Category: Content Writing

Content marketing has become an important marketing channel for many organizations. Courtesy the new updates by Google on SEO, content marketing has taken the center stage in the world of digital marketing. It has led organizations to hire professional content writers and freelance content writers, building a lot of content across their domains.

However, one may come across many errors in such content. In fact, common mistakes writers make will cause more damage than the benefit a good content piece would have created for the organization. Each content piece has to be carefully drafted and care must be taken on the right message being passed on to the readers.

Some of the common mistakes are often made by professional writers as well. Any writer who wants their readers to be in love with their content perpetually, following are the seven mistakes that must be avoided.

The less the time spent on correcting mistakes,

the more time is available to actually get things done.

7 Common Mistakes Professional Writers Makes- Tips to Avoid Them

1. Too Much Complexity

It is often said that complexity is the mirror of one’s intellect, knowledge and how deep the writer thinks. However, in actuality it is the other way round. Content is everything from story-telling to factual descriptions but like every other piece of communication, it requires simplicity as a vehicle to reach out and connect with the readers. Usage of too many jargons and concepts at the same time leads to reader’s confusion and ultimately stops the engagement with the reader.

As a solution whenever one starts with writing a content piece, make it a point to use simple and engaging language. Create a structure for the blog without dumping ideas and give the readers perspective and insight and food for thought-inspire them.

Image Source: fwtcdn.wyliecomm.com

2. Not Knowing What Readers Want

For effective content writing, the writer must define its readers and for whom is the content meant for. Pay attention first to what do the readers like, expect and appreciate.  Many times content is written as a self-expression. However, it is also a tool where one wants to engage with readers and pass on the content to them. Thus, it is imperative to build the content by keeping the reader as a focal point and focusing a little bit on whether the readers are liking the content and are they sharing the same or engaging with the same? Ensure that as a blogger,freelance writer,or professional content writer, one must conduct simple research on the topic online and check the questions for which the readers are seeking answers.

This is one of the most successful blogging practices. Content writers should use analytics in order to understand the minute details regarding the content and to avoid content writing mistakes. For example, using a tool like Google Analytics will not only help to get better insights but will also help to write in a productive manner.

Image Source: i.gr-assets.com

3. Covering Too Many Sub-Points

Certain blogs try to convey too many things at the same time. However, one must know that sometimes bigger isn’t better. Also, there are times when companies try to deliberately exaggerate a point to cater to the wider audience, which unfortunately is one of the most common mistakes and doesn’t work. While successful content has to be large in size for SEO purpose, it shouldn’t lose its entire plot when stretched unnecessarily.

The truth is that readers want to read from experts about their niche. It is beneficial to narrow the focus a little bit and communicate the message in a crisp method so as to increase the readability of the content. The readers doesn’t want to know everything about a topic, they are satisfied reading content that adds value to them. Writers should do a thorough research on the content’s subject matter. When one provides the readers with insight and knowledge it can take a new level of excitement for them.

4. Not Editing the Content

Often when one is reading content on sites, reader come across unedited work with visible errors that could have been avoided. One can identify various grammatical errors, wrong sentence structures or not defining the pronouns. Example: One can find errors like ‘It’s a problem’ without defining what the problem is. Unfortunately writers create the content, superficially check them and dispatch for publication immediately.Avoid this mistake,pay attention to what content you put out.

However, editing works well in case one has allowed some time to pass by between writing the content and editing it. The time gap helps in looking at the content with a new sense of curiosity, perspective and insight. Editing can help converting a great piece of content in something even greater,by helping writers avoid common mistakes. Additionally there are quite a few editing tools available online like Write and Grammarly which help in producing successful content.

5. Not Proofreading the Content

Post editing the content, it is also important to proof-read the same. Editing helps one in making big changes to the content in terms of the ideation and flow. However, proofreading helps in rectifying content writing mistakes like spelling or grammatical errors. It’s important to proofread content multiple times as few minor errors might escape the writer’s eye. One will also be glad as a writer that the content has been proofread multiple times.

