Consider this your ultimate guide to scaling content. We’re diving deep into strategies, tools, and real-world triumphs that will empower you to create content that resonates and dominates. AI-assisted brief creation, batch production, and content management systems are just the beginning. 

Prepare to break free from the mold and make your content unstoppable.

What Is Content Scaling?

Content scaling is the strategic process of amplifying your content so it reaches more people. Let’s look at two core concepts:

• Multiplication: A single, well-crafted piece becomes the seed for a network of interconnected and repurposed content, maximizing its impact and longevity.
• Diversity: Content scaling embraces the full spectrum of content formats — blog posts, social media snippets, videos, podcasts, and infographics — to engage different segments of your audience and keep them hooked.

Content scaling is the future of content creation. It’s a strategic, data-driven approach that empowers you to reach wider audiences, build stronger brand awareness, and drive meaningful results.

Why Is Content Scaling Important?

Let’s look at the benefits of scaling content output:

• Expand reach: Scaling content allows you to reach a wider audience across various platforms and channels.
• Build trust and authority: Consistently delivering high-quality, relevant content positions your brand as a trusted resource and thought leader in your industry. This essentially establishes your company as a go-to expert in your field — the one people turn to for advice and solutions.
• Boost visibility: Optimizing your content for search engines can significantly improve your website’s ranking in search results, leading to increased organic traffic. Think of your website as a storefront on a busy street — a high ranking on search results is the equivalent of a prime spot on Main Street.
• Generate leads: Compelling content acts as a magnet, drawing potential customers to your brand. Offer valuable information and insights to capture their interest and convert them into qualified leads.
• Increase revenue: Content scaling drives tangible business results. Nurturing leads using targeted content throughout the customer journey accelerates conversions and boosts your bottom line.

Content scaling empowers you to connect with your audience on a deeper level, build brand loyalty, and ultimately drive sustainable growth. Work smarter, not harder, to amplify your message and achieve tangible business results. 

Leverage Scalable Content for Brand Amplification

Scalable content acts as a megaphone for your brand’s unique voice. Consistently deliver high-quality, relevant content across various channels to increase visibility and reinforce brand identity. Having a consistent presence solidifies your brand in the minds of consumers, making you the go-to source for information, products, or services. 

Still, beware of falling into the trap of producing quantity over quality. Losing the magic touch that made your content so engaging in the first place would be catastrophic. 

How to Maintain High-Quality Content at Scale

Scaling content must never mean sacrificing quality. Maintaining — or, ideally, elevating — your standards is pivotal for long-term success. Here’s how to create a content engine that seamlessly delivers quality and quantity:

• Thorough intent and audience research
• Quality briefs
• QA, subject matter experts, and editors
• Personalization
• Clear expectations
• Diverse content mix
• A style guide

Thorough intent and audience research

Before writing a single word, learn about your audience’s needs, desires, and pain points. What questions do they ask? What information do they seek? This tells you about audience intent. Aligning content with intent ensures every piece resonates and delivers genuine value. Go beyond keyword research and think about connecting with your audience on a human level.

Quality briefs

A well-crafted brief is the blueprint for successfully scaled content. It sets clear expectations, outlines key messages, and provides direction for your content creators. Use your project brief to guide your team toward your goals and help them understand and capture audience intent. Invest time and maximize the use of technology to craft comprehensive briefs that leave no room for ambiguity.

QA, subject matter experts, and editors

Even the most talented content creators are prone to human error. That’s where quality assurance, subject matter experts, and editors come in. They’re a safety net to ensure content is error-free, factually accurate, and polished to perfection. Consider implementing a multi-step editing process, including automated checks and several layers of human review.

Personalization

Personalization is a marketing superpower. Tailor messaging to specific segments of your audience based on their interests, demographics, and stage in the buyer’s journey. Use dynamic content on your website, segment your email lists, and design ultra-personalized social media campaigns. Personalization should apply to audience segments — but you must also personalize content based on the platform you’re using. 

Clear expectations

When working with a team of content creators, establishing clear expectations and deadlines is essential. This helps everyone stay on track and ensures that projects are completed on time and to a high standard. Utilize project management tools to assign tasks, track progress, and maintain open communication.

Diverse content mix

Don’t rely on a single content format. Experiment with different types of content, such as blog posts, videos, podcasts, infographics, and social media posts. This not only keeps your audience engaged but also allows you to reach different segments of your target market that may prefer different formats.

A style guide

A style guide is a document that outlines your brand’s writing style, tone of voice, and formatting guidelines. It ensures that all your scaled content production is consistent and adheres to your brand’s standards, regardless of who created it. This is especially important when working with multiple content creators or outsourcing content creation.

Maintaining quality is paramount, but it doesn’t have to be a Herculean task. You can leverage tools and technologies to streamline the content scaling process without sacrificing an ounce of excellence.

Techniques and Tools That Enhance Content Scaling 

Ready to transform your content strategy into a well-oiled machine? These techniques and tools help you scale up content production, streamline your workflow, and maximize efficiency:

• Content management systems
• Batch content production
• AI writing assistants 

Content management systems (CMSes)

Think of a CMS as your content’s air traffic control tower, orchestrating the seamless flow of information across your digital channels. It’s a centralized platform where you can:

• Store all your content assets — blog posts, articles, images, videos — in one easily accessible location.
• Enable your team to work together seamlessly, no matter where they are located. Say goodbye to endless email chains and version control nightmares.
• Schedule posts in advance, manage revisions effortlessly, and track content performance with built-in analytics. Let the machines do the heavy lifting so you can focus on the big picture.
• Implement search engine optimization best practices to amplify content to the right audience at the right time.

According to Alan Gleeson, CEO of Contento, 68% of the top 25 B2B SaaS companies in Ireland use WordPress as their CMS. While WordPress is a popular choice, research shows that options such as Contentful or Contento deliver a performance advantage in terms of site speed, which is a crucial factor for user experience and SEO.

Batch content production

If you’re overwhelmed by the sheer volume of content, batching is a productivity lifeline. Instead of jumping from task to task like a frantic squirrel, batch content production involves focusing on one specific type of content at a time.

This approach allows you to:

• Enter a state of flow and complete tasks more quickly and efficiently.
• Create a backlog of content, ensuring a steady stream of publications even when you’re juggling multiple projects.
• Dive into the subject matter, research thoroughly, and craft your message with precision.

Many successful content creators swear by batch content production. For example, content marketing expert Clint Mally recommends creating multiple long-form pieces of content in a single week, then repurposing them into social media posts, email newsletters, and other formats. With this technique, you maximize the impact of your best content while saving time and energy.

AI writing assistants

Artificial intelligence isn’t here to steal your job; it’s here to streamline and enhance your workflow. Generative AI is a sophisticated tool that can:

• Brainstorm new topics, headlines, and angles for content.
• Analyze keywords, identify content gaps, and enhance your content’s discoverability.
• Personalize your message to specific audiences based on their interests and demographics.

Technology is a powerful ally in your quest to scale content creation. From AI-powered brainstorming tools to templates, the right technology streamlines your workflow and enhances your creativity.

How Can Technology Help in Scaling Content Production?

Crafting top-notch content at scale isn’t a walk in the park. It takes time, creativity, and, typically, a whole lot of caffeine. The following tools are poised and ready to streamline your workflow, amplify your reach, and help you unleash your creative genius. 

ChatGPT

Ever dreamed of having a writing partner who never sleeps, never complains, and always has a thesaurus handy? Meet ChatGPT. 

Use it to:

• Quickly generate first drafts of content briefs, blog posts, or social media captions.
• Transform existing content into different formats, such as turning a blog post into a script for a short video.
• Analyze keywords and suggest improvements to enhance your content’s discoverability.
• Quickly create structured outlines and detailed briefs for your content team.

Pros of ChatGPT:

• Increased efficiency: Drafts content quickly, freeing up your team’s time for other strategic tasks.
• Versatility: Use it for various content types and formats.
• Scalability: Helps you generate a high volume of content without sacrificing quality.

Cons of ChatGPT:

• Requires human oversight: Always review and edit ChatGPT’s output to ensure accuracy and maintain your brand voice.
• Potential for generic content: Often produces content that lacks originality and can require extensive additional refinement.
• Ethical considerations: Be mindful of potential biases and limitations of AI-generated content.
• Cost: Free for basic use, with paid plans offering more advanced features.

Crowd Content’s Templates 

Crowd Content’s content brief template and blog post templates enable you to consistently create content that’s structurally sound and visually appealing. Use them to:

• Save time and mental energy by following a proven formula for content creation.
• Ensure content aligns with your brand voice and messaging, creating a cohesive brand experience across all channels.
• Glean expert tips and insights on how to craft content that captivates and converts. 

Pros of using CC templates:

• Simplified content creation process: No more staring at a blank page, wondering where to start.
• Improved content quality and consistency: Create content that adheres to your brand standards and resonates with your audience.
• Cost: Free to use, making it a valuable resource for content creators of all levels.

Cons of using CC templates:

• May not be suitable for all types of content or industries: Some customization might be necessary to adapt the templates to your specific needs.
• Requires some level of knowledge and experience: While the templates provide a helpful framework, you still need to bring your own expertise and creativity to the table.

Be sure to conduct regular maintenance checks to keep your content machine well-oiled. Let’s explore the metrics that help you calculate the success of scaled content and ensure it’s making an impact.

How Do You Measure the Success of Scaled Content?

Here’s how to measure content performance:

• Website traffic
• Engagement metrics
• Lead generation
• Conversions

Website traffic

Are more people visiting your site? Are they lingering longer and browsing your pages with interest? Tools such as Google Analytics tell you which web pages are most popular and where visitors get lost or leave too soon.

Let’s say you run an online store selling eco-friendly products. Tracking website traffic might show a spike in visitors after you publish a blog post about sustainable living tips. This tells you that this type of content resonates with your audience and gets them onto your site.

Engagement metrics

Engagement metrics reveal whether users are actually getting value from your content. Are they reading, watching, listening, sharing, and commenting? Are they hooked on your every word, or do they tune out after the first few lines? Metrics such as time on page, bounce rate, social shares, and comments are real-time representations of how engaging your content is. 

Perhaps you create a series of videos demonstrating how to use your product. If viewers watch all the way through and leave positive comments, you know you’ve struck a chord.

Lead generation

Your content is a magnet for potential customers. Lead generation metrics tell you how many people are drawn to your brand. Are they subscribing to your newsletter, downloading your whitepaper, or filling out your contact form? Leads are the seeds of future sales, so nurturing them with valuable content is key.

Conversions

Conversions are the ultimate goal of any content marketing strategy. It’s the moment when a prospect raises their hand and says, “I’m in!” Whether it’s subscribing to your socials, making a purchase, signing up for a free trial, or requesting a demo, conversions are the proof that your content is performing as it should.

You’re practically an expert in scaling content by now. Let’s look at some real-world case studies of brands that successfully scaled their content efforts. 

Successful Content Scaling Examples

These brands didn’t just dip their toes into content scaling — they dove in headfirst and emerged victorious. Their brand stories offer valuable insights for anyone looking to amplify their content’s impact:

BoConcept

Here’s a glimpse at how Danish furniture brand BoConcept, enhanced content scaling using AI and centralized marketing.

The challenge: BoConcept faced the formidable task of creating and adapting marketing campaigns for numerous products, channels, sub-brands, markets, and languages. Local production agencies struggled to maintain consistency and meet the brand’s high standards.

The solution: BoConcept centralized its brand marketing efforts and partnered with an AI-powered agency to streamline content production. This allowed the brand to create master campaigns that could be scaled and localized across 64 different languages, ensuring consistent messaging and brand voice across all markets. An extraordinary level of accessibility and global inclusivity are two of AI and content scaling’s true superpowers, helping brands reach customers around the world. 

Paris Mechanical

Let’s look at HVAC company Paris Mechanical’s approach to scaling up using AI and automation. 

The challenge: Paris Mechanical was experiencing rapid growth but struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for services. Its sales and marketing processes were largely manual, leading to bottlenecks and missed opportunities.

The solution: Paris Mechanical partnered with a consulting firm specializing in AI and automation to develop a scalable marketing strategy. It implemented a suite of tools, including HubSpot Marketing Hub, Unbounce, and Google Ads, to automate lead generation, capture, and nurturing. What’s more, it tapped into the power of AI tools to generate personalized content and streamline the quoting process.

What Strategies Can Manage Increased Content Volumes?

With great content comes great responsibility. As output ramps up, you need a strategy to keep scaled content organized, efficient, and aligned with your goals. 

Here’s your roadmap to content scaling success:

1. Assemble a strong content team
2. Craft a content calendar 
3. Streamline your workflow
4. Integrate into existing campaigns

1. Assemble a strong content team

Assemble a strong team of content specialists, each with their own unique skills and expertise, including:

• Content strategists: The masterminds behind the overall content vision and direction.
• Writers: The wordsmiths who bring your ideas to life with captivating prose that sings with your brand voice.
• SMEs: The frontline industry experts who edit for technical accuracy and enhance your content’s authority.
• Editors: The grammar stalwarts who ensure content is polished and error-free.
• Designers: The visual wizards who create eye-catching graphics and layouts.
• SEO specialists: The search engine whisperers who optimize your content for maximum visibility.
• Social media managers: The social butterflies who amplify your content across various platforms.

2. Craft a content calendar 

A content calendar is a visual representation of your planned content, including:

• Topics: What are you going to write, record, or film about?
• Formats: Will it be a blog post, video, infographic, or something else?
• Channels: Where will you publish and promote your content?
• Deadlines: When will each piece of content be ready?

3. Streamline your workflow

Streamline your workflow by:

• Automating repetitive tasks such as scheduling social media posts, sending email newsletters, and delivering analytics reports.
• Creating reusable templates for different content types to save time and maintain consistency.
• Using project management tools to track progress, assign tasks, and collaborate with team members seamlessly.

4. Integrate into existing campaigns

Integrate content into your broader marketing campaigns to maximize its impact. This means:

• Sharing it across your social media channels, email newsletters, and other marketing channels.
• Repurposing your blog posts into videos, podcasts, and shareable infographics to reach different audiences.
• Using content as a way to guide potential customers through the buying journey.
• Creating a cohesive and powerful brand narrative that resonates with your audience, building a community and driving them toward action.

Content Scaling Limitations and How to Address Them

Scaling content isn’t always a smooth ride. There are a few bumps in the road you might encounter along the way. But don’t worry. With a little foresight and strategic planning, you can overcome these challenges and keep your content engine purring:

• Maintain quality at scale: As output increases, it can be tempting to cut corners to save time and resources. However, this is a recipe for disaster. Quality should always be your top priority. To maintain high standards, invest in skilled content creators, implement rigorous editing processes, and use tools to automate time-consuming tasks.
• Avoid content fatigue: Publishing a large volume of content doesn’t guarantee engagement. If your content becomes repetitive or irrelevant, audiences tune out. To avoid content fatigue, create diverse content that appeals to different segments of your audience. Experiment with new formats, topics, and angles to keep things fresh and engaging.
• Measure ROI: Content scaling requires an investment of time, money, and resources. Make sure you track ROI carefully to ensure your efforts are paying off. Use analytic tools from Google and social media to measure your content’s impact on engagement metrics such as website traffic, time on page, and conversion rate.
• Adapt to algorithm changes: Social media algorithms are constantly evolving, and that can impact your content’s visibility and reach. Stay up-to-date on the latest changes and adjust your strategy accordingly. Experiment with different posting times, formats, and content types to find what works best for your audience.
• Stay ahead of the competition: The content landscape is constantly evolving. To stay ahead of the curve, you must constantly learn and adapt. Follow industry trends, experiment with new technologies, and keep an eye on what your competitors are doing.

Proactively addressing these challenges ensures your content scaling efforts are sustainable and aligned with your business goals. 

See How to Scale Your Content Now

If content scaling sounds like a lot of effort and expense, that’s because it is. Even large brands with huge marketing budgets can struggle to manage each step of the process in-house. Let’s look at the pros and cons of outsourcing versus in-house content scaling. 

The Creation Process: In-House versus Outsourcing Scalable Content

Should you build your content team in-house or outsource to the pros? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best approach depends on your specific needs, budget, and existing resources.

First, let’s explore the pros and cons of in-house content scaling:

• Pros: More control and the ability to iterate and experiment quickly if you have an existing in-house content team.
• Cons: It’s extremely expensive and time-consuming to build a team of skilled strategists, content creators, editors, quality assessors, AI experts, and SMEs from scratch.

Now, let’s study the pros and cons of outsourcing content scaling:

• Pros: Access to a wide pool of talent and expertise, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses. Outsourcing also offers the flexibility to scale up or down as needed.
• Cons: Less control over the creative process and potential for communication challenges.

Many businesses opt for a hybrid approach, combining in-house expertise with the flexibility and scalability of outsourcing. This allows them to leverage the strengths of both models while mitigating the weaknesses.

For guidance on how to find the right content creators for your needs, check out our article: How to Find Content Creators [LINK TO FORTHCOMING ARTICLE].

Your Content Scaling Strategy

Content scaling is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires a strategic mindset and a relentless commitment to quality. Following the strategies and using the tools outlined in this guide will get you on your way to creating a powerful content engine that drives results, fosters brand loyalty, and propels your business to new heights. 

Always keep in mind that increasing quantity must never compromise quality. Prioritize providing helpful, insightful, and actionable content that exceeds your audience’s expectations.

Don’t just take our word for it. Go forth and experiment. Test different approaches, track your results, and refine your strategy over time.

The post Content Scaling Strategies to Amplify Your Content Production appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Landing pages get their name from their role as the page a visitor “lands” on after clicking a link or ad from another source, such as an email marketing campaign, social media post, search engine result, or online ad. They serve one purpose: converting visitors into customers or leads. 

Ready to create a high-converting landing page? Below, we’ll tell you how.

What Is a Landing Page?

A landing page has many names. Whether you call it a lead capture page, a static page, a squeeze page, or a destination page, you’re talking about the same thing: a standalone web page designed specifically to encourage visitors to take an action as a result of a marketing or advertising campaign. 

A typical website has multiple pages, sub-pages, and sections that visitors can navigate to, often from the homepage. A landing page is different because it is a standalone web page that’s excluded from a website’s navigation. 

A customer won’t just stumble across a landing page. They can only find it by entering your sales funnel through targeted efforts such as email campaigns, social media posts, search engine results, or online advertisements. 

Landing pages are purposefully minimal, focusing only on the main call to action (CTA), like a sign-up page or a purchase button. By eliminating navigation and focusing solely on a conversion goal, landing pages streamline the user experience and guide visitors toward completing the intended action.

The Purpose and Types of Landing Pages

A marketing strategy can incorporate landing pages in a variety of ways. 

1. Lead generation: These landing pages offer something of value such as an e-book, webinar access, or a free trial in exchange for the visitor’s contact information, which allows you to nurture them in the future. 
2. Click-through: A clickable headline, for instance, gets visitors to click through to another page where the actual conversion will take place.
3. Product launch or promotion: Create landing pages to build anticipation or generate buzz. Collect pre-orders or registrations for a new product or service. Get visitors to sign up for a newsletter.
4. Event registration: As people click around on an event page, they are funneled to another page where they can buy tickets or register.
5. Contests or giveaways: An exciting prize encourages participants to enter, leaving their contact information for future marketing purposes.

Are Landing Pages Still a Thing?

Yes, landing pages are still a highly effective tool! You probably encounter landing pages all the time without even knowing it, especially if they’re well-designed. 

Despite the many new marketing channels and technologies in today’s world, landing pages remain a powerful tool for meeting marketing goals. The laser-focused, campaign-specific nature of landing pages continues to make them valuable.

How Do I Know If I Need a Landing Page?

Use a landing page in situations where you want to drive a specific action or conversion from your target audience.

Here’s a checklist to help decide whether creating a landing page is the right approach:

• Do you have a specific marketing campaign, promotion, or offer to run? A dedicated landing page can help you laser-focus the user experience to ensure that visitors are directed towards the intended goal without distractions.
• Are you driving visitors toward a single targeted action or conversion? A landing page eliminates distractions and guides users toward that goal, which increases the likelihood of conversion.
• Are you running paid advertising campaigns? Landing pages are ideal for optimizing post-click conversion rates to make your advertising efforts more effective.
• Do you need to capture leads for a future nurturing campaign? Lead generation landing pages with forms are highly effective as they allow you to nurture these leads over time.
• Are you looking to sell a product or service in a direct transaction? A focused click-through landing page streamlines the purchase journey to make it easier for customers to complete their transactions.

Landing Page vs. Website

While you could theoretically refer to any destination page as a “landing page,” an actual landing page is technically more strategic than your average website or web page. A true landing page focuses on a single CTA or conversion goal and does not take visitors to other parts of the site.

Here’s a quick and simple guide to the differences between a landing page and a website:

Landing page:

• Focused on a single conversion goal
• Minimal navigation and distractions
• Designed for a specific campaign or offer
• Optimized for conversions
• Often temporary or campaign-specific

Website:

• Provides broad information about a company
• Offers multiple pages and navigation options
• Designed for a general audience
• Typically long-term and evergreen

Can I Create a Landing Page Without a Website or Domain?

Yes, you can create a landing page without having a separate website or domain, using tools called landing page builders.

Landing page builders or platforms often have templates to choose from that can be customized with your own text, images, colors, and videos. This allows you to quickly create a professional-looking landing page tailored to your specific needs.

Building a fully functional website can be time-consuming. If you are in need of a marketing-focused page now with no delay, using a landing page builder is an excellent solution. This approach allows you to launch your campaign without delay and ensures you don’t miss out on potential leads or sales.

In the long term, though, it is wise to establish a domain and website so your business has a professional online presence to aid in building credibility and trust. 

What’s the Difference Between a Homepage and a Landing Page?

A homepage and a landing page serve different purposes and have distinct designs. A homepage is the broad entry point to your business, and is not optimized for a specific conversion goal. Its goal is to introduce visitors to your brand and direct them to various areas of interest.  

A landing page, on the other hand, is designed for a specific marketing campaign or offer. It is a standalone page without navigation — so no navigational menus. There won’t be a link to go back to the previous page, social media links, or page footers.The reason for this is to minimize navigation away from the page and distractions that could get your visitor interested in something else. The page is focused on a single conversion goal.

What’s the Difference Between an Entry Page and a Landing Page?

An entry page is the first page a visitor encounters when arriving at a website. It may be the homepage, or a blog post. An entry page is like an open door, leading visitors to a variety of other places on the site, so it probably doesn’t have a specific purpose or design. 

While an entry page can serve various purposes, a landing page is laser-focused on a single conversion goal. Landing pages are typically minimal, with no distractions or additional navigation, and guide visitors toward completing one desired action.

Should I Use AI?

There’s nothing wrong with using AI tools. Many people use AI as a starting point to save time, reduce effort, and cut costs. However, it’s important to understand that the content generated by AI often requires editing before it can be used effectively.

Why is that? Because AI tools have limitations. While AI can produce content based on the data it was trained on, it does not have a deep comprehension of the subject, audience needs, or broader context like a human does. 

Since AI models stitch together content based on language patterns, they can sometimes generate factual inaccuracies or nonsense statements, called “hallucinations.” Humans can identify  and correct these errors.

AI may have biases or blind spots since its training data can’t include every possibility. Sometimes, AI-generated language can feel “flat” or “fake,” lacking nuance and depth that human-generated content typically has. Be sure to test and refine the language you get from AI, just like you would with content created by humans.

Quality is key. In essence, AI content generation is a powerful tool in the content-creation process, just like any other powerful tool. Use it to quickly generate initial drafts and ideas, then have someone you trust modify it with the details that your project requires. 

Do I Need to Hire a Designer or Professional?

Hiring a professional may be the best route if you have a larger budget, require a highly customized and on-brand design, or if you’re running a high-stakes campaign where conversion rates are critical. However, for smaller projects or tighter budgets, DIY tools and templates can also produce effective landing pages.

[consider making these into a table] 

Pros of hiring a professional:

• Access to design expertise and industry best practices
• Professionally crafted visuals and layouts that align with your brand
• Efficient execution saves time
• Potential for higher conversion rates with optimized designs

Cons of hiring a professional:

• Higher upfront costs compared to DIY options
• Potential communication gaps or misalignment with your vision
• Limited control over the design process
• Reliance on the design professional for updates or changes in the future

If you decide to create the landing page yourself, remember that quality should be the top priority.

Alternatively, consider partnering with a content creation service like Crowd Content. This gives you the benefits of an agency, which can handle the entire landing page creation process while also considering your unique brand needs and integrating with your in-house team as necessary. 

What Makes a Great Landing Page?

“Great” here means “effective.” While a landing page may be visually appealing, it must also deliver results to be truly considered successful 

Here are some key elements that contribute to an effective landing page design:

• Consistent graphics: When a visitor arrives at your landing page from a social media post, email, or another page on your website, the visual continuity from page to page must be preserved. It should be clear that they are still interacting with the brand they started with. This is not the place to introduce surprises and disrupt their experience.
• Attention-grabbing headline: Include a compelling, benefit-driven headline that reinforces what the visitor is here to do. It needs to quickly capture their interest and convey the value they will receive.
• Short and targeted copy: The content on the landing page should be focused and easy-to-read to address the visitor’s pain points or desires directly.
• Persuasive visuals: High-quality, relevant images or videos should be used to  reinforce the message conveyed in the text. These visuals help engage visitors and support the overall narrative of the landing page.
• Prominent CTA: Include an unmistakable button or form that motivates the visitor. Clicking the button or filling out the form should be the only thing they can do on the page. 

An Example of a Fantastic Landing Page Design That Converts

We’ve been describing the features of a successful landing page. Now, let’s look at an actual landing page in action, like this sign-up page from Crowd Content.

Visitors find this page from Crowd Content’s “Services” page. After clicking on “Local SEO City Pages,” they are directed to a more detailed page about that service. A CTA button in the middle of the page says, “Get Started Now.”

Clicking that button takes visitors to the page where they can book a meeting. It’s a simple visual layout of side-by-side blue and white rectangles. The blue sidebar on the left offers social proof in the form of benefits, review stars, and a testimonial. 

The right side has visually hierarchical headline elements that lead directly to the form. 

The form asks for only the most critical info. Then, a bright blue button says, “Sign Up.” Beyond that, the only links are to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, or a sign-in link if the visitor already has an account. 

The only other piece of information is a phone number. The potential customer has traveled this far through your sales funnel to reach the account creation form, so that is all you want them to do here.

How to Create a Landing Page From Scratch

Driving conversions and capturing leads is crucial to any marketing campaign’s success. Follow this easy step-by-step process to craft a high-converting landing page from the ground up.

1. Identify Your Target Audience 

Create a detailed outline of your ideal customer. Understand their demographics, interests, and pain points to tailor your landing page to their needs.

2. Set Your Goal 

Determine the specific, single purpose of your landing page. Is it to generate leads? Sell a product? Promote an event?

3. Create an Outline 

Map out the essential elements of your landing page. The headline, value proposition, features/benefits, social proof, and CTA should be short, clear, and obvious. 

4. Develop the Design 

Develop a visually appealing yet clean and distraction-free design that aligns with your brand identity. Create mock-ups to experiment with different layouts and elements before finalizing the design.

5. Craft the Content

Write persuasive, benefit-driven copy that speaks directly to your target audience’s needs and desires. Use clear, concise language and avoid jargon or fluff.

6. Get the CTAs Right 

Your call-to-action buttons or forms should be prominent and enticing, and clearly communicate the desired action. Strategically place the CTAs right next to the information to maximize engagement.

7. Highlight Social Proof  

Build trust and credibility by showcasing customer testimonials, case studies, industry badges, or statistics that validate your offer.

8. Preview & Test

Before launch, thoroughly test your landing page across devices and browsers. Ensure the flow works smoothly and the visuals are consistent. This step helps identify and fix any issues before going live. 

9. Get Tracking & Performance in Place  

Integrate analytics tools to track metrics such as traffic sources, conversion rates, and user behavior. Use this baseline data to determine if the campaign needs adjustments in the future.

10. Refine & Optimize 

Continuously analyze performance data and user feedback to identify areas for improvement. Experiment with different headlines, designs, or CTAs through A/B testing to maximize conversions over time. Regularly refining and optimizing your landing page ensures it remains effective and continues to drive results.

Should I Use a Template?

Using a pre-designed landing page template can seem like a tempting shortcut. Weigh the pros and cons before deciding if a template is the right approach for your needs.

Pros:

• Templates save time because they provide a ready-made structure.
• Many template options are free or budget-friendly, making them an affordable solution.
• Most templates allow for simple customization of colors, fonts, and content.
• Templates are typically already responsive and mobile-optimized.

Cons:

• You risk having a landing page that looks similar to other landing pages or looks “generic,” because templates are widely available and used for numerous different promotions.
• Customization options may be limited, which prevents you from fully tailoring the template to meet your specific needs. 
• Templates may not match your specific marketing goals or target audience.
• Free templates may not provide the high-quality user experience your brand needs.

While templates can be a viable option for businesses with limited resources, professional help may be the better route for those seeking a truly customized, high-converting landing page. Remember, quality is key when it comes to landing pages, and a unique, well-designed page can make a significant difference in your campaign’s success. 

At Crowd Content, our team of expert copywriters, designers, and marketers can collaborate with you to craft a bespoke, high-performing landing page tailored to your unique needs. Let us help you create a landing page that truly stands out and delivers results.

How to Create a Landing Page for Free

In today’s digital landscape, having an effective landing page is crucial for driving conversions and capturing leads. Fortunately, creating a professional-looking landing page doesn’t have to break the bank. 

Start by selecting a free landing page builder like Unbounce (free trial); Leadpages (offers a money-back guarantee if you don’t get at least 30 leads within 30 days); or Instapage (14-day free trial). These platforms provide easy interfaces for creating landing pages without coding skills.

Once you’ve chosen a platform, browse through the available templates and select one that aligns with your brand and campaign goals. 

After selecting a template, customize it to fit your needs. Most builders allow you to edit the text, images, colors, and layout, enabling you to create a landing page that reflects your brand identity.

Social proof can go a long way toward building trust and credibility with your visitors. Include customer testimonials, case studies, or industry badges to showcase your expertise and past successes. This validation can make visitors more likely to convert.

Make sure your CTA is prominently displayed and unmissable. Use contrasting colors and strategic placement to guide visitors toward the desired action, whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, downloading a resource, or making a purchase. 

While your landing page builder might offer basic analytics, consider integrating more robust tools like Google Analytics (free) to track your page’s performance and make data-driven optimizations.

Once your landing page is live, continually test and refine it. Experiment with different headlines, visuals, and CTAs through A/B testing to find the winning combination.

Remember, while creating a landing page for free is possible, it’s essential to prioritize quality over cost. If you find yourself struggling or lacking the time and resources, consider working with experienced landing page experts like Crowd Content to ensure your landing page is optimized for maximum conversions and ROI.

Our Picks for the Best Landing Page Tools

1. Unbounce

• Overview: Unbounce allows users to create, publish, and test landing pages without the need for coding knowledge or IT resources.
• Ideal for: Building high-converting landing pages for various marketing campaigns including lead generation, click-through campaigns, and product launches.
• Suitable for: Businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, across various industries.
• Pros: Drag-and-drop builder, mobile-responsive templates, A/B testing capabilities, integration with popular marketing tools.
• Cons: Limited customization options for advanced users, additional costs for premium features.
• Cost: Starts at $99/month, with a 14-day free trial available.
  

2. Instapage

• Overview: Instapage is a landing page solution that focuses on creating post-click experiences and optimizing for conversions.
• Ideal for: Creating landing pages for PPC campaigns, product launches, webinars, and other marketing initiatives.
• Suitable for: Businesses of all sizes, particularly those with a strong focus on paid advertising and conversion rate optimization.
• Pros: Intuitive builder, heat maps, conversion analytics, integration with popular advertising platforms.
• Cons: Limited free plan, relatively steep learning curve.
• Cost: Starts at $199/month, with a 14-day free trial available.
  

3. Leadpages

• Overview: Leadpages is a versatile platform that allows you to create landing pages, websites, pop-ups, and alert bars.
• Ideal for: Building landing pages, opt-in forms, and lead magnets for capturing leads and growing email lists.
• Suitable for: Small businesses, entrepreneurs, and marketers looking for an all-in-one solution.
• Pros: Affordable pricing, intuitive drag-and-drop builder, more than 250 templates, integrated email marketing tools.
• Cons: Limited customization options, some features may be overkill for simple landing page needs.
• Cost: Starts at $37/month, with a free trial available (limited features).
  

4. HubSpot

• Overview: HubSpot is a comprehensive marketing, sales, and customer service platform that includes a landing page builder.
• Ideal for: Creating landing pages as part of an integrated marketing strategy, including email campaigns, lead nurturing, and CRM integration.
• Suitable for: Businesses of all sizes that are looking for an all-in-one solution for their marketing, sales, and customer service needs.
• Pros: Seamless integration with other HubSpot tools, extensive customization options, advanced analytics and reporting.
• Cons: Expensive for small businesses or those only needing a landing page builder — price includes much more than landing pages.
• Cost: Starts at $15/month for the Marketing Hub (includes landing pages), free trial available.
  

These are just a few of the many landing page tools available on the market. If you’re unsure which tool is best for your business or you need professional assistance with landing page creation, consider reaching out to Crowd Content’s team of experts for personalized guidance.

Legal Considerations for Landing Pages

Don’t overlook your legal compliance responsibilities. As you capture leads and drive conversions, you must also adhere to privacy laws and regulations to protect user data. 

One of the most significant legal considerations for landing pages is compliance with data protection and privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States. These laws govern how businesses collect, store, and use personal data, including the information gathered through landing page forms and lead capture mechanisms.

Have clear and accessible privacy policies and terms of service that outline how you handle user data. Where applicable, include consent forms that allow visitors to explicitly agree to your data collection and usage practices. This transparency is essential for building trust and staying compliant with legal requirements.

Beyond data privacy, there may be other legal considerations depending on your industry, your location, and the nature of your landing page content. For instance, certain claims or representations made on your landing pages may need to be substantiated to comply with advertising and consumer protection laws. Making unverified claims can lead to legal repercussions, so always ensure your content is accurate and supported by evidence.

Reputable organizations, such as the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and the Association of National Advertisers (ANA, formerly known as the Direct Marketing Association), also offer educational resources, best practices, and industry-specific guidelines to help businesses stay compliant.

Leveraging Landing Pages for Enhanced Marketing Outcomes

Even though digital marketing is ever-evolving, landing pages remain a powerful tool. By strategically incorporating well-designed landing pages into your marketing strategy when there is a specific goal in mind, you can maximize marketing impact and drive tangible results.

Landing pages are dedicated post-click destinations that allow you to laser-target specific audience segments, eliminate unnecessary distractions, and guide visitors through a carefully curated journey that leads them directly where you want them to go.

A landing page is not a one-and-done concept. Check your ROI and A/B test to keep your campaigns relevant and successful. 

Whether you hire a content company to create a customized landing page for you or create your own, a strong landing page will strike a balance between targeted content and the buyer’s journey. Ultimately, leveraging landing pages as a core component of your digital marketing strategy is a strategic investment that yields tangible returns. 

The post How to Create a Landing Page That Converts appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

In this guide, we’ll share our comprehensive knowledge of visual content marketing. You’ll learn about the diverse types of visual content and how to use them strategically, explore real-world examples of successful campaigns, and discover a step-by-step process for creating your own robust strategy. We will discuss innovative tools, best practices for integration, and techniques for building trust using visuals. 

Get ready to craft unforgettable brand stories using eye-catching visuals that resonate with your audience.

What Is Visual Content Marketing?

Visual content marketing is the strategic use of visuals to achieve your marketing goals. This includes images, videos, infographics, illustrations, and any other format that visually communicates your message.

Leverage imagery to:

• Quickly attract and retain the attention of fickle scrollers
• Simplify complex concepts and data
• Evoke emotions and build stronger brand connections

Images, graphics, and videos often convey information and drive action more effectively than text alone. Picture the difference between assembling new furniture using only written instructions versus diagrams or a video tutorial. 

What’s more, visuals allow you to personalize your brand, fostering a deeper emotional bond with your audience. Authenticity is a game-changer for building trust and standing out in the increasingly crowded digital landscape.

Why Is Visual Marketing Important?

Our brains are wired for visuals. Since the dawn of humanity, we’ve communicated through visual storytelling. Cave paintings, hieroglyphs, and modern emojis all convey meaning and emotion universally. An innate preference for visual information shapes how our content consumption patterns today. 

In particular, our brains process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. This has profound implications for today’s marketers. The benefits of visual content marketing include:

• Improving comprehension and recall: The brain processes visual communication better than text, which equals better information retention.
• Triggering an emotional response: Visuals evoke feelings, forming strong connections between your brand and your audience.
• Driving action: Compelling visuals, paired with clear calls to action, can increase engagement, clicks, and conversions.

Visual content marketing isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a necessity for brands that want to be seen, understood, and remembered.

Key Elements of Impactful Visual Content

Here’s what sets truly impactful visuals apart:

Clarity and purpose: Every piece of visual content should have a clear objective. Are you simplifying a complex process? Design an infographic to break it down. Highlighting a product’s features? Create a short, stylish product demo video. Understanding the “why” will ensure that every visual aligns perfectly with your brand goals.

Strong visual hierarchy: Don’t make viewers work. Guide their eyes effortlessly through your visual, emphasizing the most significant elements. Use strategic pops of color, bold typography, and clever composition to create a clear visual journey. Be sure to make your branding consistent across all channels to ensure a cohesive experience for the audience. 

Visual storytelling: Even the simplest image can tell a story. For instance, a heartwarming social media image for an animal shelter could show a recently adopted pet with its loving family. This picture will trigger stronger emotions and inspire more engagement than text alone. Such visuals make your message more memorable and likely to prompt a response because they connect with your audience on an emotional level.

Related: Learn more about the power of narrative in our article, Unlock the Power of Digital Storytelling With a Content Marketing Strategy.

Authenticity: Move away from generic stock photos. Instead, create visuals that genuinely represent your brand and resonate with your audience. This builds trust and a sense of connection, both key ingredients for long-term success.

Accessibility: Don’t leave anyone behind. Consider users with visual impairments by ensuring all images have descriptive alt text and videos have closed captions and transcripts. This extends your reach and demonstrates that you’re a brand that cares.

Exceptional visual content requires more than a pretty picture. It’s a strategic combination of design, storytelling, and an understanding of how your audience engages with the world.

Types of Visual Content That Captivate and Convert

There’s a never-ending flow of content out there. According to experts at Yale, it’s visual elements that cut through and leave a lasting impression. Creating compelling visuals drives the conversions that supercharge your business and boost revenue. Let’s look at the most effective types of visual content. 

Infographics

Infographics simplify complex data, statistics, or concepts into clear, concise summaries. Look at it this way: People are more likely to share a well-designed infographic than a wall of text. This expands your reach and earns your brand valuable exposure.

Critically, infographics make complicated topics easy to grasp. This is empowering for your audience, and it positions you as a trusted source of information.

Say we’re working with an online wellness brand. We might create an infographic for an article exploring the benefits of exercise. It would feature colorful illustrations, statistics, and simple explanations to show physical activity’s life-changing impact on health and well-being. Your audience might share the graphic on social media or their own website to educate their audience — promoting your brand at the same time.

Video content 

Video content is the easiest way to unpack complex information, demonstrate expertise, and build a bond with your audience. Think dynamic product demos, engaging how-to videos, and behind-the-scenes glimpses that reveal your brand’s personality and offer a peek into the culture and people behind the products or services.

What’s more, videos excel in humanizing your brand. Authentic videos showcase your brand identity and offer social proof. Create videos that brim with passion, shoutout loyal customers, and help viewers solve common pain points.

For instance, if we were working with an HVAC company, we’d recommend they produce a series of short videos that provide troubleshooting tips. Each one would explain a common heating or cooling issue and guide homeowners through simple fixes. These videos save customers a service call, establish the company as go-to experts, and provide an opportunity to connect emotionally.

Interactive content

Interactive content creates two-way conversations with your audience. It encourages active engagement through quizzes, polls, interactive infographics, and calculators. Giving your audience something to click, answer, or play with keeps them on your page longer and increases their investment in your brand.

As a bonus, interactive content helps you collect zero-party data about your audience. Gain actionable insights into their preferences, pain points, and interests, and use those to inform future campaigns.

For instance, if we were working with a beauty brand with a blog post titled, “Find Your Perfect Skincare Routine,” we’d add a quiz. It would ask questions about skin type, major concerns, and product preferences, ultimately providing a customized routine at the end. This keeps customers on your page, builds trust, and drives product discovery.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)

VR and AR push the boundaries of traditional marketing. VR immerses users in entirely digital environments, while AR overlays digital elements onto the real world. These technologies offer unparalleled opportunities for customer engagement and interactive experiences, especially for brands with products customers need to “try on” or visualize. 

An excellent example is the augmented reality IKEA Place app. It lets customers virtually “place” furniture in their own homes before buying. This reduces uncertainty about size and fit, increasing confidence in purchase decisions. The concept is practical and innovative, and sets IKEA apart in a competitive market. 

Memes and GIFs

Memes are funny viral images or videos with catchy text. GIFs are short, looping animations. Both are popular formats for infusing a dose of personality and relatability into your online presence.

[insert screenshot of meme and GIF]

The inherent shareability of memes and GIFs makes them powerful tools for organic brand growth. Their humor or relatability can tap into trending conversations and expand your brand’s reach organically. Plus, they add a relatable touch that’s more likely to connect with modern audiences than text alone.

Let’s say we’re working with a pest control company. To promote a blog post, we might create a meme to share on social media when we hit publish. It could be a cartoon of a startled homeowner facing a spider and a member of your staff holding pesticide, captioned “Say goodbye to your little friend.” This is funny, relatable, and nods to a familiar pop culture reference for maximum impact.

Never underestimate the effectiveness of humor and shareability. When done right, memes and GIFs humanize your brand and drive engagement with your audience.

Social media stories

Social media stories are short-lived, visually engaging posts on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. They exploit the FOMO (fear of missing out) factor, usually disappearing after 24 hours. Sharing limited-time offers, sneak peeks, and exclusive content via stories creates FOMO, driving engagement and quick action.

Starbucks is renowned for using Instagram Stories to promote seasonal drink launches. The brand creates visually enticing teasers with countdown graphics, fueling excitement and urgency. This motivates customers to visit their nearest Starbucks to try the new drinks before they’re no longer available, leveraging the FOMO effect to boost sales and customer interaction.

Data visualizations

Well-designed data visualizations make complex ideas easy to grasp. Additionally, visual data allows for quick identification of trends and patterns, catering to audience members seeking instant answers.

If we were helping a digital marketing agency design its annual report, instead of spreadsheets alone, we’d add a mix of eye-catching visuals, such as:

• An interactive timeline showcasing key milestones and major client wins over the past year
• A pie chart breaking down website traffic sources and highlighting growth areas
• A line graph comparing client ROI against industry averages, demonstrating their superior results

This approach establishes the agency as data-driven and transparent, building trust with investors and clients. 

Embracing Technology in Visual Content Creation

The visual content landscape is constantly evolving, with new tools and technologies emerging regularly. While the convenience of AI-generated imagery is tempting, customers increasingly crave authenticity. Like stock imagery, AI-created visuals often lack the human touch and brand-specific details that resonate.

That said, AI isn’t the enemy. These tools can be valuable assets for:

• Creative inspiration: Use AI to generate new ideas, explore design variations, and overcome creative roadblocks.
• Placement and composition: Some AI tools can analyze existing imagery and suggest optimal layouts or color palettes, streamlining your workflow.

While AI is excellent at ideation, prioritize on-brand, human-made designs. They speak directly to your brand personality and build a stronger connection with your audience.

The Importance of Professionalism in High-Impact Visual Content

Using amateur visuals on your website is like showing up to a board meeting in sweatpants. On the other hand, professionally produced visuals command respect and make a strong first impression. 

Here are a few more reasons why investing in pro-level design is a smart move:

• Brand guardians: Top-tier designers do more than enhance aesthetics; they fiercely protect your brand’s identity. Every image, graphic, and video feels undeniably yours, building recognition and trust.
• Attention to detail: Professional designers have mastered those tiny details that separate polished visuals from amateur ones. Perfect image resolution, balanced layouts, and fonts that amplify your message, not distract from it.
• Cutting edge insights: Skilled designers know how to translate your goals into visuals that resonate with the right people using the latest techniques. They know what grabs attention, feels trustworthy, and inspires action.

DIY visuals can have their place, but for high-stakes content such as your website or major campaign, leave it to the pros. It’s an investment that reflects your brand’s value and attracts the right customers.

CTA: Strategize Your Content to Complement Visual Marketing

Successful Visual Content Marketing Examples

Examining real-world success stories gives you valuable insights to use for your content marketing initiatives.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s tapped into anime’s rising popularity with a campaign that deeply resonated with a growing audience segment. The WcDonald’s campaign leaned into Studio Pierrot’s vibrant colors, iconic characters, and bold design elements. 

Visual storytelling and brand integration

The campaign featured a series of short videos starring anime characters from shows such as Naruto and Bleach. The visuals stayed true to the original animations, fostering a sense of authenticity and nostalgia among fans. Subtle product placements, like characters eating McFlurries, were smoothly woven into the storyline, making McDonald’s presence natural rather than intrusive.

Social media frenzy and fan engagement

A ton of WcDonald’s videos went viral on social media. The eye-catching visuals, combined with the novelty of seeing beloved characters in a fast-food setting, sparked a wave of excitement and online discussion. Fans created and shared memes, fan art, and cosplay photos, further amplifying the campaign’s reach and engagement through user-generated content (UGC).

Spotify

Spotify’s annual Wrapped campaign is a cultural phenomenon that highlights the power of personalized content and community engagement. It’s widely anticipated and shared, teaching invaluable lessons to anyone seeking to level up their visual marketing game.

Visual storytelling powered by data

Spotify transforms raw listening data into a compelling story about each user’s year in music. Instead of providing a list of statistics, the brand crafts vibrant personalized infographics highlighting top songs, artists, genres, and total listening time. Bold colors, playful animations, and a shareable format create an experience that’s informative and fun.

Interactive and shareable for maximum impact

Wrapped’s success lies in the fact that it invites interaction. The format guides users through their musical recap using dynamic transitions and instilling a sense of discovery. Most importantly, these infographics are designed for social media sharing. It’s a subtle yet effective way to turn users into brand ambassadors and encourage conversation between followers.

Building anticipation and community

Every December, music lovers around the world buzz with anticipation for Spotify Wrapped. The brand fuels excitement with social media teasers, countdowns, and hints, and they’ve managed to transform it into an annual event. When Wrapped finally goes live, it becomes a global conversation starter, with users eagerly comparing their streaming habits with others. This shared experience solidifiesSpotify’s role as a connector and curator of personalized music experiences.

How Do You Use Visuals in Marketing?

Visuals aren’t just eye candy. They’re powerful tools for achieving your marketing objectives. Here’s your roadmap to success with visuals:

• Define your goals: What do you want your visuals to do? Is it increasing web traffic, enhancing brand awareness, or boosting sales? Clarity is everything when it comes to choosing the right formats.
• Understand your audience: What are your audience’s pain points and preferred digital spaces, and what kind of visuals resonate with them? Tailoring your approach will yield maximum impact.
• Build brand consistency: Every visual should feel like it undeniably belongs to your brand. Maintain a cohesive color palette, font choices, and overall aesthetic. Consistency builds recognition and trust.
• Choose wisely: Think of each visual type as having a specific superpower. Need to simplify a complex topic? Infographic. Want to be meme-able and get shares? GIF. Match the visual type to the goal.
• Know the rules: Each social platform has its own preferences and peculiarities. Research image size requirements, optimal video lengths, and what looks best on each platform.
• Quality matters: Sloppy visuals reflect poorly on your brand. Ensure that each visual is crafted with care, from resolution to framing, to maintain a professional appearance in all your marketing efforts.
• Analyze and optimize: Track your KPIs. Are your infographics driving traffic? Do your video demos increase sales? Use data to pinpoint what works, ditch what doesn’t, and refine your strategy over time.

Download our checklist for clear guidance on which content types and platforms to use for common content goals.  

How to Craft Your Visual Content: Tools, Tips, and Tactics

Below, we’ll break down tools and tactics that will help you bring content to life.

Integrating visual content marketing into your marketing mix

Here are some tips for strategically integrating visuals and making maximum impact:

• Repurpose: An effective way to extend the life and value of your visual content is through repurposing. One impressive infographic can become multiple social media posts, a blog header, and a slide for a presentation. This approach maximizes your investment and ensures consistency across different platforms. Think creatively to get the most mileage from your best content.
• Your website is home base: It’s your brand’s online storefront. Optimize visuals for your website to improve user experience, boost SEO, and drive conversions. Make sure visuals on your website are optimized for fast loading, appropriately tagged for SEO, and aesthetically aligned with your brand identity.
• Don’t forget email: Email marketing works best when it has visual oomph. Break up text with eye-catching images, GIFs, and short videos relevant to your customer base.

Choose the right tools for effective visual content marketing

No matter your skill level or budget, there are visual content creation tools you can use to bring your creative vision to life.

Canva

• Pros: User-friendly with tons of templates and a wide range of content types, even with the free version. AI tools make complex design features accessible to amateurs. 
• Cons: Limited customization options, although paid plans unlock more elements and features
• Best for: Anyone focused on social media graphics, simple infographics, and presentations. It’s also particularly useful for marketers and business owners who need to produce attractive visual content quickly and without extensive design training.

Adobe Creative Cloud

• Pros: Gold standard in the industry with unmatched creative control, customization, and polish
• Cons: Expensive with a steep learning curve, which can be overkill if you don’t require the full suite of programs
• Best for: Professional designers and those needing advanced image-editing capabilities. It’s the go-to choice for high-end content creation that demands meticulous detail and complex compositions.

Piktochart

• Pros: Infographic-specific templates and tools make it much easier than starting from scratch with design software.
• Cons: Designs can feel template-y and it’s limited to infographics and data visualization.
• Best for: People who create infographics regularly but don’t have professional graphic design skills

Lumen5

• Pros: Turns text into videos quickly, and good for repurposing blog posts and creating shareable social clips
• Cons: Limited customization options, free version has a watermark, and some features are paywalled
• Best for: Content creators who want simple video creation for social media — ideal when speed is key

Imagery evokes feelings that can get lost with words. Use these tools to make visual content that builds trust, makes your brand relatable, and builds a community around your brand.

Leverage visual content for brand amplification 

Imagery is an impressive tool for brand amplification. Think of your logo, colors, and overall visual style as your brand’s uniform. When those elements are consistent across your visual content messaging, they become instantly recognizable signatures that identify all communications as distinctly yours. Recognition equates to trust over time, positioning you as a leader in your space. 

In a world overflowing with information, strong visuals help you stand out, build meaningful connections, and leave a lasting mark on your audience.

The Creation Process: DIY vs. Professional Visual Content

Do you go the DIY route or outsource to professional designers? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Here’s how to decide what’s right for your brand:

• DIY pros: Budget-friendly, full creative control, and ideal for making simple visuals
• DIY cons: Requires time investment, potential for less-polished results, and possible steep learning curve. This could become a drawback if your team already has a full workload.
• Outsourcing pros: High-quality outcomes and access to specialized skill sets, freeing up your time
• Outsourcing cons: More expensive, with potential for miscommunication if you don’t have clear brand guidelines and expectations. Relying on external resources might also lead to delays or challenges in project timelines if not managed properly.

Find a balance that works for you. Consider your budget, resources, visual content needs, and internal skill sets when making this call. Also keep in mind that you can mix and match, handling some things in-house and outsourcing big ticket projects.

How Do You Measure the Success of Visual Content?

Measuring visual content effectiveness gives you the power to optimize your strategy and achieve your business objectives. By tracking specific metrics, you can gather insights into how your visuals are performing and make informed decisions to enhance their impact.

Metrics to track include:

• Engagement: Likes, comments, shares, and saves
  
• Reach and impressions: How many people see your content?
  
• Website traffic: Click-throughs from visuals to your site
  
• Conversions: Did visual content contribute to sales/leads?
  

Say a fashion brand notices its product demo videos get significantly more shares and website clicks than static product photos. This insight tells them to allocate more resources to creating video content, ultimately driving better results.

Your Visual Content Marketing Strategy

Your visuals are competing for people’s attention in a crowded space. Generic content gets ignored, while standout visuals make people stop scrolling and engage. 

For your visual marketing strategy to be effective, you need to know your audience inside and out. What grabs their attention? What makes them stop and think? Use visuals to tell your brand story in a way that connects authentically and resonates deeply. Do this well, and your visuals will build instant recognition and help you achieve your goals.

This guide has armed you with the tools and knowledge to take your visual content to the next level. Experiment, analyze results, and let your audience show you what works best. With solid strategy and a dash of creative flair, visuals can tell your unique story and propel your brand forward.

The post Visual Content Marketing appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

AI is a powerful tool for rapidly generating words and ideas. However, speed and efficiency aren’t everything. A skilled writer’s touch transforms AI outputs into meaningful, authentic stories that resonate with real people. Without human touch, you risk your articles risk becoming mere echoes in the digital void. 

Below, we outline 10 actionable techniques that breathe life into AI-generated text.

What Is AI-Generated Content?

AI-generated content is any text, image, or video created by artificial intelligence systems. 

AI writing assistants are like inexperienced writing apprentices. They can research topics, draft outlines, and write at speed. Just as a junior writer demonstrates raw talent but needs constant guidance, AI-generated content requires an expert touch. Left to its own devices, an AI writing assistant may pepper content with misinformation and telltale signs of AI-generated text.

Human insight, careful editing, and creative storytelling transform AI drafts into content that feels genuine and inspires action. 

Check out our article on the top 10 AI content creation tools.

Why is so much AI content bland and detached?

Large language models,  such as ChatGPT, are nifty tools, but they have limitations. One of the most glaring problems with AI-generated content is a bland and generic voice and tone. 

Here are a few reasons why engaging AI content remains elusive:

• Reliance on patterns: These tools learn from vast amounts of existing text. As such, they tend to generate content that’s distinctly average, lacking a unique spark and individual voice. This also means telltale words, phrases, and structural patterns show up in its output. 
• Lack of nuance: AI-generated text can’t capture the subtle complexities of human emotion, humor, and persuasion. As such, the basic text it generates feels generic and uninspiring.
• Missing context and factual errors: LLMs don’t possess real-world knowledge and can’t put themselves into the shoes of your target audience. Without these elements, output often misses the mark and contains random factual errors. Oh, and LLMs double down on mistakes instead of owning up to them — so you can’t use AI to fact-check itself.
• Difficulty with originality: AI remixes existing information. To pique an audience’s interest, content needs fresh insights, expert perspectives, and a human-crafted narrative.

Recognizing these shortcomings is the first step to knowing how to humanize AI text.

Why Do I Need to Humanize AI Text?

You should humanize AI text because your content won’t rank on search engines otherwise. AI can generate content quickly, but that doesn’t equate to quality. Google prioritizes articles that are helpful, authoritative, and informative for users. Content that’s low-effort or designed to trick search engines will be banished to obscurity as spam. 

Since Google’s helpful content update, it’s become necessary to create content that fills knowledge gaps and provides web users with value.

To ensure your content achieves its goals, consider these key points:

• User-first content: You have to focus on the readers’ needs to write something compelling. That means conducting deep research so you can solve problems, answer questions, and provide value. AI struggles to achieve this depth without expert input. 
• Search engine alignment: Google and other search engines aim to connect users with the best possible answers. Superficial, low-effort, and repetitive content — AI- or human-generated — won’t rank well.

What makes human writing unique and relatable?

Human beings are driven by emotion, and emotion is the magic marketing ingredient that sparks connection. Without emotional experience to draw from, AI struggles to produce authentic content.

Let’s explore why human oversight remains essential for crafting content that connects:

• Empathy: Humans intuitively grasp the nuances of emotion, allowing them to write with a warmth and understanding that resonates on a deeper level. AI systems may analyze sentiment, but they can’t replicate the genuine feeling that builds trust with a reader.
• Context: People bring a lifetime of experiences and knowledge to their writing. This allows them to precisely tailor content and address real challenges while catering to cultural nuances and the target audience’s needs.
• Originality: Ideas are derived from unique perspectives. AI may recombine existing information, but true originality comes from the human ability to think creatively and develop fresh insights.
• Storytelling: Human beings are natural storytellers who craft narratives that captivate and persuade. AI may follow basic structural forms, but it’s the human ability to weave emotion, surprise, and take readers on a journey that moves audiences.

How to Humanize AI Content 

The human touch remains essential to creating exceptional content that resonates with your audience. Success lies in transforming those initial AI outputs into content that feels uniquely yours.

Here’s a roadmap for infusing your AI-generated drafts with the emotional depth and authenticity readers crave.

1. Leverage AI for research and drafting — not publishing

AI excels at the legwork of content creation, but it’s never publish-ready in its raw form. It can sift through information, identify trends, and provide a rough draft or framework. But remember, AI-generated drafts lack the critical analysis and creative spark that elevate content from informative to engaging. 

