17 Online Writing Tools for Writers

With so many online writing tools to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here, we outline 17 of the best online writing tools for freelance writers.

Grammar and Formatting Tools

If you’ve been here a while, you’ll know that we stress the importance of good grammar and formatting in anything you write. And, while we always recommend hiring a professional editor or proofreader to help you with this, a good first step can be using one of the many grammar checkers or formatting tools available online.

Grammarly and ProWritingAid

Grammarly and ProWritingAid are online grammar checkers that can check a document for punctuation errors, clarity, concision, dialect, and other grammatical issues. They do essentially the same job, so it will be a matter of personal preference. Both have free and paid plans, with the paid plans allowing the user access to more features. Please be aware that neither of these apps can replace a human editor.

Hemingway Editor

Hemingway Editor is another editor, but it focuses solely on passive voice, clarity, and readability. It uses different colored highlights to note issues in the text. Hemingway Editor is free to use.

Title Case Converter

Title Case Converter helps you capitalize your titles as per the conventions set out in style guides such as AP, CMoS, and APA. It’s free to use.

Thesaurus

Sometimes, as writers, we get a word stuck in our head that we use repeatedly throughout an article, which can make the writing feel repetitive and uninteresting. Thesaurus.com helps you find synonyms to vary your word choice. When you search for synonyms, Thesaurus.com will provide the closest matches (in orange) and other suggestions that might be useful to your query. It’s free to use and has a free dictionary attached.

Research Tools

Research is a vital step in creating engaging content, but it can sometimes feel like a daunting task. Luckily, there are plenty of tools that can help!

Google Scholar

One of the biggest challenges in researching using the internet is wading through the nonsense to find a credible source. Google Scholar hosts thousands of research papers, patents, case law, and citations. Most items listed on Google Scholar have been published in academic journals, meaning they have been peer-reviewed and are less likely to contain false information. Having said that, we still recommend you confirm any information in the article with another unrelated source. Google Scholar is free to use.

Zotero and EndNote

Keeping track of your references is essential as a freelance writer. While it’s perfectly acceptable to draw on the work of other writers or external sources, you must cite them correctly. Otherwise, it could amount to plagiarism. Reference management tools like Zotero and EndNote can help you keep track of the sources you are using so you don’t fall into that trap. Plus, they can save you time searching if there is something you need to come back to! Zotero is free to use. EndNote offers a 14-day free trial, followed by a one-time purchase for full access.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tools

A basic knowledge of how to write an SEO-friendly blog is a must in today’s competitive online world, but that’s not to say that you shouldn’t use SEO tools to help you on the way.

AnswerThePublic

Content that solves a user’s pain points will likely perform better. AnswerThePublic is an SEO tool that analyzes keywords and search terms on Google, YouTube, and Bing so that authors can incorporate them into their copy. On the free plan, you have three searches a day. If you pay for one of the subscriptions, you can have upwards of 100 searches a day.

InLinks

InLinks is a content optimization tool that automatically generates an internal linking strategy, which can help boost your content’s visibility online. The tool works on a credit system. Every feature costs the user an assigned number of credits, which can be bought in bundles.

SEO Writing Assistant

Semrush’s SEO Writing Assistant helps writers and editors optimize their copy for engagement and SEO. It provides feedback on SEO, readability, and tone/voice. You can access some of the features for free, but most of the features are part of its $130 to $500 subscriptions.

Headline Analyzer Tool

Capitalize My Title’s Headline Analyzer Tool can help you create click-worthy titles that are optimized for search engine results pages. It can also help you create better titles using AI. This tool is free to use.

Yoast

Like SEO Writing Assistant, Yoast provides feedback on your content’s SEO. It provides information about where best to include your keywords, best practices for image alt text, and the relevance of your internal and external links. Yoast Premium costs $99 per year, with different extras costing between $79 and $229.

Readable

Readable is an advanced readability tool that helps you assess how effectively your content conveys its message. It can help you with aspects of grammar and punctuation checking, but it also has an IELTS score (which tells you how proficient someone needs to be in English to be able to understand your content) and a Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (which determines how difficult writing is to understand). Readable is free to use; however, it does have paid membership levels with premium features.

Organization and Productivity Tools

Last but not least, we’re going to look at some organization and productivity tools that can help you stay on track (especially if you’re managing multiple projects).

Scrivener

Scrivener is a fantastic app for organizing and writing large projects. It’s most popular among fiction and non-fiction writers, but it also has templates for various academic projects, poetry collections, and even a recipe collector. You can store both your research and your writing in the same file and switch between pages without leaving the app, using the sidebar. This keeps everything you need in one location. Scrivener comes with a bit of a learning curve, but the beauty is that there are many videos that explain the features. You can decide which you want or need to use. Scrivener costs $59.99 for the full version and $50.99 for students and academics. 