Proofreading comprises of making changes in adding keywords to improve SEO, testing the links given in the content, giving the source of data and citing appropriate topic tags. It also involves checking if the content is harmful to any of the stakeholders, if the content could offend readers and if the content is in sync with company’s mission, philosophy and goals.These are all successful blogging practices which will help you create long form content.

6. Writing Too Fast or Too Slow

There is no ‘right’ speed of writing. However, one needs to be aware that the speed of writing influences the quality of writing. Each writer should write at a pace which is suitable to them and allow creativity to flow. If one is writing too fast then there are chances of sloppy mistakes and on other hand, if one is writing too slow then there could be clumsy mistakes. The quality of writing will always be better if one is writing slowly. This doesn’t mean that one has to deliberately reduce their speed but it is important to identify the pace that is suitable for the content type and topic. In certain cases, the ideas flow in quite fast whereas on technical topics, one may take longer to identify precise words or phrases.Write a little bit every day to get into the mindset  of a writer.

Slowing down is usually a good idea.

Image Source: inkygirl.com

7. Not Outlining Content Before Writing It

Providing a structure to the content always helps. It provides certain boundaries for the content which help in clarity and speed. Some individuals start with an introduction and conclusion which leads to the subject matter and then sum it up. This strategy helps in filling up the spaces between topics and paragraphs with relevant and meaningful content. Make sure that the outline is simple and write down things that one wants to talk about. While writing the outline, one may write a few bullet points which are incomplete sentences, since what is being written is just an outline and not the complete content. Not only does outline save time but it also provides clarity to the writer.

Writing better is about avoiding common mistakes one makes while developing content. Writers,whether professional or freelance content writers, even if they are writing since quite a few years, make mistakes. Therefore, it is an ever improving process.

These were some common mistakes professional writers make while creating content.

Do share with us any other common mistakes that you come across which can be avoided while developing great content for companies.

Want to improve your writing skills and productivity? Check out this post

E-commerce is one field which has gained sufficient prominence over the last few years. As per “Worldwide retails E-commerce sales: the E-marketer forecaster for 2016” the worldwide online sales this year is going to show a jump of 6% from the last year translating into a revenue of $22.049 trillion. Once the potential of this field was realized, marketers also realized the scope of web design and e-commerce copywriting in making this field the success it is today. Besides having an impressive web design, one thing that can give your brand the much-needed push towards your target audience is an effective copy on the product page.

Based on our experience, below are the key challenges you will face while targeting optimal e-commerce conversion rates

1. Targeting the Right Set of Users

First and foremost it is essential that your message reaches the correct people. Most companies have difficulty in analyzing this information. Conducting a survey for the same often remains the best way to reach out to your target audience and potential buyers.

2. Making Your Users Understand What Your Product Is All About

The average consumer needs to be told specifically what the product is all about. Even though advertising is an interesting medium to do so, but how is your target audience going to pay attention to your message is the dilemma that you face the most.

3. The Feasibility and Usage of the Product for Your Customers

Most consumers resort to internet and DIY videos to understand the usage of any product. If you are also looking at marketing such a category, chances are you might have to be clear in all the details. Zig Ziglar one of the world’s famous salesman had a very interesting thought on this “You can have everything you want in life if you help enough people get what they want”. In simple terms, it means to be clear and descriptive in your product description because that’s what makes the maximum difference.Put up informed content,so that you get repeat customers.

4. What Makes the Product Different(Your USP)

There are innumerable products and services in one category. So,as a business owner, what makes your product stand out among the rest is what you need to highlight in bold. However, when the difference is too minuscule to be shared, you must resort to other means to put your product in the limelight. Needless to say, this is not going to be as easy as it seems.

