This post will explain exactly why it’s important to have a good writer–editor relationship and then give some tips on how to build one. At the end, we’ll even provide an opportunity for training so you can make sure you’re the best writer or editor you can be.

Why Is It Important to Have a Good Writer-Editor Relationship?

Working with an editor is an important part of being a professional writer. While it is possible to edit or proofread your own writing, it’s easy to miss mistakes when you’re looking at your own work. An editor can provide a fresh perspective and help take a piece of writing to the next level. They will correct errors, check factual information, help clarify intent or meaning, and suggest other improvements.

This relationship isn’t always an easy one. The editing process can be lengthy, and you might not always like or understand the changes the editor is making. You might even be concerned that revisions are being made without care for your unique style or voice. Similarly, as an editor, you might find that some writers are defensive and unwilling to take your advice. This can be tiresome and stressful.

However, if the writer and the editor take the time to understand and respect each other, these kinds of clashes can be avoided. When writers and editors work together harmoniously and efficiently, higher-quality writing will be produced. High-quality work means happy, satisfied clients!

Other benefits could include:

• Building your professional community – a bigger community can lead to more work opportunities
• Improving your skills – objective feedback shared between writers and editors can help them both get better
• Making communication easier – a good writer–editor relationship can help both people improve their communication skills
• Securing ongoing work – when a writer is working harmoniously with their editor, they can both provide more work (or referrals) for each other

How to Build a Good Writer-Editor Relationship

It’s clear how important a good writer–editor relationship can be. However, it can be hard to identify how to build one. There are a few simple things you can do to make working with an editor or writer as easy as possible.

Communicate Effectively

Communication is important in every type of relationship, both personal and professional. And it’s no different for writers and editors!

No matter how you choose to communicate (email, telephone, etc.), make sure you are polite and communicate clearly and honestly. If you don’t have a personal relationship with the other person, you don’t need to waste time with idle chit-chat. However, a pleasant greeting can help set the right mood for a productive conversation.

If the writer has a question about the edit, or the editor has a question about something that has been written, don’t make hasty assumptions or get defensive if you don’t agree. Ask questions about the other person’s work in a respectful way so you’re both on the same page.

Be careful not to overdo it. Communicating effectively does not always mean communicating constantly. Both writers and editors may have different assignments and clients, so you don’t want to bombard them with too many calls or emails. If this becomes an issue, consider setting up a scheduled time for catch-ups, Q&As, updates, etc.

Respect the Other Person’s Work

Whether or not you agree with everything your writer or editor has done, it is important to give them some credit. Keep in mind that you are both professionals. At the end of the day, you are working together to craft the best possible writing.

Writers don’t need to accept every revision their editor has made, but they should try to consider their editor’s perspective before rejecting something. Don’t assume you are being attacked if your editor has made changes you don’t like. Editors are trained to help you improve your work, and they normally won’t make a revision without a good reason.

As an editor, it can sometimes be tempting to make a lot of changes to something you don’t like, but this runs the risk of turning the writing into something it was not meant to be. You have to consider the writer’s vision and be very careful before making any edits based on stylistic preferences.

Editing requires a keen eye for detail, but you also need to keep the bigger picture in mind and have faith that your writer is working to achieve a certain goal. Make sure you explain your edits, and then you’ll both know you are working toward the same end.

Meet Your Deadlines 

This might seem quite obvious, but it’s very important in building a great writer–editor relationship. Making sure your work is done on time and is of sufficient quality will foster mutual respect.

Sometimes missing a deadline is unavoidable, and that is where good communication is important as well. So just in case you have to miss a deadline, you should know how to handle it.

Achieve the Best Writer-Editor Relationship

If you follow the advice given above, you’ll be on the right track for forging a strong partnership with your writer or editor. But without a doubt, the best way to do this is to be skilled in your chosen role.

If you want to become a great freelance writer or improve your skills if you already are one, consider taking our course. You could gain three professionally edited pieces of work to add to your portfolio on completion.

If Becoming A Proofreader or Becoming An Editor is more what you’re interested in, we can help you with that as well. We even offer a bundle deal if you’d like to learn more about both!

Start your free trial today and take your first step to being the best writer or editor you can be!

The post How to Navigate the Writer-Editor Relationship appeared first on Knowadays.

For many content writers, rhythm in writing is one of the hardest things to get right. Rhythm can (and should) vary from piece to piece – so it takes a lot of practice and revision to make it seem effortless. In this blog post, we’ll take you through our top five tips for getting the rhythm of your writing right.

What Is Rhythm in Writing?

Have you ever read something and felt that the words sang? Or that you’re short of breath but compelled to read on? The way a piece of writing makes you feel is no coincidence! A good content writer will carefully select words and arrange their sentences to create a particular rhythm – and achieve a specific effect.

Rhythm in writing is the way words and sentences are arranged to create a certain sound and pace. It can be impacted by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, use of vowel and consonant sounds, variations in sentence length, and punctuation choices. We’ll cover all of these elements in detail in the next part of this blog post.

Much like rhythm in music, rhythm in writing can also be used to control tone and mood. For example, if a content writer wants to create a sense of urgency or excitement, they may opt for a fast-paced rhythm. If they want the reader to quietly contemplate and reflect, they may opt for a more slow-paced rhythm.

5 Tips for Writing with Rhythm

The exact choices you make when it comes to building rhythm will depend on what you are trying to achieve with a piece of content. However, there are some general tips you can employ to improve the rhythm of your writing.

Consider Your Sentence Length

There is no right length for a sentence. It can vary depending on the context, your target audience, and the message you want to convey.

Short sentences are great for providing concise, easy-to-digest information. They tend to be easier to understand, reducing the likelihood of confusion or misinterpretation. Just be careful not to overuse them – this could give your writing a choppy, stuttering feeling or come across as overly simplistic. As we mentioned above, short sentences increase the pace, creating a sense of urgency, immediacy, and excitement. They often work well for:

• Instructions and how-to guides
• Social media posts
• News articles (to quickly convey key facts)
• Online content like web pages and blogs (to aid skimmability)
• Marketing and advertising copy (e.g., taglines and promotions)

Longer sentences, by contrast, tend to slow the pace, and they can add smoothness and richness to your writing. They are ideal for in-depth exploration of an idea, nuanced discussions, and a contemplative tone. They work well in content (such as blog posts and articles) where you want to:

• Explore a topic in great detail
• Paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind
• Create a narrative
• Present a nuanced argument or analysis
• Explain complex or technical information

You’ve probably been told at least once in your life that the best writing uses a mixture of short and long sentences. And that’s true, as Gary Provost demonstrates.

In most cases, varied sentence lengths and structures make for the most engaging content. The variation creates a natural rhythm and prevents monotony. Experiment with sentence length and see what works best!

Make Careful Punctuation Choices

Punctuation choice can make all the difference to rhythm in writing. Each punctuation mark has a different meaning when the text is read aloud.

Periods (.) note a full stop. They help to create a clear separation between ideas and points within a text. A period signals the end of one idea or thought and prepares the reader to move on to the next. They help add structure and, depending on the length of the sentence, can speed up or slow down reading pace.

I planned to go straight home after work. My friends convinced me to go to the pub.

Commas (,) mark a pause between ideas in a sentence. A comma can help a writer divide complex information into more manageable chunks and maintain a smooth, steady rhythm.

I planned to go straight home after work, but my friends convinced me to go to the pub.

Semicolons (;) also mark a pause, but a longer pause than that suggested by a comma. They help to convey a sense of flow and continuity between closely related ideas, especially in longer sentences.

I planned to go straight home after work; my friends convinced me to go to the pub.

If you read each example sentence aloud, you can hear how each punctuation mark changes the flow of the sentence.

Other punctuation marks have an impact on rhythm in writing, too. For example:

• Ellipses (…) can be used to build suspense or create a dramatic pause in the rhythm
• Parentheses [()] can help add supplementary information without disrupting the overall flow of a text
• Dashes (-) can be used to emphasize certain words or phrases and to guide the reader’s attention
• Exclamation marks (!) add moments of intensity and emotion to a text and draw attention to key points
• Question marks (?) prompt the reader to pause and reflect and to engage actively with the text. They can also add authenticity by reflecting the flow of a conversation.

Add Transition Words

Transition words are words that help to organize a piece of writing. They help the reader move smoothly from one topic to another by connecting the ideas in the previous sentence to the ideas in the next one. Transition words can be used to:

• Highlight a contrast (e.g., on the other hand)
• Highlight a similarity (e.g., similarly)
• Show cause and effect (e.g., as a result)
• Clarify a point (e.g., in other words)
• Provide an example (e.g., for instance)
• Place emphasis (e.g., above all)
• Summarize (e.g., in conclusion)
• And more!

Transition words make it easier for the reader to follow the writer’s train of thought. They provide clues about the direction in which the text is going and create a sense of clarity and coherence – all of which contribute to a smooth rhythmic flow.

Use Literary Devices

Some literary devices, like similes and metaphors, have developed a bad reputation among writers because they have been overused and become cliche. However, used sparingly, literary devices can add rhythm and flavor to your writing. For example:

• Alliteration (the repetition of consonant sounds) and assonance (the repetition of vowel sounds) can create a melodious effect. Just think of that old rhyme about a girl selling seashells!
• Repetition (for example, anaphora) can help establish a poetic rhythm and sense of momentum
• Parallelism (the repetition of grammatical elements in a sentence) can create a sense of balance and rhythm

Always Read Aloud

Our final tip for improving rhythm in writing is to read the text aloud. There are tools that you can use to do this, but it is often better to read it yourself. Research has shown many benefits to reading aloud, outside of figuring out rhythm in writing. It can help you spot when the rhythm is off (and it’s also a fantastic proofreading technique).

Becoming a Freelance Writer

Our Becoming a Freelance Writer course covers everything you need to know about writing professional blogs and articles, including writing clear, engaging content. If you’d like to see how this course could benefit you, you can try it for free.

The post Rhythm in Writing: How to Get It Right appeared first on Knowadays.

1. What is a subheading?
2. What is the purpose of a subheading?
3. How to write subheadings
4. Examples of effective subheadings
5. How Knowadays can help you improve your writing skills and launch a freelance career

Keep reading to learn more!

What Is a Subheading?

A subheading is a secondary heading that appears under a headline or title and is used to provide context for a distinct section within an article or expand on information given under the main heading. Think of a subheading as a brief preview or summary of the content that follows, giving readers an idea of what to expect in each section of an article.

Header tags, HTML elements used to define the heading hierarchy within a blog post or article, are often used with titles and subheadings to help structure the content and help search engines understand the relevance of different sections of the text. In HTML, there are six header tags, ranging from <h1> to <h6>, with <h1> being the highest level of importance and <h6> the lowest. Typically, the <h1> tag is used for the main heading of a blog post or article, <h2> and <h3> are used for important subheadings, and <h4>, <h5>, and <h6> are lower-level tags used to further break down the content within subsections of text. Note that not all header tags will be used in every piece of content (although most blog posts and articles will at least use <h1> for the main title and a combination of <h2> and <h3> tags to organize the subheadings).

What Is the Purpose of a Subheading?

Subheadings are valuable to the overall structure of a blog post and serve several essential purposes. They’re used to:

• Organize writing into logical sections, which makes it easier for readers to follow the flow of ideas (especially for long or complex pieces)
• Let readers know what to expect from a section of text
• Establish a hierarchy within the content and indicate the relationship among different sections
• Improve readability and scannability (e.g., for skim readers or mobile users)

Another purpose of subheadings is to improve SEO. Search engines prioritize content that is easy to read and understand, so well-structured content with clear subheadings can improve a website’s ranking on results pages. Subheadings also usually include relevant keywords and phrases, which play a role in boosting SEO and driving website traffic.

How to Write Subheadings

To write subheadings that make an impact and engage your readers, consider the following points:

1. Make Subheadings Relevant

Remember that some readers may only read the subheadings to get the main ideas of the article, so ensure they’re relevant and reflect the main content. Sometimes it can help to write the main content of the article first and then use that information to craft the subheadings.

2. Use Keywords and Phrases

Incorporate relevant keywords into your subheadings, especially if you’re aiming to improve your article’s visibility in search engines. Keep in mind that keywords should always read as smoothly as possible and fit well into the surrounding text (i.e., avoid keyword stuffing).

3. Keep It Concise

Keep subheadings short and to the point. To keep readers from losing interest, aim for brevity while conveying the main idea of each section.

4. Consider the Heading Hierarchy

It’s essential to maintain a logical hierarchy with subheadings to avoid confusing your readers. Each subheading should build upon the previous one to create a clear and organized structure.

5. Maintain Consistency

For consistency, aim to make your subheadings similar in length whenever possible. You should also ensure that all headings and subheadings within a section follow a parallel structure and recognizable pattern. For example, use consistent verb forms (e.g., all gerunds or all infinitives) and capitalization for a series of subheadings.

Subheading Examples

As inspiration for your own writing, here are some examples of different types of blog posts that effectively incorporate subheadings:

• This HubSpot blog post on sales techniques utilizes a logical heading hierarchy and parallel structure, making it easy to quickly skim the content and pick out the main ideas.
• The subheadings used in the travel website uncornered market’s blog post clearly explain the content that follows and help organize the article.
• In this Mailchimp blog post on improving freelance pitches, each subheading serves as a “tip” for the reader, which makes it easy for readers who are short on time to process the conte
• This Shopify blog post on woodworking uses concise subheadings to clearly indicate the type of project that each section discusses.
• Microsoft’s article on their diversity and inclusion efforts effectively uses subheadings to break up different (but related) topics within a lengthy piece.