ClickUp

ClickUp is an all-in-one platform that allows teams to collaborate on projects within one platform. The platform allows teams to store important documents, create tasks and to-do lists, and design content for publication. ClickUp has several different membership levels that depend on the size of the organization: Free Forever (probably best for freelancers), Unlimited (for small teams, costing $7 per member per month), Business (for mid-sized teams, costing $12 per member per month), and Enterprise (for large teams, customized pricing).

Tomato Timer

Tomato Timer is based on the Pomodoro Technique of working solidly for 25 minute-blocks of time before taking a short break of 5 or 10 minutes. Freelancers often have to juggle multiple balls, and it can be easy to get distracted by the 20 other things on your to-do list. Focusing on one task for a block of time can help you be more productive. Tomato Timer is free.

Becoming A Freelance Writer

If you’ve ever considered freelance writing as a career but don’t know where to start, why not check out our Becoming a Freelance Writer course? It takes you through the process of writing a blog post from start to finish and setting up your freelance writing business. You can even try it for free before you buy.

The post 17 Useful Online Writing Tools for Freelance Writers appeared first on Knowadays.

It is easier than ever to start a blog for free. In this post, we’ll tell you why blogging is a great opportunity for new freelance writers, describe six of the best free blogging platforms, and then offer you an amazing opportunity to strengthen your writing skills.

Why Should You Start a Blog?

There are many good reasons for new freelance writers to start their own blog. It is a great way to show your writing to the world and get your name seen by people who might become clients and offer you writing work. Other benefits include:

• Giving you a place to practice your writing
• Being able to demonstrate your knowledge in certain areas
• Monetizing your blog and using it to earn an income
• Using your blog as an online portfolio to show potential clients
• Providing you with a platform to express your thoughts and ideas
• The opportunity to become a better freelance writer by continuously having your writing seen (and possibly critiqued) by the public

How to Choose a Blogging Platform

If you haven’t started a blog before, it might be confusing trying to figure out which platform to choose. Some sites will be easier to use so they will be preferable to people with less technical skills. Some will also be more suitable than others, depending on the type of blog you want to create.

Each blogging platform offers you a varying amount of customization options, technical support, and security.

Luckily, you don’t need to pay an arm and a leg to start your first blog – there are many free options available to get you started.

6 Free Blogging Platforms

We’ve picked six of the best free blogging platforms to help you find the one that best suits your needs.

1. WordPress

It is important to note there are two versions of WordPress: WordPress.com offers free websites and WordPress.org needs to be installed on your existing website.

WordPress is a free open-source platform that offers many customization options without the need to know about coding. They have thousands of templates, themes, and plugins that you can use to easily design a blog that will fit your style.

While this platform is free to use, you may want to consider paying for a domain or hosting to make your blog visible to others.

2. Medium

Medium has become a very popular platform because even though you do not get your own website, you can start writing a blog on their platform immediately after registering for an account.

A huge advantage to this site is that it is very simple to use, and you can take advantage of Medium’s immense audience. It is visited by millions of readers every month and the number keeps going up.

The site has its own internal search, so people can easily find your posts and choose to subscribe to you if they like what they read.

Some people may not like the lack of customization options on this platform. Also, unlike WordPress, all your content will be on Medium, and you can’t get a custom domain without a paid subscription.

3. Wix

Wix is a great platform for people who want the functionality of their own website but lack advanced technical skills. Every free user gets a URL under Wix’s subdomain, web hosting, storage, and bandwidth.

Creating your blog is incredibly easy with Wix’s drag-and-drop design options. You can choose from hundreds of templates to build a custom site or simply answer a few questions and Wix will design your site for you.

While you can set up a fully functional blog for free with Wix, there is limited storage. There will also be advertisements so, after a while, you may want to consider upgrading to a premium plan.

4. Substack

While Substack is considered a great place to publish email newsletters, it is also an excellent option for a free blog.

A useful feature of this platform is that if you already have writing somewhere else, you can easily import previous posts or emails during setup.

While Substack’s main focus is on emails, they also give you a website to share everything in one place, which you can use as your blog.

This site doesn’t offer a ton of options for unique designs, but it is incredibly easy to get started. They also offer a paid subscription option, so you can start making money from your blog as soon as you get your first subscriber.

5. Drupal

For those of you with more technical knowledge, Drupal is a great choice. It might not be as well known as some of the other blogging platforms, but it could be the perfect option for people who don’t mind the steep learning curve.

Drupal is a free open-source content management software that you can download to build your blog. You can fully customize your site with code and build exactly what you want.