Let’s Analyze How Copywriting Can Solve Each of the Above Problems:

David Ogilvy famous ad-guru compared consumers to the marketer’s wife and said: “The consumer is not a moron she is your wife; you insult her intelligence if you assume that a few adjectives and a few vapid objectives will persuade her to buy anything.”

The copy-writing that figures on your web page should be more effective than just increasing the SEO rankings. Many people like you are still at a crossroads of the importance of web design versus copy-writing. Here is how copy-writing works hard and gains an edge over web design as a way to generating more sales.

1. It Will Project the Brand Image and What It Stands For

One impressive way to reach out to your consumers is to tell them more about you and what your brand stands for. Try to incorporate some fun factor in your product description as that will entice the viewers to spend some time in getting to know more about you. An interesting example here has to be Flipkart, an e-commerce platform which on it’s about us page gives you a glimpse of their history along with a major milestone description telling the consumer about how they have progressed.

2. Will Create Urgency and Motivate Shoppers to Purchase

A call for action or an urgency created in the minds of the consumers surprisingly has a grave impact making him taking the step of purchase promptly. As per Dr. Robert Cialdani Professor of Psychology of the Arizona State University, “Scarcity is one of the six pillars of influence and it’s easy to see why:

Great demand leads to great sales”. Urgency can be impactful only if you supplement it with details on how the problem can be resolved. This can be done in multiple ways like limiting the duration of the campaign or suggesting the first come first serve basis clause on an enviable deal.

Here we see the advertiser has clearly mentioned that deal is valid only when booking is done by 2nd December.

3. A Call to Action Will Let You Guide Consumer’s Preference

Your call to action lets you delve deep into the mindset of your target and how you think and react with regards to your product. The call to action highlights the value of your brand and that is what the consumer needs to find in the end. Paul Cheney mentions in his blog how in an experiment by just imposing a limit on the total number of applicants to 1000 the call to action button clicks got a 15% hike.

4. It Creates a Reader Involvement

E-commerce copywriting is not just about telling the customer what your brand is and how long it has been in the market. People automatically get pulled towards stories and that is primarily because all of us are social beings and we love things which relate to us.

See below how Snap deal gives you a detail of all things associated with wearing a Sari in order to get the reader to go through the detailed product catalog and make a final purchase.

Learn how to wear a Sari
Wearing a Saree can be difficult especially when you are a beginner. You often keep wondering how to get those flattering pleats and how to drape the 6-yard of fabric around the waist so neatly. Fret not as here are some simple steps you can follow to dress up in saree elegantly and stylishly. Keep your sarees handy!

Saree Draping Steps:

Step 1:
You need to keep these things ready: a petticoat, fitted blouse, comfortable heel sandals, safety pins and matching jewelry such as ‘Jhumkas’. Wear drawstring petticoat as firmly as you can since it decides the flow and grace of nine yards you wrap around it.

Step 2:
Now, you are ready to tuck in saree. Figure out the pallu (usually, it is with some border or heavy embroidery), if not you can understand the saree’s plain end with the fall that is attached to bottom from length-to-length except the pallu. Wrap the fabric keeping it just an inch above from the floor. Make an estimate of pallu’s length (ideally should be above the knee) and leave some saree fabric untucked for pleats. You may not get it right on the first go; don’t fret and keep trying.

Step 3:
Once you are satisfied with the progress in step 2, it is time to make pleats. Depending on the length of your saree, you can make anywhere between 6 and 10 pleats. The pleats should be even, should face left side and should be of same width and length. Tuck the pleats to the left in the petticoat. Position the pleats with safety pins neatly.

Step 4:
Pallu can be pleated or you can just let it rest gracefully on the shoulder with the help of safety clips or saree pins.

Step 5:
Now when you are saree-ready, look yourself in the mirror to sync the thought completely that you have tied this saree on your own in just 5 steps. Adorn the look further with makeup, jewelry, and matching footwear.

