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How to use a skeleton outline in writing. Including my personal method & template

Content writing is a creative process, first of all. But it doesn’t mean that it cannot benefit from a little structure and systematic approach. I feel like a lot of bloggers underestimate the benefits of skeleton outlines in their everyday work.

Why? Well, it is hard to say for everyone, but I think a lot of them do not like outlines since the college years.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Working on an outline might seem too academic and boring from first sight. But, it is still an excellent way to write faster, more efficient, and provide better content for readers.

If you want to know how to implement it in your blogging, let’s start with the basics. 

What are skeleton outlines?

To put it simply, a skeleton outline is a breakdown of the future post. It is a lot like a plan of what you are going to write with a specific structure. 

A great example of a skeleton outline is a table of content of any academic publication or non-fiction book. The table of content, in this case, is very particular and describes what each part of the text is about. 

An outline helps a writer to achieve several goals, starting with breaking down the big task into smaller parts. I always create a skeleton blog outline before writing a post or article because it helps me to be a better writer.  

And the best part is that it can be used for any writing type, whether it is an article, press release, essay, or blog post. The difference lies only in the structure of each of them. 

In their blog posts that cover the same topic as you are reading now, Coschedule has created a blog post outline template. You will find an outline or, as it is also called, a skeleton or skeletal outline on the picture below.

coschedule outline example
Source: https://coschedule.com/blog/how-to-write-a-blog-post/

I do not want to repeat others or tell you only some theoretical information about how important an outline can be when we talk about crafting a blog post and will move forward to my personal thoughts and experience.

For me, a blog outline serves as a guide on what I’m going to cover and in what order. It is also a perfect way to get rid of the writer’s block and fear of a blank page. You’ll never have to stare at the blank screen, thinking about what to write next because you have a plan. 

Why skeleton outlines are important?

There are several quite crucial benefits of starting with an outline.

  • It helps to write faster. When you have a plan, you know exactly what research you need to do and what type of information to look for. It works as a compass. It also helps to figure out the lengths, breakdown, and general idea of the piece. And you can work from section to section, not necessarily in the correct order. 
  • An outline adds up a logical structure. Logical flow is extremely valuable for good writing. And readers appreciate it, as it is much easier to follow something consequential. An outline gives perspective and helps to reorganize your ideas in the most powerful way. 
  • It helps to breakdown a task into smaller steps. It helps to stay motivated and inspired. Huge tasks are stressful and it is much easier to work on one part at a time.  
  • A skeleton outline makes your writing efficient. The more you use it, the easier and faster it gets to create a skeleton outline. Texts always follow approximately the same structure. In a couple of times, you’ll know exactly where to start. 
  • It helps to build stronger argumentation. Always start with the strongest points and deliver them one-by-one.  

My method of using skeleton outlines for blogging

Now, let’s get to practice. I’ll guide you through my process of creating a skeleton outline with the example of my blog post on humor. 

1.

Start with a title. Titles are important, every writer knows that. Ensure that it is specific, works for your blog, includes keywords, and is not too long. 

In my case, the title is “Usage of humor for your business. Funny but serious”. It is catchy, SEO-friendly, and shows the reader what the subject of the post is.  

P.S.

After reading the article, you can look at the final “Usage of humor for your business. Funny but serious” article that was written using the method I’m showing in the article.

2.

Research the subject and analyze what is extensively covered and what is missed. Consider what points you want to address based on your experience and knowledge. 

Your personal experience is king, do not be afraid to mention several points from your personal stories or your friends’ experience in your initial blog outline draft. That WILL BE useful, believe me, even if you’ll decide to remove some of them in your final skeleton.

3.

Write down the main points of the article. It is time to brainstorm ideas. Write them down without a particular order. Think about what you want to cover and what takeaways will be there for the audience. Put them one by one.

Write down the main points of the article
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

For example, my ideas for the post were:

  • Why the humor is used in marketing;
  • How often businesses use humor;
  • What are the benefits; 
  • What are the risks; 
  • Which techniques can a blogger use to create humorous content; 
  • Can a brand be serious while using humor in a marketing campaign;
  • Importance of humor in communication and everyday life
  • Examples of successful use of humor in business; 
  • Examples of fails; 
  • Types of humor techniques; 
  • Practical advice on how to be funnier in your writing. 

4.

Combine them into larger sections. Now it is time to rearrange them in a logical order and large groups. Some of the ideas are smaller; others are going to take a full section.

Define the bigger and most important points and add smaller aspects to them. Hubspot has clearly explained how to make larger outline sections in detail, so do not hesitate to have a look.

My personal blog outline skeleton template:  

  • Introduction 
    • Importance of humor in communication and everyday life;
    • Why it is used in marketing
  • Benefits of Incorporating Humor in Content Marketing;
    • Statistics;
    • List of benefits;
  • Risks of Incorporating Humorous Strategy in Business;
  • Funny but Serious: Humor in Business and Blogs
    • Usage of humor in your business blog and How to Do it;
    • General tips on the usage of humor;
    • Techniques to Make Your Blog Funnier;
    • Example of successful usage;
    • Examples of fails;
  • Examples of How to create funny content
    • Practical advice on how to be funnier in your writing. 
  • Business Writing Humor and Being Serious 
    • Can a brand be serious while using humor in a marketing campaign?
  • Summary 

5.

Go through the outline and make changes. Maybe replace some points or add marks like “find statistic data” or “link to research”.

spell check your outline

If there is no urgency, I would also suggest you leave the outline for one day. Take a nap or spend your time with friends and then recheck your outline with fresh thoughts. This will help you to gain some new ideas before you have started writing.

6.

Include the links to the sources you are going to use for each section. It will surely help you once you’ll start drafting your blog post. You can also add keywords to the subtitles.

In my opinion, it will help you from the beginning, but sometimes it doesn’t make sense because of the high chances that you’ll rewrite headings and subheadings during the writing process. Therefore, this trick is up to you 😉

Hoooray!

Okay, let’s go! Now you are ready to start writing, following your astonishing outline skeleton.

Skeleton outline is extremely helpful in any type of writing. It organizes thoughts and ideas, helps to write faster and creates a logical flow.

At the same time, it helps to overcome the writer’s block as you always have a plan on what to cover next. 

If you have some personal methods that might be useful for my readers, kindly share them in the comments. I’ll be glad to find some new and unusual ways.

Vasy Kafidoff
Vasy Kafidoff

Vasyl Kafidoff is a founder and mastermind of KAFIDOFF.COM. He has a strong interest in education, modern technology, marketing, and business management.

If Vasy is not working, you can find him somewhere in the world attending a Rock Concert with his mates.

Personal website
  • How to use a skeleton outline in writing. Including my personal method & template
    Content writing is a creative process, first of all. But it doesn’t mean that it cannot benefit from a little structure and systematic approach. I feel like a lot of bloggers underestimate the benefits of skeleton outlines in their everyday work. Why? Well, it is hard to say for everyone, but I think a lot […]
  • 8 best sites for hiring freelance writers in 2020 – list with Pros and Cons
    Freelance writer websites serve as a great resource to find professionals to perform almost any task. There are quite a few of them now. Some freelance sites specialize specifically in writing when others offer a platform to all types of specialists. But how to find the best freelance copywriting websites available on the web? The best […]
  • The 4 writing skills bloggers are looking for – and NOT finding.
    When it comes to blogging, you’ve probably heard that “writing skills for bloggers are essential”. Everybody says that but what does it actually mean?  There are lots of articles on how to become a better writer, but the only thing they suggest is writing more. If you want to write, you’d better write. Well, it […]
  • How much should you pay for a blog post?
    How you all doing? Within the last several weeks, I was researching average blog post rates, and I think my findings will be interesting for all of you. So, let us figure out how much to charge for a blog post. In this article, I will explain how much you should pay for a blog […]
  • 9 simple yet impact ways to make your blog content delicious.
    Hey there! Have you ever asked yourselves what makes a good blog post? How to create content for a blog and what to put in it? I’m going to answer all these questions in this article by providing my custom blog writing tips. Most of the content creators spend hours, days, and even weeks on […]

8 best sites for hiring freelance writers in 2020 – list with Pros and Cons

Freelance writer websites serve as a great resource to find professionals to perform almost any task. There are quite a few of them now.

Some freelance sites specialize specifically in writing when others offer a platform to all types of specialists. But how to find the best freelance copywriting websites available on the web?

the best freelance writers websites
Photo by Joseph Frank on Unsplash

The best freelance writing sites often provide secure opportunities for both clients and writers. They are the medium that helps to find each other and make the cooperation protected from scams.

How to find the best freelance writer websites?

It is quite obvious why there are so many freelance writing websites now.

First of all, they are here to fulfill the demand for content creation, whether it is blogging, digital marketing, or academic assignment.

Secondly, they show the overall tendency of the workforce’s shift to freelance and project-based cooperation. 

There is no ultimate website that will be perfect for any client. Different freelance writing sites are beneficial for specific needs. Some offer more journalism-related gigs, other academic services, some are more affordable, and others are quite pricey.

It all depends on what you are looking for in particular. 

That’s why I’ve gathered a diverse list of the best freelance writing sites of 2020 with the main pros and cons to choose from. 

Okay, lets go!

Fiverr

freelance writers website - FIVERR

This website is not devoted exclusively to writing, but it has some great professionals. It is designed to help businesses find professionals to work on their projects, whether it is graphic design or content creation.

Fiverr is one of the content writing sites for those who are on a budget. The policy of the website is that the job can be done for $5 and up. So it is quite possible to find someone to do the task for a reasonable price.

The main feature is that writers post the gigs they can do and a business representative finds a suitable candidate. 

Pros: 

  • It is affordable and they are fixed rates, no hourly rates; 
  • The site offers payment protection (it is done when the client confirms satisfaction with the job);
  • Some writers work with multiple languages, not only English; 
  • You can view finished projects to see whether the specialist is suitable for your project; 
  • Comprehensive rating system.

Cons:

  • Looking for professional might take a while as there are many gigs; 
  • Although the basic rate is low, the top professionals might charge significantly higher; 
  • If you need a text-only from a native speaker, the search might also take more time; 
  • You cannot post a gig as a business representative, you need to find the writer yourself.

iWriter

best freelance writing sites - iWriter

This is a designated freelance writer website that provides services from 2011. It has a pretty big database of authors that specialize in different topics. There are also many professionals from various geographical locations.

iWriter is pretty affordable for clients and offers fast results. One of the major benefits for businesses is that the registration is free. All authors are divided into four categories, such as standard, premium, elite, and elite plus based on their submissions.

This is one of those content writing sites that ask authors to submit the examples of their work before they can take orders. 

Pros:

  • Affordable prices, starting at $1.40 per 250 words; 
  • Free registration and great database of professionals; 
  • Clear rating system; 
  • Ability to approve content before releasing payment.

Cons:

  • You might receive a text written by not a native speaker; 
  • Low prices mean that some of the writers are just beginners; 
  • Not every writer is an expert, and if you are giving low quotes, the quality might also be on the same level. 

WritingMetier

freelance writers sites - WritingMetier

WritingMetier is one of the best professional writing websites that offer high-quality services.

The main difference from others is that it is an agency that works with top-notch authors. It means that the quality of the services, as well as customer support, is managed by one dedicated team. It certainly adds responsibility and security. You are not working with an individual, but with a business with years of experience.

Like the most expert copywriting services on the web, they have a little higher prices as they have a massive team of writers who specialized in almost all the fields and a group of supports managers.

If you want to know more about general quotes for writing a blog, in case you or your business is willing to outsource this part of work, check my blog writing pricing article.

This service specializes in academic, business, and content writing. The main advantage is that you don’t have to post anything or look for a specific specialist, you just make an order and it will get done. 

Pros:

  • Professional and credible writing service with a great team of writers and excellent customer support; 
  • All team members are verified and the quality of the result Is at the highest level; 
  • You don’t need to look for professionals on your own, everything is taken care of; 
  • Prices are quite affordable, you can choose between standard, niche expert, or premium writer; 
  • Complete data and payment security.

Cons: 

  • It is a designated writing platform on the range of academic, business, or content writing, which might limit your choices; 
  • The prices are a bit higher than on freelance websites, but it comes with the quality of the verified writers and friendly support; 
  • There is no bidding on the price, they are fixed. 

Upwork

websites to hire freelance writers - UpWork

This is one of the most-known websites for freelance writers and other specialists.

UpWork is not designated to one particular industry, so there are lots of freelancers of any kind.

One of the main benefits is an advanced searching feature with lots of filters that help to find a required specialist faster.

It is a good freelance writer website as it has a vast database, a transparent rating system, and an opportunity to bid on the project. It means that when you post a task, many freelancers can apply with their proposals. This can be a downside too. If you receive 200 bids, it might take a while to go through them all. 

Pros:

  • High competition means that you can find someone to do the job on any budget level; 
  • Good search system that helps to find professional faster; 
  • Job Score system that helps to evaluate the professionalism level;
  • Payment protection system;
  • There are writers from almost any part of the world.

Cons:

  • The search for a suitable author can take a while; 
  • The number of bids on a project can also be overwhelming; 
  • To get a good deal you really need to dig deeper, it is not as speedy as it seems. 

Greatcontent

freelance copywriters websites - greatcontent

This is one of the freelance writing websites that specializes in digital content creation.

One of its main features is multilingual writing. The authors can write text on multiple languages, translate it, or localize. So it is the right choice for international businesses or those who are entering a new market.

Greatcontent is also one of the best freelance writing sites when it comes to SEO focused texts.

Pros:

  • Multilingual writing and translation; 
  • Localization of texts according to cultural specifics by native speakers; 
  • A wide database of verified writers (about 10,000);
  • Good customer support and project management;
  • SEO-focused writing services.

Cons:

  • The website is focused on a specific part of the industry, so if you need academic writing – it is not what you are looking for; 
  • It is a bit pricier than other freelance writing websites; 
  • It is an agency that is more beneficial for businesses rather than individual clients.

Constant-Content

best place to find freelance writers - constantcontent

This one stands out from other best freelance writer websites on this list because it offers mainly digital content and also has a database of pre-written articles to choose from. So you can choose something that has already been written to buy and publish, which is an excellent opportunity for those who need fast solutions.

Another distinctive feature is that this freelance writer website has a very strict hiring policy for writers because they have higher standards. The service also edits the works. 

Pros:

  • Highly-qualified authors that have fulfilled all the tests; 
  • The existing database of ready-to-purchase content; 
  • SEO-friendly texts; 
  • Easy and fast registration (free and takes a couple of minutes);
  • Work on blog posts of any type and lengths

Cons:

  • The main disadvantage is the price. The services cost more than other best freelance writing sites because of the hiring process and quality standards; 
  • Pre-existing content might not always be suitable for your needs; 
  • It is doesn’t do academic writing or journalism

WriterAccess

what are the best freelance writing sites - writeraccess

The list of the best freelance writer websites in 2020 wouldn’t be full without this one.

WriterAccess is a great platform for writers as they are free to apply but have to go through some testing to qualify. It is also open only to the authors from several countries, namely the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, to ensure that all of them are native speakers.

It is a freelance writing marketplace where you can choose the experience level of the professional and get a writer, editor, or translator for your project. 

Pros:

  • Offers 14 days of free trial for new clients; 
  • Fast results, a good database of writers (16,000); 
  • The platform also offers translation and design services;
  • The platform ensures a wide range of texts, from case studies and white papers up to social media posts.

Cons:

  • Quality comes with the price, the more expertise the writer has, the higher the price per word is;
  • If you are interested in multilingual texts it is not for you – the focus here is on English;
  • Business needs a membership subscription, which starts at $39 per month.

Freelancer

best online writing sites - freelancer

The mechanics of this platform is alike as Upwork. It is one of freelance writers websites that allows professionals to bid on the gig. And the employer decides who is suitable for the job.

It quite popular and has a lot of specialists ready to do the work. There are no fixed rates as the writers make their proposals based on what they charge (per word, per hour, or project).

It is not limited to writing; there are freelancers of all types here, from graphic designers and up to virtual assistants. 

Pros:

  • Wide talent pool one can reach;
  • Easy registration and posting opportunity;
  • Compatible prices;
  • Secure payment option;
  • As soon as you post a task freelancers make their proposals, so there is no need to search.

Cons:

  • Looking through many proposals might take time; 
  • The prices vary decently among professionals; 
  • There is no verification system for writers.  

Are you still searching for the best place to find freelance writers?

All of these freelance writers’ websites are credible and can help to meet outstanding professionals. Yet, they are different in prices, amount of writers, their focus, and hiring policies.

Of course, the best freelance writing websites would charge more for their services as it allows having higher quality standards. After all, you get what you pay for. 

Still thinking, is it the right choice to outsource blog writing? Feel free to check my article to figure out when you SHOULD consider outsourcing blog writing and start working on your blog from this very moment.

Vasy Kafidoff
Vasy Kafidoff

Vasyl Kafidoff is a founder and mastermind of KAFIDOFF.COM. He has a strong interest in education, modern technology, marketing, and business management.

If Vasy is not working, you can find him somewhere in the world attending a Rock Concert with his mates.

Personal website
  • How to use a skeleton outline in writing. Including my personal method & template
    Content writing is a creative process, first of all. But it doesn’t mean that it cannot benefit from a little structure and systematic approach. I feel like a lot of bloggers underestimate the benefits of skeleton outlines in their everyday work. Why? Well, it is hard to say for everyone, but I think a lot […]
  • 8 best sites for hiring freelance writers in 2020 – list with Pros and Cons
    Freelance writer websites serve as a great resource to find professionals to perform almost any task. There are quite a few of them now. Some freelance sites specialize specifically in writing when others offer a platform to all types of specialists. But how to find the best freelance copywriting websites available on the web? The best […]
  • The 4 writing skills bloggers are looking for – and NOT finding.
    When it comes to blogging, you’ve probably heard that “writing skills for bloggers are essential”. Everybody says that but what does it actually mean?  There are lots of articles on how to become a better writer, but the only thing they suggest is writing more. If you want to write, you’d better write. Well, it […]
  • How much should you pay for a blog post?
    How you all doing? Within the last several weeks, I was researching average blog post rates, and I think my findings will be interesting for all of you. So, let us figure out how much to charge for a blog post. In this article, I will explain how much you should pay for a blog […]
  • 9 simple yet impact ways to make your blog content delicious.
    Hey there! Have you ever asked yourselves what makes a good blog post? How to create content for a blog and what to put in it? I’m going to answer all these questions in this article by providing my custom blog writing tips. Most of the content creators spend hours, days, and even weeks on […]

The 4 writing skills bloggers are looking for – and NOT finding.

When it comes to blogging, you’ve probably heard that “writing skills for bloggers are essential”. Everybody says that but what does it actually mean? 

4 writing skills for bloggers

There are lots of articles on how to become a better writer, but the only thing they suggest is writing more. If you want to write, you’d better write. Well, it is true but it is not so much of a help. 

In the year 2020, 4.4 million blog posts are published per day. Competition is enormous; there is probably a blog on anything in the world. To stand out, one should be a great writer.

When I say it, I do not mean being good with grammar or knowing a couple of fancy words to slide in. I mean being passionate about what you do and incorporate techniques that help you achieve better engagement with the audience. 

Although there are many bloggers, not so many of them use four amazing writing techniques I’m going to talk about. Many of them just concentrate on the SEO aspect and such metrics like the length of the post and keyword stuffing. Of course, they are important, but if the text is plain, dry, or boring, no keyword will save it. 

Here are 4 rare writing skills that bloggers often miss out on

#1. Consistent Voice and Branding 

consistency is a key | 4 writing skills for bloggers

Why is it good to be consistent with your writing? Well, it helps to build trust with the audience and fulfill their expectations. It is also something that makes your style truly unique. 

After all, information can be found anywhere online; people stick with their favorite bloggers because of their unique perspective. Be consistent on all levels, such as:

  • Posting schedule; 
  • Style and voice; 
  • Relevancy of the topics;
  • Branding.

The posting schedule is quite clear, so let’s talk about style and voice right away. Having a personalized and distinct voice and writing style helps to make the delivery more personal and connect with the audience on a new level. 

It comes in many forms, starting from the use of spelling and up to metaphors. The style is a lot about technical details. It also makes the content more polished and professional. 

Another important thing – BE YOURSELF!

Vasy Kafidoff

Consistent style is exactly what makes you stand out of the competition. Maybe you choose a humorous approach or strong research, it is up to you. But stick to it because if you change the delivery with every post it looks disingenuous. 

be yourself | 4 writing skills for bloggers

Trust is built on the fact that readers know you and expect a certain type of content. The original writing style also keeps the readers engaged, looks pleasing, and holds the attention to the end of the text. 

Another important feature of the style is being dedicated to the topics you cover. There are lots of bloggers that write about everything and nothing at the same time. It is a bad idea. Find your niche, something you are good at and share your expertise. 

Do not jump from one topic to another because the audience will be confused and unsatisfied. If someone is subscribed to your travel blog, they are probably won’t be happy with the post on comfortable sofas. Even if your advice on that is valid. 

All of that together – style, delivery, and relevancy is what helps to build a brand. Some of you might say “well I’m not a brand, I’m just one person”. It doesn’t mean that a personal blog cannot be a brand. Branding in this case means building a credible online presence and establishing expectations among the readers. It is a foundation of building a loyal community. 

Look at the other spheres of life – people choose certain products or services because they like and support the brand. They trust the brand, expect a high level of quality, and share the same values. This principle applies to blogging. Branding is what makes your blog recognizable and trustworthy. 

Stay on-brand by sticking to your niche, having a consistent writing style (including technicalities and design branding), and by providing real value to the readers. 

#2. Expertise and Storytelling 

Your expertise in the field is the core of your writing. Show your expertise by building credibility, providing strong research or evidence, and by sharing your own experience. 

personal experience and storytelling | 4 writing skills for bloggers

Some bloggers think that being credible means being dry with facts. As if all people want are numbers and graphs. Do not get me wrong, they are cool. But it doesn’t mean you have to be boring. One of the amazing ways to make any content more vivid and engaging is storytelling. 

Storytelling is as old as the human race. We love stories, whether they are told or written. They are incredibly powerful too. Incorporating stories in your blogs can:

  • Make information more personal and close to the audience. I mean, it is much easier to relate to a character than to a graph;
  • Add memorability to the post. A concise story is easier to remember than just the facts;
  • Make your personal experience more exciting for the audience;
  • Offer a more transparent point of the text. With a powerful tale, you can deliver a message effectively.  

And if you are still not convinced, just listen to a David JP Phillips TED Talk on storytelling. He explains the brain biochemistry processes behind our fascination with stories. 

You can also check out the case of GrooveHQ that tested this technique in their blog and attracted 300% more readers to a post with a story. They posted the same text with and without it and compared the results. The conclusion is obvious – storytelling is a great advantage for any type of blogger. 

So how to do it properly? 

  • Open the post with a story. This is a great way to motivate the reader to read till the end. You can even keep the intrigue by not revealing the ending. 
  • Use a story as an example. Even the hardest concept can be explained with this skill.
  • Tell your own stories, something from the world outside, or anecdotes. It makes the post more personal, so it feels more like a conversation. 
  • Make it illustrative of the topic. Choose something that is relevant and goes along with the main message of the text. 
  • Always use 4 main elements of a successful story – character, problem, action, and solution. 
  • Be relatable. It is one of the most powerful effects of this technique. If the audience relates, they are more motivated, inspired, and trustful. Because they’ve been there!

Here’s one more tip for you – post and answer to readers’ stories. Ask them to share in the comments and provide an insight into the situation. It is a win-win option because to get in touch with the audience, have a story, and can show expertise. 

#3. Appeal to Emotions

Now, let’s head back to Ancient Greece. Sometimes it seems that everything was invented back there. And the rhetoric is not an exception. Rhetorical strategies for persuasion are used in public speeches, but you can actually use them in writing. 

appeal to emotions | 4 writing skills for bloggers
Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash

There is a well-known triangle that includes

  • Logos;
  • Ethos;
  • Pathos.

These are three types of arguments that can be used to persuade someone. Logos appeals to logic and reason, so it can mean factual information and scientific approach. 

You can share a case study or research in your post and appeal to the audience’s voice of reason. It is considered the strongest type of argumentation. And rightfully so, no one is arguing with facts. 

Ethos is based on the credibility of a speaker/writer. If you establish your expertise in the field, it will make your text more persuasive. Readers are already more likely to believe you because they respect your knowledge. You can add up to it by referencing only reputable sources in your posts.  

Pathos is an argumentation that appeals to emotion. In classic rhetoric, it is considered to be the weakest strategy. Of course, emotion will not conquer logic in a debate, but when it comes to choosing services, products, movies, blogs, or anything else – emotions are incredibly strong. The best strategy would be, of course, to use all three of them together. 

Why appealing to emotions is such an important blog writing skill?

Many writers choose to use only the credibility and voice of reason. It is a great basis for an article, but do not disregard the power of emotional appeal. People might say that they followed the logic when they did something, but for the most part, emotion is the driving force. 

The ability to evoke an emotional response in the audience will make your blog much more successful. Emotion is exactly what creates a deeper connection with the readers. It also provides a stronger reaction and response to something. That’s why it is so widely used in marketing and advertising. 

An emotional appeal has two main purposes in writing – build a connection with the audience and provide value to them. But not all emotions work the same. In Psychology, there are two types of them – high arousal and low arousal. The first type motivates people to take action and the second one has the opposite effect. 

emotional appeal | 4 writing skills for bloggers
Photo by Frank Busch on Unsplash

For example, the feeling of joy, happiness, and relief is high arousal. For example, we share things that make us happy – like funny pictures of puppies. Sadness, on the other hand, is low arousal emotion and doesn’t us motivate to do anything. Yet, it can be used too – just look at some charities using it extensively. 

Be emotional, show the value, and meet the needs of the audience. Be real and speak directly to your readers. Like I do 😉

#4. Be Simple 

Remember what Albert Einstein said – “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself”. And it is true. If you cannot make the topic you are writing about simple – you probably have not figured out it for yourself. 

Some writers think that by using complicated terms and references they will gain more credibility. The fact is, the reader can see right through it. No one is going to subscribe just because of your exceptional vocabulary. 

Simplicity is a virtue.

If you are being too complex in your writing, the audience might feel impatient and confused. Of course, I don’t ask you to write for six-year-olds. Just focus on the message and its clarity instead of being impressive. 

Of course, when sharing professional expertise on a subject, it is sometimes challenging to use simple language.

Here’s what you can do to know how readable the text is. You can ask your friend or relative that does not know this topic to read the text. After that ask them to explain the concept back to you or tell what they’ve remembered from it. If they cannot describe it – you need to rewrite. It is not comprehensive enough.

To make a topic more graspable add visuals. Here the graphs and charts come in handy!

visualization, data, graphs | 4 writing skills for bloggers
Photo by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash

Visualization of data makes it more digestible. Also, use simpler terms and short paragraphs. 

Be simple in your delivery. Unless you are writing a Detective novel than keep the suspense on. Form a clear message in your head and stick to it. Build the text around it, so the meaning is transparent. Make sure that the readers understand you, otherwise, they’ll read something else. 

In Summary 

Being a successful blog writer requires a lot of dedication. It is all about learning, growing, and practicing your craft. One of the most important aspects is being true to yourself and your brand.

Keep a consistent voice, tell a story, be simple, and evoke emotions in reader – and you will build an enthusiastic community.

Change your habits, add some personal experience to your texts, it’s way better to do it slowly but starting from today. Start from now on, do not wait till tomorrow, or next Monday, or next month.

Vasy Kafidoff
Vasy Kafidoff

Vasyl Kafidoff is a founder and mastermind of KAFIDOFF.COM. He has a strong interest in education, modern technology, marketing, and business management.

If Vasy is not working, you can find him somewhere in the world attending a Rock Concert with his mates.

Personal website
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How much should you pay for a blog post?

How you all doing? Within the last several weeks, I was researching average blog post rates, and I think my findings will be interesting for all of you. So, let us figure out how much to charge for a blog post.

In this article, I will explain how much you should pay for a blog writer if you are a business or a solopreneur as well as describe freelance blogging rates for the ones who work as freelance writers.

how much to charge for a blog post
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

How much should I charge for a 1000 word article?

As I found in most cases, people google for something like “how much should you charge for a 500 words article, 1000 words blog, 2000 words..” and even more. 

Lets start from the reason why people search for these specific queries.

There were times when people used to write 500 or 700 words general blog articles for their personal blogs or to use them for guest blogging. Due to significant changes in Google Algorithms, nowadays, people are searching for deeply researched pieces that include not only general ideas but expertise in the topic. 

A man a very few words, ladies and gentlemen

There is one famous phrase that yall might hear plenty of times from your parents, teachers, or friends – “Brevity is the soul of wit”. And yes, it is true.

Sometimes you need to explain your ideas shortly and quickly. But it’s not always working if we talk about blogs or articles, especially if they are about some specific topics. 

So how long should your articles be?

In my personal opinion, if you are willing to share your expertise in a blog post, 500 words are not always enough, because you won’t be able to completely elaborate.

Hmmm… maybe 1000 words? Yes, it’s better, and in most cases, it should work, but only if there is no need to dive deeper. 

So what about 1500-2000 words blog posts? I strongly believe that this is the best size of an article. Because you will be able to not only talk about the topic but also share your expertise with real-life experience.

Some people and companies even write 3000-4000 or even 5000 words articles.

via GIPHY

According to the research completed by MOZ, such articles get the most shares on Social Media. But what about the reader? Will he or she read the whole content or jump through the headlines to find an appropriate part? 

I have interviewed 34 people of different ages from various industries to provide you with the exact statistics. I was pleased to find out that 52% of responders love reading long articles when others 48% do not want to spend their time and select reading shorter articles. 

!!!Please take into account that I’m not a professional sociologist!!!

Still, it was funny to find that it’s almost 50/50. Therefore, I decided to leave this question open and leave this work to professional researchers.

Why did I tell you everything above? I just explained to you the reason why I decided to search for how much should I charge for a 1000 word article, not 500 or 700.

From this very moment, when I’ll be talking about the price per blog, I’ll be talking about 1000 words blog posts.

If you are a writer looking to find how much should I charge for a 1000 word article – this is the question I’m going to answer in my post.

I decided to break my research into two pieces.

In the first part, I’ll be talking about freelance blog writers rates. In the second part, I’ll be discussing blog writing service pricing (when I talk about services, I mean companies that are working in the writing industry).

So, lets begin.

How much to charge for a blog post

I need to start by telling you that there is no exact rate per blog post, as each freelance writer has different writing and expertise levels. So I’ll be listing rates according to the level of writers.

Low-level writers – from $20 to $50 per blog post

I was shocked that there are still writers who write a 1000 words blog post at the price of 20-30 bucks. 

english do you speak it?

Once again, let us ask ourselves: how much does a 1000 word article cost? Is it enough for a writer to get $20-30? For some of us, it might sound strange, but the truth is that there are some “experts” who can handle this work for such a low rate.

Yes, most of these writers are foreigners who can speak English, but it doesn’t mean that they can write in most cases. Learn professional grammar is way more complicated than learning to talk. 

!IMPORTANT! As always, there are some exceptions from the rules, and there are some qualified writers who work in these rates, if you know some, please share their contacts 😉

I’m talking in general as 99% of writers who work for such low freelance blogger rates have issues with their final drafts, and you need to spend your precious time editing the draft on your own or ask for numerous revisions. 

Still, there are some businesses with tight budgets requiring assistance on an urgent basis or with bulk article orders. So low-level blog writer salary can be quite high in case they have numerous customers that require daily or weekly help

So what are the pros and cons of such writers?

Pros:

* 24/7 availability;

* Any urgency options (even if you need an article within 16-24 hours, they can get it done);

* Price;

* They can handle bulk article orders on ANY topic.

Cons:

* Quality;

* Grammar issues;

* Plagiarism issues;

* Technical mistakes.

Mid-level writers from $70 up to $150 per blog post.

More than half of the market belongs to mid-level writers. Blog writing rates will vary according to the experience of each writer. I’m currently one of them as well, but I’m working hard to get to the premier league someday.

Many mid-level writers are googling for how much to charge per blog post. Some think that $70 will be enough, some others believe they deserved $100+ for their time and effort.

These writers usually work with some specific topics, as they like to share their expertise in the field they are working in. There are fewer of them who say that they are qualified in all niches if so, in my opinion, they are liers. 

via GIPHY

I’m sorry, colleagues, do you get paid for writing a blog of $100 and do not have some particular niche expertise? If you are ready to handle any articles, most of your blogs won’t be qualified enough without personal knowledge and experience shared in the article.

Lets jump to the pros and cons.

Pros:

* Flexible schedule;

* Can handle urgent 24-48 hours blog posts;

* Affordable price.

Cons:

* Most of them can’t handle any topic, but work with specific niches;

* Can be issues with quality in case they ready to handle any topic;

* They write in their own personal voice and can be questions in case you want them to write in “your tone of voice”;

* Not always ready to work with bulk blog articles order;

* Might still have grammar issues.

High-level writers starting from $300 and up to ~ per article

High-level writers are the real Master Yodas of writing. They have in-depth knowledge in this field and can handle almost any type of blogs. Most of these writers are native speakers who worked in the writing niche for years. 

write will for you i - how much to charge for a blog post

Expert writers, in most cases, have numerous certificates, niche known or even world-known status. Their freelance blog writing rates are way higher because they worked with different customers starting from personal tasks and up to writing blogs for world-leading companies that make them extremely experienced.

How much to charge for a blog post if you are PRO?

Lord of writing knows the price of their time, and due to the high number of inquiries, they have a right to select with whom they want to work and with whom not. 

Most of them already own their writing companies and have experienced editors in their team and they know the rules to make your blog content delicious. Therefore their blog cost can vary from hundreds of dollars up to thousands.

Still, there are not only pros but cons for working with such writers.

 Pros:

* Superb quality;

* Custom expertise shared in the blog;

* Can manage writing in “your personal voice” or in the voice of your business;

* Will be able to suggest some ideas to make your blog post a top-notch.

* Can handle numerous types of blog posts.

Cons:

* High price;

* Have thought schedule and can decline to work on your blog due to a high number of inquiries;

* Can’t work with bulk blog articles order, as each blog post requires time to work on;

* The same issue with the urgency, it might take a week or more to write one blog post.

So, it’s up to you to select which freelance writer option suits you best.

Now, let us move on to the writing companies.

Who are these writing services and how do they work?

I’ll try to explain it in the shortest way possible. 

In general, a writing service is a company with a team of writers of different writing qualifications, who specialized in various fields. These writers can work in the head office as a full-time job or on a part-time basis as freelancers.

Most of the writing niche companies are working with writers from all over the globe on a freelance basis. That means that writers do not receive a monthly salary, but ask for bids for each order and finally get a total for the job they have completed during the month.

As well as freelance writers, blog writing services pricing depends on the qualification of the writers you are willing to work with.

What makes writing services a better option is that they have a huge selection of writers who specialize in numerous fields. Also, they usually have an option to select the level of the writer you are willing to work with. Be it a general writer or niche expert.

How much is a blog post completed by a writer’s agency?

Due to the flexibility of assigning writers from a vast team, most of the writing companies offer better blog post rates than individuals. 

Photo by Nastuh Abootalebi on Unsplash

There are many different services at different rates. Hence, I decided to provide you with average prices in this part.

Blog writing service pricing

You can find writing services that offer 1000 words blog post writing starting from $40 for a general writer’s work and up to $100-150 if you are willing to pay for a piece written by niche experts. All the prices above are in case your deadline is in a week or two.

If you need a custom article written within the next 24 or 48 hours, the price will increase to the starting point of $80 per 1000 words blog post and up to $300-$400 for “PRO” writers.

Also, many writing service offer additional options.

via GIPHY

For example, you can order an option for your final draft to be proofread by an editorial to make it look awesome. The price for extra editorial work can vary from service to service; usually its around 30-40% additional cost to the initial price.

All of us understand that hiring native writers is a good option. You should take into account that some writing services have only native writers in their team, when some other services may ask extra for native writers’ work as their rates are higher. The majority of companies will ask for this option an additional 10-20% to the initial cost. 

Why work with companies?

Working with writing companies will increase the chance to find the most appropriate writer for your blog writing task. This will save your time searching for individual freelancers who suits you best.

All services are also responsible for the final draft and place their reputation for all writers’ work. Therefore, they mostly have a flexible revision policy that can be a good option for customers who are willing to participate in the writing process and correct the final drafts to make them exactly how they want to.

Not forgetting that most companies have understandable money back policy, and even if you pay in advance and do not like the final result, you can ask for a full or partial refund according to the money-back policy you agreed with.

In one of my previous blogs, I have highlighted why it’s an excellent option to go for outsourcing a blog to experts. Check it out to get information on this regard.

Important! Check the company you are willing to work with before you start as the writing field is full of cheaters, or lets say, UNlaw-abiding citizens.

I hope I was able to explain how things work and what are the main principles of pricing for blog writing for both freelance writers and writing services. 

now its your turn - how much to charge for a blog post

There are numerous alternatives available on the web. Therefore, if you are a business or representative searching for the best blog writing rate, it’s your turn to select which option is working better for your needs.

If you are a writer who decided to write blogs for money, you can see that blog writer salary can be quite high. And the most important, you know how much you should charge for a 1000 word article or a blog.

Take your time to read other articles that you can find here in the “blog’n’roll” section of my website.

Vasy Kafidoff
Vasy Kafidoff

Vasyl Kafidoff is a founder and mastermind of KAFIDOFF.COM. He has a strong interest in education, modern technology, marketing, and business management.

If Vasy is not working, you can find him somewhere in the world attending a Rock Concert with his mates.

Personal website
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9 simple yet impact ways to make your blog content delicious.

Hey there! Have you ever asked yourselves what makes a good blog post? How to create content for a blog and what to put in it? I’m going to answer all these questions in this article by providing my custom blog writing tips.

Most of the content creators spend hours, days, and even weeks on constructing a good blog post for their business or personal blogs.

Sometimes additional time might help, sometimes not.

Blog writing tips | Delicious content
Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash

So, if you want to dive deeper than just spending extra time and effort for your blog writing, fasten your seatbelts and prepare yourselves for an exciting adventure through the world of tips on writing a blog.

1. Research is King. Spend time planning your blog post.

As all we know, before starting any work, it’s better to prepare yourself. For example, before climbing a mountain, people are usually starting from researching the hill, what are the best ways to start, what should you take with you, who is going to be with you, etc. 

Exactly the same thing is with blogging. Before you start writing your first blog post, you should research to figure out who your audience is. And when you know your audience, it’s getting easier to figure out some working topic. 

So now we only need to know the audience. It sounds simple, but the truth is that it is NOT.

via GIPHY

For example, some people can write about pets, let’s say dogs, to cut the audience.

In such a case, the authors of this blog should guess that his/her primary audience is people who own dogs or who want to own one lovely doggy in the nearest future. But is this cut is enough to understand who your audience is? Isn’t this audience too broad?

I believe that you should research some specific topics that will be interesting for some particular audience. This will help your article to get organic traffic from the very beginning and get feedback from your readers.

Things to write about in a blog

So, you can write an article about some more specific diet for dogs, or suggest some technical exercises for some particular dogs. Such articles will be interesting for a more accurate audience.

To find such specific topics, you can check through Q&A websites or forums. Such as Quora, Reddit, or some other niche-specific sites. People usually ask some critical questions there, and you will be able to give them an exact response and share your expertise in the blog post.

Furthermore, if you already have traffic and readers on your blog, why not write a listicle of your TOP food or, better, TOP diet food for forever hungry dogs.

Such an article will be interesting not only to your readers but to some companies seeking a promotion. So you can catch two things at once.

Photo by Dennis Maliepaard on Unsplash

IMPORTANT (please do not forget to warn your audience if the article includes advertising).

And another important thing when choosing the topic:

The topic should not only be interesting for your readers. In my opinion, it should be firstly interesting to you as an author.

If you write about something you are not interested in, the reader will understand that.

Therefore, what makes a good blog is proper research before you started writing.

2. Outline ROCKS

In the modern world, where we read dozens of daily information, it’s getting harder and harder to find some tips on writing a blog.

But I think I can share another important hint on how to write an effective blog post.

Simply – plan the structure of your blog post.

Oh yeah, a well-structured outline is the key to success, no matter what type of blog you run. 

How to create content for a blog?

There are plenty of different tactics of writing an outline you can find on the web. And in my opinion, there are no RIGHT and WRONG outlines to use. The thing is you should pick some that you think is suitable for you. Or invent your custom outline.

For example, you can see samples of blog outlines provided by Hubspot or Coschedule. Both of them are great, and many people are using them, even I did. Anyway, in my opinion, if you have a shorter outline, it is going to be easier to use your imagination when you start writing.

Do you have an outline? | Blog writing tips

Still, it’s super subjective because many people need to have a super exact outline, and you will surely find some great example your own “best” outline.

My TOP 5 information to be included in the outline:

  • Main questions I want to answer in the article (these questions will be used to create heading and subheadings)
  • Keywords I want to use in the blog post with high volume and low volume;
  • Real-life examples on the topic or/and my personal cases;
  • I also write a short intro and a conclusion in my outline to help me with my body thoughts.
  • A list of links to some great sources that I’ll be using as outbound sources from my post and why I want to use them.

Once again, it’s my personal super subjective outline sample that I’m using for 90% of my blog posts because I’m using my imagination when I’m writing. I do not like to have some strict plan to write down a blog as a robot (sorry to all my perfectionistic friends). 

If you believe that this blog outline sample will be working for you, please use it 😉

3. Catchy Headlines

So, lets move forward to another crucial part of any blog – TITLES. 

via GIPHY

Most expert editors and journalists will say loudly that the perfectly written title is 80% of the article’s success. And they are right.

The technique of catchy titles is being used for many years now. It grabs attention, motivates people to read the article, and increases a clickbait – such a vital metric for all of us.

If you share your article somewhere, don’t you want people to click at it and read it? That’s where the catchy title comes to town.

You can check this excellent research on the technology of writing catchy headlines.

Below, I have collected my favorite examples of working titles:

“The Company X Just Released Its XYZ Investigation — And What They Found Was Horrifying”

This title is playing with a scary tactic technology, that should grab attention and increase a clickbait.

“Make One Million Dollars in One Day”

Such a popular, overwritten, still working title. Please tell me, who reads this?

“10/20/30/100500 Different Types of Girlfriends – Which One Are You?”

Such a title will encourage people to take quizzes in magazines or take some specific tests. So it’s a motivating title.

“Such a Little Mistake That Cost a Marketers of a company X $18,000 a Month”

Sounds interesting? Isn’t it? I would have read this one.

“How To Write Award Winning Blog Headlines”

That could be a headline of my article about writing catchy headlines. But I still have a question in my mind, are there any awards for writing headlines? Isn’t it very subtle humor used in a blog headline? 😉

I am also sharing a great short video guide completed by Neil Patel where he shares his ideas on using catchy blog titles.

4. The Mix of Subheadings and Shorter Paragraphs

Time is critical. Therefore people spend less and less time reading lousy content. How can we understand that the content is bad or out of the topic? We can scan through the text.

I know from my personal experience that there are many people who scan articles before start reading them. Yes, I’m one of them, and you are reading now and understand that you are also one of us. Am I right?

So, if we are talking about blog post tips, a great selection and combination of subheadings and short paragraphs can help you grab attention and catch this running somewhere reader.

Tips for writing a blog post 

Headings and subheadings should describe all the crucial info from the blog post. By checking them, your reader should stick and want to read more. Yes, sometimes it’s hard, but the result is worth it.

Many companies use super short paragraphs (2-3 lines) and say that it works. I believe that it works.

According to the research completed by PlainLanguage.gov, long paragraphs discourage users from even trying to understand your material. Short paragraphs are easier to read and understand.

Writing experts recommend paragraphs of no more than 150 words in three to eight sentences. Paragraphs should never be longer than 250 words. Vary the lengths of your paragraphs to make them more interesting. As with sentence length, if all paragraphs are the same size your writing will be choppy.

They also share a great example of breaking a full text in 2 paragraphs that helps a reader to understand the message by parts.

Before and after | Paragraphs | Blogging tips
Source: https://www.plainlanguage.gov/guidelines/concise/write-short-paragraphs/#:~:text=Using%20short%20paragraphs%20is%20an,did%20in%20the%20following%20example.

But if you want to explain some critical issues and understand that breaking the paragraph will kill your thoughts, you better not cut it.

In my opinion, 3-6 lines are the best option as it works both for the reader and Google (but we will talk about SEO later in this article).

5. Add Images / Statistics / Videos / Memes / GIFs

We all search for what to put in a blog. And sometimes we might not find any extra information on a particular topic. So what to do?

It’s time to add some visuals to your content. It can be some simple sheets with data or specific statistics made professionally by a designer. All these depend on your budget and/or skills.

Statistics help to grab the attention of a reader and make your blog post visually esthetical.

copyright | Add author credentials | Blogging tips
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Important, if you use some third party statistics or images, do not forget to refer to the primary source.

You can also use images. Internet users are very pampered these days. They have already gotten used to everything usual. People watch and read too many texts on a daily basis. Therefore, if you want to catch your reader, you better use some fantastic pictures or images.

Such images can be found on free platforms or paid sites. I am mostly using the Unsplash website, as you can see from the sources of the pictures in my articles. It’s up to you to choose your preferred option, as the most important is the images, not the source.

You can also use some videos that can potentially help your reader to get better ideas on the topic of your articles. Taking into account that you can simply use an embed code or even a link and drag the video from youtube or other platforms directly to your blog post.

Also, if you have young readers, do not hesitate to use viral Memes or GIFs. For memes I’m using the IMGFlip website and for GIFs I’m using Giphy.com.

Usage of such type of content will help your blog to be closer to your readers, and they will understand that you are one of them.

Even in case some of your readers won’t understand your humor, there is nothing terrible about it. There always will be haters and fans.

via GIPHY

6. Your content should be optimized for Search Engines (on-page SEO)

Now you know some general blog writing tips. You know what to write about in your blog post. Your initial plan is ready and you are working on an awesome writing peace. What’s next? What some other things you should know?

What makes a good blog post?

One of the most important things for any blogger is to prepare a blog post for SEO. So what to put in a blog to make it SEO friendly?

There are numerous of different posts on this topic you can stumble upon on the web. So, I’ve created a shortlist of the most important things to consider.

My personal shortlist to make a SEO friendly blog post:

  • Use an appropriate meta title;
  • Use an appropriate meta description;
  • Optimize your blog for the main keywords;
  • Add different longtail keywords coming from your main keywords;
  • Use alt-text to your images / memes / GIFs;
  • Links to your other content on the blog;
  • Link to outbound sources;
  • Do not forget to mention the name of the author of the blog post.

Please make sure you do not prioritize SEO over user experience. Otherwise, you will not use this blog writing tip accordingly. There should be a balance of both.

And never listen to anyone who says that you need to focus on your content only, ignoring SEO. They just do not want you to succeed.

via GIPHY

For more information on SEO optimization, you can check this article.

7. Top Trends (Google Trends)

If you write about some seasonal topics, do not forget to check Google Trends. 

For example, some topics are accessible in a particular timeframe. And people do not search a lot about this topic currently.

Lets say you want to write a blog post on “How to use Bitcoin” you know that it is popular questions with a high volume of searches. But some fewer people understand that this volume is mean. And nowadays it might be less attractive than it was some years ago.

Bitcoin google trends tips | Blog writing tips

As you can see, this topic would have been a great choice in the years 2017-2018, but it currently has less interest from potential readers. 

When some other topics might have the same popularity with no meaning of time. 

Examples of headlines google trends tips | Blog writing tips

From the second screenshot, we can find that there are other topics that will always be interesting for a reader.

This Trends trick can also be used if you want to check whether the topic of your article has any current trends. For example, if you have a news blog, you can “get hype” from some current info line. 

Unfortunately, GoogleTrends will only show trends for some high volume searches, and if you have some niche-specific topic, you might not find any patterns.

MY PERSONAL TOP HINT! 

8. Do not afraid to share your personal stories and experience

Oh yeah, that’s my favorite part.

I strongly believe, if you started writing a personal blog, or running a business blog in some niche, you SHOULD have personal experience in this particular field.

Why not share your personal life examples with a reader?

I’m a big fan of sharing my ideas in each article I’m writing because it makes my blog posts personal. 

Your personal background and experience – this what makes your blog post different from all the hundreds of others.

N.B. Yes, there might be a situation, when you write about something you are not experienced in. Maybe you hired someone to write your backstory for you? Now you figured out that according to the backstory, you are master in comedy, but the truth is that you never even tried to make a joke.

In such a case, you can share some real-life examples, the ones that you like. Something that you heard about or saw in a movie. Why not? It’s still your personally reached and selected stories.

Try to use this hint, and I promise you will get better feedback from your readers 😉

9. Avoid Repetitions

Please do not repeat the same things in different parts of your article.

Sometimes you write about something and some idea comes to your mind. At that very moment, you feel like its a good time and place to write it down. Then you continue writing and accidentally repeating the same idea in the final part but in a different way.

I guess you feel like it suits both parts where it was written, but your reader DO NOT.

Another repetition | Blog writing tips

Yes, it’s my personal Achilles’ heel. Sometimes I can repeat the same and the same ideas several times through the blog. And I can’t figure out these repetitions.

That’s when I ask someone to read my article and tell me what he/she thinks. And in most cases, if you have such repetitions, third party readers will find them and let you know.

Therefore, do not be afraid to give your final draft for a proofread before posting it online.

Conclusion:

Your blog is your blog, and no one can tell you how you should write and what you need to put in a blog. Only you can figure out what makes your blog post perfect.

Still, there are some general blog writing tips that every author can follow to speed up the process of getting traffic and increase the interest and loyalty of your readers.

Dear reader, I hope you liked the ideas I shared within this article and I hope that you can use at least one of the blog writing tips, and it will help you with your next blog post.

Good luck with your writing gig, colleague 😉

Vasy Kafidoff
Vasy Kafidoff

Vasyl Kafidoff is a founder and mastermind of KAFIDOFF.COM. He has a strong interest in education, modern technology, marketing, and business management.

If Vasy is not working, you can find him somewhere in the world attending a Rock Concert with his mates.

Personal website
  • How to use a skeleton outline in writing. Including my personal method & template
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Usage of humor for your business. Funny but serious.

We all love a good joke and a good laugh. It is entertaining and helps people to feel more connected. Laughter has many health benefits, such as relaxation, stress relief, immune system endorsement, and even burning calories. That’s why I eat favorite snacks while watching a comedy film – it cancels out!

Using your sense of humor (of course, if you have one) is essential for communication. It breaks the ice and keeps relationships strong. Babies can laugh as early as 17 days after birth. So people experience laughter much earlier than they start to talk. 

A sense of humor is also linked to higher IQ and better memory. The habit of having fun boost cognitive functions and makes us even smarter. Overall, it is an all-win situation. That’s why humor is such a massive part of our lives and culture. 

It is a powerful tool that is widely used in business and marketing, content creation, and advertising campaigns.

Usage of humor in your business blog is crucial because it works outstandingly for many purposes. 

Vasy Kafidoff

Incorporating humor in a company’s strategy is a great way to build a stronger connection with the audience, attract new people, and increase brand awareness. It also works just fine for content creators, namely blog writers. Yes, writing jokes is a bit trickier than performing them or presenting in a visual form. Nevertheless, it still is a great way to make business more successful. 

Benefits of Incorporating Humor in Content Marketing

There are already many companies that use humor in advertising. You can probably name about 5 light-hearted humor commercials or posts you’ve seen recently. Major brands have implemented humor in their strategies, especially in digital marketing. The list is endless and includes providers of all types of services, such as Old Spice, Skittles, Wendy’s, Dollar Shave Club, etc. 

According to statistics on humor in advertising (which does not sound very jolly but hear me out) shows that in the year 2018, 40% of European and 53% of North American ad campaigns featured humor. When Africa had fun with 100% of their campaigns. But don’t judge too quickly, check the table below to figure out why 😉

CountryCampaignsCampaigns with humorPercentage of humorRepresentativeness
Europe251040%21%
Asia12325%6%
North America382053%43%
South America6467%9%
Oceania18950%19%
Africa11100%2%
Total1004747%100%
Source: https://www.abacademies.org/articles/the-effectiveness-of-humor-in-advertising-analysis-from-an-international-scope-8419.html

Why is it such a popular strategy? Well, just look at the benefits: 

  • It helps to remember. Ads with jokes or over-the-top absurdity are more memorable than serious ones. 
  • It helps to create a brand image or make it more humanized. The audience doesn’t only buy products or looks for information in a blog. People look for more engaged and connected relations that include shared values and a similar sense of humor. The story of Dollar Shave Club is a good example; they’ve made it big despite being a small brand competing with huge ones. 
  • Humorous ads are more impactful. And it is also applicable to the humorous content. Our favorite TV shows are sketch-comedies, books we like to re-read are funny, and the blogs we follow are also quite entertaining. 
  • Funny content is more persuasive. It works in marketing when there are no other strong points to promote the product. If it doesn’t revolutionize the industry with its features, it still can be popular because we associate it with funny commercials. 
  • It breaks the ice. This is especially important for ads and marketing. People do not like ads. No one really does except for marketers, I’m sorry guys. Humor helps to break the barrier and create more trust. Even if we don’t like an ad, but it is funny or entertaining, we might just watch it. 
  • It gives free publicity via shares. We all share funny content much more than any other. Sometimes I think that half of the messages in the world are just memes. Or pictures of funny animals that we send our friends with the caption “it’s you!”. When a company creates humor appeal advertising, people are more likely to share it. It is a vast opportunity for attracting a new audience. 
  • Humour in content marketing helps to make a piece of writing more existing. Of course, people come to your blog for information. But it doesn’t mean that you should bore them to death. Any info will be much more appreciated if it is entertaining. No matter how serious is the subject; even Stephen Hawking put a couple of jokes in his books. So you don’t have to run a humor blog to be funny. 

Now you probably have a question like “if it is such a winning strategy, why doesn’t everyone use it?” To put it straight – it is not a simple as it seems. 

Risks of Incorporating Humorous Strategy in Business

Humor in marketing or content creation can make or break the deal. The good joke can make you a king of the day, but the bad one can bring down reputation massively. So for many producers, it’s not worth risking. 

It is also not a one-time solution. It should be aligned with the brand and its image. It also needs to be continuous. You cannot put up one funny ad and forget about it. It works best as a permanent strategy. 

Another reason is that business humor isn’t natural for any writer. If you strongly believe that good humor is not about you, think of outsourcing a blog writing to experts.

Good to know, jokes do not look as good on paper as they do perform live. Sometimes it looks as if you are trying too hard. Well, the good thing is, when you are writing jokes for a blog, you’ll never hear silence in the audience. You will not find out whether the audience liked the joke or not. Unless your comment section is open. 

Many forms of humor do not work well on paper, especially sarcasm and hyperbolization. 

I would like to !!!EMPHASIZE that humor is super subjective. There is no ultimate joke that will make everyone laugh. And it is most often on the edge, which increases risks. Not to mention cultural differences. What can be funny in New York might be offensive or tone-deaf in Hong Kong. 

Creators might also feel that a humorous approach is not the best for a particular subject. It is true – some topics are better left without puns. But you can still make it light-hearted if it is appropriate. 

And last but not the least reason why people still do not use humor in their content is fear. It is scary to try something new. You probably think that you are not funny at all. Believe me, we all are not that funny. Despite the fears, it is a fantastic strategy that can make a blog vivid and more entertaining. 

Funny but Serious: Humor in Business and Blogs

It is hard to say when humor was first used in advertising. But we know that the major shift happened in the 1980s. The main reason was that humor and business work together exceptionally well when it comes to grabbing attention. As I mentioned before, funny content is easier to remember and recall, which brings attention to the product and brand. 

But the secret here is that it should be related directly to the product. Otherwise, it will overshine it. 

Usage of humor in your business blog and how to do it

How to write a funny blog? Well, be funny, duh. Ok, let’s expand this idea. Sure thing, you don’t have to be a standup comedian to write entertaining posts. 

think about what you joking meme - Kafidoff.com

Certain rules will make this task much easier. The basics are provided in the infographic below:

Business humor infographic or how to use humor in content marketing for any business - Kafidoff.com
  • Be cautious. Jokes can be edgy, but they should not be insensitive. Never make jokes at the expense of the audience, they will not like it. At all. And do not be offensive. 
  • Don’t get too political as long as it is not on-brand. Politics are sensitive and the situation changes fast. Some posts do not age well, especially on Twitter. So if you are not sure 100% better not get into it. 
  • Know your audience. Funny content ideas should be aligned with the audience’s demographics and preferences. For instance, Gen Z and Millennials love memes. And if your meme game is strong – go for it. But if your audience is a bit older, they might not be in the context. In such a case, the joke will just confuse them. 
  • Do not steal jokes. It never goes well, just look at Amy Schumer’s ”parallel thinking compilation”. If you use someone’s meme or quote just credit them. You’ll still have the joke in your post, but it is not stolen. 

Ok, these are basics. Play safe, try not to be offensive or too edgy and be on-brand. Also, do not let jokes steal attention from the main message. 

Techniques to Make Your Blog Funnier 

Now, let’s talk about how to write funny content on examples and techniques. There are several types of humor that you can use in your writing. Remember, it can be subtle. Even a simple smile is enough sometimes. The techniques that are commonly used are: 

  • Observational jokes. They are based on something everyone can relate to and are usually pretty safe. For example, have you noticed that in ATM line everyone in front of you is incredibly slow and everyone behind you is supper annoyed? 
  • