Writing - Proof that Proofreading works!

It doesn’t matter if you are only writing an email, a college essay, a letter or an article, getting your writing free from mistakes is paramount.

If you use MS Word or other spell checkers this can help, but it isn’t foolproof and can sometimes miss glaring errors.

This is where proofreading comes into play.

Read on to find tips for proofreading that will make finding errors and mistakes much easier.

Make sure you concentrate

If you are going to spot any errors that you have made in your writing, then you have to be able to concentrate. Free yourself from any distractions and watch out for potential interruptions. Wait until the kids have gone to bed, turn off your phone, turn off the TV and start to concentrate.

Print out your writing

It is easier to read and check for mistakes on paper than it is on screen. The computer screen can be distracting and it can affect the way your eyes see the writing. Read aloud what you have printed off and you will be amazed at how many mistakes you spot. (If you have made any that is!)

Keep an eye out for Homonyms

Words that have the same spelling or the same pronunciation, but have different meanings are known as homonyms. Words such as weather and whether may not be picked up by spell checkers. It can be disastrous for your letter or text if you mistakenly leave the wrong word in, so always proofread to make sure you have the correct word.

Be on the lookout for Contractions and also Apostrophes

Common mistakes in writing are confusing words such as it’s and its, your and you’re and their and they’re. Make sure you are using the right word for your text, it again can be disastrous to use the wrong one. Remember that an apostrophe is never used to form a plural of a singular word.

Watch your punctuation

Make sure you use commas, periods, and capitalization of words properly. Never neglect the punctuation in your writing. The spell checkers do not pick up grammar mistakes so read aloud what you have written to be sure.

Read your text backwards

If you read your text from the last word to the first word you will find it is easier to spot mistakes. This may seem time consuming, but I guarantee you will spot mistakes that you couldn’t spot reading it normally. This is because the brain corrects words automatically and makes you see the correct word when it is mixed with other text. If you read words in the wrong order, it forces your brain to actually see the word in front of you.

Read your work aloud

Reading aloud can help with your grammar and your punctuation. You will notice more mistakes by taking the time out to actually read your work. Reading it out to another person can help as well.

See your work through fresh eyes

If you have the luxury to be able to, leave what you have written for a couple of days and go back to it later. It is staggering how easy it is to see mistakes after you have distanced yourself from the work for a while.

Enlarge your writing

If you can, change the settings on your software. You should have the option to enlarge the writing and this will help you spot mistakes. So if you can, always proofread your work on a higher setting, such as 150 or 200 per cent.

Make sure your numbers are correct

If you mean to put numbers into your text, make sure you get them right. Putting $20,000 when you mean to put $200,000 is definitely not the same thing! Always check your facts and your typing!

Finally, get another person to proofread your work

After going through all of the other points, see if you can find a friend or a colleague to proofread what you have written. Even after going through these points, you may have still missed a few mistakes. A person who is not affiliated to the writing will be able to see things you may not be able to.

Copywriting - Writing Great Headlines with 'Swipe Files'

I once spent a stint working for a small weekly newspaper, where there was only a staff of three. So not only did I write and edit, but sometimes I created page layouts. More often than not I wrote headlines. One thing my editor taught me was that it's perfectly acceptable to ‘steal’ ideas from other papers, magazines and websites if you find something you like.

So I started keeping what is known in the business as "swipe files." This is simply a resource that uses the best copy that has already been printed. It then helps jumpstart your brain and then helps you generate your own headline ideas.

A swipe file can be a godsend for those who otherwise struggle trying to write great headlines.

Let's talk about why.

In well-known, well-established publications, copy editors are paid big bucks to create great, memorable headlines. Most of these publications have a professional person who does nothing else. Also, those print advertisements that catch your attention use headlines created by copywriters who do nothing else but generate excellent copy.

What's more, even those professionals use their own swipe files. It's such a time-honored tradition that nobody really considers it cheating; it's just the way effective copywriters operate and have operated for decades.

Regularly studying your swipe file can be a great learning experience. It will help you to see what works and what doesn't. Once you have a good grasp of the difference, then you can start generating your own unique material.

