Content Research
Here are some content research tools that can help you get in touch with your niche.
- BuzzSumo- Simplifies the entire research process by pulling in popular posts through the use of keywords. Search results can be sorted based on social networks, which helps spotlight content that would appeal to target audiences.
- Ubersuggest- Another tool for keyword research, Ubersuggest spotlights attention-getting content ideas by expanding the seed keyword with suggestions from Google Suggest and Google Ads Keyword Planner.
- Portent’s Content Idea Generator- This is a free tool that can help you generate content ideas.
- Quora- A Q&A website that taps into what your target audience asks for. Just use the built-in search feature and useful suggestions will pop up.
- Reddit- This discussion site has specific subcommunities or “subreddits” for everything, which is a great learning tool for inquisitive minds.
Collaboration
A lot of writing is done collaboratively. Editors work read and revise content before publication, and teams work together with writers on presentations, memos and documents. Although some apps require subscriptions, many offer free versions with ways to collaborate. These tools include:
- Google Docs- This cloud-based document editing platform creates a space that multiple users can work in collaboratively.
- Evernote- A cross-platform app that lets you manage documents across devices.
- Notion- Similar to Evernote, this tool lets you write, plan, collaborate and get organized all in one place.
- Dropbox - A cloud-based app that lets you write, edit, comment and share content.
- Asana- A tool that lets teams organize their work in one shared space.
Grammar and Style
- Grammarly- Personally, I find the corrections and autocorrections from Microsoft Word annoying, but they do help identify basic spelling or punctuation errors. Grammarly also offers a contextual spell-checker to identify commonly confused words (for example, ensure vs. insure), saving you from a literary faux pas.
- Hemmingway- This app goes a step beyond in the editing genre. It’s a task I usually depend on friends for. After pasting your content in a browser, Hemmingway will help you rephrase your work in a clear and concise manner, indicating through color coding several different types of editing options, such as how to eliminate passive voice. This app also has a readability feature that tells you how difficult your writing is to comprehend. Wow!
- OneLook Reverse Dictionary- This is an app I want for my crossword clues. Just add a concept you’re thinking of or want to write about, and OneLook Reverse Dictionary will give you a list of related words and phrases.
- Tried and True Editing Apps- Here are some additional editing and formatting apps that you can use to check manuscripts: Reedsy Book Editor (free), Scrivener (free for the first 30 days, $45 license fee), Ulysses ($4.99/month, $39.99/year), iA Writer (free for 14 days, then $29.99 for Mac, $19.99 Windows), yWriter (free), Storyist (free for 15 days, $59.99 license fee), Final Draft (free for 30 days, $249.99 license fee), ProWritingAid (free with limited features, $70 subscription), Readable (free, $4/month Pro version), Natural Reader (free), and, FocusWriter (free).
SEO and Analytics
As a content creator, you need to know how to produce engaging content and optimize it for searches using keywords that resonate with your audience. The quality of content is essential. It should be informative and interesting to engage the user. The organization of the content is also important, such as the addition of subheadings to break up the text. Measuring the impact of your work and then refining it is also critical for SEO sucess.
Here are some tools that can help with content optimization.
- Yoast SEO- This is a WordPress plugin that rates readability and SEO of your content. You can also use Yoast to focus on keywords for each post.
- Inspectlet- This app captures user behavior so you know how long users were on your website and where they focused their attention. It also helps determine if people are leaving the siteand helps you create content that is more appealing to readers.
- Google Analytics- Google Analytics It’s free and provides the kind of information you need to help you improve content, such as. measuring page views, average session time, and bounce rates.
- Google Search Console – lets you monitor the performance of your site and optimize it for search engines.
- LeadFWD- This site is for writers who want readers to spend more time on their website. LeadFWD reports where visitors spend their time on your site and for how long. This helps you tweak content to make it more engaging.
- Awario- This tool monitors conversations on social media, so you fine tune your content to generate more interest. It’s a great tool for business development! It helps
No matter what your writing entails, these tools will help fine tune your efforts.