As already mentioned, this option is for people with more technical skills and if that’s not you, you may need assistance from a web developer. Drupal also does not include a custom domain and you will need to pay for third-party hosting.

6. LinkedIn

While most people think of LinkedIn as a social media platform for professionals to connect with one another, it is actually not hard to start blogging there as well.

It is incredibly easy to publish a blog on LinkedIn – the site takes care of almost everything, it’s completely free, and you will have instant access to the site’s millions of active users.

The downside is that you do not get your own site and LinkedIn will own the rights to all of your content. Nonetheless, it’s still a great option to get your writing out to the world.

Becoming A Freelance Writer

If you are a freelance writer or want to become one, it is important to have your writing seen by as many people as possible. Blogging is a great way to do this. One of the best ways to develop strong writing skills is to sign up for our Becoming A Freelance Writer course. It has a focus on blog and article writing and a guaranteed publishing opportunity for top graduates.

Start your free trial today and see for yourself!

The post 6 Free Blogging Platforms for New Freelance Writers appeared first on Knowadays.

1. Learning Word 2019
2. Microsoft Word 2016: Beginner and Intermediate Training
3. Microsoft Word 2016 – Word Bootcamp – Zero to Hero Training
4. Learning Word for the Web (Office 365/Microsoft 365)
5. Knowadays Formatting In Microsoft Word

Keep reading to learn more about these Microsoft Word courses!

The Best Microsoft Word Courses

With so many Microsoft Word course options, from those aimed at beginners to those focused on developing niche skills, it can be hard to choose just one. We’ll be looking at five popular courses and investigating what they offer in terms of key features, format, course material, certification options, and price.

1. Learning Word 2019

Learning Word 2019, offered by Linkedin Learning, is one of the shortest, most basic Microsoft Word courses available. It covers the essential tools and features needed to create a presentable document, including how to create and save new documents, add images, and create headers/footers.

This course consists of one module, and most students will be able to complete it within an hour. It uses a combination of nine videos, two practice exercises, and one quiz to teach the material. After completing the course, you receive a certificate of completion and one National Association of State Boards of Accountancy continuing education credit. Currently, Learning Word 2019 is available on Linkedin for $34.99.

2. Microsoft Word 2016: Beginner and Intermediate Training

Microsoft Word 2016: Beginner and Intermediate Training, offered by Udemy, is taught by a certified Microsoft Word expert using practical, hands-on exercises and quizzes. It offers beginner to intermediate training broken down into 11 modules (each taking approximately 20 minutes), covering topics such as using hyperlinks and text boxes, adding page breaks, and controlling the spacing and margins of your document.

The course finishes with a final capstone project to give you a chance to apply the skills you’ve learned. You do not need prior knowledge of Microsoft Word to take this course and you receive a training certificate upon completion.

3. Microsoft Word 2016 – Word Bootcamp – Zero to Hero Training

Microsoft Word 2016 – Word Bootcamp – Zero to Hero Training is offered by Skillshare (which has an annual membership fee of $165.00) for complete Microsoft Word beginners. This is a project-based course, and you learn by examining real-life documents, such as business reports and marketing newsletters. The course is aimed primarily at those who use Microsoft Word for work, as the material covers working with things like company logos, PDFs, and corporate templates.

This course, which offers a free trial, is broken down into 52 short videos and generally takes about three to four hours to complete. It includes a printable cheat sheet of the material and practice exercises but does not include a certificate upon completion. You should also note that, while most of the material will be applicable for Mac users, the course was created for the PC version of Word 2016.

4. Learning Word for the Web (Office 365/Microsoft 365)

Learning Word for the Web (Office 365/Microsoft 365), offered by Linkedin Learning, is designed to instruct users on the web-based version of Microsoft Word. It provides an overview of Word’s online app, its features, and ways in which it differs from the desktop version.

Included for $34.99 are three modules with 17 videos. The course is designed for those who have experience using the desktop version of Word but are new to the online version. It also includes a certificate upon completion. One thing to keep in mind about the online version of Word, however, is that it does not include all of the features included in the desktop version.

5. Knowadays Formatting In Microsoft Word

Offered by Knowadays, Formatting In Microsoft Word teaches a very specific (but very marketable) skill – advanced formatting. While it is not for complete beginners (basic knowledge of Word is recommended), it’s the ideal course for anyone who wants to take their Microsoft Word formatting skills to the next level and further their career by becoming proficient in Word’s more complex features, such as themes and macros. It’s important to note that if you’re a freelance proofreader or editor, adding advanced formatting to your repertoire can help you attract more clients and earn more money.