Let me offer one warning, however. Swipe files are so well-appreciated that some people, out to make fast and easy money, have begun selling swipe files online which offer pre-done copy that is supposedly easy to customize to your own project. You would do well to avoid these "instant swipe files." For one thing, you will never really learn about why certain copy is effective by using a cut-and-paste approach like this. Also, there will be a tendency to choose the wrong template for a specific project. Better to start first with the project in mind, and truly tailor something to that project.

If you haven't already done so, start building your swipe file today. Almost immediately, you should see an improvement in the quality of your headlines. What's more, these better headlines will usually result in higher readership and traffic for your site.

In the future, we'll discuss several headline formulas that many people have found helpful for their own work.

Copywriting - How to Decide When to Write Your Headlines

I've been a writer most of my life, and for the majority of my life, I've been told to write my article first and then the headline. I've never been able to write that way. I've always needed to write the headline first.

While I once thought this was a defect on my part, I've since come to think that in my opinion, this is the best way. I’m not saying that the way you write your headline is wrong. Far from it, you have to do whatever works for you best. What I am saying is that maybe it is time to try something different.

Read on to find out why I think it is time to try something a little different with the process of writing your headline.

To understand why, think of your headline as a contract. When you start with the headline first, you are making a contract with the reader about what you intend to share with them. By their very nature, a contract is made and signed before the terms of the contract are fulfilled. Therefore, once you've made your headline or contract if you will, this forces you to look intently for how to fulfill that contract.

If you write the article first, then you can just develop your headline according to whatever's in there. It's rather like giving somebody $100 and then writing the contract promising him $100. There was no challenge in that, because you only made the contract according to what you know has already been fulfilled. If you made a contract first promising $500, then you are then forced to extend yourself. The same is true with your writing. If your headlines promise certain content, you must then do the research and thinking necessary to deliver on your contract.

It's the difference between making a good headline and good article and making a great headline and great article.

Let's take a look at how this might work. Let's say I'm operating a blog on wedding preparation. I want to do an article on finding the perfect wedding cake. Rather than waiting until I write the article to title it, I decide to give it the title "10 Tips to the Perfect Cake." I get through the article and find I can only easily come up with eight tips. Because I'm being honest with myself, I refuse to change my title, so I now extend myself to research and think through two more tips. On the other hand, if I'd waited until the piece was finished and just gave it the title according to what I'd written, my readers would have been cheated a couple of perfectly good tips.

Having said that, the exact process to write great headlines? That is what we will discuss in the rest of the series. I think you'll find the information valuable.

Freelance Writing - How to be a Freelance Writer

Writing is a wonderful art form, you can explore your own feelings, your attitudes, values, goals, motivations and so many more feelings that you may or may not have known you had. To turn writing into a career that actually pays you have to approach your writing as not only a craft but also a profession.

Here are a few steps that you need to take before becoming a freelance writer.

Step One

Look at your options and your skills. Not everyone can write a bestselling novel. However, if you can write informative and interesting articles and short pieces then you could make a career as a freelance writer. Copywriting is massive at the moment and because it takes place mainly on the internet your options are literally endless. Think about how many websites there are that need regular updated content. There are lots! This means everyone who can write and write well can get a piece of the proverbial pie.

Step Two

Use your own logic and the desire within you to find and create the vision you really want.

Step Three

If all you want is money then you are looking at the wrong career. Being a freelance writer isn’t an easy job. A freelance writer works long hours and has to put a lot of effort and grind into the work. If you are willing to go that extra mile and make a name for yourself then being a freelance writer is for you. If you want to write because of the love for it then being a freelance writer will be right up your street.

Step Four

Find your niche and unless you are comfortable stepping outside of it, don’t. As you begin your career as a freelance writer be prepared to write about what you like the most. This way you will be more confident in your own skills. When you have built up your confidence then you go on to write about other things.

Step Five

Writers block exists and it can be nasty! I know because I have experienced it! As a freelance writer working from home it is all too easy to write 7 days a week and as many hours as you can manage without sleep! Doing this will only reinforce the writer’s block, and you will be staring at that dreaded white screen of nothingness!

Step Six

Take regular breaks and make sure you give yourself a day off at least once or twice a week.

