done properly, this is easier than writing articles one at a time. Since you will have to write on the same topic, you can write faster by 'reusing' the same information in different articles. At the same time, all your articles will have the same tone and continuity. Overall, it is faster and a more judicious use of your time and effort.

Here are some of the advantages of writing articles in clusters:

1) It saves time because you have to research about the topic once but reuse the same information again and again in different articles.

2) You can write more exhaustively on the topic. You can cover all the aspects on the theme and give it thorough coverage.

3) You get more content for your website or blog in a short span of time.

4) You can use the rewritten articles for submission to article directories or blog post exchanges, etc.

When you are writing for the web, you should ensure that your articles are of the right length. Normally, 400 to 500 words should be more than enough. However, you can stretch the word count to either side of this range. If you articles are too short, they may not be informative enough for the user. On the other hand, if they are too long, the key points may get hidden and distract the user. For this reason, you should write your articles right to the point and not waste words (or your time).

Once you have written your articles, if you find them to be too long, you can edit them to make them the right length. You can delete repetitive information or information that is too obvious. You can also copy and paste some of the lines, give them a quick rewrite and churn entirely new articles from them. Don't forget to give the new articles catchy titles.

As you write more and more, you may often wander off the topic. For this reason, it is very important to edit your articles with a fresh mind later on. If you find some paragraphs of your articles to be somewhat irrelevant to the topic, you can delete them and insert information that is more appropriate. You can also cut and paste in into a new file and create an entirely new article.

Writing on a topic that you don't much about can be a little difficult. It needs time to research the topic thoroughly and even then there can be difficulty in establishing flow in the articles. Whenever I write on a new topic, I collect general information on the topic, take printouts and give it a thorough read. This improves the flow and continuity in the articles and makes writing easier. However, once you write an article, rewriting is very easy. All you have to do is present the same information in different words and you have a brand new article.

Friday, October 28, 2011

4 Tips to Write Articles Fast

If you can write articles fast, your online marketing efforts will have better dividends. People search the Internet for information all the time. And if you can provide this information, your efforts will be rewarded well. In this blog post, I will give you four tips for writing articles very fast.

Tip 1: Start by choosing the topics beforehand. Suppose you want to write articles on vitamin C, you can create a number of articles on topics such as "the benefits of vitamin C", "advantages of vitamins C", "how much vitamins C should you consume everyday", etc. It is very easy to create topics such as these. A little brainstorming and you'll have 10 or 20 article titles in no time. Once you have finalized the titles, you can start researching and gather information. One advantage of creating titles beforehand is that you can reuse the information gathered in multiple articles. It makes the process much faster.

Tip 2: Break down your article into multiple sections and start rating each one of them. For example, if you want to write an article on "the benefits of vitamins C", you can break that down into separate sections such as "what is vitamins C", "history of vitamins C", "foods that are rich in vitamins c", "vitamins C and heart disease", etc. If you run a search on Google for these terms, you'll have concise information which you can easily rewrite. When you combine all these paragraphs into one large article, you'll find that article is informative and good to read. You can use a mind mapping software to split the main topic into sub topics. Using a mind mapping software will make writing articles much easier.

Tip 3: Don't just write articles, rewrite them to create many articles. It is difficult to write an article because it takes a lot of time to research and gather information about a particular topic. However, once you complete an article it is very easy to write a very similar article. You can submit these articles to different blogs or article directories and get traffic and exposure to your main websites. Alternately, you can also give these articles to other Webmasters in exchange for links.

Tip 4: Use dictation software such as Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking. You can find more information about this amazing software from http://nuance.com/dragon/index.htm. The software is every cent worth the money. It not only makes writing articles 10 times faster but also makes it very comfortable. All you have to do is speak your ideas out and the software will write for you. This is the reason why many Internet marketing experts recommend this software.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

5 Free Tools to Improve Your Productivity

If you want to be an effective web content writer, it is essential that you use the right kind of tools. These tools will save you plenty of time and effort and also make your writing faster and effective. Overall, they will improve output and make you a more efficient writer.

I am very sure that you will find these very useful in improving your efficiency:

1. Launchy: If you have a large number of software applications installed on your computer, it can very difficult and confusing to locate them. This is where Launchy comes in. Using this software, you can launch any application installed on your computer by just typing in the first few letters in the name of the application. Launchy is 'intelligent' and determines the application even if you type some letters wrong. It also comes with other features such as a Google search function, calculator, file indexing, etc.

I find Launchy to be an indispensible application for my computer. I will rate this app 5 out of 5.

2. AutoHotKey: This is a utility for capturing keystrokes and mouse clicks for automating complex tasks. Automation is the key to improved productivity. Why do something manually when then same can be done without effort using a software utility?

I found AutoHotKey somewhat difficult to learn. However, everything was a piece of cake once I played with it for sometime and tinkered with all the menus and functions. IMO, time well spent and worth the effort.

3. Audacity: Audacity is a free audio recording application that comes with many advanced features. Using Audacity, you can record notes for your articles or record entire articles for transcribing them later.