For $199, Formatting In Microsoft Word includes 11 modules, 30+ lessons, and 20 practice-based exercises. The comprehensive material was created by Microsoft Word formatting experts and includes a variety of learning tools, such as text instructions, images, step-by-step demo videos, and end-of-lesson quizzes. One standout feature is that you are given access to tutor support as you progress through the course. It culminates in a final self-evaluated project, and a certificate is available upon completion.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Which Microsoft Word Course Is Best for You?

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which course best fits your requirements. It largely depends on your:

• Reasons for expanding your skillset
• Budget
• Schedule
• Experience level
• Learning style

Of course, you should also always read the reviews and testimonials for courses you’re interested in and take advantage of any free trials that are offered.

Our Formatting In Microsoft Word course offers a varied course format and comes with a 14-day money back guarantee. Plus, our friendly customer service team is always available to answer any questions. Claim your free trial today!

The post 5 of the Best Microsoft Word Courses appeared first on Knowadays.

If you’re a freelancer, you might be wondering what the rise of AI means for you and your career. Luckily, we’re here with the details. In this blog post, we’ll explore:

• What AI is
• Whether freelancers should be worried about AI
• Five benefits of AI for freelancers

What Is AI?

AI is a field that makes use of computer programs and software to solve problems by mimicking the human thought process. Within the field of AI is an area called generative AI. This term refers to algorithms that are “fed” data to produce new content, such as images, text, or audio.

Generative AI programs include:

• DALL-E and DALL-E 2, an AI system that generates images and artwork based on text prompts provided by users.
• Midjourney, another AI program that produces image-based content.
• ChatGPT, an AI language tool that generates natural-sounding, conversational text in response to prompts and questions.

Recent developments within the industry have seen an increase in public interest in the uses of AI, particularly in the field of work and business.

Should Freelancers Be Worried About AI?

The recent developments in AI mean it is now possible to automate certain tasks, some of which previously fell to freelancers.

This has led some, particularly freelance creatives such as writers and artists and freelance editors, to express concerns that AI could pose a threat to freelance job security.

But although AI is an exciting tool with many possible applications, it does have its limitations. Some aspects of freelancing that AI might struggle with include:

• Creating unique ideas. Generative AI programs rely on the data and input they are “fed” to produce content. This means that AI programs cannot produce something completely new or unique.
• Maintaining client relationships. While AI programs, such as ChatGPT, can simulate human-sounding conversations, part of being a freelancer means being able to maintain long-term client relationships and adapt to a client’s changing needs. This personalized aspect is something AI may not be able to match.
• Producing factually correct content. A known issue with many AI programs is the tendency to produce content that, while sounding reasonable, is incorrect, untrue, or misleading. The specialist expertise and experience that freelancers bring to the table help avoid errors like these.

All this goes to show that, when it comes to freelancing, the human touch is still very much necessary.

5 Benefits of AI for Freelancers

As a freelancer, it’s more useful to approach AI as a tool to aid you and make your work easier rather than as a competitor that could replace you.

Below are five benefits that AI can provide freelancers.

1. Automating Tedious Tasks

AI can be used to take care of the more menial, repetitive aspects of freelancing, such as:

• Using SEO
• Generating email responses
• Creating invoices

With the repetitive tasks taken care of by AI, freelancers have more time to focus on the complex stuff.

2. Improving Efficiency

In addition to handling the less important tasks, AI can also improve freelance efficiency in other ways. AI-based project management tools can help you plan out your schedule and prioritize tasks.

Time trackers that use AI can also analyze what tasks you spend your time on, helping you identify and rectify any issues with your workflow. While it’s up to you to make any changes to your routine as a freelancer, AI can at least point you in the right direction.

3. Helping with Research

For freelancing projects that require research, AI can help streamline the process. This is because AI programs can collate and summarize relevant information from a wide variety of sources in one place.

Of course, it’s important to double-check any facts and figures that AI provides you with. But ultimately, using AI as a research tool will save you many hours of work.

4. Providing Inspiration

The content AI programs produce in response to prompts can be used as a starting point for your ideas. For example, a freelance writer could use AI to generate a list of titles for blog articles.

AI, therefore, acts as a useful inspirational springboard that can help freelancers:

• Combat writer’s block
• Approach a topic from a new angle
• Expand on ideas and outlines

5. Reducing Burnout

Using AI can help freelancers reduce the risk of burnout.

As we have seen, AI programs can reduce repetitive tasks, improve efficiency, and provide ideas. These benefits mean freelancers have more time for their work and life outside of work. In turn, a healthy work-life balance results in less stress and improved mental and physical health.

Training with Knowadays

Keeping your skills and knowledge up to date is crucial in the ever-changing world of freelancing. So, to stand out from other freelancers (and AI too), consider sharpening your skills with an online course.

