Ever wished you could just write something, and have it published online the same day? Or that you could write something, and have your friends, family, and coworkers immediately recognize your talent?
Well, you can. All you need are a laptop or desktop computer, a WiFi connection, and a little bit of curiosity.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to start writing content online. We’ll go over the various options available to you, and we’ll assist you in deciding which path is the best for you.
The Basics
Before you can start writing content online, you need to have a clear idea of what you’re going to write. You also need to have the wherewithal to write it. More than anything else, writing is a skill. It takes considerable practice to get good at it. So, before you invest any serious time into creating content, you should have a firm grasp of the basics – what is a paragraph, for instance, or how to structure a brief story.
These are the things you should know how to do before you start creating content online. Once you have these basics under control, you can move on to the more complex elements of writing – sentence structure, building a narrative, and so on.
Choosing The Right Platform
From a technical standpoint, you have a number of options when it comes to online writing platforms. Depending on your experience, you may find one that is more suitable than others. To help you make the right decision, we have compiled a list of the best online writing platforms, along with important information about each one.
Squarespace – the platform with the most prominent annual revenue bump, according to Statista – is a solid choice if you’re a beginner looking to break into the industry. It’s also one of the simplest platforms available. To get started, simply choose a free account. From there, you can launch your site with the help of the platform’s extensive library of templates. If you need more advanced features, you can take advantage of the fact that you have a live chat representative available to help you any time you need it.
Hugo – another popular choice among writers – is another great option if you’re looking to start a blog. You can use the platform’s free version, which offers you a single domain and up to five daily articles, with no monetization features. To get the most from this option, you will need to upgrade to the pro plan. This costs you $5 per month along with additional features, including custom domains, monetized articles, and advanced SEO.
WordPress – the platform on which this website is built – is yet another popular choice among content creators. It powers roughly 30% of the sites on the internet. If you’re looking to create a quality blog, with the flexibility to monetize it, then WordPress is a fantastic choice. To get started, simply visit the platform’s website and click on the Get Started button to continue to the next step. You’ll then need to create a free account. From there, you can launch your blog with the help of WordPress’ extensive library of pre-designed themes. When it comes to monetizing a WordPress blog, you have a number of options. You can use one of the many affiliate marketing programs available online, you can sell and display ads on your site, or you can utilize the platform’s impressive affiliate program to generate a steady revenue stream. For more information on how to monetize a WordPress blog, check out this detailed guide by Future Inc.
The Importance Of Grammar
Grammar is one of the most vital tools of a writing (or speaking) medium. Without it, your content might as well be written in Pig Latin. Poor grammar makes you sound uneducated and foolish. So, if you’re looking to write something for the masses, make sure you polish your grammar.
To help you decide which path to take when it comes to writing, we have prepared a comprehensive guide to grammar as it relates to online content. So, if you’re looking to improve your writing style and get your work published online, you can use this resource to assist you in creating flawless writing that will make your readers associate you with intelligence and good taste.
The Options
Once you have your platform chosen, you can start exploring the many different ways in which you can use it. For the purposes of this article, we will discuss a handful of the most popular ways in which you can use online writing platforms. Below, you will find a short description of each of these, along with a link to the respective article if it exists. If it doesn’t, it means that the topic has not been covered in depth yet, and you can find the information you need by searching for the topic or platform on Google.
The first step in harnessing the power of an online writing platform is to determine which of the numerous features you need to access. Some of the more popular choices among writers include a word processor, a calculator, a database, and a gallery. If you’re just getting started, simply look for a free version that has the features you need. If you have a specific feature in mind, such as a spell checker or a thesaurus, take a look at the platform’s official website. There, you can find a comprehensive list of all the features that come with the selected plan. Once you have chosen the plan that suits you, you can move on to the next step.
The second step is to create an account on the selected platform. For the purpose of this guide, we’ll use Squarespace. Once you created your account on Squarespace, you can begin designing your website. You can use the platform’s drag-and-drop interface to build a basic website, or you can select from its library of templates. When you are ready to publish your website, simply click on the publish button.
Blogs
Blogs are a popular choice among content creators. A blog is simply a website or social media channel that publishes regular content. Most blogs are designed to be informative or entertaining, with the occasional hybrid blog existing that incorporates both elements.
The most popular blogs allow users to post content as often as they like. So, if you’ve got something to say, and you want to say it often, a blog is the perfect place for you. When it comes to making money from a blog, most writers choose to incorporate affiliate marketing into their strategies. This involves recommending products or services that the blog owner will earn a commission for. If you’re looking to create a passive income stream, you can do so with very little effort by promoting products related to your blog’s content (for example, if you’re writing about fashion, you can promote fashion accessories, and so on).
Vlogs
Video (or vlogs) are another popular choice among content creators. Like a blog, a vlog is a website or channel that publishes regular content, except the content is usually presented in the form of videos.
This content may include anything that can be presented in a video format – which basically means that you can use your webcam to record yourself talking about a variety of topics, including your experience with a certain product or service, an interview with a relevant guest, or just about anything else you can think of.
The best part about vlogs is that they’re extremely easy to start – simply gather a few videos of yourself talking about whatever you want, and you’re good to go. If you want to make a passive income stream from a vlog, the same principles apply as with a blog – promote related products, and you’ll be able to generate a steady revenue stream. However, you should know that many vlog platforms don’t allow monetization via affiliate marketing.
Content Marketing
If you’re looking to promote a product or service, one of the more popular choices among content creators is content marketing. This involves creating content to either inform readers about a certain product or service, or to entertain them.
The content may take any form that you can think of. There are no limits regarding what you can write about, although you should stick to topics that will interest your target audience.
If you are an entrepreneur who wants to grow your business, you can use content marketing to build credibility by providing useful information about your product or service in an entertaining way. For example, maybe you are an entrepreneur who wants to grow her business and establish credibility as a speaker on the subject of internet marketing. She might choose to write a blog post about how to build a profitable affiliate marketing website, or she could write an e-book about the same subject. In either case, she would then use her blog or website as a platform to promote her content.