Becoming A Freelance Writer

Are you interested in learning more about what it takes to launch a freelance writing business? Check out our comprehensive Becoming A Freelance Writer course. It teaches you everything you need to know about writing professional-quality blog posts and articles, including how to best structure your writing. Claim your free trial to get started today!

The post What Is a Subheading? (And How to Write a Good One) appeared first on Knowadays.

In this post, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about ecommerce content writing, including the following:

1. What ecommerce content writing is
2. What an ecommerce content writer does
3. Practical ecommerce writing tips to help you get started in the industry
4. How to become an ecommerce content writer

Keep reading to get started!

What Is Ecommerce Content Writing?

Ecommerce content writing involves writing for online platforms that sell products or services. Most ecommerce content targets a specific audience with a primary objective in mind – such as making a sale or increasing website traffic. This means it often needs to be persuasive as well as informative. Some examples of ecommerce content include:

• Product descriptions
• Website content (e.g., landing pages)
• Blog posts
• Marketing copy
• Social media posts
• Emails and newsletters

These are just a few examples – essentially, any written material published or used by an online business would be considered ecommerce content writing.

What Does an Ecommerce Writer Do?

Ecommerce writers are crucial to the success of online businesses – the content they create plays a pivotal role in determining whether customers have a positive experience on a website or social media page. Therefore, ecommerce content must be not only informative but also attention-grabbing and engaging to pique the interest of potential customers.

Given the variety of ecommerce businesses, the day-to-day responsibilities of an ecommerce content writer can vary depending on the specific products or services offered by the company. However, most ecommerce writers typically:

• Optimize SEO content
• Write clear and compelling calls to action to encourage website visitors to take the desired actions
• Ensure a consistent brand voice
• Research relevant industry trends to ensure their content is up-to-date
• Follow the style guidelines for their specific ecommerce company
• Collaborate with marketing teams to align their writing with broader content marketing objectives

Ecommerce content writers are also expected to adjust their writing style or strategy based on feedback from team members or customers. They may use analytics tools like Google Analytics, particularly in smaller ecommerce businesses, to track the performance of their content.

5 Ecommerce Content Writing Tips

If you want to create memorable and informative ecommerce content, consider these essential tips:

Know Your Target Audience

Every online business serves a unique customer base. Understanding your specific target audience’s preferences, interests, and pain points is crucial when creating ecommerce content. Creating buyer personas can help tailor your content to specific demographics.

Use Storytelling Techniques in Your Content

Effective ecommerce content does more than just state facts – it engages readers by weaving a narrative that connects to the brand’s mission and values. In a competitive online environment, standing out and creating a lasting impression through personal connections with customers is key.

Focus on Value

Your content should clearly communicate the value and unique benefits of your company’s products or services. Incorporating positive customer reviews and testimonials as “social proof” can also enhance credibility and authority.

Use Persuasive Language

A significant aspect of ecommerce content writing is encouraging readers to take beneficial actions, such as making a purchase or providing their email address. Use engaging and persuasive language, favoring an active voice over a passive one for a more direct tone and emphasizing the customer’s engagement with the content.

Include Descriptive Imagery 

Vivid imagery can be a powerful marketing tool, aiding potential customers in visualizing content. Employ detailed descriptions and robust, positive adjectives to bring your content to life.

How to Become an Ecommerce Content Writer

Becoming an ecommerce writer involves a combination of writing skills and marketing principles, as well as a supportive professional network. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in ecommerce content writing or adding it to your repertoire, consider the following steps:

1. Develop Your Writing Skills

The cornerstone of successful ecommerce content writing is strong writing ability. Hone your writing skills by starting a personal blog or enrolling in a freelance writing course.

2. Build a Portfolio

Create a freelance writing portfolio that showcases your writing, including samples of ecommerce-related content. If you lack paid experience, consider crafting mock ecommerce content, such as product descriptions or calls to action.

3. Learn SEO Basics

Since the primary objective of ecommerce content is to boost website traffic, learning the basics of SEO, such as integrating links and relevant keywords, can help attract potential clients.

4. Research Current Industry Trends

Stay abreast of the latest trends in ecommerce, such as evolving consumer behavior, popular products, and emerging technologies. Subscribe to industry blogs, participate in webinars, and follow established content writers on social media.

5. Network and Build Professional Relationships

Forge connections with other ecommerce industry professionals, including marketers and business owners, both in-person and on LinkedIn. Joining a freelance writing society can also provide networking opportunities with fellow writers and access to job openings.

6. Seek Freelance Opportunities

Freelancing is an excellent way to gain experience and establish connections when starting. Create profiles on online freelance marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork, or reach out directly to ecommerce businesses (e.g., through cold emailing) to offer your services.

Becoming a Freelance Writer

Are you interested in learning more about what it takes to become a freelance writer? Or perhaps you’re looking to build upon your existing writing abilities and further develop your professional skill set? Explore our comprehensive Becoming A Freelance Writer course. It covers everything you need to know to find success as a freelance writer. Claim your free trial and start your journey today!

The post What Is Ecommerce Content Writing? appeared first on Knowadays.

In this post, we explain everything a content writer needs to know about Google E-E-A-T and how it can help you produce high-quality content.

What Is Google E-E-A-T?

E-E-A-T is a framework that Google’s Quality Raters use to evaluate the quality of online content.

E-E-A-T stands for:

• Experience – Having the necessary first-hand experience in the subject the content covers
• Expertise – Making use of professional, academic, or other forms of expertise to write about a subject
• Authoritativeness – Demonstrating an established reputation within an industry
• Trustworthiness – Keeping content accurate, up-to-date, and well-sourced

Why Is E-E-A-T Important?

As E-E-A-T is used to judge the quality of a website’s content, it helps to determine where on the search engine results page that content will appear.

In other words, the more your content demonstrates the E-E-A-T principles, the better its SEO score will be.

But that’s not the only reason content writers should keep E-E-A-T in mind. Using the E-E-A-T concepts to improve the quality of content can result in:

• More clickthroughs
• Increased backlinks to and sharing of your work
• A higher chance of your content becoming a featured snippet

E-E-A-T in YMYL Content

While the principles of E-E-A-T are relevant to any type of content, there are some topics for which they are particularly important. These are topics that fall under the initialism YMYL, which stands for Your Money or Your Life.

Google uses YMYL to refer to content that could significantly impact a person’s health, financial status, or general well-being.

Potential YMYL topics include:

• News and current events
• Financial advice (e.g., where to invest money)
• Medical advice (e.g., how to treat symptoms of an illness)
• Emergency procedures (e.g. evacuation routes)

YMYL content needs to demonstrate the highest levels of E-E-A-T, as publishing incorrect, misleading, or otherwise low-quality content in these contexts could have severe consequences.