Whether you’re interested in Becoming A Proofreader or Becoming An Editor, we offer training that will provide you with the essential toolkit you need to thrive as a freelancer.

Even better ‒ you can try out our courses for free!

The post What Are the Benefits of AI for Freelancers? appeared first on Knowadays.

In this post, we’ll share some tips for video call etiquette that’ll ensure you look and sound your best every time.

1. Dress Professionally

It can be tempting to dress casually when working from home. But remember, the impression you give your clients will depend on how you present yourself – and that includes what you’re wearing. 

When preparing for a video call, pick out an outfit that’s smart and professional. Try to avoid:

• Distracting patterns or bright colors
• Shirts with offensive slogans
• Wrinkled or messy clothes
• Jewelry or other accessories that make excessive noise

Dress how you would for any in-person professional setting, such as a job interview or presentation, to show that you’re taking your client’s call seriously!

2. Check Your Backdrop

In a video call, it’s not just you that’s on display. Your client will be able to see whatever is behind you, so keep this in mind while you’re setting up.

Try and find a backdrop that’s clear of clutter and free from anything that will distract from the call itself, such as TV screens or wall decorations.

Don’t worry if you don’t have access to a neutral backdrop for your video call, though. Some video call platforms, like Google Meet and Zoom, come with the option to blur your background or even replace it with something else entirely.

3. Remove Any Distractions

Working from home can mean being surrounded by potential distractions, including background noise. To make sure you and your client can focus on communicating:

• Find a quiet space to make your call
• Close doors to shared rooms
• Turn off non-essential electronics
• Mute notifications on your phone and computer
• Wear headphones

Of course, we can’t always guarantee that we won’t be distracted during a call – especially those of us who live with children or pets! If you do have an unexpected disruption, though, mute your microphone, and then apologize to your client once it’s handled.

4. Test Your Tools

Having to abandon a meeting with a client thanks to a dodgy mic is every freelancer’s worst nightmare, so always take the time to test your sound, video, and any other necessary tools before starting your call.

You could even ask a friend, family member, or coworker to go through a test call with you and make sure everything’s working as it should. When doing this, pay close attention to:

• The quality of the audio from both ends (i.e., can you both hear each other clearly?)
• Whether the audio and video are in sync
• The strength of your internet connection

5. Show Up Prepared

Just like any other professional meeting, you’ll need to be ready and prepared for a video call with a client. This includes:

• Starting or joining the call on time
• Possessing all the relevant information about your client, their work, and what you’ve discussed with them so far
• Knowing what the purpose of the call is (e.g., discussing a brief or going over recent edits)
• Having a rough estimate of how long the call will last
• Having any material that you’ll need on hand and/or files pulled up on your computer

Showing up to a call well-prepared proves to your client that you respect them and their time, which will help establish a good working relationship.

6. Pay Attention to Body Language

It might seem obvious, but a video call isn’t like a phone call. Being able to see each other means you have to pay attention not just to your words, but also your body language. The following body language will indicate that you’re listening and attentive during a video call:

• Maintaining regular eye contact
• Avoiding looking at yourself on the screen
• Sitting upright with your feet on the floor
• Keeping your expression open
• Keeping hand gestures to a minimum

Hold your body as you would during an in-person conversation, and you’ll find that your video calls become more effective.

7. Practice!

Learning how to communicate on camera won’t come easily to everyone. With that in mind, the best way to get the most out of your video calls is to practice talking on screen.

Have a go at talking to the camera as if you were meeting with a client, and then play back the recording. Use the tips we’ve laid out in this post to identify any issues with your call, and then try again.

As with anything, practice always makes perfect!

Becoming A Proofreader or Editor

If you’ve been craving the freelance lifestyle, take your first steps with our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses. They’re packed with content and resources to help you kickstart your freelance career.

Sign up for a free trial to give them a try or buy both courses as a bundle to save 15%.

The post 7 Tips for Effective Video Calls with Clients appeared first on Knowadays.

That’s why, in this post, we’ll share our top five tips to make sure your to-do list works for you:

1. Find the tools that work for you.
2. Keep your to-do list short.
3. Write a master list.
4. Stick to the specifics.
5. Link to-do list tasks to your career goals.

Read on to learn more.

1. Find the Right To-Do List Tools

While this method works for some, there are many more options for writing to-do lists to explore. These include using:

• physical planners, diaries, or calendars
• the bullet journal method
• word processing and spreadsheet software
• apps and programs designed to create to-do lists (such as Todoist and Any.do).

Think about which of these types of to-do lists will best suit your workflow. Keep in mind factors such as your budget, workspace, and personal needs.

2. Limit Your Daily List to 3–5 Tasks

This might sound counterproductive, but shorter to-do lists are more manageable and far less intimidating than longer ones.