Wearing a sari will become as simple as it can be if the above steps are followed. Not only can you wear it as elaborated above, but different types of saris can be worn in different styles that complement your culture, length you desire, type of material and occasion. Some of these include Bengali draping style, Lehenga sari draping style, Maharashtrian draping style, Butterfly style, and the mermaid style. Hence, it is undoubtedly the most elegant and sophisticated attire that can be worn, well appreciated by every woman for the multifariousness of draping techniques.

5. Focuses on the Targeted Audience

In case the brand has already chalked out its target audience in advance, it becomes the duty of the copy to convey the message to it impactfully. An excellent execution of this idea is Limeroad.com which allows consumers to make your own look and design an album which you would like to sport for any specific event. Not only does this lead to higher conversion rates, it makes the selection easier for those who are also looking for something in the same niche.

6. Uses Appropriate Words for Maximum Impact in You Product Descriptions

When you say ‘marvelous’, ‘magnificent’ or ‘smashing’, the sole purpose is to imbibe in the consumer a feeling of awe, hence leading to a significant increase in the interest level. However, just using power words is not going to lead to any results until and unless they are correlated to a call for action. Write catchy headlines, make full use of SEO storytelling to create maximum impact

These words, also known as action words are the ones which entice the consumer to take a step and finish the shopping process. As Shirley Polykoff had rightly put it “Copy is a direct conversation with the customer”. By not making your copy impressive enough you are breaking the most obvious easy link that you can set with them.

Go through the product description of SJCAM SJ4000WIFI Action Camera on Amazon.in and see how the words and tone of voice have been used to create a maximum possible impact on the mind of the customer.

Summing up

Effective e-commerce copywriting has the power to direct the mind of the consumers into making a purchase decision. Most importantly it helps the consumers move ahead and trace out the details that they wish to find. While on one hand it helps set a brand image in the consumer’s mind, on the other hand, it uses persuasive techniques to convince the consumer that he is making the right choice.

Conclusion

People these days turn up to the internet when it comes to looking for any kind of information. Having one look at an e-commerce site and its content gives the reader a fair idea of what to expect. However, it is the impact and the presentation style of the details mentioned that makes the consumer sit through and notice the exclusivity and features of your product.

If you are able to present your audience with engaging content then be sure that this tie up with your brand will be maintained in future too. Keep in mind that consumers have a fickle mind and if they feel something amiss they are prone to move to another market player. Your content and its presentation are the only two things which can make your brand stand out and let them stay by your side.

Creating a wonderful website which is both captivating and renders a stunning portfolio is not a guarantee for its success. You will not be able to sustain your online presence if it is not Search Engine Optimized. When it comes to SEO, everyone wants to achieve better search ranking on Google, and hence a better organic search traffic, which is one of the main drivers of business growth. When it comes to SEO, everyone wants to achieve better search ranking on Google, and hence a better organic search traffic, which is one of the main drivers of business growth.

SEO techniques today have undergone big changes. The trouble is, such tweaks have always been regular. No one wants to get penalised by following wrong SEO practices which are against the current algorithms which Google uses while ranking in SERPs.

So, making your visitors stay longer on the website you own and interacting with the content you have, can really get better search engine ranking of your website. In this article, we will discuss some of the best SEO tips to improve your website rankings, and therefore increase the number of organic visitors to your website.

1. Focus on All Aspects of SEO

Most of the people spend a large percentage of their time focusing on keywords and not on other important aspects of SEO. Working on keyword optimisation is important but you need to consider other factors too. Google Search engine algorithms not only rate the relevance of the keywords you use on pages and in Metadata, but they also evaluate the information such as how long the visitors stay on your website, pages viewed, outbound and inbound links and so on.

2. Select the Best Keywords to Focus On

Keywords still remain as one of the most important elements of SEO and the first step in Search engine optimisation process is to pick the search term or the phrase for which you want your website to show up. For example, if I am starting a website for selling bags online, I will find out what people actually look for when it comes to searching bags. There are some great tools which will help you in this regard. Though there are many tools at your disposal but Google Keyword Planner seems to be very authentic and an official selection tool when you want to plan keywords for Google Search ranking. Although this tool from Google is free to use, you will need to set up the AdWords account to gain access.

