No, I’m talking about robots who write content for you (that would be silly!), but handy tools that make the writing process a whole lot easier.

Here are 3 tools you might want to check out. And yep, they’re all free…

#1: Zemanta

This is a very useful browser plugin that helps you find related content and Creative Commons images as you write your content. It automatically inserts the links, images and provides proper accreditation, making it easy to create richer content for your readers. You can also download it as a WordPress other blog platform plugin.

Watch the video below for a 60-second demonstration.

More info: Zemanta.com

#2: Post Ideas+

This WordPress plugin helps you keep track of your post ideas as you come up with them, and saves them separately in your WordPress control panel.

You can sort your ideas by a priority you set, by title and more. Then when you’re ready to use an idea, you can click “Write” to turn the idea into a post and it will delete it from your ideas list.

More info: Post Ideas+ Plugin Download Page

#3: TouchGraph SEO Browser:

This one is pretty cool. All you do is enter a topic and the browser will show you a visual diagram of popular related sites. It also shows a list of searches, search results from Google and the top sites for that topic. You can even enter additional topics and it will show you the relationship between those ideas. It’s great for brainstorming related ideas, finding sources of information and more.

More info: TouchGraph SEO Browser

Of course, if you’re just looking for topic ideas already done for you, we have 100 ideas in a variety of niches for you. Check them out here. Use those and a tool or two from above…and you may never run out of ideas again!

photo credit: GabrielaP93

Blogging success doesn’t just depend on providing great content.

More often than not, people follow blogs because they like the writer, like the writer’s values and can relate with them – In addition to learning from the content itself.

So how can you build more of a personal connection with your readers? How can you let your personality shine through more?

How can you build that all important sense of writer-reader bond?

Method #1: Ramble

Instead of writing in a careful, deliberate or even professional fashion, try just rambling.

Pick a topic and let loose. Fire off your thoughts on the subject and don’t hold back.

Go on tangents as you think of them. Try to just let your writing flow rather than carefully controlling what you write.

This style of writing will sound a lot more like how you sound in person talking to a friend than when you’re writing something for an internet audience.

Your personality will come across a lot more. While it’s possible to go too far, in the beginning err on the side of sharing too much rather than too little. You can always scale back later.

Write in freeflow, then set it aside. If, a day or two after writing it, you feel that you went too far off course, then come back and edit it. More likely than not however, you’ll probably find that your writing actually sounded more personable while still maintaining professionalism.

Method #2: Tell a Story

Stories can be used to both teach and connect. There’s something inherently very attractive about stories.

Whenever you begin to tell a story, people instinctively go into a slightly different state of mind. People are trained to listen to stories almost like how they watch a movie: In a receptive, ready to be entertained mode.

A story should follow the formula of Setup > Tension / Problem > Resolution. Start by explaining the scene, setting up the scenario or hinting at a lesson. Then there should be some sort of dynamic where there’s a challenge presented. Finally the challenge is overcome (or failed to overcome, in some cases.)

End the story by sharing the moral or the lesson. Integrating lessons into stories are not only more entertaining and more personable, but also helps land the moral of that story more solidly.

Method #3: Explain How You Arrived at a Controversial Stance

One of the most compelling ways you can put your personality across is to share your beliefs and why you believe them.

Every belief that we hold has its formative roots in a powerful life experience or a powerful idea that germinated inside our heads.

In either of these cases, the stories of how these beliefs were formed are usually very interesting and very entertaining to other people.

You don’t need to convince other people of your beliefs and you most certainly don’t want to make someone wrong for believing what they believe. However, sharing the reasons why you believe something in and of itself can be a great way to connect with your audience.

The Mindset of Getting Personal

More than any specific technique or method, getting personal with your readers is a mindset.

Instead of trying to write objectively, or instead of trying to write according to an “article formula,” the key is to try and get your personality to come across.

That means making the same witty remarks that you might in person. Or making little side comments about a topic. Or it might mean telling a quick 20 second story in the middle of an otherwise serious article.

Writing that is infused with personality has a different quality, a different texture, a different feel to it. People read it and instinctively get that it’s written by a real human being.

Pick one of these techniques and try it out in your next article or blog post. It’s possible to go too far on the personal end of the spectrum, but more often than not most people err too far on the impersonal end.

- Derek

photo credit: dreamhamar

The “how to” article is one of the most popular article formats on the internet. A large percentage of web browsers are online to look for information.

If you present this information in the right way, you can turn that browser into a loyal reader for life.

Not all how to articles are created equal. A great how to article should capture attention, get the reader emotionally engaged and end with them feeling like they got massive value.

A poor how to article sounds boring and doesn’t provide enough new content for the reader to feel excited about it.

How do you write a top notch how to article?

Plan the Article by Predicting Questions

Your goal with a how to article should be to answer their main question, as well as any questions that might come up as they’re reading the article, as well as any questions that they might not even think to ask yet.

Accentuate each question by giving real life examples. Paint them a picture of a situation where the question might come up, then give the answer.

For example, if you run a fishing website and you’re talking about choosing a fishing rod, you might give a few different examples based on different kinds of budgets.

Share Your Personal Story

Whenever you write a how to, it often helps to add in your personal story.

The personal story does several things. First, it lends you credibility. People want to know that the person they’re learning from has personally been through what they’re going through and came out the other side.

It also helps make things more personable. Instead of just an arbitrary third party giving them advice, you suddenly become a real person. They can relate to you and they’ll warm up to you.

All the while, you’re illustrating your point through your personal story. You’re educating them by showing them how you did what they want to do.

Your personal story shouldn’t take up the entire how to, but it often helps to just drop it in somewhere.

Use Attention Catching & Emotional Language

When it comes to writing for a web audience, it’s not enough to just have good information. Your content needs to be fun to read as well.

