You have to put a new spin on old information. You have to give people a reason why they want to read what you have to say. To stay competitive and current on issues in the world, professional bloggers post three to six articles every week. These run 500 to 1,000 words each, but depending on your industry, this might be excessive and turn off readers who have short attention spans. To help you get to the next level in blogging, here are some software products that are good for creating content.
1. StackEdit
This product is meant for bloggers who regularly post to WordPress from Google Docs or Microsoft Word without formatting. Besides a spell-checking component, it allows users to sync files from Doodle Drive or Dropbox. Writers can post the material directly into Blogger, Tumblr, WordPress or Dropbox in HTML format.
2. Unplag
This will find content that is similar to yours so you can avoid plagiarising others. It was developed for students, but it has its place for professionals too. The software compares two or more text files for Internet sources.
3. Portent’s Content Idea Generator
Who hasn’t had a writer’s block? It can be especially painful when sitting on a deadline and no ideas are available. This software solves the problem of writer’s block. Portent’s Content Idea Generator will give you ideas. It helps you brainstorm headlines, topics or copy for the body of a blog.
4. Easel.ly
The software will make your blog even better because you will be able to include an infographic along with the blog. It comes with ready-made templates. You add, edit or remove the infographics until you have them the way you want them. The grid in the software allows you to make sure text or pictures are symmetrical. When you are done, you can convert into a PDF and submit to your blog.
5. Hemingway
Like the author that gave it its name, Hemingway allows writers to improve their blogs. It offers tips on readability, poor word choices, long-winded sentences or run-on sentences and grammar mistakes. If your blog is reading at a level of grade 11 or a level of grade 7, you will know and make adjustments depending on your audience. If you tend to write in a passive voice, Hemingway will tell you how to make the sentence more active. When you are done, you can convert it into HTML.
6. Camtasia
Blogs that come with videos are ranked higher, are more searchable and are more interesting for readers. Therefore, professionals who use videos and share them are more successful. Camtasia is considered the best software to capture and record the parts of a video that will improve your blog and make your writing more interesting to writers. The software will split visual, auditory and speech into separate tracks, which allow you to edit them separately and make the video a professionally produced one.
7. CoSchedule
This software is for Twitter users. Because of Twitter’s size limitations, many people have trouble posting a link to their blog. This software will shorten the link so it can be shared on Twitter. It also will pick out a few keywords from your blog to tweet.
8. Feedly
Just like Google news alerts, Feedly will give you information relating to your industry or blogging topic of interest. You will be able to follow leaders of your industry through their Web sites, blogs and YouTube channels and not miss any hot issues. This will make you appear on top of what is on the readers’ minds, which will help you get more readers. You are also able to learn if people are discussing your blogs or ideas. Featured photo credit: deafconnected via deafconnected.com.au