• Original analysis: Use AI-generated research as a foundation for your deeper research. Look into authoritative sources from the past year and use your industry knowledge to elevate the draft.
• Real-world examples: Connection is built on shared experiences and emotions. Weave in relatable examples, personal anecdotes, or a compelling narrative arc to make content unforgettable.

Assess AI-generated information for accuracy and bias and fill it with unique, expert insights. It’s down to you to shape the final piece so it resonates with your audience. AI is a tool that accelerates the workflow, not a replacement for your mastery.

2. Learn how to prompt AI like a pro

Transform your AI output by injecting details about your audience into prompts. Your prompts have the power to program emotional intelligence into your AI assistant. The better you understand and specify your reader’s pain points and desires, the more likely your AI-generated text will connect with them.

Here’s how to guide your AI assistant:

• Tell it about the reader’s aspirations: What does your audience hope to become? How do they want to feel?
• Example: “Write a blog post that inspires amateur bakers to feel confident tackling their first layer cake, emphasizing the joy of the process.”
• Acknowledge vulnerabilities: Explain readers’ fears or insecurities so the AI can generate content that speaks directly to them, making them feel seen and understood.
• Example: “Write a social media post acknowledging the anxieties of jobseekers, providing practical tips to boost their confidence.”
• Use vivid imagery: Sensory details help the AI understand you’re seeking a response that demonstrates empathy and detail.
• Example: “Describe a decluttered workspace to help the reader envision the sense of calm and focus it brings.”

3. Cut the fluff

AI tools are prone to producing text that feels overly wordy, with redundant words and phrases. Creating impactful content means sharpening your editing skills. Content writing should be concise, focused, and packed with value for your reader.

Here’s how to identify filler:

• Empty phrases: Look for words or phrases that add no real meaning, such as “at the end of the day” or “in order to.” Cut these ruthlessly.
• Rambling sentences: If a sentence takes too long to get to the point, break it into shorter, more powerful ones.
• Repeated words: AI gets attached to certain words. Examples include “specific,” “dive in,” “delve,” “it’s about,” and “meticulous.” Just as you’d make sure your content uses fresh vocabulary throughout, you must edit AI-generated copy for repetition.
• Redundancy: Does your text repeat the same concept in different ways? Consolidate for clarity.

Why conciseness matters

Here’s why you should avoid unnecessary wordiness and repetition:

• Engagement: People are busy. Get to the point quickly to hold their attention.
• Clarity: Filler words and phrases obscure your core message, and eliminating them makes your writing more powerful.
• SEO: Search engines favor clear, focused content. Editing out fluff can improve your rankings.

Every word should earn its place. When editing AI-generated text, be merciless about cutting anything that doesn’t serve your audience or your core message.

4. Embrace storytelling

Facts and figures inform, but stories invoke emotions and inspire relatability. Even the most cutting-edge AI tool can’t compete with the age-old tradition of storytelling. 

Imagine your article as a journey. Instead of listing features, guide your readers through and paint a picture they can put themselves into. 

Here’s how to unlock the power of storytelling:

• Anecdotes: Use brief, relatable stories that illustrate the pain point your content tackles.
• The hero’s journey: Even in short content, you can create a sense of transformation. Frame your reader as the hero, overcoming a challenge with the help of your product, service, or resource.
• Sensory details: Engage the reader’s senses with vivid descriptions. This immerses them in the narrative so they feel part of something bigger.

Stories matter because they create an emotional bond between the reader and your content.

Thanks to the connection between memory and emotion, narratives are more likely to stick in a reader’s mind than plain facts and figures. Put simply, when readers are emotionally invested, they’re more likely to take the desired action.

Turning facts and figures into stories 

Let’s look at some examples of turning facts and figures into stories. 

Example 1: Product feature to story

Factual statement: Our software offers real-time collaboration features.

Story: Ever felt the frustration of endless email chains and conflicting edits? With our tool, your team sees the same document, updates appear instantly, and ideas flow effortlessly. That’s the power of real-time collaboration.

Example 2: Statistical data to story

Factual statement: Studies show customers prefer self-service options for simple questions. That’s why you should invest in our AI chatbot. 

Story: Put yourself in a tired customer’s shoes, late at night, searching for a quick answer. They don’t want to sift through long help articles or leave a voicemail. An intuitive chatbot guides them to the solution in minutes, capturing the lead and building trust and loyalty. What’s more, studies show customers prefer self-service options for simple questions. Who doesn’t love convenience?

Storytelling is an age-old superpower. Use it to inject your AI-generated content with the magic that makes it unforgettable.

5. Prioritize emotional intelligence and use active voice

Emotional intelligence in writing goes beyond acknowledging a reader’s feelings. It means empathizing with the deeper aspirations and feelings driving their behavior.

AI excels at analyzing patterns and generating language. But it can’t truly grasp the power of an active writing style. It’s down to you to ensure it demonstrates emotional intelligence.

Along with emotional depth, an active voice makes your writing more dynamic and engaging. Instead of blandly stating what happened, active voice puts the focus on who or what is driving the action. This creates a sense of immediacy and places the reader closer to the heart of your content. 

Here’s an example of active vs. passive voice:

• Passive voice: The phone was answered promptly.
• Active voice: Sarah promptly answered the phone.

The first one is bland and doesn’t inspire a reaction. It sounds like a complete and finite statement. However, placing “Sarah” in an active position piques the reader’s curiosity. They may start asking questions and perhaps even making assumptions about her motivations. Once engaged, they want to keep reading and find out more.    

6. Capture your brand’s unique voice

Your brand has a unique personality. People should be able to recognize it the same way they’d recognize a trusted friend. LLMs generate text, but you need to tailor the content to align tone and voice with your brand identity.

Think of your brand voice as a filter all your content passes through. Is it playful and friendly, authoritative and informative, or bold and disruptive? 

Once you’ve clearly defined this voice, here’s how to integrate it with your AI tools:

• Training data: Feed your AI a curated selection of existing content that embodies your desired tone. For the best results, this should include a mix of blog posts, social media updates, and marketing copy.
• Fine-tuning: Many AI tools allow you to adjust settings or provide feedback to refine the output’s tone. Experiment until you achieve the desired balance.
• Word choice: Create a list of words and phrases that do and don’t fit your brand voice. Reference this list when editing your AI-generated content.

Tailoring tone for different audiences

While your core brand voice must remain consistent, subtle shifts in tone may make content resonate with certain audience segments. Consider:

• Formality: Technical audiences demand a more formal tone, while a casual demographic prefers something more conversational.
• Humor: When used sparingly and tastefully, humor is a powerhouse. That said, it must align with your brand personality and the audience’s expectations, or it will feel jarring and out of place.

7. Train AI to write like you

Training AI tools on your style encourages consistency across content outputs.

Think about your favorite author or influencer. You recognize their voice through their choice of words, mannerisms, and the themes they explore. Similarly, a distinct style in your content establishes a recognizable brand identity and keeps readers coming back for more.

AI content personalization works best if you use a single AI tool and have an established brand voice. Feed your AI with a curated selection of your writing, such as previous blog posts, articles, scripts, or social media captions. The more data you provide and the more specific your prompts, the better an AI writing assistant becomes at replicating your writing style.

8. Showcase your experience and expertise

AI can’t replace a subject-matter expert’s depth of knowledge and real-world experience. 

Expert collaboration levels up your content creation process. Working with an SME brings fresh perspectives, access to industry data, and the topical authority Google craves. This translates into accurate content that addresses your audience’s pain points and questions.

Let’s look at several ways to integrate expert knowledge:

• Interviews: In-depth interviews with SMEs allow you to tap into their experience and share it in an engaging, conversational format.
• Direct quotes: Even short, impactful quotes from experts add credibility and weight to your content.
• Guest authorship: Inviting SMEs to author or edit articles positions your brand as a hub for thought leadership.

Want to build trust and position yourself as a reliable authority in your field? Demonstrating expertise in your content is essential. When you feature expert voices, you let readers know you go the extra mile to provide them with well-sourced information. 

9. Include user-generated content 

User-generated content is the strongest form of community-building because it encourages your audience to interact directly with each other. 

Reviews, testimonials, social media comments, and photos of customers sporting your product or service showcase the value you deliver to real people. Social proof is powerful. It fosters trust in an environment where readers can be skeptical of polished marketing messages.

Want to learn more about user-generated content? Take a look at our article about UGC, with examples. 

10. Fact-check and AI-detect

AI-generated text is often full of inaccuracies and biases. Rigorous fact-checking is vital for maintaining the integrity of your content and keeping your audience’s trust.

Here are some strategies for fact-checking AI content:

• Identify the source: Always trace AI-generated information back to its original source. Evaluate the source’s credibility and double-check for potential biases.
  
• Cross-reference: Verify facts across multiple reliable websites, publications, or databases.
  
• Be skeptical: Approach AI output with skepticism, especially when it comes to complex or controversial topics.
  
• Use primary sources: Go directly to primary sources, such as research papers, government data, educational resources, and original expert interviews.

Utilizing AI detection tools to guarantee content accuracy

AI detection tools are still an evolving technology, but they can help identify potentially problematic content. They analyze text patterns to flag content likely to be AI-generated. While far from foolproof, they add an extra layer of protection. This signals your commitment to transparency with your audience.

Humanizing Your AI Content Journey 

AI writing techniques will continue to improve. For now, you have to know how to humanize AI content for it to stand out and rank in searches. Embracing storytelling, infusing content with brand voice, prioritizing emotional intelligence, and incorporating expert insights transform AI text.

The most effective content creators see AI as a powerful tool, not a replacement for their expertise and creativity. Following these strategies helps you unleash AI’s full potential. Use it to create content that ranks high and establishes your brand as a trusted voice in a crowded digital world.

Bridge the gap between technology and human connection. Discover how our copyediting services can transform your AI content into engaging narratives that delight target audiences and capture your brand’s unique voice.

The post How to Humanize AI Content appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

An effective user manual should not only be informative enough to reduce the need for additional support, but it should also be engaging so the readers have a positive experience while using it. Providing a well-designed user manual gives your customers confidence that they can use the product or service to its full potential with minimal frustration. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into the essential strategies and best practices for crafting user manuals that will be an invaluable asset to your audience. 

What Does a Good User Manual Look Like?

A high-quality user manual is crucial not only for facilitating the correct use of a product but also for enhancing user satisfaction and trust in a brand. Understanding the elements that contribute to a successful manual is essential for crafting documents that truly meet the needs of end-users.

Key Features of an Effective Manual

An exceptional user manual is characterized by clarity, accessibility, and user-centric design. It should be comprehensive, yet concise, providing all the necessary information without overwhelming the reader. The language used must be accessible to a diverse audience, potentially including non-technical users. Effective manuals are often visually appealing as well, incorporating well-designed graphics that complement the text and improve understanding.

Understanding Your Audience: The Key to Effective User Manuals

The foundation of a successful user manual is a deep understanding of your target audience. Knowing not only who will need your manual but also who will use it is essential. Before even starting to create your user manual, identify the specific needs, challenges, and preferences of the individuals who will be using your product or service. Know your audience and create some customer personas for them. By gaining insights into their level of technical expertise, common pain points, and how they will use the manual, you can tailor the content to meet their unique requirements.

Identifying User Needs and Preferences

Conduct surveys, interviews, testing sessions, or focus groups to understand how your audience’s backgrounds, goals, and preferences affect how they interact with your product. These methods allow you to gather feedback directly from your audience. By gathering information from people who are actually using your product or service, you can identify areas that require more clarity or additional explanation. Incorporating this feedback into the user manual ensures that it addresses the most pressing concerns or questions your users are likely to have.

Incorporating User Feedback into Your Manual Design

The insights gathered from user feedback will shape the structure, language, and visuals of your manual. This valuable input provides a direct line into the minds of your target audience, allowing you to understand their perspectives, pain points, and needs.

If you have an existing user manual you are updating, user feedback can reveal areas where the current structure or flow of information is disjointed or confusing. User feedback can help you reorganize sections, adjust the order of topics, or add clearer transitions between concepts. User feedback can also let you know if certain explanations are too technical or if the tone is overly formal. Adapting the language can improve the manual’s readability..

Feedback on visuals, either where they’ll be needed or where they are missing in existing content, can be invaluable. Well-designed images, diagrams, and infographics provide a visual representation that complements and reinforces the written explanations, making it easier for users to understand and follow the information. 

Structuring Your Manual for Success

A well-structured user manual ensures a comfortable experience for your readers. A logical flow, clear headings, and an intuitive layout significantly enhances the manual’s usability. Begin by outlining the key sections and topics that need to be covered. Then, outline topics following a natural progression from basic information to more advanced concepts. Figure out what topics would benefit from images, diagrams, or illustrations. Create clear and descriptive headings to help users quickly locate the information they need. Consider incorporating a detailed table of contents and or an index to help users easily navigate to their topic of interest. 

Other things to think about are accessibility and cross-cultural communication. In today’s global marketplace, user manuals often need to be accessible to audiences with diverse cultural backgrounds and language proficiencies. Clear and intuitive images can be universally understandable, ensuring that instructions are understandable regardless of the user’s native tongue.

Follow accessibility standards to ensure the manual can be effectively used by individuals with diverse abilities and needs. This includes providing alternative formats such as large print and adequate visual contrast between backgrounds and text. 

Choosing the Right Format: Print vs. Digital

When it comes to format, both print and digital options have their strengths. Print manuals offer a tactile experience and can be easily referenced during hands-on tasks. Digital manuals provide the convenience of searchability and the ability to incorporate multimedia elements. In today’s world where digital options can be downloaded and printed out, it may not have to be an either-or decision. Printed manuals can have a QR code to enable users to access a digital version they can store on their computer. This can alleviate any concern over losing the printed document. And digital downloads can be made available for those who wish to print out a copy or store the digital version on their personal devices. 

Evaluate the pros and cons of print and digital formats to determine the most suitable option for your audience and product.  

Enhancing Manuals with Interactive Elements

As technology continues to evolve, using digital user manuals offers the opportunity to add interactive experiences. Explore innovative techniques, such as interactive digital manuals or augmented reality features, to create a more engaging and memorable experience for your users.

Interactive elements can also enhance accessibility. Using audio descriptions allows users to engage with the information in ways other than reading. Embedded video clips can help explain difficult concepts in a way that is potentially superior to a static illustration or diagram. Both audio descriptions and video clips can be invaluable for users with visual impairments. 

Additionally, following web accessibility guidelines like proper heading structures, descriptive alt text for images, and keyboard navigation support can make digital manuals more accessible to users with motor or cognitive disabilities. 

User Manual Outline Template

The product or service you offer will affect how long your manual outline will be. However, it is important to remember that the best manuals are comprehensive and in-depth. To help guide your manual creation process, consider the following outline as a starting point. .

• Introduction

• Product overview and description 
• List of components or items included
• Intended audience 
• How to use this manual 
• Safety information and warnings
• Product Overview

• Product specifications
• Key features and functionality
• Performance data
• Diagrams of main features
• Distinguishing between different makes or models
• Overview of different configurations

• Getting Started
• Operations

• Safety
• Basic use

• Advanced Features
• Maintenance and Care
• Troubleshooting
• Support and Additional Resources
• Appendices

• FAQs
• Technical specifications
• Glossary of terms
• Regulatory and compliance information
• Repair information

While this template provides a solid foundation, crafting a truly comprehensive and user-friendly manual often requires a lot of time and expertise. Professional technical writing services can help streamline the process, ensuring that your manual is thoroughly researched, well-structured, and tailored to your audience’s needs.

Writing Clear and Engaging Content

The language and writing style employed in your user manual can make or break its effectiveness. Clarity, conciseness, and the ability to engage and instruct simultaneously are paramount. After all, the purpose of a user manual is to explain a concept in a way that anyone reading the manual can understand. Strive for simplicity by using plain language and avoiding technical jargon or long sentences. Break down complex concepts into small, digestible chunks. 

The Art of Technical Writing: Tips for Clarity and Precision

Here are some writing tips for ensuring clarity and precision when creating user manuals or other technical documentation.

Active vs. passive voice

Use an active voice to create a more direct and engaging tone. Active voice is usually clearer and more direct and usually makes sentences more concise and straightforward. Active voice phrases like “Press the button” or “Insert the cable” clearly convey the action the user needs to take. Passive voice can make sentences longer and more convoluted. Consider this example: 

Active: Insert the cable. 

Passive: The cable should be inserted.

Active voice is generally more user-friendly when it is explaining action.

Be concise

Don’t use more words than necessary. Stick to brief, straightforward sentences.

Break up complex information

Break multi-step processes or complex concepts into small and easy-to-digest chunks. 

Be consistent 

Once you introduce a term, such as the name of a button or menu option, use that same term consistently throughout your document. If you are using icons, be consistent in how and what is represented with the icons.

Use numbered/bulleted lists

Lists with numbers and bullets are scannable. Clear numbering or bullet points makes sequences of steps much easier to follow. 

Be descriptive

Use specific, descriptive details, quantities, names, etc. Vague language like “place it in the box” can be confusing. Instead, say what “it” is. For instance, “place the filled and sealed envelope in the box.”

Define terms

If you are using any specialized terminology, provide clear definitions when the terms are used.

Incorporate Visuals and Design Elements

Visual elements play a crucial role in enhancing the comprehension and usability of user manuals. Effective use of images, diagrams, icons, and other visual aids can help users better understand and follow instructions.

Designing with the User in Mind: Visuals That Teach

When selecting visuals, ensure that images and diagrams are legible and readable even in smaller print sizes. Ensure they accurately depict the subject matter. They should also be properly labeled or captioned so they match how the illustrations are referenced within the text. Choose typography with a high level of readability and stick to just one font for visual continuity. 

Leveraging Technology for Next-Level Visual Instructions 

Digital manuals offer the flexibility to incorporate interactive elements that enhance usability and engagement. Features such as clickable navigation menus or pop-up definitions can provide users with on-demand access to additional information or visual aids. Consider adding features such as guided walkthroughs that take users through an experience in an immersive way, allowing for practice or hands-on experience.

Augmented reality technology opens up exciting possibilities for user manuals. By overlaying digital information onto the real-world environment, AR can provide users with context-specific instructions or visual cues directly related to the product or task at hand. For example, an AR-enabled manual can allow users to point their device’s camera at a specific component, triggering the display of step-by-step instructions, animations, or diagrams. 

Testing and Refining Your Manual

Even after meticulous planning and execution, user testing and iterative refinement are crucial steps in ensuring the effectiveness of your manual. Gathering feedback from actual users can help identify areas that require further clarification, highlight missed opportunities, and ultimately lead to a more user-friendly and comprehensive manual.

Gathering and Implementing User Feedback

Consider conducting pilot tests or user acceptance testing sessions. These sessions are opportunities for individuals from your target audience to actually interact with the manual and provide honest feedback. Closely observe how they move through the manual and note any areas of confusion or frustration. Do they flip back and forth between pages to find information? Are they able to successfully complete the task just by reading the manual? Their feedback will give you valuable information about any areas ripe for improvement.

Iterative Design: Refining Your Manual for Perfection

Embrace the idea that your manual will likely not be something that is written once and then done for all time. Instead, take an iterative approach to manual design and recognize that it will need continuous refinement. Aside from product updates or new versions, updating a user manual may also be necessary to stay in compliance with new regulations or standards or to incorporate new technologies or formats.  

Elevating User Experience with Effective Manuals

Creating a user manual that is truly useful for your audience is an important endeavor that will be rewarding for your business. When you understand what your audience needs, you can structure the user manual in a way that provides a valuable resource for them and reduces the need for more customer service interactions down the road. Craft your user manual so that the instructions make sense, the flow is logical, and anyone can pick it up and understand how to get the most out of your product. 

If you find the process of creating a detailed user manual from scratch overwhelming or lack the time and resources to dedicate to it, consider leveraging professional technical writing services. Our team of experienced writers and editors can work with you to understand your product and audience, conduct research, and craft a user manual that not only informs but also engages your users. We also offer manual editing and refreshing services, allowing you to provide an initial draft that we can refine and polish.

The post How to Write a User Manual Your Users Will Love appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

AI isn’t here to steal your creative thunder; it’s a secret weapon you can use to brainstorm fresh angles, conduct deeper research, and refine your writing with precision. In today’s digital marketing battleground, understanding AI-powered content creation isn’t just a clever move — it’s a necessity. 

Savvy marketers are already using AI to unlock new levels of efficiency and transform their workflows. But like any powerful tool, AI has a learning curve. Understanding how to navigate its complexities is key to harnessing its power and staying at the top of your game.

The Evolution of AI for Content Creation

The evolution of AI in content creation was slow and steady until the turn of the millennium, when technological advancement suddenly skyrocketed. The idea of AI might feel cutting-edge today, but the groundwork has been laid for decades. 

Let’s break down the key milestones:

• Early days (1950s-1990s): The foundation for AI was initially laid with Alan Turing’s 1950 paper, Computing Machinery and Intelligence, and the development of Eliza, a rudimentary chatbot. Basic spell-checkers and grammar tools later hinted at AI’s potential.
• Natural language processing (NLP) advances (2000s): Significant strides in NLP led to more sophisticated language understanding for AI. This paved the way for tools offering summarization, synonym suggestions, and basic sentence structuring assistance.
• The rise of large language models (LLMs) (2010s-present): Google developed transformers in 2017 and revolutionized NLP. LLMs such as OpenAI’s GPT-3 emerged around 2020, demonstrating impressive language generation, translation, and content optimization capabilities.

These days, AI isn’t just about automating small tasks. It can partner with you at every stage of the content creation process, including research, ideation, writing, and refinement. And the pace of innovation shows no signs of slowing down, with new tools coming out each year.

AI Tools for Enhancing Content

Deadlines loom, and you’re buzzing with ideas. What if you had a digital assistant to kick-start creative flow, streamline research, and polish prose until it shines?

That’s the power of AI-powered content creation tools. Actually, they’re more like content enhancement tools at the moment. They aren’t going to write your viral blog post with the click of a button, but they are valuable partners in your content journey. 

Gemini

Gemini scouts out competitor content, locates authoritative sources, and highlights gaps for you to fill with insightful and original copy. 

When you’re done writing an article, paste it into Gemini and specify areas you’d like it to analyze. It offers suggestions for improvement and tells you what you’ve aced. Detailed and specific prompts always inspire the best outcomes.  

SEO evangelist, George Varkey, shares his Gemini prompt for brainstorming content ideas.

What it does best: Research and analysis

We’ve all been there. Drowning in tabs and buried in PDFs, trying to piece together the big picture. Gemini does the heavy lifting — well, part of it. Asking it to do research on your behalf is risky, as it’s prone to hallucinations. 

However, it can summarize studies, web pages, and posts that would take you hours to read yourself. It can also analyze vast data sets to reveal hidden connections and patterns that might have slipped past you, giving your content a strategic edge.

How does Gemini compare to Google Search? 

Sure, Google Search is a knowledge powerhouse. But it’s similar to a massive, unorganized library. Gemini is your personal research assistant within that library. It fetches the right books, summarizes key sections, and highlights critical insights.  

Copy.ai

Copy.ai is a go-to tool for short, punchy content creation. Think marketing slogans, snappy social media posts, and persuasive product descriptions. Need fresh angles for an ad campaign? Copy.ai brainstorms ideas, suggests catchy headlines, and helps you achieve the right tone. Plus, it can whip up basic research summaries to get you started.

Don’t expect it to write your next thought-leadership article, though. Accuracy is hit-or-miss, and you’ll need to think carefully about plagiarism. Tech Report’s William Baxter offers some crucial advice:

What it does best: Content inspiration 

Copy.ai excels at generating a flurry of ideas quickly. Its strength lies in its ability to generate creative variations, helping you break out of a rut or find the perfect word choice. It’s your brainstorming buddy, always ready to bounce ideas around.

How does Copy.ai compare to CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer?

While a headline analyzer scores your headline and recommends improvements, Copy.ai does the whole thing for you. It helps you craft short-form content pieces and offers research assistance.

Grammarly

Grammarly hunts down typos, suggests word replacements, and flags potential grammatical errors. Plus, it analyzes tone and overall clarity. Need feedback on a draft’s readability? Grammarly has your back. However, don’t rely on it to catch complex factual errors, offer creative ideas, or help structure your content strategy.

What it does best: Helps you catch spelling, grammar, and awkward phrasing

Grammarly excels at boosting the clarity and correctness of your writing. The tool is particularly adept at catching the sneaky typos and awkward phrasing that tends to slip past human eyes. Each week, it gives you a report with insights into your writing that you can use to improve your writing in the future. 

How does Grammarly compare to spell-check?

Grammarly is like Windows spell check on steroids. The premium version can even help you find weak adjectives and better alternatives. This type of feature helps you improve as a writer over time. 

Can LLMs check for grammar and spelling?

Keep in mind that even advanced LLMs, such as ChatGPT and Gemini, aren’t capable of reliable copy editing or grammar checking. While they can give you an overall analysis of your content’s grammar, style, and punctuation, they can’t do what Grammarly does.

For example, if you ask Gemini to fix your punctuation and grammar, it will likely give you a more concise version of what you wrote. However, it probably won’t make sense.

You’ll notice it has amended the text a little but hasn’t added anything in terms of grammar. In fact, it’s taken two sentences and joined them together into one giant mega-sentence.  

Always double-check facts, figures, and everything else in AI-generated content. Accuracy is crucial for maintaining trust. Without your human spark, content won’t demonstrate E-E-A-T, and Google will consider it spam — yes, even if it was written by Google’s own Gemini. If you become overly reliant on AI for content creation, expect your engagement metrics to fall drastically. 

Engage Your Audience With AI Personalization Tools 

Through analysis of your audience’s preferences and behaviors, AI personalization tools help you craft content that feels tailor-made, leading to deeper engagement and stronger connections.

Albert.ai

Albert.ai is an autonomous AI marketing strategist, specializing in personalized content and ad campaigns. It analyzes vast swathes of customer data, identifying patterns and trends within your audience. Based on this, Albert.ai tweaks ad targeting, optimizes content delivery, and even suggests new content formats to maximize engagement.

That said, it requires a significant amount of data to function effectively, and setup can be complex for smaller businesses without dedicated tech support. It’s also incredibly expensive. 

What Albert.ai does best: Tailoring marketing efforts at scale

This tool excels at analyzing data to identify highly specific audience segments, and then dynamically adjusts content or bidding strategies across multiple platforms in real time.

How does Albert.ai compare to audience segmentation tools?

Albert.ai’s personalized ad campaign management is similar to the audience segmentation tools on platforms such as Mailchimp, but it has a broader reach and more advanced automation capabilities.

Although Albert.ai is a powerful tool, it still clearly reinforces the importance of human-AI collaboration.

Rytr

Rytr is a low-cost AI writing assistant that includes several personalization tools. It generates alternative text variations so you can test what resonates with different audiences. Impressively, the tool can rewrite content in various tones, such as formal or casual. 

What it does best: A/B testing 

Need to tailor social posts, emails, or ads for different audiences? Rytr quickly generates variations in your chosen tone, from formal to friendly. In turn, you can test which versions resonate best with your target audience. All in all, it’s an easy-to-use platform that introduces you to the benefits of AI content personalization, without any complex setup.

How does Rytr compare to Buffer’s A/B testing tools?

Rytr’s personalization features are comparable to Buffer’s A/B testing tools, allowing you to see how different word choices impact engagement.

As a writing assistant, it can also create content on your behalf. However, like any LLM, it generates basic, uninspired content that’s full of errors. Regie Njoki Kibugu’s example of what Rytr can do showcases its limitations as an actual writer:

Remember that Google indiscriminately flags low-effort content as spam. Even with the best intentions, it’s impossible to rank without expert writing, editing, and strategy guiding your efforts.   

Climb the SERPs Using AI Tools for SEO

While user intent has always been important, the latest upgrades to Google’s algorithms mean it’s now front and center. These AI-driven technologies have a deep understanding of context, signaling a shift toward more conversational content that directly answers users’ questions.

SurferSEO

SurferSEO is a powerful AI-based content optimization tool. 

Take a look at our in-depth review of SurferSEO to learn more about what it can do.

QuestionDB

QuestionDB is one of the best free AI tools for capturing user intent and turning it into content. Learn more about it in our AI tools for SEO article.   

What AI-driven SEO strategies can content creators adopt?

AI can help you analyze what competitors are ranking for, spot gaps you can fill with killer content, and suggest the best conversational keywords. What’s more, Google adores well-structured content that’s easy to navigate — AI tools can help you get the formatting just right. 

How is AI influencing SEO practices in content creation?

The influence of AI means analyzing search trends and understanding user intent should go way beyond keywords. It’s about deciphering what people truly need. AI can crunch enormous data sets, identifying patterns and subtle nuances in how people search. This reveals the questions they’re asking, the problems they’re trying to solve, and their emotional state.

Access to this type of information gives you a serious edge. Yes, you can optimize for high-traffic keywords, but that’s table stakes. To win at SEO and rank high on the SERPs, you must craft content that resonates deeply with your audience while aligning with search engines’ understanding of context. 

A Guide to Building Your AI Content Strategy

Integrating AI into your content strategy isn’t about replacing your existing processes. Instead, aim to strategically enhance them. Here’s how to strike the right balance:

• Start with goals: Don’t adopt AI for the sake of it. What specific bottlenecks does AI address? Are you aiming for faster ideation, deeper research, or more efficient editing? Define your goals to guide your tool selection.
• Choose wisely: Consider budget, team skills, and content needs. A powerhouse such as Albert.ai is overkill for a small blog, while Rytr lacks the depth required for in-depth articles. 
• The human touch: AI is a powerful teammate, not a replacement for your team — unless you’re prepared to significantly increase your own workload. Use AI for its strengths, such as data analysis, content ideation, and creating content briefs. Leave strategy finessing, nuanced understanding, and consistent brand voice to human experts.
• Do and learn: AI and content landscapes evolve rapidly. Regularly reassess how your tools are performing against your goals. Don’t be afraid to experiment and keep looking for new solutions.

Innovative approaches to using AI for content planning

Beyond efficiency gains and research assistance, AI unlocks novel possibilities for content planning.

• AI-assisted content briefs: You’re juggling multiple clients and projects as a content agency. AI tools can analyze a client’s existing content, competitors, and target audience. This provides a strong foundation for content briefs. Add your expertise and refine the brief, saving hours on research and strategy while leveling up your content game.
• Predictive analytics: Say you run a travel blog. AI tools can monitor trending destinations mentioned on social media and competitor websites. This gives you first dibs on emerging hotspots, positioning you to create timely content with a better chance of ranking high on the SERPs.
• Hyper-personalization: AI tracks user interactions, identifying their areas of interest. Using that intel, you can suggest personalized content journeys and strategically show relevant articles, videos, and resources, deepening their engagement on your site.
• Repurposing with a twist: You’ve written a comprehensive industry report for your tech company. AI can break it down into digestible, catchy social media posts, create explanatory infographics, and even generate a basic webinar script.

AI Will Continue to Transform Content

Technology keeps marching forward. Don’t get left in the dust. It’s time to experiment, adapt, and harness the power of AI to elevate your content. 

Sign up for our newsletter so you can stay updated on AI’s impact on content creation and tap into the resources and ideas you need to thrive in the age of AI-powered content.

The post How to Use AI for Content Creation appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Today’s AI landing page creation tools leverage emerging artificial intelligence tech to significantly speed up the process of producing stunning pages, saving you time and effort in the process. They also make your production routine more efficient by reducing the potential for human error and bridging any possible design or copywriting limitations. 

The individual benefits AI landing page builders bring to the table vary from tool to tool, but some key examples to keep in mind include:

• Features like A/B testing tools to optimize layouts and smart copywriting assistants to craft compelling headlines and CTAs
• Help creating or fine-tuning written copy
• Seamless integration with your existing digital marketing stack
  

Whether or not you decide to make AI part of your ongoing strategy, making multiple landing pages part of the mix is always advisable. Doing so significantly boosts search engine visibility while giving your conversion rates wings, and using AI wisely is one way to take the hassle and tedium out of the process.

However, it’s also crucial to understand that while AI tools like landing page builders are genuine game-changers, they should always be approached as tools. Even the best AI-generated content requires a round of human-powered editing, fact-checking, and polishing to ensure accuracy, proper brand messaging, and alignment with your long-term business goals.

Why AI Landing Page Builders Are Game-Changers

Putting together even one high-converting landing page that successfully drives traffic and converts visitors frequently takes hours, even for experienced marketers. Producing multiple pages, each as efficient as the last, naturally takes even longer. 

Today’s cutting-edge AI technology streamlines this process by speeding it up, removing the guesswork, and saving you a fortune in time and money. Here are some key examples of how.

Automation

As any experienced digital marketing professional already knows, automating repetitive tasks changes the game entirely. An AI landing page builder saves you time and reduces the likelihood of human error by automating tasks like image optimization, filling pages with content, swiftly inserting keywords, etc.

Effective personalization

In 2024, audiences expect more from the content they consume than thin, generic information, landing pages included. They want relevant, personalized content that feels on-target when it comes to their needs and goals. AI builders bridge this gap by analyzing user behavior and suggesting appropriate improvements.

Dynamic variations

The more landing pages your campaign calls for, the harder it becomes to keep each one as distinctive and engaging as all the others. AI helps facilitate the different variations on a theme that you need for your campaign to be truly successful.

Improved efficiency

Whether you’re working solo or with an entire marketing team, the right AI tools fill in the gaps in expertise. They allow you to create high-performance landing pages without needing specialized skills in design, copywriting and layout. You can achieve awesome results without being a design or marketing expert.

Helpful insights

AI page builders often offer users additional insights into each page’s efficiency. Instead of crossing your fingers, publishing your page, and hoping for the best, these tools offer predictive analytics and performance suggestions to help you optimize future performance.

Naturally, it’s not impossible to create high-conversion landing pages without AI. But adding AI to your workflow can make it easier to accurately personalize your user experience and make your pages more engaging. When brands make consumers feel valued and understood, they earn sales and win customers.

Top AI Landing Page Builders on the Market

AI is red hot in 2024, and getting hotter by the second. As a result, there are numerous page builders and helpful tools on the market today, making it tough to choose the right option for you. Check out our comprehensive AI landing page software comparison round-up below for a closer look at some of today’s best, most widely trusted options.

Sitekick

Superlative

Best for businesses of all types and sizes

Intro to the builder

Sitekick’s biggest claims to fame are its speed and versatility. Designed to serve businesses of various sizes and types, Sitekick leverages cutting-edge automation tech to produce stunning landing pages that are both aesthetically pleasing and fully optimized with conversions in mind.

Pros and cons

Sitekick’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to customize the tool to suit your needs. You can customize your dashboard and analytics tools to better match your business goals and preferences. It also integrates seamlessly with popular platforms like Mailchimp, Google Analytics, Shopify, and WordPress.

However, some users report having issues using Sitekick on older devices or with niche browsers. It’s also less focused on key digital marketing factors like SEO, website accessibility, and website performance than other options may be, so you’ll want to adopt additional measures to cover those bases.

Special features

What features set Sitekick apart from the rest of the options out there? Let us count the ways:

• One-click landing page creation lets you create your next page in just seconds.
• Conversion is front and center thanks to high-performance design, development, and copywriting options.
• Sitekick users get ongoing access to DALL-E 3, which means endless original AI-generated images that are just right for your pages.
• Integrated AI is the result of high-level training on over 1,000 top-performing landing pages for maximum results.

Pricing

At the time of this posting, there isn’t a free trial available. However, Sitekick offers three different pricing tiers, the better to suit a wide range of businesses. Monthly rates come in at $20 for the Basic package, $49 for Pro, and $99 for Agency.

What we’ve heard

“Sitekick has helped me save time and money,” says Andy Matthews of Nicely Network. “I’m able to quickly build great-looking, conversion-focused landing pages with just a few clicks of the mouse!”

Use case and best practices

Sitekick’s interface is fairly foolproof, even if you have little experience creating landing pages. Additionally, you can maximize the quality of your initial results by accurately describing your product or service in detail. It’s also a good idea to further polish and refine your copy via a human touch to ensure accuracy, tone, and flow.

Headlime

Superlative

Best for easy customization

Intro to the builder

Featuring a user-friendly drag-and-drop system, Headlime is a solid choice for would-be landing page designers who want to create genuinely unique landing pages regardless of their skill level. Think hundreds of pre-built templates, stunning fonts, and unique features to help your page stand out.

Pros and cons

Headlime goes beyond simply helping you generate compelling copy with AI to fully integrating it into an optimized HTML template. The extensive range of available templates and customization options takes the guesswork out of helping your pages look sleek, original, and unique. You can also try Headlime out for free when you sign up for a trial.

One possible drawback is that Headlime operates on a credit-based system for individuals and smaller businesses, which may not suit everyone. There are also only two tier options to choose from with a significant price difference between them.

Special features

What features help Headlime stand out and make it a particularly solid choice? Here are some examples:

• A streamlined algorithm-based interface ensures all generated copy is properly personalized to suit your audience.
• The highly user-friendly editor lets you drag and drop various elements to create unique designs, choose from a wide range of colors, select unique fonts, etc.
• Headlime’s AI is designed with conversion in mind.
• The page builder is ultra-fast, choosing and optimizing ideal templates based on the provided product description in just seconds.
• Besides the landing page builder, Headlime offers a document generator and an AI blog assistant.

Pricing

Headlime offers two different user tier packages — the individual package for $59 per month or the business package which scales starting at $399 per month based on number of users. You can try either package on for size before committing via a free trial, with no credit card necessary.

What we’ve heard

“A fantastic little gem,” says speaker and author Robin Good regarding his Headlime experience. “It truly does what it promises.”

Use case and best practices

Headlime isn’t just great at taking the hassle out of generating beautiful, effective web pages in instants. It can also help you give important portions of your content some pop. Be sure to try out the headline generation option for some eye-catching ideas, as well as all of the customization choices.

Unbounce

Superlative

Best for boosting conversions

Intro to the builder

Unbounce is true to its name with a strong focus on maximizing conversions and lowering bounce rates. It accomplishes this by routing web visitors to the most appropriate of your landing pages for their needs. Features like personalized recommendations, popups, and sticky bars make the creation process easy, too.

Pros and cons

Unbounce is ideal for marketers looking to improve user experience (UX) thanks to features that ensure mobile responsiveness, a simple A/B testing option, and various personalization approaches. It also comes equipped with a suite of highly effective conversion tracking tools.

However, prospective users should be aware that split-testing options are only available via the higher tiers. There are also monthly conversion limits to consider. Some users report minor alignment issues between the standard and mobile versions of the builder, as well.

Special features

The following are just a few examples of features that set Unbounce apart for those looking to build fantastic landing pages with AI:

• You can easily create proven standout page features with Unbounce, including pop-ups, sticky bars, and similar options.
• Templates are industry-optimized to maximize results and make getting started easy.
• Dynamic text options let you adjust the copy of your landing pages to better match with the search terms that bring in visitors.
• A/B testing takes the guesswork out of improving your pages over time.
• Advanced copywriting tools let you expand and remix content, in addition to generating it.

Pricing

You can try Unbounce free for fourteen days, making it a great option for those looking for the best free AI landing page builders. From there, you can choose from four different pricing tiers. Monthly fees are $79 for the Build tier, $149 for the Experiment tier, $249 for the Optimize tier, and $649 for the Concierge tier.

What we’ve heard

Nick Heim of Hotjar reports a major jump in new users after integrating Unbounce into the company workflow. “We’re getting 60-70 new users per month as a result of Unbounce popups,” he says.

Use case and best practices

Get the most out of Unbounce’s exceptional potential for boosting conversions by taking full advantage of its customization tools. Creator recommendations guide you through the building process step by step, regardless of your skill level. Take advantage of the A/B testing feature to help ensure all of your pages are measuring up to their full potential.

Canva

Superlative

Best for builders who need a free option

Intro to the builder

Canva is a long-time favorite among bloggers, marketers, and content creators everywhere for its user-friendly selection of design tools. These include a free AI landing page builder that simplifies processes like building newsletter audiences or showcasing key products.

Pros and cons

Canva’s unparalleled popularity is largely due to its ease of use and low learning curve. Creating landing pages is simple, intuitive, and easy to facilitate via mobile devices, making it a great choice for content creators and marketers who frequently work this way. There are plenty of dynamic, beautiful design options to explore for various purposes, as well.

However, Canva may not be the best fit for marketers in search of an advanced SEO-forward option. There are also limits to what Canva can accomplish when it comes to important factors like web responsiveness and advanced optimization.

Special features

Thinking of giving Canva a shot at helping you generate your next collection of landing pages? Here’s a closer look at some of the key features you can look forward to exploring:

• Choose from a free catalog of thousands of customizable templates.
• You can easily use Canva to put together a stunning color palette based on any image — perfect for matching branded assets you already have.
• Canva is extremely share-friendly with lots of tools for exporting and distributing content.
• Access a wide range of free imagery, icons, graphics, and other visual assets with Canva.
• You can use Canva to customize tables, charts, and similar features with ease.

Pricing

Canva users have four different pricing tiers to consider. The first is the free tier, which is available to single users. When you’re ready to upgrade, monthly rates for additional tiers shake out to $14.99 for Canva Pro, $15.99 per person for Canva for Teams, and a case-by-case pricing system for Canva Enterprise.

What we’ve heard

“Canva has become our one-stop shop,” says Expedia Group’s own Molly Martin. “Just being able to be in one centralized place and grab a logo, photo, or template is incredible.”

Use case and best practices

Canva is terrific for creating landing pages that blend seamlessly into your ongoing approach to branding. Be sure to take advantage of options like the color palette creator to ensure your creations make it clear your brand is behind them. Experiment with additional features to add elements like video, vectors, icons, and textures for added creativity.

Writesonic

Superlative

Best for high-quality written copy and headlines

Intro to the builder

Marketers looking for an AI landing page builder that can handle copy like a champ are great candidates for Writesonic. Top-tier text-generation tools take the confusion out of generating options like dynamic headlines, calls-to-action, feature-benefit breakdowns, and pain point-focused copy.

Pros and cons

Writesonic is truly impressive when it comes to AI-generated copywriting. Not only can it help you generate amazing headlines, conversion-focused calls-to-action, and well-structured copy, but you can also adjust voice or style and seamlessly integrate target keywords into generated text. It’s also a great tool for content creation teams due to its collaborative features.

But as effective as Writesonic is on the copy front, it’s somewhat limited when it comes to other advanced editing features, especially as compared to other options on the market. Some users also say it has a steeper learning curve than average.

Special features

Need a closer look at some of the individual features that make Writesonic such a popular choice in 2024? Here are a few examples to consider:

• Writesonic guarantees 100% original content 
• It can create  everything from blog posts, to advertising copy and dynamic meta descriptions.
• Summaries are also easy to create, thanks to a one-click article summarizer feature.
• Need to adjust existing copy to better suit your needs? Try the text expander to flesh out or otherwise lengthen your copy.
• Choose from a wealth of content-generation templates designed for optimizing website copy, social media content, product descriptions, blog posts, standalone articles, and ads.

Pricing

Writesonic features a good range of usage tiers and pricing options, so there’s truly an option here for everyone. (Different tiers grant access to different Writesonic features.) There’s a free tier available for single users who’d like to try it on for size. Monthly fees for additional tiers are $15 for Chatsonic Pro, $20 for Individual, $30 for Teams, and custom case-by-case pricing for Enterprise.

What we’ve heard

Writesonic’s Wall of Love is full of testimonials from happy customers who love it. Verified Writesonic user Kevin Mooney loves the quality level of Writesonic’s output and says, “The AI sometimes generates better ideas and writes better than me.” Other users praise the product for its impeccable grammar, accuracy, and versatility.

Use case and best practices

Writesonic is best used to help out with copy-focused landing pages and features, like headlines, meta descriptions, basic blog posts, and advertising copy. It can also help with overcoming writer’s block andgenerating new content ideas. 

For best results, consider adding Writesonic to a broader workflow that also includes page design tools and professional copy editors who can help add a human touch to your content.

Take Your AI Landing Page Builder Results to the Next Level

In 2024, it’s safe to say that AI tools are more than just a fad or a passing trend. This is revolutionary technology capable of making brands and marketing teams significantly more productive while also helping them maximize creativity.

Top AI landing page builders like Sitekick, Headlime, and Writesonic help compensate for knowledge gaps and democratize the ability to create genuinely stunning landing pages that convert. Comparing AI landing page builder features and pricing before pulling the trigger on a purchase ensures a choice you’ll be happy with.

However, pages that rocket to the top of key search engine results pages (SERPs) should also pass through the hands of expert human copy editors to guarantee high quality, pinpoint accuracy, and consistent brand voice. The key to succeeding with AI isn’t to treat it as a replacement for human creativity but to leverage it to make talented human creators more productive.

Don’t have a full-time copy editor on the payroll? Let Crowd Content’s copy editing team take your AI-generated content and transform it into something absolutely unstoppable. Take the next step, learn more about our trusted copy editing services today, and treat your online presence to the polish it deserves.

The post What Are the Best AI Landing Page Builders on the Market in 2024? appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

What exactly is this essential tool? A content brief is a set of instructions that lays out what your team needs to accomplish with a piece of content. It outlines details such as objective, word count, keyword placement, formatting, and tone, all backed by solid audience research and data. Follow along as we show you how to create an effective brief to maximize the impact of your content strategy. We’ll also share a downloadable content brief template that you can customize for your own needs.

How to Write a Content Brief to Guide Content Creation

A content brief is like an instruction manual, summarizing the requirements for building each piece of content. Everyone on your team, including writers, editors, subject matter experts, SEO specialists, and designers, should be using this reference document to guide them in the content-production process.

It might feel like a time-consuming and unnecessary step; after all, can’t you just give your writer a topic and some keywords and call it a day? In our experience, the time spent building a content brief pays off handsomely down the line. You’ll get closer to your goals on the first draft while also ensuring your content strategy is properly implemented.

A thorough content brief:

• Establishes the goal of a piece
• Defines the target audience
• Ensures your content stays on brand
• Reduces uncertainty and time spent clarifying issues
• Summarizes important points to be covered
• Boosts productivity by allowing writers to focus on execution
• Reduces editing and the need for rewrites
• Speeds up approvals, because stakeholders have signed off on the brief
• Supports content outsourcing, allowing anyone to step in and immediately understand project requirements

Tools for content brief creation

You can accelerate the creation of your content briefs by leveraging some of the AI-powered tools on the market. These platforms automate tasks like keyword research, audience analysis, and ideation, freeing up your time to focus on storytelling, creativity, and ways to make your content stand out.

A few different tools are worth having at your fingertips:

• Content creation tools: AI content creation tools can help generate ideas for blog posts, develop outlines, and lay the groundwork for content briefs. The key to these platforms, however, is to use them as a launching pad. To make your final product unique, you’ll still need to take the time to customize your brief for your particular audience and business goals.
• SEO tools: Keyword research tools are critical for creating the content your audience is searching for. Use these platforms to generate keyword ideas, analyze competitor strategies, and clarify user intent. Some tools can also generate outlines and recommend target keywords, word count, and readability scores based on top-ranking pages.
• Audience analytics: Segment your audience to tailor your content more precisely. Google Analytics provides aggregate information on who’s visiting your website, where they’re located, and what their interests are. You can also see which pages they’re engaging with on your site — and which ones they’re not — to help you better address your audience’s needs and preferences. 
• Content brief generators: Platforms such as Thruuu and Keyword Insights analyze search result pages to generate briefs for your content. Use these to get a head start on your brief and supplement them with your own expertise and knowledge to ensure your content is valuable and unique and meets Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines.

Step 1: Define Your Project Goals

Now it’s time to write a content brief. The first stage of the process is to set your content marketing goals, which should be guided by the needs of your business.

Many brands use the SMART framework to clarify what they need to accomplish when setting goals. SMART stands for: 

• Specific: What do you want the content to achieve? Why does it matter?
• Measurable: What does success look like? Make sure it’s quantifiable.
• Attainable: Do you have the resources available to meet the goal?
• Relevant: Does the goal matter? Is it aligned with your brand’s priorities?
• Time-bound: What’s the time frame for achieving the goal?

You might decide your objective is to increase website traffic. Use the SMART framework to break down the goal and give yourself a clear sense of direction: 

• The specific goal is to increase website traffic by 20%.
• It will be measured through metrics such as keyword position, click-through rates, and traffic.
• It will be achieved by scaling the production of helpful, optimized blog content.
• The goal is relevant because it supports lead generation and revenue.
• The time frame for the goal is six months.

Realizing your goals through purpose-driven content

With your objectives in hand, determine the type of content needed to achieve them. Each piece of content should have a clear role in your overall strategy. 

Many businesses focus on blog posts, but you can use a variety of formats, depending on what you want to convey. We’ve highlighted some common content types below, organized by why you might use them for audience engagement.

Generating leads

• White papers
• E-books
• Blog posts
• Landing pages

Establishing authority

• Thought leadership
• Guest blogs

Building brand awareness

• Social media posts
• Informational blog posts
• Infographics

Retaining customers

• Product tips
• How-to guides
• Tutorials
• Email newsletters

Step 2: Identify Your Target Audience 

Your audience is at the heart of your content strategy — they’re the reason you craft and share content. They influence the type of content you create, the way you express your message, and the content distribution channels you use. Your content must be authentic and engaging. The more insight you have into your audience’s motivations and preferences, the better you can tailor your content.

Audiences aren’t uniform, so begin by segmenting them according to shared characteristics such as age, gender, location, or interests. You can then use these segments to customize their user experience. For example, some customers may prefer shopping directly on social platforms while others like product recommendations in their inbox. Make sure you’re marketing in the right places with content that speaks directly to your customers’ interests.

Incorporating audience personas into your content brief

Audience personas are extremely powerful tools for guiding your content marketing strategy. When it comes to content briefs, however, the challenge is making this information useful for writers. Rick Leach, our VP of Content Operations, elaborated on this in a Crowd Content podcast. He notes that vague audience demographics don’t help writers tailor their content in an impactful way: 

“What I’ve started to do in the briefs we create is to give audience insights rather than a persona,” he says. “What are our audience’s pain points … What resonates with this audience as it relates to this content? That type of information in the hands of a writer is very valuable.”

He goes on to say that pain points change, depending on the topic, so you should revise this section in every content brief to sufficiently equip your writers. “Now it’s informing how they write that article,” he explains. “It helps [the writer] empathize with the audience’s specific pain points on the subject matter and present solutions that should resonate.”

Advanced techniques for audience research

So how do you go about gathering these insights about your customers? Here are a few suggestions:

• Communicate directly. Use surveys, interviews, and focus groups to understand their priorities, frustrations, and concerns.
• Listen in on social networks. Learn what customers are saying about your industry, brand, and competitors in online communities and on blogs and social platforms.
• Leverage market research tools. Build in-depth profiles of your customers using audience intelligence platforms such as SparkToro or Audiense.
• Conduct behavioral analytics. Understand how your customers engage with your marketing channels through web analytics tools, heatmaps, and session recordings. You can see where your content successfully engages them and where you may need to improve.

Step 3: Outline Content Specifications 

When you’ve determined the type of content you want to create, it’s time to drill down to the details. Your team will need certain information to execute the content, so use the list below as a checklist for your content brief. The more precise you can be in the brief the better, so include any additional resources or notes you think may be helpful. 

• Content type: Specify the type of content you’re creating, such as a blog post, white paper, landing page, or case study. 
• Summary: Describe in a few sentences what the content should cover to guide the piece and ensure it stays on track. For example, the summary for the article you’re reading right now might be “Explain how to write a content brief, covering steps such as audience research and SEO.”
• Objective: Explain what the piece should accomplish and the key takeaways.  
• Content outline: Detail the topics to cover, including suggested section headers.
• Target audience: Provide insights about audience pain points and the type of problems they want to solve.
• Style: Establish stylistic requirements such as formatting, point of view, abbreviations, and comma usage. These should be consistent across your content inventory.
• Voice and tone: Elaborate on how the writer should communicate to your readers. Voice and tone affect how audiences perceive and relate to your brand. 
  

Defining your content’s voice and tone

Let’s talk a little more about voice and tone, because the way you express your message is critical to how audiences react to your content. Two elements come into play here — your brand voice and the content’s tone.

• Brand voice is the overall personality of your business. It’s tied to your organization’s mission and values and helps distinguish your brand from others. For example, your voice might be sophisticated, humorous, socially conscious, or bold. Voice should be consistent throughout your content so audiences know what to expect and can begin to build a relationship with your brand.
• Tone is the mood or feeling you set within a specific piece. Tone often changes, depending on the purpose of the piece or distribution channel. You might use a playful tone on social media to capture attention and a formal tone in a white paper to establish authority.

Writers need to know your voice and tone because it affects:  

• Word choice
• Sentence structure
• Point of view 
• Vocabulary level
• Descriptiveness or storytelling techniques

For example, to achieve a professional tone, a writer might use third-person point of view, longer sentences, and a formal vocabulary. Conversely, acasual tone usually consists of shorter sentences, colloquialisms, and rhetorical questions. You can also specify these requirements in your content brief.

Step 4: Structure Your Content 

You can give writers the freedom to create content as they see fit, but the more structure you provide, the more likely the final product will satisfy your goals and audience needs. 

Research your topic and add value

The key to ranking well is to tackle a topic better than your competitors. Review the pages that are ranking for your keyword — not to copy your competitors’ content but to find ways to improve on the content. A content gap analysis can help you gain ground on the competitors. During your research, gather ideas, statistics, examples, and case studies that will help you create a useful, valuable piece. 

Crafting an engaging and coherent outline

Organize your ideas into sections. Use your main points as headers and add supporting points in the relevant sections. Try to build a logical structure for your content.

Use an inverted pyramid style of writing to present the most important information first, working your way to the details. This approach works well for the overall structure of a piece as well as for individual sections. It helps create a logical flow so you can lead your reader through the content seamlessly.

Each section should tie back to the purpose of your article. If it’s not relevant, it should probably be removed to ensure your article is cohesive. For example, if the purpose of your article is to explain how to make the perfect cup of coffee, a recipe for coffee cake likely isn’t relevant — no matter how delicious it sounds.

Integrating UX design principles into content structure

Consider implementing a user-friendly structure for each type of content on your website. You might have one structure for blog posts, for example, and another for service pages. Writers will know right away how to structure the relevant piece of content.

Browse through the Poppy & Peonies website, and you’ll see that they use the same structure for all of their product descriptions — a descriptive paragraph, followed by bullet points. This structure is easy for readers to consume. 

MoneyTips, which writes on complex financial topics, structures each article with an introduction followed by a three-bullet summary. “The Short Version” helps surface key information right at the top of the article.

Step 5: Incorporate SEO and Keywords 

Your content marketing strategy should be guided by keywords to ensure audiences can discover your content in search engines. List your target keywords in your content brief so your writer can incorporate them according to SEO best practices. 

Typically, you’ll focus on a primary keyword and a few secondary keywords that are variations of the primary keyword. According to best practices, you should use your primary keyword in:

• The title
• Introductory paragraph
• One H2 header
• URL slug
• Meta title and description

Secondary keywords can be used once in the body copy, but use keywords only if they fit easily into your copy. You can adjust awkward keywords to make them sound more natural.

Keywords should just be a guide for your content. Writers should focus on creating helpful content that engages readers, not on search engines. That’s where you’ll find the most success. For example, while there are tools that check your content for keyword density, relying on them often means you’re writing to satisfy Google and not your human readers. Search engines are sophisticated enough to understand your content if you address a topic comprehensively. There’s no need to stuff it with keywords.

Mastering the art of keyword research

Keyword research tools help you find search terms related to your product or service, along with data such as the number of times users search for it and how hard it is to compete for the top spots in the SERPs. Strike a balance between search volume and keyword difficulty when choosing keywords to target.

Start your research with a broad keyword related to your product or service and then sift through to find other relevant terms. You might use “backpack” as a starting point and then discover audiences are also searching for “work backpack” and “best backpack for hiking.” Decide which keywords are relevant to your business and use these to guide your content creation.

Remember that search volume usually drops as keywords get more specific, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Customers further along in their research usually use more precise keywords and are easier to convert.

Step 6: Finalize and Provide Feedback

Before finalizing your brief, invite your stakeholders to share their thoughts. Depending on your company’s organizational structure, you may want input from:

• Content strategists
• Editorial directors
• Marketing directors
• Product managers
• SEO specialists
• Subject matter experts
• Senior leadership
• Creative team (for design elements)

You can draw on your colleagues’ expertise to refine your outline and enhance the value of your piece. This step also helps manage expectations: If your stakeholders sign off at the beginning of the content production phase, there should be fewer revisions during editing and approvals.

Revise the document based on the feedback and then put the brief into the hands of your content creation team for implementation.

Embracing agile feedback loops in content strategy

Publishing your content and sending it into the world can feel like the conclusion of your content strategy, but it’s just one part of an ongoing process. To maximize your content’s impact, you need to gather feedback and data, adjusting your tactics over time to improve performance and respond to shifts in audience behaviors.