How to Demonstrate E-E-A-T in Your Content

Knowing that the quality of your writing will be judged by these criteria can be overwhelming, especially for new content writers.

But being able to use the principles of E-E-A-T in your content isn’t all about how long you’ve been writing. In fact, any content writer at any stage of their career can demonstrate E-E-A-T. Here’s how to do it one step at a time.

Experience

Experience is the newest part of the E-E-A-T framework, introduced in December 2022, but that doesn’t make it any less important than the other elements.

Demonstrating your personal experience in the topic you are writing about helps instill confidence in your work and adds that personal touch that’s essential for good-quality content.

To demonstrate experience in your content:

• Provide real-life examples. Sharing relevant real-life examples can help you connect with your audience and make your content more personal. If you were writing an article about the best places to visit in Europe, for example, providing an anecdote about your recent trip to Berlin would be the perfect way to cement your experience in the topic.
• Share your personal insights. While it’s not always appropriate to share your personal opinion in content, adding your own insights to less formal writing is a great way to demonstrate your personal experience.
• Reach out to your network. If you’re writing on a topic that you don’t have much demonstrable experience in, try reaching out to your colleagues, coworkers, and others who you know have the relevant experience. You might be able to incorporate that experience in the form of an interview, case study, or success story.

Expertise

Despite the alliteration formed by the words Experience and Expertise, the two shouldn’t be mistaken for each other. After all, a person who has received medical treatment from a doctor might have experience with that treatment but no expertise in it.

So, even if you’ve demonstrated personal experience of a subject, surface-level content is unlikely to impress Google’s Quality Raters. The ability to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of your subject – in other words, expertise – will help improve the quality of your content and how well it performs in search results.

Here’s how to make expertise part of your content:

• Specialize in a niche. If you have qualifications or credentials in a particular subject, your expertise in that area should already be established. You might even want to consider specializing in that topic, particularly because finding your writing niche has many other benefits.
• Do your research. If you are writing something for a client, they may have provided research resources in the brief. If not, you’ll need to find reliable sources to get the information you need. See our Content Research Toolkit for tips.
• Contact experts in the field. Consider contacting more established experts if you lack expertise yourself. Sharing a quote or interview from someone with demonstrable expertise can show how committed you are to producing quality content – and may have the added benefit of increasing your content’s reach if that expert shares your work with their network.

Authoritativeness

Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines reward content that comes from reputable sources or writers who have established respect in their industry.

However, that doesn’t mean new or part-time writers cannot reach Google’s standards for Authoritativeness.

The following techniques can help you establish authority – and quality – in your content:

• Craft an author bio. Author bios or bylines are a great place to share your credentials and help establish your authority on a subject.
• Write guest posts. If you don’t yet have a well-established platform for your content, consider writing guest posts for more established sites in your industry. That will help build your reputation as you progress in your career.
• Build up backlinks. A reputable source sharing a link to your website or content – known as a backlink – establishes your content’s credibility. There’s no one right way to build backlinks, but creating content that is shareable, high-quality, and original will increase its likelihood of being referenced on respected sites.

Trustworthiness

Arguably the most important component of E-E-A-T, Trustworthiness, can be informed by the other three factors. Yet, at the same time, trustworthiness can underwhelm their effect on a content’s quality.

In other words, it doesn’t matter how much experience, expertise, and authoritativeness you demonstrate in your work if you can’t also demonstrate that it is trustworthy.

To produce trustworthy content:

• Provide reliably sourced evidence. Every point you make in your content should be backed up by evidence in some way. This evidence could be a particular statistic or another person’s writing. Whatever form this evidence takes, though, you should always provide links to your sources – and make sure those sources are credible.
• Remain transparent. Transparency is key when establishing trust. In content writing, this means making sure you’re clear and honest about where the information in your content comes from, whether that’s by linking your sources or identifying when you’re quoting another person or publication.

Becoming A Freelance Writer

From mastering SEO to establishing your own content writing business, our Becoming A Freelance Writer course can take you from a complete beginner to a thriving freelancer.

Why not give it a try for free?

The post A Content Writer’s Guide to Google E-E-A-T appeared first on Knowadays.

That’s why we’ve put together this content research toolkit, for new and established writers alike, to provide you with the essential research skills and tools you need to plan and produce great content.

Why Is Research Important?

As fast-paced as the internet and its trending topics can be, it can sometimes feel like writers need to publish content as quickly as possible in order to keep up.

But taking the time to conduct thorough research will ultimately improve your content – and your reputation.

Properly researching your content can:

• Speed up the writing process
• Enhance your writing’s quality, accuracy, and credibility
• Improve your content’s SEO ranking
• Provide you with ideas, inspiration, and knowledge for future content
• Provide more benefit to your clients and readers, which in turn helps establish your reputation as a writer

Types of Research

Before we begin, it’s important to keep in mind that research isn’t one-size-fits-all.

While there are many different types of research, they typically fall under two categories:

• Primary Research: the process of collecting data that has not already been collected, for example, by conducting an interview or survey
• Secondary Research: the process of reviewing data that has been collected by someone else, such as in a book or blog post

As a content writer, you’ll primarily be conducting secondary, desktop-based research (or in other words, searching the internet).

However, it’s not uncommon for some clients to provide primary sources that they would like to be included in the finished article.

If your client does require you to conduct more in-depth primary research, such as conducting interviews, make sure to account for the extra time and effort this may take when agreeing on your rate.

How to Do Research for Content Writing

The following section covers tips for approaching content research, from planning your articles to making sure you’ve sourced your references properly.

1. Planning Your Content

Before getting stuck with the finer details, take some time to determine key information about the content you’ll be writing. You’ll need to know:

• What subject(s) your content will cover
• What form your content will take (e.g., a listicle or how-to article)
• Who your content is for

If you’re working with a client, they should have already provided you with some of these details as part of a content brief.

However, you can conduct your own research to refine these details further.

Subject and Keywords

The main subject of your content will likely be informed by the client or publication you are writing for, or the niche you specialize in as a writer.

If you’ve been given a title for your post, this is a great starting point to kick off your research by:

• Googling the title to see what is already out there – and what ranks highest on search engines – on the subject
• Conducting keyword research to find out what related subjects and terms your audience is likely to search for

Keyword research can also identify related searches and subtopics, which can inform the structure of your content and provide ideas for subheadings.

Format

If your client hasn’t specified a format for your content, researching the subject matter can give you an idea of some of the more popular article styles.

See what style of posts are ranked highest for your content’s keywords. Are there lots of “Top 10” articles? How about reviews, tutorials, or case studies? The more popular formats are most likely to perform well with your target audience.

One thing to watch out for when researching format, though, is structural plagiarism – copying another piece of content’s structure too closely.

While some subjects will have a limited number of logical structures (how-to articles, for example, will likely follow a very similar series of steps), you should try and avoid following someone else’s use of format, headings, and subheadings too closely.