Internet users are used to flicking through websites at lightning speeds. They rarely pause to read an entire article online.

If you want someone to actually read what you wrote, you need to capture their attention.

Do this by clearly communicating the benefit in the headline of your how to. Use emotional words throughout your article to keep people engaged.

Write great subheads that get scanners to start reading. Make sure your subheads make sense even if someone didn’t read the previous paragraph(s), as many scanners will be skipping around.

Add a Useful Photo

A good photo or two can go a long way, especially if the photos are informative and tied to the content.

For example, if you’re writing a tutorial on how to reduce your monthly expenses, you might include a “before” and “after” shot of your personal tracking software.

Or if you’re talking about how to use Facebook’s advertising platforms, a few screenshots of the setup process can help make everything you’re talking about a lot more concrete.

Adding photos takes more effort than just writing an article, but it’s worth it.

Be Committed to Solving Their Problem

This last tip is more ethereal than the rest. It speaks more to where you’re coming from as you’re writing.

When you’re writing, put yourself in their shoes. Or put yourself mentally back to where you were several years ago, when you were still experiencing that problem.

Write to that person. Be absolutely committed that the content you’re writing will help them. You might not completely solve their problem, but you must at least get them to the next step along their path.

How your writing comes out when you’re committed to your reader’s success sounds completely different than when you’re just writing an arbitrary list of tips.

Writing great “how to” articles is a strong basis for any website. These tips will help you make your “how to” articles jump out and really solve problems for your readers.

- Derek

Here are 8 things you can do to impress your readers. You’ll notice that a lot has to do with the quality of your content, but visuals play a big role too. Humans are very visual creatures, so never underestimate the power of looks when it comes to content…

1. Pay Attention. Pay close attention to what your readers want to know about. Ask them to submit questions, read their comments, email replies and be aware of what they say on social media. It’s a wealth of information for you.
2. Do Your Research. Sure, you may know a lot about a topic, but going that extra mile to find what others are saying on the subject, what studies have been done and more raises the credibility of your content.
3. Include Statistics. Not only do statistics add validity to what you say, they have that wow power too. If there are surveys or studies done on your topic, seek out statistics and include them in your writing.
4. Add Images. Just getting your content read is the biggest challenge, so do what you can to grab attention. A photo or image that conveys the essence of your article is priceless in getting your content read and remarkably, adds value to your content too.
5. Show the Steps. Instead of just writing the step-by-step instructions to do something include photos, screenshots or a video to help your readers along.
6. Give them Tools. This is one of the simplest, but value boosting things you can do. If your content lends itself to a spreadsheet, worksheet or some kind of printable, provide it. Your readers will thank you and they can easily apply what you’ve taught them.
7. Share useful Resources. If you know of other resources that can help your readers, share them. And hey, if you can use an affiliate link to do so, go for it.
8. Follow up. If your readers respond to a certain piece of content, expand on it and follow up. Use your readers response to guide what you do next.

Go the extra mile to engage your readers and even increase your response. And with response in mind, don’t forget your call to action!

photo credit: photo fiddler

One aspect of content writing that isn’t often discussed is FLOW.

Flow is what makes your writing sound seamless. It’s what makes your writing read naturally.

When there is flow, people who read your writing will feel like they’re gliding through your content, learning and enjoying their way through.

When there isn’t flow, the writing will feel choppy. It’ll feel unnatural and it just won’t be as fun to read.

The best writers in the world have all mastered flow. It’s an essential part of writing content that people want to read.

What creates flow and how can you add flow to your writing? Let’s take a look.

Create Flow by Being In Flow

Your writing is a reflection of the state of mind you were in when you wrote the content.

If you had to stop, think and rewrite your way through the entire piece, chances are people will experience your writing as choppy as well.

On the other hand, if you were in a flow state when you wrote the content, if the words flowed easily from your mind to the page, if the ideas came freely, chances are people will feel that from your writing as well.

When you’re writing, try to put yourself in a state of just letting the words come without thinking about it. Don’t edit.

Write from your intuition rather than writing from your perfectionist mind. Let your intuition write and just let the writing flow onto the page.

What to Do if Flow Isn’t Coming

At times, you’ll find that you just can’t get in a flow state. When that happens, the best way to get unstuck is to use what’s called a “break state.”

That’s when you take a break, do something completely different that jars your system, then come back to writing with a fresh perspective.

Examples of break states include jumping in a swimming pool, going for a strenuous workout, playing competitive video games or just anything else that gets your mind completely off the writing.

When you come back, sit down and just start writing. Again, filter as little as possible and just write write write.

Often time’s the most difficult part of getting into flow is writing the first couple sentences. But once you begin a thought and the thought is on paper, you’re off to the races.

Editing, Adding To and Changing Flow Content

When you write content in this manner, it’s important that you come back to it in a day or two to edit it. This gives your mind some time to break from the writing, then see it from a fresh perspective.

You’ll probably catch spelling mistakes, grammar errors and sentences that you’d like to phrase in a different way.

However, at times you’ll find entire ideas that you want to change or entire segments that you’d like to edit. Or you might just want to add a few paragraphs to elaborate on a point that you didn’t feel was clearly expressed.

When you make major edits to a piece that was written as one coherent piece in a flow state, it’s possible that you’ll break the flow of the piece.

Make sure that when you do major edits, you read and re-read the entire piece to make sure it still flows. Make sure the new areas don’t break the flow before the added text and after the added text.

Getting in the Habit

At the end of the day, once you’ve been doing this for a while, flow becomes a habit. Instead of “doing” writing that flows, you’ll “be” a writer who can write in flow easily.

That’s the ideal goal. When you can write effortlessly on whatever topic you choose and create a piece of content that people experience as joyful to read.

- Derek