• Ask your content creation team for feedback on the brief. Was it helpful? What additional information do they need to do their jobs better in the future?
• Invite your stakeholders to share thoughts on the final product. Did it meet their expectations? How would they improve on it?
• Determine how audiences engaged with your content. Analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics such as page views, time on page, bounce rate, social shares, and conversions.
• Adjust your strategy. Based on the insights, refine your content strategy. Experiment with messaging, format, and content distribution channels, or perform testing to see how audiences respond to variations of headlines and other elements. Then use your findings to inform your next set of content briefs.

From Blueprint to Breakthrough: Download Our Content Brief Template

An effective content strategy can help convert audiences, but each piece of content you publish needs to pull its weight. A content brief helps you keep each piece tightly focused, summarizing details about content goals, audience, keywords, messaging, tone, and style. Backed by solid research and analytics, this document is a valuable reference for everyone on a content team and will ensure your final product aligns with your target audience and business goals.

Are you ready to elevate your content strategy to engage audiences and drive results more effectively? Discover how this essential tool streamlines your workflow, ensures consistency, and improves outcomes. Download Crowd Content’s expertly designed content brief template and get started today.

The post How to Write a Content Brief: A Comprehensive Guide for Effective Content Planning appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Of course, you have to pick the right grammar checker for your needs, whether you’re focused on readability, tone, or AI-assisted inspiration. To whittle down the top candidates, we tested popular platforms for accuracy and helpfulness. You’ll find the results below, along with tips on using these tools to craft content that is both smooth and compelling.  

Evolution of Grammar Tools

Grammar tools have come a long way since the 1980s, when they were built into word processors, such as WordPerfect and Microsoft Word. At the time, these rudimentary spell checkers were designed to detect simple errors that might have slipped through during manual proofreading. 

As technology advanced, so did the capabilities of the tools. Those squiggly lines were there to catch missteps, such as run-on sentences and confusion between “its” and “it’s.” Eventually, grammar tools took on lives of their own, leaving the confines of word-processing programs behind and launching as powerful standalone tools. 

From basic spell-check to AI-enhanced correctors

And now, the real game changer has arrived: artificial intelligence (AI). AI-enhanced correctors analyze vast amounts of text and learn from natural language patterns. They’re pushing grammar tools beyond simple mechanics, offering guidance for tone and voice, restructuring sentences to captivate readers, and generating ideas to help smash your writer’s block.

Best Grammar Tools

We took the best grammar checkers on a test drive, creating an error-riddled paragraph as a benchmark. We compared each tool’s accuracy in detecting mistakes and how well their AI features improved our writing sample.

Grammarly: Beyond basic grammar checking

One of the pioneer tools in grammar checking, Grammarly, has you covered for spelling, grammar, and clarity. A premium or business subscription unlocks advanced suggestions for nuanced word choice and tone to better engage your target audience. We also like the built-in AI writing tool. Simply highlight the text you’ve written and click “improve it.” 

Key features of Grammarly

• Checks the correctness of copy, including spelling and grammar
• Highlights wordiness and clarity issues
• Provides generative AI to help with content creation
• Offers word suggestions to make copy more impactful 
• Detects tone to help you better connect with your audience
• Checks for plagiarism 
• Allows customized style guides 

Accuracy and helpfulness

Grammarly performed well in detecting common errors. It was also one of the only tools that noticed both a numeral and a spelled-out number in the same sentence. Its word recommendations were consistently reliable.

The tool’s generative AI feature also did well with our test paragraph. It transformed awkward phrasing in a pet adoption scenario into a more concise and engaging narrative:

Our snippet: Bringing a cat home as a new pet can be an exciting and a rewarding experience. However, it’s important to be prepared for the responsibility that come’s with caring for a cat.

Grammarly’s version: Getting a new cat can be a thrilling and rewarding experience, but it’s important to be prepared for the responsibility that comes with it.

Grammarly integrations

• Email clients: Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail
• Apps: Google Docs, Word, Teams, Slack, PowerPoint
• Social platforms: LinkedIn, X
• Browsers: Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox
• Devices: iOS, Android, Mac

Grammarly pricing

• Free version: Limited to 100 AI prompts
• Premium: $12 USD monthly, billed annually
• Business: $15 USD monthly per member
• Trial offers: 7-day free trial for paid plans

Hemingway Editor: Clarity is key

Hemingway Editor assigns a grade-level score to your copy so you can make it accessible for your target audience. It recommends aiming for a 9th-grade reading level for general readability, although higher levels may be acceptable for academic or highly technical audiences.

A word of caution: Hemingway is a style checker. Since it doesn’t catch common grammar and spelling mistakes, be sure to proofread in another tool.

Key features of Hemingway

• Calculates a grade-level readability score for your copy
• Highlights unnecessary words, jargon, and hard-to-read sentences
• Uses color-coding to prioritize issues
• Includes formatting options, such as headers, bullets, italics, bold, and links
• Exports final copy to text, PDF, and Word
• Converts copy to HTML for publishing on the web
• Saves editing suggestions as a PDF so you can share them with colleagues
• Rewrites sentences instantly using AI (Hemingway Editor Plus only)

Accuracy and helpfulness

Hemingway is included in our list for its grade-level reading scores, which are useful for making complex copy more accessible. It’s not a grammar checker, however, so mistakes such as “they’re” versus “their” slip by. We also found Hemingway’s AI tool isn’t as powerful as other platforms. It simplified one of our long sentences into several short ones. This brings the grade level score down, but the result isn’t particularly engaging:

Our snippet: Provide plenty of hiding places, toys, and a cozy bed and don’t forget to cat-proof your home by removing hazardous object’s and securing your windows and door. 

Hemingway’s version: Provide plenty of hiding places, toys, and a cozy bed. Don’t forget to cat-proof your home. Remove hazardous objects and secure your windows and doors.

Hemingway integrations

• macOS
• Windows
• WordPress
• Medium

Hemingway pricing

• Online version is free
• Hemingway Editor (desktop): $19.99 USD one-time purchase
• Hemingway Editor Plus (AI): Starting at $10 USD monthly

ProWritingAid: For the detail-oriented editor

ProWritingAid is a solid grammar tool. It deftly handles grammar, style, and clarity, and it helps you achieve the right tone for your audience. We also like how the platform helps improve your writing skills by explaining the rationale behind recommended changes, complete with links to resource articles.

Key features of ProWritingAid

• Checks for spelling, grammar, and common style issues, such as passive voice
• Customizes suggestions based on document type: academic, business, casual, creative
• Provides in-depth analysis of elements such as transitions, overused words, and pacing
• Tracks readability, sentence length, and variety based on averages for the genre
• Paraphrases content according to your specifications (i.e., shorten, expand, or make the tone more formal)
• Provides advanced AI “sparks” to improve word choice, remove repetitions, edit transitions, and add analogies

Accuracy and helpfulness

We purposely overloaded our test paragraph with the word “cat” to see if any of the platforms would notice the monotony. ProWritingAid was one of the only tools to call us out on it, suggesting alternatives such as “feline,” “kitten,” and “kitty” for variety. The tool’s AI rewrites were also solid, turning a cluttered sentence into something more succinct. Here’s an example:

Our snippet: Provide plenty of hiding places, toys, and a cozy bed and don’t forget to cat-proof your home by removing hazardous object’s and securing your windows and door. 

ProWritingAid’s version: Make sure to provide hiding spots, toys, and a comfy bed for your cat. Also, cat-proof your home by removing dangerous items and securing windows and doors.

ProWritingAid integrations

• Microsoft Word for Windows
• Windows apps
• Mac apps
• Google Docs
• Safari
• Chrome
• Edge
• Firefox
• Scrivener
• OpenOffice

ProWritingAid pricing

• Free version is limited to 500 words, 10 rephrases, and three AI Sparks per day
• Premium: $10 USD monthly, billed yearly
• Premium Pro: $12 USD monthly, billed yearly
• Guarantee: No free trial but a 14-day money-back guarantee is available

QuillBot: Rewriting with intelligence

QuillBot reliably finds spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes while finessing content to boost reader engagement. With support for multiple languages, it is well-suited for those working in international audiences. These features are wrapped up in a clean, easy-to-use interface.

QuillBot features

• Checks copy for correctness 
• Recommends improved wording
• Customizes recommendations according to creative, academic, and custom audiences
• Supports German, French, and Spanish
• Translates text to more than 45 languages
• Offers AI-powered features for writing assistance
• Checks for plagiarism

Accuracy and helpfulness

QuillBot performed impressively in our test. It caught subtle issues other tools didn’t, such as the lack of parallelism in the phrase “windows and door.” Even more intriguing — when asked to rewrite the copy, it not only created compelling text but also added new information to flesh out the topic. Note the mention of cat nutrition in the rewrite below.

Our snippet: And then there’s the most important gift you can give your cat: affection. With patience and love, soon you will forge a strong bond with your pet, enriching both of your live’s for years to come.

QuillBot’s version: Remember to also provide a balanced diet and fresh water for your cat, as nutrition plays a key role in their overall health and well-being. Additionally, spend quality time playing and interacting with your cat to ensure they are mentally stimulated and happy.

QuillBot integrations

• Google Chrome
• Google Docs
• macOS
• Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Word

QuillBot pricing

• Free version available
• Premium: $8.33 to $19.95 USD per month, depending on billing cycle
• No free trial but offers a 100% money-back guarantee after 3 days

Scribens: The Free Grammar Wizard

Scribens is a straightforward grammar checker. Simply paste in your copy, click the highlighted areas, and accept or ignore the tool’s suggestions. You can check up to 8,000 characters of text at a time, which is generous for a free platform. Like Hemingway, Scribens provides readability scores for your text to help you adjust the comprehension level appropriate for your audience.

Scribens features

• Checks for spelling, grammar, and basic style issues
• Supports English and French text
• Includes Flesch Reading Ease and Gunning Fog Index to gauge text complexity
• Calculates statistics, such as average words per sentence and average syllables per word
• Estimates reading and speaking times for your content
• Includes a customizable dictionary that allows users to add unique or specialized terms

Accuracy and helpfulness

Scribens performs effectively for a free tool. It flags repetitive words to add variety to your writing and suggests alternatives for common words to make your content more impactful.

The grammar checker missed a couple of errors in our test, including sentence fragments and misuse of “they’re” versus “their.” While we prefer other tools for style feedback, Scribens is useful for tracking reading levels and statistics related to word and sentence length.

Scribens integrations

• Office programs: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, OpenOffice, and LibreOffice 
• Messaging: Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook, Yahoo, Orange
• Websites: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, WordPress, forms, blogs, and forums
• Mobile devices: Android smartphone and tablet, iPhone, iPad

Scribens pricing

• Free version is limited to 125 words in the paraphrasing tool
• Premium: 4.16 € to 9.90 € monthly, depending on billing cycle (approximately $4.50 to $10.75 USD)

Customization and Flexibility in Grammar Tools

While some grammar rules are set in stone, your writing style and word choice should be adjusted to fit your audience. For example, the phrase “core competency” is appropriate for a white paper targeted to HR executives, but the simpler “key skill” resonates more with job seekers. 

It can be challenging to achieve the right tone for different readers and maintain it consistently throughout a document. Thankfully, AI-enabled grammar tools can cut down on the time it takes to fine-tune your content. They’ve processed huge amounts of text to find patterns and variations and can quickly come up with words and phrasing that make sense for a particular scenario. This helps you connect with audiences more effectively, leading to better engagement and understanding of your content.

Tailoring tools to your writing style

We have to give kudos to ProWritingAid for its ability to tailor suggestions to specific audiences. The platform lets you select a writing style for various content types: general, academic, business, technical, creative, casual, web, and script. Each style has certain rules and targets that influence the recommendations you receive. For example, passive voice is more acceptable in academic writing, whereas web content benefits from shorter sentences. If the preset rules don’t meet your needs, simply customize your own to achieve the results you need.

Integrating Grammar Tools Into Your Writing Process

As grammar tools become more powerful, they significantly change our approach to writing. In the past, we’d run a spell check at the end of the writing process to find mistakes. Now, AI grammar tools provide valuable writing support from the time you open a new document to the moment you hit publish. They can kick-start your writing, fix mistakes, remove jargon, and help you achieve the right voice.

With these benefits in mind, many companies are rethinking how to use grammar checkers to enhance the content production process. By incorporating AI grammar tools into our workflow, we can produce higher-quality content in less time. This shift in approach has led to increased efficiency and improved overall writing outcomes for many organizations.

Streamlining your workflow with grammar tools

Here’s how you can incorporate grammar tools into your writing process. 

• Install your grammar checker. Many tools can be integrated right into your desktop environment to provide real-time feedback. This saves you from copying and pasting between your word-processing program and the grammar platform.
• Set up your style guides. Customize style guides to align with your writing preferences. You can set up rules for brand and product names, language, and terminology to get things right the first time and simplify the editing process.
• Leverage AI writing suggestions. Stuck on a headline or phrasing? Trying to wrangle an awkward sentence? Make use of AI to get past your writer’s block and accelerate your output.
• Review suggestions. Make judgment calls about whether the recommendations improve your copy. Grammar checkers aren’t always correct, but when they are, try to learn from your mistakes and boost your writing proficiency.
• Revise copy. Fix spelling, typos, grammar, and style inconsistencies. Adjust for tone and voice. Invite feedback from colleagues and editors to ensure your content is accurate and clear.  
• Finalize content. Make adjustments to your copy to ensure it’s polished, error-free, and provides value to readers.

Collaboration and sharing: Grammar tools in team projects

Content production is typically collaborative with writers, editors, and subject matter experts contributing before sign-off. Programs such as Google Docs enable shared access, but with so many people involved, it’s easy for inconsistencies to slip in. Use grammar tools throughout the writing process to ensure your content is uniform and cohesive.

For instance, Zapier implemented Grammarly to create a company-wide style guide. This ensured branded terms and names of partner apps were used correctly throughout their communications. Previously, writers and editors spent a significant amount of time tracking down the right language and fixing errors. By utilizing a grammar tool, Zapier ensured proper language usage at the writing stage, streamlining editing and maintaining a cohesive style. This ultimately saved time and improved content quality.

Grammar Tools and the Future of Writing

As artificial intelligence evolves, the best grammar tools are becoming inseparable from the writing process. We’re already seeing these platforms folded into our daily work environments, sparking and condensing ideas and enhancing readability. With ongoing developments in machine learning, AI-enabled tools will likely get better at analyzing language nuances, personalizing content, and refining suggestions for specific audiences.

What does that mean for those of us crafting content? Well, “old-school writing” isn’t going away, according to author Rishad Tobaccowala.  He predicts, “AI will replace many writers — the hack writers. It will not replace writers … who focus on communing and connecting with human minds and emotions.” 

Tobaccowala emphasizes that AI helps writers produce better content. “The best writers today use AI as an input to power, expand, and challenge themselves in ways that improve their writing and expand their thinking. AI expands the palette and opens new horizons,” he said.

This aligns with how we approach AI at Crowd Content. Modern grammar checkers and AI content creation tools are just that — tools — not replacements for your own creativity and expertise. As discussed in a recent episode of the Crowd Content podcast (20:52), purely AI content is based on what’s already been published. It doesn’t inspire engagement and conversions. To have an impact on your audience, make sure what you’re publishing is helpful to readers, weave in interesting opinions and insights, and satisfy your audience’s needs.

Real-World Success Stories: Grammar Tools in Action

We’ve compiled some examples to show you how marketers, writers, and professionals are leveraging the capabilities of these powerful platforms. Check out the stories below to explore the potential of AI grammar tools in enriching content production. 

Case studies: Transforming writing with grammar tools

Zoom experienced an unprecedented demand on its services a few years ago when businesses turned to work-from-home models. Its teams struggled to keep up with communications on a global basis. The company turned to Grammarly’s business platform to ensure consistent use of terminology, brand voice, and messaging. Zoom estimates this saved 7,000 hours of staff time, speeding up staff onboarding and removing bottlenecks in reviewing content. Grammarly’s real-time writing assistance also boosted the confidence of individual team members in their communication skills.

Grammarly also provides a striking example of how its business tool helps writers achieve the right tone. HackerOne, a platform that enables hackers to work alongside brands to identify security vulnerabilities, has two distinct audiences. By using custom style guides and a tone detector, HackerOne was able to better communicate in a professional tone with enterprise clients and, more informally, with the hacker community. As a result, communications improved by 68% across pillars such as clarity, engagement, and correctness.

From skeptic to advocate: A user experience example

Anja Wedberg, Senior Content Editor at NOA Ignite, felt confident in her writing skills until plugging an article into Hemingway Editor. “I had overall positive feedback about this article,” she explained on the company’s blog. When Hemingway almost completely marked up the piece, she took a closer look and reworked it for readability. She brought it from a grade 12 reading level to grade 8.

She shared on the company’s blog, “What the average writer thinks is easy to read is not the same as what the average reader finds easy to read. At the end of the day, the main question is: Do we want to make sure that our texts can be understood by most people? If the answer to that is yes, we had better listen to Hemingway.”

Master Your Content With the Right Tools and Expertise

Modern-day grammar checkers work alongside you as you write, eliminating mistakes and capturing the right tone for your audience. They also lean on artificial intelligence to energize the writing process and help you better express your thoughts. The results? Smooth, polished prose and less time tussling with content.

While AI tools can improve your copy, it still needs substance to engage readers and drive conversions. Remember to infuse your writing with real-life opinions and expertise. By combining the efficiency of AI tools with your unique perspective, you can create more meaningful content that resonates with your audience. Discover how the right grammar tools, combined with Crowd Content’s professional content creation services, can elevate your writing.

The post 5 Best Grammar Tools for Content Writing appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

A content strategy is a detailed plan laying out how your business plans to engage customers using digital assets, such as online articles, videos, case studies, or podcasts. Think of it like a professional map pinpointing destinations from the top to the bottom of the funnel — a guide that delivers value, creates brand awareness, and carries your customer through every stage of the buyer’s journey. 

Core Elements of a Content Marketing Strategy

Just like you can’t make grilled cheese without bread, a content marketing strategy has nonnegotiable ingredients that pull everything together. You need to know who you’re targeting, the channels you’re using to reach them, and the goals you need to hit.

Identifying and understanding the target audience

Good content marketing revolves around your customers. You must know your audience and empathize with their needs to create content that resonates. After all, you can create a fascinating article or slick video. But if your customers shrug their collective shoulders and scroll past it, your message tumbles into the internet equivalent of a black hole.

That’s why your strategy must be customer-centric. Conduct in-depth research and analysis to learn about your browsers’ demographics, interests, behaviors, preferences, and frustrations. Use this information to determine the type of content to produce, topics to cover, and tone to adopt. 

Choosing content distribution channels

The next part of your strategy focuses on distributing content so audiences discover your brand. Choose channels that align with their preferences and behaviors, which you ideally established during your audience research. Consider the channels’ reach, engagement potential, and cost-effectiveness when finalizing your choices.

To maximize reach, we recommend a mix of channels for diversity.

• Owned channels, such as your website, blog, app, and email newsletter, are fully under your control.
• Paid channels can give you a significant lift in exposure, but they have a price tag. PPC ads, influencer partnerships, and sponsored content fall into this category.
• Earned channels include media mentions, user-generated content, and guest blogs. They require a third-party endorsement of your brand, which makes them feel more authentic to customers.

How to Create a Content Marketing Strategy: Step-by-Step

As you can tell, it takes time to develop a content marketing strategy that grows your business. It might seem daunting, but if you break the process into steps, your strategy slowly and surely comes together.

Define your audience

Start by defining your target audience. Buyer personas are useful for seeing your customers as people rather than a demographic. 

• Talk to your product team. Your colleagues likely performed audience research when designing and branding the product.
• Review website analytics. Google Analytics, for example, offers insights into audience demographics, location, interests, and their favored devices.
• Conduct surveys and focus groups. Ask questions about preferences, challenges, and where customers get information from.
• Monitor social media conversations. Listen to what audiences say about your industry, brand, and competitors.

Research keywords

SEO goes hand in hand with a content strategy. Perform keyword research using tools such as Semrush to ensure your content appears in the SERPs when your audience searches for your product or service. Lean on different keyword research tools to generate and analyze search terms so you can prioritize the ones with the most potential for your business. 

We recommend using keywords to guide your content — they’re not meant to be stuffed onto each page. Organize keywords into themes, and don’t forget long-tail keywords that reach customers with specific search intent. 

Set goals and choose KPIs

Remember that a content marketing plan needs a clear purpose to drive results. Your content goals might be to boost brand awareness, traffic, engagement, leads, conversions, or sales. Pair your goals with quantifiable metrics. These benchmarks are reference points for your progress, telling you which parts of your strategy might need a little TLC.  Over time, some metrics may spike, plateau, or drop. Use this data to keep your strategy on track and refine your tactics. Track key performance indicators regularly, especially after specific campaign rollouts. 

Determine content types and channels

Most content strategies rely heavily on blog posts because they easily adapt to your messaging. But you can (and should) draw on various content types to make your strategy more dynamic. Always keep your audience in mind, and match content to the buyer’s journey.

• E-books and white papers let you dive deep into a topic and provide thought leadership.
• Case studies draw on real-life examples to demonstrate a solution to a problem.
• How-to guides and instructional resources help readers accomplish a task.
• FAQs provide quick answers to common customer concerns.
• Webinars and podcasts are interactive workshops, presentations, and discussions that share expertise. 

Here’s a content strategy example. If you want to use content to generate leads, and your customer is a B2B decision-maker, consider a gated white paper on your website. If they frequent LinkedIn, create a video as a teaser to capture their interest, and link to your landing page in the post.

Conduct a content audit

You don’t need to start your content production from scratch. See what assets you already have by auditing your content and creating an inventory of previously published assets. List each item in a spreadsheet and track title, URL, content type, category or theme, buyer stage, and target keywords. Then, you can determine what content you need to complete your strategy.

Pro tip: At the same time, evaluate each page to ensure it contains high-quality content that meets Google’s excellence standards. Add any necessary content refreshes into your strategy.

Build a content calendar

A content calendar helps you visualize how the pieces of your plan should roll out. Plan it at least 6 months in advance, scheduling each piece with a publication date and working backward to determine writing, editing, and design deadlines. You can also use the calendar to assign your team specific roles, especially if you have a pool of writers. Editorial calendars are essential for staying organized and keeping things going after ideation. 

Executing Your Content Marketing Strategy

While a documented content marketing plan can lead you to your goals, you unlock its potential once it’s implemented and brought to life. Create an organized content production process to ensure what you publish strikes a chord with your audience. Then, promote your content diligently so they can discover it.

Content creation best practices

Audiences quickly decide if a piece of content is relevant or interesting. Use our content creation tips to produce stellar blog posts, articles, landing pages, and web content.

• Understand search intent. Users have a specific query in mind when they plug keywords into a search engine. If you’re targeting the search term “hatha yoga,” for example, determine if someone wants to know the history of hatha yoga, how to do it, or where to take classes. SEO tools can help with this, or you can look into the types of content currently ranking for the search term.
• Create content briefs. Use our content brief template, and give your writers guidelines for crafting each piece. A brief covers keywords, search intent, target audience, People Also Ask questions, tone, style, word count, and deadlines. 
• Make your content exceptional. Follow the basics of good content creation, such as writing concisely and proofreading before publishing. Every piece should provide value, such as original research and real-life examples.
• Incorporate multimedia. Perk up written text with graphics, slide shows, or video to help tell your story in a visually appealing way. 
• Optimize for SEO. It can seem like Google’s algorithms are random and mysterious, but there’s a method to the madness. Improve your chances of ranking by helping search engines understand the content. Add meta titles and descriptions, organize content with headers, use descriptive anchor text and URLs, and optimize for featured snippets. Videos should include transcripts for those who prefer to read, and images should have alt-text for accessibility.
• Include CTAs. Help readers navigate your website and get to the next stage of their journey with strong, clear calls to action. You can incorporate these as links within your copy or as more prominent buttons.
• Stay true to your brand. To build loyalty, each piece of content should reflect the essence of your brand so audiences know what to expect. Marketing specialist Ann Handley describes this as “artisanal content.” In a recent Crowd Content webinar about the future of content marketing, Handley explained, “[It’s] content that can only come from you … that’s really infused with your voice, with your point of view, or with your face, in some situations. It can’t come from anyone else; it won’t sound the same. [It] feels almost handcrafted for us specifically.” 

Effective distribution channels

Search engines, newsletters, social media, and paid ads all help distribute your content to a broad audience. To get the most impact, ensure the format suits the channel. Buffer, for example, promotes articles on LinkedIn as carousels. As users have to swipe through the content, it’s more engaging than simply posting a text summary. 

At Crowd Content, we use multiple channels to distribute content more widely. Our blog post about whether AI content can rank in Google doubled as a jumping-off point for a podcast discussion.  

“There’s no one size fits all recipe when it comes to determining what channels you should use for your business as far as what’s going to work well for you — not just the mix, but the weighting,” our VP of Content Operations, Rick Leach, recently explained. “I encourage you to try, measure, adjust … then increase or decrease the percentage of resources that go toward that channel as the data tells you.” 

Measuring the Success of Your Content Marketing Strategy

Once you have your strategy in motion, monitor your progress across your distribution channels. Platforms such as Google Analytics, Hootsuite, HubSpot, Semrush, and Ahrefs capture website analytics and integrate with social networking and email platforms to consolidate data into a single dashboard. 

Key performance indicators in content marketing

Choose KPIs related to your content marketing goals so you can make data-informed decisions and fine-tune your tactics. 

Analytics for strategy optimization 

You might feel like you’re swimming in numbers once the data starts rolling in. Tackle your analytics in the same way you put together your content strategy: methodically.

Search for patterns, trends, and possible issues with your content performance. For example, begin investigating if your engagement metrics show audiences aren’t interacting. Look at individual pieces of content that are drop-off points in the funnel, or segment audiences by demographics, device, or behavior to see if a particular group isn’t engaging.

Based on the findings, you might improve navigation, design, or CTAs. You could also experiment with formats, topics, and storytelling techniques that better resonate with audience preferences. Using your data and analysis, make incremental adjustments to your content to optimize it, and continue monitoring and adjusting.

Future Trends in Content Marketing Strategy

When you think you’ve got your content marketing strategies nailed down, things shift. It’s one of the realities of our chaotic, digital world. You can expect audience preferences to change, new competitors and technologies to pop up, and algorithm updates to steer content in new directions. Adopt a proactive approach so you can prepare for these inevitable shifts.

Emerging technologies in content marketing

Businesses are already exploring how artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies can support content marketing. Be open to experimentation and innovation that can refine your strategies and set you apart from competitors. For example:

• Content intelligence platforms identify topics for different stages of the buyer’s journey and predict the best distribution channels.
• AI writing tools can help with research and outlining. (But make sure your final content has a human touch.)
• AI-powered web analytics tools quickly process data to detect trends and patterns and anticipate future behavior.
• Augmented and virtual reality offer new formats for storytelling.

Changing consumer behaviors

No matter what technology you leverage, don’t lose sight of your audience. Keep a pulse on your customers. Continue to talk to them through focus groups and surveys to understand their priorities. Employ social media monitoring to listen in on real-time concerns. When you understand what’s driving audience behaviors, you can provide better content solutions to meet their needs.

Crafting a Successful Content Marketing Strategy for Your Business

Once you build a solid framework for your content marketing, it’s easier to create pieces that appeal to your audience and inspire them toward desired goals. Spend some time laying the groundwork by getting to know your customers, establishing objectives, and choosing relevant distribution channels. Stay on track by monitoring KPIs and audience behaviors, and refine tactics with your sights set firmly on your goals. 

Maximize your content potential

Ready to revolutionize your brand’s digital presence? Discover how Crowd Content’s content strategy services can elevate your business. Our team of experts is dedicated to crafting bespoke strategies that resonate with your audience and drive results.

The post Unlock the Power of Digital Storytelling With a Content Marketing Strategy appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

As audience and Google standards increase, so does the need for relevant, quality, high-volume content production. Outsourcing your content can help you meet your targets, exponentially expanding your revenue and your foothold in the industry.

Understanding White Label Content Writing

White label content is created by a third party but sold by the primary entity — your agency, for example — as a firsthand product. For example, you tell your end clients you can produce 1,000 product descriptions a week, but really, you’re outsourcing those batches to another agency perhaps, and then passing them on as your own product.

The concept of white labeling isn’t limited to the content world, and it might be easier to understand how it all works if we look at a noncontent example. A handful of manufacturers produce much of the essential oil products currently on the market. All those bottles of patchouli, peppermint, and “immune-boosting blend” come off the same assembly lines and boast the same contents, but they get different labels and marketing campaigns based on which brand is buying the primary product from wholesalers.

It’s a brilliant way for small businesses to expand their catalog with products they can’t produce on their own, and bigger brands can test new niches without switching up their assembly lines or investing in ground-up R&D.

White labeled content works the same way; you’re just swapping out tinctures of sage and chamomile for bespoke articles and blog posts.

Benefits of white label content for agencies

You’re known for having fingers in every pie in your agency’s service buffet, but you can’t be everywhere at once. If you’re looking to build a better, smarter business, investing in white label content can help you:

• Save time: Partnering with a content creation team plugs you into a talent pool that’s pre-vetted, talented, and ready to write. Skip time-consuming recruitment, onboarding, and writer testing and head straight to steady, reliable output.
• Maintain quality: Those pre-vetted writers you tap into with a white label content partner have already showcased their skill sets. You get the quality content you need without training anyone yourself. And if you already have an in-house team, white labeling allows you to scale up without stretching your resources and sacrificing quality.
• Offer more of your product: White label content helps you increase your service offerings to include not only strategy but also execution of that strategy. Already have your own writers? You can white label niche content by taking advantage of contracted subject matter experts who specialize in fields such as fintech, health care, travel, real estate, and law — many of whom have the lettered credentials beside their name to go with a proven track record.  

Common Uses of White Label Content

Some of the most common use cases for outsourced writing include:

Digital marketing agencies

Digital marketing agencies are first in line to help clients understand the value of email campaigns, social media posts and thought leadership bylined by the client’s highest-profile personas. But what happens when you recommend a strategy but can’t help execute it?

Agencies can use white label content services to offer packages encompassing everything from a basic consultation to a turnkey strategy, all but guaranteed to generate long-term success. No more sending clients to spend their money elsewhere when you can serve up quality content on a silver platter.

Ecommerce platforms

Ecommerce platforms that serve makers, retailers, and resellers have a prime opportunity to upsell members by offering add-on services, such as copywriting. While a basic package might include web hosting, payment services, and on-site promotional opportunities, platforms can generate multiple revenue streams by white labeling product descriptions, how-to blogs, and other content. Every asset added could help appeal to the end customer and increase conversion rates.

Software as a Service providers

SaaS companies can help shave a few degrees off a learning curve that might otherwise make products seem insurmountable. When backed by white label content services, you can offer educational resources for clients, such as tutorials and explainer video scripts, customizing each offering and infusing assets with authority and value.

Small and medium-sized businesses

SMBs are the most likely candidates to have plenty of vision but not enough resources to turn everything on their entrepreneurial wish lists into reality. The ability to execute on your content strategy without having to hire and train a full writing and editing staff can be invaluable.

Types of Content for White Label Agencies

White label copywriting and content services cover a huge breadth of collateral. You’re not limited to About Us web blurbs and the occasional blog — although both of those are on the table. You have access to all types of content that can help you achieve those KPI milestones essential to success. Some of the content provided by white label agencies includes:

• Blog content: Sell blog content to your end clients and help them improve both search rankings and conversion rates in one fell swoop. Blogs written by research-savvy writers or reviewed by subject matter experts can also help brands establish authority and position company heads as thought leaders.
• Social media content: Hand over responsibility for a thriving X and Facebook feed to an army of writers. Maintaining a steady flow of content on social media can boost visibility and keep consumers engaged, generating much-needed likes and clicks.
• SEO and web content: A copywriter versed in the latest SEO tactics can cater to Google’s standards. Let white label writing squads populate your site with content and landing pages with the long-tail keywords and metadata necessary to hit the top of the SERPs. 
• Case studies: Partner with a white label writing service to produce case studies of your best success stories to show prospects that what you have to offer is more than just a proposal.
• White papers and ebooks: You can offer these assets to end clients or use them yourself as gated content, generating leads and establishing authority at the same time.
• Article writing: Hire writers to craft articles for industry publications, showcase company achievements, highlight events to promote a new product, or underscore company values.

Selecting a White Label Content Writing Service

Like so many services, a white label content writing service partnership is only as effective as the partner you choose. Before you sign on the dotted line, consider what you’re looking for in a writing platform and what you need to scale your offerings.

Build the right team

One of the biggest challenges when dealing with white label content writing is figuring out how you’ll maintain content quality without having direct involvement with every member of the team. One of the easiest ways to do that is to have a project or content manager act in your stead. They serve as a single point of contact and intermediary between you and the team creating your content. They gather and train the best-suited writers, answer basic questions, review content for quality, and handle revisions as needed.

Create content guidelines

Your brand voice is extremely important and you want to maintain it regardless of who is writing your content. This is where your content brief comes in handy. The more information and guidelines you give your writers, the easier it is for them to give you exactly what you need the first time around. Remember, freelancers are experienced in words, not mind reading — provide detailed instructions once, and you’ll save yourself a lot of effort down the road.

Assess content quality

The term “good writer” has so many meanings. Most writing services will lob terms such as “quality writing team” and “experienced talent” in your direction without a second thought. But the proof really is in the pudding, and that means you need to see samples before you consider a contract.

You can also ask for case studies. Crowd Content is thrilled to show off past work, including how we helped one client increase their page views to a staggering 6 minutes. Or how we helped an agency get their client to page one of Google for 57 of their target keywords.

Consider customization options

Your agency isn’t a dime a dozen, and your content shouldn’t be generic or bland either. Ask potential white label partners how in-depth their customization options go. Can you use your own style guide? Can they match brand voice and specific requirements, such as comma and bullet point usage? How often can you change parameters to meet a particular client or project’s needs?

Understand pricing models

Content marketing partners differ in how they charge clients for content production. Some require a membership or subscription fee, with content available on a discounted basis thereafter. Crowd Content’s Managed Services extend a helping hand from content managers who post tasks and manage writers on your behalf in exchange for meeting a monthly minimum, or with our Marketplace, you can pay for content as you go and control the job posts, reviews, and final approval. 

Consider how much content you’ll need and how involved you want to be as you evaluate pricing. The best platforms can talk you through the process and recommend the right approach so you get the most bang for your buck and have room to scale your account alongside your business.

Integrating White Label Content Into Your Business Strategy

The right partner should be able to deliver content that’s ready to be integrated into your existing strategy — a strategy you’ve had time to prep and roll out, since you haven’t been spending time recruiting writers and going over first drafts with a fine-tooth comb.

To make the most of the product you’re paying for, it’s important to go in with a clear game plan:

• Know what you’re asking for. Give your white label service partner a list of expectations, including information on your preferred style, brand voice, and target audience. Using a content brief template removes questions and helps ensure consistency.
• Provide samples. Include content that demonstrates what you like — and what you don’t like — so writers know what’s a hit and what’s considered a major miss.
• Calibrate each project. If you’re ordering big blocks of content that include hundreds or even thousands of pieces that all fit a similar brief, use a calibration round to test the writing team and dial-in requirements before you go into full production.
• Have a plan for promotion and distribution. The last thing you want is to order a ton of content and then realize you have no idea what to do with it all. Part of your prewriting strategy should be putting together a content calendar that illustrates the when, where (which channels), how (content types), and who (the person in charge of pushing the content live).

View analytics and feedback. After content is live, check analytics to see which content assets are getting traction and which aren’t quite on target. Use that information to fine-tune your brief and work with the writing team to bring the next batch of content even closer to perfection.

White Label Content Writing: The Next Step in Scaling Your Business

White label content creation is the perfect storm of productivity and efficiency.. It’s like bringing on a second string of talented employees, but without the overhead and long hiring processes that goes along with investing in a  full-time team. Whether you’re looking to augment the writers already churning out quality content or you want to add content to your growing slate of services, white labeling could be your ticket to growing your business.

To see how Crowd Content’s talented pool of writers can help you stay competitive and scale on demand, check out our managed services, and create quality content without the in-house hassle.

The post White Label Content Writing for Agencies appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

The thing is, blogs aren’t a novelty anymore. Readers can spot mediocre content as fast as they can close the tab on their browsers. They crave unique insight and experience, leaving plenty of room for authoritative blogs that offer value.

So, how do you leverage technology and build a blog that appeals to audiences today?

• Our journey starts with the basics: identifying a profitable niche, evaluating competitors, choosing a blogging platform, and designing a user-friendly site. 
• After you set up your site, we’ll cover how to grow your blog with content creation, audience building, and monetization tips.
• Finally, we’ll go over legal and ethical considerations to position you for long-term success.

What Is a Blog? 

A blog is an online information hub sharing knowledge about a specific niche. Blogs are created for several reasons, including personal interest, for generating income, or for serving as a content marketing tool to attract a target audience.

Blogs started out as “weblogs” in the mid-1990s as people began testing the internet waters. Early blogs acted as an online diary, connecting with people with similar journeys or interests. Soon, platforms such as Blogger and Live Journal made it easy for anyone to start a blog without technical expertise. In the early 2000s, Google AdSense enabled blogs to display ads so bloggers could turn a pastime into an income-generating activity. Brands also began partnering with bloggers who had built loyal audiences to promote their products.  

Today, blogs are more dynamic than ever, leveraging technology and multimedia to engage users. In 2024, you can find an array of tools — including AI — powering content creation. SEO, social media, and a variety of marketing channels are helping blog writers find new ways to monetize their online presence.  

Reasons for Creating a Blog

With so many blogs out there, why create a new one? Well, a blog can help you:

• Explore your creativity and interests. A blog offers a rewarding platform to share your knowledge and skills. You can use your blog as a portfolio to document a journey or help inspire others. 
• Build a personal brand. Create a blog to position yourself as an authority and develop a reputation as a credible resource. Matt Kepnes built Nomadic Matt, for example, to share his tips and expertise for traveling the world on a budget.  

• Build a business brand. Blogs are often the centerpiece of a company’s content marketing strategy. Posts are distributed through channels such as social media and email, building brand awareness and driving traffic to support business goals. Hostelling International uses a travel blog to draw readers to its website. 
• Support financial goals. Blogs can be monetized through advertising, affiliate marketing, and brand partnerships. They can also be used for selling products and services such as online courses.

How to Start a Blog: Identifying Your Niche 

To build an audience, you need to strike a balance between a subject you’re passionate about and what others are interested in learning.

Use SEO tools

Semrush and Ahrefs offer SEO tools to help you analyze keywords for various topics. In addition to comparing search volumes, you can uncover related terms to focus your blog’s content.

Google Trends can tell you if active searches for a particular topic are trending. For example, if you plug “baby food recipes,” “keto recipes,” and “vegan recipes” into the tool for the past 5 years, you can see how interest in these topics is changing over time. 

Explore online communities

Reddit, Quora, Instagram, X, and other social media platforms give insight into topics people are curious about. Analyze conversations to see how audiences talk about a topic and the language they use. This can help optimize your blog for voice, tone, and niche interests, as users tend to be more conversational in online communities than with traditional search engines.

Talk to your audience

If you already have a customer base, survey them to understand their pain points. Ask about the content types they prefer and where they spend time online to help align your blog with their interests.

Listen in on social media

Social media listening tools help gauge what your target audience is talking about online. Create a list of keywords related to your industry, brand, and competitors then monitor reach and engagement. You can also zero in on emerging trends.

Conduct Competitive Analysis 

Once you’ve established demand for the topic, get a sense of where you fit in the blogging landscape. Understanding your competitors can help you differentiate your blog.

Tools such as SpyFu can give you the scoop on competitors. For example, if you’re starting a financial tips blog, enter a competing site, such as “nerdwallet.com,” into the tool. SpyFu will identify competitors, such as Business Insider, Investopedia, and Forbes. The provided data shows keywords these sites rank for and performance gains or losses. You can leverage this information to learn what your competitors are doing well and where you might be better at meeting audience needs. 

Take this a step further and evaluate how your competitors position themselves:  

• What type of content do they publish?
• What kind of user experience do they offer?
• What social platforms are they active on, and how do they interact with audiences?
• What advertisers and partners do they work with?

It’s a lot of information to sift through, but it’s critical for developing a blog strategy. For example, you might find a competitor’s blog to be text-heavy and differentiate yours with podcasts and video content. Or, you might see an opportunity to distinguish your travel blog by incorporating accessibility tips.

Establish your authority

Website authority emphasizes to Google that you’re an expert on a subject, which is easier to demonstrate if you specialize in a niche. You can build a comprehensive content inventory and cultivate a targeted audience to attract ads, partners, and brands that want to reach this customer segment.

Choosing the Right Platform and Hosting 

When you’re ready to build your website, choose a blogging platform that satisfies your immediate needs and offers opportunities to expand in the future. You might not need ecommerce capabilities now, but once your site gains traction, you may want to sell courses, ebooks, or merchandise. Leave yourself room to grow without switching platforms.

You’ll also need to consider your technical expertise. Platforms such as Wix and Squarespace offer easy drag-and-drop editors, so there’s no coding involved. 

WordPress provides full customization with plenty of plug-ins and integrations.

When evaluating blogging platforms, consider whether they offer:

• Simple, easy-to-use interface
• Variety of templates
• Integrations for customizing user experience and workflow
• Built-in SEO tools, such as keyword research, image-alt text, customizable meta descriptions, and suggested optimizations
• Ecommerce capabilities, including product pages, shopping carts, and payment processing
• Sign-up forms for mailing lists
• Analytics for monitoring site traffic and growth
• 24/7 support, including live chat or telephone service
• SSL security

AI website builders

AI website builders, such as Hostinger and Wix ADI, use artificial intelligence to create blogs. Simply enter your blog name, a description of your site, and relevant keywords. The platform chooses the layout, colors, font, and images. You can adjust and customize the site to your preferences. For those with coding experience, platforms such as CodeWP use AI to help develop advanced features for WordPress sites.

Hosting

Depending on the server that hosts your blog, your site speed and security may differ. A shared hosting service, like HostGator or Bluehost, where multiple sites share one server, is cost-effective but may run slowly if other sites are consuming significant resources. However, you pay more for a dedicated server. Cloud hosting platforms, such as AWS and Google, use a network of servers to increase resources and enable you to scale when needed. 

Blog Design and User Experience

A clean, attractive website is like a welcome mat, inviting readers to step into your site and explore. Make sure your blog is easy to navigate, as any friction in clicking links or filling out forms may cause visitors to abandon the site. Use the following as a checklist for optimizing your blog’s visual appeal and functionality. v

Aesthetic appeal

Consider the look and feel you want to achieve with your blog, and pick colors that set the right tone. Choose a layout that balances text and visuals — pages should be attractive but not cluttered. White space helps distinguish different site elements so users can find what they need. 

Readability

Use a legible font size and line spacing so it’s easy for the eye to move smoothly from one line to another. Be consistent in applying the font throughout the site and choose contrasting colors for the text and background.

Intuitive navigation

Create a logical site architecture and group content so it makes sense to the user. Use standard navigation cues, such as a menu bar, across the top of the page.

Page speed

Things happen quickly online, so your site should load pages and process requests quickly. Test your site’s Core Web Vitals regularly, as they affect user experience and search rankings. 

Mobile responsiveness

About 58% of all web traffic comes from mobile devices, so your readers are likely browsing on a smartphone or tablet. To accommodate these users, Google crawls and indexes the mobile version of most sites first. Ensure your content resizes to fit neatly on smaller screens, and links and buttons are large enough to select. Fonts should be legible without users zooming in, and mobile pages should load quickly. 

Dynamic content

Make your blog a dynamic experience to spark curiosity and engage audiences. Where appropriate, consider using:

• Images, charts, graphs, and infographics to break up copy and make points easier to understand
• Video content to bring concepts to life
• Interactive quizzes and slideshows
• Augmented or virtual reality for creative storytelling
• Virtual tours for immersive experiences, such as the ones offered by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Content Creation and Strategy 

To help your blog gain traction, you’ll need a sound strategy and process. It all starts with research, then you’ll need to create a system to publish exceptional content regularly, like a content calendar.

Perform keyword research

With your target audience in mind, use keyword research to guide your topic selection. Identify a mix of broad keywords for core content and long-tail keywords to answer precise questions. Consider the buyer’s journey and create content for audiences both at the beginning of their discovery and further along in the decision-making stages.

Organize themes

With keywords in hand, organize your content into themes so you can take a strategic approach to writing. Let’s say you’re building a financial tips blog. Start with a few topic clusters, such as loans, savings, and mortgages. 

Break these down further. Within the loans category, you might focus on car loans, student loans, and lines of credit. Research long-tail keywords related to these subtopics, such as tips for paying off loans and student loan repayment calculators. This method ensures that your content doesn’t overlap and ideas don’t fall through the cracks.

Manage content creation

Once you’ve identified individual blog topics, consider the format types your audience prefers, and plan your content.

• Use an editorial calendar. Schedule blog posts with deadlines to keep you on track. If you’re struggling to maintain your schedule, consider outsourcing to a blog writing service.
• Create content in batches. Instead of writing in bits and pieces, set aside time to create related content all at once. This ensures a consistent approach, and you won’t have to duplicate research. 
• Write detailed content briefs. A content brief summarizes article details, such as keywords, word count, intended audience, purpose, and topic outline. This document keeps you and your content team on the same page. 
• Repurpose content. Consider presenting content in different formats to satisfy audience preferences and quickly grow your content inventory. Take key points from an article and translate them into an infographic, or turn a webinar into an ebook. As you publish more content, you’ll cement your topical authority.

Balancing content quality and quantity

It might be tempting to push out as much content as possible when starting your blog, but search engines and audiences are increasingly discerning about quality. Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines and the more recent helpful content system update emphasize content with experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. In other words, your content must deliver exceptional value before it can surface in search engines. Incorporate unique insight, such as examples based on your experiences, case studies, or statistics from your research. 

A note of caution: Many bloggers are dabbling in AI to speed up content creation. While AI can help with ideation, OpenAI’s terms of use state you can’t represent its output as human-generated. In other words, you can’t ask ChatGPT to write an article and publish it as your own — but this is a good thing. While AI content could rank in Google in theory, it still requires human assistance to address the first-person experience and perspective that satisfies E-E-A-T principles.

Building an Audience

You’ve built your blog and put together a brilliant content strategy. The next step is to create awareness and cultivate an audience, because quality alone won’t attract traffic to your blog. Here are some tactics to raise your online visibility:

• Search engine optimization: Follow industry standard best practices for getting your site to rank well in search engine results.
• Social media marketing: Identify the platforms and online communities where your audience is most active. Begin building an online presence and engaging audiences using hashtags.
• Social networking conversations: Share your expertise by commenting on posts or answering questions. For example, LinkedIn’s collaborative articles are making an impressive splash in search results.
• Cross-promotion: Partner with websites that have a similar target audience so you can reach new readers. 
• Guest posts: Offer a guest post to authoritative sites in exchange for a link that drives traffic to your site.
• Email marketing: Build your email subscriber list to market directly to your audience. 
• Analytics: Regularly analyze your blog’s performance. See which pages are most popular or where most of your readers are coming from to build on your success.

Once you drive traffic to your site, keep your readers engaged. Link strategically between posts to encourage audiences to explore other pages on your site, and ensure your content remains fresh and interesting. 

Monetization Strategies

When your blog gains momentum, you can generate income. You have to demonstrate a minimum level of traffic to attract advertisers and partners, but as your blog grows, more opportunities to earn become available.

Balance your need to create revenue with the needs of your audience. Littering your site with ads can get in the way of the user experience and impact your credibility. Similarly, your audience depends on you for your opinions, so don’t recommend products simply to earn money through sponsorship or affiliate links. 

Advertising

Ad networks, such as Google AdSense, Mediavine, and SHE Media, place ads from brands interested in reaching your audience and get paid by the view or click. You can also sell space directly to advertisers if you find a business interested in sponsoring your site.

Courses and workshops

Many bloggers generate revenue through courses, workshops, or coaching. There are a few different models for this. The website Simply + Fiercely supplements its home organization tips with courses at various price points. 

Meanwhile, cooking blogs such as the Canto Cooking Club offer a monthly subscription for on-demand cooking classes. 

Affiliate marketing

With affiliate marketing, you earn a commission each time someone from your site clicks a link to purchase on another website. These links are usually included in blog posts as product recommendations. Amazon is the most well-known affiliate partner, but The Home Depot, Walmart, and Lowe’s also offer affiliate programs. The Penny Hoarder, for example, uses affiliate links and discloses them at the start of articles.

Product or services

Offer personalized coaching or consulting services to your audience so they can benefit first-hand from your expertise. The courses we mentioned on Simply + Fiercely include live coaching calls with the blog founder. 

You can also set up an ecommerce shop to sell items your audience might be interested in, whether it’s an ebook you’ve written or products you’ve developed. Yoga with Adriene, for example, has a shop featuring branded clothing. 

Brand sponsorships

Some bloggers secure sponsorships with brands that have a similar target audience. With these arrangements, you receive compensation for mentioning or promoting products in posts — through financial payment or products to review. You may also receive giveaways to run contests or promo codes for your readers.

Legal and Ethical Considerations for Your Blog

When you’re publishing in a public space, you’re obligated to do so responsibly. Taking an ethical approach to your blog helps establish professionalism and credibility and sets the foundation for your site’s longevity.

• Trademarks: Perform due diligence when branding your blog by ensuring the name isn’t already in use. Consider trademarking your final choice for protection. 
• Copyright: Don’t use images, text, video, or other content without permission or attribution. It’s best to create your own content and use royalty-free or stock photography. 
• Disclosure: Disclose whether you’re paid to write about something, receive a commission, or have a stake in something you write about. 
• Libel and defamation: Take care not to make false statements on your blog that can negatively impact someone’s reputation, as this can lead to legal action.
• Be respectful: Be careful about sharing personal stories, photographs, or information without permission.
• Inclusive language: Use gender-neutral terms and watch for language that marginalizes or excludes certain groups. Consider that a diverse audience may be reading your content.
• Headlines: Be respectful of your audience and deliver what you promise in your content — misleading headlines can diminish your audience’s trust.
• Accuracy: Verify facts with credible sources. If you make a mistake, correct it as soon as possible.
• Accessibility: Make your content accessible to users of all abilities. This includes alternative text for images and ensuring your website is compatible with assistive devices.
• Privacy policies and disclaimers: Explain how and why you collect information and any terms and conditions for using your site. Disclaimers can protect you if you’re writing about health-related, legal, or financial topics — suggest that readers consult with a professional before taking action.
  

Additional Resources

While starting a blog can be daunting, you don’t have to go it alone. Plenty of tools can help you get your work done efficiently, as well as lead you to communities where you can ask questions and interact with other bloggers. Some of these tools and communities include:

• Grammarly: Use this popular writing assistant to polish your copy and improve grammar, spelling, and writing style.
• Canva: This graphic design tool makes it easy to create images for blog posts and social media content. Both free and paid versions are available.
• Looka: Need a logo? This tool uses AI to create one for you.  
• Pexels: Find free stock photos and images for your blog.
• Lumen5: Make your blog more dynamic with AI-generated videos.
• Yoast SEO: This WordPress plug-in helps you optimize your content to rank better in search engines.
• Google Analytics: Monitor key metrics and find ways to improve your blog’s performance.
• Trello: Organize your workflow and keep track of deadlines with this project management tool.
• Google AdSense: Display ads on your blog to earn revenue.
• Reddit: Connect with fellow bloggers on the r/Blogging subreddit. You might also pick up some search engine optimization tips on r/SEO.

Your Roadmap to Blogging Success

Building a sustainable blog begins with researching topics your audience is interested in, ensuring a demand, and differentiating your blog from competitors. But to shine online, you need to plan and create outstanding blog posts that demonstrate expertise and offer more value than other sites in the SERPs.

Helpful, thought-provoking, and original content connects you to your audience. Learn how Crowd Content’s blog writing services can help you scale your content creation, from keyword research to quality assurance, and take the day-to-day details of writing and editing off your plate.

The post How to Start a Blog in 2024: An All-in-One Guide appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

But, amidst the hype and noise, there’s a burning question: Can Google, the digital gatekeeper, tell if content is created by steel and silicon instead of a human mind?  Join us as we reveal the depths of Google’s AI content detection powers and empower you to harness the full potential of your new AI sidekick. 

Can Google Detect AI Content? 

Google’s technology is far too sophisticated to be fooled by AI content — and for readers with a trained eye, AI-generated content can stick out like a sore thumb. But does that mean Google punishes you for utilizing it?

Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and helpful. This quest means a relentless battle against low-quality content designed to manipulate search rankings — AI-generated or not. 

The search engine is transparent about spam policies for Google web search. Some of its flagged criteria include keyword stuffing, cloaking, and hidden links. Just as keyword-stuffed articles written by humans are penalized as spam, so is spammy AI-generated content. In other words, AI-generated content has just as much opportunity to be flagged as spam as content typed straight from the hands of creatives.

Google uses algorithms to determine an article’s creator. Let’s explore how Google’s algorithms have flourished in recent years and how these procedures affect whether AI ranks in the SERPs.

The evolution of Google’s algorithms

Google has developed complex algorithms designed to separate the wheat from the chaff to deliver reliable, helpful content to users. In recent years, the advent of AI has bolstered its ability to detect and penalize spam content — and reward high-quality, original content.

These upgrades had the most significant impact on AI detection:

• Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) in 2019: This model helps Google understand conversational queries and search intent.

• Multitask Unified Model (MUM) in 2021: 1,000 times more potent than BERT, MUM can generate comprehensive search results across various languages and formats and understand the context behind complex queries. This advancement considerably improved accuracy and depth, delivering more relevant results to intricate searches.  

• SpamBrain in 2022: This AI-based system targets behaviors that manipulate search rankings, such as keyword stuffing and link buying to give users better results. It identifies and penalizes websites that engage in tactics deemed to be search-first instead of people-first. 

• MUM’s rollout in 2022: Boosting search accuracy and speed, MUM uses a T5 model that leads to more precise and relevant search experiences and dooms low-effort content to oblivion. 

Other Google algorithms impacting SEO and relating to AI-generated content include:

• Freshness systems, which show recent content where appropriate
• The helpful content system, which prioritizes useful, human-written content
• PageRank, which analyzes links for relevance, authority, and integrity
• Neural matching, which connects user intent to content context 
• RankBrain, which helps Google understand the context behind words
• Reliable information systems, which help elevate quality journalism and demote low-quality writing

If you’re relying too heavily on AI, you may have plummeted into a pit of low-ranking content and irrelevancy. However, not all AI-generated content is created equally. 

What’s Google’s Official Stance on AI-Generated Content?

Google’s official stance on AI-generated content has shifted dramatically in a short space of time. You’re forgiven if you think Search Advocate John Meuller‘s words from April 2022 still stand.

But note that guidance about AI-generated content on Google’s website reveals a different picture. Today, the company’s official stance reflects a dual commitment to search quality and user experience. 

These guidelines highlight the need for content to prioritize originality and user-centricity. If you’re using AI, you can’t slam a few prompts into ChatGPT and copy and paste your way to success. 

If you’re using AI to create original, high-quality content that demonstrates expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, Google rewards you — however the content is produced.

Our VP of Content Operations, Rick Leach, expands on the principles behind E-E-A-T:

“With E-E-A-T, Google has all but ensured that pure AI content and low-effort human content won’t stand much of a chance in the SERPs. Content that succeeds has insights, advice, and opinions that come from what the people in your business have learned by doing a job, performing a service, or creating a product day in and day out. You can’t fake that stuff, and you certainly won’t get it from quick, one-prompt AI outputs.”

How Does Google Detect AI Content?

Google can detect AI-generated content because it understands how generative AI works.

Dr. Vivek Pandley, CEO of Vrata Tech Solutions, explains what sets modern AI tools like ChatGPT apart. “These models are trained on massive datasets, learning patterns, styles, and contextual cues to generate coherent and contextually relevant content,” Pandley says. “Unlike traditional AI models that follow predetermined rules, generative AI has the ability to generate novel outputs, making it a powerful tool for tasks ranging from content creation and natural language processing to image synthesis.”

So, how does Google know AI wrote your content? While the search giant keeps its secrets notoriously close to its chest, we know the following methods:

• Pattern recognition detects unusual language structure, grammar, syntax, and semantics.
• Google trains machine learning algorithms on massive data sets of human and AI-written content, helping it learn subtle cues that indicate AI or human writing. 
• Ensemble deep learning combines multiple detection models, strengthening Google’s ability to detect AI content. 
• Natural language processing analyzes semantics and context, highlighting differences between human and AI writing patterns. 

Despite Google’s advancements, AI models constantly up their game, getting ever-closer to looking and sounding indistinguishable from human writing. Plus, with AI-driven adversarial attacks on the rise, there’s a battle underway to keep AI as a force for good.

Thanks to advanced neural network architectures, Google appears proficient at recognizing complex patterns suggestive of AI-generated content.  

AI’s Impact on Engagement and UX

AI is here to stay, and Google is on board, provided you “produce original, high-quality, people-first content demonstrating qualities of E-E-A-T.” But what does that mean? Ultimately, it boils down to crafting content focused on user engagement and experience — and having relevant, demonstrated expertise.

