Why have you
made the decision to become an online writer? Do you like the idea of working
from home? Do you want financial freedom? Whatever the reason, you will want to
succeed and here are some tips to help you succeed writing online.
Research Keywords
Before you
write a piece for the internet, you will need to make sure you have a list of
keywords and know how to research them. Keywords are used by search engines to
determine whether your content is relevant to someone’s searches. The more
relevant you are, the higher you will be on the searches.
If you write
for clients or websites, you may be given the keywords to write around.
However, if you are writing for yourself or for residual income, it is likely
that you will need to think of topics and find the keywords. You need words
that are highly searched for but low in competition. This will help you reach
the top quicker as there are fewer people using the same keyword as you.
Choosing Directories
There are
plenty of directories for posting articles. You may choose to post on one of
these directories or start your own blog. You may also decide that you want to
sell your content to others. This will all depend on whether you want to retain
the rights or sell them to someone else.
Article
directories are a great way to get your name out there and develop an online
reputation. This is extremely important to succeed as an online writer. With a
reputation, clients will be able to find you easily and get in contact for more
content. As you build your reputation, you will then be able to create your own
blog and put your content there so you can do as you wish.
Make Articles Informative
When writing
online, it is important to be informative. Keyword stuffing is not recommended
and you should include your keywords naturally. This will help to attract real
readers instead of writing for the search engine. Informative posts are the
things that Google is after and that is the main search engine that people use.
If you are
opting for affiliate marketing, you should not create sales ads. Instead, opt
for a well-rounded review on the product or offer information on something
connected to the product. This will help you attract readers and make them want
to click on your affiliate link.
Read the Guidelines
Whichever
site you write for, look at the style guidelines before you start. Some
websites insist that you write in third-person only while others will allow you
to write in the second- or first-person. You may find that some websites allow
you to post fictional pieces, such as short-stories and poems, as well as
factual content.
The
guidelines may also state how to use SEO and whether you can include affiliate
links or not. Some sites will not allow affiliate links since they offer
residual income through advertisement revenue; on the other hand, some welcome
affiliate links as well as paying upfront for the pieces.
Edit and Proofread
There is
nothing worse for a reader to read something that is full of spelling errors
and grammar mistakes. Proofreading is important, whether you are writing for
yourself, ghostwriting for a client or providing content for a website.
Spelling mistakes and grammar errors are an embarrassment and show that you are
not as professional as you claim to be.
Research the Topic
You do not
need to be an expert to be an online writer. There are many clients who simply
want a short blog piece on a topic that is easily researchable. Make sure you
do your research and never make something up for a factual piece. While
researching, keep the content on the other page and go back and forth. This
will prevent you from directly copying information and help you write something
in your own words.
Becoming a
successful online writer will take time but with the above tips, you will be
able to start your journey. Remember that this is not something that will
happen overnight so take your time to build your portfolio and get your name
out there.