Audience

Audience research is a whole realm of study in itself, and you shouldn’t need to conduct in-depth audience research for a client (unless, of course, they’re paying for the extra service).

But identifying some key details about your content’s audience will help you determine the direction your writing will take.

By researching popular blog posts and social media trends on a topic you’re writing about, you can get an idea of:

• Demographics about your target audience, such as occupation, age, gender, or social status
• What tone and style of writing is most likely to appeal to them
• What benefits your audience is looking for or what challenges they are trying to overcome

2. Finding Credible Sources

Some clients may provide you with a list of sources to use when writing content, but this isn’t always the case.

Most of the time, it will be up to you to find credible, trustworthy sources for your research. This is an important step to take, as taking the time to verify sources ensures that the content you produce is accurate and reflects well on yourself and your client.

To identify credible sources, check that:

• The author possesses the required qualifications, reputation, or expertise to be writing on the subject
• The information shared is recent and up to date
• Any claims made are supported by evidence or corroborated in other sources
• The author, publication, or platform is unbiased on the subject

For more tips on finding sources you can trust, check out our blog post, How to Spot a Credible Source.

3. Taking Notes

As you conduct your research, make sure to take notes and organize your findings in a way that makes sense to you. Common note-taking strategies include:

• Separating your research into relevant subheadings
• Color-coding your notes
• Using a note-taking system such as the Cornell method

Remember not to copy content from other sources word for word, though, unless you’re quoting that source and properly referencing it. Copying content is plagiarism, and it can have a severe impact on you and your client’s reputation.

As you take notes, spend some time reviewing your competitors’ posts on the subject matter. Ask yourself if anything seems to be missing or isn’t covered in depth.

This can help you identify what you can improve on with your own writing and where you can provide additional value to your client and audience that isn’t present in existing content.

4. Managing Your References

As you conduct your research, it’s important that you make a note of the sources you’ve used and any references you will need to make.

It’s also a good idea to keep a list of sources you’ve read as you go, even if you don’t intend on referencing them directly. This will help you keep track of what information you’ve found and where.

Managing your references properly is especially important if you’re producing a piece of academic or scientific writing, as these industries tend to have strict standards when it comes to crediting (and formatting) references.

Content Research Tools

There are a lot of different aspects to consider when it comes to content research. Luckily, there are also plenty of tools to help get the job done.

We’ve listed our favorites for you to try.

Keyword Research Tools

Keyword Generator

A free, basic tool that generates and ranks up to 150 keywords for a given subject.

Answer the Public

A free research tool that lets you identify what questions people are searching for in relation to a given keyword.

Ahrefs

A simple-to-use, free SEO tool that allows you to generate keywords and research keyword ranking.

Semrush

An advanced tool that provides more in-depth keyword and SEO insights.

Note-Taking Apps

Microsoft OneNote

A free note-taking program included with Office365, which allows for easy integration with other Microsoft software.

Notion

An all-in-one note-taking, collaboration, and project management tool.

Ulysses

A note-taking and writing app with plenty of features that can help convert your research notes into finished articles.

Reference Management Tools

Mendeley

A free-to-download reference manager designed for academics and researchers. It can be used in-browser or as standalone software.

Zotero

Another free-to-download manager that works as a browser extension.

EndNote

A premium reference management service with a free trial option.

PaperPile

A web-based reference manager that offers a 30-day free trial.

Becoming A Freelance Writer

Want to learn all there is to know about being a freelance writer? Our Becoming A Freelance Writer course will equip you with the skills you need to write (and research) with confidence.

Like to do your research first? No problem – you can try us out for free.

The post Content Research Toolkit: Essential Strategies and Tools appeared first on Knowadays.

What Is Scoping?

What indeed? As previously stated, you won’t find this type of scoping in the dictionary; the kind we’re discussing is a highly specialized form of editing.

Not to be confused with court transcript proofreading – the step that follows scoping – scoping involves editing raw transcripts produced by court reporters who type what is said in real time using stenography machines. The shorthand type produced by the machines is translated into English using Computer-Aided Transcription (CAT) software. The early forms of that software used minicomputers that looked like oscilloscopes. This led to the job of producing more understandable documents from those “scopes” being referred to as “scoping.” In turn, the person performing that vital job became known as – can you guess? – a scopist.

What Does a Scopist Do?

Now that you understand what kinds of documents a scopist works with, you probably have a taste of their responsibilities.

Courtroom dramas on TV and in film may involve some rapid-fire dialogue that is generally clear and, having been scripted, easy to follow. However, in real-life courtrooms, witnesses – and even their lawyers – can experience nervousness and sometimes mumble their words, talk over each other, or ramble. Accents can be difficult to understand as well. The court reporter’s typed shorthand may miss or mishear what is said. And the CAT software is only as good as the information it’s fed, so words can be mistranslated. The scopist’s job is to check the translation for those missing, misheard, or mistranslated words.

Scopists don’t sit in a courtroom to hear the dialogue. They are remote freelance professionals who perform their vital job by comparing the translation produced by the CAT software to an audio recording of the proceedings. They also format and edit the translation to ensure a readable document with an accurate record of what was said.

This leads us to another crucial scoping skill: striking a balance between readability and accuracy. The nature of court documents is that the words spoken by a witness or defendant – and their phrasing – can be important. And the consequences can be just as serious if what the judge orders is misheard.

How to Become a Scopist

Becoming a scopist may require specialized skills, but it doesn’t require a college degree. Working freelance and remotely can provide a great, flexible career since rigid business hours don’t control your schedule. This allows you to organize your life around family and other commitments. Scoping is such a vital and specialized job that it also tends to pay well.

As you’ll see, scoping is a good opportunity if you’re a proofreader or editor because you already possess many of the skills required. Let’s take a closer look at how you can become a scopist.

Skills

To clean up raw courtroom translations and turn them into a document that’s easy to read, a scopist must have:

• A good grasp of grammar, spelling, and punctuation – something as simple as a missed comma could misrepresent what was said
• A willingness to break, rather than enforce, grammar and punctuation rules in favor of accurately recording what was said
• An understanding of formatting requirements
• A keen awareness of homophones – a particular issue due to the nature of scoping
• Good listening skills – necessary for checking audio recordings
• Research skills and attention to detail – checking the spelling of names, acronyms, etc.
• Technology proficiency – scoping involves working with audio files and CAT software in addition to the editing and word processing software you might be used to
• Soft skills, such as the ability to work to a deadline

Furthermore, while not crucial to begin with, understanding legal terminology will greatly assist you and save you a lot of research time.

Qualifications

Although a college degree is not necessary to become a scopist – neither is certification – specialized training is essential to gain a number of the skills we have listed. Many institutes, such as the Internet Scoping School (ISS), provide online training. Alternatively, some court reporter schools run programs for scopists.