A long to-do list can make it difficult to focus on each task without worrying about everything else that needs completing. You might also find yourself struggling to complete the entire list in time, which can be demoralizing and stressful.

By limiting yourself to just three to five tasks a day, you’re setting yourself up for success.

Use the following criteria to decide which tasks will make the cut:

• The task has a hard deadline or is time sensitive.
• The task is something that needs to be done, not something you hope you can do.
• The task has a clearly defined start and end (i.e., not a repetitive task such as “check email inbox”).

If you complete all of these tasks before the end of the day, you can then move on to extra tasks.

Of course, keeping such a short to-do list means you’ll have to miss off some important activities, but if you’re worried about forgetting some of your daily or weekly tasks, we have a solution in our next tip.

3. Keep a Master To-Do List

For every task that doesn’t make it onto your streamlined daily to-do list, put it on a master list instead.

This is simply a list of everything you would like to complete within a given time frame: either daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on your schedule and workload.

You might want to split tasks up into sections to make your master list easier to scan. For example, you could use subheadings such as “Finance,” “Work Projects,” and “Continuing Professional Development.”

Now, you might be thinking that this advice contradicts our previous tip, but the important distinction between your daily list and your master list is this: once you’ve written your master list, keep it out of sight.

That’s because the point of this list isn’t to prompt you to finish every task on it; it’s simply a tool to help you remember what you would like to get done.

You can then refer back to this list at the start of each day and move tasks onto your daily to-do list when necessary.

4. Stay Specific

You might think you’re saving time by jotting down a quick note like “respond to emails” or “work on website” on your to-do list. But vague entries like these can actually make you feel less motivated, as they appear broad and overwhelming.

When you write each entry on your list, make sure it is a specific, individual task. It can help to imagine you’re telling someone else what to do: you need to provide clear instructions on the task that needs completing and break it down into steps that are easy to follow.

“Work on website,” for example, could instead become “write descriptions for services page.”

Now you’ve got something specific to focus your attention on.

5. Use Your Goals as Motivation

If you find yourself reluctant to get started on a to-do list entry, try associating it with a goal you’re working towards.

For example, let’s say your goal is to gain 10 new clients. On your to-do list, you have an entry titled “Write business descriptions for social media profiles.” You can link your goal with this task by giving a reason under your to-do list entry:

• Write business descriptions for social media profiles. Reason: This will make my proofreading business more visible to potential clients online.

Having a tangible result will help you find the motivation to complete tasks. And if your goals are time-sensitive, identifying related tasks will help you know which ones to prioritize.

If your goal is to start a career as a freelance proofreader or editor, you can add signing up for a free trial of our courses to your to-do list. Buy both Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor as a bundle, and you’ll save 15%.

The post 5 Tips for Writing Better To-Do Lists appeared first on Knowadays.

Learn more about the pros and cons of digital payment methods for freelancers below.

Online Payment Tools

Online payment tools are some of the easiest ways to get paid. These include:

• PayPal: One of the biggest pros of this payment method is that it’s free to open an account, and all clients need is your name, email address, and their own PayPal account. However, there are some cons: transaction fees are around 2.9%, and it can take time until the money is transferred to your bank account.
• Payoneer: Present in 200 countries and 150 currencies, Payoneer’s biggest pro is getting paid from international clients as if you got paid locally, without extra conversion fees. But it can take a while to get your Payoneer account approved, so make sure you start your application before billing clients!
• Stripe: With Stripe you can not only receive payments but also send payouts. As your business grows, you can also use this digital payment tool to manage your finances too. However, the fees can add up.
• Wise: Previously known as TransferWise, this borderless, multi-currency account is a good choice for freelancers working around the world (or even at sea!). If you work with international customers, you can receive money in over 40 currencies without fees. The downside? It’s the closest you can get to an international bank account without being protected, e.g., by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

No matter which digital payment method you choose, always make sure to read the rate for the fees and other small print.

Bank Transfer

Gone are the days when a client needed to visit the bank to transfer money to a freelancer. Now, electronic funds transfers (EFT) allow money to be wired digitally through online banking platforms. Easy!

Simply give a client your bank details in your invoice, and receive the transfer in due time (if not, take action). But bear in mind that if you and your client are based in different countries, the process might not be as simple, and there may be heavy fees involved.

Tips for Getting Paid

Even though you sent an invoice, your clients might still need help to pay you. To ensure you get paid on time, don’t forget to:

• State which payment methods you accept in your invoice and freelance contracts.
• Use accounting software to keep track of your finances.
• Invoice as soon as you’ve finished your work, or organize an invoicing day once a month (at least).
• Follow up with clients about late payments. Politely, of course! It might be that your preferred payment method or currency doesn’t suit them.