Recording and transcribing it later is a better use of your time. There is better continuity in the article and at the same time, it also saves time. You can record article after article lying down on your relaxing chair! Its even more fun if you have a bluetooth headset.

4. Roboform: Roboform is an excellent tool for managing your passwords. It also enables you to automatically login into websites and fill web forms with a few clicks of the mouse. It also comes with a password generator for creating strong passwords.

Roboform is a commercial software but there is a free version that is pretty good enough.

5. Google Docs: Google Docs is very useful for storing and editing your documents online. It makes it very easy to share docs with others. Also, you can access your documents from anywhere even if you don't have access to your computer. Google docs is especially useful when there are other writers working with you. It makes collaboration very simple and effective. Google Docs supports all popular office document formats.

Monday, May 30, 2011

5 Simple Tips to be a Power Writer

In my opinion, a power writer is someone:

- Who can write high quality articles,

- Meet deadlines, and

- Work under pressure without affecting the quality of content.

It is really difficult to be a power writer because writing quality content consistently is something that can only be achieved through hard work and practice. Writing is an art and, like all other arts, it time and effort to achieve perfection.

If you want to become a power writer, here are some tips…

  1. Create a time table: A proper time table is very important to be able to write good web content. You may have a fulltime job or may be writing web content for additional income. It is essential that you invest the proper amount of time in your writing works. Also ensure that there are no conflicting schedules. Conflicting schedules can delay writing projects or affect your ability to write effectively. It is always best to write for sometime, take a break and then start working again. You can schedule other activities during the break.
  2. Ensure that you have the right tools:  A comfortable chair is a must and should and so is an ergonomically designed computer desk. Your computer monitor should also be moderately bright to prevent eye strain. You can also invest in a suitable keyboard. Ergonomic keyboards cost a little more when compared to normal keyboards but they are well worth the price.
  3. Research well and take notes: If you want your content to be useful, it is essential that you research the topic well. Look at the topic from all directions, brain storm sub-topics and find information on them. If you find something interesting, incorporate it into your articles—what is interesting to you is also interesting to website visitors.
    I have found that noting down points on a piece of paper makes me more productive. There are many “note-it-down” software that you can use, but I have found that they can never be a substitute for the plain old pencil and paper.
  4. Write fast and edit it many times over until it becomes perfect: Many writers often write a line, analyze it and keep editing it. This is a mistake because this approach will slow you down. You will stuck with the line and won’t be able to proceed further. It also stagnates the flow of the article. You should write fast—from start to finish, take a break and edit it with fresh mind. I have found that this method makes my articles much better and as per my expectations.
  5. Don’t be obsessive about your writing: If you are not able to get ideas to write, let go for sometime and start afresh with a blank mind. Don’t be too obsessive and whack your brains about it. Approach with a fresh mind and you will come up with new ideas. Also don’t let boredom take over you. This world is full of so many beautiful things that you can write about. Think about it.

SmileSmile Smile

Sunday, May 29, 2011

How to Become a Freelance Writer

Working as a freelance writer has many advantages. In a way, it is better than the typical 9-5 job. You won't have to stick to a specific schedule--you can work anytime you want right from your home. You don't have to give any explanations to your boss because you are your own boss. And if you work properly, you can make more money working online than from a typical 9-to-5 job. Many freelance writers have chosen this career path because of the flexibility it offers.

You must remember one important fact – when it comes to freelance writing online, your marketing skills are equally important with your writing skills. You should be able to market yourself properly and find the right kind of paying customers. Not everyone is willing to pay money for quality content. The best way to find good paying customers is to build a reputation in the market and a good portfolio.

It is very important to be able to write quality content if you want to make more money. If your grammatical skills are not up to the mark, chances are no one will buy your content or hire you for their writing projects.

You can learn to write content more effectively by reading articles online and trying to write on your own. You should also make it a habit to write everyday. Writing everyday will not only improve your style, but also make your writing more fluid and consistent.

If your writing skills are not at par, I would recommend a course in tech writing or even studying a degree course in journalism or English. Training with writing instructors and other writers is a definitive way to improve your writing skills.

Online writing projects often demand working under pressure because they have very strict deadlines. This is something that you should keep in mind. Missing the deadline may often mean no pay. You should be able to write faster without compromising on the quality of the content. This is something that you can learn only through practice.

Often people ask me--"What is the best way to market myself?" In my opinion, the best way to market yourself is to open a personal blog or website. Posting quality articles and opinion pieces on your blog is a sure shot way to grab the attention of the clients. It will also make you look well established and reputable in the industry.

It is very important to print professional looking visiting cards--especially if you want to find local clients. As I mentioned before, this is another way to make yourself look more professional and reputable.

Initially, it may be quite difficult and daunting to work as a freelance writer. But trust me, it is very profitable once you learn the tricks of the trade. It will give you complete freedom and flexibility. In a way, it is a sure shot path to regaining control of your life.