Once logged in, you need to research well and find keywords for which the competition matches the authority of your website. High authority websites have the liberty to aim for the top competitive keywords with the backing of an extensive SEO foundation. On the other hand, low authority websites can aim for keywords with medium competition at the most to stand a realistic chance at ranking.

3. Do proper research for the competition and create targeted content

After you have decided on the topic of the blog, it is the time to search the competition for that keyword on Google. Use the ‘Private browsing’ mode on the web browser you are using, so that Google does not use the past search history to bring an influence on your search results page. With the same keyword, look for all the content on the first page of Google and ignore Ads on top. After researching the competition, create amazing types of content that can beat out even the best content from your competitors.

A relevant and appealing content is the norm, which will influence both your audience as well as Google which will take a note of quality to rank your website higher. Dwell time is the time spent by the visitors when they visit your website and it is also a big factor in terms of your website’s SEO ranking on Google. When you are providing a useful and relevant content, visitors will stay longer on your website in order to consume information and therefore, the dwell time is increased. Based on a recent research from Quicksprout, a content of 2000-2500 words seems to achieve a high rank in search engine results. If the word count is large, the content gets the opportunity to include more keywords, more outbound links and of course readers spend more time to read it.

4. Put everything in place when it comes to the keyword usage for better SEO ranking

Be sure to put the keyword in the title of your page. Also, use the keyword at least once in the subheadings of the blog post. This structure is very useful as it helps Google understand exactly what your blog post is about. If your blog post contains images, then use those images to tell Google about the topic of your post. In order to do this, simply change the name of the image on your computer to the name containing the keyword you use.

Similarly, don’t forget to put an alt tag to your image which is also required for a better SEO of your blog. Also, use the keyword in your post URL. Here are two examples – www.coolbags.com/4555688-1 www.coolbags.com/coolbags So, which URL do you think Google will prefer? Obviously the second one. It will help Google understand what the post is about rather than the first which can kill your SEO efforts.

5. Page load speed matters!

Your page load speed is another important ranking factor. The longer it takes for the page to load, the more visitors you end up losing. This aspect has to be taken very seriously otherwise it will kill your Google rankings in no time! There are several ways to increase your page load speed. Here are the important ones –

• Use caching plugins
• Make sure that your website code is clean and streamlined
• Optimize image sizes
• Minimize redirects
• Reduce the number of plugins and use only those which are needed.

A Research from Unbounce has shown that using good quality images increase the website conversion rates to a great extent. With proper optimisation of the images, you can not only take the benefit of the appealing images to attract more audience but can also improve the visitor experience by improving page load time and thus, achieve better SEO rankings.

6. Outbound Links

For making your website content more useful and relevant, you can link out to interesting and informative websites and blogs for more in-depth information. Linking to respected authority sites not only helps in increasing the content quality and relevance of your content but also sends trust signals to Google and thus improves your Google SEO scores. However, too many outbound links can distract your readers and should, therefore, be avoided.

7. Remove or Fix each and Every Broken Link

Broken links create a bad impression of your website content as no one ever wants to land on a 404 page after clicking on a link while reading your content. Moreover, search engines like Google do not respect broken links at all on web pages and treat them as a signal that your website is an old and neglected case.

So beware of 404s! They can seriously impact your SEO ranking on Google!

Bottom-line

Well, before we conclude, just do not overlook the power of social media. You should definitely use it to expand your online presence, which also attracts the attention for better search engine rankings. Instil videos of your business in your content and get higher engagement and better search engine visibility! Although trends keep on changing as Google algorithms keep on getting tweaked from time to time, we expect that all the SEO tips mentioned here will dominate the scene at least through 2017. The importance of all the factors explained above will not diminish in the foreseeable future since they are a very integral part of the SEO strategy of any kind of website!