Freelance Blog Writing Writing Better Web Content Copyright Š 2014 - Ken Bradford and Dr. Deborah C. Bauers, LPC. All Rights Reserved. Without limiting rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, introduced into a retrieval system, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including, without limitation, photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the authors, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. The scanning, uploading, and/or distribution of this document via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the authors is illegal and is punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrightable materials. We have taken great care in providing the best available information at the time of creation. The authors take no responsibility for content on cited websites or other referenced sources which may change after publication of this book.
Cover design by: Ken Bradford http://blog-web-content-marketing.com
Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Psychology & Motivation for Blogging Chapter 2: Characteristics of a Successful Content Writer Chapter 3: Advice for New Writers Chapter 4: Dealing With the Frustrations Chapter 5: Reasons Why Freelance Writers Are Underpaid Chapter 6: Effective Blog Article Structure Chapter 7: Defining Quality Web Content Chapter 8: Good Writers Must Become Good Editors Chapter 9: Basic SEO for Bloggers Chapter 10: Blogging and Social Media Chapter 11: Creating Social Network Profiles Chapter 12: Niche Blogging vs. General Blogging Chapter 13: Is Guest Blogging Still Important? Chapter 14: Choosing a Content Writing Service Conclusion About the Authors • •
Dr. Deborah C. Bauers, LPC Ken Bradford
Introduction With all the blogs on the Internet it must be easy to start a blog, right? Yet when you start reading content there often seems to be something missing. The information is all there. The copy looks clean. Yet nothing that you read jumps out at you and grabs your attention. Why is that? Probably because the article writer doesn’t know how to use words to capture an audience. “Writing Better Web Content” will help you become a better freelance writer. Each chapter in our book has been carefully chosen to deliver invaluable information in a simple, conversational tone. We want to help you succeed in meeting your goals and delivering content that will captivate your readers. Whether your objective is to educate, challenge or entertain, this book can help you do it all. With just the right tools and the commitment to deliver what people are looking for, you will soon join the ranks of highly successful blog writers. So, let’s turn the page and get started by taking a look at how understanding the psychology and motivation for blogging can help you think like a blogger.
CHAPTER 1 Psychology & Motivation for Blogging Establishing your own reasons You may not have realized that when you decided to become a blogger you would explore the psychology behind blogging and your motivation for doing so. Blogging is an applied science and as with every scientific field, there is a way to understand a blogger’s mind as well as the process used to create a blog. Establishing your own reasons for blogging, identifying your audience and describing your content are your first steps in becoming, not just a mediocre blogger, but a really great one. A blogger is a writer who shares a passion for a written form of communication that can be published on a platform that provides instant access to people all over the world. Publishing on the World Wide Web is a blogger’s way of leaving a footprint, proving that one life can make an impact upon the lives of others. Blogging can also increase digital presence and improve a business’s bottom line. Blogging is much more than something you do; It’s also a part of who you are. Think of it as a part of your writer’s DNA. There are reasons why writers blog that make up a part of the psychology and motivation behind blogging.
Journalist or blogger When journalists publish their work through the medium of printed word they may never know its impact or the size of readership. But with the help of the multiple social media sites
available on the Internet, a blogger can publish on the web and begin receiving feedback from fans almost immediately. Many writers think that bloggers and journalists are distinctly different. They falsely believe that all blogging lacks the professional stamp of approval enjoyed by journalism. While not every blogger is a journalist, there are many bloggers who are. These professionals write about newsworthy events or social, scientific and political trends and are commentators as well. Sometimes their personal blogs become their platforms. Journalists also work as freelance writers hired to write blogs for the media. These bloggers are published on internet news sites and given their own byline. Writers sometimes blog to share personal reflections with a limited group made up of family, close friends and colleagues. They are not necessarily looking for a wider audience. Others blog for the pure enjoyment of belonging to and participating in a social network with those who share common interests. Neither of these two types of bloggers would be considered professional. This does not mean that they are not quality writers. What it does mean is that they are not recognized as writers who have been published and/or do not have a wide audience that follows them because of their reputation as authorities in their field. Professionalism is determined more by the type of blog and the blogger’s established credibility as a knowledge expert. Professional bloggers often engage in “niche� blogs that pull together essential information from fields such as science, history, or the arts and add personal commentaries as writers who have distinguished themselves in their respective
fields. There are also professional bloggers that blog for financial gain and can be hired to produce content for websites run by businesses.
Socialites, muses and entrepreneurs Some bloggers share on more of a personal level, telling stories about their loved ones and friends that reflect the meaning and significance of being part of a community. Blogging is a social activity that connects them to others and provides a sense of belonging. Others use a blogging platform much like a think tank, writing to clarify their ideas and help them explore alternative ways of looking at things. Theirs is a more philosophical approach and many of them could be called muses in their own right. Gaining clientele and increasing profit motivates the segment of bloggers who use their platform as a business tool. Those who write their own blogs are often entrepreneurs.
Motivation Bloggers come from a variety of backgrounds and their personalities are as diverse as flavors of ice cream. Some are motivated to blog because of the stimulation it offers, alleviating boredom and providing a source of entertainment. Others are less concerned with developing a growing audience and choose, instead, to reach out to a smaller network while enjoying “bragging rights� around commonly shared personal and family goals. The tone and flamboyance found in some blogs reveal that their writers enjoy the attention of others and feed off of the energy that they receive from positive feedback. A small, but growing segment of the blogging community is made up of business savvy
writers who have both a product and the skills to market it to a community of readers who are combing the web looking for information, merchandise or a service. This blogger is intentional about reaching as many readers as possible. While there may be a desire for financial gain, the focus is also on sharing a message and making the web a place that is rich in content. There’s a place on the web for every kind of blogger. Some are quite successful while others give up the notion of blogging once they realize that it takes work and perseverance to maintain a good blog. Why does the psychology and motivation for blogging even matter? The most fundamental answer? Content and reason for blogging help to define the message and the messenger. Why should it matter to you? In the long run, if you want to run a blog with content that others will want to read, you need to figure out what kind of a blogger you will be and identify your audience. Once you know these two things, you’ll not only know yourself better, you will also know what kind of a blog you want to have. Wasn’t it Socrates that said we should first know who we are before we seek to know anything else? After you fully digest and implement the principles in this chapter you should know what kind of a blogger you are, who your audience is and what kind of content you will produce. Now, in Chapter 2: Characteristics of a Successful Content Writer, we will take a look at important traits or characteristics that separate good content writers from all the rest.
CHAPTER 2 Characteristics of a Successful Content Writer Web content writing can be a very exciting and rewarding journey. You may be just starting your writing career or you may be a seasoned freelance writer. You may love to write and be very good at it. The ability to write words on the page is only a basic requirement for a freelance writer. There are other important qualities you must acquire or hone to accomplish your goals as a writer.
Patience We live in a very impatient society. We seek instant gratification and immediate information in every part of our daily lives. To be a successful writer, you must learn to slow it down a bit. Conducting adequate research to write a useful article can take time. It takes time to write, edit, and re-write articles. It takes time to network in social media. If you want to become a quality writer you must learn to be patient with the process.
Persistence Have you ever watched the movie "Mary Poppins"? Did you know that it took Walt Disney almost 20 years to convince author P. L. Travers to allow him to make her book into a movie? How's that for being persistent? Things will not always go as planned. Your customer won't immediately respond to your email. Your best customer may have just asked for an extensive edit to your last article or it may have been totally rejected.
Persistence is a necessary quality for a successful writer. You must learn to never give up on an article you really believe in until your work is “ready to be put to bed". People are going to criticize your work. You can count on that. You must remain totally focused on your writing goals and not let distractions or temporary disappointments get in your way of achieving them.
Commitment To be successful, you must be committed to producing quality web content on a regular basis. This is probably the main characteristic that separates those who write as a hobby from those who write to make a living. Even if you aren't writing on a particular assignment, you should be updating your blog, posting to your website, or promoting your work in social media. You must write something every single day. Your commitment to your writing will help ensure that your creative juices keep flowing while you increase your skill set.
Passion If you have become totally miserable in your writing journey, stop! Successful writers love what they do. Sure, they deal with all the same frustrations and disappointments, but they see these complications as only a means to an end. You must write not only for the income but even more importantly, for the joy and pleasure in writing. If writing is no longer your passion, it may be time to open a different door and find a new pursuit.
This is the end of the sample of our book.
https://www.facebook.com/writingbetterwebcontent Are you bothered by writer's block? Are you concerned about creating your social profiles the right way? Would you like to make a better freelance income from your hard work? If your dream is to become a successful web content writer, you owe it yourself to let professional writers like Ken and Deborah help you.