Equipment

Aside from a computer and access to the internet (for receiving and returning documents), you’ll need to invest in some specialized equipment:

• CAT software – likely the highest expense
• Headphones – for listening to audio recordings

And, while not essential, a foot pedal will also help you control the audio playback while you type and, therefore, speed up your work.

Where to Find Jobs

Once you’ve acquired the necessary skills and training, the next step is to find work as a scopist. As customary with most freelance editorial work, you have several options:

• Join an online community or registry – even while you’re waiting for work, the support from other scopists will be invaluable
• Search or advertise on job boards (e.g., stenosearch.com)
• Create a LinkedIn page to highlight your skills and mark yourself as available for work
• Seek out court reporters directly and inform them of your skills and availability

Proofreading and Editing Courses

As highlighted in this blog post, the work of a scopist is more specialized than that of an editor or proofreader; nevertheless, they have many common skills. If you’re intrigued by this seemingly overlooked yet vital career, you can start gaining the necessary skills with our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses. You can even try them out for free today!

The post What Is a Scopist? (And How to Become One) appeared first on Knowadays.

Why Does a Blog Post Need a Conclusion?

A conclusion is so much more than simply a signal to your reader that they’ve reached the end of the post. A good blog conclusion needs to inspire the reader to take further action. The type of action will depend on the purpose of your post. For example, you might want your reader to:

• Read more of your posts
• Share your post with others
• Engage your services
• Purchase a product
• Sign up for something (e.g., a free trial or a newsletter)
• Do something for themselves

And, at the very least, you will want your reader to remember what you’ve said in the post. The conclusion is the place to do this because it is the last thing your reader will read – and, therefore, the thing they are most likely to remember.

How to Write a Strong Conclusion

So, what do you want to achieve from your post? What would you like your reader to do after reading it? Answering those key questions will help you figure out what to include in your conclusion to make it a strong one. Here are our top tips.

Summarize Your Key Points

We’re not suggesting for a moment that your writing will have caused your reader’s attention to drift midway through your post. However compelling your post, your reader will want – and probably need – a neat summary of the main points they should remember. Providing that in the conclusion will assist not only the reader who’s diligently read the full post but also the one who’s skimmed through to the end.

Link to Further Information

If your aim is to spark your reader’s interest in a subject, then use your conclusion to show them where they can discover more about it. You could include a link to another post you’ve written, a more in-depth article, or information from another authoritative source. The link doesn’t even have to be something in writing; if you’ve got a podcast, for example, link to that.

Entice with a Trailer

While writing your post, you may have had to fight the temptation to go off on a tangent. Perhaps what started as a simple subject opened up a whole raft of related issues. Instead of writing one lengthy post to cover everything, you may have wisely decided to produce a series of posts on a subject. Your conclusion will then become the perfect place to trail the next one, keeping your reader engaged with your blog.

Invite Feedback and Discussion

Allowing your reader to participate is a great way to help them feel more engaged with your blog. But simply having a Comments section is unlikely to be enough. If you hosted a party without sending any invitations, it would hardly come as a surprise if no one turned up. People, whether because they’re busy or polite, tend not to become involved in things without an invitation, so use your conclusion for this. Conversation is more likely to flow if there’s an icebreaker. Think about the kind of feedback or discussion you’d like, and don’t be afraid to ask for it.

Prompt Sharing

Whatever your blog post is about, you probably didn’t write it for just one person to read. You can, of course, hope that a reader who enjoys it will recommend it to someone else, and you may be providing the necessary buttons to allow for easy sharing. Remember what we said about inviting feedback? To go back to the party example, if you would like someone to bring a plus-one, you should make that clear. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain by adding a simple prompt for your reader to share your post.

Call to Action

What would you like your reader to do after reading the post? We’ve already covered a few possibilities, from which you may spot a growing theme. If there’s something you want your reader to do, then tell them (or, if you’d like, gently guide them)! In blog terms, this is the Call to Action (CTA). As well as the suggestions we’ve already made, this is where you could include a link to:

• A relevant service you provide
• A resource you’ve created

Or the CTA could simply be aimed at helping your reader do something for themselves.

• Asking a question could get them thinking more deeply about a subject.
• Suggesting a simple, practical step could help resolve their problem.

The key is to use your conclusion to provide your reader with the necessary prompt.

Keep it Short

First impressions are important, but last impressions are what will stick in your reader’s mind. If all you do in your conclusion is repeat everything in the post, your reader may remember the repetition instead of the key points. And it’s unlikely that they’ll want to read other things you’ve written or recommend your post or blog to others.

Like with a party invitation, keeping your conclusion to a clear and concise recap of the necessary details. This will help direct your readers to the right place, with the intention to act.

Examples of Blog Conclusions

Now that we’ve set out our tips, let’s have a look at how they come together in practice with some real-life examples.

This post about the difference between although and even though used bullet points to provide a short summary and included a practical way for the reader to remember the information:

In this post about working through the (peri)menopause, the writer’s aim – to provide support – was boosted by the use of external links to where readers could find further help and information:

Having neatly summed up the purpose of a post on their writing year, this writer provided a teaser for their follow-up post:

Humor is a brilliant icebreaker, which has been effectively used to promote discussion in the conclusion to this post about attracting better clients using the “chuckle point” technique:

The prompt to share your post can be as simple as this prompt in a post about the definition of economics:

And for an example of another type of CTA… keep reading!

Becoming A Freelance Writer

Now it’s time to work on your own blog post conclusion. Remember:

• Include the key point(s) you want the reader to remember.
• Provide links to show you can further help your reader.
• Guide your reader toward ways they may help you.

If you would like to take your writing to the next level or simply brush up on your skills, our Becoming A Freelance Writer course covers everything you need to know to write professional blog posts and articles, including how to structure your writing. You can even try it out for free.

And if you’ve found this post helpful, please share it.

The post How to End a Blog Post and Inspire Action appeared first on Knowadays.

Why Is a Glossary of Writing Terms Helpful?

As a freelance writer, you must familiarize yourself with the key terms used in the writing industry. Being well-versed in writing terminology will help you communicate effectively with your clients and convince them of your ability to deliver high-quality work. Using the correct language shows that you take your craft seriously, understand the context in which you’ll be writing, and know what is required to meet the client’s needs.

Writing Terms Glossary

Here are our top writing terms for freelance writers.