Bankrate taught the world a valuable lesson about focusing solely on scaling up and neglecting to optimize AI content for E-E-A-T. Futurism’s Jon Christian exposed the CNET sister site by writing a scathing piece listing all the factual errors in a single AI-generated Bankrate article.

Following public outcry, Bankrate pivoted on its AI policy.

Anyone who’s used generative AI knows there must have been little — if any — human input into Bankrate’s AI-generated articles. Inaccurate information, absence of expert writers, and focus on pumping out reams of content eroded away at E-E-A-T.

AI alone isn’t enough

In April 2023, Google released a statement: “AI and automation can be a useful tool to create helpful content, but if AI is used for the primary purpose of manipulating search rankings, that’s a violation of our long-standing policy against spammy automatically-generated content.”

You need to apply E-E-A-T principles, engage users, and provide them with a memorable experience that compels them to return. You can use AI to create it, but here’s the kicker — AI is a powerful, fantastic tool for making content, but it can’t create it for you. Every sentence of every article needs human involvement to meet Google’s exacting standards. 

Bankrate prioritized search over people and had to unlist 6 months’ worth of content as a result. While embarrassing for them, it could push a smaller company into the red. That’s why human touch is crucial when producing AI-generated content.

If you’ve used AI to generate articles and you’re on the brink of banishing them to the recycle bin, stop! Use them as foundational pieces, adding expert quotes and opinions, valuable graphics, and a consistent brand voice. 

Tips for Using AI to Craft Content That Converts

To make sure your content doesn’t fall short of Google’s quality standards:

• Know Google’s rules. Keep yourself in the loop with Google’s quality guidelines. Your AI content should tick the boxes for originality, relevance, and user-friendliness, in line with Google’s playbook.
• Mix in human flavor. AI can churn out bland content, but people add the seasoning. Experiment with an AI-generated draft, then sprinkle in personality, expertise, and authenticity.
• Serve value. Give your audience something worth reading by never rewriting someone else’s article. Your content should solve problems, answer questions, and offer fresh insights to keep readers coming back for more.
• Keep it readable. Avoid making your audience work too hard. Use precise language, short sentences, and tidy formatting to make your AI-generated content a breeze to read and understand.
• Shake things up. Don’t be a one-trick pony. Try different content types, including articles, blogs, infographics, videos, and podcasts. 
• Test and tweak. Watch your AI content’s performance, and listen to what your audience says. Use the data to find ways to make your content even better.

Creative uses for AI in content creation

With these AI-powered tricks up your sleeve, you can craft content that works for you without breaking a sweat:

• Tailored recommendations: Use AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini to determine what your audience wants, and serve up personalized content recommendations that hit the spot.
• Visual content enhancement: Spruce up your visuals with AI tools for special effects — it’s a whole lot cheaper than licensing stock photography. 
• Natural language generation: Effortlessly generate content such as product descriptions and social media posts. But never forget to match it with your brand’s style and tone, or it’ll get lost in a sea of similar posts.
• Voice search optimization: Stay one step ahead by writing AI-optimized content for voice search queries. Use conversational language and long-tail keywords to make sure your content gets heard loud and clear.

What Does the Future Hold for Google AI-Detection?

As we navigate AI’s impact on the world of SEO content, one thing remains clear: Adaptability is key. AI marches forth, as do Google’s detection methods, ensuring that only high-quality, user-centric content prevails. The future holds endless possibilities for AI-driven content, but it has yet to find a workaround for Google’s standards. 

To stay ahead, content creators need to adhere to Google’s guidelines, blend AI with human creativity, and prioritize their audience over quick fixes to climb the SERPs. 

Ready to transform your AI-generated content into pieces that embody E-E-A-T principles? Try out Crowd Content’s expert editing services.

The post What’s Google’s Stance on AI-Generated Content? appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

To help you along, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the AI tools we love to use all through the content-creation process.

Use Cases for AI Content Creation Tools

AI content creation tools leverage the many intricacies of natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to create content that looks and sounds human but originates deep within the inner workings of the World Wide Web.

Over the past couple of years, the majority of public focus has been on AI’s increasing role in content generation. With the help of a human operator, artificial intelligence tools draw on existing content, data, and other inputs across the internet to create new copy used for everything from blog posts and news articles to product descriptions and About Us pages. But the written word is far from the only way to utilize AI.

AI tools are also invaluable for:

• SEO: AI can help with search engine optimization, by identifying quality keywords and generating metadata that appeals to Google’s algorithm.
• Social media management: Platforms such as Hootsuite and FeedHive tackle vital social media tasks, such as identifying the best time to post a meme and using social listening to track and analyze consumer conversations.
• Email marketing: Creating content for emails can be especially tricky because you have to pack a lot into a relatively small space. AI can draft personalized email content, improving your marketing campaigns without taxing your brain power.
• Translation: Looking to break into a new market? Use AI to translate existing content into another language without losing context and tone.
• Chatbots: Providing 24/7 customer service can be expensive, which is why so many companies are training chatbots to interact with customers and answer their questions when human agents are unavailable.
• Graphics: AI image generators can create images based on prompts, reducing reliance on those generic stock images people love to hate.

And those use cases are just the tip of the iceberg. AI can also help with editing content, analyzing data, scripting, creating quizzes, crafting how-to guides and tutorials, drafting legal documents such as contracts, aiding developers in generating code snippets, scheduling appointments, and hundreds of other useful things.

Top 10 Content Creation Tools

Using AI content creation tools to improve your business practices or to lighten your personal workload is a clever play. But the even more brilliant move is learning which tools are the best overall for the task at hand.

1. ChatGPT

Classification: Broad-spectrum content generation

Overview: Large language models (LLMS) are used to power platforms such as ChatGPT, creating a methodology that generates blogs, social media updates, content summaries, and just about every other content imaginable based on text data originally used to train the LLM’s neural network. In other words, ChatGPT has learned how to create content just like a human would (or pretty close, anyway).

You can use ChatGPT in multiple ways, depending on your role and your goals. Are you a writer who needs help brainstorming? A content strategist building a content map with pillar pages and spokes? A content manager tasked with generating briefs and outlines? You can do all this, plus tons of other jobs, from one chat interface — you just need to tweak the copy before sending it down the pipeline to the next person.

Features: ChatGPT has the ability to answer questions, summarize text, translate content, generate code, etc.

Pros: ChatGPT’s prompt and response format is easy to use and works for everything from writing blogs to figuring out how to fix your washing machine.

Cons: If in the hands of a novice user, long-form writing can easily come off as formulaic (or, dare we say robotic?). Also, because these models train on potentially outdated data, you still need to fact-check everything the platform generates.

Pricing: The basic model is free, but a $20/month subscription provides faster responses and more consistent access when the site is overloaded with users. 

2. ClickUp

Classification: Project management and AI writing assistant

Overview: This productivity-boosting tool empowers teams that can benefit from having multiple utilities all under one umbrella. Functionality is the name of the game, and the completely reconfigurable setup means each user or organization can find a way to make ClickUp fit their needs — even if those needs continuously change.

ClickUp’s tagline is “One app to replace them all,” and it makes sense. Instead of flipping back and forth between apps used to monitor tasks, write content, track goals, and chat with team members, ClickUp puts it all in one place and creates new connections powered by all-knowing AI. It’s like having a personal assistant who knows what you need before you do.

Features: ClickUp has hundreds of features on tap, including tools for task management, marketing campaign management, visual collaboration, real-time reporting, content ideation and creation, editing, and checklist generation.

Pros: The platform is customizable and built to integrate with over 1,000 other tools. It also has a library of customizable templates for work-ready shortcuts.

Cons: AI features are available only through higher subscription tiers.

Pricing: Subscriptions range from free (best for personal use) to business accounts for $12/month. Larger enterprise-level accounts are priced by request.

3. Narrato Workspace

Classification: End-to-end AI content creation and planning

Overview: Narrato Workspace isn’t a single tool — it’s an entire workspace that puts research, planning, and content creation all in one applause-worthy box. It doesn’t matter if your to-do list includes automating publishing for a couple dozen blogs, coming up with ideas for video scripts, or writing a press release for that upcoming product launch. Narrato can do it all — and add some custom AI images for good measure.

Features: Narrato’s SEO content brief generator is a total powerhouse. Other features, such as workflow automation that streamlines repetitive tasks, AI image generation, and built-in content planning and organization tools, are equally indispensable.

Pros: The all-in-one workspace saves time, and the template generator helps users keep dialing in their own processes.

Cons: Users report few cons, but the content editor can lag a bit when processing larger docs.

Pricing: Plans start at $36/month for a base Pro subscription and increase to $76/month for a larger business account.

4. Lately

Classification: AI social media post generator

Overview: Turning long-form content into easily digestible nuggets suitable for social media can feel like a slog. Lately generates social posts in a jiffy, which serves several purposes: You can reuse existing content, populate your social feeds, and generate more engagement all at once. And you don’t have to strain your bandwidth to do it. With Lately, you can create dozens of social posts with a simple click of a button, and that’s not limited to text. The platform also distills audio and visual content.

Features: Lately’s solutions list includes tools that generate content and transcripts, create clips of videos and podcasts, and build social posts with all the necessary elements (copy, images, tracking links, etc.) intact and ready to go.

Pros: As easy to use as it is focused, Lately gives small businesses and busy marketers a way to power up social media without getting distracted by other functionalities.

Cons: The platform’s narrow focus means you’ll need other tools for other tasks.

Pricing: Pricing depends on the number of social channels linked; subscriptions start at $49/month for four channels.

5. Jasper

Classification: AI content generator for blogs

Overview: Jasper is kind of like ChatGPT’s lesser-known cousin, but don’t let marketing make your decision for you. Jasper is adept at understanding tone, something that’s often missing in AI-generated content. Cross-app integrations make it easier to transfer content between Google Docs and the Jasper platform, and you can even use the built-in API to create new integrations that aren’t automatically supported.

Features: Use Jasper’s Boss Mode to create more detailed long-form content. SurferSEO integration helps finished content rank, and with 30-plus languages available for translation purposes, that content is poised to reach an even bigger audience.

Pros: Jasper’s ability to understand and replicate tone is ideal for branded content, and Boss Mode helps avoid some of the pitfalls that usually come with content built off AI-driven templates.

Cons: Like other AI content generators, Jasper isn’t built for nuance. Have specialty and sensitive content reviewed by human subject matter experts for the best results.

Pricing: Creator-level subscriptions start at $39/month and go up from there. Enterprise pricing is available on request. 

6. Copy.ai

Classification: Freestyle AI writing tool

Overview: Copy.ai is another content generator, but this one responds well to additional guidance. Instead of entering a general prompt, such as “zoo animals,” you can provide more context, such as “zoo animals most prevalent in the United States, written from 2nd person POV, geared toward kids, with a humorous undertone.” Similar to ChatGPT, Copy.ai has a chatbot interface that assists with research by answering questions and hunting down data in response to prompts.

Features: Unlike other AI content generators that require you to copy output and paste it into a third-party word processor for further work, Copy.ai has an in-line doc editor so you can polish as you go. You can also build email sequences, translate copy, and use the AI prompt library to help cut to the chase.

Pros: Real-time data collection helps improve factual accuracy and prevent copy from being out of date, and the in-line editor streamlines workflow.

Cons: Copy.ai doesn’t check generated content for plagiarism, and pricing is relatively high once you bypass max inputs for a free account.

Pricing: Basic accounts are free; Pro accounts start at $36/month.

7. Synthesia

Classification: AI video generation

Overview: Video production can be a pricey endeavor. Between equipment, casting, post-production editing, and time off from all the other tasks on your plate, you can easily rack up five-figure costs. Synthesia makes video creation more accessible by using AI to generate videos based on plain-text prompts. Instead of human leads, videos are led by an AI-generated avatar that also handles narration. This tool puts the power of video creation in the hands of small businesses and solopreneurs who might not otherwise be able to share pro-level explainer videos or support their blogs with advanced visual aids.

Features: There are over 140 stock avatars and 120-plus languages available to help you speak to your core audience. Use customization options to dial in your branding and the 60-plus video templates to jump-start “filming” if you feel stuck.

Pros: All the plug-in-play type features make it easy for total newbies to get up and running quickly.

Cons: The editing process takes some time and practice to master, and some features (such as the number of scenes you can include) are limited, depending on your subscription level.

Pricing: Start accounts are $22/month, with an annual billing discount; Enterprise account pricing is available on request. 

8. Murf

Classification: AI voice generation platform

Overview: Murf helps you create AI voiceovers in record time, using the scripts you provide to bring life and an almost-human touch to everything from new client introduction videos to how-to guides. You can choose what type of voice you want and even which accent you prefer, matching your finished voiceover to your business or target demographic.

Murf has also solved the once-universal issue with computer-generated voiceovers: stilted, robotic speech. Use the built-in editing feature to eliminate strange pauses, and switch up vocal emphasis so your end product is less William Shatner and more relatable for the average customer.

Features: Text-to-speech input creates voiceovers from written content; multilingual support increases diversity; and AI cloning can even mimic inflections that indicate emotions.

Pros: If you can write something (or have someone write it for you), you can create a voiceover using Murf.

Cons: Editing is possible but requires oversight by someone who understands speech patterns and knows how to achieve a more natural result.

Pricing: Basic accounts are free; paid accounts with additional features and support start at $19/month.

9. Canva

Classification: AI image generation and graphic design

Overview: What-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editors changed how the average person created, organized, and published blogs, and now the same tech is revolutionizing image and graphic generation. You don’t have to be a graphic designer to use Canva — the knowledge and taste level are already there. No-code editors offer multiple menus of design elements, along with templates that act as a foundation for almost any type of imaging possible. Create business cards, presentations, posters, videos, social media posts, whiteboards, and animations — as soon as you catch up, Canva will have something new to announce.

Features: Canva has stacked the deck with features such as a huge library of free stock photos, graphics, design elements, fonts, and templates galore. You can export in a variety of formats, and there’s a built-in sharing mode to get finished designs up ASAP.

Pros: It’s useful for everyone from complete newbies to design pros, as templates can stand alone or be tweaked down to the tiniest details.

Cons: Many of the best graphics, fonts, etc., are only available via a paid subscription.

Pricing: Basic accounts are free. Canva Pro is $14.99/month, and Canva for Teams of five people costs $29.99/month. 

10. Podcastle

Classification: Blog-to-podcast conversion

Overview: Approximately 42% of Americans age 12 and up say they’ve listened to at least one podcast in the past month. Podcast formatting is increasingly popular, and Podcastle is helping content creators and businesses step up to the plate, thanks to software that turns blogs into podcast-ready scripts. The technology also works to create audiobooks and other audio-based content. You can also do the creation process in reverse and turn your existing podcasts into blogs. It’s a win-win situation that multiplies functionality.

Features: The platform provides studio-level sound without studio equipment, plus there’s an audio editor you can use to enhance tone, edit recordings, and remove background noise.  The AI tech makes it possible to create digital copies of your voice.

Pros: You can go from text to voice and back again using one utility, and there are a lot of customization options up for grabs.

Cons: The platform is still a bit clunky. But updates keep coming, and the interface should be more user-friendly soon.

Pricing: Basic membership is free for a single creator; multi-creator subscriptions start at $11.99/month per creator; and Pro-level subscriptions cost $23.99/month per creator. 

Top 4 AI Content Creation Tools – Bonus SEO List

AI is also storming the SEO castle, and these tools can help you conquer the SERPs without scouring content for keyword placement manually — and really, who wants to do that?

1. Semrush

Overview: Semrush is all about SEO, with a slate of 55-plus tools on hand so you can optimize content from every possible angle. While basic keyword tools just look at phrases you need to include, Semrush takes a much wider view. Content marketing, PPC, competitor research, and social media marketing — you can do it all with Semrush.

With Semrush, you have a market research tool that also does SEO, making you more competitive and eliminating lag time between seeing a content problem and finding a solution.

Features: Use the AI-driven site auditor to pinpoint gaps in your SEO strategy, then act on the bot’s recommendations. The keyword magic tool rates short- and long-tail keywords by search volume and difficulty.

Pros: So many utilities, so little time! Semrush does a lot, and much of it is available for free.

Cons: Higher plans can get pricey, and with many functions on tap, those new to SEO could get confused.

Pricing: Basic searches are free; paid plans start at $129.95/month and go up to $499.95/month for large agency and enterprise accounts. 

2. SurferSEO

Overview: SurferSEO’s main strength is in content optimization. It uses data-driven insights to create suggestions users rely on to improve their on-page SEO. The goal is to improve visibility and SERP rankings based on the targeted keywords, current search engine algorithms, and lengthy competitor analysis. AI can see patterns the average human won’t notice, increasing the likelihood that SurferSEO’s recommendations can give you a competitive edge and improve your ranking more than you’d be able to achieve on your own.

Features: SurferSEO has its own on-platform content editor, plus analytics tools that track performance and generate reports. It also has a robust resource library, including tutorials, to help you get the most out of your subscription.

Pros: Multiple integrations increase utility, and it has a user-friendly interface that minimizes the scare factor for newbies.

Cons: SurferSEO’s basic plans have limited functionality, and higher plans are expensive. There’s also a learning curve, and those new to SEO may have to dedicate time to reading guides and familiarizing themselves with the platform.

Pricing: Essential AI plans start at $119/month; Advanced AI costs $239/month; and full Surfer AI power requires a Max AI account for $419/month.

3. Diib

Overview: Diib is like a scaled-down version of SurferSEO and Semrush, but smaller doesn’t mean less than. In fact, Diib’s focus is one of the platform’s biggest benefits. Small businesses looking to scale can jettison the noise that comes with too many features and concentrate solely on SEO and traffic insights designed to automate SEO and promote growth.

With Diib, you get a clear growth objective you can work toward, along with alerts that let you know how you’re doing with SEO, social media, mobile conversions, and overall UX. Instead of checking up on your website 800 times a day and neglecting other tasks, Diib does it for you.

Features: Daily health scores keep your finger on the pulse of your website’s well-being. Diib’s 12-metric system ensures a holistic view of your progress, and AI-powered SEO gap checks and competitor monitoring buoy your success even further.

Pros: Diib is affordable, focused, and easy to understand, and the mostly hands-off daily operations are perfect for bootstrapped startups.

Cons: If you need a lot of extras, such as a built-in content editor or lots of templates, you’ll have to supplement Diib with another platform or tool.

Pricing: Self-service plans are free. Pro plans with unlimited access to Diib tools cost $7.99/month.

4. RankIQ

Overview: RankIQ is another specific SEO tool. This one only cares about blogs. The utility’s sole goal is to help businesses and enterprising individuals write blogs that rank on the first page of the SERPs. It does that by handpicking low-competition, high-traffic keywords niche by niche and generating content briefs and outlines that put those keywords to work.

Features: The software uses a call-and-response formula — you enter a keyword, and RankIQ comes back with everything you need to know. It also prepares detailed AI-generated SEO reports and checks rank regularly.

Pros: The interface is remarkably straightforward, and all you need to know going in is your original target keyword.

Cons: There are no advanced features or customization options here. It’s bare bones, and if you want help with website content or social stuff, you won’t get it from RankIQ.

Pricing: Plans start at $49/month.

Is It OK to Use AI Content Creation Tools?

AI content tools are pretty darn useful. From fueling ideation and assisting in research to creating briefs and publish-ready prose, AI plug-ins and platforms are indelibly woven into the future of writing. But, an over-reliance on these tools can lead to lower-quality content, something that can negatively impact your brand and your SERP ranking. That’s why it’s so crucial that you learn how to balance the potential of AI with frequent reminders of the importance of human oversight.

There are legal and ethical considerations, too. It’s your responsibility to ensure everything you publish and put your name on complies with copyright laws and ethical standards. Saying “AI did it” won’t fly.

The Future of AI Tools and Revolutionary Content

From increasing efficiency and offering new insights to giving professional assists that would otherwise cost companies tens of thousands of dollars a year, these platforms are stepping up to make life easier and content better. In many ways, AI content-creation tools are the wingmen we need at a price we can (usually) afford. It enhances our creativity, improves our outcomes, and puts voice and image creation in the hands of people who have never held a microphone or video camera. It’s magical — but even an enchanted bunny needs a person around to pull it out of the hat.

As you scale your business, keep experimenting. But always think of and treat AI as an enhancement, not a totally hands-off alternative to people-first processes.

The post Top 10 AI Content Creation Tools appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Gone are the days of just winging it. Today’s cluttered blog landscape and the developing metaverse of tech and talk mean spontaneous posting just isn’t enough to get your brand noticed. That’s why it’s so important to understand what makes a strong content production process.

See how infusing every step of your content strategy with a triple-optimization approach (SEO, reader engagement, and business goals) can get you where you need to go.

What Is Content Production and How Does It Connect to Your Digital Marketing Strategy?

Content production is a comprehensive process and includes planning, creating, refining, and publishing content to meet your business objectives. This is so much more than dashing off a blog post and pushing it through your WordPress dashboard.

Properly producing effective and on-brand content requires equal parts art and science. The artsy end of things comes when your writer crafts a pithy turn of phrase or your graphics team creates a memorable infographic. The science portion of the process involves things like keyword research, evaluation of potential distribution channels, and analytics review.

All these components feed into and become one with your digital marketing strategy. Think about how you choose to spend time on and funnel resources into:

• Audience engagement
• Brand awareness
• Search engine optimization
• Lead generation
• Social media presence
• Email marketing
• Analytics and iteration
• Consumer education

Lay the proper foundation; tick all the boxes, and visibility and audience reach will soar. Skip steps or engage in random marketing — think paying freelancers for content without a brief or review process — and you might as well convert your marketing budget into dollar bills, throw the pile into gale-force winds, and try to get your stack back in place. 

The Process of Content Production: Strategies for Guaranteed Results

We should preface: There are no guarantees in content or marketing overall. But there are ways you can construct your content production process to increase your chances of success. For your content to be a hit, you should pay attention to every stage of the process and understand the true goal for each phase. 

Hint: Too much of what should happen early in the process is often left to writers. 

1. Initial strategy/keyword research/analysis

This is where you establish the initial whos, whats, and whys of content creation.

• Why are you producing content in the first place?
• What business goals are you trying to achieve with content? 
• Who is the content for?
• What does that audience need or want?
• What are your competitors doing better than you? 
• What are your competitors not doing well?

Keyword research, market research, and market trend analysis can aid your search for those answers. The goal is to understand what your competitors are up to and how your target audience behaves to better fuel your strategy.

2. Ideation

Brainstorm unique and competitive ideas that address the keywords and their respective search intent. Every concept should build on the research in step one and answer those whos, whats, and whys.

3. Pre-production

Pre-production is like planning for the plan. What kind of timeline are you thinking, and what outside influences (an upcoming product launch date, for instance) impact your decisions?

During this phase, create content briefs and infographic templates, conduct interviews, or send out surveys that will become part of the content created down the line. Don’t leave the opinions and insights captured in your content to chance here; determine what they’ll be before moving onto the next phase.

4. Writing

Now, the content briefs, resources, and instructions land in the hands of talented freelancers or your in-house writing team, and the actual writing begins.

5. Editing

Fully drafted content is sent to editors, who review everything for clarity, coherence, grammar, and style. This stage is not just a case of dotting an “i” here and crossing a “t” over there. Editors contextually review the content, double-checking that it aligns with brand guidelines and the messaging fits the campaign.

6. Review

Send the edited draft to anyone who needs or wants to give their input. This may include subject matter experts, peer reviews, or other decision-makers on your team. Content that’s on point moves to the next step. Everything else gets marked up and sent back for further work.

7. Design

Support written content with bespoke images, graphics, and videos. Everything should slot in well with existing branded material and be formatted for the intended distribution channels — no long-form videos for TikTok or long-winded rants for X.

8. Publishing

Send your finished, multifaceted content out into the world. Channels might include your company website, a branded blog, social media pages, email newsletters, industry publications, podcasts, or e-books.

9. Tracking/analytics

Use key performance indicators to track how your content is doing and whether you’re meeting your brand’s goals. Metrics such as page views, conversion rates, social shares, and post likes and comments can give you insight into what’s working well and where you could improve. Be sure the primary metric you track for each asset aligns with the reason you created the content in the first place. 

10. Content refresh

Update content that has grown stale or isn’t performing as you’d hoped by adding insights, recent developments in the topic, and updated statistics. At this stage, you should also ensure that the content still aligns with the search intent of your primary keywords. 

Best Practices for SEO and Content Production

There are lots of bits and pieces that go into planning stellar content, but SEO is a big one — it’s integral in producing compelling content that ranks high in the SERPs. Best practices demand you incorporate SEO at least three times during the content production process:

• Keyword research: During the ideation phase, spend time researching what keywords can help you achieve business goals and which best answer your target audience’s queries.
• Search intent optimization: As your team creates content, they incorporate the keywords chosen during the ideation phase. These should address users’ questions and individual stages of the buyer’s journey. By determining the intent behind KWs, you can ensure you attract the right online traffic.

Image Source: semrush.com

• SEO analysis: After publishing your content, track and analyze key metrics that show how that content is performing. This requires looking at organic search traffic and click and conversion rates to see which KWs are effective and which may not best serve your purpose.

Working SEO into your content production process offers a range of benefits, such as improved visibility and rankings, increased organic traffic (saving money on paid ads), and advantages over the competition. But SEO is also closely tied to user experience. When you serve your research KWs properly versus simply shoving them into existing content, you give searchers valuable content that satisfies their needs and wants.

AI and Other Advanced Strategies in Content Production

Storytelling is the foundation of content production. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about product descriptions, white papers, or press releases. The bottom line is that you’re telling a story. This is more important than ever with Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines, which favor personalization and experience. While weaving a tale is a tradition as old as time, the methods you can use to convey your message have evolved.

Artificial intelligence

Not too long ago, AI seemed like something to be feared rather than embraced, but machine learning is transforming digital marketing at a rapid pace. For content production, AI has several purposes:

• Content personalization: Use AI to get to know your core audience’s behavioral patterns and preferences. Algorithms can review massive data sets and find patterns in record time, efficiently informing your strategy.
• Content optimization: Tools that oversee A/B testing and analyze content can help evaluate context, sentiment, and technical SEO needs.
• Predictive analytics: Knowing what lies ahead can help you stay ahead of the curve. AI-powered predictive analytics look at future trends and expected content performance to see what audiences might love tomorrow as well as today.
• Content creation: You can use AI to create outlines, brainstorm topic clusters, and even write actual content — as long as there’s always human oversight and final review processes in place.
• Content distribution: Figure out where to distribute your content and use AI scheduling tools to push out social posts and other assets when they’ll have the most impact.

User-generated content

User-generated content is all the content created by fans or followers of your brand. Testimonials, hashtag campaigns, social media posts, case studies, and even comments on blogs or social profiles are all types of UGC that can help create a more authentic content experience.

UGC is a win-win proposal. You save money on paid content creation and take advantage of social proof. Consider that, out of 500-plus surveyed marketers, 92% reported increased brand awareness due to UGC. 

In recent years, Formula 1’s racing team, Mclaren, has encouraged fans to use the hashtag “FansLikeNoOther” to increase brand awareness.

Top Tools and Resources for Effective Content Production

You can use top-rated tools and platforms to help guide and streamline the content production process. Here are some of our favorites.

• Content management systems facilitate content creation, modification, and overall management. They’re primarily used to manage website content, as seen with sites like WordPress and Squarespace. Some, like Shopify, have additional utilities to facilitate running an online store or creating a digital portfolio.
• SEO tools: Google Keyword Planner and Ahrefs are two of the biggest SEO tools in the marketplace. They help brands identify relevant keywords and provide in-depth analysis of goodies like backlink potential and competitor strategies.
• Analytics platforms: Master business intelligence’s nuances with platforms designed to discover and analyze data and provide actionable insights. With tools like Google Analytics, Semrush, and HubSpot, you can make data-driven decisions that fuel your overall digital marketing strategy.
• AI-driven technology: AI content creation tools focusing on the written word are everywhere these days, with sites like OwlyWriter AI and ChatGPT making major waves. But there are also tools for creating AI graphics (Midjourney), recording and editing podcasts (Podcastle), and building competitive content strategies (Crayon).
• Project management: Make no mistake, scattered communication and a lack of centralization can bring a robust content production team to its knees. Look for tools that support the collaborative process that content production has to be. Tools like Trello, Asana, monday.com, and Basecamp should fit the bill here. 

Key Challenges and Solutions in Content Production

Even experienced content production specialists run into hurdles from time to time, and for newbies, content creation can be a minefield. Understanding common challenges and approaching them armed with solutions can mean the difference between achieving success or stumbling.

• Maintaining content quality: When you start to generate more content or branch out from your initial content type or topics, it’s easy to watch quality sink as you just focus on getting it out there. It’s important to post consistently and stay visible, but if that means you start churning out content that lacks value and authority, the tradeoff isn’t worth it.
• Scaling production: Companies often experience temporary surges in production needs, such as wanting to populate a new blog in under a month or needing tons of local SEO service pages lumped into a one-off order. Other brands want to rapidly scale from a couple of pieces of content a week to a couple dozen. That’s hard to accomplish when relying solely on in-house staff.

These concerns can be mitigated — if not eliminated — by outsourcing content creation. At Crowd Content, we funnel our resources into building vetted, experienced networks of writers, editors, and subject matter experts who know how to generate high-quality content. With a pool of talent already in place and a three-step quality assurance process on tap, you can get a single piece of content or 1,000 product descriptions at a time, all while preserving quality.

The Role of Visuals and Multimedia Content in Content Production

The word “content” is often tied to text-based assets, but content production encompasses visual elements and multimedia creations. A whopping 91% of consumers prefer viewing visual content over something written. 

Incorporating so-called visual aids such as videos, infographics, images, and interactive elements into your content — or as the content itself — can make content more appealing. It may also make the things you publish more memorable and more desirable for consumers to share.

And while infographics, videos, and tables do take some effort to create, images that illustrate, entertain, and break up lengthy articles are now merely a few keystrokes away. 

Future Trends in Content Production

As we tiptoe further into the year, expect the landscape of content production to change. Some shifts may feel small, like shifting consumer behavior that hints at more significant changes in years to come. Other trends are poised to smack into industry norms hard enough to make the industry quake.

Take Google’s Search Generative Experience, for example. This feature, unveiled by Google in 2023, uses the power of AI to give searchers insight into their topic of interest without the need to repeatedly click on links in the SERPs. The risks and opportunities presented by this extension of Google’s search ecosystem aren’t yet known. Still, companies will have to adapt to more zero-click search and fight to be featured and preserve organic traffic.

Content Production Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond 2024

Crowd Content’s content creation services lead the industry with a pool of content managers, writers, SMEs, and editors who are as talented as they are committed to all things content. 

While there’s no such thing as a turnkey content production process, getting to know the top tools, strategies, and trends can undoubtedly make it easier to produce content that resonates. Given the importance of crazy-good content in digital marketing, it’s more important than ever that you get expert guidance and ultimately produce content that makes you — and your audience — proud.

The post Crafting Content That Counts: Inside the Content Production Process appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

• Run-on sentences can muddle your message.
• Two distinct thoughts without proper separation signify a run-on.
• Semicolons, periods, and conjunctions with commas can correct run-ons.
• Software tools such as Grammarly and ProWritingAid help identify run-ons.
• Run-on sentences can be used intentionally in literature for stylistic effects.

From misplacing modifiers to confusing “their,” “there,” and “they’re,” the English language is riddled with pitfalls waiting to trip up even the most vigilant writer. While some errors might slide by unnoticed, others have a knack for muddling messages, leaving readers lost in a maze of words. Among the most notorious of these errors is the run-on sentence. 

What’s a Run-On Sentence?

At first, the term “run-on sentence” might sound like a sentence that’s simply too long. But length isn’t the core issue. What matters is how you construct the sentence and how ideas are connected — or, more accurately, disconnected.

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses (thoughts that can stand alone as separate sentences) join without appropriate punctuation or a coordinating conjunction and comma. 

Identifying Run-On Sentences

Two common types of run-on sentences include fused sentences and comma splices. A fused sentence occurs when you combine two independent clauses without punctuation or connecting words. 

Example: “She was hungry she ordered pizza.”

A comma splice happens when two independent clauses are linked by only a comma, which isn’t enough to provide a proper break. 

Example: “I love reading novels, they transport me to another world.” 

The Problems With Run-On Sentences

Run-on sentences are the party crashers of the grammar world. They barge in uninvited and disrupt your narrative flow. They muddle the message and make it difficult for eager readers to follow.

Common Triggers for Run-Ons

Run-on sentences often rear their messy heads when writers are overly enthusiastic, trying to convey a rush of ideas without pausing for breath or, in literary terms, without proper punctuation. Another culprit is the mistaken belief that short sentences are choppy, leading some to cram too much into a single sentence in pursuit of flow. Lack of understanding about the proper use of punctuation, especially commas and semicolons, also plays a role. 

Correcting Run-On Sentences

You can correct run-on sentences with a few grammatical strategies:

• Periods: The most straightforward way to correct a run-on is to break it into separate sentences using periods. Take “She loves chocolate it’s her favorite snack.” It can be corrected as: “She loves chocolate. It’s her favorite snack.”
• Semicolons: Semicolons serve as a soft break, connecting two related thoughts:  “I wanted to join the gym; I didn’t have enough money.” 
• Conjunctions: Coordinating conjunctions are invaluable when indicating a specific relationship between ideas. Just remember to precede them with a comma. For instance, “I love the rain, but I forgot my umbrella.” 

Tools and Strategies for Prevention

Catching and correcting run-on sentences is a skill that can be honed with time and practice. Here are some tips to help you self-review and avoid these grammatical culprits:

• Read aloud: Sometimes, the ear can catch what the eye misses. Reading your work aloud lets you hear the natural pauses in sentences and discover where run-ons may exist.
• Look for clues: Look for spots where two independent ideas are presented. You might have a run-on if there’s no proper punctuation or conjunction between them.

Several software tools and platforms can help identify run-on sentences:

• Grammarly
• ProWritingAid
• Microsoft Editor 

The Subtle Art of Sentence Joining

Advanced punctuation, such as em dashes and semicolons, provides writers with nuanced ways to weave sentences together, giving prose a richer texture.

The semicolon, a mark often seen as sophisticated in its application, connects closely related independent clauses; it functions as a soft bridge between thoughts that could stand alone as sentences but share a thematic bond.

Example: “The sun set behind the mountains; a deep crimson hue painted the sky.” 

The em dash offers a dramatic pause and is often used for emphasis or clarification. 

Example: “The door creaked open slowly — she held her breath, not knowing what she might find inside.”

Run-On Sentences in Literature and Style

Authors in literature may intentionally use run-on sentences as a stylistic choice to achieve specific literary effects. Here are a few scenarios where run-ons might be deliberate:

• Stream of consciousness: James Joyce’s Ulysses contains run-ons to create a sense of immediacy and intimacy with the character’s thoughts.
• Rhythmic flow: In On the Road, Jack Kerouac uses long, flowing sentences to mirror the frenetic pace of the narrative.
• Emotional intensity: Run-ons can convey a sense of emotional intensity, as seen in the works of authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby. 

Some authors manage to construct entire novels without a single period. The Other Name, one of three volumes in Jon Fosse’s Septology, is one drawn-out narrative. Despite the occasional question mark or comma, the entire volume evades periods — even within the dialogue. 

Closing the Book on Run-Ons: A Clearer Path Ahead

Remember, mastering the art of clear writing takes time, but it’s worth it. Keep polishing your grammar, get cozy with punctuation, and fine-tune your sentence structure. By doing this, you boost the quality of your writing and allow your message to shine through. Get more tips on proofreading, or find out how Crowd Content can help you with your editing needs.

The post Mastering Grammar: Tackling the Challenge of Run-On Sentences appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

When ChatGPT burst into public consciousness in late November 2022, the tech seemed to draw a line in the virtual sand, separating the earlier times of content from the robot age. But in reality, the rise of AI content has been a slow burn, and those within the content marketing industry have seen both the potential and the pitfalls on the horizon for years. The big question now isn’t just how AI text generators can be used but whether they should be used at all by anyone hoping to get (and stay) in Google’s good graces. 

One of the reasons Google has been so successful is its commitment to total world dominance. Just kidding (mostly). But really, Google dominates because it’s willing to constantly reevaluate its position on hot-button topics and what constitutes the general standard of excellence. However, changing standards can lead to an overload of confusion.

The doubt and uncertainty are real, but the key takeaway is just as potent: Combining AI with practical SEO strategies (and a heaping helping of human insight and oversight) is a recipe for success, and even Google agrees.

Does AI Content Rank in Google?

Google doesn’t penalize AI content simply for being produced by artificial intelligence. But to truly understand whether AI-generated text could affect your ranking, we have to dig a little deeper. It isn’t a yes or no answer but an analysis of how AI-generated content actually performs, what role human editorial oversight plays, and what Google’s official stance is. Because, at the end of the day, that almighty Google algorithm remains king.

The importance of EEATing

Google has confirmed (several times now) that AI-generated content gets a big, fat A-OK as long as it follows the same E-E-A-T guidelines used to evaluate content overall. In September 2023, Google updated the wording of its philosophy on valuable content, changing “helpful content written by people, for people” to “helpful content created for people.” That short edit made it clear Google was more interested in whether content delivered value — according to E-E-A-T — than in who created the content in the first place.

So, if you can use ChatGPT to generate a blog that meets Google’s standards for experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, your content should be in line to rank well.

But there are also other factors that influence how content, AI-generated or not, ultimately lands on Google’s results pages.

SEO: Perception vs. reality and what works when you want to rank

How content is produced is only one piece of the SERP-y pie. Even if your content is strong, your SEO game has to be just as impressive, and that includes knowing the truth about search engine optimization.

Timeframes

• Perception: SEO is a one-time-only production.
• Reality: There’s no end to search engine optimization. Even if your AI-generated content ranks well now, you may need to tweak it in the future to answer Google algorithm updates.

Keyword stuffing

• Perception: The more keywords you include, the better your ranking.
• Reality: Google looks down on and penalizes articles with obvious keyword stuffing — even if it’s AI’s fault.

Links are links

• Perception: All links feed into the algorithm and boost your content’s rank.
• Reality: Quality is paramount. Google likes high-quality, highly relevant links from sources with proven authority.

Your content determines your ranking

• Perception: All you need is a solid blog and decent meta tags, and your SEO is done and dusted.
• Reality: AI content won’t get your site to rank if you aren’t paying attention to other factors, including social media, linking, and online reputation.

AI + human editorial oversight = magic

By this point, you’re hopefully convinced that AI text generators can be useful, but they can’t be left to operate completely independently. After all, the robot overlords don’t need to get it in their heads that we humans are totally superfluous, right? But how does that human oversight manifest?

In most cases, you’ll use yourself or other members of your human team in three ways:

• Editorial assistance: Use human editors to refine AI-generated content briefs, edit content drafts, and otherwise provide insight and polish that isn’t possible with 100% reliance on technology.
• Subject matter experts (SMEs): AI content-generating programs rely on existing data points and can only respond depending on what they know and when that data was input. This could lead to inaccurate or outdated content, which is less than ideal since Google looks for signals of reliability to help weed out content that propagates misinformation or contradicts popular consensus on certain topics. As of November 2023, many ChatGPT responses lead with, “As of my last knowledge update in January 2022…” Human SMEs can go through content with a fine-toothed comb, ensuring accuracy — something that’s especially important for companies in sensitive industries, such as healthcare and fintech, that can’t afford to disseminate erroneous content. 

• Off–page SEO: You need all the off-page SEO in place to support your content. Even if you use technology as part of your SEO strategy, you need a human to review the checklist and help knit everything together.

And if you need any more convincing that AI isn’t ready to go it alone, listen to the wise words of John Mueller, Google’s search advocate. When tagged on X (formerly Twitter) in a post asking, “Should we use ChatGPT from now onwards for publishing content on our website??? It giving 80% unique content.” [sic], Mueller’s response was epic: “It’s like food with only 20% toxic chemicals? Sounds tasty.”

Content Generated With AI

Digital guru and NP Digital Co-Founder Neil Patel put AI-generated content to the test following Google’s fall 2022 spam update, analyzing data from 100 experiment sites populated exclusively with AI-written content. His findings are more than worthy of a gasp and well-timed clutching of pearls:

• Sites that used AI-generated content with zero human oversight dropped eight positions in the SERPs and lost an average of 17% in traffic.
• Sites that paired AI-written content with some type of human oversight dropped just three positions in the SERPs and lost only 6% of their traffic.

It’s confirmed that problems arise when content creators expect AI to meet E-E-A-T standards independently. The human element may not be sacrosanct any longer, but it also isn’t extinct.

Boosting traffic thanks to artificial intelligence

Content Growth Founder Jake Ward is no stranger to building and scaling businesses. So, when Ward ran an experiment with sites brimming with AI-generated content, people took notice — especially when he published the results.

Ward’s barrage of AI content — paired with human oversight and revisions — helped take a website with zero traffic to 750,000 hits per month. The experiment involved 7,000 pages (all created using Byword.ai), and the growth took about a year to realize. At the end of the year-long study, that same site had 4,000 keywords in positions 1-3 and 13,000 keywords in positions 4-10.

Why Is High-Quality Content Important?

Most of us remember our elementary school teachers drilling grammar rules into our rapidly growing brains. I before E, except after C, right? But even as objective or mechanical writing quality remains integral to producing content of value, the definition of quality content has expanded.

• Does the content satisfy intent?
• Does it provide actionable insights?
• Are there unique perspectives?

It goes back to Google’s E-E-A-T principles. When you’re sharing experience, showcasing expertise, stating facts with authoritativeness, and proving your trustworthiness, you can’t help but churn out quality content that gives people what they want. This is true whether you’re prioritizing AI-generated content or writing everything yourself.

If you’re blending human and AI input, you have the best opportunity to produce content you and Google will love:

• Relevancy: AI ensures content is relevant to search intent, while humans ensure the emotion is intact.
• Credibility: AI uses existing data points to generate strong, quality content, and humans review that content for accuracy. This builds authority, too.
• User engagement: AI can dig up tidbits that might take humans days to unearth and put together an outline that reduces knowledge gaps and increases coverage of the given topic. Humans add entertaining language and emotion that keeps text from being robotic and helps forge connections.

It’s almost a matter of left brain vs. right brain, but you have to let the creativity and uniqueness run free without trampling on the information and complexity the topic is due. And if you do all that while avoiding comma splices, all the better. Otherwise, Google’s SpamBrain will notice, seeing the patterns that indicate poor-quality content created to influence rankings rather than to please people.

Tactics to Integrate AI Into Your Content Creation Process

Adding AI to your existing content creation process takes planning and a deft hand. You should proceed with the following tips with one overarching thought in mind: AI is only successful in content when you use it to improve your processes, never when your sole goal is to make content generation cheaper.

• Prioritize AI on the front end of content creation. AI is a research powerhouse, and ignoring that is almost criminal. Ask AI tools about trends and then use them to conduct research and generate outlines that can spark ideation and guide your writing teams.
• Optimize existing content. What better way to go toe-to-toe with Google than to use AI to optimize existing content, looking at ways to improve keyword usage and metadata? You can even use AI to analyze the behavior and preferences of your target audience and rework old blog posts to speak to a new demographic.
• Proofread and polish. Grammarly and ProWritingAid are just two of the AI-driven editing tools that can help you find errors and improve the style and quality of your content. These tools aren’t perfect (please don’t accept every suggestion), but they’re worthy grammatical wingmen.
• Infuse content with your brand voice. You can actually train AI models, such as OpenAI’s GPT-4, to understand and utilize your brand voice so it can replicate what it sees.
• Create custom images and videos. AI-powered visual content platforms haven’t made as big of a splash as text-generating platforms, but they should. Plug a request into Deep AI or Hotpot, and you can have a picture of a unicorn dressed as a cowboy sitting in a pile of spaghetti in mere minutes.

Evaluating the Impact of AI on SEO Trends

As AI grows and continually fine-tunes itself, it has a parallel increasing impact on SEO. Artificial intelligence was woven throughout Semrush’s predictions for SEO trends in 2023, including:

• Generative AI creates new content based on data it was fed during training, such as formulating summaries that answer search queries. Think of it as Google’s featured snippets on steroids.
• Accelerated content creation, thanks to AI’s ability to produce words at record speed. The more content there is, the more competitive SEO can be, and the harder it may become for startups with limited bandwidth to gain traction.
• Google continues to remind us of the importance of people-first content that meets search intent. AI-generated content is included and must meet the same standards — and yes, Google is watching.
• Microsoft Bing has integrated ChatGPT into its search engine, making it a serious contender for the title of the World’s Top Search Engine. Eventually. It’s worth watching because how we use AI may one day no longer completely depend on Google’s input and guidelines.

But the SEO industry isn’t a monolith, and expert opinions on AI and SEO vary.

• “AI is one of the most profound things we’re working on as humanity. It’s more profound than fire or electricity.” – Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google, via an interview with Verge
• “The future of SEO will be heavily influenced by two key factors: the continued rise of mobile search and the increased use of artificial intelligence in the search industry.” — Neil Patel

And then there’s ChatGPT’s say-so. When asked, “Will AI kill SEO?” the platform first hedged its bets (“As an AI language model, I cannot predict the future . . .”) before underscoring the need for adaptable SEO strategies. It then stated, “SEO will not be killed by AI . . .  it will evolve to become more sophisticated and data-driven, with a greater emphasis on quality content, user experience, and technical optimization.” Mic drop.

Future Outlook: AI in Content Marketing and SEO

AI hasn’t reached its peak — not in terms of efficacy or accuracy or in the ways in which it can affect content production. There will be more applications joining the ranks in the years to come. Some may help with strategy and ideation, while others might pave the way for more efficient brief and content creation. We will, one day, be able to rely even more on artificial intelligence as a standalone tool to generate, evaluate, and refine content.

Now, imagine these tools connected to existing workflows, perhaps via a single, umbrella-like chat environment — increased visibility, a user-friendly format, and a gradually declining need for your team to stand over the apps like helicopter parents. Is your spine tingling yet?

The idea that AI could spearhead trend forecasting, conduct in-depth data analysis, deliver hyperlocal content, automatically analyze backlink profiles, and identify opportunities to improve all of the above isn’t just exciting. It promises an age in which anyone can use content to build their business without being a whiz with grammar or spending years learning the ins and outs of SEO.

AI: Writing and Ranking, With a Little Help From Your Friends

AI-generated content has the potential to rank as well (or even better) than content written entirely by human hands. But favoring artificial intelligence over human expertise, or vice versa, is like trying to sail across the Atlantic with only half a boat. You can keep doggy paddling, but why do yourself such a disservice? By combining AI with editorial oversight and SMEs, you can serve up high-quality text with a distinctly human touch.Step up your content efforts with an assist from Crowd Content’s managed services. We help businesses, agencies, and publishers across a wide variety of industries generate quality content at scale. Whether you want to explore the possibilities of AI-generated content or desire a fully human experience, our content managers can help you understand your options and build a process that expertly serves your needs.

The post Does AI Content Rank in Google? appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

And all marketing is content.

• Video scripts
• Instagram images and captions
• Blog posts
• Landing pages
• Emails
• Search ads
• Radio and television ads
• Direct mail

Each of these is made of content — content that someone or some team created. 

No matter what your specific business or organizational goals are, if you have a message to put in front of an audience, you need people to create that content. Whether you turn to in-house talent or outsource content creation is up to you, but it’s critical to understand the costs before you make a decision.

Apples & Oranges: How to Successfully Compare the Cost of Freelancers With the Cost of Staff Writers

Before you can accurately assess costs — and cost-savings — it’s important to understand how to compare apples with oranges. 

For instance, if you pay an in-house writer $25 per hour and a freelancer 10 cents per word, how can you tell which is less expensive? 

It’s almost impossible to make this comparison when you’re talking about one small writing project. In fact, if all you need is one small writing project completed, you shouldn’t be making this comparison at all. Why hire an in-house employee for a single project when you can outsource it and be done with the expense once the project is over?

If you have ongoing content needs, however, it makes sense to crunch some numbers to determine what’s best for your budget. Here are a few tips for ensuring you do so accurately:

• Look at the big picture instead of costs for single projects. Think about what you would pay for content over the course of an entire year. It can be easier to compare a year’s worth of freelance content expenses to a year’s worth of payroll expenses than to compare hourly wages to freelance charges. 
• Include all the costs of employing someone. When calculating the cost of hiring in-house writers, consider more than what you pay them. Add in benefits, training expenses, and the costs of hiring. 
• Remember that you may have internal costs even when you work with freelancers. You may still need to manage freelancers, and if you work directly with writers, you might have to do edits and quality checks yourself. 

Average Cost of Hiring an In-House Writer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers and authors make an average of $69,510 per year — or $33.42 hourly. 

However, “writers and authors” is a pretty big umbrella, and the average salary isn’t inclusive of all costs that an employer might pay when hiring someone. Let’s break this down a bit further so you can get a better idea of what it might cost for you to hire an in-house writer for your organization.

As you can see from the above table, a good estimate for the amount you may need to pay an in-house writer is $25 to $50 an hour, or around $50,000 to $115,000 per year.

However, you’ll also incur other costs if you hire full-time in-house staff. 

Estimated additional costs of hiring an in-house writer at $60,000 per year in the U.S.

Depending on the benefits you offer, you could end up paying $78,000 or more annually for a single in-house writer. A team of just five writers can cost $400,000 or more yearly. 

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Freelancer?

Freelance writers offer services for a wide range of prices. They also charge for those services in a variety of ways, including:

• Hourly
• Per project
• Per page of copy, which is usually defined by an approximate number of words 
• Per word
• Per unit, such as per meta description or Instagram caption

Working directly with freelancers versus working with an agency or content company can also drastically impact how much you pay. 

What does it cost to work directly with a freelancer?

One option for working with freelance writers is to put out a job posting, accept resumes or applications directly from freelancers and choose some writers for contract work. 

In this scenario, you foot the bill for a variety of expenses, including:

• The cost to develop the job posting and market the listing
• The cost of training freelancers, which can include developing internal briefs, offering feedback and taking time to ensure freelancers understand any software or internal processes
• In-house employee labor expenses associated with managing the freelancer team — including assigning work, managing workflows, receiving work and any editing or feedback that might be necessary
• Paying freelancers for the work they do

What are some average freelance writer rates?

Here’s what the American Writers & Artist’s Institute suggests professional and experienced freelancers charge for various copywriting projects. 

Using these rates as a basic guide, let’s look at the cost of hiring freelancers directly to complete a website content writing project. For this hypothetical project, imagine that you need:

• New home page copy ($1,500)
• 30 new pages — a mix of high-quality sales pages and SEO pages ($10,000)
• 2 pillar posts — $1,000
• 10 blog posts — $3,000

The freelancer cost for your project would be $15,500. Add in internal costs associated with managing the freelancers, and the total costs could be $17,000 to $18,000 or more.

Of course, you might save money by hiring freelancers with much lower rates. However, as with any other service, you often get what you pay for. Freelancers with less experience or those that charge bottom-barrel rates may also increase how much internal effort you need to exert on a project, which can lead to increased internal costs that negate your savings.

How much does it cost to hire crowd content freelancers?

Crowd Content offers a wide range of pricing choices — and several ways to work with freelancers through our platform. 

Generally, pricing structures are per word. However, we can also accommodate flat pricing per piece and other structures to meet unique client needs. 

Pricing in our Marketplace is 3.5 to 15.8 cents per word. If you want our professional editors to proofread your copy before it’s delivered, you can add editing for 4 cents per word.  Our customer service reps can help you build strong writing and editing teams, but you generally manage those teams, so you may have some internal expenses associated with overseeing content. 

To understand how much high-quality 4-star content might cost with Crowd Content’s marketplace services, consider the table below.

You can also choose managed services and work with fully-managed content teams. Our content managers and production teams partner with clients to deliver publish-ready content, and they can take a lot of the burden off your internal teams. Managed services can include brief creation, editing and quality assurance, and management of large freelance teams, reducing some of your internal costs.  

Hiring In-House Writers, Directly Contracting With Freelancers, or Working With Crowd Content: Which Is More Cost-Effective?

Let’s look at another hypothetical situation to understand how much content might cost with each of these options.

In this scenario, a company needs around 250,000 total words of blog content per year (about 250 blog posts). It considers the following options:

• Hire one full-time in-house writer at an expense of around $80,000 total
• Contract with freelancers directly at an expense of $62,000 to $125,000 total
• Use Crowd Content’s 4-star marketplace writers and editors at an expense of around $49,750 plus any internal costs associated with managing workflows

Which Choice Is Right for Your Business?

A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t exist here, so you need to consider your business needs, budget and how your team works best. Some teams need in-house support and collaboration more than cost-savings. Some companies don’t have any in-house resources for content creation and are happy to outsource everything. 

There isn’t a single right answer, though you can see from the numbers above that there’s definitely a more cost-effective answer. If you’re interested in those cost savings and how Crowd Content can help you drive them without downgrading the quality of your content, connect with us today.

The post The Cost of Hiring a Freelancer vs. an In-House Writer appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Website authority is a measure of the overall strength of your site or domain. Strong sites tend to show up higher in the search results and have traits that include, but certainly aren’t limited to:

• Comprehensive coverage of the topics surrounding relevant keywords
• High-quality content—both in terms of technical aspects, such as grammar, and engagement aspects, such as how easily audience attention is captured by the content
• Demonstrated expertise and authority about the topics at hand
• Strong internal and external linking strategies
• High numbers of backlinks

Many SEO companies and other sites offer ways to measure website authority. You can use a website authority checker to get an idea of how your website authority scores in relation to competitors. You can also use tools provided by SEO companies such as Moz or Semrush.   

How Do You Create Website Authority?

If you aren’t happy with how your site scores or you’re starting from scratch and want to build a site with ample authority, we’ve got a number of tips for doing so. Start with these seven ways to build authority on your website. 

1. Pay Attention to User Experience

When considering the authority of their site, many people only think about content. But the way that content is presented to your audience and how your pages function are huge parts of whether or not your site is seen as authoritative.

Imagine this scenario: Your child has a sore throat and you turn to Google to find out how serious it might be and what you can do to make her feel better. You search with a related phrase or question and click on two of the results. 

The first page you click has a bright orange background, flashing fonts, pictures someone loaded from their smartphone and a number of ads for unrelated products.

The second page you click on has a cream-colored background, standard fonts, professional images and layout and no ads—or only professional, relevant ads. 

Even if the content on both sites is the same, which one are you more likely to trust regarding your child’s sore throat? As you can see, user experience matters, so work to ensure your site functions well on all devices and presents information in a way that is expected for the audience, niche and topic.

2. Create High-Quality, Comprehensive Content

The content on your pages matters too, obviously. Start with keyword research that supports a content strategy for your site. Then move on to content optimization, including:

• Creating comprehensive, semantically complete content about the keyword or topic. In other words, ask yourself “What are all the things my audience wants or needs to know about this topic?” and then ensure your content covers it all.
• Ensure your content is well-written. Find and work with experienced SEO content writers, and use proofreading and editing services when necessary to ensure content makes sense and is grammatically correct.
• Fact-check content to ensure it’s accurate. Ask writers to cite sources for statistics and facts they use in content so you can double-check the accuracy. For niche or technical topics, consider hiring a subject-matter expert who can ensure the content is accurate.
• Create unique content. Don’t just rehash (or spin) competing content. Find ways to add unique value by adding your own information or opinion.  

3. Leverage Real Experts

Think about the example where a child has a sore throat. If you turn to the internet for some answers, which of the following pages will you take most seriously?

• A site with no about us page or attribution—just random content that includes, among other things, an article about sore throats
• A blog post from a mommy blogger who has five kids and leads into her advice with some stories about how many sore throats she’s dealt with in the past
• A page on a medical clinic site that is bylined by a nurse or doctor that works for the clinic, indicating that—at the very least—the content was reviewed by a clinician before it was published

For most people, those three examples are listed in order from least authority to most authority. You’re likely going to take the information signed off on by a clinician more seriously than the anonymous information.

When possible, work with content creators and reviewers who can add authority to your content because they are real experts. 

4. Use Structured Data to Support E-E-A-T

People aren’t the only entities you must convince of your authority. For Google to rank your page high in the search engine results, it has to believe you have authority for the keywords and topics. Google uses guidelines such as E-E-A-T to help determine website authority for this purpose.

Obviously, search engine evaluations and rankings are highly programmatic—meaning computer programs do the work of ranking pages. You can boost your success with these programs by “feeding” them your content via structured data. Structured data refers to site coding that helps search engine bots understand the parts of your content and how they work together.  

5. Claim and Optimize Your Knowledge Panel

Google automatically generates knowledge panels for the search engine pages. These small snippets of information are designed to provide searchers with quick answers to questions or overviews that point them in the right direction to more in-depth information. 

If you, your site or your business are the subject of a knowledge panel, you may be able to claim it. Once you claim it, you can suggest changes for it and use those changes to further optimize it to support your site and authority. 

6. Bolster Your About Us and Author Pages

Take time to ensure you have compelling, comprehensive about us and author pages. Some helpful content for about us pages includes:

• A history of the company or site
• Pictures and bios of your team to humanize your site
• Lists of experience and credentials that help position your team as experts
• Discussions of your mission and vision

If your team, freelancers or other experts contribute to your site’s blog, use a byline structure that identifies the author of each post. Link that byline to an author page that demonstrates the authority of the author via a bio and list of credentials. 

7. Pay Attention to Your External Links

Backing up claims, statistics and facts you use in your content with quality external links can help improve your website authority. However, do pay attention to which sites you’re linking to. Linking to low-quality sites without authority can negatively impact your own authority.

Look for government and education (.gov and .edu) sites you can link to. You can also link to high-quality news sites, blogs from experts or any other site that provides authoritative, quality content. 

Get Help Boosting Website Authority

Crowd Content can help you create high-quality SEO and thought-leadership content that boosts the authority of your pages. Reach out to find out how we can help or open a marketplace account and start ordering content from experienced freelancers today.

The post 7 Tips for Boosting Your Website Authority appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Here’s a baker’s dozen’s worth of reasons to outsource your content marketing efforts in 2024.

1. Shave Expenses Off Your Bottom Line by Outsourcing Content Creation

Quality content can cost a pretty penny — or lots of pennies, really, when you consider forecasts that the content creation market will hit $53.6 billion by 2033. When you commission a blog or a white paper, you’re not just paying for words. You’re paying for the years those writers and editors spent perfecting their grammar, learning about SEO, and mastering various content types.

That said, outsourcing content still saves you considerable amounts of money, as contractors don’t come with the same costs associated with hiring in-house talent. You don’t need to give them a company computer, pay 401(k) and insurance, or cover their sick days.

2. Save Time for Other Must-Do Tasks

For most business owners and marketing department heads, 40-hour workweeks are the dream, not the reality. That’s especially true if you tackle content creation firsthand. From ideation to publishing, there’s an endless stream of tasks to complete.

If you outsource your content, you’ll free up your schedule to tackle those tasks only you can do, such as coaching your managers or pitching new ideas to the board.

3. Scale Content and Expand Your Content Calendar

When it comes to content, it can be difficult to balance quality and quantity. Most experts agree that frequent blogging and a steady stream of social media posts are better for connecting with consumers and engaging your audience. But pushing tons of poor-quality content isn’t the answer — it may even harm your business.Content outsourcing allows you to pull from a vast talent pool, generating high-quality content at whatever speed you need. Have you suddenly found yourself growing from a small start-up to a competitive, midsized enterprise? When you hire contract writers, they can churn out quality landing pages or blog posts at a lightning-fast pace.

4. Leverage Subject Matter Experts

Unless you’re ready to hire an entire stable of in-house writers, your team can’t possibly cover all the subjects you may want to reference as part of your overarching content strategy. Outsourcing with a company or platform that offers subject matter experts connects you with people who provide thought leadership and credentialed expertise in fields such as law, finance, health care, insurance, hospitality, and tech.

SMEs add significant value to your content by imbuing it with more authority and expertise. These days, Google craves trustworthy content written by experts. It’s a central aspect of the search giant’s E-E-A-T quality guidelines that prioritize experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.

5. Mine Your Talent Pool for Fresh Ideas and Varied Viewpoints

We’ve already touched on some limitations of relying 100% on in-house writers, but here’s another factor to consider: People run out of ideas. Even the most innovative creatives stumble sometimes, and content written by a small team can start to drift toward sameness. In other words, ideas, phrasing, and even content structure can get staler than a month-old biscuit.

Outsourcing lets you switch up writers at will. You can create your own team of freelancers and release batches of content to the group as a whole, or ask for pitches and see which ideas are most exciting.

6. Publish Faster and More Efficiently

Outsourcing doesn’t always just involve contracting a writer. Editors, subject matter experts, and content managers play an essential role in the process. Choose the right platform and service options, and your content partner can handle everything from ideation to multistep quality assurance. That means you get deliverables that are error-free and publish-ready.

Eliminating the need to edit or peruse just-delivered content for accuracy allows you to fast-forward the production process. Assign work, switch focus to wherever you’re needed, and wait for the finished product to arrive.

7. Reach a Wider Audience

Subject matter experts and content pros can help you expand your audience, meaning more potential customers and theoretical dollars in your pocket.

Outsourcing boosts reach by:

• Giving you access to marketing agencies that can help you create a content calendar and ramp up distribution
• Assisting in creating multiple content types, which expands to email marketing, paid ads, social media posts, and B2B or B2C content such as white papers and case studies
• Giving you the experts you need so you can approach your niche from multiple angles

8. Experiment With Different Content Types

Speaking of different content types, do you know how many there are? Hint: There’s a lot, including:

• Blogs
• Testimonials and reviews
• Case studies
• E-books
• Videos
• Infographics
• White papers
• Guides and how-tos
• Scripts for podcasts, videos, speeches, and webinars
• Web copy
• Landing pages
• Product descriptions
• Buyer’s guides

Some writers dabble in multiple content types, while others only specialize in marketing copy or scripts. You can’t necessarily expect a blog writer to knock a case study out of the park, but you can outsource to a platform that has already vetted writers specializing in all types of content. That way, you’re covered no matter what.

9. Boost Your ROI

Getting a great return on your investment is crucial in marketing because you want to ensure you get back more than you put in. That way, you can reinvest in your business, ramp up content production, and build your brand, all without spending more of your budget than you initially intended.

We’ve already discussed how outsourcing content creation can reduce overhead and increase efficiency. It can also boost ROI by ensuring your content hits the target the first time, every time, so you don’t have to test out whether your favorite blogger can produce decent results with their first buyer’s guide. Instead, you draw from an already-vetted, well-managed group of writers who know how to make every word count.

10. Meet Goals Faster

Even the best content strategy takes time to execute and come to fruition. SEO doesn’t happen overnight, and neither does building a blog or revamping a website. 

Consistency counts, but so do quality and volume. You can win over your audience by crafting just one stellar blog a month and building your website over a year. But it’ll take that much longer for you to reach your objectives.

When you outsource content creation, you amplify your reach and grow your team overnight. It doesn’t matter that contracted writers aren’t actual employees or full-time workers. 

You’ll get the help you need when you need it, and that’s true whether you work with a single writer or a team of 100. You can generate a couple of quality blogs or hundreds of landing pages at the speed you need.

11. Enhance SEO and Rank Higher

With search engine optimization, you can determine how to structure your content and website to please Google’s algorithm — the enigmatic yet all-important equation that drives search rankings. Without SEO, you can’t expect to rank high on the search engine results pages, dampening your marketing efforts.

The thing is, keeping up with SEO updates can be a full-time job. Even the best writers in the world may be a step or two behind on SEO, which is why so many people work with agencies that specialize in optimization. But that means another contract, another bill to pay, and another step in the content creation process.

Instead, partner with a platform like Crowd Content that offers soup-to-nuts content creation services. Keywords, content briefs, writing, editing, QA — it can all be included. Choose what you need, and leave the details to the pros so you can get back to your to-do list.

12. Outsourcing Content Creation Helps Increase Authority

Publishing quality blogs reviewed by SMEs helps you become an established authority in your given niche. People who love a particular topic know when someone equally passionate wrote the content they’re reading. They also know when someone is just regurgitating basic facts. Which do you think resonates better?

Trust your content and your relationship with your audience to writers and SMEs who take your project seriously and have the credentials and portfolios to back it all up. Each piece of authoritative content will grow the overall authority of your domain.

13. Protect Your Reputation With Higher Quality Content

Poor-quality content is no joke. Content littered with typos, grammatical errors, and factual inaccuracies tanks your reputation and makes you less trustworthy in the eyes of consumers. You can’t afford to buy or create subpar content, and outsourcing can save you that headache 100 times over.

But what is quality content? Two articles can vary in so many ways yet still rise to the top of the search results. Ultimately, high-ranking content takes a person-first approach and includes insightful, authoritative information. 

This is easier if you outsource content production to an agency that follows an extensive content quality checklist through every step of the process.

What Are the Best Practices for Communicating With Outsourced Teams?

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and expand your content creation efforts with outsourcing. But how do you communicate with your team of freelancers?

Communication shouldn’t be more complicated than it is with an in-house writing team, but outsourcing definitely creates a different dynamic. You can’t necessarily expect freelancers to be available to talk at any point during business hours like you would employees.

Instead, set clear expectations from the get-go, including regular check-ins and updates. Outline your preferred communication methods, whether those include email, calls, or platforms such as Teams and Slack, so your team knows how to contact you with questions or ideas.

Of course, time and optimization are the ultimate factors in outsourcing, and you can’t expect to get everything right on your first try. After the work is done, look for any improvements you can make to instructions, briefs, and communication, then offer detailed feedback for your writers to do the same. Content calibration lets you scale things up next time with even smoother results.

How Do You Monitor and Measure the Success of Outsourced Content?

Regardless of whether you’re working with an in-house team, hiring freelancers from across the ocean, or doing everything yourself, you need a way to measure the success of your content. It’s how you know when to scale up or cut your losses.

There are several tools you can use to track content performance, including free options such as Google Analytics and full-service marketing platforms that can become costly. As long as you can see how many views your content gets and observe the search rankings over time, that’s all you need to start.

Of course, you may eventually want to track user experience and engagement. Throw in a way to also assess the social media impact of your content, and you’re set for the future.

Budgeting and Investing for the Future

Outsourcing content creation may saves money over the long run — especially if your in-house team is finding it hard to keep your content supply flowing. However, content marketing offers slower returns than paid marketing streams, so you won’t see new leads immediately. Patience is key.

Over the weeks and months to come, the budget you invest in content marketing should establish trust, authority, and brand awareness for your business. High-quality content continues to attract new customers without much additional investment — something that can’t be said of pay-per-click marketing. 

Half of today’s marketers say they’re already outsourcing at least part of their content marketing workload, and this is one time you should follow the crowd. For more information on outsourcing or to see how Crowd Content can help you with your content marketing strategy, sign up for an account today.

The post 13 Reasons Why You Should Outsource Content Creation in 2024 appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

The Ins and Outs of Outsourcing Content

When you outsource content, essentially you hire a third party to create that content for you. This process typically involves several steps: needs assessment, agency selection, information transfer, content creation and delivery.

Needs Assessment

Whether you’re outsourcing for the first time or you’ve worked with a blog writing service for years, it’s important to understand your needs before ordering content. Consider your requirements, such as:

• Volume
• Deadlines
• Budget
• Quality level
• Writers with specialized backgrounds

Agency Selection

Service providers can range from individual freelancers to large agencies that offer multiple services. For example, besides writing, agencies such as Crowd Content offer editing, SME and project management services. The content writing service you choose should be able to satisfy your needs, delivering the quality you expect at the scale you need.

Information Transfer

What you’ll get out of a blog writing service depends, at least in part, on what you put in. That means you should provide detailed information that tells the writer exactly what you want and need from the deliverable. This may include:

• A title
• The subject/topic
• Primary and secondary keywords
• Length requirements
• The target audience
• A tone and/or voice to aim for
• Specific points or subtopics to include
• Citation requirements
• Suggested resources
• An internal style guide

Content Creation

After your provider receives your order, including any specific instructions, the writer can begin creating your blog posts. In some cases, the content creation process may also involve editing and/or review by a subject matter expert.

Delivery

When content creation is complete, you’ll receive the deliverables, which are typically publish-ready posts that can be uploaded immediately to your website or blog. However, reputable services leave room for revisions, as needed, especially if a writer hasn’t met the project’s requirements.

The Cost to Outsource Blog Writing

The cost of blog writing services varies widely, depending on factors, such as:

• The agency providing the service
• The writer’s experience level
• The complexity of content
• The length of the content
• The quality level of the content
• The need for a writer with a specialized background
• The addition of SME or editing services
• Whether you choose a self-service marketplace or professionally managed content services

For example, if you request a simple blog post from a writer who’s just starting out, you may pay as little as $5. An in-depth article by a writer who has extensive medical knowledge, with subsequent review by an SME, may cost upwards of $1,000.

The Benefits of Outsourcing Blog Writing

If you’re not sure whether outsourced blog posts are worth the cost, consider the benefits you can reap from hiring a professional writer. By outsourcing your blog content, you can:

• Enhance the quality of your content: By outsourcing your content to a professional writer, you’ll get engaging, high-quality blog posts written with your target audience in mind.
• Get access to subject matter experts: If you’re trying to establish a reputation as an authority in your space, having accurate content is crucial. Services, such as Crowd Content, maintain a pool of subject matter experts who can verify the accuracy of written content and give their stamp of approval.
• Save time and increase productivity: Maintaining an in-house team of writers isn’t always practical or affordable. Outsourcing blog content frees up your team to do other work.
• Increase your online visibility: Good content writers can seamlessly weave SEO keywords into your content, so you can improve your search rankings without sacrificing readability.
• Enjoy a wide range of writing styles and perspectives: Giving readers the same perspective week after week can be a turnoff. When you outsource content to writers with varying perspectives, backgrounds and writing styles, you’ll keep your blog interesting, so readers come back for more.
• Find a cost-effective solution: As the saying goes, time is money. Unless you’re a trained writer, penning blog posts yourself may not be the most cost-effective way to get content. Outsourcing to a professional can ultimately save you money.

Common Blog Writing Outsourcing Options

If you plan to outsource your blog content, you have plenty of choices. Common blog writing outsourcing options include:

• Individual freelancers: Freelancers can range from self-taught writers to experienced professionals who’ve spent decades in the industry, and the cost of services typically varies accordingly.
• Specialty writing services: If you operate in certain niches, such as medical or legal, you may need writers who have a background in a specific field.
• Gig-based sites: Here, companies can find pools of qualified freelancers. Although it’s typically an affordable option, the writing quality on gig-based sites may be inconsistent.
• Content marketplaces: Content marketplaces match clients with qualified writers. They’re similar to gig-based sites. However, marketplaces can often handle requests with rapid turnaround times, and their writers are usually vetted.
• Managed content services: When you sign with a managed content service, you’ll often have a single point of content. This content manager handles everything from creating a team of qualified writers to performing quality control.
• Agencies: Agencies often offer several options, so clients can choose the service that best suits their needs. For example, clients at Crowd Content may opt for the self-serve marketplace or choose the hands-off approach of managed content.

Why Should You Choose a Content Marketplace?

When you choose content writing services through a content marketplace, such as Crowd Content’s, you can cut out the middleman and order blog posts directly from a professional writer with the experience and expertise to get the job done right. If you have multiple orders, you can even create your own team. With Crowd Content’s blog writing services, you’ll select from a pool of more than 6,000 preapproved writers with a multitude of specialties. Better yet, Crowd Content’s simple interface lets you request the content you need 24/7 — even bulk orders — so you can get publish-ready content at the scale you need when you need it most. And, that’s a smart move

The post Why Outsourcing Your Blog Writing is a Smart Move appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

In this article, we look at how high-quality, SEO-driven content fits into your overall search visibility efforts. We also show you how to build an effective SEO campaign in 2024, taking into account Google’s helpful content update, the growing popularity of AI, voice search, and search generative experience.

4 Elements of an Effective SEO Strategy

Before we dive in, let’s look at the big picture. It’s said that more than 200 Google ranking factors impact where pages fall in the SERPs. SEO content writing is an important part of it — but it’s only one component. 

A comprehensive SEO strategy has four parts:

• On-page SEO helps search engines understand the meaning of a page so it can be matched to relevant search queries. These tasks include writing meta titles and descriptions, using headers, optimizing images, creating descriptive URLs, and adding internal links. 
• Off-page SEO involves building backlinks from external sites to demonstrate your content is trustworthy and valuable. A link-building strategy can involve creating guest posts, partnering with influencers, and requesting links in resource directories.
• Technical SEO helps search bots crawl your site easily and addresses elements such as site speed, loading times, mobile responsiveness, security, and site errors.
• Content SEO, the focus of our article, is the creation of content that readers want to consume. The content should answer the search query and be easy to read and insightful.

If your business caters to audiences in a specific region or has multiple locations, you should also complement your strategy with a local SEO component to reach customers in those areas.

How does search engine ranking work?

When your site is optimized using the above tactics, search engines can more effectively crawl, index, and rank your pages. 

• Crawling: Google uses software called crawlers to gather and store information from every web page it can access. 
• Indexing: The information gathered by search bots is organized and indexed according to SEO elements, such as keywords and metadata. When a user performs a query, search engines pull the relevant page. 
• Ranking: Search engines weigh factors such as relevance, quality, and user experience to determine how useful the page is and where it should surface in the SERPs.

Google’s Emphasis on Content Quality

Google’s objective is to provide users with the best, most reliable information for their searches. Pages that say the same thing as a dozen other sites? They’re not nabbing that top spot in the SERPs. Blog posts written to hit certain keyword densities with little value? They’re not on Google’s wish list, either.

Instead, create original content for human readers that inspires them to say, “I learned something new!” Google consistently refines search algorithms to find and prominently display these in-depth pages. 

E-E-A-T

Google introduced E-A-T principles in 2014 to ensure the content it promotes is expert, authoritative, and trustworthy. A couple of years ago, an extra “E” was added to these guidelines to emphasize experience or first-hand knowledge.

Search algorithms look for signs of E-E-A-T on your website through backlinks from other sites, traffic and engagement metrics, and topical authority. Consider establishing your credentials in online bios or on an “About” page and leveraging the knowledge of subject matter experts to show your content is credible. 

Helpful content system

Designed to distinguish between high-quality and low-value content, Google’s helpful content system rolled out in 2022. Soon after a 2023 update, pages that didn’t meet the criteria for useful content tumbled in the SERPs.

Google has a checklist to assess the helpfulness of your content. Essentially, you should offer in-depth analyses and comprehensively answer a reader’s questions on a topic. Aim to produce a piece that’s so original and perceptive that a reader would recommend or bookmark it.

These standards also apply if you’re experimenting with AI content creation. Search engines don’t care who (or what) wrote the content as long as it’s meaningful. But you’ll likely find AI-generated content needs some human involvement to deliver the firsthand experience and personalization Google prioritizes.

Building the Foundation of Your SEO Content Strategy

For your content to rank well, it should meet or surpass reader expectations and outdo the pages already occupying the top spots in the search results. Build your strategy around the following components to tailor content to user queries and drive traffic to your site.

Target audience

The first step of SEO content writing is to know who you’re writing for. What are their pain points? Where do they look for information? Do they prefer short-form videos or in-depth articles? Align your content to your customers, and deliver your message in a tone that resonates. 

Industry niche

SEO content strategies vary depending on the industry. Research the keywords customers use when searching for products and services, along with the keywords your competitors target. Landscapers, event planners, plumbers, realtors, and automobile mechanics need to focus on local SEO. Businesses in the health and finance sectors that publish YMYL, or “your money, your life,” topics need to be attentive to quality and subject matter expertise, due to the impact their advice can have.  

Search intent

A good SEO content strategy focuses on keywords and the meaning behind them. Understanding search intent ensures you shape content to answer a user’s questions. For example, a cosmetics company targeting the keyword “moisturizer with retinol” should determine if someone using this phrase wants general information about the product’s benefits or already knows they want the product and are evaluating brands. A look at top-ranking pages or assistance from keyword research tools can help you determine search intent.

SEO specialist Lily Ray notes that search intent can shift, using the example of Barbie. Recently, movie reviews replaced general information about the toy at the top of the SERPs. 

“A key strategy for handling intense shifts in search intent is to build content that serves every possible intent for your important keywords,” Ray says. “This may require different site sections, articles, videos, images, etc., that each serve a unique purpose for searchers.” 

Content clusters

Sites Google considers reliable sources of content tend to rank better. Build your site’s topical authority to establish expertise. Instead of targeting random keywords, build purposeful content clusters and explore topics in-depth. 

Image Source: Semrush 

These content clusters serve as your website’s core and help you grow an inventory of content that continually demonstrates knowledge about a specific topic. 

Exceptional content

We’ve talked a lot about optimizing your website for Google, but it’s just as important to remember your content will be read by potential customers, business partners, and stakeholders. As mentioned earlier, focus your SEO content writing on original pieces that provide value to readers. Align your content with E-E-A-T guidelines and the objectives of the helpful content system.

Semrush’s 2024 Ranking Factors Study looked at the content of top-performing pages and found relevancy and quality correlated most strongly with higher rankings. On average, the top 10 ranked pages have 90.6% text relevance and a 76.9% content quality score. Keyword coverage came third at 67.8%. “Don’t waste your time obsessing over keyword count or updating content dates for the sake of making your content appear fresher,” the report advises. “Focus on the things that matter, which is creating content that covers its topic in a way that meets readers’ needs.”

Key performance indicators

Set goals so you can track the impact of your SEO content strategy and refine your tactics to improve performance. Choose KPIs that reflect what you want to achieve — for example, the number of impressions can be a measure of brand awareness. Common metrics include traffic, keyword rankings, click-through rates, session duration, and conversions. Determine your benchmarks, and measure progress regularly. 

10 Steps to Create a Top SEO Content Strategy

Now that you know the ingredients of an impactful strategy, you’re ready to put the pieces together. Here’s how to create an effective SEO content strategy to land higher in search engine rankings and hit your business goals.

1. Understand your customers

The more precisely you know your target audience, the better you can tailor your campaign to meet their needs. This means understanding their needs, concerns, and motivations at each stage of the buyer’s journey. 

Image Source: Ahrefs

For example, if you sell baked goods, determine if your audience is most interested in quality (organic), cost (affordability), or a solution to a problem (gluten-free). Create content to capture them at the awareness, consideration, and decision stages. 

2. Research keywords 

Once you identify who you’re writing for, perform keyword research to find the search terms they’re most likely to use. Sort the keywords into topic clusters and begin building an SEO content strategy.  

You’ll want a mix of head and long-tail keywords. For example, “artificial grass” is a head keyword that generates a high search volume, but it’s tough to rank for. You can aim for more precise long-tail keywords with lower search volumes. These keywords make it easier to gain visibility, such as “What are the benefits of artificial grass?”

Long-tail keywords also help you optimize for voice searches. People tend to be conversational when speaking to a voice assistant, saying, “What trees are native to Maryland?” instead of typing “Maryland trees” into a search engine. Similarly, while SGE is still at an early stage, the preciseness of long-tail keywords may improve your chances of surfacing in AI-driven searches.

3. Plan your content

Look at your chosen keywords and choose the best format for each piece of content. 

• Blog posts are simple to publish and can be outsourced to an SEO content writing service to help you scale output.
• Videos are helpful for product demonstrations, how-to guides, tutorials, presentations, and fun behind-the-scenes content.
• Podcasts give your brand a personal touch and enable you to bring in experts and leverage their audiences.
• Infographics are a visual way to deliver information and are easily shareable.
• E-books share valuable expertise and can be used to generate marketing leads when gated.
• Case studies show customers how your product or service makes a difference.
• Interactive content, such as mortgage calculators, quizzes, games, polls, and interactive maps, encourages user engagement. 

4. Create a content calendar

Use an editorial calendar to plan the content rollout. This helps manage workflow and ensures everyone on the team works toward the same goals. It also ensures you don’t miss out on seasonal marketing opportunities in your industry. 

Build deadlines into your calendar for writing, editing, and publishing, assigning each task to a team member. Prioritize pieces that focus on important core keywords first, and grow your content clusters later. 

If you don’t have the in-house resources to devote to content writing, consider a blog writing service to implement your strategy. Freelance writers can support your team when you need extra hands on deck or ensure a continuous output of content to steadily grow your blog.   

5. Ensure content can be crawled and indexed

Optimize each piece of content according to SEO best practices before you publish. Format content with headers, use metadata, add internal links, and ensure pages load quickly for desktop and mobile devices.

Remember, search engines can’t crawl webinars, videos, images, infographics, and other visual content. You can provide transcripts or written summaries to convey the meaning of content and help with indexing.

6. Develop an off-page SEO strategy

Complement your SEO content strategy by building backlinks from third-party sites that are respected in your niche. There are a few ways to create these links:

• Share your expertise by publishing guest posts that link back to your site.
• Partner with influencers or businesses that may have the same target audience.
• Add your site to directories with local chambers of commerce or business associations.
• Make new content shareable on social media.

7. Engage users

As your pages climb the search rankings, you should see an increase in organic traffic. Make sure those who land on your site have a great user experience. The site should be easy to navigate, visually appealing, and filled with relevant, interesting information. The more you engage users and the longer they stick around, the more likely you are to establish trust and brand awareness.

8. Track performance

Set goals for your SEO content strategy and track your progress toward achieving them. You can monitor the impact of specific campaigns and compare quarterly or annual performances. Use the data to build on successes or refine your approach if performance falls short. 

For example, if a page ranks well but isn’t generating click-throughs, you might need to rewrite your meta title and description to be more compelling to readers. If a page has a high bounce rate, the content might fall short of reader expectations. 

9. Understand the search landscape

Search engines are continuously updating algorithms and ranking factors to better serve users. Read up on SEO with Crowd Content’s blog, and ensure you’re following best practices. This helps you respond to changes in the search landscape as they occur and stay ahead of your competition.

10. Update content regularly

As the bar rises on quality SEO content, readers expect timely and accurate information when clicking through to sites. Regularly review your posts to ensure you’re providing the best information possible. Remove outdated information, use current statistics, and fix broken links.

Put Your SEO Content Strategy to Work

Whether your SEO content strategy involves blog posts, e-books, case studies, or landing pages, harness the power of Crowd Content’s skilled freelance writers. Our SEO content writing services deliver high-quality, publish-ready content to help you drive traffic and conversions. Ask us about our writing and editing services, and put your SEO content strategy into action today. 

The post How to Create a SEO Content Strategy for 2024 appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

But if creating a memorable brand experience on your website is paramount, the good news is that it’s more about strategies than chance. And one of the most effective tools for grabbing an audience’s attention is high-quality website content writing.

The words crafted by website content writers are capable of defining a brand’s unique identity and projecting a powerful voice to the audience. Below, you’ll see how quality content on your site can establish a captivating online presence for your brand and prevent it from being swiped into the abyss.

What Is Web Copy?

In short, all content written on a website falls under the umbrella of web copy. This includes the content on a landing page for products or services, blog posts, articles and any other content that’s written to inform, educate or persuade visitors. 

Here are a few examples of the places you’ll find web copy:

• Homepages. Homepages serve as the hub for all other brand pages.
• Landing pages. These are pages specific to a campaign or product promotion.
• About us pages. Talking about a brand’s history, mission and team is a great storytelling opportunity.
• Contact us. If visitors click on your contact page, they’ve taken an action that requires compelling copy to usher them along.
• Blog posts. A brand’s blog is often the most significant outlet for establishing a brand voice and identity.

Simply put, web copy is any sentence or word that shows up on your website. As a highly effective means of communicating with your target audience, the copy you use can serve or sabotage your brand’s goals.

Who’s Writing Web Content and Why? 

Any discussion of web copy necessarily involves engagement. It involves informing, attracting and persuading visitors by means of creative, magnetic copy that pulls readers in and refuses to let go. When it does, the ensnared readers remember the interaction.

A website for a store specializing in linen dresses for upper-class consumers needs engagement that translates into sales. Great web content can help achieve this. But this same content also translates into brand recognition across the fashion industry and within the store’s target audience. 

This brand recognition and organic boost to business is the context in which copywriters work. They’re responsible for writing memorable and compelling copy that aligns the message with the brand’s voice. And the work takes time: Copywriters often spend hours researching, writing and editing a single page to ensure accuracy, relevance and audience buy-in.

Copywriters work in diverse segments and produce strategic content for companies of all sizes. Others who specialize in specific industries, either through many years of writing about them or from hands-on experience working in them, are known as subject matter experts.

By mastering the nuances of a particular industry or topic, these writers are capable of blending insightful, in-depth analysis and thought leadership with captivating, persuasive copy. They can also make complex topics accessible to a wider audience. This is the kind of content that stands as a cornerstone for a brand’s voice.

A good web content strategy also involves other experts:

• Content strategists. These are the pros responsible for planning and managing the strategic elements of the content.
• Marketers. This is the team responsible for aligning content strategy to marketing efforts and business goals.
• SEO specialists. These people ensure your content and website are optimized to maximize search ranking.

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Content for Your Website

When writing for a website, you need to be aware of mistakes that affect engagement and brand credibility. In many cases, these mistakes begin when the copywriter doesn’t understand the target audience, leading to the creation of unrelatable content. But there are other crucial mistakes to avoid when crafting web copy. 

Failing to Establishing Targets

Before you start writing, it’s essential to define the content’s goal. If you aren’t clear on this, try asking yourself these questions:

• Is the objective to increase your brand’s sales?
• Are you writing to increase brand recognition or improve your brand’s reputation?
• Are you introducing a new product or service? 

Every goal necessitates a different writing strategy. Applying the wrong strategy can transform an otherwise great piece into writing that feels disingenuous to readers, leaving a smudge on your brand.

Failure to Launch

Setting the tone and style from the beginning is essential to any written content. The first impression is what lasts, so your text should grab audiences and create a connection from the first few lines. In journalism, they call this the lead. 

The content must also resonate with the target audience by speaking to their needs, desires and interests. Generic, lifeless copy can come off as stale, or worse, unrelated to the products and services your brand provides. 

Too Much Jargon

Regardless of industry, everyone that visits your site should understand your copy. Using technical language, writing flowery prose or stuffing jargon into your copy can make visitors close their browser tab sooner than you’d like.

While it’s tempting to use jargon and technical terms to show in-depth knowledge, it can limit the reach of your content. Your target audience won’t always possess a mastery of the subject, and your copy might come off as confusing.

Poorly Structured Content

Just as an editor carefully considers each photo, title and text that composes the front page of a newspaper, your website requires strategically formatted content. Poorly structured content diminishes visitors’ interest and can drive your audience away. 

This entails an understanding of hierarchy and the correct use of headings and subheadings, bullet points, pull quotes and how and where to place photos and videos.

Forgetting to Proofread

Forgetting to review written content can damage a brand’s reputation. Typos and grammatical errors undermine your professional image. Before publishing any content, take the time to read and review it. If you can, leave it for a day and review it with fresh eyes. 

Ignoring SEO

SEO, or search engine optimization, is the practice of optimizing websites and content to help them rank higher in search engines. This is what helps brands target specific audiences, and when it’s neglected, it drains a website’s potential.

Content should be engaging and valuable first and foremost, but you shouldn’t ignore relevant keywords or phrases that fit naturally into your copy. This often requires a nuanced approach in which writers blend search engine requirements into content without diminishing the writing quality. For this reason, a great SEO content writing service can help.

Failing to Finish Strong

A call to action, or CTA, is quintessential in marketing and advertising, and it’s just as important for website content writers. In the same way that you need compelling copy to catch your visitors’ attention, you need to convert that attention into action.

A catchy phrase or a persuasive link can set readers on the path to completing the action you want them to take, especially if it’s personalized. This might be filling out a form, subscribing to a newsletter or purchasing a product. The bottom line is that creating website content without a strong finish is a costly mistake.

The Benefits of Great Content Writing

Writing great website copy requires a strategic vision and adequate planning. There are many nuances and variables involved, but when the copy is well-written and on target, the benefits are plentiful:

• Great copy builds trust with your target audience and establishes a reputation.
• Content is one of the most significant factors for ranking on search engines.
• A site with good copy is likely to have more traffic and better engagement.
• The best copywriting can convert new visitors into leads, capturing valuable customer information.
• Well-crafted copy is how brands differentiate themselves from the competition.
• Copy strengthens the connection between brands and their target audience.

Start Generating Brand Impact With Crowd Content

If you want your brand voice to get more recognition, your copy needs to resonate in readers’ minds. If this sounds like a challenging endeavor, it’s because it is. If you aren’t getting the results you were hoping for, Crowd Content can help define your brand’s identity and generate an impact. Crowd Content’s open marketplace gives you the opportunity to work with hundreds of freelance writers who can enrapture your audience and keep them thinking of your brand long after they’ve left your site. Crowd Content’s seasoned writers number in the thousands, so there’s no doubt you’ll find the perfect fit for your brand’s voice.

The post Rank Higher in Search and Convert More With Website Content Writing appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

What Is Blog Writing?

In a professional context, blog writing is the process of creating informative articles related to your business. Each blog post supports one or more operational or strategic goals. If you’re positioning the company as an industry authority, for example, you might write thought-leadership posts related to current developments and trends. Other articles might be designed to build brand recognition, educate readers about your products and services or drive customers to an online ordering system.

What Are the Benefits of Blog Writing?

A strategic, well-written blog can have a profound effect on your company, whether you’re running a start-up or growing a small business. Some of the most important benefits include:

• Boost search engine ranking. Google loves fresh content; when you publish regularly, it’s easier to rank your website higher in the search results.
• Build credibility. Whether you work in the B2C or B2B sector, a well-written blog showcases your institutional knowledge and establishes your company as a credible, authoritative resource.
• Increase website traffic. The more pages you have on your website, the more traffic you receive. A blog also creates more chances for potential customers to find your company.
• Foster customer relationships. Every blog post is a chance to provide more value to customers and create loyalty that sustains your business over the long term.
• Expand content marketing strategy. A blog opens up a world of opportunities to grow your company’s content marketing strategies and reach a larger audience.

Google E-A-T — What Is It?

E-A-T stands for expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness. Google uses this concept to evaluate its search algorithm and ensure that the rankings are showing the best possible results for users. In late December 2022, Google released a new version: E-E-A-T, or experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness.

• Experience: The creator demonstrates first-hand experience in the topic they’re writing about.
• Expertise: The creator has the appropriate skills, certifications or knowledge for the topic at hand. This is particularly true for topics that affect the reader’s money or life.
• Authoritativeness: The creator is known as a reliable, authoritative and trusted source for the topic area
• Trust: The content is safe, accurate and honest.

To stay on Google’s good side — and rank high in the search results — your website must have a high level of E-A-T (or E-E-A-T). Writing a blog can go a long way toward improving your standing.

Why Hire a Professional Blog-Writing Service?

On the surface, blogging seems simple. That might be true of a personal project, but professional blogs are held to a higher standard. In addition to content creation, professional blog-writing services deliver the strategy, optimization and technical know-how you need to build a successful business blog.

1. Adapt to Algorithm Changes

Search engines adjust their algorithms regularly; in fact, Google made more than 4,000 updates in 2021 alone. A single change to the algorithm can affect your search engine rankings overnight, so it’s important to keep track.

Blog-writing services monitor algorithm updates closely, so you don’t have to. They can help you adjust your content strategy and edit older blog posts to align with new guidelines. This constant vigilance makes it easier to maintain your rankings, web traffic and sales funnel.

2. Access Professional Writers and Verified Subject Matter Experts

Blog content writing services make it easy to source professional writers with expertise across a range of fields. Most companies also provide editing services to ensure that your content is polished, free of mistakes and easy to read.

Why does that matter? Start-up and small blogs are often written in-house, usually by people without a writing background. Chances are, many of your competitors fall into that category. When your blog is written to a professional standard, your company automatically looks more credible and authoritative by comparison.

As your blog grows, you may want to expand beyond your core competencies or tackle topics that demand accuracy. Some content services can provide verified subject matter experts to evaluate the blog posts and provide a “reviewed by” line. This extra step builds E-E-A-T, which is essential when you’re publishing about sensitive topics such as health care or personal finance.

3. Target the Right Audience

Successful blogs are written for a specific group of readers. Your target audience should inform everything about each post, from the way the article is structured to the tone and vocabulary you use. A blog post for college-aged YouTubers will be considerably different from a technical blog written for senior engineers.

That’s harder than it sounds, especially if you’re new to writing. For professional blog writers, it’s second nature — they know exactly how to identify your audience and adjust their writing accordingly. The result? Blog posts that resonate with your ideal customers.

4. Free Up Your Time for High-Value Tasks

As a business owner, there are certain tasks that only you can do. By handing off your blog to a professional service, you free up time to build client relationships and pursue new contracts. Outsourcing blog posts can be helpful even if you have an experienced writer on staff — it gives them more time to spend on high-value, conversion-focused B2B copywriting.

5. Enable a Consistent Publishing Schedule

When you’re juggling projects and deadlines, it can be a challenge to stick to a regular publishing schedule. If you can manage it, you can please both Google and the customers who find value in your content. If you can’t, it might be time to seek help.

B2C or B2B content writing services can deliver a steady flow of blog posts according to your needs. You can order them all at once or schedule them to align with your content calendar. Most services can even accommodate last-minute assignments to help your brand keep up with current news stories and emerging trends.

6. Help With Keyword Research and Topic Selection

Solid keyword research — finding the phrases your ideal customers are searching for online — is the foundation of every successful blog. Once you find the right terms, you can turn them into blog posts that attract traffic and bring in more leads.

Aside from writing, keyword research is one of the most important services that content agencies provide. They’re experts at identifying the keywords that will have the biggest ROI for your business. These highly targeted phrases and blog post ideas can give you a significant advantage over competitors in the industry. 

7. Provide SEO-Friendly Content

Search engine optimization (SEO) is critical for business websites. Strong SEO increases your chances of ranking well in the search results, making it easier for customers to find your company.

The thing is, effective SEO takes time — and when you’re running a business, you may not have the capacity to manage it in-house. A blog-writing service can take SEO off your plate entirely. Your content will come back ready to publish, complete with optimized headers and metadata.

8. Develop a Brand Voice

Have you ever noticed that many of the most successful global brands have distinct personalities? That’s mostly due to brand voice, which is the way a company expresses its personality in writing. A solid brand voice can help distinguish your business from competitors; it also helps customers make personal connections that inspire both sales and loyalty.

A blog can go a long way toward building your brand voice — but only if you’re intentional. Reputable writing services will work with you to develop a voice that aligns with your style and attracts the right audience.

9. Establish Brand Guidelines

When you put out marketing materials for your business, you probably use similar colors, fonts and image styles for each document. There’s a reason: Consistency breeds familiarity. It’s the same for a blog — when key elements remain the same across all posts, it creates a unified experience that helps customers recognize your brand.

Blog-writing services can help you establish and maintain guidelines. That way, every writer knows exactly how to capture your company’s style and voice. Some of the elements you can include are:

• Default tone
• Stylistic preferences
• Grammatical rules
• Words to avoid
• Brand-name formatting

10. Scale Quickly

The bigger your blog becomes, the more opportunities you have to bring in new customers, boost traffic and improve search-engine rankings. That’s why many start-ups try to grow their blogs quickly to help carve out a place in the industry.

If you’ve ever written a blog post, you know that producing content at scale is a gargantuan task. Publishing 25, 50 or 100 blog posts can involve hundreds of hours of writing, editing, formatting and publishing — something that’s not feasible for most business owners.

When you’re ready to go all in on your content strategy, blog-writing services are a worthwhile investment. You’ll have access to hundreds of writers who can complete your entire order, often in a matter of days.

Whether you’re planning to scale or you’re just dipping your toes into the world of business blogging, a blog-writing service can ease the transition. Contact Crowd Content today to find out how our expert writing, SEO and keyword research teams can help build your blog into a revenue-generating asset for your company.

The post Supercharge Your Content Marketing Strategy With a Blog-Writing Service appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

It’s a demanding task — but achievable. Below, we offer ways to get your creative juices flowing so you can generate impactful ideas for your niche. We explore content formats to attract customers and ways to source topic ideas. And because you need more than random pieces of content to make an impact, we discuss how to fuse your ideas with a solid content marketing strategy.

B2B Content Marketing Ideas: Where to Start

When creating B2B content, you target business decision-makers who are solving commercial challenges. These customers make decisions that can impact an entire company and need reliable, industry-specific information to grow their businesses. That’s why B2B marketing differs from B2C methods, which may incorporate influencer marketing or appeal more to emotions.

Blog posts are at the heart of most B2B content marketing strategies — and for good reason. They’re versatile and can be structured to cover a range of topics. But they’re not the only way to share your knowledge. If you’re looking for fresh B2B content ideas, consider expanding your marketing to include different formats. Publishing various content types makes your site more dynamic and appeals to different user preferences.

• Case studies: Show the impact of your product or services and back it up with statistics.
• FAQs: Make it easy for potential customers to find the answers to important questions.
• Infographics: Present complex information visually to help customers understand topics and easily share content with their colleagues.
• Augmented and virtual reality: Leverage technology to offer immersive and interactive experiences, such as product demos, virtual showrooms, and interactive 3D models.
• White papers: Explore industry issues, and establish authority with in-depth analyses and thought leadership.
• E-books: Share your expertise in a downloadable format that’s creative and visual.
• Videos: Appeal to audiences who prefer to consume video content instead of reading.
• Webinars and podcasts: Invite experts to discuss topics in an interactive format.
• Glossaries: Define technical and industry terminology customers may not be familiar with. 

Finding B2B Content Ideas

To impress your audience with B2B topics for your niche, consider the information they need to do their jobs and how you can assist. For example, your content might:

• Provide data to support decision-making
• Summarize industry research or present your findings
  
• Share information from presentations you made at conferences
  
• Offer insight into industry trends and what you expect in the future
• Provide tutorials, guides, and checklists to help them through a process
• List tools to improve their productivity
• Offer free templates to make their workflow easier
• Give tips to enhance how they use your products or services
• Provide tables and charts to compare products 

Your customers may also have specific questions; go to the source to see what they want to know. Conduct surveys, or ask your sales and customer care teams what questions and issues often arise. Visit online communities, such as Reddit, or listen in on social media conversations to discover what audiences are talking about. Analytics is an essential tool to see which marketing emails produce clicks and which pages on your website perform best. Round out your research with a content gap analysis to find missing key topics on your website that have the potential to generate traffic.

Where possible, leverage your firsthand knowledge, and provide real-world scenarios and examples in your content. This helps your website address Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines by demonstrating experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. 

Successful B2B Marketing Begins With a Content Strategy

The right mix of content can drive traffic, build leads, and improve conversion rates, but it requires planning. The best way to brainstorm and harness ideas is through a content marketing strategy — it helps you create purposeful SEO content that satisfies your audience’s needs. Use the following tips to customize a B2B marketing strategy that guides your content production.

Identify your target audience and what matters to them

A successful content strategy is tailored to your core audience, so you need to understand your customers and produce content that caters to their problems. Before you nail down your B2B content ideas, reflect on your long-term goals, who you’re writing for, and the purpose of the content. Clearly understand what customers want to know at different stages of the buyer’s journey, and deliver exceptional content that answers those questions. 

Find out what competitors are doing

If you’re unsure how to make B2B content interesting, look into what your competitors are doing and how they’re ranking on the SERPs. Suppose you manufacture cloth made of pure cotton. Your direct competitors are companies that produce the same kind of cloth, and your indirect competitors sell other fabrics, such as silk or polyester blends. Essentially, these companies either sell identical products, variations, or replacements for your product. Chances are these competitors distribute content to rank for the same keywords and attract your target audiences. 

Competitive analysis is invaluable for planning your content. You can use tools such as Ahrefs and Semrush to understand what keywords your competitors are ranking for and the volume of traffic they’re getting. This gives you an idea of the content users are looking for and gaps in your competitors’ strategies. For example, if you have a SaaS product and competitors are talking about how to scale small businesses, you might go a step further to create content about common mistakes small businesses make when trying to scale. 

To draw in more customers, you also need a unique selling point. When creating content on common topics in your niche, highlight aspects of your business and topical authority that set you apart from your competitors. This helps you create an impression in your customers’ minds and gives them a reason to choose your company over others.

Incorporate cluster strategies 

A content cluster is a way of organizing content by theme. It uses a main pillar page as a gateway into the high-level topic, directing audiences to related, in-depth pieces. This strategy enables you to interlink your content to improve user experience and establish authority to boost your SEO.  

To create a content cluster, you need to conduct SEO and keyword research, determine your core pillar pieces, and decide on cluster articles that support those pillar topics. Once your content marketing ideas for B2B are in place, you can start writing high-quality blog posts and internally link them to each other.

Let’s look at an example of how this works.

Decide on a main idea related to your product or service. If you’re a content writing business, the customers who land on your page are likely looking for ways to upgrade their existing content strategy. So, let’s say your first pillar piece is about content strategy. You then create a list of overarching topics that cluster around this one. 

For example:

• Does your content strategy make a difference?
• 5 ways to create a solid content strategy
• Common content strategy mistakes 
• Should you hire a content writing team?

Once your topic cluster is ready, create a content brief for each article with subheadings to avoid repetition. Ideating content in this way helps you develop multiple ideas to cover specific overarching topics in more detailed chunks. AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, can assist with brief creation.

This clustering strategy also helps you push out more pieces of content that relate to each other and link back to a common, final destination — the conversion page of your website. 

Creating a cluster strategy

Developing compelling content clusters is simpler than you think. Follow this structure for an organized approach:

• Pick a topic or a main idea.
• Research keywords for that topic.
• Audit existing content to see what you’ve already covered.
• Chart out overarching blog ideas related to your topic and the high-ranking keywords.
• Create content briefs and assign writers.
• Link between articles in the cluster.

Emphasizing quality

Remember that a solid content strategy is only the first step. You also have to deliver quality content. Even if you identify relevant topics and use the right keywords, your content needs to provide value to the reader. Flesh it out with nuanced observations about your industry and back it up with statistics and research. 

If your strategy and content are in place and your customer clicks through your site, there shouldn’t be anything off-putting about your conversion page to cause friction. Make sure you have a good conversion offer, demo, or clear contact option. Minimize distractions or other links so visitors can maintain attention while buying your product or service.

In this way, content clustering can help you bring structure into your content marketing strategy and help you achieve your B2B content marketing goals.

Don’t forget brand marketing and positioning

Brand positioning is the impression people have of your business in comparison to your competitors. It’s what sets you apart and gives you a distinct place in your customers’ minds. But how can you position your brand using your content?

1. Talk to your customers and find out their pain points. Find out what they’d like you to do differently, how you can offer more value, and why they chose you over a competitor. This gives you an idea of what you’re doing right and what you should improve. Your openness to feedback also creates a positive impression of your brand and shows you care about your customers’ needs.
2. Promote your USP. Determine what sets your brand apart from others. Incorporate your USP into your content marketing and give your customers a reason to choose your brand over others in the market. Emphasize how you can help them and why they should trust your company over another.
3. Let your brand voice shine. Is your company a startup that uses humor to appeal to audiences? Maybe it’s an established brand that conveys authority and expertise. Use tone and voice in your content to convey your brand’s message and shape how your customers perceive you.

Plan in advance

B2B companies that posted more than 11 times a month received 3.75 times more leads than those that posted a handful of times. That’s a lot of content to manage, but an editorial calendar can keep your strategy on track. Organize your B2B content marketing ideas, slot them into your schedule, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

We recommend planning content 6-8 months in advance, even if you only publish a few times a month. This creates a consistent output and enables you to align content with important occasions, such as product launches or seasonal events. Preparing your content in advance also allows time for research, writing, editing, and quality assurance, preventing sacrifices in quality due to rushed deadlines. 

Consider working with writers who understand SEO concepts. Outsourcing your blog can help you draw on fresh perspectives and quickly stock up your content inventory.

Revitalize Your B2B Content Marketing

If you’re trying to establish your company as a leader in the B2B space, a solid content strategy and high-quality content are essential. The focus should be on creating content that’s useful to your target audience and attracts organic leads to your business. At Crowd Content, we have the writers to set your content strategy in motion. Our talented B2B content marketing writers help you create blog posts, white papers, and SEO content that builds trust with decision-makers and boosts your business.

The post How to Create B2B Content Ideas for Your Blog appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Whether you’re targeting other businesses or marketing directly to consumers, your social media posts can help your audience get to know your company in an informal, no-pressure environment. That’s why it’s crucial for online businesses — or any company that maintains an online presence — to understand how to write a social media post that catches and holds the attention of their target audience.

Why Writing Good Copy for Social Media Is So Important

Learning how to write a social media post for your business takes practice, but great content can be an integral part of an online marketing strategy — and for good reason. Social media platforms let you reach a large audience within seconds without breaking the bank.

By getting the right copy in front of your target demographic, you can potentially reap numerous benefits, including:

• Lead generation
• Increased brand loyalty
• Higher conversion rates
• Improved customer satisfaction
• Enhanced brand and product visibility
• Insight into customers’ likes, values and interests
• More accurate metrics for marketing and advertising campaigns

Social Media and SEO

It’s also important not to underestimate the importance of social media in SEO. Although social media posts don’t directly impact search engine optimization, they can influence it in other ways. For example, social shares, likes and comments may signal to search engines that you’re providing useful content to your target audience, which can ultimately influence rankings. This can increase your brand’s visibility and help generate organic traffic to your website.

What Makes Social Media Copy Great

Although each company’s approach to creating content for social media may differ from others in the space, great social media posts typically have several key attributes:

• They entertain
• They inspire engagement
• They’re attention-grabbing
• They’re easy to digest

However, what defines great social media copy is likely to change depending on the platform, and what works for LinkedIn may not be ideal for Twitter. 

How to Make a Tweet Stand Out

The key to writing great tweets is keeping it short and conversational. Although Twitter permits up to 280 characters per tweet, the sweet spot is typically closer to 100 characters, including spaces.

Twitter is also a hotbed of hashtags, so give your tweet context and promote engagement by including relevant hashtag phrases. Just be sure to limit yourself to one or two, and keep them short. If you aren’t sure where to start, Twitter offers free tools for monitoring trending conversations and events, which can help you keep your brand current and relevant on this crowded platform.

Using Facebook to Your Advantage

Facebook remains popular across numerous age groups and demographics. However, because users’ feeds tend to be cluttered and change quickly, you won’t have much time to attract attention, so it’s important to keep posts short, sharp and clear. Many Facebook users access the platform from smartphones or other handheld devices, so optimizing your content for mobile is crucial.

When creating Facebook posts, avoid industry jargon and marketing speak, which can negatively impact content in the platform’s algorithm.

Facebook users have come to expect visuals, so include creative elements, such as eye-catching photos and videos, with your posts. Just be sure not to use overused stock images, which can be off-putting to customers.

Building Authority Through LinkedIn Posts

As a professional networking platform, LinkedIn is useful for positioning your business as an authority on a subject. Consequently, great LinkedIn posts often contain business or career advice, intellectual property or links to crucial press releases.

Many successful LinkedIn posts also use mentions (which begin with the @ symbol) to tag influential or notable connections. This can increase your reach if the mentioned person shares or comments on your content. And, if you’re interested in presenting long-form content, you can also benefit by learning how to write an article on LinkedIn.

How to Write Social Media Posts That Capture Your Target Audience

Because most social media platforms are crowded with content, you’ll have to compete for attention. By learning how to make social media posts pop, you can cut through the noise and help your brand stand out. Fortunately, writing catchy social media posts isn’t difficult. By following these basic social media content writing tips, you can write posts that stand out from the pack:

• Know your audience. Understanding your target audience is a crucial step in creating relevant, attention-catching social media posts. Although knowing your target audience’s age, income range, and educational background is crucial, you should also understand their needs and likes. Fortunately, many social media platforms, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, provide free analytics to help you learn more about your audience’s online behavior.
• Be intentional. Before you write a social media post, you should know what message you want to send or what result you hope to achieve. Great posts ultimately reflect your intent, whether that’s highlighting a product, improving your brand’s reputation, or driving traffic to your website.
• Use a consistent voice. Your writer’s voice reflects your vocabulary, tone and syntax, and a strong voice can make you uniquely identifiable. By developing a clear, relatable voice that’s consistent across platforms, you’ll influence how your audience views your business.
• Add personality. While being professional is important, using a casual tone that highlights your personality lets your audience see your business as friendly, relevant and approachable.
• Don’t waste words. In today’s fast-paced world, time is a commodity. Keeping posts short, simple and catchy demonstrates an understanding and respect for your readers’ time.
• Never create clickbait. Sensational headlines or hooks are great, but any linked content must live up to the hype. Otherwise, you’re creating clickbait, which is a major red flag for a potential customer.
• Edit and proofread. Editing and proofreading to minimize errors and clarify your message should be a standard part of your writing process. Even a single typo can convey carelessness and diminish your credibility.

What Should a Social Media Post Include

Regardless of the platform, most effective social media posts contain some key components. If you want to create copy that draws and keeps a reader’s attention, incorporate these vital elements.

The Hook

Your post’s first sentence or phrase, known as the hook, is often your best chance of drawing in readers. A good hook should pique a casual browser’s interest so they stop scrolling. Fortunately, an eye-catching hook doesn’t have to be difficult to write if you incorporate one or more of these elements:

• Headlines: A great headline creates promise, enticing potential readers to continue.
• Fascinating facts: Lead with an interesting fact about your chosen topic. Besides catching a reader’s attention, an interesting fact can define you as a reliable source of information.
• Strong statements: Set an authoritative tone for your post by hooking readers with a strong opening statement. Try statements that are intriguing, compelling or polarizing for added impact.
• Great quotes: Inspiring, controversial or insightful quotes are a great way to introduce a post. They can evoke an emotional response and convince a follower to continue reading.
• Metaphors and similes: Hook readers by inspiring them to look at a topic differently. Good metaphors and similes can surprise and delight an unsuspecting social media user.
• Open-ended questions: Start with an open-ended question to get people thinking. Questions naturally keep followers reading because they want to discover the answer.

Valuable content

When you provide valuable content, your social media posts are more likely to be read, discussed and shared. However, what defines valuable content can vary by reader, industry, platform and whether you specialize in B2B or B2C products and services. 

Valuable content may be original or curated and can include:

• Giveaways
• Industry insights
• Educational content
• Career or business advice
• Inspirational stories
• Tips for product use
• Links to unique articles
• Inside information on your company
• Solutions for pain points
• Previews for forthcoming products or services

Links

Interesting links can drive traffic to your website and may even improve its SEO. You can increase the chance of click-through by using relevant anchor text and/or enticing, accompanying images.

Don’t just link to your homepage, though. Link deep to specific pages and posts on your site. By using deep links to direct readers to specific pages, you can draw attention to product information, exclusive offers and other value-added content.

If you aren’t using anchor text, make sure visible URLs are clean and concise. Long URLs take up space and can look suspicious, so it’s important to convert them to shortened or branded links. URL shorteners, such as Ow.ly or Bitly, compress or customize URLs, optimizing them for social media.

Hashtags

Hashtags, which begin with a # regardless of platform, are words and phrases that identify a post’s topic or theme. They help people follow online conversations and find interesting or relevant content, particularly from accounts they don’t follow.

To effectively incorporate hashtags in your social media posts, remember:

• Hashtags don’t use spaces, symbols or punctuation marks, so if you need to include more than one word, just mash them together. 
• Hashtags should be simple and easy to remember.
• A blend of trending, branded, popular or industry-relevant hashtags can have more impact. 
• Avoid choosing only overused hashtags, as your post may get lost in the sheer amount of traffic they generate.

White Space

Because white space is essentially the empty space around your content’s other elements, it may seem odd to consider it a crucial component of a social media post. However, long walls of unbroken text can be off-putting to even diehard followers. Posts that incorporate plenty of white space are usually more readable and easier to navigate. Plus, when used well, white space can draw attention to important aspects of your content, such as brand messaging or calls to action.

Creating white space can be easily accomplished by:

• Shortening sentences
• Aligning text
• Incorporating bulleted or numbered lists
• Using plenty of line breaks
• Limiting paragraphs to two or three sentences

Visual Elements

Although not every social media post should or will contain visual elements, images are an effective tool for drawing attention. The right image can also provide context for your words, evoke emotions and ensure your brand stays in readers’ minds long after they’ve read your post. 

When choosing a visual element for your post, make sure to complement the tone, message and intent of your content. Options include:

• Photos
• Artwork
• Video clips
• Memes
• Cartoons
• GIFs
• Animation

When including creative content in your posts, always use copyright-free images or material that you own, and make sure the resolution is compatible with the platform.

A Call to Action

A call to action is a prompt that invites the reader to take a recommended action. Although a CTA isn’t essential, or even relevant, for every social media post, in the right context it can cue a follower to take a crucial next step, such as:

• Claiming an offer
• Answering a question
• Visiting a landing page
• Subscribing to a newsletter
• Requesting information
• Ordering or preordering a product
• Connecting with your business on other channels

Outsourcing Your Social Media Posts

Learning how to write for social media can help you broaden your business’s reach and connect with your customers, and it doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, your audience can usually sense when you’re trying too hard, and the most engaging social posts are often written when you relax and let yourself have fun.

However, writing for social media isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. If it’s time to refresh your content strategy, why not give professional content writing services a try? Connect with Crowd Content’s network of talented writers for compelling content that gets results.

The post How to Write a Great Social Media Post appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Picture this. You’re writing a blog post, a social post or copy for a product page.

You want it to perform well to scale website traffic and revenue, but how do you know your copy will hit the mark? Will people care or will they indifferently move on?

You might think online attention spans are short and getting shorter, making it difficult to seize people’s attention with content copywriting.

Some studies say human attention spans have decreased by almost a third during the internet era, exacerbating the job of content marketers.

But it turns out that shorter attention spans is a myth. Attention spans are too task-dependent and too influenced by circumstantial expectations to be a reliable metric.

Why then do audiences pay so little attention to your content marketing? Copywriting for conversions is difficult, but not because of shorter attention spans. Successful conversion copywriting is challenging because of information overload and more competition.

If readers bounce from your content, you probably rambled, your brand messaging didn’t captivate or you committed a common copywriting mistake.

For content marketers who need to drive traffic, woo potential leads and boost conversions, the pressure is on! But stagnant copywriting will impede your content marketing goals.

Thankfully, with the right eye, you can spot the mistakes that turn content with potential into a waste of copywriting resources and the reader’s time.

We’ll outline the importance of copywriting for content marketing and six common copywriting mistakes to avoid so your content wows audiences and drives conversions through the roof!

The Importance of Copywriting for Content Marketing

There are few strategies as impactful on conversions, engagement and loyalty as content marketing. Content marketing builds trust by providing value without asking for compensation.

Great content creates memorable experiences for potential leads. If your articles or posts educate and enthrall leads, they’ll trust you and become more likely to convert into a customer.

Hence why strong copywriting is vital for content marketing. Words sway people, and all content requires copy. To scale content marketing, you need to become a content copywriter.

What Is a Content Copywriter?

A content copywriter applies copywriting best practices to content marketing to reinforce brand messaging and make audiences care about what they’re reading.

Let’s break this down! Content marketing is the strategy of creating and distributing content like articles and posts to attract and engage leads. Copywriting is the art of crafting written content to knock your audience’s socks off so they take action.

But don’t you want your content marketing to knock people’s socks off too?

People crave connection to what you’re saying. Does your content merely answer queries and promote your brand, or does it go further and move your audience?

You need to make your content “people-first content” with mistake-free copywriting. Tell stories that potential leads can relate to and use language that enraptures them.

A content copywriter leverages brand messaging, emotional language and product copy in their content marketing to improve traffic and conversions. It’s that simple.

If longform content doesn’t command attention the same way a billboard advertisement does, the strength of the writing otherwise and the research you put into the content won’t matter.

Therefore, you can’t afford to overlook common copywriting mistakes in content marketing! Let’s review six copywriting mistakes to avoid to benefit your bottom line.

6 Common Content Copywriting Mistakes to Avoid

As a content marketer—or, more precisely, a content copywriter!—you want to make your content copywriting shine!

Here are common copywriting mistakes to avoid:

1. Messaging that doesn’t move your audience.
2. Using the passive voice.
3. Non-conversational writing that’s all about “me.”
4. Too much fluff.
5. Bad or no formatting.
6. A failure to test your content.

1. Messaging That Doesn’t Move Your Audience

The biggest mistake brands make in content marketing is not employing clear messaging as part of a story to establish connections with people.

Storytelling is an important aspect for both B2C content marketing and B2B content creation; no matter your audience, all potential customers are people first who just want to feel connected.

Check out the below blog-post intro from the B2B-software company Gong.

Even though they sell complex technology to business professionals, they set up a narrative (with a pop-culture reference no less!) to hook their readers.

This tactic exemplifies what makes a great copywriter: great communication skills with people.

But to connect with your target audience—to influence and entice them towards your products or services—you need to understand them.

In short, your content should demonstrate that you’ve identified the following about your target audience:

• Emotional pushes (i.e., what causes them problems)
• Emotional pulls (i.e., what attracts them to a solution)
• Present habits (i.e., what they are currently doing or not doing)
• Solution anxieties (i.e., what might worry them if they break their habits)

Let’s go through an example.

Take a web-design agency that caters to local-service businesses, like landscaping companies.

• Push: They work hard so they don’t have time to market their business more.
• Pull: They want more leads to increase revenue.
• Habit: They’re floundering with an outdated website.
• Anxiety: They know how their website works and besides, what if their investment goes down the drain?

Here’s a potential intro for an article on “marketing tips for a landscaping website”:

So you want to dominate the neighborhood and become the top landscaper in town?

But you work so much running your business, you worry your website isn’t pulling its weight to make this a reality and you don’t have the capacity to do anything about it. Your website has gotten you this far, but now you’ve hit a cap so it’s time to take things to the next level.

To grow your landscaping business, your website needs to work as hard as you do to become a lead-generating machine. Let’s look at some surefire tips to make this a reality!

By framing the website as working hard like them, you appeal to their entrepreneurial pride (hard work) that explains the push (not enough time), while implying the consequences of keeping their habit (they’re floundering if their current website isn’t working as hard as it could).

Plus, a “hard-working website” both alludes to the pull (if it works hard, it will generate more leads like a “machine” so they can “dominate” and “grow”) and alleviates anxiety (if it works hard, you won’t have to update it as much and it will pay for itself).

You now have a story, leading the reader on a journey where they identify as the audience with messaging that intersects their desires & pain points and your products or services.

Content copywriting with strong messaging is key to content marketing success.

2. Using the Passive Voice

Good copywriting energizes, engages and stirs people into action. It should be direct and to the point. Most importantly, good copy is crystal clear and never confuses readers.

The quickest way to undermine good copywriting is to write in the passive voice.

In the passive voice, the verb acts on the subject. It makes a phrase sound more odd and disconnected than necessary and it stutters your copy.

Take this sentence, for example: Our product is loved by our customers because of its simplicity.

The active voice flips things around so the subject performs the verb’s action. It’s more lively, energetic and clear, and it turns a passive sentence from clunky to spunky.

Like this: Our customers love our product for its simplicity.

A fast way to identify the passive voice is to look for to be and its variants (am, are, been, being, is, was and were). These verbs lack confidence and detract from more engaging verbs.

Remember in the introduction the sentence, “Why then do readers pay so little attention to your content marketing?”

In the first draft of this post, that sentence read, “So why then do audiences seem to spend so little attention to your content marketing?”

“Seem to…” devalues the stronger verb “spend” (later replaced by “pay”) and makes you sound hesitant. It also inflates your word count!

Fixing the passive voice quickly improves content marketing.

3. Non-Conversational Writing That’s All About “Me”

Brands take varying approaches with the tone and voice of their content, ranging from a knowledgeable voice and an even tone to a more casual vibe.

But all good content copywriting has one thing in common: it’s conversational.

To nurture lifelong customers and make them raving fans of your business, your copy should have the same cadence that a message from a friend would.

Read your content out loud to test for conversationalism. If it flows more like a friendly conversation and less like reading a microwave’s instruction manual, you’re on the right track.

But be wary of advice like “write like you talk,” which itself is a common copywriting mistake.

Why? Because people talk based on unedited thoughts from their head. Copywriting expert Erica Schneider says to think of conversational writing as “relaxed writing.”

A relaxed tone comes naturally when you stop talking at your readers and start conversing with them.

Want an example? Check out this above-the-fold messaging from an agency’s website:

“We are” this. “An expert team” of that. “Get to know us”!? Yuck.

The “Me, Me, Me” tactic is a great example of a copywriting mistake because it underscores the value of focusing on what you can do for leads.

Conversational content copywriting is all about the “you”; making it about “me” is lazy and ineffective.

For instance, here copywriting expert Grace Baldwin hits the nail on the head about the importance of writing to customers about them instead of at them about you.

Trying to sell leads on your greatness will get you nowhere. (Unless of course, you’re selling the world’s best cup of coffee!)

4. Too Much Fluff

Ever read a paragraph and thought, “Well that was a lot of words”? I’ll bet dollars to donuts you didn’t even remember what the paragraph was about.

Crafting conversational copy that connects with your readers is foundational to good writing. And nothing stops the flow of a conversation quicker than fluff in writing.

All too often, writers hope to dazzle readers by filling their prose with industry jargon and complex language, only to alienate their audience with fluff. 

Wait, let me try that again.

Filling your prose with industry jargon and complex language to dazzle readers will alienate them instead.

That’s better. Let’s move on….

If you find your writing is stuffed with superfluous words that belabor the point or ones that don’t make sense, you’re likely covering for your own lack of clarity.

Simply slow down and make sure you understand what you’re talking about. This usually happens in the editing process.

What are some tips to avoid this common copywriting mistake of fluffy writing?

• Watch out for extra verbs.
• Avoid explanations that are implied.
• Eliminate filler terms.

Let’s look at some concrete examples of each.

Watch Out for Extra Verbs

You must make a connection with your readers to increase conversion rates.

Are you trying to write about consumer debt for a fintech company but don’t know where to start?

Many business owners aren’t aware of new LinkedIn features or how to best use them, leaving them struggling to expand their reach to new customers by not exploring their options.

“Must.” “Trying.” “Leaving.” “Expand.” What’s going on here?

Some ideas are complicated, we get it. But you can boil all sentences down to three elements: Subject > Verb > Object. There’s no need for more than one verb per clause if you can help it.

Adding extra verbs to a sentence is an example of a common copywriting mistake because it lacks confidence, increases word counts and indicates you probably need an editor. Here are ways to fix these problems:

Connect with your readers to increase conversion rates.

Are you writing about consumer debt for a fintech company but don’t know where to start?

Many business owners aren’t aware of new LinkedIn features or how to best use them. Instead, they struggle to reach new customers by not exploring their options.

Avoid Implied Explanations

Delineation is extremely valuable when referencing industry buzzwords, but rarely welcome in all other circumstances.

If you’re padding your points with additional context that tells the reader something already obvious or that they already know, your content copywriting will tire them out.

This seems simple, but writers overlook this copywriting mistake frequently, because it even creeps into microcopy on a sentence-by-sentence basis when writing first drafts.

Consider the following example:

Can you imagine a competitor not in your space? What does that even mean?

Eliminate Filler Terms

What are filler terms?

Filler terms are words or turns-of-phrase in sentences when trying to get thoughts on paper but which don’t add any value to readers.

They bloat your writing, hurt your content marketing goals and make your readers more likely to bounce from your articles or blog posts.

Remember the sentence a couple subsections ago, “All too often, writers hope to dazzle…”?

Yeah, “All too often” was lazy filler. That’s why I cut it and rearranged the syntax to later lead with “Filling your prose….” Much better, no?

Some examples of filler words include adverbs, “in order to” and “the fact of the matter.” Instead, leverage action verbs, mitigate adjectives and avoid clichés.

Are there exceptions to these rules? Absolutely!

It all comes down to context. For instance, I used the word “absolutely” even though adverbs are usually a red flag, but not to qualify an adjective or verb. And even then, strategically placed adverbs to modify other words can sometimes be effective if they grab attention.

Use your discretion and always put yourself in the reader’s shoes.

5. Bad or No Formatting

Potential customers want copy that engages, entertains and informs. They don’t want to slog through monotonously formatted paragraphs that hurt their eyes.

Format content to reflect the nature of the medium. Did you know that the average person spends 37 seconds reading a blog post? That’s insanely disheartening for content marketers! Don’t chase readers away with walls of text.

Here’s how to make content scannable, easy to digest and pleasant to read:

• Break up topics with headings and subheadings;
• Include interesting points and facts as bullet points; and
• Embed relevant images or video content to visually compel readers (and as a bonus, multimedia content adds authority to your article, showing you’ve done research to back up your points). 

And don’t forget to format paragraphs themselves. The flow of your writing is just as important to the visual and hierarchical structure.

Rhythm, syntax, vocabulary and more all comprise flow that helps define copy-formatting. Lacking diversity of these elements is a major copywriting mistake to avoid.

6. A Failure to Test Your Content

No matter how well you write, there’s still a subjective element to great copy.

You simply can’t know if a piece of content works until you put it out there. To succeed, you need great content copywriters with strong intuitions about what works and what doesn’t.

That and testing your content.

Creativity is an inherent part of copywriting, but there’s no reason to leave your marketing results to chance.

A/b-testing, readability testing and even studying analytics are all crucial to optimizing content copywriting and to mitigate mistakes.

Want to test two different headlines, introduction sections, taglines or more against each other? Check out a free tool like Google Optimize!

Want to double-check the grammar, flow, readability and more of your content copywriting? Try Grammarly (freemium) or Hemingway Editor (free)!

Want to cross-reference your content with traffic or conversions to see what content types work well and which pieces are most profitable to optimize? Google Analytics!

Leaving content stagnant, not analyzing it and not testing it are the low-hanging fruits of common copywriting mistakes. Pick those fruits and your content marketing will thank you!

How to Avoid Common Copywriting Mistakes to Blow Past Content Quotas

Writing, in general, is deceptively simple. Anyone can form words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs and so on. But crafting words that connect, engage and sell is another matter.

Remember, people don’t pay less attention to business content than they used to. Instead, it’s tougher to compete but also never more important.

Content marketing is vital to improving your marketing metrics, spreading your brand and delivering more qualified leads. But you can’t succeed without great copywriting that’s on-message, well-tested and written confidently, conversationally, jargon-free, succinctly and more.

That’s what content copywriting is all about!

But even when you know the rules of good copywriting, scaling your output and committing additional time you don’t have are new challenges altogether.

High-quality freelance copywriter services deliver on all these notes, without any of the mistakes that can hold your content down.

Supercharge your content with managed services and now your content strategy might be the envy of other marketers!

The post 6 Common Copywriting Mistakes That Hurt Content Marketing appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

When Amanda Natividad, VP of Marketing at SparkToro, published content on LinkedIn and compared the data to Twitter, the results were a lot of “fun.”

Surely us fellow content marketers can have fun too!

What kind of fun did Natividad experience? Well, their LinkedIn publication earned over 913,000 impressions and almost 13,000 engagements in just five days.

That beat Twitter by almost 1,136% and 381%, respectively!

What happened? Is there a discrepancy between follower counts? Well, yes, but not in the obvious direction: over 94,000 on Twitter and less than 9,000 on Linkedin.

Natividad’s observation reinforces what a lot of content marketers have seen: LinkedIn is one of the most-trusted social media platforms for businesses.

With this foundation of trust, LinkedIn’s organic reach is more wide-ranging than other platforms—there’s a big demand for content that users don’t value on Facebook, Twitter, et al.

And articles on LinkedIn are unique as they allow you to write content similar to blog posts to help your business build its brand and establish expertise.

Yet many business owners aren’t aware of the article-publishing features on LinkedIn or how to best use them. Instead, they struggle to reach new customers and grow their audience.

But why should you write articles on LinkedIn? And how can you write a good LinkedIn article?

We’ll cover how to write an article on a LinkedIn page, the benefits of publishing on LinkedIn and tips for writing a good LinkedIn article so your content gets the attention it deserves!

Writing Articles on LinkedIn: An Overview

Before you learn how to write a good LinkedIn article, it’s important to understand the difference between an article and a post (also called a status or update).

LinkedIn posts are short messages that appear directly on LinkedIn feeds.

Articles are longer-form content shared as posts, where the post itself serves as a caption, but the article is available on its own page via LinkedIn’s publishing platform, LinkedIn Pulse.

Which Is Better: LinkedIn Articles or Posts?

Are LinkedIn articles better than posts? It’s a trick question because LinkedIn posts are completely different from LinkedIn articles.

First, the character counts for LinkedIn posts vs. articles differ. LinkedIn caps posts at 1,300 characters—or around 200–300 words on average if you include spaces (LinkedIn does). 

In contrast, articles get a max 125,000 characters. That’s more than 17,000 words on average.

We’re definitely not suggesting you use all that space for every article. Most people on LinkedIn don’t have time to binge-read novellas.

But you can definitely convey more—and more complex—information in an article on LinkedIn than you can in a post.

So LinkedIn articles are great in helping you demonstrate expertise and promote brand awareness.

When to Use LinkedIn Posts

• Publish regular content to LinkedIn to increase awareness
• Share links to your own posts or information you find interesting or want to comment on
• Introduce a new staffer, business partnership or product
• Share business news or accomplishments
• Ask for client or consumer feedback
• Highlight your company’s philanthropy or other efforts related to mission or corporate social responsibility

When to Publish LinkedIn Articles

• Share expertise with other LinkedIn members via longer content
• Drive awareness of your brand, services or products by creating content other people are likely to share
• Educate your audience, such as with how-to articles
• Create content likely to drive conversions to demonstrate your expertise or help people better understand the purpose & benefits of your products

What Are the Benefits of Publishing an Article on LinkedIn

Are LinkedIn articles a valuable use of time?

Yes.

LinkedIn articles complement blog posts because they offer another medium to revamp and repurpose your longform content.

You can also use LinkedIn articles as previews of what’s on your website.

Plus, with LinkedIn, you’ll get a great organic reach that isn’t guaranteed on your website.

What about the inherent effort?

It does take more time to write an in-depth article than to publish a short post. Is it really worth the extra effort? Absolutely. Here’s why:

• LinkedIn displays content to users interested in the topics you write about. If readers already perceive your content as relevant to their needs, they’ll more likely read the full article, comment on it and share it with others.
• Many users view LinkedIn articles as thought-leadership content. Publishing LinkedIn articles gives you instant credibility, trust and brand awareness.

LinkedIn articles provide more linking opportunities than LinkedIn posts do. Article links can drive traffic to your website and help you generate high-quality leads to achieve your B2B content marketing goals.

Do LinkedIn Articles Matter?

Articles provide a unique opportunity to establish expertise in your field and cement yourself or your company as a thought leader.

But whether you’re writing an article or a post on LinkedIn, they both appear on people’s feeds for followers—and their followers—to view and engage with the same way.

Articles show up as any other link with the link’s featured image above its Open Graph protocol (e.g., title, description), with the option to add organic text as a caption.

Posts display as organic text, with the option to add an accompanying image.

So LinkedIn articles matter a lot not just because they’re on an additional & reputable platform to complement your blog but also because publishing in general on LinkedIn is beneficial.

What then makes LinkedIn so unique as a publishing platform?

3 Benefits of Publishing an Article on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is one of the fastest-growing social platforms, recently seeing a 30% year-over-year increase in user sessions and a 60% increase in content creation over the same period.

These expanding metrics demonstrate the amazing opportunities available to brand managers and content marketers to scale their reach and attract more leads.

Let’s look at three specific benefits of publishing articles on LinkedIn validated by content-marketing consultant Dickie Bush:

1. Insane reach
2. Low competition
3. Genuinely thoughtful community

1. Insane Reach

There exists no shortage of observational evidence that LinkedIn’s algorithms are very liberal in how they distribute content on the platform.

User feeds are less siloed than on other social platforms. Only a few likes or comments can snowball impressions of and engagement with LinkedIn articles very quickly.

And with consistent increases in user-volume and -session metrics on LinkedIn, that means more eyeballs on LinkedIn articles and more leads.

2. Low Competition

Even though, as hinted above, the higher growth rate of LinkedIn content creation is closing the gap with the volume of user sessions, there remains a huge demand for content.

In other words, there’s still no equilibrium in the supply:demand ratio of the amount of content available on LinkedIn to the amount of content that its users demand.

This mismatch is one reason why LinkedIn’s algorithms are so lax with circulating content.

At least until this gap narrows further, businesses can easily distribute LinkedIn articles without much competition—even if your competitors literally publish LinkedIn articles too!

3. Genuinely Thoughtful Community

LinkedIn might have its fair share of opportunists and people who overestimate the extent to which their ideas qualify as insightful thought leadership.

But there’s no denying that all active users are genuine business professionals there to legitimately network, study new ideas and master industry best practices.

Coupled with its ever-growing user base, LinkedIn is a prime platform to help your articles succeed!

Bonus Tips for Writing Articles on LinkedIn to Make Them Matter

One of the easiest ways to get more readers is to make your LinkedIn profile or company page public and your activity as shareable as possible.

To do this, open “Settings & Privacy” > “Visibility” to optimize visibility settings for your profile, network and activity.

You can also share other people’s articles on LinkedIn and add relevant commentary & hashtags to help more people find them.

The Share button is at the bottom of each article on your feed. Simply click on it and choose to “Repost” or “Share with your thoughts.”

Amplifying other content and engaging with others in general shows LinkedIn you’re active yourself, improving the reach from either your personal profile or your LinkedIn company page.

LinkedIn also enables sharing articles to Facebook and Twitter. Diversifying your reach across platforms grows your brand, showcases your expertise and attracts more leads

Ask others in your company and your network to share your articles from their own profiles too!

Lastly, if you’re thinking about outsourcing content marketing activities, you can scale the production of LinkedIn articles to post more frequently and help with discoverability even further.

Steps to Publishing an Article on LinkedIn

1. Sign in to LinkedIn on desktop.
2. Click “Write article” near the top of the homepage. If you run a company page, you can publish a LinkedIn article under the page or under your personal profile.
3. Add a headline.
4. Place your cursor in the “Write here” field to start writing your article. Use bold text, bulleted lists and other formatting elements to break up large text chunks and make it easier for readers to scan your article for key points.
5. When you finish writing, proofread carefully. Then hit “Publish” and follow the on-screen instructions.

How to Write an Article on a LinkedIn Company Page: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Write an Attention-Getting Headline

The headline must be relevant to readers and let them know what to expect from your article.

Think about what your audience wants to read. Do they need tips on completing a task? Information on a new development in your field?

If you have specific readers in mind, such as executives in the technology industry, tailor your headline accordingly.

For example, say you sell a calendar app and are targeting executives in the tech industry.

Perhaps consider a benefit-driven headline (“Scale Your Productivity 3x With a New Kind of Calendar App”) since tech execs can be drawn in by messaging about growth opportunities.

Listicles and how-to articles do well on LinkedIn, so you may start with “7 Ways to Save Money on Tech Outsourcing” or “How to Increase Your Employee Retention Rate in 3 Easy Steps.”

If you promise something in the headline, follow through on that promise in the article. You don’t want to mislead readers.

Step 2: Create an Interesting Introduction

A good intro draws the reader in so they give your article a closer look.

Depending on the article’s purpose, you may want to open with a question, make a controversial statement or tell a compelling story.

Don’t start an article about credit cards with “We all know paying off debt is hard.”

Instead, unravel Sarah’s journey: “Once 28-year-old journalist Sarah decided to control her debt, she didn’t guess it would lead her on a path towards a global ambassadorship in fintech.”

Step 3: Use Short Paragraphs

Huge blocks of text turn off most readers. They also aren’t scannable and don’t work well for mobile users. 

Try to limit most paragraphs to a few short sentences.

The first sentence, also known as the topic sentence, summarizes the main idea of the paragraph. Additional sentences support your main point.

Some paragraphs may just be one sentence. Writing for the internet means your prose shouldn’t exceed a high-school reading level, especially since LinkedIn articles are for top-of-funnel leads.

When you’re ready to share a new idea, move on to the next paragraph.

Step 4: Organize Your Thoughts

Don’t underestimate the importance of outlining so you can fully internalize the delineation of your argument.

It’s vital to use storytelling for articles because stories motivate more engagement from readers, leading to more conversions.

In many cases, writing with a classic “hamburger menu” style of thesis > supporting points > conclusion is a good way to make your point, or rely on rising action > conflict > falling action.

Use these storytelling techniques in blog posts when:

• You’re giving step-by-step instructions to help readers accomplish a task.
• Your article topic relates to historical events, such as the rise of industrial activity or development of new technology.
• You want readers to visualize something in a certain order.

If all else fails, organize your thoughts by importance. This is helpful to rank items or persuade readers to adopt your viewpoint.

If you’re writing a list of the five best software packages for accounting firms, for example, it makes sense to rank them in order of importance because people will want to see the top five.

Step 5: Focus on Formatting

Good writing is only one aspect of creating an appealing article. Also consider how formatting affects the reader’s experience. 

Break content up with elements to help readers scan for information. Bulleted or numbered lists, data, images or subheadings make content more digestible and highlight key takeaways.

Give your article plenty of white space, the open space between design elements. White space focuses the reader’s attention and improves comprehension.

There’s less to immediately look at with white space, so people really engage with the content because it’s not intimidating.

Breaking up content and writing short paragraphs is the easiest way to add white space when writing a LinkedIn article for your company page.

Step 6: Cut the Fluff

Make your article exactly as long as it needs to be to get your point across. If you can explain a topic in 900 words, don’t add an extra hundred just to make the article longer.

LinkedIn content caters to executives, business owners and other professionals. They’re busy people with a limited amount of time.

As you proofread, cut out anything inessential to helping them understand what you’re saying.

Also remain vigilant in editing against the passive voice, repetition and run-on sentences, which all detract from succinct writing.

Step 7: Provide Expert Insight

The best way to build credibility and position yourself as an expert is to offer a completely new perspective, show you know your craft and cultivate your reputation.

If your article rehashes what’s out there, it won’t add much to the professional body of knowledge in your industry.

Can’t think of anything to write about? Here are some ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

• Explain how you solved a big problem in your business
• Discuss unusual solutions to common industry challenges
• Highlight how you helped a customer grow their company
• Write a rebuttal to a popular article by an industry colleague
• Read industry publications to find out what people are interested in learning about

Professional content writers can also help you curate topics for your LinkedIn content calendar. For instance, what categories and keyword-research can we take from your blog?

Once you learn how to write unique articles, you’ll distinguish yourself from other professionals in your industry.

Step 8: Speak Directly to Your Audience

Just because you’re writing for a professional audience doesn’t mean you need to be overly formal.

Use second-person pronouns to make it clear that you’re addressing the reader. “If you’ve been struggling…” and “Here are three things you can do…” are examples of this approach.

A second-person point of view makes it easier to connect with the reader and reassure them of your expertise.

Most importantly, leverage brand messaging. If you implement language that speaks to your audience’s anxieties, aspirations, challenges or fears—you’ll never be unpopular on LinkedIn.

Getting Help With LinkedIn Article Writing

Do you see how fun it is now to write LinkedIn articles?

LinkedIn articles empower your company to spread your message, assert your expertise in your field and attract new leads to increase revenue.

With an insane reach, negligible competition and a genuine readership, LinkedIn articles are a no-brainer authority statement for your business.

But if you don’t have a lot of time or still aren’t sure how best to write an article for your company on LinkedIn, then a professional article writing service helps.

Outsourcing article writing means you can establish your company as thought leaders, scale up production and more effectively draw attention to your brand.

(You know, so you don’t have to write every day, which maybe isn’t that fun!)

The post How to Write an Article on a LinkedIn Company Page appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Google implemented a “broad core update” to its search-engine algorithm on May 25, 2022, as announced by Danny Sullivan, a Public Liaison for Google Search.

Its full effects take a couple weeks to manifest because Google rolls out major updates gradually.

This is Google’s first broad core update in over six months since November, 2021.

An algorithm update is a big deal. It means Google is refining how its search engine interprets webpages, which impacts your company’s rankings, traffic and, subsequently, revenue.

It is hard to assess, let alone prepare for, a broad core update. Google doesn’t specify what the update is nor how it will affect your website metrics because broad core updates have wide scopes.

So what’s the deal? How will this Google algorithm update modify your website’s performance? How will website content play a role? And, ultimately, what does this mean for your business?

We’ll go over everything you need to know about Google’s May 2022 core update!

What Is a Broad Core Update?

Broad core updates represent an overall tweaking of the algorithm instead of a targeted effort.

Think of it in terms of car maintenance. An engine tuneup maintains overall performance but isn’t a particular fix meant to identify a specific problem.

Google’s broad core updates impact search-engine ranking factors across the board without addressing any one component in detail. That’s why Google calls them “broad.”

Past updates like Panda and Penguin were targeted, specifically looking at the quality of backlinks and content.

Other updates are more specific still. For example, Google Search adjusted how product reviews and spam impact relevant rankings in December & November, respectively, of 2021. 

But broad core updates? They change how the algorithm values a webpage in a more wide-ranging way. Who knows what could happen!

So then how in the heck are you supposed to respond to broad core updates?

You just need to ensure you’re nailing all the essential best practices. Know how to optimize content for SEO, provide great user experiences, have fast page speeds and build healthy backlinks!

What Happened in Previous Broad Core Updates?

We mentioned the most recent broad core update before this one was in November, 2021. But the June/July 2021 update is what actually takes the cake for the most website impact.

That’s because the update was so large, Google split its deployment into two, launching the first half of it in June and then finishing up in July. This was largely unprecedented.

Data analysts observed a lot of volatility for website performances across many industries as Google Search rolled out the June/July 2021 broad core update.

One analyst described it as “one of the largest core updates we’ve seen from Google yet.”

Will this May 2022 update have the same punch? How will it impact your company’s website? Importantly, how will it affect your business and what do you have to do? Let’s try to find out!

What Is Unique About This New Broad Core-Algorithm Update?

In a way, nothing. Or, at least nothing that the public can confirm.

Again, when it comes to broad core updates, Google never provides any specific details. All we know is these updates have the potential to significantly disrupt rankings on Google Search.

The SEO community had (correctly) speculated about an impending core update about a week before it happened, causing many to guess that data changes during that time were casualties.

But according to Search Engine Land, John Mueller, a Webmaster-Trends Analyst at Google, said that, “when we announce core updates, we start the rollout at that point, not beforehand.”

And broad core updates tend to be rolled out over time. So any noticeable differences in website traffic from late May into mid-June we can safely assume were influenced by this new update.

Takeaways From Google’s May 2022 Core Update

Let’s start by researching some of the data related to this broad core-algorithm update and what we can glean for brands and content marketers.

1. What Google Did Advise With the Update Announcement

As is typical, Google doesn’t provide any specific feedback, preemptive or otherwise, about how content marketers and website managers can prepare for or adjust to a broad core update.

In fact, Google tried to impart on many, “don’t try to fix the wrong things,” shortly before acknowledging that, for some, “there might not be anything to fix at all.”

But surely there must be some way to narrow down a particular takeaway and receive actionable advice from Google?!

Well, actually, kind of, yes.

Whenever Google announces a broad core update, as general advice, they always point to documentation for search-ranking best practices unchanged since 2019.

Here, Google explains that content marketers and SEO specialists can best spend their energy after a broad core update by “focusing on ensuring you’re offering the best content you can.”

This means providing:

• Original information, reporting, research or analysis;
• A substantial, complete or comprehensive description of the topic; and
• Insightful analysis or interesting information that is beyond obvious.

As a rule of thumb, if your site’s rankings increased, your content probably already exhibits these practices. Conversely, if your rankings dropped, you likely need to up your content game.

2. Focus on E-A-T (Expertise, Authority, Trust)

No, not food!

E-A-T is the acronym that Google uses to describe best practices for optimizing content to rank well on their search engine.

It stands for Expertise, Authority, Trust. Simply put, does your content a) demonstrate expertise in your field, b) come from a position of authority and c) compel readers to find you trustworthy?

Your goal as a website marketer responsible for online leads and digital sales should be to answer “yes” to all these questions. 

There is no concrete ranking factor in Google’s algorithm that represents E-A-T directly, but Google confirmed in 2019 that multiple ranking factors do encompass the principles of E-A-T.

And Google explicitly encourages focusing on E-A-T in their documentation mentioned above about core-algorithm updates.

We can therefore safely assume a connection between ranking drops from the May 2022 broad core update and content that underwhelms at exhibiting E-A-T.

In fact, content marketer Will James claimed that some victims of the core update lost ground on search engines because of their lack of E-A-T.

Because the update hurt rankings for generalist websites more than for specialist websites with a narrower scope of topics, James induced generalist websites were diluting their expertise. 

So, how can you guard against future performance setbacks of your website and optimize for E-A-T?

Follow a Google E-A-T checklist and ensure content is comprehensive; authoritative by focusing on a niche; written by reputable authors; and commentated on by experts where needed.

3. Volatility in Website Rankings Is Common After Broad Core Updates

If your website rankings bounced all over the place after the May 2022 Google broad core update, we can assure you that you are not alone.

It’s not uncommon after a broad core update for websites to see volatile rankings because Google rolls out their algorithm updates gradually.

It’s why these updates always take a couple of weeks to settle and why we saw volatility for multiple days following both the June/July 2021 update & the November 2021 update.

But so far, the May 2022 update had a briefer but more intense volatile period that has leveled out.

This is significant despite the leveling-out because the results could foretell potential long-term impacts yet to happen.

So what do we know?

From the two Semrush graphs below, all industries (except real estate) had slightly smaller ranges of rank volatility than from before—but also higher (or at least even) peak volatilities.

This consistency makes it difficult to pinpoint specific impacts by industry.

Couple the consistency with the intensity itself of the volatility and it’s more likely a stronger sign than of anything else that Google is both improving & expediting their rollouts of these updates.

For instance, take a look below at contrasting examples from industry pros about the same industry: healthcare.

Different results, but same vertical.

Could we attribute the lost rankings to a skew against non-English sites, as the commentary suggests is plausible? It’s possible, but then again, that factor isn’t consistent across industries.

What this all means is that the best practices moving forward are agnostic towards industry.

All industries need content and Google applies the same principles of content to all industries.

Implementations, messaging, use cases, etc., may differ—but the underlying principles to gauge value are the same.

Take a look at this last data set below:

Most industries (except some like Arts & Entertainment and Books & Literature) more or less saw high-level parity between average gains and average losses in search-engine rankings.

So what?

Well, this analysis reinforces the idea that valuable content with quality checks—including E-A-T but also branding guidelines to compel your audience—is both relevant and universal.

4. Which Search-Engine Features Had Definite Impacts?

Snippets! You love ’em? Well do we have great news for you!

That’s right, the May 2022 Google broad core update has definitively impacted multiple snippet types for SERPs, like FAQ snippets and featured snippets.

What has this looked like? And what will this impact mean for your company’s SEO?

The Impact on FAQ Snippets

Let’s start with FAQ snippets. Yes, those pesky little buggers that provide short, direct answers to variations of users’ queries underneath webpage listings on SERPs.

A fascinating result of the broad core update reported on by Barry Schwartz of Search Engine Roundtable is that FAQ snippets on SERPs have increased from 22% to 27% of queries.

That means FAQs are showing up on Google Search almost 23% more often than before. That’s huge!

Granted, the source data, from Rank Ranger, groups FAQ snippets and how-to snippets together.

But the conclusions have been validated externally, including by SEO expert and Search Engine Land columnist Glenn Gabe.

Gabe analyzed multiple case studies to observe that “Google [is] showing more search results with FAQ rich results.”

How is this significant?

Well, on one hand, FAQ results ostensibly enable Google to siphon clicks from your website (it’s another clickable element on the SERP for users to find an answer to their query, isn’t it?).

But they also empower your webpages to attract more clicks by adding credibility and expertise to your SERP listings themselves.

Plus, qualifying for FAQ appearances helps improve your main search rankings as a whole, since strong content for FAQ snippets could be what lifts your content to the top!

Make sure you mark up FAQ content with relevant structured data on your website.

And improve your content with information suitable for questions related to target keyterms. Do keyword research or even something as simple as analyzing “People Also Ask” questions.

The Impact on Featured Snippets

As for featured snippets? Recall the observation in the above-referenced tweet by SEO professional Lily Ray that there have been “massive fluctuations with featured snippets.”

Well, Gabe echoed those observations, noting a distinct “surge or drop in featured snippets” from the May 2022 broad core update.

That means all those information pieces at the top of SERPs above the traditional listings, including highlighted paragraphs, bullets, lists, tables or videos, have seen big gains or losses.

And that’s a big deal for a lot of businesses because featured snippets deliver relatively high proportions of organic traffic.

As Gabe elaborates, sites not “seen as high quality/relevant anymore can lose featured snippets when negatively impacted by a broad core update.”

So what should you do? Check your featured snippets; you can easily track them if you’re not already with tools like Ahrefs, Semrush or Google Search Console.

If you find you’ve lost any, you’ll know where and how to improve your content quality as a result of the May 2022 broad core update.

5. The Big Kahunas: What Won the May 2022 Update

Drumroll please! *Drumroll sounds* And the big winners of the May 2022 Google broad core-algorithm update are…videos, content specialization and search-intent matching!

Okay, that’s maybe not the sexiest sentence to read out loud, so let’s parse these out.

These analyses came from Malte Landwehr, Head of SEO at idealo, the largest ecommerce publishing platform in Germany, from cross-referencing data from Semrush and SISTRIX.

With this data, we see some fairly consistent and convincing conclusions about SEO after the broad core update in three areas that could inspire amazing content ideas for your business.

The Rise of Video (Again)!

We know, we know. Digital marketers have been hailing the “rise of video” for several years now.

In fact, we have to go that far back to get to when I first heard a now-former boss of mine proclaim to the audience at an industry seminar that “videos are the future—and they’re here!”

Just look at this sample SERP in the below image. Not a lot of diversity in the metatitles for these webpages that are themselves spread out over a few years, is there?

Of course, it all seems a bit silly.

Even that now-former boss of mine was mildly embarrassed by one of my then-colleagues who made an astute reflection in response. (Don’t worry—no one got fired!)

That reflection? Video isn’t always ideal because it’s often easier to quickly scan well-organized text, such as a blog post, for specific answers to a particular query.

But the medium wouldn’t hold back! TikTok has exploded the popularity of shorts, YouTube videos are well-structured with labeled sections and video-embedding is as effective as ever.

Landweher discovered that video websites improved their online visibility by a whopping 25% after the broad core update.

The takeaway? If you’re not already complementing your written content with videos, there is a huge missed opportunity for scaling your website traffic, lead volumes and your revenue.

Nobody Likes a Know-it-All! Show Why You’re the Best in What You Know

Remember the above comment about how the broad core update hurt generalist websites more than specialist websites with a narrower scope of topics?

This observation corresponds with Landweher’s take that websites like news publishers, “known for trying to rank for everything—lost on average 4% of their Google rankings.”

So what is the take here? You try to rank for lots of things and you’ll end up ranking for nothing. Know your niche and demonstrate your expertise there. Your organic metrics will reward you.

Content Is King? More Like Context Is King!

Back in the day, it was easy to pump out semi-relevant content about any given topic and win high search-engine rankings by covering these topics with broad details.

Encyclopedia- and database-style websites (think Wikipedia copycats, online dictionaries, song-lyric & stock-photo websites and the like), were masters at this.

As Landweher describes it, such sites “contain pages for virtually any topic that seems relevant based on term frequency-inverse document frequency[to retrieve content info from an index].”

What does this mean and why is it a problem?

Term frequency-inverse document frequency looks at the relationship between keyword volume and the degree to which keywords are spread out when search engines retrieve data

These websites were leveraging this method to rank for queries despite not going in depth to match more specific intentions behind the queries.

The free ride is over, as evidenced by the below data.

Landweher notes these sites “rarely match the [user’s] search intent.”

This means that generic content about a particular topic could rank well even if it didn’t specifically address a search query, but the May 2022 update is reigning this in.

So focusing on contextual relevance in your content, deemphasizing exact keyword-matching (especially keyword-stuffing!) and providing real value for a search query is key to success.

It’s actually simple. Ask yourself honestly: does your webpage’s content provide helpful value relevant to the page’s scope and reflective of typical queries that would lead visitors there?

If so, you’ve created what’s known as “search-intent matching,” where your content closely matches the intention of the search-engine user based on their query.

Time to watch your website’s organic traffic skyrocket!

Bottom Line? Quality Content Is the Name of the Game

If there’s one thing Google’s May 2022 broad core update is teaching us, it’s that the time to raise your quality standards for website content was…yesterday!

It’s no secret that Google’s own guidelines recommend following E-A-T best practices as evidenced by the results of this update rollout.

From intense ranking volatility and impacted snippets to more attention on videos, content specialization and search-intent mapping, publishing great content is a must for online visibility.

Investing in SEO content services can empower you to leverage subject-matter expertise and efficiently publish high-quality content on your website to start boosting your traffic.

And with time, you can say goodbye to broad-core anxiety for good!

The post Google’s May 2022 Core Update: What You Need to Know appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Building a brand to attract leads online requires content—and then more content.

Search engines want fresh, relevant, high-quality content to serve users. Consumers want up-to-date content that speaks to their needs and answers their queries.

But executing a content strategy on your own can quickly drain resources because of the high quality standards it takes for content to stand out.

Ever feel like you never have time to write the kind of content that dominates Google and generates more leads? Yeah, we know the feeling….

For instance, research about content production shows it takes an average of over four hours to complete a blog post—a 67% increase from previous years.

With in-house production, you might be able to better control processes if you can stomach higher costs. Is it worth it? Should you outsource content writing or use in-house writers?

In this post, you’ll learn everything about outsourcing content writing vs. using in-house writers and how content outsourcing enables you to optimize efficiency & quality.

Balance Outsourced Content Creation and In-House Writing

Using in-house writers creates limitations you don’t face when working with outsourced content writing services.

With in-house talent, you’re limited to the skills, knowledge and time of each person. When you outsource, you can draw on diverse resources to expand the type and scale of your content.

However, every content creation project has its own requirements and goals.

There are places for both in-house and outsourced content teams. For example, companies in regulated industries may want in-house writers trained to write within compliance requirements.

Even in these cases, though, you can often pair outsourcing with in-house resources to scale up.

Outsourcing Content Writing: What You Need to Know

When you work with the right partner, outsourcing content writing helps you boost your bottom line, increase how often you publish and provide higher-quality content.

What Is Content Outsourcing?

Content outsourcing occurs when you have anyone outside your organization write or otherwise create content for you. This can include:

• Having someone come up with ideas and create outlines and plans for content
• Having people write and/or edit content for you
• Having designers create infographics or other visuals

Why Should You Outsource Content Creation?

A main reason companies outsource content creation is to save money.

Outsourcing involves paying freelancers or content services only when you need content. You’re not having to pay an all-the-time salary (plus benefits) for an in-house writer.

Consider this breakdown to help you understand how much you can save:

• If an in-house writer creates 1,000 words a day, that’s 5,000 words a week.
• Working a total of 48 weeks a year (to account for vacations, holidays and sick time), the in-house writer creates 240,000 words in a year.
• The average salary of a skilled U.S.-based content writer, including benefits and bonuses, is around $64,000 according to Glassdoor.
• With an in-house content writer, you’re paying around 26 cents per word for the content you publish.

For the same $64,000 per year, you could get more than 460,000 words of content—almost double what you’d get with an in-house writer—when you outsource content writing.

Benefits of Content Outsourcing

The benefits of outsourcing content writing go beyond the basic bottom line, though.

What are the reasons to reach outside of your organization for content writing resources?

1. Cost Efficiency
2. Scale Up Quickly
3. Increase Content Diversity
4. Support Better Quality
5. Connect With Industry Specialists

Cost Efficiency

As we already touched on, improving cost efficiency is probably the biggest benefit you get when you outsource your content creation.

In-house writers would need to speed through and really scale their output to match the cost-per-article, lest they have other content-management responsibilities.

Even then, you want your content managers to, well, manage content strategy. Generally, the more you outsource content production, the more money you save in your marketing budget.

Scale Up Quickly

When you’re outsourcing, you’re not limited to a single writer or even a few. The right content writing service opens the door to dozens or even hundreds of qualified freelancers.

You can quickly scale up content efforts without putting your business through a major recruiting push and onboarding dozens of in-house writers you may not even need all the time.

That lets companies of any size compete with larger competitors online.

Increase Content Diversity

To create quality content for SEO (the kind most likely to rank well in search results), your content needs to be useful and engaging.

That means your content is interesting and helpful to your audience.

Yet it’s easy for a single writer or small writing teams to get stuck on the same topics, rehashing them repeatedly without providing something new and interesting for the reader.

When you outsource, you increase your writing team’s diversity and their overall point of view.

That can lead to more interesting posts that people will engage with, so your content is more likely to drive leads and conversions.

Support Better Quality

Outsourcing content to freelance writers is sometimes associated with a reputation of lower quality. This can be true when trying to find freelancers on your own without a system in place.

The right outsource content writing services can offer processes for editing and quality control to ensure topic expertise, internal linking strategies and your brand voice shine through.

For optimal quality with content outsourcing, consider engaging with managed services that provide pre-vetted writers and logistics to communicate & apply your writing guidelines. 

Connect with Industry Specialists

An in-house writing team may know your brand, but their expertise is limited.

Outsourcing lets you bring subject-matter experts on board who can write or review content for accuracy and authority, ensuring your pages meet Google EAT guidelines.

Does Outsourcing Content Hurt Your SEO?

Many businesses wonder if outsourced content would hurt their search rankings and thus their ability to attract more organic leads online.

Well, outsourcing content doesn’t hurt your SEO. Google is on record saying there is no SEO penalty for having different writers as long as the quality is good.

In fact, working with external teams that know how to optimize content for SEO often improves your search-engine optimization efforts.

Freelance writers with experience in creating content tend to keep up with keyword best practices and understand how to write for a variety of audiences.

You can leverage those skills to help your pages land higher on search-engine results pages (SERPs) and generate more leads.

Using In-House Content Writers: What You Need to Know

In-house content writers also offer some benefits, such as a greater level of control over the content creation process.

Businesses keeping an eye on regulatory concerns or specific branding needs may turn to in-house talent as a first option.

But you can easily avoid quality issues and ensure branding & compliance with the right content outsourcing processes and partners.

What Is In-House Content Creation?

In-house content creation occurs when you use resources on your payroll to write or otherwise create content.

You can use people you hired for this specific purpose or people who do other jobs but may be able to write content too.

Why Do Businesses Choose In-House Content Creation?

Control is typically the main reason companies opt for in-house content writers. They can train writers to create content within specific brand guidelines, voice and compliance parameters.

The idea is that in-house content will be more publish-ready than outsourced content.

It’s true that you do have a bit more control with in-house writers. But you don’t have to sacrifice scale or savings to get the quality you want.

In many cases, the right process is a hybrid approach that leverages an in-house content manager to help maintain brand voice and freelancers to scale up to meet competitive needs.

How to Outsource Content Writing

You have two overall options when outsourcing content: working with individual freelancers or working with content writing outsource companies.

When working directly with individual freelancers, you first have to recruit them. That can involve placing ads for content writers, reviewing applications & samples and onboarding writers.

It’s a lot of work that can create delays in scaling content. Even after finding freelancers, you’re on the hook for all the communication, management and quality assurance.

Working with a content writing outsource company, you can access hundreds of qualified writers immediately to scale up quickly without the need to go through recruiting processes.

You can opt for self-serve marketplaces to work directly with pre-vetted freelancers at multiple quality levels or choose managed services to benefit from a dedicated content manager.

Whether you’re looking for bloggers, copywriters or subject-matter experts, Crowd Content has the freelance writers for hire you need to scale up, save money and improve your SEO.

The post Outsource Content Writing vs. In-House Writers: Complete Guide appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Video has a lot of options for conveying information to your consumers. Rather than relying on text-heavy instructions, product demos and process guides seem to work better in video format. Video marketing helps companies discover new customers while delivering entertainment that users can’t get anywhere else.

That makes it a win-win for all involved.

Why Prioritize Video in Your Marketing Strategy?

Some brands give too few resources to video marketing. Others may overlook video entirely, claiming it’s too expensive or ineffective. But these businesses are neglecting a crucial fact that’s impossible to ignore: Consumers are watching more videos online than ever before. Ignoring this is ignoring a massive chunk of potential customers.

Take a look at the numbers: Over 70% of customers say they’d prefer to learn about a product or service by watching a video. And in fact, 84% of them say watching a brand’s video was the determiner that convinced them to buy.

Video is potent in the digital product realm, too. Almost 80% of people said a video convinced them to buy or download a digital product.

But it goes much deeper than those numbers. Video lets you build a human connection with your audience that you sometimes can’t do with e-books and blog posts. A high-quality video establishes trust while giving you an engaging opportunity to demonstrate expertise and authenticity.

And when you hit the mark with video, people are more likely to share the connection. The reach of a single successful video can drive traffic, leads and revenues up far more effectively than other marketing strategies.

It’s probably why, over the last three years, the number of brands using video as a marketing tool has risen from 63% to 86%.

The Biggest Benefit of Video Marketing

There are many apparent reasons for investing in a sound video marketing strategy, but the most significant benefit you may not have considered is search engine optimization. SEO is the foundation of your entire digital marketing efforts. And while video content increases engagement and conversions, it also has a real impact on SEO.

Google’s search algorithms are looking for two things in content: quality and search relevance. To rank well, you need to create compelling content that meets the needs of the people searching for your targeted keywords.

These days, Google doesn’t only scan your website’s text content; it looks for other media types. If your website contains rich media and quality video content, it signals to Google’s algorithm that your site is robust and informative. And that means an immediate boost to SEO.

Another significant factor that Google’s algorithms pay attention to is the length of engagement — how long users stay on your site. If you’re pulling in traffic, but that traffic doesn’t stick around long, Google assumes your visitors don’t find your content valuable. And your search rankings suffer for it.

Video keeps people on your site longer than any other content type. They’re far more likely to check out a video clip than read your site’s blog post history. All the time your visitors spend watching videos delivers more SEO juice.

How To Create a Video Marketing Strategy

So, how does one get started with a video marketing strategy? It’s not easy, but it’s definitely worth your time and effort.

1. Determine Your Goals

Any new marketing effort begins with goals. Video is the same. It would help if you precisely determined your objective for your video marketing strategy.

Some brands put the majority of their advertising efforts into video. They might start with content for product pages and then expand their video production onto social platforms. Others may focus their efforts on social media alone. Figuring out where to start and what you want to focus on can help clarify your goals.

You also want to determine what part of your marketing funnel to focus on. In a perfect world, you’d want video content for every stage of your funnel. But you’ll want to determine which location is the most important to focus on in the early stages.

Here are a few example goals you might align your strategy toward:

• Creating brand awareness
• Increasing website traffic
• Improving SEO
• Improving online engagement
• Driving conversions

Focus on one or two goals to start with. Don’t try to create content that accomplishes everything all at once, or you’ll spread your efforts too thin.

2. Define Your Target Audience

No less important than determining your goals is defining your target audience. If you take the time to create a high-quality video without understanding its intended audience, there’s a good chance it won’t land. The people who should see it won’t, and those who do won’t traverse your funnel.

If your business has a marketing team, there’s a good chance they’ve already set up buyer personas. The people you want to buy your products or services are the same ones you want to reach with your videos. These personas can help define your video strategy’s target audience.

3. Figure Out Which Platforms To Use

When it comes to video, the web is crowded these days. From older platforms such as Facebook to newer ones like TikTok, the opportunities to engage your audience with video are plentiful.

If you already have a presence on one of the big social media platforms that support video, starting there is a good idea. Users on Facebook and Instagram spend a lot of time watching videos. And YouTube, being the second-biggest search engine globally, is a good idea.

If you’re beginning to build your marketing strategy and don’t yet have a presence, consult your marketing personas from the previous step. Ask yourself which platforms your target audience uses most, and then research to find data that supports your assumptions.

It’s also good to look at specific platform features to see the available formats. Understanding what each one offers in terms of video dimensions, quality and length can help you determine where your messages will likely resonate most.

4. Create Your Story

Every successful video starts with a strong story.

Figuring out the story you want to tell is often one of the most fun parts of a video marketing strategy. But it’s also the most difficult. The art of storytelling would be impossible to cover here, but a basic framework usually includes some form of the following elements:

• A protagonist, usually based on your target audience
• Goals and conflicts aligned with one of your customer’s pain points
• A journey or quest introducing your product or service
• Resolution to the conflict provided by your product or service

As you’re crafting your story, think about the emotion you want to leave the viewer with. Do you want to entertain or inspire them? Perhaps you want to leave them feeling curious. As you’re writing your script, consider these carefully. And be sure the message and the feeling align with your brand’s overall voice and tone. Consistency is key.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of your story. If you don’t have a natural storyteller on your marketing team, enlisting a freelance writer to help craft your narrative is a good idea.

5. Create a Content Production Plan

A good content-production plan will save you time and money in the long run. Whether you plan it with a flowchart or pen and paper, you need to know how your videos will be made.

There are several alternatives you can consider for content production and post-production. You can employ an agency or production company to do the heavy lifting, but that can get expensive. If you have team members capable of certain aspects of video production, enhancing them with freelancers is a good option.

One option is to make your video online. If you have a limited budget, there are free video editors you can research to see what makes sense for you to create a killer marketing video to meet your content goals.

If you’re planning to produce your video in-house, you’ll need to consider all the different processes and equipment necessary. These include:

• Acquiring props and other stage equipment
• Writing and editing the script
• Storyboarding the video
• Planning the filming process
• Editing the footage
• Adding special effects or animations
• Licensing music or images

Don’t let this list stop you from diving into video production if your resources are limited. Think about alternative video styles that are more efficient or affordable to produce. You could ask customers to send in user-generated content or testimonials. Or you could go the DIY route and ask your most passionate product expert to host a Q&A on Instagram Live. Record it and turn their responses into a promotional video. Users also love “behind the scenes” style footage, which works great if you can’t afford a dedicated studio space. As long as your storytelling is strong, your videos will resonate with viewers. Start small and build from there.

When your video is complete, don’t overlook the optimization process. Create compelling, keyword-rich titles and descriptions. You should also add closed captioning to every video. It’ll make your content more accessible for the hearing impaired, users scrolling with their phone in silent mode and search engine spiders alike.

6. Schedule and Promote Your Videos

Next, you’ll want to schedule and promote your videos. Share your new content prolifically. Use social media management tools to schedule releases during the best possible times. Get the word out on your shiny new content, so people start engaging and re-sharing.

7. Measure and Refine Your Strategy

The most essential part of any strategy is refinement. You won’t be able to determine how well a video performs until you look at the numbers. What are view counts, for example? How long have people been watching your videos? From the number of views, shares and likes and what people say in the comments, it’s crucial to take in this veiled feedback. From there, use it to refine your approach.

Native analytics, which tells you how each video fared, is available on all platforms. They’ll even tell you how many people watched the first three seconds of your video. The methods you used to evaluate success should be appropriate for the goals set in the beginning.

It’s also worth noting that older videos are sometimes consumed years later. With the right keywords and quality content, your audience can find value in your video content for many years down the road.

Best Practices for Video Marketing

It’s crucial to have a strong strategy before you start pumping time and money into producing costly video content.

Unfortunately, there’s an element of video marketing that doesn’t adhere to marketing personas and project management. The bottom line is that if you want a successful video marketing strategy, you need to make amazing videos.

It doesn’t matter if you’re whipping together videos in the back of your office or outsourcing production to a trendy agency. The focus should always be on quality. It should be big, bold and polished and tell a fantastic story.

The following best practices help you do precisely that.

Video Length: Short or Long?

Platforms like TikTok have a lot of marketers focused on creating short, enticing clips to grab viewers’ attention. And while this may work for some brands, you should always refer back to your original goals to lay the groundwork for your content.

For example, if the people you’re trying to reach are looking for in-depth content, you probably shouldn’t focus on 15-second videos, as your efforts will be wasted. But if you make rich, full-length videos that explain complex topics in rich detail, you’re making the right video for the right people.

Put simply, never let the platform dictate the content you create.

Keep It Simple

As a segue from complex and lengthy videos, it’s worth mentioning that keeping it simple whenever possible is the best bet. Unless you’re making investigative documentaries, opt for poppy and enticing over detailed and dense.

Even with in-depth explainers or how-to videos, the more you can simplify the content, the better. Remember, the idea is to engage. You can always fill out more complex topics with in-depth blog posts for people interested in the details.

A Call to Action

The call to action echoed across amateur and professional YouTube channels are the norm. As with written content, if you get your viewer to the end of the video, they like what you had to say. As such, they’re primed to take action.

But you need to nudge them a little.

A call to action can be as simple as a request to visit your website. Or you might offer a coupon code for one of your products and services. The gist here is that you always need one at the end of every video. Not doing so is a disservice to your brand and your viewers.

Boost Your Video Marketing With Crowd Content

Creating a winning video marketing strategy isn’t easy. It requires a lot of resources, multiple talented individuals and a good dose of creativity. But the benefits are well worth the time and effort of everyone involved.

As covered above, one of the most critical aspects of all video content is the script. If you want to create successful videos, you need an excellent storyteller on your team. If your brand is lacking in that department, Crowd Content can help. With access to thousands of professional and creative freelance writers, you can start building the next viral video campaign. Get in touch with us today to get started.

The post Boost Engagement, Conversions and SEO With Video Marketing appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

The following guide explains how to structure your schedule for maximum productivity and offers tips on time management for freelancers. You’ll also learn how to build sick days and vacation days into your schedule to reduce the risk of burnout.

Structuring Your Schedule

For freelancers, a one-size-fits-all approach to scheduling just doesn’t work. To maintain a high level of productivity, you must structure your schedule to accommodate both your personal preferences and the commitments you’ve made to others. Otherwise, you won’t be able to meet your writing deadlines without dropping the ball in some other area of your life.

At the beginning of each week, sit down and take a look at your approaching deadlines. For each task, figure out how much time you need to get everything done. Don’t forget to include a buffer for unexpected delays, such as difficulty finding quality sources or the need to consult with a subject matter expert before you turn in the assignment.

Scheduling Tips

Once you know how many hours you need to complete each task, make a list of everything else you need to do during the week. Don’t forget to include the following:

• Going to the doctor
• Dropping off/picking up kids
• Attending sporting events or other school activities
• Helping kids with homework
• Spending time with loved ones
• Engaging in your hobbies
• Volunteering
• Attending worship services
• Participating in community events
• Meeting with friends
• Preparing meals
• Cleaning

Now that you have a clear idea of everything you need to do, block out time to work on your writing projects. Although some people prefer to write at the same time every day, you may find it easier to adjust your work hours based on all the other things you have going on. For example, if you have a doctor’s appointment at 9 a.m. on Monday, you may not be able to start working until 11 a.m. or later. Tuesday, you might need to get an early start so you can attend a meeting at your child’s school in the afternoon.

As you build your schedule, try to leave some extra time to deal with the little surprises life likes to throw at you on occasion. If you get sick or have a home emergency, such as a broken pipe or failing appliance, you need to be able to handle the situation without missing a deadline and disappointing one of your clients.

Time Management for Freelancers: Tips and Tricks

Creating a schedule is a good start, but you still need to manage your time effectively if you want to be as productive as possible. Here are some tips to help you manage your time without getting burned out.

Tracking Your Time

The Pomodoro® Technique is one of the most popular methods of time management for freelancers. Developed by Francesco Cirillo, this technique emphasizes the importance of estimating how long each task should take, eliminating distractions and maintaining intense focus for short periods of time. If you decide to try the Pomodoro Technique, here’s what to do:

• Pick a task to complete.
• Set a timer for 25 minutes. This 25-minute interval is known as a Pomodoro.
• While the timer is running, focus solely on your freelance work. Don’t stop to answer the phone, send an email or do anything else that isn’t the task you started at the beginning of the session.
• After 25 minutes, take a five-minute break.
• Take a long break — at least 20 minutes — every time you complete four Pomodoros.

You can keep track of your Pomodoros on paper, but it’s much easier if you use an app. Pomofocus is a browser-based tool that keeps track of your pomodoros, short breaks and long breaks. When you start work for the day, you can even make a list of tasks you need to complete and estimate how many Pomodoros you need to complete each one. This makes it much easier to determine how long it takes to complete different types of projects — which can help you determine your average hourly rate or figure out which type of writing is the most profitable.

Avoiding Distractions

Even the most productive freelancers get distracted sometimes, but you can’t get in the habit of letting a distraction completely destroy your focus. If you find yourself getting distracted frequently, try some of these tips:

• If you’re working while other people are at home, wear headphones to block out the sound of their activities. This also works to block out distracting noises coming from outside, such as car horns and construction equipment.
• Download an app to block distracting websites during your work hours. When these sites are blocked, you can’t access them without going through the hassle of changing the app’s settings, making it less tempting to visit Facebook or spend hours playing online bingo.
• Turn off email and app notifications on your phone. It’s hard to stay focused if you get a new notification every couple of minutes.
• Share your schedule and ask family members and friends not to call or text you during work hours unless there’s an emergency.
• If you have school-age children, stay on top of their assignments so you’re less likely to have one of them interrupt your work to tell you a big project is due tomorrow.

Personal Boundaries

Don’t be afraid to set strong boundaries with the people in your life. More than a few freelancers have had someone show up at their home unannounced or assume they could take on daytime volunteering duties because they “just sit around in their pyjamas all day.” You need to make it clear that freelance writing is a job and you need to be able to focus on your work.

The best way to do this is to learn how to say no without feeling guilty. It takes a bit of practice, but once you master this skill, you’ll be more productive and won’t have to worry about feeling resentful because you turned down paid work to run the bake sale or collect donations for your church.

Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert recommends being polite and assertive instead of beating around the bush. If the other person doesn’t accept your answer right away, be firm. There’s nothing wrong with putting your needs first when doing so can help you have a more successful career. If something comes along that you really want to do, such as volunteering at a food bank, go ahead and say yes.

Productivity Tools

Although many apps can be distracting, some of them make it easier to manage your time and keep track of assignments. If a paper-based system doesn’t work for you, downloading one of these apps can help you be more efficient and less likely to spend time doing things that take you away from paying work. Here are a few apps you might want to try:

• Asana: Designed for project management, Asana makes it easy to keep track of assignments, communicate with clients and collaborate with other freelancers.
• Evernote: If you’ve ever wasted time searching for a link or file, you might like Evernote. This tool allows you to store notes, schedules, to-do lists and more, eliminating the need to search for them in multiple places.
• Trello: Trello is also used for project management, but it uses digital “cards” to store information. You can create a card for each assignment and then delete it when the assignment is complete.

Scheduled Breaks

It’s great to be productive, but don’t forget to add breaks to your schedule. The longer you work without a break, the more mistakes you’ll make and the more time you’ll have to spend editing each piece. Working constantly also makes it difficult to maintain high levels of creativity and innovation, which can be detrimental to writers who rely on their creativity to earn money.

If possible, block out one hour for lunch — or dinner, if you prefer to work in the evening — to ensure you have enough time to eat, use the restroom and let your mind wander for a bit. Take short breaks throughout the day to stretch and clear your mind.

Realistic Expectations

You can’t manage your time effectively if you don’t have realistic expectations. Just because you managed to write 10,000 words in a day once doesn’t mean you should aim to write 10,000 words every day — this just isn’t a reasonable level of output for most freelancers.

It’s also important to be realistic about how much time it takes to complete a task. Many freelancers have had that panicked feeling that comes from starting a project and finding out it’s taking three times longer than they anticipated to finish it. Finishing late puts you behind on other assignments, making the freelance life more stressful than it should be.

Scheduling Tips To Prevent Burnout

No matter how much experience you have, burnout is a real concern for freelancers. Unfortunately, one of the downsides to freelancing is that you don’t get paid sick days, holidays or vacation days. The good news is that you can still enjoy time off if you plan ahead.

If you’re planning to take a few days off, let your clients know ahead of time. Ask them to send you new assignments as soon as possible to ensure you have enough time to finish them. You may also want to check your schedule to see if there’s one month that tends to be less busy than the others. If so, scheduling your vacation during this month can help you avoid having to turn down work because you need a chance to relax.

Sick days are a little trickier, as you usually don’t get much notice that you’re going to be sick. One way to overcome this challenge is to keep a small emergency fund that you can draw from if you’re ill and need to take a few days to recover.

Another is to structure your schedule to give you a bit of a cushion in case you feel ill and just need to rest for a few hours. For example, you may want to schedule five hours of work per day instead of eight. If you have a migraine that makes it difficult to read and look at a screen, you can use the extra free time to lie down and wait for your medication to take effect instead of having to power through pain, nausea and light sensitivity.

Living the Freelance Life

Freelancing is an exciting opportunity to get paid for your skills and have a little more freedom than the average worker. To maximize your earnings and prevent burnout, it’s important to manage your time effectively. Crowd Content supports writers by making it easy to claim new work and keep track of in-progress assignments.

The post Time Management for Freelancers | Managing Time for Writers appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

But managing numerous social media profiles across a half-dozen platforms entails numerous activities. These might include writing and scheduling social media posts, replying to comments, monitoring the success of social campaigns and more.

In other words, social media management is a lot of work.

Successful social media management requires constant attention. For many, it’s a full-time job. Fortunately, there are several tools available that help with your business’s social media presence. A social media management tool can help you maximize your social presence while minimizing your efforts.

What Are Social Media Management Tools?

Social media management tools simplify your social media presence across platforms. They give you a single platform to manage all of your profiles from. And they provide some excellent tools for getting the most from your social efforts. For big businesses, they’re incredibly useful. And for small teams and freelancers, they’re lifesavers.

Some of the most popular social media management solutions feature a variety of user-friendly features to help you manage your social presence. A few of the things they offer are:

• A central tool to manage profiles across social media networks
• Planning and scheduling social media postings
• Automated monitoring and moderation
• Improved analytics

Sounds good, right? It gets better.

The Benefits of Using Social Media Management Tools

The ability to see all your social media feeds in one location is likely the biggest advantage of social media management software. Being able to monitor customer conversations and campaign performance from a single platform saves time. And probably your sanity.

You can also save time by generating social media postings in advance and scheduling them to go live at a specific time. You won’t have to stop what you’re doing throughout the day to post on multiple platforms. You’ll also be able to better plan your content releases according to optimal posting times.

Stay Organized

Spreadsheets are popular among social media marketers for planning and managing their posts. But it’s far more effective to utilize a social media management tool. Most of them come with content planners to help you stay on top of things. They enable you to:

• Balance different types of social messaging
• Publish posts when they’re likely to receive the highest engagement
• Curate compelling content to share with your followers
• Plan for seasonal and release-specific messaging

These planners allow you to schedule posts when your target audience is most likely watching their feeds, ready to engage. In most cases, adjusting your schedule is as simple as dragging and dropping.

Analyze Social Performance

Another crucial component of successful social media management is analytics. Every major social platform offers analytics reporting that shows you how well your social marketing efforts are doing and where they need improving.

But the built-in analytics on individual platforms don’t show you the big picture of your broader social marketing efforts.

With a social media management tool, you can leverage cross-platform analytics to find out what content performs best across multiple networks. You can create custom reports based on the requirements you need rather than network-specific data.

Finally, maintaining consistency on every social network is a significant time sink. Social media management tools offer content libraries that can help keep things organized across networks. It also helps ensure your social presence is on-topic and brand consistent, regardless of the network.

Streamline Social Feeds and Messaging

Staying on top of the conversation is a cornerstone of effective social media marketing. It’s not just about engaging with your customers — you need to know what the conversation is surrounding your brand.

While many platforms allow you to filter conversations based on keywords, doing so across multiple platforms is a chore, to say the least. With a social management tool, you can listen for keywords across social networks, email lists and other channels, all from a single dashboard.

This kind of integration enables you to engage and do the following:

• Monitor post interactions, such as likes, shares and comments
• View and send messages
• Examine profiles and monitor follows
• Monitor and respond to conversations

All from a single platform. You’ll never find yourself bouncing through browser tabs again.

For bigger businesses, social management tools are invaluable. Not only do they consolidate messaging across platforms, but they also provide routing options to get each message to the appropriate person or department. All of which interface with your business’s CRM.

The 5 Best Social Management Tools for 2023

There are countless social media management tools in the wild. As is the case with other business solutions, choosing the right one depends on your brand’s needs.

Perhaps you need a tool to manage multiple profiles. Or maybe you’re more interested in content scheduling. On the other hand, you might want something that integrates with your CRM and provides in-depth insights.

Whether you’re a freelancer, a small business with ambitious marketing plans or a thriving enterprise, you’re covered. These five social media management tools have what you need.

The Best Overall: Sprout Social

Sprout Social offers robust publishing features, detailed analytics and a wealth of scheduling options. The platform supports all major social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest. All in an easy-to-use package that won’t break the budget.

Some of the biggest benefits that Sprout Social offers are:

• An excellent dashboard for managing social media postings, feeds and schedules
• Tools for social media optimization
• Reports and analytics for measuring user engagement and returns on investment
• Excellent scheduling tools for batching and posting content

Sprout Social also provides great social listening features, including tools for identifying influencers. There’s even CRM functionality focused on social media contacts. Impressive analytics capabilities and an easy-to-use interface round out Sprout Social’s offerings.

This makes it a fantastic all-in-one social media management program. With a commendable balance of cost, features and analytics, Sprout Social is a great choice for most small and medium-sized businesses.

Best for Freelancers and Small Businesses: SEMrush

SEMrush is best known as an SEO platform, but it also offers extremely capable social media management tools for all the major social networks. The social management tools cover posting across networks, including automated scheduling and content editing tools. There are also ad management features for Facebook and Instagram.

SEMrush’s social media tracker enables marketers to track user engagement across networks. It covers post reactions as well as mentions across each network. It also aggregates analytics data, so you can monitor performance from a single dashboard.

Being an SEO tool at heart, SEMrush is keen on competitive analysis. As such, its social media tools include features for monitoring your competitors to see what kind of posts they’re putting up and how often.

The biggest benefit of using SEMrush for social media management is its SEO integrations. You can manage your social media presence and your SEO efforts from a single tool. And integrations between the two are robust and seamless. Perfect for freelancers and small businesses with limited budgets and manpower.

Best for Analytics: Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a complete social media toolkit with some of the best analytics available. With support for over 20 social networks and an App Directory that provides even more, you’re never left wanting. The platform also provides integrations to other popular tools, such as Mailchimp, Zendesk and Canva.

The comprehensive analytics that Hootsuite offers are some of the best available, providing detailed tracking tools, customizable reports and performance metrics. They help paint a clear picture of your social marketing efforts by pulling from over 200 metrics. Once generated, you can export the reports to Excel, PowerPoint or PDF to share with colleagues.

It’s worth mentioning that adding analytics capabilities increases the platform’s price. But for businesses that depend on social media for most of their marketing efforts, the cost is worth it.

Best for Automation: HubSpot

HubSpot is an all-in-one solution geared toward enterprises. Along with its social media marketing offerings, it provides SEO management, a CRM platform and even email services.

The biggest selling point of HubSpot is its full line of marketing integration and automation tools. While you can certainly manage your social presence with ease, the platform also has tools for:

• Editing and creating landing pages
• Content management
• Lead management
• Automated content posting on your website

HubSpot’s bulk scheduling feature makes queuing up and posting to various networks a breeze. With a provided template, you can add your batched content, select a post schedule, choose which networks to post to and select your campaigns. The template even shows you the character count of each post. When you’re ready, you can drag it back over to HubSpot and you’re all done.

From social media to web conversions, HubSpot lets you optimize every step of your sales funnel. It’ll even help you create targeted CTAs to improve ROI. There’s also full Canva integration, which allows marketers to design attractive images with a few clicks. For full-scope marketing efficiency, HubSpot is difficult to beat.

Most Affordable: Buffer

If you’re looking for a tool that’s a little less complex and a little more affordable, Buffer might be the one for you. Since it’s one of the few tools that offers a free plan, it’s a great solution for freelancers. It’s also a great option for younger businesses just getting into social media marketing.

Despite its low cost, Buffer still provides a lot of value. It supports all the major networks, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest. In addition to accessing all your feeds from the platform, you can schedule all your social media posts using a full-featured content scheduler. There’s also an optimization tool for hashtags and mentions across platforms.

A standout feature of Buffer is its available browser extension for scheduling posts. With the extension installed, you can click a browser button, compose an update and add it to a queue.

Who Should Use Social Media Management Tools?

If you spend more than a few hours per week managing social media, a social media management tool is a good idea. If you spend more than a few hours per day doing so, you need a social media management tool.

These tools are excellent for freelancers and one-person marketing teams — people who are accustomed to wearing multiple hats. When you’re juggling multiple tasks across numerous platforms, simplification and automation are essential. This gives you time to think about strategy rather than dealing with daily busy work such as posting and content creation.

For small businesses, social media management tools offer big benefits. If you have a marketing team, these tools help them collaborate better and more securely across platforms. They also give smaller businesses the power to run with the big dogs, so to speak. Even if you don’t have the staff hours to do so, you can run campaigns with daily posts.

Social media management enables secure cross-platform collaboration, CRM integration, message routing, and more for larger companies. They also provide permission controls so businesses with compliance concerns can keep PR incidents to a minimum.

The bottom line is that social media management tools provide more than just a single platform to manage your social profiles. All the tools listed here offer advanced scheduling features for managing posts. More importantly, they provide integrated analytics that can synergize your marketing efforts across networks.

In marketing, where even small improvements can equate to big returns, social media management tools are invaluable.

Conclusion

Your social media presence has a big impact on your brand. Social media management tools give you the power to manage, automate and optimize that presence without making it your full-time job. They’ll also provide you with insights to help amplify your brand’s impact and grow your business.

If you’re looking for other ways to free up your time so you can focus on the bigger picture, let Crowd Content help. Our team of professional freelance writers can provide you with in-depth articles, engaging blog posts, compelling web copy and more. We’ll even write your social media posts for you. In other words, we’ll supercharge your content strategy. Go ahead and take a look at what we offer or get in touch with us to find out more.

The post Here Are the 5 Best Social Media Management Tools for 2023 appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Although content marketing has many benefits, it can be difficult to find the time to create as much content as you need to meet your goals. Content outsourcing is a great way to overcome this challenge. Outsourcing refers to hiring a team of freelancers to produce articles, blog posts, landing pages, case studies and other types of content.

We created this guide to help you understand the challenges that can arise when you hire freelancers without having a plan in place for monitoring their output and making sure they understand your brand’s approach to connecting with customers. The guide also includes tips for outsourcing your content production without sacrificing quality.

Benefits of Content Outsourcing

Before we dive into the challenges of outsourcing, it’s important to understand the benefits. Working with a team of freelancers can help your business in the following ways:

Time Savings

Creating your own content takes time away from developing new products, connecting with customers and managing your company’s finances. A team of freelancers can take research and writing tasks off your plate, giving you more time to focus on business growth.

Consistency

As a business owner, you’re responsible for supervising employees, resolving customer service issues and overseeing daily operations, among many other activities. Even if you plan to spend a few hours writing and editing content, you may have to change your schedule at the last minute based on what’s happening in your business.

As a result, it’s difficult to maintain a high level of consistency. You may publish a blog post one week and then not publish anything else for two or three weeks, making your content marketing strategy less effective than it could be if you published on a consistent basis. When you partner with a team of freelance professionals, they can work on your content no matter how busy you are.

Flexibility

You could hire a full-time writer to execute your content marketing strategy, but that isn’t always the best course of action. Not only does adding a team member increase your monthly payroll expenses, it also makes it more difficult to be flexible when needed. If you want to scale up your content production, a full-time writer might not be able to handle the increased workload. Conversely, if you want to slow down a little, your full-time writer won’t have enough work to do.

Working with freelancers solves this problem because you only have to pay for the content you receive. If you want to scale up, you can add another freelancer to your team; if you want to reduce your output, you can give fewer assignments.

Expertise

Working with freelancers exposes you to different points of view, which may help you create content that’s more relevant to the people in your target audience. If everyone on your team has the same life experiences, it’s easy to miss out on opportunities to connect with customers from different backgrounds. For example, if your employees all come from the same region of the country, they may not understand the pain points of customers in different regions. They may also lack an understanding of important cultural traditions, making it more difficult to connect with certain market segments.

Outsourcing Content Production: Common Problems

It’s clear that outsourcing your content production has many benefits. Unfortunately, many business owners jump into outsourcing without understanding what they need to do to make sure their freelancers produce high-quality content. These are just a few of the issues that can arise when you outsource your content production without planning ahead.

Difficulty Explaining Products and Services

Nobody knows your product or service better than you do, but you must be able to explain key features and benefits to freelancers. If you can’t explain your products effectively, your freelance team won’t have enough information to write in-depth content that’s relevant and useful to your audience. This can severely affect the overall quality of the content, making your content strategy much less effective.

Management Problems

Content marketing is about more than writing content and publishing it on your website. You need to create a content plan, monitor content quality and provide actionable feedback to ensure each writer has enough information to write in-depth content. You may think it’s easier to do everything in-house, but if you don’t have the time to oversee each project, the quality of your content is likely to suffer.

Fortunately, you can take advantage of the benefits of outsourcing without spending a lot of time managing a freelance team. At Crowd Content, clients have access to expert project managers who are responsible for monitoring content quality, updating project instructions and ensuring only the most talented writers are assigned to each project.

Lack of Investment in Brand Story

Storytelling isn’t just for fiction books; it’s also an important aspect of your marketing strategy as it can help you build trust and increase customer loyalty. Many business owners are concerned that freelance writers won’t be able to tell their story effectively. If you don’t take the time to find a writer who can communicate effectively with your prospects and customers, the quality of your content won’t be as good as it should be.

How to Outsource Effectively

Most of the challenges described above come up when a business owner rushes into working with a team of freelancers. If you don’t take the time to find the right people, set reasonable expectations and provide ongoing feedback, the quality of your content is likely to decline. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent these problems and maintain a high level of quality without developing every piece of content by yourself.

Project Selection

If you’re concerned that a freelance writer won’t be able to tell your story as well as you could, reserve storytelling projects for staff members and outsource other types of content to trusted freelancers. Product descriptions, SEO city pages and educational articles don’t require as much storytelling, so you can hand them off to a freelancer without losing out on an opportunity to get customers interested in the story of your business.

Alternatively, you could spend a few hours educating freelancers on your products and services, giving them the information they need to tell your brand’s story effectively. If you decide to take this route, you may need to pay each freelancer an hourly rate for their time, even if you’ve already agreed on a per-word or per-piece rate for your content.

Content Metrics

Before you start a new project, have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish. If you don’t set goals early on, you won’t be able to determine if your content marketing efforts are successful. Metrics can also help you assess the quality of the content developed by your freelance team. Here are some of the metrics you can use:

• Social shares: Determine how many times your posts have been shared on platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The more shares you have, the more opportunities you have to attract new customers.
• Visitors: Track how many visitors land on your pages each month and then compare that number to how many monthly visitors you had before you published the new content.
• Search engine rankings: Google rewards website owners who focus on quality. If your page rankings improve after you start working with a team of freelancers, that’s a good sign they’re producing quality content.
• Backlinks: When Website A links to Website B, that link is known as a backlink. Google sees each backlink as a sign of quality; after all, you wouldn’t want to send your audience members to a site with irrelevant or low-quality content. Before you start working with a team of freelancers, determine how many backlinks you already have. If you have many more backlinks after publishing the new content, that’s another sign your freelancers are focusing on quality and relevance.
• Bounce rate: Bounce rate refers to the percentage of visitors who leave your site immediately after landing on one of your pages. A high bounce rate may indicate the content doesn’t meet the visitor’s needs. If your bounce rate decreases after you start outsourcing, it could indicate that visitors like the new content better than the older content.

Style and Branding Guidelines

If you plan to work with multiple freelancers, make sure you provide detailed style and branding guidelines. A style guide explains how your content should be written and formatted, ensuring consistency across all platforms. Branding guidelines are standards for representing your company; they may include logos, colour palettes and design elements specific to your business. Having every writer follow the same guidelines ensures your visitors won’t be confused when they read your content.

Clear Instructions

Eliminate confusion by providing clear instructions for each project. Detailed instructions make it easier for freelancers to meet your expectations, and they can also prevent delays caused by misunderstandings. When you launch a new project, consider including the following in your creative brief:

• Minimum/maximum word counts
• Guidelines for sentence and paragraph length (e.g. “Write short paragraphs” or “No more than four sentences per paragraph”)
• Formatting requirements (bold, italics, HTML tags, bulleted lists, etc.)
• Terms to avoid
• Keywords to include in the content
• Description of where the content will be published or how it will be used
• Demographic information about your target audience
• Reference requirements
• Linking requirements (internal and external links)

Project Workflow

Before you start a project, set clear expectations regarding your delivery requirements. Some business owners prefer to receive each piece of content as it’s completed, while others prefer to receive batches of content each week or each month. If you want the content to go through several rounds of editing and quality assurance review, account for these extra stages when setting your expectations.

If possible, create a buffer between each deadline and the date you plan to publish the final content. For example, if you want to publish a blog post on March 10, you might want to set the deadline for March 1 so you have time to review it and request any needed changes.

Content Samples

One of the best ways to prevent misunderstandings is to give your freelancers at least one example to follow when they’re writing. If you find a blog post that does a great job of telling a brand’s story, include a link in your order brief. You can also provide samples of your past content and tell freelancers what you want them to repeat and what you want them to avoid.

Start Outsourcing Today

Crowd Content has a team of freelancers available to provide a wide range of writing services. We even offer managed content services, connecting you with an expert project manager who can oversee your entire project from beginning to end and helping you reap the benefits of outsourcing without having to do your own editing and content review.

The post Content Outsourcing: Ways to Avoid Common Quality Problems appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Yet according to one study, it takes around 3 hours and 15 minutes to write a 1,000-word blog post. That doesn’t include time for keyword research, ideation, editing, gathering images and actually publishing the post, so many organizations are looking at an investment of 5 or more hours per blog post.

You can see how getting regular content onto your pages can become a question of resources. While outsourcing content creation is always an option, some internal attention is still required. This is why you might want to learn how to use content upgrades as a tactic for delivering fresh content without re-creating the wheel for every blog post.

What Are Content Upgrades?

Content upgrades are updates to content you already have on your site. In short, updating content is about making old content new again or bringing previously lackluster content up to your current standards for SEO and marketing.

Here are some examples of content updates:

• A blog post titled “The Best Medical Jobs in 2016” might be updated with new information to become “The Best Medical Jobs in 2022.”
• A post about mortgage best practices from 2015 can be updated with new statistics and information to be more relevant in 2022.
• A post about the best products for cleaning homes that should have been popular with a brand’s target audience but never got a lot of traffic can be refreshed to increase quality and engagement.  

SEO Implications and Benefits of Updating Content

Michael Steele, the CEO of boutique Vancouver-based technical marketing agency Flywheel Digital, says, “Content updates can have huge benefits on a site’s SEO. The addition of optimized headers, relevant keywords and answers to ‘People also ask’ questions can make a site more desirable to users, and search engines will see this and reward the site with higher rankings.”

Updating pages also lets you create content that’s more aligned with current searcher intent, which is important. If someone shows up on your page and the content isn’t aligned with their intent, they’ll bounce quickly. That’s bad for conversions as well as behavioural metrics that boost your placement in search results.

Steele notes that it’s important “to submit the newly updated page(s) to Google Search Console to be crawled and indexed. This lets Google know you’ve made changes to a page and that you want the search engine to take a look at those changes.”

How Often Should You Update Content?

It depends. Some content is so evergreen it rarely or never needs updating. Something timely, such as a yearly roundup, may need revisiting annually. Typically, you should conduct a content audit each year to find pages in need of an upgrade.

Steele recommends identifying posts and content areas in need of updates and prioritizing them. Then you can set a budget, plan to update as much content as you can within that budget and begin delegating the tasks. 

It’s also important to incorporate content upgrades into your overall marketing strategy. This isn’t a side project but a critical part of your content marketing calendar and plan.

What Should You Change or Add When Upgrading Content?

Updating content means replacing all outdated or low-quality content with new information and higher-quality content designed to support SEO and drive engagement. The comprehensive checklist below provides a guide for everything you should change or add when upgrading content.

• Statistics. Replace out-of-date statistics with new information. In most cases, data that’s more than a couple years old should be replaced — especially in financial, medical and technical content. You definitely shouldn’t reference statistics older than five years in most other content unless you’re telling a historical story.
• Links. Check all links in your content. Replace links to out-of-date information with new ones. You should also replace all broken links.
• Dated content. Review the page for content or phrases that date it. Slang, references to popular movies or off-hand mentions of current events might all need to be replaced or removed. The same is true for processes or tips that are no longer helpful or possible. For example, the tips written for retail shops before the COVID-19 pandemic might not be in a business’s best interest now.
• Keywords. Conduct new keyword research relevant to the topic of your blog post. The phrases people were using to find such content in the past might have evolved, which means new primary and secondary keywords to incorporate into your content. You can also take this time to ensure best keyword placement, which means placing primary keywords in the H1 and H2 headings, early in the content and a few times throughout.
• Semantic keywords. Semantic keywords are phrases that people would naturally use when talking about a topic. Including them in your blog post helps demonstrate to the search engines’ language programming that your content has a strong relevance to search terms. Quality, comprehensive and updated content is likely to contain semantic phrases naturally, but you can use tools such as Ink SEO, MarketMuse or SEMrush to get a list of phrases to include in your content.
  
• People Also Ask answers. Google your keywords and see what shows up in the People Also Ask question box. Include those questions and answers on pages to ensure they answer the current questions of your audience. 
• Content that answers more current searcher intent. Add anything you can think of that’s relevant to your audience and searchers today or that was left out of your original content.

Steele recommends being transparent about content upgrades. Include a note at the beginning or end of the blog post that lets users know when the content was originally published and when it was updated. Looking to make content upgrades a regular part of your marketing strategy or need to overhaul an entire collection of blog posts? Crowd Content can help. Reach out to learn more about our enterprise services for managing large content projects, or place content update requests to qualified writers via our self-serve marketplace.

The post Tackling Content Upgrades: What, Why, How Often and How to Update Your Website Content appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

The Benefits of Hiring Freelance Writers to Create Content

When you’re contemplating whether to rely on your in-house team or work with freelance writers to create content, there are plenty of reasons to choose freelancers. Some of the biggest benefits of hiring freelance writers for content creation include:

Cost Savings

Keeping a full-time writer on staff can put a big dent in your budget, especially if your content needs are inconsistent or change with the seasons. Hiring freelancers means you only pay for professional writing when you need it, and you don’t have to deal with the overhead costs of adding a new employee.

Professional Quality

Bad grammar and poor word choice can turn off potential customers, costing you sales and hampering your ability to make a profit. According to CXL, poor grammar can affect your site’s credibility, particularly if typos and nonstandard phrasing occur on static business pages or product pages. Professional freelance writers have the experience necessary to create error-free content so your business makes a great first impression. Freelance writers also know how to craft content that captures attention. With expertise in marketing, search engine optimization and best practices for web writing, a freelancer helps ensure your content achieves your goals. 

Writer expertise isn’t just about grammar and keywording, though. It also involves building your brand identity. Freelance writers are experts at adding the right style and tone to your content so readers remain interested and engaged.

Specialized Knowledge

Freelancers bring specialized knowledge to your project that you might not otherwise be able to find. Some have niche expertise in specific fields, such as medical degrees or prior industry experience. Others might offer specializations in particular types of writing, such as product descriptions, social media posts or long-form content. Because freelancers come from diverse backgrounds and have expertise in a variety of fields, you can easily find a writer or team of writers perfect for your project.

Offsite Project Completion

With an in-house writer, you need to provide office space and equipment. Freelancers work remotely, and they’re used to working independently and meeting deadlines, so you can rest assured the content you need gets done on the timeline you require. Using freelancers typically doesn’t require you to restructure your existing teams, either. So there’s no downtime involved when you add a freelancer to your existing project structure. 

Fast Turnaround

Outsourcing your content writing to freelancers can speed up your overall timeline. Freelance writers deliver high-quality content quickly, and you can specify the deadline to make planning easier. Writing projects assigned to your in-house team could get sidelined as other tasks come up, but a professional freelance writer can prioritize your content and keep your editorial content calendar on track. Freelancers also work all through the day, so you might be able to get a quicker turnaround from a freelance team than you could from employees who are limited to working a 9-to-5 shift in the office. If you need content within an extremely short time frame, such as less than 24 hours, a freelancer may be your best option.

Agility and Trend Spotting

Freelancers tend to stay abreast of what’s happening in the world of content creation and SEO. While full-time employees might have too much on their plates to track the latest Google search engine algorithm adjustment or trending keywords, freelancers know the latest best practices to get your page to rise in the rankings and capture reader attention. According to Quick Sprout, 42% of companies lack the skills in-house for effective content marketing, which makes hiring a freelancer with that expertise the wise choice.

Providing Relief to Your In-House Team

Overburdening your in-house employees can lead to unwanted turnover and missed deadlines. Hiring a freelance writer frees up employees to do what they’re best at instead of concentrating on trying to produce the next blog post or product description for your site. Alleviating the workload of your internal employees also helps build morale and reduces burnout. 

Leveraging Freelancers to Support Your In-House Team

Hiring freelancers to supplement the work your in-house team is already doing can help speed up production and ease the burden on busy employees. Leveraging the talents of freelance writers is different from managing your regular team of full-time employees, though, and you need to determine where each fits into your overall business structure. Some things to consider when using freelance writers to support a team of in-house employees include:

Establishing the Parameters of the Job

While hiring new employees typically means bringing them through an onboarding process, freelancers don’t require onboarding. Instead, working with freelancers involves defining the parameters of what you need them to do for you. Before hiring freelance workers to take on your long-form content creation or social media posts, establish the scope of the job. Determine the budget, timeline and specific requirements of each piece of content you intend to outsource. Have an end goal in mind, including what you want the written content to accomplish. For example, if you’re outsourcing blog post creation, do you want that content to bring new visitors to your site, convert casual readers to buyers or establish your company as an authority in the industry? The goals of your content help determine the type of content you need.

Assign a Dedicated Project Lead to Deal with Freelancers

Talk to your existing team to determine where freelancer-produced content fits into your existing structure, and assign someone to take charge of scheduling and posting the content once it’s in your hands. Having a single person as the point of contact for freelancers ensures you aren’t providing conflicting information to your writers and keeps everyone accountable. Your project lead can also communicate with in-house teams to make sure the content is adhering to overall company guidelines and meeting the needs of different internal departments.

Automate Content Distribution

Hiring a freelance writer to create great content is only part of the process. You also need to get it onto your site and post links on social media. Automated tools can help you move content from your inbox to your live webpage. You can also create content calendars that give your internal team and site visitors an idea of when new content goes live. Automation can help you maintain consistency so a blog post always goes up on the same day of the week or social media posts appear within a certain time frame after an article is posted. The project lead in charge of content can handle setting up when and how to post the content your freelancers provide. 

Use Freelancers Strategically

While it can be tempting to assign all your writing tasks to a freelancer, you and your team may be better served by taking a more strategic approach. Decide what content is essential for your current business needs and establish specific, measurable goals for that content before hiring a freelancer.

If you need to completely revamp your website or create one from scratch, decide what pages are necessary for your initial launch or rebranding and which can wait for a later update. You might want to start with the front-facing landing page and some pages describing your services and company history, or you might need 10 blog posts to start establishing a regular blog posting schedule right away. Established companies with an existing web presence may want to bolster their social media or update product category pages, which could necessitate a different type of content strategy. Planning out your content needs and timeline makes it easier to figure out when in the process to hire a freelance writer. 

Some types of projects work better with freelancers, so part of your company strategy should involve assessing projects and finding the right ones to turn over to a writing team. Things to consider when deciding whether to use a freelance writer include:

• Whether the project has a measurable, well-defined objective
• Whether the timeline and scope are appropriate for a freelance contract
• Whether any regulatory guidelines or privacy concerns prohibit the use of freelance talent for the project
• Whether you have the skills in-house and whether your employees with applicable skills have the time to complete the project on their own

How to Work With Freelance Writers to Optimize Your Success

Working with freelancers can maximize the effectiveness of your entire team, and there are ways to set up the freelance job to simplify the process. For a successful long-term relationship with a freelance writing team, check out these tips:

Make Your Content Guidelines Crystal Clear

The more detail you can include in your content guidelines, the more easily a freelancer can create the content you need. You may want to establish separate written documents as brand guidelines and specific guidelines for each writing task. Your brand guidelines include details such as your overall brand tone, information about your target audience and examples of content you want to emulate.  Content guidelines for a specific project lay out the details of that particular piece of content, such as a blog post or social media update. Here are some specifics you may need to include in your content guidelines:

• Specific keywords you want to use and keyword placement
• Linking requirements to internal pages or external expert content
• Any metadata you want included
• Whether you want a call to action and how you want it framed

Establish Routine Check-Ins

If you’re hiring freelancers to provide content on a specific schedule, set up regular check-ins to assess how well the content is working and whether you need to make changes to your content plans. For example, a company that needs weekly blog content might reevaluate its content needs after a few months once it becomes clear which posts are doing best in terms of reader engagement and conversions. Writers producing social media posts may want frequent updates of new products and services you offer so they can include those things in the posts they write. 

Consider Offering Bylines

While some types of content need to remain anonymous or give the impression it was created in-house, other content might be better served by having a writer’s name attached. Offering to attach the freelance writer’s name to the content can be a way to establish a relationship with that writer and keep them producing the kind of content you need. Hiring the same writer or a small team of writers every time helps establish a consistent tone for your website, press releases or blog.

Provide the Necessary Information for Freelancers to Get the Job Done

In addition to a well-defined content brief that outlines the details you need included in your project, you may also have to provide other information that helps your writer accomplish your objectives. Including links to similar ranked content by competitors can help your freelancer create content that outperforms others in your industry. Freelancers also need to know what you want out of your content. If you want specific links included, you should provide those. Sometimes content creation also involves knowing more about your company, so you may want to send details about your mission statement or how you’re positioned within the industry. 

Start with a Calibration Round or Test Project

If you plan to establish a long-term relationship with your freelance writing team, consider running a paid test project or calibration round before turning over the entire project for rapid content creation. During a test project, you provide the basic guidelines for your project and the freelancers create sample content for you to peruse. Together, you and the freelance team can make changes to the guidelines or format of the project before anything goes live. You might discover that your word count or keyword guidelines need some minor adjustments, or you may decide that an SEO suggestion by the freelance writing team would work well for your project. Test projects are typically paid and may involve a few rounds back and forth before you settle on the content requirements for your job. 

Trust Your Freelancers’ Expertise

When it comes down to it, you’re hiring freelance writers because they provide expertise, speed and flexibility your in-house team can’t currently match. Micromanaging your writers can hamper your long-term content goals, so aim for a working relationship that lets you turn over the task to your writers and get stellar content on or before your stated deadline. If the freelancer or manager of a team of freelancers makes suggestions about SEO best practices, you may want to consider incorporating those suggestions into your job to get better results. 

Learn About the Writing and Editing Process

If you’re working with a content agency, ask about the writing and editing process. Decide whether your freelance job should be sourced to a specific writer or given to a larger team that can produce content more quickly. Find out whether the work goes through a round of editing before being sent back to you. When you’re working with a team of freelancers, you may be able to request the same writers or specify writers of a particular quality level before you assign the job. 

Connect With Freelance Writers Using Crowd Content

Working with freelance writers can be an easy way to increase your work capacity and save money. The first step to outsourcing your company’s freelance writing is to find freelancers who can meet your needs. Visit Crowd Content to connect with over 5,000 professional freelance writers who can help craft content that draws attention, establishes authority and converts browsers to buyers.

The post How Freelancers Support In-house Teams appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Meet Stu Brown. Stu has been with us since the early days and is one of the few who writes and edits under his own name because hey, that’s how it was done back then. I’m sure many of you have crossed paths with our legendary wordsmith, even if you didn’t know it. He’s a mainstay on our editing boards, reining in stray commas and turning passive voices into active ones. 

Stu’s familiarity with Crowd Content translates into some interesting perspectives, so let’s get this spotlight underway and learn what life’s like on his side of the monitor. We’re off to the UK, where we find our featured writer under a staircase. No, really.

“[I write] at home in a hole under the stairs,” Stu says about his work set-up. “Think Harry Potter but I’m the parent, and I choose to work there.” When he needs a change of scene and caffeine fix, he grabs his laptop. “There’s also a pub over the road that does unlimited coffee, something that’s almost unheard of in the UK.”

Stu earned a master’s degree in Chemistry and spent some time working in retail. About 12 years ago he began writing professionally, trading in atoms and molecules for semi-colons and conjunctions. He was plying his trade on other online platforms when a group of writers enticed him to Crowd Content.  

“I was asked to join,” Stu says. “I’d worked with several people here previously on various platforms, and I was looking to expand my options.”

Fortunately for our content managers, he’s still here. His versatile writing skills mean he can handle any topic they throw his way. Well, almost any topic. “I avoid fashion because my sense of fashion is practically zero (jeans and t-shirt for the win), but other than that, I can write in a variety of styles,” he says.

He can switch between business writing, sales copy and blog posts without a second thought, but once in a while, he’s treated to a project that gives his own voice a chance to shine through. “I like it when I can let loose my sarcasm on a project, so writing for the Gazillions project has been fun,” he says of the celebrity news website. 

While his writing and editing abilities set a high bar, there’s another reason Stu is such an integral part of Crowd Content. He’s an incredible mentor to new writers. He’s always one of the first to answer questions posted on our discussion boards and offers plenty of guidance when editing work. 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask Stu for a piece of advice to help newbies who want to grow their skills, and he obliges. “Never try to wing a new project without reading the brief,” he suggests. “And please make sure you understand the feedback that you’re being given — from an editing point of view, there are few things more frustrating than giving a writer a lot of highly targeted feedback and three-quarters of it being ignored. We’re here to help writers, but we also need to ensure content is good enough to get to the client.”

When it’s time to take a break from work, Stu keeps busy learning about tech, rock climbing, and helping to manage a small menagerie of animals. He’s also pretty good at wielding a whisk and rolling pin, baking up delectable goodies. This may explain his favorite TV show. “The Great British Bake Off (or Baking Show for those in the U.S.) is always one I watch,” he says. “But I’m also a fan of The Boys and Squid Game. And Lower Decks.”

Stu also enjoys books by Terry Pratchett, best known for his humorous fantasy and science fiction writing. “His work is brilliant, illuminating, fantastic and satirical. It holds up a smoky mirror to the world we live in,” he explains.

Our intrepid writer/editor has been very patient with our interrogation today, but he’s not off the hook yet! We have a few more questions, including some hard-hitting ones about what he likes — and doesn’t like — about our platform.

What’s your favorite restaurant or meal? “There are so many to choose from! If I have to choose something a bit pretentious, I love a good steak tartare, but I also love a good curry with homemade rotis or naans.”

Have you been published by any notable sites or organizations (digital or traditional)? “I’ve had copy picked up by national newspapers and portals in the UK. However, I don’t really worry too much where my copy ends up.”

What do you think sets Crowd Content apart from other content platforms? “Communication and respect. If there’s an issue, it’s not simply swept under the carpet; instead, it’s dealt with. The communication across the platform, whether it’s with CMs, writers or editors, is outstanding, so problems can be resolved fast.”

If you could change one thing about our platform, what would it be? “Editors need to be visible. I edit a lot, and it’s frustrating for writers to not know who is editing their work. It’s frustrating from an editing point of view as well, because you only know who is sending back your work, not who is editing it and passing it on.”

What do you find most challenging about writing content? “There’s not much that I find challenging unless it’s for a new client and the brief hasn’t been fully fleshed out yet. At that point, I have to make judgement calls based on what the client is likely to want, and it can be challenging to balance writer interests with client requirements. Like many things, editing and writing improve with practice.”

Complete this sentence: When I’m not working, I love to… “Cook, climb and gallivant around the countryside.”

What are the five worst words in the English language? “There are none! As an editor, I’m kind of expected to have an opinion on words, but we live in a world that has a rich tapestry of languages to draw from. Words gain ascendance and words gradually go obsolete. And the process is driven by a diverse array of speakers. That’s what makes dealing in words so amazing: You constantly learn of new uses, new ideas and new ways of looking at things.”

And with those thoughts, this month’s Writer Spotlight draws to a close. I’ll let Stu return to his Cupboard Under the Stairs because I can see the editing queue filling up. And to all of you who clicked through to read this, many thanks for being part of our talented crowd of writers. We’ll be back again to introduce another Crowd Content freelancer. Maybe it’ll be you!

The post Writer Spotlight: Stu Brown — The Stuff Legends Are Made Of appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Notice what we just did?

Once you understand how a semicolon works, this endearing little symbol can lend all kinds of variety and rhythm to your writing. Let’s look at the semicolon in action; it’s an easy way to expand your punctuation arsenal.

What’s a Semicolon?

A semicolon is a punctuation mark that looks like it’s part colon, part comma. Italian publisher Aldus Manutius is credited with creating the semicolon, and first put it to work in an essay by Pietro Bembo in 1494.

Semicolons are used in two ways:

1. To join two independent clauses
2. To separate items in a complex list

Why Are Semicolons Confusing?

People are often unsure how to use semicolons because of their similarity to other punctuation marks. Merriam-Webster may describe semicolons best:

“Like a comma, it can separate elements in a series. Like a period or colon, it often marks the end of a complete clause (that is, a sentence part that has its own subject and verb). And like a colon, it signals that what follows it is closely related to what comes before it.”

Comma, period, semicolon — are we confusing things more?

Hang tight. We’re going to walk through examples of the same sentence written with different punctuation to better clarify the roles of these marks. Once you understand the mechanics of how to use a semicolon, you can express thoughts in all kinds of ways.

How to Use a Semicolon

1. Using a Semicolon to Join Independent Clauses

Let’s begin with a quick grammar refresher. When you’ve got a group of words that includes a subject and verb, expressing a complete thought, you’ve got an independent clause.

You can write independent clauses as separate sentences.

• My dad’s birthday is today. I haven’t bought a present yet.
• The project is due tomorrow. She has to work overtime.
• Semicolons can be tricky. This punctuation guide is a big help!

Short sentences can be choppy, but you can meld them together by pulling a comma or semicolon out of your tool kit. Let’s compare how these punctuation marks work with the above sentences.

Using a Comma

When independent clauses are related, you can link them with a comma and coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

The clauses then become a single compound sentence:

• My dad’s birthday is today, and I haven’t bought a present yet.
• The project is due tomorrow, so she has to work overtime.
• Semicolons can be tricky, but this punctuation guide is a big help!

Using a Semicolon

Now, let’s try a semicolon. This powerful little symbol joins related independent clauses all on its own. No coordinating conjunction is needed — just put that semicolon to work!

• My dad’s birthday is today; I haven’t bought a present yet.
• The project is due tomorrow; she has to work overtime.
• Semicolons can be tricky; this punctuation guide is a big help!

The semicolon is a handy tool for changing the tempo of your writing and adding variety to sentence structure. It creates a pause that has a little more oomph than a comma, but isn’t as strong as a colon or period. An article in the New York Times by Parul Sehgal describes the semicolon as a “musical notation”.

2. When Using Words Such as Therefore and However

When you have two independent clauses (remember, these are complete thoughts), you can use words or phrases to transition between them. These transitional expressions, or conjunctive adverbs, let you emphasize, contrast, or restate ideas. These types of phrases include:

• for example
• that is
• besides
• accordingly
• furthermore
• otherwise
• however
• thus
• therefore

Give it a try. Use the semicolon to separate the independent clauses, then slip in a transitional phrase and comma after the semicolon.

• My dad’s birthday is today; however, I haven’t bought a present yet.
• The project is due tomorrow; therefore, she has to work overtime.
• Semicolons can be tricky; thus, this punctuation guide is a big help!

3. Separating Complex Lists With a Semicolon

A semicolon also functions as a comma when separating items or phrases in complex lists. It’s helpful for distinguishing between items, especially if there are already commas within those items.

Here are some examples comparing how to use a semicolon and comma in lists.

Use a comma when listing single items.

• We took a road trip through Washington, Oregon, and California.
• Punctuation marks include periods, commas, and semicolons.

Use a semicolon when listing phrases with internal punctuation.

• We took a road trip to Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Los Angeles, California.
• Punctuation marks include periods, which are used as a full stop; commas, which come after introductory phrases; and semicolons, which join independent clauses.

Using a Semicolon vs Comma

We’ve got one final tool to help you correctly use semicolons when writing or proofreading. Refer to this handy summary if you aren’t sure whether to use a semicolon or comma.

Use a semicolon if:

1. You’re joining two independent related clauses that are complete thoughts.

• I’m free today; can I help out?

2. You’re joining two independent clauses using transitional words (i.e. consequently, accordingly, thus)

• I’m free today; therefore, I can help out.

Use a comma if:

1. You’re joining an introductory clause (an incomplete thought) and an independent clause (a complete thought).

• Since I’m free, can I help out?

2. You’re joining two independent clauses using a coordinating conjunction (but, and, so).

• I’m free today, so can I help out?

Put Your Writing Skills to Work With Crowd Content

Now that you can wield a semicolon like a pro, we’d love to see what other writing skills you’ve got! Our clients are seeking freelance writers of all levels to complete articles, blog posts, landing pages, and product descriptions. Find out how to get started with Crowd Content today.

The post How to Use a Semicolon: Guide & Examples appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Differences Between Proofreading vs Editing

When you write a book, essay or product description, it needs to be as smooth as possible, so readers can focus on your message. Editing and proofreading are essential in achieving your best work.

• Editors aim to improve writing quality with an in-depth review of structure and language. This process can require substantial writing and rewriting. Well-edited documents flow smoothly for maximum impact on the reader.
• Proofreaders make sure the final product isn’t marred by surface errors like typos and spelling. A minor spelling mistake doesn’t change the meaning of your work, but can distract readers and affect your credibility. Proofreading comes after editing is complete and should require only minor corrections.

The two tasks can overlap. Both editing and proofreading can catch spelling and punctuation errors, for example.

What’s Editing?

You’ve researched your article, created an outline, and put together a first draft. Now you’re ready to edit your document. For best results, editing is done in phases to target different levels of detail.

The three main types of editing are set out below, although people may use different terms to describe them.

Developmental Editing

The first step of editing is structural. Developmental editing looks at the overall organization of ideas in your document. You may have to move sections around, so the article is more logical to read, or write additional paragraphs to add context for clarity.

In some cases, an editor may feel an entire section is off-topic and delete it. It’s never fun to see hard work vanish in an instant, but tough edits may be required to make your writing concise.

If you’re editing your own work, you may want to create a post-draft outline. This visual representation helps you look at the big picture to see if your article is organized in a way that makes sense.

Developmental editing is also called a manuscript critique, structural editing or content editing.

Substantive Editing

A substantive edit concentrates on flow. Editors assess the transitions between sections and paragraphs, and the effectiveness of the writing. You might need to:

• Vary sentence length to help with pacing
• Eliminate redundancies
• Get rid of fluff and clichés
• Smooth over awkward phrasing
• Rework sections for consistent and appropriate tone

Substantive editing is also referred to as stylistic or line editing.

Copyediting

Copyediting is even more detail-focused than substantive editing. During this stage, you’re reading the manuscript line by line and digging into sentence structure and the mechanics of the English language.

A copy editor looks for style and grammar issues such as:

• Subject-verb agreement
• Active and passive voice
• Capitalization
• Word choice (clarity and appropriateness)
• Variations between American, British and Canadian English
• Adherence to style guides

This level of editing can also include fact-checking.

What’s Proofreading?

Once editing is complete and all stylistic issues are addressed, it’s time for proofreading. This is the final piece of the editing puzzle. Think of it as the quality assurance check before you release an article or book into the world. At this point, you shouldn’t be making significant revisions — if you are, you’re still editing.

Proofreaders need an eagle eye to pick out the extra space after a period or a missing Oxford comma. Spellcheckers can catch some grammar errors, but you should always review the text yourself.

A Few Proofreading Tips

At the proofreading stage, you’re ensuring every word is right and that you’ve followed appropriate style guides. Check for:

• Typos
• Spelling mistakes
• Spacing errors
• Punctuation mistakes
• Repeated or missing words
• Inconsistencies in formatting titles and lists

Many little errors can crop up, so a systematic approach to correcting mistakes is required. Consider proofreading once to correct spelling and punctuation, for example, and then again for formatting. You can also make a proofreading checklist. Are your headers capitalized consistently? Is there a colon before every bulleted list?

Applying Proofreading and Editing Skills to Tasks

The editing process usually looks different for an author writing a book compared to a freelancer working on short articles at home.

• Authors with a publishing house may have a large support team, with various individuals managing structural edits, copyediting and proofreading
• A small publication may only have the resources to assign one editor to a project
• Freelancers working directly with clients may not have the services of a team of proofreaders and editors

Find a Proofreading and Editing Routine That Works For You

All writers should learn the difference between editing and proofreading and be as detail-oriented as possible. If you’re not comfortable with your skills, you can choose to use an editing service.

Either way, it’s important for freelancers to write high quality, error-free content that’s ready to publish. Since you’ve made it to the end of this article, you now know this means:

1. Looking at the overall organization and structure of your article
2. Focusing on the flow and transitions between paragraphs
3. Examining the mechanics of each sentence and word
4. Proofreading

Depending on your comfort level and the complexity of the project, you might combine steps instead of tackling each separately. But if you do try to edit and proof simultaneously, make sure you don’t introduce new errors. One final proofread is always recommended before you hit that submit button.

Write With Crowd Content

Whether you’re an experienced writer or just launching your freelancing career, put your skills to work with Crowd Content. Our clients are hiring writers of all levels to create articles, blog posts, product descriptions, landing pages, and white papers. Grow your career with the support of our team, and get started with Crowd Content today.

The post Proofreading vs Editing for Clarity appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Many writers are uncertain whether the words winter, spring, summer and autumn begin with a capital letter. You’re not alone if you turn to Google to answer the question.

Let’s clear up the capitalization confusion once and for all. This guide delves into the reasoning behind the rules — and, yes, there’s logic to it! We also have plenty of examples to make sure you can capitalize with confidence when we’re done.

Why Do Writers Get Confused About Capitalizing Seasons?

It’s helpful to know why confusion arises around capitalizing the seasons and when you might be getting offtrack.

One theory, according to Merriam-Webster, is that we’re accustomed to capitalizing days of the week and months of the year. It’s natural to want to apply this rule to seasons. After all, seasons are another way to track the passage of time.

You can see why it might happen — Monday is a specific day, and it’s capitalized. November is a specific month, and it’s capitalized. Autumn is a specific season, and…well, no, it’s not capitalized.

Proper nouns get a capital letter, but general nouns — like spring, summer and fall — aren’t capped, with a few exceptions.

When Are Seasons Capitalized?

Since seasons are common nouns, they follow standard English grammar rules for capitalization. Hit that shift key to capitalize a season when it’s:

1. The First Word of a Sentence

• Winter boots are on sale to make way for our spring collection.
• Spring is my favorite season, followed closely by summer.

2. In the Title of a Movie, Book, Song or Play

• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was filmed in the winter of 2019.
• My favorite Shakespearean play is The Winter’s Tale.

3. A Proper Noun

• I look forward to the St. Paul Winter Carnival each winter.
• Let’s meet in front of the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway.

Seasons Aren’t Capitalized in Most Cases

AP Style sums it up clearly: spring, summer, autumn and winter shouldn’t be capitalized unless part of a formal name or title. This includes derivatives of the nouns, such as summery. Bookmark this handy Instagram post for a great reminder when you write.

Let’s look at examples of this rule in action. In the following sentences, seasons aren’t capitalized because they’re general nouns and not proper names.

• I’m looking forward to skiing this winter.
• The Moon Festival takes place mid-autumn.
• It’s not summertime without ice cream.

Using Seasons as Attributive Nouns and Verbs

Seasons can also be used as attributive nouns, which are nouns that describe other nouns. They’re still not formal names, so hold off on the uppercase letter.

• Connecticut’s beautiful fall foliage attracts many visitors.
• The summer crop of strawberries is ready to be picked.
• Are there any winter carnivals in the state?
• My students are so restless; they must have spring fever.

Seasons are also used as verbs in some cases. But they’re still not proper nouns and shouldn’t be capitalized.

• They like to summer in the Hamptons and winter in Florida.

Common Capitalization Conundrums

No matter how well you know the rules for capitalizing common and proper nouns, the English language can still be perplexing. Let’s look at the most common mistakes people make when it comes to capitalizing seasons.

Equinox and Solstice

Summer solstice and autumn equinox sound like official names. They occur on specific dates, like Mother’s Day and Halloween. However, they aren’t holidays or proper nouns.

An equinox is a general noun describing the time of year the sun crosses the equator. A solstice occurs when the sun is the furthest north or south of the equator. Write these common nouns in lowercase when using them in sentences.

• The summer solstice takes place on June 21.
• The spring equinox occurs on March 20.

Standard capitalization rules kick in when these words are used in the names of events and titles of books.

• Vancouver’s Winter Solstice Lantern Festival is a family-friendly celebration.
• I just finished Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand.

Academic Semesters and Breaks

Most people are so happy for school breaks that the time off seems like an official holiday. Celebrate your leisure time, but resist the urge to capitalize it unless it’s part of a formal name or title.

• Hawaii is a popular destination for winter break.
• Come to Florida for the 2022 Spring Break Extravaganza!

When you refer generically to a fall or spring semester, you don’t need a capital. Capitalize a specific semester when it’s identified by year.

• I’m taking English in the fall semester.
• Is the editing course offered in Summer 2022?

Keep in mind that some academic institutions have their own internal style guides, so writers should follow their clients’ preferences. The University of Colorado, for example, doesn’t capitalize semester names.

Publications

Newsletters, magazines and journals often publish seasonally. Go ahead and capitalize when a season is used as the name of an issue, but not as a general description of an issue.

• Have you seen the fall issue of the magazine?
• I’m editing the Fall 2022 issue of the magazine.

The Olympic Games

This one is simple: if the words summer or winter directly precede the words Olympics or Games, capitalize both words.

• The next Winter Games take place in Beijing.
• He qualified for the Summer Olympics.
• She’s going to Paris next summer for the Summer Olympics.

Personified Seasons

There’s one last scenario to cover. You won’t come across personification often, but this isn’t a definitive guide if we don’t mention it.

Seasons may be personified in stories and poems for literary effect, which means they’re given human qualities. When you write about a season and assign human attributes, use a capital.

Capitalize on Your Career With Crowd Content

Ready to put what you’ve learned to work? Writers of all skill levels are needed to deliver dynamic copy to clients in a wide range of industries. Choose the projects you work on and how you use your time. Start your freelancing career and write with Crowd Content today.

The post Are Seasons Capitalized? appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

That’s why we’re pretty proud of our Crowd Content community. Although you may only know your fellow writers from a profile picture and a few online messages, there’s plenty of camaraderie to be found.

Some personalities shine particularly bright. We know which of you can tap out a witty comment or infuse a dash of levity into our days. One such luminary is Richard S., who’s made more than one writer laugh out loud in our discussion threads, generating requests for a “like” or “laughing” button. Someday, Richard may realize his dream of being a commander in the space navy, but for now, we’re glad he’s part of our elite force. Intrigued? Read on.

Based in Sacramento, California, Richard has been writing off and on his whole life, and professionally for the last eight years. “I used to be an EMT, but I’ve done a lot of weird jobs, including private investigator and door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman,” he explains.

In 2016, he joined the Crowd Content squadron. “Work had mostly dried up at the platform where I used to do most of my work,” he recalls. “I tried a Best Buy PD here out of near desperation. The rest is history.”

Richard has since earned his four-star badge and regularly delivers smoothly crafted PDs, articles and web content on a range of topics. “PDs are okay but unchallenging. I especially like articles that make me do some research. It’s like getting paid to educate myself online,” he says of his favorite projects. “I made a living out of Caring and Seniorly in the past, but lately it’s been all Teknicks and HomeServe. I have always preferred long-form articles with minimal formatting.”

His biggest challenge when writing is also the flip side of those work-at-home perks: getting motivated. “My natural state is napping on the couch, so I really have to give myself a shove to start writing in the morning,” he confesses. Richard used to write in coffee shops until the pandemic changed the world. Now, you can find him “sitting in my living room, in my new recliner, a pillow on my lap as a laptop desk.”

While we can confirm Richard’s talents are used only for good at Crowd Content, there are times he’s wielded his skills on those who least suspect it, and with hilarious results. “I’ve been writing bogus complaint letters to corporations and political figures for nearly 20 years,” he admits. “My best so far was when I complained to the makers of Preparation H that their suppositories were hard to swallow. They sent me a coupon and urged me to discontinue use of their product in the described manner.”

Note to self: check if Richard’s written letters of complaint to Crowd Content.

In the meantime, Richard does have suggestions for improving our platform. “I’d like to see a 5-star writer category that pays write+edit rates for the most experienced and reliable writers,” he says. “I would also appreciate making editors wear business suits during working hours, but I’m not sure how we would enforce that.”

An experienced wordsmith, Richard also has advice for those of you who are new recruits. “Have you considered learning to weld? It’s honest work,” he says. “If you must write, step up your exercise routine and watch your diet. Try to build some kind of structure into your day and don’t pull any more all-nighters after age 40. Try to always have a few chores around the house that need doing, so you have something to do while you’ve got writers’ block.”

Excellent tips. But the best way to really get to know our now-infamous scribe is to let him speak for himself. Here’s what else we got Richard to reveal:

What are the five worst words in the English language? “Literally, ginormous, actually, problematic, squish(y)(ed).”

Who is your favorite author? What’s your favorite book? “I can’t remember the last time I got the time to read an actual book. I have gone through phases where I consumed pulp science fiction (think PKD and Heinlein), and other phases where I read a ton of popular science books. When I was a kid, I wanted to be H.L. Mencken when I grew up.”

Have you been published by any notable sites or organizations (digital or traditional)? “I published at All That’s Interesting for several years, and my author page is still up as an archive. If you look at it, please know that I had no control over the editing or layout decisions.”

What’s your favorite restaurant or meal? “I mostly cook at home. For the last several months I’ve been on the Mediterranean diet, so now I make my own pesto sauce.”

What do you think sets Crowd Content apart from other content platforms? “In the beginning, CC’s main draw was the high pay relative to the other platforms. While there’s less of a difference now, CC seems to have the most reliably full queues.”

Complete this sentence: When I’m not working, I love to: “Daydream about being in a space navy.”

Ah, dreams can come true, Richard. But until you can command your own fleet of starships, we’ve got plenty of digital territory for you to conquer.

Before I sign off, a big thank you to all of you. We certainly couldn’t succeed without such a talented, hard-working crew. And now, we’re headed into the stars to find another Crowd Content writer to spotlight. Maybe it’ll be you!

The post Writer Spotlight: Richard S. — To Infinity, and Beyond! appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Whether you want a quick grammar check or higher-ranking content in search engines, you’ve got plenty of writing tools to choose from. We asked a few marketers, writers and SEOs to tell us about their favorite copyediting software.

Choosing the Right Copyediting Software

Artificial intelligence is making copyediting software incredibly robust. Unlike rule-based grammar checkers, software that uses AI can analyze enormous amounts of writing to learn patterns in sentence construction. It uses these patterns to suggest ways of refining your writing.

Powered by machine learning, copyediting software can perform simple and complex tasks:

• Correct spelling and grammar mistakes
• Identify hard-to-read sentences
• Detect passive vs active voice
• Help with word choice
• Recommend changes in tone
• Evaluate reading level
• Detect duplicate text or plagiarism
• Make SEO keyword recommendations

The best copyediting software depends on your needs. Are you looking for a quick grammar check or real-time feedback? How important is SEO? What type of content are you creating?

You may want a couple of programs on hand based on the task.

Let’s see what professional writers, marketers and SEOs are using when crafting content.

Copyediting Software for Overall Style

Grammarly

Grammarly has been around for more than a decade, and, like other programs, has evolved in sophistication. It can detect spelling and grammar mistakes and suggest ways to improve style, clarity and tone.

Rebekah Edwards, co-founder of Content Creators Agency, has been using the software for several years. “It definitely doesn’t catch everything, but [does] help catch common errors that I otherwise miss when proofreading content,” she says.

The tool works with a variety of programs, including Messenger, Slack, Google Docs and MS Word. “The best thing about Grammarly is how well it integrates everywhere I write,” Edwards adds.

Features of Grammarly

• Free version offers basic writing suggestions and checks spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Premium version detects plagiarism and evaluates clarity, tone and word choice
• Business version lets you create a company style guide for teams of up to 149 employees

ProWritingAid

Cornshaw ranks ProWritingAid as his favorite copyediting software because of its flexibility.

“I can start with a short check of my grammar, style and structure,” he says. “The tool can highlight overused words or repeats, and suggest alternatives to make the text smooth. It helps improve readability.”

Edwards also reaches for ProWritingAid, highlighting its in-depth reports that focus on different elements of your writing.

“Most reports are included in the free version and span helpful results from words I use too often to clichés,” she says. “I’ll be honest — my biggest struggle is not accidentally speaking in a passive voice. Both Grammarly and ProWritingAid help me catch those instances when I fall into old habits.”

While ProWritingAid is powerful, Cornshaw notes that speed can be an issue. “[It] can be a bit laggy sometimes and is not as fast and user-friendly as…competitors like Grammarly,” he adds.

ProWritingAid at a Glance

• Integrates with MS Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, Open Office and Final Draft. Browser extensions are also available.
• Generates reports focused on grammar, readability, consistency, sentence length, transitions and pacing
• Options for monthly, annual or lifetime subscriptions

Copyediting Software for Quick Grammar Checks

Slick Write

Julien Raby, founder of Coffee Works, tried several copyediting software programs before deciding on Slick Write.

“You just type your content right into the checker. The website will point out errors in grammar, spelling, structure, punctuation, tense and more,” Raby explains.

Raby likes the ability to choose what the software scans for, such as passive voice, repetitive sentence structure or weak descriptions. You can do “an initial check for grammar and structure, and then a final check for spelling,” he explains.

Slick Write at a Glance

• Free web-based tool
• Provides a readability index
• Looks for variety in sentence structure and word length
• Highlights content that may be repetitive or difficult to read

Hemingway Editor

While Cornshaw turns to ProWritingAid for detailed edits, he opts for Hemingway Editor for a quick readability check.

“The tool gives you a readability score from 1 to 15 and highlights sentences that are hard to read,” he says. “Basically, it’s a fast way to see which parts of my paper might require additional work.”

Hemingway at a Glance

• Free web-based tool
• Simple interface that groups similar mistakes by color
• Highlights hard-to-read sentences and passive voice
• Identifies weak phrasing or word choice

Copyediting Software for SEO

PageOptimizer Pro

Some copyediting software helps optimize content for search engines. Brennen Bliss, CEO of PixelCutLabs, uses PageOptimizer Pro when creating copy for client websites.

“POP actively provides SEO recommendations as you write,” explains Bliss. “[It] has contributed to our content’s ability to rank in position four, on average, in the first 90 days after publishing.”

PageOptimizer Pro at a Glance

• Analyzes content against top competitors
• Makes suggestions about keywords, LSI terms, word count and header tags
• Recommends where to use keywords in copy (title, subheadings and main content)
• Scores content based on keyword usage
• Monthly subscription packages

Surfer

John Bedford, founder of Viva Flavor, worked in SEO and content strategy before launching his own editorial business. He creates and edits his work in the Content Editor module of Surfer.

“Much of my work involves hitting the same beats as the competition who are already ranking in Google,” he says. Bedford notes it’s important to not let content optimization tools control your writing, but is seeing tangible SERP results. “I’m finding the first pass of each long-tail article now has a much higher chance of breaking through the noise,” he says.

Bedford monitors his content and reworks it over time. “Those that don’t perform within a reasonable time period get a second or third pass. Each time, I focus the scope of the article to more closely touch on the broader search intent of any given topic. Slowly but surely, you’ll see performance gains,” he says.

Surfer at a Glance

• Integrates with WordPress and Google Docs
• Compares keywords on competitor pages to develop content guidelines
• Additional tools to help plan content strategies
• Monthly subscription plans

Copywritely

Cornshaw’s favorite copyediting software for SEO is Copywritely. He uses the software to check for keywords, duplicate content and redundant phrases. “It’s easy to use and is pretty cheap,” he explains. “Just $18 a month for 50 checks, which is enough for me.”

Copywritely at a Glance

• Scans content with the goal of ranking higher in search engines
• Makes suggestions for replacing low-quality content
• Identifies plagiarism and keyword stuffing
• Provides readability scores
• Grammar checker
• Monthly plans for personal, business and enterprise use

Still Looking for Your Favorite Copyediting Software?

If the programs touched on in this article aren’t right for you, here are a few more to consider. It may take a few tries to find the copyediting software that works best for your needs.

• Ginger Software
• PerfectIt
• WhiteSmoke
• LanguageTool
• WordRake
• INK

Crowd Content offers flexible content solutions for small businesses, agencies, brands and retailers. Contact us today to learn how our professional freelance writers can provide you with high quality content that’s ready to publish.

The post Favorite Copyediting Software of Marketers and SEOs appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Proofreading requires a serious commitment of time and attention to detail, but it pays off in the long run. By consistently providing clients with publish-ready copy, you’re demonstrating you’re a writer they can depend on.

Here are 45 proofreading tips and tricks to get you started.

Set the Stage for Success

1. Keep a Grammar or Style Guide Nearby

You can’t proofread properly unless you know standard grammar rules and style conventions. Even the most seasoned writers consult a print or online resource when needed. Try The Associated Press Stylebook, Grammar Girl or Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab.

2. Review Project-Specific Guidelines

Some companies have internal style requirements. Know in advance the expectations for style choices such as serial commas or British spelling.

3. Know Your Weaknesses

We all have words that we struggle with or habits that are hard to break. Keep a personal checklist of errors that you tend to make and watch for them when proofreading.

4. Get Your Draft Into Top Shape

Proofreading can’t fix overall problems with structure and organization, so make sure your work is the best you can make it before doing a final check. Read up on best practices — vary sentence length and construction; remove unnecessary words; use direct language; and write in active voice.

5. Don’t Proofread Until Your Final Draft

Fix mistakes as you catch them during writing and editing, but don’t start a thorough proofread if your writing is a work-in-progress. Proofreading should be your final stage; otherwise, it becomes an editing session.

6. Commit the Time to Proofreading

Thorough proofreading takes time. Set aside a block of time well before a deadline so that you’re not rushed.

7. Avoid Distractions

Find a quiet spot to work or get a set of earplugs so you can focus on the task at hand. Proofreading is careful, detailed work and it’s hard to do it well if you’re constantly interrupted.

Get a Fresh Perspective on Your Writing

It’s hard to switch from writing to proofreading, as explained so well in this Wired article. When your brain is familiar with the text, it tends to skip over typos and errors. Try some of these proofreading tips and tricks to make your brain think it’s reading copy for the first time.

8. Step Away From Your Desk

Finished your final draft? Take a break and do something else before proofreading. Fresh eyes can spot errors much more easily.

9. Proofread in a Different Font

Change the font of your document to one you rarely use. Your brain will slow down as you’re reading to get used to the new shapes it’s interpreting.

10. Zoom in on the Words

Try viewing your document at 200% or more when proofreading. When the words fill up more of your screen, individual letters stand out and you can more easily pick out typos and errors.

11. Change the Layout of the Page

It’s easy to start skipping words in a line of text that’s the full-width of your page. Try setting two-inch-wide margins on the left and right of your document so you’re reading fewer words per line. Formatting the copy into two columns does the same trick.

12. Edit a Hard Copy

Give your eyes a break from the screen and print out a hard copy. Changing the medium gives your work a completely different feel.

Proofreading Tips and Tricks to Try

13. Slow Down

Proofread slowly so you can examine each letter, word and sentence. If you start speeding up, you’re likely looking only at groups of words.

14. Read a Line at a Time

When proofreading a hard copy, place a sheet of paper underneath each line as you read. Move the sheet down as you finish each line. This forces you to concentrate only on what you see.

15. Be Systematic

Proofread in stages to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. For example, read your work once for spelling, and then move to punctuation. This means making multiple passes, but you can focus on one error at a time.

16. Read Out Loud

Every word gets your attention when you read out loud.

17. Start From the End

Try proofreading from the end of your document to the beginning, one sentence at a time. You’re no longer reading for meaning and can study each sentence on its own merits.

18. Ask Someone Else to Proofread

Ask a colleague or friend to proof your writing. They may catch errors that you didn’t even know you were making.

19. Use an Online Grammar Check

Run your copy through an online grammar tool. Remember that software programs won’t catch all mistakes, and you still need to make a judgment call about whether the recommendations are correct.

Know What Mistakes You’re Looking For

We can’t cover all the mechanics of writing in this article, but you can watch for commonly made mistakes with these proofreading tips and tricks.

20. Examine Sentence Structure

Study each sentence separately. Try to spot fragments and run-on sentences, and consider if ambiguous pronouns or dangling modifiers are causing confusion.

21. Review Punctuation Marks

Pause each time you encounter punctuation such as a hyphen, colon, semi-colon or apostrophe, and make sure it’s used correctly.

22. Watch the Placement of Commas

Commas are one of the most commonly used punctuation marks but can be hard to get right. Familiarize yourself with comma usage rules so you can place them appropriately in your copy.

23. Scan for Spelling Mistakes and Typos

Now, look at individual words. Check for proper spelling and words that are missing, repeated or in the wrong spot. This is also a good time to check the spacing between words and sentences.

24. Check Words for Meaning

Watch for homonyms, which sound the same but have different meanings. For example, people often confuse “affect” and “effect” when writing.

25. Make Sure Subjects and Verbs Agree

The subject of a sentence can be singular or plural. Look to see that the corresponding verb agrees with the subject.

26. Use Parallel Structure

Parallelism ensures that all words or phrases in a series have a similar pattern to improve readability. For example, choose a structure for a set of bullet points, such as starting each one with a word in gerund form (ending in “-ing”).

Aim for Accuracy

In addition to proofreading for grammar and style, do some fact-checking to make sure the content of your work is accurate.

27. Confirm Names and Details

Review names of people, places and organizations for correctness and spelling. Confirm that addresses, phone numbers, dates and times are correct.

28. Do the Math Again

Double-check figures and statistics for extra zeros, misplaced numbers or calculation errors.

29. Check Quotations

It’s important not to alter what others say when you quote them. If you’re tidying up a quote by omitting words or clarifying meaning, use square brackets and ellipses.

30. Confirm Your Sources

Check that statistics and quotes are attributed to the correct source.

Format Consistently

Here are some proofreading tips and tricks to ensure consistent formatting. Focus on one element at a time.

31. Watch the Style of Your Numbers

Look at each number. Are measurements written in the right format? Are you using the percentage symbol, if required, instead of the word? Don’t forget the rules for spelling out numbers from one to nine.

32. Check Each Header

Now, review the headers. Make sure each one is assigned the appropriate heading level, written in proper case (title or sentence), and punctuated as required.

33. Review Bullets and Lists

Review each list for consistency according to your internal style guide. Do the bullets need to be preceded by a colon? Should each point be capitalized? Make sure all lists are parallel.

34. Look Over Each Table

Check the content in each cell of a table for alignment (left, right or center), capitalization and punctuation.

35. Inspect the Footnotes and Endnotes

Confirm that each superscript in the body text has a matching reference. Footnotes and endnotes should be formatted in a consistent style.

36. Check the Numbering

Mistakes can easily crop up when there’s numbering in a document. Carefully review any numbered chapters, sections, headers, lists, footnotes and endnotes to ensure that numbering is sequential.

37. Review Cross-References

During edits, sentences can be moved or deleted. If you’re referring to a specific section, chapter or appendix, make sure you’re sending the reader to the correct place.

The Final Steps

You’re almost done! Here are a few other things to keep in mind.

38. Be Consistent With Your Edits

Any changes you make during proofreading must be applied consistently. The search function is handy for finding all instances of a certain word, but it’s a good idea to manually review changes instead of using a universal replace.

39. Make Sure the Links Work

Click on each link in the document to make sure it’s not broken and takes readers to the correct web page.

40. Perform One More Check

When you’ve finished proofing and making corrections, do one more review. Mistakes can slip in when you’re making changes.

Sharpen Your Proofreading Skills

Proofreading is an essential part of the writing process and helps ensure that your work is of the highest quality. Here are ways to develop your proofreading skills over time.

41. Make a Checklist

Always review feedback from editors, clients and project managers to see where you can improve. Prepare for your next proofreading session by making a list of things you struggle with. Go through your list and look for these mistakes before submitting your next piece.

42. Create a Proofreading Routine

Not all proofreading techniques work for each writer. Experiment with different strategies and find the ones that suit your style of working. The important thing is to establish a routine so proofreading becomes a habit.

43. Read Critically

Gain inspiration from great writing. Look at well-written articles to see how the author has constructed sentences and used punctuation. Try to understand the fundamentals of strong writing so you can incorporate these into your own work.

44. Commit to Lifelong Learning

Brush up on your knowledge by reading grammar and style guides to learn new rules. Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab has a series of video lectures and online exercises to practice what you’ve learned. To really elevate your skills, take an online course.

45. Remember, It’s a Process

If you’re overwhelmed, take a step back and remember that proofreading is like any skill. Keep practicing and developing your techniques, and over time, you’ll be delivering flawless copy like a pro.

ALSO – What is Active Voice in Writing?

The post 45 Proofreading Tips and Tricks for Error-Free Copy appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Getting Started

It takes more than a keyboard and the ability to type to be a commercial writer. If you want to succeed in the online content creation industry, you must:

• Understand the basics of writing, including sentence structure and composition
• Have a better-than-average grasp of basic grammar, spelling and punctuation (or take the time to learn it before you start – Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips is a great resource for newbies)
• Be able to follow instructions to the letter and ask questions when there’s something you don’t understand

In the digital content world, things move rapidly. Successful writers and editors are able to absorb information quickly, communicate professionally and, above all, hit their deadlines. It’s as simple as that.

Types of Content Companies

Some companies work with freelancers they find on job boards, while others have full-time writers on staff. Most medium and large businesses, however, outsource at least some (if not all) of their content to companies like Crowd Content.

There are many types of content creation companies, but they all fall into one of three basic models:

• Marketplace: In a content marketplace, you work directly with clients and communicate with them as questions arise. Most clients edit or review the work you deliver, but sometimes there’s a freelance editor in the mix.

• Enterprise: With an enterprise model, you deal with an in-house Content Manager or Project Manager rather than directly with the client. Project managers assemble teams, create instructions and place orders; they also review submissions and manage deadlines. Freelance editors are always involved in these types of orders, and some companies use a third layer of review called QA.

• Agency: Content agencies often offer clients services that go above and beyond content creation (SEO, strategy, etc.). Those that hire freelancers usually require a higher level of expertise, though they typically pay a bit more. 

Why is this important? If you’re new to this industry, there’s a lot for you to learn. If you have some basic skills or expertise, you’re much more likely to get the mentoring you need from an Enterprise operation, where Project Managers are tasked with creating and training teams of workers. Marketplace clients expect writers and editors to already be “experts” before they pick up orders.

Crowd Content is one of the few content creation companies that successfully run both a Marketplace and an Enterprise operation. When you’re accepted as a writer or editor on our platform, you can apply to work for either (or both) sides of the business. 

What You’ll Need

Most content creation companies have proprietary platforms where you write and submit your work, and they’ll usually require a PC or Mac laptop or desktop computer. If you have a tablet, you may be able to make it work, but that’s dependent on the platform you’ll be working on.

You’ll also need:

• Internet access

• An internet browser

• Word processing software (optional)

• A valid PayPal account

Internet Browser

There are a lot of browsers to choose from, but Chrome seems to be the one that most writing platforms get along with best. You do have the option of trying out others, including Firefox, Opera and Edge, but don’t be surprised if you run into compatibility issues here and there.

Word Processing Software

You don’t absolutely need a word processor to get going, but it can help. The platforms among different companies vary wildly in their capabilities – some don’t even have built-in spellcheckers – so you may find it helpful to write in a word processor and then copy/ paste your work into the platform’s text editor. If you don’t have access to word processing software, you can download something like Focus Writer for free or pay a minimal monthly fee for a subscription to Microsoft Word and the rest of the Microsoft

Office programs. Using Google docs is another option.

PayPal

You’ll want to get paid for the work you do, and you’ll find that most content companies pay via PayPal. Once the funds are in your PayPal account, you can transfer them directly to your bank, or you can request a PayPal debit card, which works exactly like your bank debit card.

How It All Works

Let’s walk through what you’ll experience when writing commercially for Crowd Content. Note that most other writing platforms are similar but have their own rulesets and ways of doing things.

• After you create an account, complete an application for one or more of the various Marketplace or Managed (Enterprise) teams. Once approved, you’ll be given a quality rating based on the work you did on your application. At Crowd Content, there are four tiers: one, two, three and four stars.
• When you log into the platform, you’ll have a personal dashboard that shows any work that’s available to you on the Marketplace or Managed Content sides of the platform. What you see here depends on your application approvals and the quality rating you were given. You see all open work at your star rating and below as well as any work for teams that you’ve been placed on or any direct order work.
• A four-star writer sees all open orders, for example, while a two-star writer only sees open orders placed at one- and two-star orders.
• When you view an order on Crowd Content, you’ll see a title or topic, instructions on how to write the piece, when the order is due, how much it pays and any other information the project manager or client included.
• You can choose to pick up orders based on all this information. You’re a freelancer, so you always have a choice about whether to accept work or not. That’s even true if you get direct orders (orders placed solely to you) that you don’t want to write for any reason. You can pass on those orders and even let the client know why via the system chat — for example, you might want to let them know you’ll be out of town and can’t complete orders next week but would be happy to write content for them when you get back.
• After you’ve completed the order, submit it — and this is where things differ depending on whether your order was in the Marketplace or Managed Content.
  • Marketplace: The client may have added editing to the order. If they have, the order will be picked up by an editor before going to the client. But the client is still responsible for ultimately approving or rejecting the order. The client or the editor may send it back to you with notes to make revisions. Once the client has accepted the order, you’ll be paid for it on the next payday. In our Marketplace, it can take anywhere from a couple days to a few weeks for the client to review and approve orders.
  • Managed Content: Once you submit a written order, an editor will review the piece. The order may be edited and submitted, sent back to you for revisions or rejected if it significantly fails to meet the minimum requirements for the task. Once the editor submits the order, it goes to QA. That’s where a member of our team reviews the order to be sure it meets the client requirements. QA will either accept, reject or send it back for revisions. Once QA has accepted the order, you’ll get paid. When working on Managed Content, completed work is typically reviewed within a few days.

• Even if your order is accepted by the client, editor or QA, they may opt to leave you notes. It’s important to go back and read these notes and view the changes made to your order using the tracked changes tab. In the world of commercial writing feedback is gold. Learn to accept feedback and put it into practice, and you’ll do well.

How Much Does It Pay?

Private clients, like those found on job boards and places like Upwork, often pay by the hour or by the piece, but most content companies pay writers and editors a set per-word rate. The rate of pay varies widely among different companies. At Crowd Content, pay rates for writers range from a few cents up to 10 cents per word and sometimes even more. Editors are paid between 1.5 and 3 cents per word.

The per-word pay doesn’t always give an accurate picture of how profitable a writing job might be. The figure you should look at is how much money you can make per hour. Short product descriptions that require minimal research but only pay four or five cents per word might work out to be more profitable on a per-hour basis than a 2,000-word feature article that requires heavy research and multiple rounds of revisions — even if that feature article pays more per word.

When Do I Get Paid?

Some content companies pay once or twice per month, but others pay more frequently. Crowd Content pays its writers twice per week — Tuesday and Friday — for all work that’s been accepted by the client or Project Manager by the evening prior.

Next Steps

Ready to start? Here’s what you need to do next:

• Read this guide in its entirety
• Brush up on your grammar and punctuation skills
• Open a worker account with us
• Apply for work

Keep in mind that other companies may have different requirements. You may be asked to complete an English grammar test before you’re able to apply for work, or you may have to create a portfolio. Before you do any of this, make sure that the company’s pay rates are within the range of what you’re looking to make.

Want more information? Grab our free ebook, Intro to Commercial Content Writing here.

Best Practices: General

No matter what companies you choose to write for, Enterprise or Managed Content projects tend to have lots of information around them, including style guides, project briefs and in-task instructions. When working in a Marketplace environment like ours, the amount and type of information you get from clients will be all over the map. When in doubt and unless the client states otherwise, follow these simple rules: 

Style 

• Defer to AP style. 
• Use American English spelling. 
• Use title case for all titles, headers and subheads. 
• Format titles, headers and subheads appropriately using H1, H2 and H3 tags or via the formatting functions of the platform in question. 
• For blog posts and marketing copy (product descriptions, etc.), use second person (you). For landing pages and other website copy, use first and third person. 
• Vary your sentence structure. Use some simple and some compound sentences. 
• Avoid rhetorical questions. If you do use them, limit to one per article.
• Avoid exclamation marks. They do have their place, but they should be used only rarely.
• Avoid cliches and overused jargon (with ease, is a snap, is a breeze, etc.). 
• If you cite a fact, study or statistic, link to it. Always try to link to the primary source — not a site talking about the source — and avoid using data that’s more than a few years old. The exception here is that something like Census data is perfectly fine to use, as it’s only updated once every ten years.
• Never use Wikipedia or random blogs as sources unless a particular blogger is an influencer in the industry you’re writing about. 
• Stay evergreen — unless you’re writing something that’s absolutely seasonal or a client has asked for content about current events or news. 
• Avoid negativity at all times, particularly in marketing copy. Better to say, “This cleaner keeps your floors looking like new” than “This cleaner gets rid of all the icky goo off your dirty floors.” 
• Use common contractions (it’s, you’e, etc.). 
• Defer to Merriam-Webster for spelling and hyphenation. 
• Watch out for repetition in words and phrases. Don’t start back-to-back sentences or paragraphs with the same word. 
• Stay concise and avoid fluff and filler. 

Structure 

• Use bulleted and numbered lists and subheads to break up the text. 
• For blog posts and general articles, start with an intro paragraph and end with a conclusion. 

SEO 

• Before you start writing, Google the primary keyword to be sure you understand the intent of the search – what information the reader is really looking for. 
• Unless the client tells you not to change keywords in any way, always correct them for grammar, spelling and punctuation. 
• Use the primary keyword in the title, first 100 words of the intro, one subhead and at least once or twice in the text, depending on how long the piece is. When you’re writing something like a 50-word product description, you might only use the primary keyword once, for example. 
• Try to use all secondary keywords at least once. 
• Cover the topic comprehensively, and work in as many semantic keywords as possible. If you haven’t been given any semantic keywords, you can generate some for free using LSIGraph.com. Don’t, however, shove in a semantic keyword that’s clearly not related to the search intent of the primary keyword or the topic at hand. 
• Do not ever keyword stuff. 
• Remember that readability always trumps the keywords.

Best Practices: Metadata 

The most common types of metadata you’ll be asked to create are meta titles and meta descriptions. These are the pieces of information someone will see on a search engine results page (SERP) when they make a search query. You can see an example below.

Meta Titles 

You may be tempted to use an article’s title as your meta title, but that could be a mistake. Google will only display up to around 70 characters (including spaces) of your meta title in the SERPs. How much of the title is displayed depends on a variety of factors, including what type of device the searcher is using. If your title gets cut off, the reader may not know what to expect. 

Many companies also want to get their company or website name in the meta title, and they usually do it like this: 

• Title | Company Name 

Note that the pipe symbol and company name should also be counted as part of that 50- to 60-character allotment, and you should work your primary keyword in the title if possible. 

Meta Descriptions 

The purpose of meta descriptions is to get readers to take an action — in this case, to click a link to go to a page listed in the search results. Meta descriptions should:

• Be engaging and enticing 
• Contain the primary keyword 
• Be up to 160 characters in length, including spaces 
• Start with an action verb, if possible

Best Practices: Blog Posts

Companies use blogs for many reasons. These articles can inform or educate an audience or help position a company as a thought leader in an industry. Behind it all, though, search engine ranking is always a high priority, which makes blog posts one of the most asked-for types of content. 

When writing blog posts, follow the style, structure and SEO guidelines set forth earlier in this document — unless the client’s instructions differ. Before you begin writing, determine the purpose of the content (to inform, educate, convert, etc.) and who the target audience is. How you broach the subject of buying a Bluetooth speaker would probably be very different if you’re writing for Boomers instead of Millennials, for example. 

Also note that depending on the purpose of the blog post, it may (or may not) require a call to action — typically called a CTA. If that’s the case, you’ll want to encourage the reader to take action: call, click, schedule service, etc. Unless told otherwise, you should always hyperlink to the page on the client’s website where the reader can take that step.

Blog Post Lengths 

Most of the blog posts that we produce at Crowd Content are somewhere in the 500- to 750-word range. Clients who are after backlinks or creating pillar pages will often create long-form blog posts of 1,000 to 2,500 words or more.

Keep in mind that to really get any decent SEO value out of a blog post, the lowest word count should be roughly 300 to 350 words.

Types of Blog Posts 

You may think of blog posts as just being articles, but there’s a science behind them and there are many variations you can use to drive the information home in different ways. Here are some of the more popular types of blog posts: 

• Listicles: 10 Places for Fun Summer Travel, 3 Recipes for Date Night 
• How-To and Tutorials: Learn Spanish in 3 Easy Steps, How to Host a Holiday Party 
• Link and Resource Lists: 10 Best Instagram Stories, SEO Tools the Pros Use 
• Checklists: Things to Pack When Traveling with Kids, Off to College Checklist
• Reviews: ASUS vs Dell Laptops, Why SEO Pros Choose SEMRush 

For examples, and more content types, download the ebook here.

ALSO – How to Find and Succeed With Freelance Copywriting Jobs

The post How to Become a Content Writer – The Complete Guide appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Maybe you want to create something valuable to offer your existing audience. Maybe you want to use an eBook as a lead magnet that you promote via social media, paid promotions or SEO.

No matter why you want to create an eBook, there’s a question you have to ask yourself: will it generate a high enough return on your investment to make it worth the investment involved in creating it?

You can’t answer that question without having a full understanding of all the labor (and associated costs) that goes into conceptualizing, producing, and distributing an eBook.

ALSO – Check out our eBook writing services

Here’s a breakdown of all these elements, and how they affect total cost of creating an eBook.

First, What IS an eBook?

Technically, “eBook” is a term used to describe any document (typically a non-editable one) that you can read from an electronic device, like a computer, smartphone, or tablet. The more practical definition of an eBook is that it’s a long-form composition leveraged in a digital format in exchange for money, a lead submission, or something else that serves an objective of the creator.

Note – Most content marketers use eBooks as lead magnets to capture contact info from potential buyers. Most buyers are towards the middle of the funnel around the Interest stage of their journey.

Before we start breaking down the costs of creating an eBook, let’s make something clear. Yes, anyone can create an eBook — if you write two pages in a word document and export it into a PDF, technically, you’ve done it. But, what we’re talking about here is creating something of value — an eBook that delivers.

Typically, that means that your eBook that:

1. Is at least 5,000 words
2. Comprehensively covers the topic at hand
3. Features an attractive, on-brand design
4. Use hyperlinks in a table of contents for easy navigation
5. Includes graphics, charts, illustrations and other visual cues

As we’ll describe below, this is a larger ask, and one that may involve costs that you aren’t thinking about right now.

Do it Yourself or Outsource?

Many digital marketers see eBooks as a worthwhile effort because they are a valuable piece of content that you can use to support multiple business goals. The main challenge often comes down to the time it takes to do it right.

You can spend hours working on the concept and the message of your eBook, and still not have anything that resembles the outline of a fully fleshed-out composition. And that doesn’t include researching, writing, editing, and designing your eBook which can take dozens of hours.

This is why many marketers choose to outsource their eBooks. They either outsource the smaller parts that they would struggle to handle on their own, or sometimes larger portions, serving to streamline the entire process. As we go step-by-step, we’ll talk about the cost of creating an eBook using outsourced talent.

Step 1: Developing the Concept

Before you start crafting your masterpiece, you have to build the framework for the entire exercise. What’s the topic? How will it be used to meet your goals? What audience does it speak to? Where are they at in the funnel when they read this?

This step doesn’t cost anything — there’s no charge for your own creativity.

Once you have a concept and loose outline, it’s time to start the creation of your eBook.

Step 2: Writing the Content

Step 2 comprises two parts: research and writing. They’re part of the same step because you’re probably going to want the person doing the research to also write the content that their research covers. And, you want that writing to be at a quality level that doesn’t need much editing after it’s written.

Alex Azoury, Founder and CEO of Home Grounds says the cost of creating an eBook depends on the writers you have access to.

“If you don’t have a writer on staff, then you’ll probably hire a freelance content writer or agency,” says Azoury. “Freelance writers differ in their experience, subject preferences, and costs. Think about whether you need a native English speaker or a competent writer whose English is at near-native level.”

If you’re hiring an “intermediate” writer, according to Azoury, they’ll typically charge between 5 and 20 cents per word. The average eBook is 2,500 to 5,000 words. That means that costs range between $125 to $250 on the lower end and $500 to $1000 on the high end.

When your topic is research-intensive, or you want to hire a writer with an expert knowledge of the subject, you’ll end up paying more. Budget as much 50 cents to 1 dollar per word, which will run you between $1250 to $2500 for a 2,500 word product.

Note – At Crowd Content, we always recommend clients use at least our 4-star writers which are priced at 12 cents per word. At that rate, you’ll need to provide a good amount of research and data to your writer. For more complex or research intensive projects we can set up a custom project.

A Cost Effective Alternative Method

If you want to save costs on content creation, you can use content you’ve already written and published in your eBook. If you’re writing a long form piece about a topic, chances are it’s a topic you’ve already explored before. During your planning steps, look for previously produced content that can be used to reduce the burden of researching, writing, and editing brand-new content.

Many marketers actually create a series of blog posts that could be considered episodic content, meaning that collectively they make up one larger story. Collecting these resources into an eBook is a very cost effective way of finding content for an eBook.

The reverse is also true – consider carving up sections of your completed eBooks into blog posts you publish (content repurposing). You can even include a link to the full eBook in the post which can generate a lot of leads.

Step 3 – Editing Your Content

The cost of editing, according to the Editorial Freelancers Association, varies based on the type of work you need. Basic copy editing is usually billed at around $30-$40 per hour, and if the copy needs a more intensive editor, that will increase to around $40-$60. If the average copy editor can get through an average of 5 manuscript pages per hour, a 2,500 word eBook (10 pages) will run you between $60 to $120 and a 5,000 word composition could cost an average of $240 at the high end.

Note – At crowd Content you can hire freelance editors for 3 cents per word. For more substantial editing requirements we can also set up a custom project.

Again, keep in mind that these numbers are for basic editing. If you want a copy editor to make multiple rounds of revisions and look deeply at changes that could improve the content, you may need to budget more.

If you decide you just need a proofread you might also be able to budget less, but we wouldn’t advise that.

Step 4: Designing the Assets

The design cost depends on the level of commitment you want to put into the aesthetics of your eBook. Do you want every page to be expertly laid out with full-color graphics, or will an eye-catching cover page suffice?

Alex Azoury again: “Your design includes your eBook cover, various elements within the book, and the final page. Someone will need to decide on the fonts and color used. All the headlines, paragraphs and text need to be formatted so that your book appears professionally produced.”

Azoury estimates that a complete design takes about five hours. If a freelance designer charges $30.00 per hour, that comes out to $150.00 for the project.

Keep in mind, that is a bare bone estimate and would likely result in a very basic looking eBook.

According to James Pollard, Founder of TheAdvisorCoach.com, “Some people will recommend going to a cheap site like Fiverr, but I’ve found that you get what you pay for. I suggest hiring a professional designer either directly or through a freelancing site.”

This level of premium design may cost you a lot more. Pollard estimates that for a fully produced, graphically rich cover design, it may cost as much as $500 for a final product that makes your eBook stand out.

That’s just for the basics, though. If you want to take time to create graphics, tables, charts and other visual elements, that will require more design time. An eBook with robust visuals can cost significantly more and may even creep into the thousands.

Whatever level of design quality and depth you choose, you’ll want to ensure the final package follows your brand guidelines and is appealing to readers.

Do It Yourself?

This all assumes that you opt to have a designer create your eBook. While usually that’s quicker and can produce a better result, there are a number of tools that can help you create your own eBook design for free.

1. Microsoft Word – there are great templates available to pop your content into. While it can be tricky at times, it does let you add important elements like table of contents, cover pages, graphics and charts fairly easily.
2. Online tools – Canva, LucidPress and FlipMaker all offer easy to use tools to create visually appealing eBooks. While there can be a small cost to using these tools, they might be a good fit for you.

Keep in mind that you should have a good eye for design if you go the DIY route.

Step 5: Repurposing and Distributing Your eBook

The most common eBook format is the PDF. And, that may be all you need to do.

But, you might also choose to put it in different formats and distribute it additional channels to increase its reach. Here are a few ideas:

1. Create an audiobook version and make it available on services that offer listening like Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Scribd, and others.
2. Format it for Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and make it available on Amazon. You can make it available for free here, but many published authors earn significant revenue by charging for their eBooks
3. Format your eBook in the ePub format for wider accessibility. This is the standard format used by eBook readers such as Kindle, Kobo, iBook, etc. There are many free and paid tools that can help you do this. This will also allow you to sell your eBook on marketplaces like Google Play and iBook.
4. Break it up into several blog posts and post it on your blog

These are all relatively low cost ways to get your content to more of your audience, and you can even generate sales if you choose.

Step 6: Calculating Your Final Cost of Creating an Ebook and ROI

So, what’s the final cost of creating an eBook? As mentioned, the total investment depends on what you have available to as well as the level of depth and quality you’re aiming for.

A good ballpark for an average eBook would be around $3,000 dollars if you hire freelancers for everything. But, if you have access to some resources needed like existing content, design support, editing support, etc, the total cost can be a lot lower. Similarly, if you need an exceptional level of quality, tons of research, and need to hire an expert to write it, you could be looking at significantly more.

The amount you actually budget creating your finished product should depend on what you expect to gain from it when you leverage it to your selected market. According to James Pollard, “I tie it directly to a revenue metric in my business because I view it as an investment. I have no problem spending $3,000 to create an eBook that will generate $30,000 in sales over the next year.”

To understand and track the ROI of your eBook, the best way is to determine what the value of each lead who downloads your eBook is. To do this you can work backwards through your funnel. Here’s an example:

1. Each new paying customer has a lifetime value of $100
2. Of leads who download the eBook, 10% become paying customers
3. Each eBook lead is therefore worth $10
4. Since we spent $3,000 to produce this eBook, we need 300 eBook downloads for it to break even

This is just an example to illustrate this calculation. If you can track your ROI with actual numbers, you’ll be way better off.

Wrapping It Up

Quality eBooks can have a hugely positive ROI when used as lead magnets to support your other marketing efforts. Since the content they contain is so extensive and valuable, your audience is much more likely to offer their contact information in exchange for them. And, that’s not even counting other benefits such as increasing your perceived authority or boosting SEO.

But, they can be a big investment.

One way you can reduce the cost of creating an eBook and maximize ROI is by working with a reliable source of eBook writers. Crowd Content can help you find cost effective solutions for eBook creation and any other content needs, no matter how specialized or extensive.

Be sure to reach out if you could use a hand with your next eBook writing project.

The post What Is the Total Cost of Creating an Ebook? appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

These content writing skills can keep writers at the top of their game, offering the tools necessary to produce quality content every single time.

Keen Research Skills

No one knows everything, and that makes research the name of the game for many content writers. All companies know the extent to which Google prioritizes quality, so a fluffy piece full of generalizations won’t be winning anyone awards. A great writer needs to know how to comb through sources, find statistics to back up points, and draw clear, concise, and correct conclusions.

In some cases, a niche writer with extensive experience — professional, academic, or otherwise — is needed, but in many cases, a generalist can tackle most subjects in a way that meets SEO standards while expertly addressing the topic at hand. With the ability to closely follow instructions and put research skills to the test, a good writer can produce a piece that satisfies both clients and Google’s algorithms.

As Derek of Floating Authority puts it, “What makes the top content writers stand out is that they take the time necessary to make sure that they follow the instructions they are provided and to thoroughly research the topic at hand, even if it takes them past a specific deadline.”

SEO Expertise

SEO always matters. Content that is published online is intended to be read by many, but it’s also going to be crawled by Google’s bots for the purpose of indexing. And while content that sounds good and makes an impact with readers is a benefit, so is content that ranks.

Google is always fine-tuning its approach, which means that content needs to keep up. A little familiarity isn’t enough; an effective writer needs to stay on top of how the industry is evolving in addition to what it takes to rank well as the systems consistently grows and changes. While knowing every single little detail of each and every update isn’t necessarily imperative, understanding the key points of what works – and what doesn’t! – can make or break success in the SERPs.

Want to know what IS working? Check out our guide to becoming an SEO content writer. 

B2B and SaaS Content Writer and SEO Strategist Alexandra Cote feels that few skills are as important as an in-depth understanding of SEO. “And I’m not talking here about keyword optimization alone but about everything that has to do with on-page SEO at least,” she clarifies. “From SERP research to nail the reader intent, to choosing the right main and secondary keywords, writing amazing meta descriptions, and getting internal links right.”

Social Media Mastery

Social media is no longer a choice; it’s an absolute must for content of all kinds. Consumers use social media to connect with brands and browse local options; 54% of Facebook users even use the site to do product research.

Not all content writers will need to create content for social media, like Facebook posts or Tweets, but knowing what kinds of posts resonate as well as what kinds of headlines get the most clicks can be extremely valuable. Many brands rely on social outlets to distribute content, so writers who are tasked with these kinds of assignments need to know how and why some articles succeed on social, and why others fall flat.

“Content writers must have a good grasp and knowledge on how to maximize such platforms to their advantage. Furthermore, they should also be able to create content that best suits the taste of the social media community”, says Sonya Schwartz, the founder of Her Norm. No one is expecting writers to have the same level of expertise as social media marketing professionals, but a solid knowledge in what will make a difference and what won’t is a skill every great content writer needs.

What can writers do to help their content do well on social? There are many things including:

1. Focus on crafting engaging headlines that drive clicks. Tools like Coschedule’s Headline Analyzer can help with this. 
2. Use content formats that do well on specific social platforms. For example, listicles, slideshows and quiz content all get great engagement on social
3. Make the content easily digestible and focus on writing sections that translate well to social messages if a reader wants to share. You can even use services like Click to Tweet to let users share these message with just a click.

An Understanding of the Buyer Journey

How companies speak to their potential customers is at the cornerstone of how business is conducted. Everything, from how products are marketed to how transactions are completed, speaks to the needs of the customer rather than the preferences of the company. As a writer, it’s easy to understand what a company wants out of an order, but seeing the customer side of the equation can be a little harder.

In spite of the divide between buyer and business, an understanding of the buyer journey is a critical part of creating content that resonates. Consumers want to read content that makes them feel as if their concerns are heard and solutions are designed with them in mind – not a company speaking into an echo chamber.

According to Saurabh Jindal of travel-based app startup Talk Travel, being able to understand and speak to the customer experience is paramount to using content to drive conversions. “A good content writer creates content, which pushes the consumer to the next phase of the customer journey, and in a manner which is subtle and does not explicitly try to push the customer,” he explains. By knowing how a piece of writing fits into the over customer journey and what is needed to inspire steps forward, writers are better positioned to inspire purchases and foster customer loyalty.

Want to learn more about writing for every stage of the customer journey? Check out our guide here. 

Adaptability

Rarely does a writer write about one topic for one client indefinitely. Instead, many talented content writers write for many clients about any number of subjects. For those focused on one niche over others, it’s likely that clients, tone, and point of view will all vary sooner or later, as will the specific nature of themes about which to write.

As a writer, it’s often necessary to be able to speak confidently about areas outside of your expertise, and explore new fields. It’s also important to be able to confidently switch from a humorous tone to academic to informative and back again. A big part of success in writing is being adaptable and being able to meet client needs rather than simply doing the same thing, day in and day out, for every single client.

As stated by Randy of Soderman Marketing, “oftentimes, especially in an agency environment, content writers have to write about a variety of different topics as well as adjusting their tone and style for each client. This is why it’s so important for writers to be able to adapt. They should be a chameleon.” While every writer has their own distinct voice, content writing isn’t usually the time to show it off. Instead, it’s a time to customize content and tone to provide a client with a satisfying end result.

Editing Ability

No piece of writing is perfect on the first pass. Instead, most writing takes multiple reviews to get it to the point where a piece is passable. While outside editors certainly add value later in the game, the ability to read one’s own work and determine areas that can be improved is a key step in the creative process. Ultimately, the first and most important steps in quality control are a writer’s responsibility.

“Understand that once you’re done writing, your job has only begun. Learn the best tools to edit and proofread your work such as the Hemingway App, Grammarly, and Copyscape for plagiarism,” suggests Tim, an Operations Strategist for People Managing People.

He also emphasizes the ability to take criticism and use it to improve current pieces as well as to inform future projects. “Feedback is your friend, so use it as a ‘growth hormone,'” he says. A great writer cares about the quality of the work they produce from a holistic sense, not just whether or not it passes a customer’s baseline level of acceptability.

Process can be your friend when it comes to self-editing. Many writers find that immediately reviewing content after they finish writing it isn’t nearly as effective as stepping away from the project for a while, focusing on something else, and then coming back with a fresh set of eye for the content when they’re ready to edit. 

Creativity

Writing as a job can become stressful and tedious in time, no matter how nice the clients or how interesting the topics. After a certain point, some jobs start to blend together, leading to repetitive and uninspired content. Many times, this isn’t intentional, but rather a product of doing the same thing, day after day.

While it’s quite common for writers to start phoning in articles due to a lack of interest or waning time and attention, a great content writer knows how to keep content fresh and exciting. “Writers might eventually run out of creative juices and subconsciously use concepts and sentence construction similar to past outputs. When that happens, produced content feels pretty identical to each other. However, highly creative content writers always manage to find a new perspective on old topics, which helps keep outputs fresh,” explains Jeremy Owens, the CMO of Seriously Smoked.

To stay creative, writers need to be passionate about the written word as a whole, not just the content they produce for others. Reading books, keeping up to date on industry blogs, and even reading similar articles written by other writers can be a great way to keep skills sharp and provide additional inspiration.

Flexibility in a Changing Marketplace

The wide world of content marketing never sits still for long. From changes in Google’s algorithms to changes in the kind of content people like to consume, the industry is always moving. What worked yesterday won’t necessarily work tomorrow – and it’s up to writers to know this and adapt accordingly.

“As nothing is constant in business and society, being adaptable and flexible is a core skill in content writing. You must be able to mold your writing based on what’s current, trending, and acceptable in the industry, says Her Norm‘s Sonya Schwartz.

For example, voice search is a continually-growing trend now utilized in more areas than ever before. Creating content that resonates with voice searches rather than traditional search engines isn’t necessarily natural, so content writers need to have an idea of what will work best for voice search, normal web search, or, more likely, both. In order to please customers and create content that achieves goals, writers need to know how to stay flexible and adaptable as the content world changes around them.

The art of putting words on a page can be a rewarding and profitable pastime, but content writers with the right skills are those most likely to succeed. With a talent for writing and a knowledge of the most beneficial content writing skills, writers are well positioned to get ahead – one article at a time.

ALSO – Who’s on Your Business Content Writing Team and How Do You Manage Them?

The post The Top Content Writing Skills Writers Need to Know appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

So which one do you need when clients come to you to boost their business online: a content writer for your website or a web copywriter? The answer depends on the goals and objectives of the client’s campaign.

Nearly 100 percent of the time, though, you need both a content writer and a web copywriter. Here’s why:

Why You Need a Content Writer

Customers love buying things, but they hate the feeling of being sold. Navigating this dichotomy is one of the most challenging things in marketing. The most successful campaigns don’t push products and services on customers. Rather, they give customers a reason to buy and make them feel like it’s their idea.

That’s where content writing comes in. Rather than always trying to sell, sell, sell, content writing provides value to the reader.

Let’s pretend your client runs a mortgage brokerage. The client wants to increase their online presence and capture leads from people searching the internet for information about mortgages. You help the client set up their website. Now it’s time to populate it with content.

Purely sales content doesn’t give the customer what they’re looking for, and it doesn’t inspire their confidence. There’s a time and place to switch into sales mode. But that comes after your client has built a rapport with the customer and earned the customer’s trust.

The way to build rapport and trust with a website or blog is through content marketing — using a well-defined content strategy to get a customer visit a page or fill out a lead form. It gives the customer something of use to them — such as detailed explanations of different mortgage types – without requiring anything of the customer in return.

It also establishes your client as an authority in their niche. It’s easier to sell to clients after you’ve demonstrated the depth of your knowledge and competence. According to Caleb Chen, Founder at The Highest Critic, “content writers are usually/ideally subject matter experts in the industry for which they’re going to be writing content. This allows them to bring context and expert opinion to their content when compared with a copywriter. Generally, a content writer will be more costly than a copywriter.”

Why You Need a Web Copywriter

Anyone who has ever watched a sales movie understands the importance of closing. Remember the iconic scene with Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross, where he delivers the ABCs of sales: Always Be Closing?

ALSO – What is Copywriting?

It’s true. If your client doesn’t use their content to compel a specific action, then they’re essentially just a free source of information.

That’s why good copywriting goes hand in hand with good content writing. Your client’s content writing establishes trust and provides value to the reader. Their copywriting calls the reader to action and closes the sale. Says Chen, “copywriters are generally people who have a solid writing and editing skill base and can be trusted to write grammatically correct copy for any purpose — but don’t often have experience in the industry for which their copy is being generated.”

While the two types of writer vary in their expertise, their skill set, and often, their cost, the interplay between content writing and copywriting forms the crux of a winning online marketing campaign.

A Place for Both in the Customer Journey

By now you understand the difference between copywriting and content writing in a theoretical, goal-oriented sense: content provides educational, valuable, and relevant information about a brand, while copy is used to convince audience members to take an action. But what does it look like in practice?

Sunny Ashley, CEO of Autoshopinvoice, helps put the concepts on more accessible ground: “The difference between the two boils down to their end goals and deliverables. The end goal for content writers is to enhance SEO and build a following. Their content is targeted more towards the top-of-the-funnel. Their performance is ultimately judged on things like page visits and keyword rankings.

Conversely, a copywriter’s is to convert leads into sales. Their content should be less about brand awareness and more about persuasion and calls-to-action. Conversion metrics, form submissions, and new signups are better indicators for success for copywriters.”

Content: First Steps Toward Your Marketing Goals

Content writing serves a few different purposes, including audience awareness, brand recognition, and lead generation. It comes in a wide variety of different packages, from emails and social media posts to blog posts, press releases, well-researched white papers, and e-books.

Imagine you’re building a campaign for a new brand. You don’t have an audience that you can send sales letters or conversion-optimized emails to, so you have to start at square one with a content marketing campaign. You hire a writer to write content related to your brand, something with mass appeal to your audience; preferably, something that brings to light a problem that can be solved by the products or services you’re selling.

Once you have a strong, engaging piece of content, you can strategically deploy it in ways that will best reach a cold “top-of-funnel” audience.

Whether it’s via paid traffic on Google or Facebook, organic social media, an email campaign, or successfully ranking for your target keywords, the next step is driving traffic to your content. When a prospect clicks on a link in any of these channels, they might be taken to a landing page that advertises what they’ll be able to read or download in exchange for submitting some simple information, like their name and email address or phone number — this is called gated content.

Side note: the writing on landing pages tends to be a mix of content and copy; it continues to engage the audience while using the value of the content to persuade them to take the desired action.

Now, you’ve put together a list of leads and you’re starting to grow an audience that has engaged with your brand and is looking forward to what you’ll give them next. That’s when it’s time for marketing copy to take the stage.

Copy: The Hitter That Cleans Up the Leads

Writing copy is all about understanding what the audience wants to hear in order to take the next step in the buyer journey. Luckily, having all clicked on the same piece of content, your audience is filled with prospects that have similar priorities to each other.

Conversion-based sales copy is then deployed through email, direct mail, and other channels that directly advertise the products or services of the brand. It also fills the pages of your website so that anyone who visits is automatically engaged by compelling writing. In this case, copywriting follows up on the awareness of the customer’s problem, strongly positioning your brand as the solution.

Christian Antonoff, a content writer at Independent Fashion Bloggers, says, “the copywriter’s role is to sell products and services by appealing to your senses and emotions. They write persuasive copy targeting brands, selling the notion of needing them in your life.”

But What About Writing that Serves Neither Purpose?

This is actually a trick question: writing that is neither copy nor content has no place in today’s digital marketplace. Some marketing managers will look at certain types of writing and see it as filler; placeholder text to take up space on a page. But, this is a counterintuitive way to think about writing. After all, if any text on your website, blog, or emails isn’t being written to accomplish a goal, what’s the point?

Are Copy and Content Becoming Less Distinguishable?

At the same time, as the world of digital marketing continues to evolve, finding a writer with skills in copywriting and content writing becomes increasingly valuable. Google’s search engine algorithm gets more sophisticated with every new update, becoming better equipped to find and elevate valuable content of all kinds up the list of search results. As the burden shifts away from the rigid guidelines of SEO, the lines between copywriting and content creation will blur even more.

And, there’s mounting evidence that Google values pages and content that have strong engagement metrics. People engage with good content if it provides value to them, but they’re more likely to visit other pages on your site and convert if you also employ strong copywriting. Using both types of writing together can help you boost your overall engagement.

As Isaac Hammelburger, Owner & Founder at SearchPros.co, puts it, there’s no better time for a diversified skill set as a writer: “As the marketing world continues to evolve, the roles of content and copywriters are blurred, but this is exactly what people need now. Writers have to learn a little bit of the other side to take full advantage of their talents.”

Some feel that the difference between the two is nearly obsolete. Adriana Tica is the Founder and Owner of Idunn, and having worked with writers for a long time, is beginning to see them as indistinguishable. “Both of them actually need to write copy and content that sells and converts”, she says. “A blog post with a cleverly placed CTA can convert as much as a long-form sales page. An insightful white paper can bring a lot of sales if written and marketed correctly -— we’ve seen this happen for a lot of our clients. Our point of difference has always been that we create both copy and content that aligns [with] our clients’ financial goals. And we know that both content writing and copywriting can bring sales and conversions.

So, Do You Need a Content Writer or Copywriter For Your Project?

As we’ve discussed, both types of writer have a role in moving your audience through the customer journey. But, what type of content should you assign to each type of writer?

Here’s a quick summary.

Content Writers

You’ll want to send content that is meant inform and engage to content writers. Common content types to send them include articles, blog posts, ebooks, guides, white papers and social media posts. You may also need to find a subset of content writers – technical writers – if you have complex documents to create like how to manuals, reference documents, etc.

Copywriters

Writing that is meant to compel action should be sent to copywriters. Common content types include advertisements, brochures, city pages, landing pages, print ads and collateral, website copy, social media updates, and more.

Mentioned earlier, but one example of the line between content writing and copywriting getting blurry is advertorials. These are short content pieces that look like blog posts or personal stories, inform them reader, but then also compel them to take action. These are very common on Facebook now.

The Takeaway

The easiest way to determine if your client needs a content writer or a web copywriter is to ask this question:

Is my client looking to build their brand and become an authority in their industry, or are they trying to close the sale and compel customers to take a particular action?

Chances are, they want to do both. And for that reason, having a winning content writer and a winning web copywriter on the job is vital for producing a successful campaign. The outlook for the future suggests that finding a writer who can master both skills will give your client the agility to accomplish their marketing goals even more easily.

Need help with your web copy or blogs? Fill out our contact form or call us at (888) 983-3103 to learn about our engaging content solutions.

ALSO – Who’s on Your Business Content Writing Team and How Do You Manage Them?

The post Do You Need a Content Writer or a Copywriter? appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

Benefits of Quality, Compelling Shopify Product Descriptions

Compelling product descriptions entice readers to move from consideration or early decision stages through to the final purchase. They help convince visitors that your product is the one they’re looking for.

Just as important, quality descriptions help improve the SEO of your product pages. That makes it more likely they show up in Google searches, which is where the bulk of people start when they’re looking to make an online purchase.

By improving your Shopify store’s product descriptions, you can drive increased sales. According to Guillem Hernandez, a key account manager with Crisp Studio, simply making positive changes to product descriptions has helped his clients increase conversions by up to 10% or more.

Calloway Cook, President of Illuminate Labs, says his team has seen similar results. “Taking actions such as improving product description copy and creating an interlinking strategy resulted in a 10% month-over-month increase in traffic without any additional blog content added,” says Cook. He attributes the growth solely to the improvements in product page copy.

How Do You Write Compelling Shopify Product Descriptions?

If a 10% increase in conversion rates or traffic sounds like something you want to get in line for, here’s a quick crash course on how you can create compelling Shopify product descriptions that also improve your SEO.