Becoming A Proofreader

Are you fully trained and prepared for the world of freelance proofreading? Sign up for a free trial of our Becoming A Proofreader course today and make sure you’re ready to start your new freelancing career.

The post Freelance Tips: Digital Payment Methods for Freelancers appeared first on Knowadays.

Do I Need to Pay for Google Workspace?

You might be familiar with some of Google Workspace’s free tools, such as Gmail and Google Docs. But Google also has some paid plans aimed at businesses, which include more cloud storage per user, the ability to add multiple users, custom email addresses, and other security controls. These plans start at around $6 per month.

Some freelance proofreaders will be fine with Google’s free tools. But some of the features of the paid plans, like having a custom email, can give you that professional edge when you’re trying to win clients.

Gmail for Business

One of the main perks for freelancers subscribing to Google Workspace is that you can have your own email domain name (e.g., barbara@perfectproofreading.com).

This helps to communicate your professionalism to potential clients compared to using a personal “@gmail” address. (And after all, working with that email address you created on a whim 15 years ago has the potential to make you look a bit silly.)

Creating your own Gmail for Business also creates a new Workspace. This means that your professional files, forms, and emails are completely separate from your personal email and account, preventing any unintended mix-ups.

Google Drive

Google Drive is great for freelancers on the go as it provides one secure storage space for all your files, with remote access from any device and easy third-party sharing. Google’s free Drive option offers 15GB of storage, while Workspace Basic subscribers get 30GB per user.

Using Drive’s cloud storage to back up your files can be a great way to avoid computer disasters as a freelancer, as you can access your files from any device with an internet connection.

You can also set Drive up on your desktop for even more convenience, whether you have a paid account or not.

And one of our favorite features of Google Drive is its search function. It searches document content as well as folder and file titles. This is great for the forgetful among us as it means you can always find what you’re looking for, even if you can’t remember exactly what you named it!

Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Collaboration can be vital to proofreading and editing. And Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides (Google’s version of Microsoft’s Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, respectively) make collaborating with a client very easy, even when you’re working remotely.

With Google Docs’ “suggesting“ mode, for example, editors and proofreaders can highlight their changes so clients can view and accept them (much like using Track Changes in Word, but without having to send copies back and forth). You can also comment and chat with clients in the document in real-time.

Plus, all of Google’s document tools save automatically! Docs, for example, also allows you to view previous versions of your file, all without adding any extra space to your storage allowance.

Forms

There are many survey apps out there, and Google Workspace has its own version: Forms. Google Forms makes it easy to create and share questionnaires online via a link, and all responses are saved in your Drive for easy access.

Surveys can be a great way to gather information from clients that you can use for professional development and marketing, such as feedback and testimonials.

Google Calendar

Google Calendar is an easy way to keep track of your scheduled appointments and tasks. You can share calendars with different collaborators to see how your schedules match up and book meetings easily.

Plus, your calendar will be integrated with Gmail and Google Meet (among other apps in Google Marketplace), so you can have all your upcoming tasks in one place.

Google Meet

Google’s video meeting platform is great for remote freelancers because it allows you to schedule meetings with clients around the world.

Integrated with Google Calendar, it allows you to add a Google Meet link when you schedule a meeting. The biggest bonus? Clients and potential clients can join meetings via the link without needing to create a Google account.

Becoming A Proofreader

We hope our guide to Google Workspace has given you an idea of how freelance proofreaders can use its tools.

Are you ready to make your proofreading career official? Sign up to the free trial of our Becoming A Proofreader course and get a taste for freelance proofreading.

The post A Freelancer’s Guide to Google Workspace appeared first on Knowadays.

1. Back up your files to avoid losing progress on your work.
2. Get your hardware insured so you’re covered for loss or damage.
3. Invest in reliable antivirus software to protect yourself against malicious files and sites.
4. Update your tech regularly to reduce the possibility of glitches.
5. Set secure passwords to keep your data safe.

Read on to find out more about these tips.

1. Back Up Your Data

Backing up your files is a quick and easy way to avoid computer disasters. It can save you hours of hassle should you ever experience a file malfunction.

We recommend backing up your files regularly on both an external hard drive and an online cloud backup such as DropBox, Google Drive, or OneDrive (whose basic plans are free). By doing so, you’ll ensure that you can still access everything you need on another device if your hardware fails.

You might also want to opt for premium cloud storage such as those listed here. These offer additional features such as unlimited storage and file restoration. But for most freelancers, the free options will be enough!

2. Insure Your Hardware

Getting your tech insured will save you money and stress if your valuables are lost, damaged, or stolen. It will also allow you to get back to work as quickly as possible, especially if you choose an insurer that offers coverage for replacement equipment.