Copywriting - Ten Tips for a Top Copy

1. Make sure you review your copy. Do it again and again. Then review it again!

2. Try not to use long words such as ‘information’. If you use shorter words they have more punch to them. Try using ‘facts’ instead.

3. Try to avoid being cryptic or too clever within your copy. People are busy; if they are looking for services you offer they want to know there and then if you can help them.

4. Say what you have to say in the simplest terms possible.

5. Use shorter sentences. Never include more than one idea in a paragraph.

6. State your facts accurately and focus on the benefits that you can offer to the reader. Try not to waffle on too much.

7. Remember that you are the sales person. Speak your targeted audience’s language. The better copy available has a speech effect. Use ‘me’ and ‘you’ as much as you can throughout your copy. You need to speak to the reader directly.

8. Try to visualize who you are targeting, I promise that this will help you write direct and effective copy for your website.

9. Good copy has an air of simplicity surrounding it. You need to be able to give your copy an almost childlike quality.

10. Good copy is just like a free flowing river; you have to be able to jump in at any point of it and be carried with the flow.

Grammar - Using Commas effectively in your articles and writing

You can go to all of the websites and read all the books on using commas that you like. You will still end up being confused. You will soon start to see inconsistencies. There will always be many experts who don’t agree with each other and you will surely end up pulling out your own hair, (and possibly other peoples).

Using commas in any form of text can be confusing. You may think you have too many, you may think you don’t have enough. Whichever category you fall into there are some easy and quick ways to make sure you are getting it right.

Here are some basic and simple rules to follow when using commas in any text.

1. Never put a comma in-between a subject and then a verb. It is always the wrong thing to do. For example: The cat, meowed. It’s wrong, it sounds wrong and you will pay the price for getting it wrong!

2. If you need to separate a clause in your text, make sure you put a comma at both sides on the clause. If not don’t bother with commas at all. For example: The cat, which had a ball of string in its mouth, ran to the door. You can see there are commas at both sides and if you remove the clause it still makes a compete sentence: The cat ran to the door.

3. See if you can actually make two sentences from one with a comma in it. This is an example of bad sentence structure: She saw the dog, the dog was sat near the fire. If you can see that there is a subject verb before the comma and after.

This can actually make two sentences and will look more structured. If you don’t want to make it into two sentences or if you can’t, then consider using a semi colon instead of a comma. Don’t believe people when they tell you that you shouldn’t use semi colons in fiction or any other writing. They can be used effectively but just don’t overdo it.

4. Here is the final rule when looking at using commas. Read out loud what you have just written. If you find yourself pausing for a breath and you haven’t got a comma in your work, you might need one there. It’s a method that does sometimes work, don't just rely on this method though. It is extremely easy to think that it’s too difficult to write and write well. It doesn’t have to be that way. Type or write what you say, and stick to the basic rules and you will be fine.

So, as you can see these are extremely basic and easy methods to make sure your work is grammatically correct. At least in the comma sense anyhow!

Writing - Rediscover your joy for writing

The majority of people who join the writing business do so because they simply love to write. When you begin, it can be hard to imagine that you would ever do anything else other than write. However, when you write for your living, you may sometimes feel the strain and the burden of writing full time.

You may actually be able to see the joy of writing evaporate before your very eyes. Being a freelance copywriter myself and knowing many others, I know this can happen at least once throughout a writing career.

There are many things to do before it gets to point of no return and there are many things to do to stop the joy disappearing forever.

For starters you need to completely step away from your computer. It is not surprising that most writers feel stale every now and again when they sit in front of the computer day in and day out. If you start to feel restless or anxious when you’re writing you need to get out, even if it’s just for a short walk around the block or taking the kids or the dogs to the park. Exercise is a great way to relieve tension and can clear your mind.

Try reading a book. Reading someone else’s work can be a great way to forget about your own for a little while. Try not to read about anything that is likely to stress you out even more like mortgage news or interest rates! Read a trashy novel or great biography of your favorite person in history or a celebrity, sit back and enjoy.

Sometimes if you have to write an article about a particularly hard hitting subject it can be difficult to find inspiration. This is especially true if you work from home and your chances of meeting other people are slim. You still have many opportunities to find out what other people think, so find a good forum or a message board and see what other people’s opinions are.

