Lisa Mason, author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet, shares her strategies for speeding up the writing process. Although she says it may be difficult to learn at first, she assures writers that it will speed up the writing (and editing) process, reduce errors and allow a writer’s creative energy to flow, resulting in more valuable content.

The key to getting page views–and maintaining a high ranking on Google–is by keyword-optimizing your content. But this can also damper the readability and human likability of your article. Instead of optimizing for SEO bots, focus your attention on “reader-focused keyword density”, which seamlessly uses keyword optimization that doesn’t detract from the “meat” of the article. Jessie Haynes, owner of JHaynesWriter.com and WritePlanner.com, shares her tips for creating reader-focused keyword density that meets both human and SEO standards.

If you write online, there’s a good chance a client or website will require you to know basic hypertext markup language, or HTML. It’s the most common markup language used on webpages to customize or add content. This tutorial will guide you through the process, from using the codes effectively to little specifics to help you use your HTML knowledge efficiently.

Using a picture of a flower, or worse, a photo of you in your pajamas, isn’t a great way to gain more clients. In fact, it will make them scatter faster than you can say “But my SEOs are really good!”.

Here’s something all writers need to know: image plays a huge role in how clients perceive you. If you can’t take the effort to lose your hoodie in favor of a nice-fitting dress shirt, how can they expect you’ll handle their next project professionally (and on time)?

Using an effective “author photo”–the one photo used consistently on writing websites, your portfolio/website and any social media websites–is now vitally important for making a good first impression on clients, even before they shoot off that first email.

So you’ve done it–your first Associated Content, filled to the brim with ad-happy keywords. But a quick run through a keyword analysis program reveals your worst fears: the keyword density is too low. No need to panic, though. There are ways to increase your article’s keyword density without having to edit a single word, and here’s how.

Do you specialize your writing? Do you have a niche that you stick with more than others and that most of your writing centers around? If so, then it’s time you learn to market this for its full potential. You could be missing out on more earnings and higher rates because you don’t know how to benefit from writing specialization.

A vital aspect of creating online content involves the use of search engine optimized (SEO) keywords. While most online writers understand the value of strategically placing their keywords throughout their content, many forget that the title’s just as important. Incorporating keywords correctly within a title will increase the likeliness of your work being placed high on a search engines results page.

Associated Content’s new image gallery allows you to search–and select–photos to display with your article. This WritingJobResource.com tutorial walks you through the process, from selecting a photo from the public gallery to uploading your own photo.
Note: Please remember you need to have the proper rights to use photos you upload. Do not upload any photos you do not have permission to use.
This article is a part of the AC Tutorials series on WJR.  To view all of the articles included in this series, visit the AC Tutorials section.
Credits: Kevin MacLeod, Music/AssociatedContent.com

Although optional, Associated Content highly encourages writers to format their articles in small, easy-to-read paragraphs with clear subheadings to improve readability. You’re also more likely to be featured on Associated Content if you stick to this basic format.
Download the guide (PDF viewer required) here.
This article is a part of the AC Tutorials series on WJR.  To view all of the articles included in this series, visit the AC Tutorials section.

Some writers use Craigslist to snag new writing gigs (writer Carly Schuna credits her freelance writing success to the site), and while there’s nothing wrong with that, not all writing job posts are legitimate. Some may be elaborate money scams, veiled attempts to promote websites that really don’t pay for content, or people trying to find “sample articles” to steal for their own unscrupulous purposes. It’s definitely not cool, but it’s a fact of life if you want to find writing jobs on Craigslist.
But how do you separate …