If you work from home, it’s worth checking your contents insurance to see if it covers your laptop or computer. But if you regularly work elsewhere, it’s a good idea to insure your tech with separate gadget insurance.

3. Get a Reliable Antivirus Software

Having reliable antivirus software will prevent malware from compromizing your work, adding an extra layer of safety to downloading files from clients and browsing the internet.

Make sure to get familiar with the features of whichever software you choose. Most come with a scan function, which is excellent for ensuring that all the sites you visit and files you download are safe and malware-free as well as checking your whole device for any viruses.

4. Update Your Tech Regularly

Most (if not all) technology companies update their software regularly to improve the service they offer. This can mean fixing bugs, adding new features, or optimizing the back end of their systems. But it’s often up to you to trigger each update as you will usually need to restart your device.

Both Windows and Mac have a check for updates function, as well as pop-ups that remind you when a system update is due. Other software, including browsers such as Google Chrome, also require updates that keep them running smoothly.

In addition, make sure you invest in new equipment when necessary. Outdated hardware is more likely to malfunction and puts you at risk of losing important data.

The operating systems of old computers may also become incompatible with downloaded software. For example, a very old version of Windows may not support the latest version of Microsoft Word, which may cause problems when sharing and downloading documents from clients.

Regularly updating your tech will ensure that everything on your device runs as smoothly as possible.

5. Strengthen Your Passwords

While the event that your accounts are hacked is unlikely, strengthening your passwords is a simple precaution that could save you a lot of hassle.

Make sure you update your passwords regularly (e.g., every three months) and put some thought into their content:

• Don’t use easily guessable words associated with your life such as addresses, dates of birth, or the names of children or pets.
• Include a mixture of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special symbols.
• The longer the better; aim for 12 characters and above.

And don’t use the same password for every login! You can use a tool like Chrome’s built-in password wallet or 1Password to keep your passwords safe without fear of forgetting them.

Becoming A Proofreader

Working wherever and whenever you like is hard to beat. As a freelance proofreader, your only limits are a good internet connection and somewhere to plug in your laptop. Why not check out our courses today or sign up for a free trial?

The post Freelance Tips: How to Avoid Computer Disasters appeared first on Knowadays.

Calendly

Calendly is a great option for busy freelancers. It analyzes your availability from your main calendar and then creates a personalized booking link you can send to your client, allowing them to choose a time slot within your availability. Calendly also offers:

• A free plan that’s good enough for freelancers. This includes the ability to create regular and one-off meetings with a personalized link, generate meeting notifications, and sync Calendly with one other calendar app.
• Email notifications to both parties to confirm each meeting – including a link to your video conference tool of choice.

If you use other marketing or customer relationship management (CRM) tools like Salesforce or Zapier, you can quickly integrate them with Calendly too.

Google Calendar

Google Calendar is a popular option among freelancers since it’s included with a Gmail account. And it offers many useful features:

• It’s available both as a mobile (for iOS and Android) and desktop app.
• Machine learning capability means that the app learns your routine, suggesting and managing calendar activity on your behalf.
• You can easily share your calendar with others to quickly find a suitable time for a meeting.
• You can add Google Meet video conferencing to event invitations, making it easy to arrange virtual meetings.

Unlike Calendly, it doesn’t allow your clients to instantly book a meeting without you sending them a personalized invite. But it’s free, and it allows you to view any meetings alongside other activities that you may block out on your calendar (e.g., personal commitments, other appointments, time working on various projects).

MiCal

MiCal offers a wide range of features that freelancers will love! These include:

• Eight different language settings, which makes it great for proofreaders who work with ESL clients. Your clients can even enter information in their native language.
• Machine learning features that recognize trends and patterns in your calendar and suggest blocking out the times where you’re usually busy.
• Integration with iCloud, Outlook, Facebook Events, Exchange, and Google Calendar, meaning you can have all your events in one place.

There is, however, one limitation: it’s available only for iOS users.

HubSpot

The last of our appointment scheduling apps for freelancers is HubSpot’s Free Meeting Scheduler. This completely free app provides:

• Personalized booking links that you can add to your website or send directly to your clients.
• The ability to embed an interactive calendar into your website that shows your live availability and allows clients to book meetings instantly.
• Integration with Google and Office 365 Calendars, and with the HubSpot CRM (if you choose to use it).

Once you’ve got your appointment scheduling apps in order, don’t forget to check out our selection of project management and time-tracking apps for freelancers too.

Becoming A Proofreader

If the idea of being a freelancer is attractive to you, why not give our Becoming A Proofreader course a try? Sign up for a free trial today.

The post The Best Appointment Scheduling Apps for Freelancers appeared first on Knowadays.