• A/B Test
  A/B testing is a simple but powerful way of comparing two versions of something to determine which performs better. For instance, a client may request a writer to provide two titles for a blog post to decide which one resonates better with the target audience.
• Business-to-business (B2B)
  B2B marketing promotes products or services to other businesses rather than individual consumers. For example, a software company’s target audience would be other businesses that require software solutions to improve their operations rather than individual consumers who may not have a use for such software.
• Business-to-consumer (B2C)
  B2C marketing is directed at individual consumers. Tailor your writing to keep your target audience in mind, which will vary from product to product.
• Body Copy
  This is the central part of a blog post or article, where all the primary information is. Body copy often encourages the target audience to take a particular action, for example, buying a product or trying out a service. It will go into detail on the features and benefits of the product for the consumer.
• Branding
  Branding creates a distinct identity for a company, individual, product, or service. It’s the image you want your readers to consider when they think of a particular brand. There are lots of different aspects to branding, including:
  
  – A consistent use of visual elements like logos, color schemes, and typography across all platforms
  – A consistent communication style and personality (e.g., language and tone of voice) 
  – Establishing a mission statement and core values
  
  When writing for clients, keeping their brand identity in mind and maintaining consistency throughout the content is essential.
• Byline
  A byline is a line that tells readers who has written a piece of content. Sometimes, a byline is simply the author’s name, whereas, in others, it’s a more detailed bio. A byline is a great way for freelance writers to get their work noticed and establish credibility.
• Caption
  A caption is a brief description of what is shown in a photo.
• Call to Action (CTA)
  A CTA is a short line or phrase that encourages a reader to take a specific action, for example, buy a product, sign up for a newsletter, or contact a company for more information. CTAs can appear anywhere in a piece of content but are often found toward the end. They usually take the form of an embedded link or a clickable button. One example of a call to action is “Contact us today to learn more!”.
• Cold Email
  A cold email (or pitch) is a message you send to an individual or company with whom you have no prior relationship. It’s a form of marketing that writers can use to attract new clients. In contrast, a warm email is sent to someone with whom you have an existing relationship.
• Conflict of Interest
  Maintaining objectivity and avoiding conflicts of interest is essential when writing a blog post or article. If you have a personal or professional relationship with a source or the subject matter, it may be perceived as a conflict of interest. Therefore, it’s necessary to disclose any potential matches immediately. You can collaborate with your editor or client to find a solution to any conflicts that arise.
• Content Management System (CMS)
  A CMS is a computer program that enables you to write, edit, modify, and publish content. While WordPress is one of the most popular CMS, freelancers who work with content companies often use one created by the company itself.
• Conversion
  Copy that aims to motivate a reader to take a specific action – such as signing up for a mailing list, sharing information, or making a purchase – is known as conversion copy. Every time a reader takes a desired action, it’s a conversion. The effectiveness of any web content can be evaluated by its conversion rate. Clients often seek writers who can produce content with a high conversion rate.
• Copy
  This refers to the text in any article or blog post that you write.
• Copywriting
  Copywriting involves writing promotional copy designed to benefit a business (for example, by persuading a reader to buy a product).  Copywriters work on a wide range of content, including advertisements, slogans and taglines, social media posts, and email campaigns.
• Content Writing
  While copywriting aims to sell a product, content writing is more about delivering information to solve a problem or address a pain point. Its tone is educational and informative rather than sales-y. Like copywriters, content writers work on a wide range of content, including blog posts and articles, white papers, case studies, and ebooks.
• Content Brief
  A content brief is a document given to a writer at the start of a project, which should cover everything they need to know to get started. For example, it will usually include the objective of the content, the desired target audience, the preferred structure, the expected word count, etc. If a client doesn’t provide a content brief or provides an incomplete brief, the writer may need to reach out to clarify expectations and discuss any information gaps.
• Deliverable
  A deliverable is a quantifiable output you agree to produce by the end of a project (for example, a 1500-word blog post). Before starting work on a project, it’s essential to ensure that you and your client know exactly what you will be delivering. This can help avoid any confusion later on.
• Dummy Copy
  A dummy copy is placeholder text inserted into a space before the final copy is added. It’s often in Latin, starting with “Lorem Ipsum” to indicate that it’s not actual content.
• Evergreen
  Evergreen content is designed to stay relevant for an extended period. When clients request evergreen content, they ask for something that will remain useful to their audience today and in the future, possibly for months or years.
• Hook
  To keep readers engaged, you need a “hook” that captures their attention. A hook is a sentence found in the first sentence or two of a piece of content, designed to compel the reader to read until the end. There are lots of different types of hooks that you can use, depending on the goal of the content.
• Infographic
  Infographics are visually appealing and highly informative graphics that present complex information in a simple and engaging way. They often incorporate captions for various elements within the graphic, making it easy for the audience to understand the information at a glance.
• Invoice
  An invoice, or a bill, is a document a freelancer issues to their client to request payment for their completed work. It’s the first step in collecting payment from the client.
• “Kill” Fee
  When a writer is assigned to write an article for a publication, there is always a chance that the article may not be published. However, if this happens, some publications offer a small consolation fee to the writer for their efforts. This fee is usually 10–20% of the planned publication fee the writer would have received had the article been published.
• Landing Page
  A landing page is a web page that a reader “lands” on after clicking on a link – whether in search results, an email, or a social media post. Landing pages are usually designed with a specific goal and include CTAs to persuade readers to take a particular action. Examples include signing up for a free trial, completing a form to access gated content, enrolling in an event, or signing up for a newsletter.
• Long-Form Content
  While there is no strict definition, long-form content is typically considered to be over 1,200 words. Examples of long-form content include pillar pages, in-depth blog posts, guides, and tutorials. This type of content is designed to educate and inform the reader.
  
  As it explores a topic in detail and provides much value, long-form content can boost audience engagement and conversions. Long-form content typically ranks better in search engines; it’s easier for Google and other search engines to understand and present more opportunities to incorporate keywords and links.
• Meta Description
  A meta description is a web page summary that appears under the page title in search engines. The meta description aims to inform the reader about the web page and convince them to click through. It’s usually 120–155 characters.
• Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
  An NDA is a binding contract between a client and a freelancer. This agreement aims to safeguard confidential information and trade secrets that may be shared during a project. It protects both parties legally and ensures that the client’s sensitive information is kept secure and not disclosed to any third party without their explicit consent.
• On Spec
  Writing “on spec” (an abbreviation of “on speculation”) means creating content without a contract or guarantee of payment, with the hope of selling it later on. Freelance writers will write on spec to showcase their skills to potential clients and build their portfolios. Writing on spec is particularly useful for writers who don’t have many prior work samples to share.
• Portfolio
  A freelance writing portfolio is a compilation of writing samples that showcase your writing skills and expertise. It’s a professional representation of your work that clients or employers can view before hiring you.
• Proposal
  This is a document that describes your product or service. Freelance writers typically send a proposal to potential clients after conversing with them in person, over the phone, or via email.
• Query Letter
  If you want to get your work published in magazines or newspapers, you’ll need to be familiar with query letters. A query letter is a sales pitch designed to convince an editor that your article idea will interest their readers and that you are the best person to write it. It’s worth getting your query letter right; even if your idea isn’t the right fit for them, they may still be interested in working with you on a different assignment.
• Scope
  Scope refers to the work that must be done to complete a project (for example, the deliverables and the intended timeframe). It would be best to discuss a project’s scope with your client before you start work. If your client begins to request work that falls outside the project’s original scope, this is known as scope creep.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  SEO is the practice of optimizing web pages so that they rank highly on search engine results pages. The higher a webpage ranks, the more traffic (i.e., visitors) it will receive. More visitors can translate into better brand visibility, leads, and sales.
• Short-Form Content
  Short-form content is brief, concise, and straight to the point. It’s designed to be easily digestible in minutes or even seconds. Typically, any content that is less than 1,200 words is considered short-form. Examples of short-form content include infographics, social media posts, and short blog posts.
• Style Guide
  Some clients and web content companies will provide writers with a detailed style guide and standards for producing content. It may include detailed information regarding the intended audience, style specifications, and keywords. Adhering to it is of the utmost importance. If there is no style guide, writers can create their own.

Becoming a Freelance Writer

Our Becoming a Freelance Writer course is the perfect starting point if you want to become a freelance writer. Our comprehensive modules cover everything from finding clients, setting rates, and building your portfolio. With the valuable knowledge you’ll gain from this course, you’ll be well-equipped to succeed in your career path!

Don’t hesitate to sign up for our free trial today and take the first step toward a fulfilling and lucrative career as a freelance writer!

The post The Ultimate Glossary of Freelance Writing Terms appeared first on Knowadays.

It doesn’t have to be hard to get started as a freelancer. In our blog post How to Become a Freelancer: A Guide for Beginners, we explain how to take the first steps. In this post, we’ll focus specifically on freelance business ideas that you can do from home. While there are many options available, we will showcase seven different ideas to inspire you to freelance success.

7 Freelance Business Ideas

If it seems like there are too many freelance business ideas for you to choose from, we’ll narrow down your options for you. We’re going to focus on seven ideas that can be done from the comfort of your own home.

What might appeal to you will depend on your interests, skills, and experience.

1. Affiliate Sales and Marketing

People love to shop online. Affiliate marketing allows you to earn money selling or promoting other people’s products online. This will typically involve including affiliate links on your website, which track when one of your users makes a purchase. Every time they do, you’ll make a small commission from the company you are promoting.

This is an especially good option for people who already have a website or blog that has a lot of traffic. You can use your existing popularity so more people will see the products, and, in turn, you could earn more money. If you don’t have a website or blog already, there are lots of platforms that are great for beginners.

To be successful, you should be creative (you’ll need to generate persuasive, engaging content), have strong communication skills (to work with clients effectively), and have a good grasp on marketing fundamentals like brand identity and search engine optimization.

2. Voice Narration

A lot of people have products to sell or ideas to share, but if they’re not confident talking about them, they may not be successful. If you are a confident speaker, voice narration could be a great freelance business idea.

Audio books, video creators, and virtual receptionists are just a few of the services that require someone with an engaging voice. All you need is a quiet place and a good microphone to get started.

3. Tutor

If you have proficient knowledge in any given subject, you could consider becoming an online tutor.

Tutors for various languages are in high demand across the globe. Many countries are looking for ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers. It isn’t hard to find online teaching jobs.

All you need is to be fluent in the language you are going to teach and have a computer with a camera and microphone.

4. Video and Film Editor

Video and film editors work closely with directors and producers to edit footage into the desired, final product. There are many steps in this process, including:

• Sorting raw footage into a logical sequence
• Trimming excess footage
• Editing footage to the desired length
• Improving audio quality
• Adding color grading and special effects

Due to the technical nature of this role, video editors need to have experience with video-editing platforms and software. There are many online courses that can help you get to grips with popular tools like Adobe Premiere Pro.

This type of work also requires good communication skills. Editors need to communicate regularly with their clients – to establish their needs, answer questions, and share updates throughout a project.

Other essential skills for video and film editors include project management and, of course, creativity.

5. Photographer

When you think of photographers, you may not think of them as people who can successfully work from home, but this is not the case. If you enjoy taking pictures, selling your photos as stock images can be a great freelance business idea.

You can work closely with clients to get the images they desire, or you can sell your photos to websites like Getty Images or Shutterstock.

There are other ways you can sell your photos online as well. If you don’t already have your own website, you can create a photography website to sell high-quality digital and print copies of your work.

Another option is to start your own print-on-demand business, where you can arrange to have your photos printed onto products like mugs, calendars, clothing, etc. When someone orders something from you, the company that makes the actual product can print your photo on it and arrange for shipping to your customer.

Advances in digital photography have made this type of work easier than ever before. All you need is a decent camera, a good eye, and a little inspiration.

6. Proofreader/Editor

Proofreading and editing are two great freelance business ideas. One of the best parts of these jobs is that you are constantly reading, so you have the opportunity to learn about a variety of different topics. If you already have passion or experience in a certain area, you can choose to specialize and focus on proofreading or editing in that specific niche.

All you need is a keen eye for detail, word processing software, and a thorough knowledge of language and grammar. There are always people looking to have their work checked over by a knowledgeable second set of eyes.

One of the best aspects of this freelance business idea is that you don’t need particular qualifications or previous experience to get started.

If you find yourself lacking the skills for this type of work, they are not hard to acquire. There are a lot of online courses available to help you feel more comfortable. If you really want to build an amazing resume, CPD (Continuing Professional Development) accreditation can really help your freelance business stand out, especially if you don’t have much experience.

Read on to learn about exciting opportunities to help you get started as a freelance proofreader or editor.

7. Content Writer

There is no end to things you can get paid to write about. That is what makes freelance writing an excellent business idea that you can do from home.

Freelance writers work with clients to turn their brief into a finished piece of writing. This writing can promote products and services, connect with a target audience, provide instructional information, and so much more.

Technical, creative, and copywriting are a few popular writing jobs available. One of the best parts of being a freelance writer is that you have the freedom to pick a niche if you have specific knowledge or interests.

For those of you who are creative and have a way with words, good communication skills, and a computer with word processing software, all you need to do is connect to some of the many freelance writer sites and start finding jobs.

One of the most important steps in becoming a successful writer is to build a portfolio.

Keep reading if you want to find an easy way to become a freelance content writer.

Becoming a Freelancer

If you desire the freedom and flexibility that comes with starting a business that you can do from home, becoming a freelancer has never been simpler. We can offer you help in pursuing some of the freelance business ideas mentioned above.

Our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses can help you learn everything you need to be a success in those fields. If you pass our courses with a grade of 80% or higher, there’s even a guaranteed-work opportunity.

If Becoming A Freelance Writer sounds better to you, we can help with that, as well. You could gain three professionally edited pieces of work to add to your portfolio upon completion of our course.

Start your free trial today and see for yourself!

The post 7 Freelance Business Ideas (That You Can Do from Home) appeared first on Knowadays.