How Writing Online Is Different Than Print
Do you lack confidence in your writing ability? That is not uncommon, especially when someone first begins to write for an online audience. However, there are several ways you can boost your online writing confidence, and ability.
One way to build confidence and self belief is to understand exactly how you should write online. If you are familiar with writing in school, Internet content isn’t delivered in the same way. Remember these differences between online and off-line content, and you will quickly build your Internet writing confidence.
Content is usually shorter.
Online, your writing needs to be quick and simple. Use short sentences, short paragraphs, write for a scanner, and not a reader. Where off-line articles may be 5,000 words, online content is usually much shorter. You have to get your message across quickly, hook the reader, and get to your call of action before a web surfer gets distracted.
The reading level online is lower than off-line.
The average web reader reads on a 6th to 8th grade level. So don’t make your content too hard to understand.
Good online content contains links.
Web readers appreciate clickable text links that connect your writing with related content.
Strong online writing takes search engine optimization into account.
You should always write first and foremost for your audience. However, search engines will never find your content if it is not full of keywords and phrases related to the topic you are writing about.
Keep the above points in mind, and you will always understand exactly “how” to confidently write for the web.
Read Influential Bloggers to Build Your Online Writing Confidence
There is an old saying that states, “There is nothing new under the sun”. That means you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to write confidently for the Internet.
Just find others that you enjoy reading, and do what they do.
You probably have some favorite bloggers. What do you enjoy about the way they write? Is their content laid out in a visually friendly way? Do they put some of their personality into everything they right? What is it exactly that draws you to their website or blog again and again?
Answer those questions and you are well on your way to copying a successful online writing technique.
You can also use this little trick. Head over to Google or your favorite search engine. Search for “top” + “your niche” + “bloggers”. If you are in the scrapbooking niche, you would type “top scrapbooking bloggers”. Search through the top results.
These are the bloggers in your market which Google and the other search engines consider the most influential. Spend some time on those blogs and websites, reading the content there. Sign up for their email newsletters to see how those top bloggers in your niche write emails.
You will probably notice that the writing is simple, easy to understand, and delivered in a one-to-one, conversational style. However that online content is delivered, all you need to do is write in the same way and add your own personality. When you see people reading your online content, commenting and interacting, your confidence will quickly grow.
To Write Better Online Content, You Have To Write Frequently
Actor Billy Crystal plays a frustrated writer and writing coach in the movie “Throw Momma from the Train”. At the close of one of his writing classes, he tells his class that, “A writer always writes.” If you like slapstick comedies with a darker side to them, you should definitely check out that movie.
Seriously though, the character Billy Crystal played is right on the money regarding how you can become a more confident online writer. You can get better and more self-assured simply by writing more frequently.
Don’t be scared to “write to learn” when you are first starting out. You are learning as you go, finding out what does and does not work. Join a few writer’s forums and find people who currently create online content in your niche.
Ask them the quickest way to become a confident and capable Internet writer and they will invariably say you need to write frequently.
The more content you produce, the more people that will find your site, blog or articles online. You will slowly build an audience of people who enjoy the way you write. When they interact with you, this builds your confidence, since you see these people returning to your content over and over.
Write something today. Make a goal to write 5 or 10 pieces of content each week.
Choose a topic you are passionate about, write a blog post, and publish it to your blog or website. Don’t worry about search engine optimization or anything other than getting your content up there. The best way to develop confidence in any skill or ability is to use it, so start writing more today.
Be Unique When Writing Online
You feel confident and comfortable around your friends and family. That is because they appreciate you being the unique person you are. You are the only “you” there is.
Letting your personality shine through in your writing is a
great way to develop comfort and confidence online as well.
There is no one quite like you. You probably are aware of certain personality traits or quirks that you display. Remember to harness those unique qualities whenever you write, and integrate them into the topics you write about.
This means that if you have a particular grammatical no-no you are fond of using when you speak, use it. Don’t worry about grammar, so much as engaging your reader and being your unique self. If you have a straightforward and serious personality, write that way. People that appreciate that will find you, and you will build your audience.
If your personality is gregarious and outgoing, write that way. Web surfers who prefer that type of person will build your audience. Remember, it is a good idea to learn from writing lessons other successful and influential bloggers in your market can teach you. However, this doesn’t mean you should copycat their personality or writing style.
When you identify your own “voice” and let your personality shine through your writing, writing for the Internet, or anywhere else for that matter, is easy. You feel confident and comfortable when you write, that confidence shows in your content creation, and you build an audience that is as comfortable with you as you are writing for them.
4 Tips for Hooking the Typical Web Reader
Distracted. Hurried. A short attention span. Very demanding. Those are all traits of the typical web reader. Your message is competing with hundreds, if not thousands, of others. Practice the following proven tips for engagement and you will build your online writing confidence right alongside improved traffic, high conversions, better sales and profits.
1 – Your Headline Must Grab the Prospect’s Attention
Make a promise, ask a question or say something unbelievable with your headline. Whatever you do, you absolutely must grab your prospect’s attention to get them to read your copy. The greatest content in the world never gets read if your headline stinks.
2 – Aggravate a Big Problem
After you have grabbed your reader’s attention, mention a big problem that many people in your niche or market deal with. Then aggravate that problem, showing how the current problem is bad enough, but it can only get worse if something isn’t done about it.
Then provide a solution that leads to a strong call of action. Sometimes falling back on a formula is a great way to boost your writing confidence, because it delivers the results from a proven system.
3 – Tell a Story
Words tell, but stories sell. Whether you are actually trying to sell something or not, you are writing to engage your reader. Stories are easy to tell as well, just about anyone can tell a story. Take some normal occurrence from your life and write about it, somehow working it into your market or niche topic. Become proficient at telling stories and your online writing confidence will skyrocket, along with your traffic, sales and profits.
4 – Offer Something for Free
When people pat you on the back and say, “Great job”, that builds your confidence. The same thing happens when people think you are doing them a favor. Offer a valuable, problem-solving opt-in freebie that helps you build your email list. When you get feedback from your readers and followers telling you how awesome your opt-in bribe is, you can’t help but get a massive boost in confidence