You need to distract your brain from its daily activities. Watch some trashy daytime TV, ring a friend or a family member or anything that lets you forget about work for a little while. You will find when you relax your body and your mind, new ideas will come flooding in.

One of my favorite ways to relax from work is to write about something fun. Recharge your batteries from work by writing a short story, a poem, or lyrics to a song… Anything really that you love to write about! If you write property articles or finance articles day in and out, then writing for fun is a great way to allow you some breathing space for a while.

Another favorite way to unwind is not only writing for fun but to write with a pen and paper. Sitting at a computer can be a drag at times, so finding out your favorite pen and notebook and jotting down ideas is a great way to let off some steam.

Make sure you also get at least one day off a week to recharge. When you work as a freelance copywriter or work from home it is incredibly tempting to work 7 days a week. This is sure fire way to burning out completely.

So follow one or all of these tips and before too long you will be writing for the love of writing once again!

Copywriting - So you Want be a Copywriter?

Copywriting is a new art form and it is taking over the internet. There has never been so much call for copywriting as there is now. With the many websites that have content that constantly need updating and rewriting. Many people choose to use copywriters either because they lack the skills or the time needed to write so many articles or so much content. That it is why you can make a good second, or even a first income from copywriting and freelance writing.

The best way to start copywriting is to take a writing course that is local to you or via the internet. To be a professional copywriter you will need to have command over the language you are writing in. English is the main language that people want their copywriting in, but if you can speak and write other languages you may find you are the only person who can translate writing from one language to another.

You will also find that having interests in specialist areas will also help your copywriting career. If you can find a niche that you are proficient in then you could have a lucrative career as a copywriter. You will find that as you grow as a copywriter that you can start to branch out into other areas of work and if this is the case, your work load with grow.

What I love the most about what I do is how I am able to learn with every step I take in the copywriting business. I have written about things I had no previous knowledge of and I have grown and learnt as a person. This is what you can do too. Not only will you earn money as you go, but you will also learn new things every day.

You may know nothing about finance and mortgages now, but do a few articles on them and you will soon be up to speed! It doesn’t matter if you are not up to date with the latest music and movies, a few minutes spent researching and you will be!

Another reason to be a copywriter is that you can spend as long or as little time you have doing it. If you only have a spare hour a day then you will still earn a decent amount of money.

Copywriting can be a great career for anyone who wants to be a writer but doesn’t know where to start. Copywriting could be the first step in your writing career. Today it could be articles and blogs; tomorrow it could be the next bestseller.

Copywriting - How to Write a Killer Copy for your website

If you want to turn your website visitors into customers then you have to have one thing and that is a killer copy. Your content on the website has to be original, informative and direct. Not only that, it has to reach out to the reader and instantly solve a problem that they have been faced with or are about to be faced with.

If you want to make sales on your website, your copy has to be persuasive, clear and concise. You have to tell the reader why they need and want your particular products and why they won’t find them anywhere else.

The general rule of thumb when you are producing your copy is that the final piece doesn’t exceed one screen. If they have to scroll down to read the ending you will have more than likely lost their interest before they reached for the mouse.

Make your content as interesting as possible; give them a definite reason to carry on reading. If you think your copy is going to be too long make it shorter. You can always put a link at the bottom and ask them to click on it to read on further if they so wish.

Always make sure your grammar is correct and your spellings are spot on, nothing will turn the readers off faster than a wring spelling. Speak out to your reader, speak directly to them, and try not to sound as if you are above them in any way, as you may lose them instantly. Use lots of ‘we’ and ‘you’ throughout your copy. You need to sound professional but you also need to sound approachable - try and write with your personality!

Instead of writing thick paragraphs of text, try and write short and snappy sentences. This way if the reader is only scanning they will still see the majority of your text and your message. If you can attend to your readers by making them feel better about them and about you then you have a killer copy on your hands.

Make sure your copy does some if not all of the following things: pull in and lock in your readers, entertains your readers, informative to your readers, educate your readers, offer concrete solutions and persuade visitors to buy from you.

Try and imagine what it is you like to read and what keeps you interested and you will soon be on your way to higher traffic and much higher profits.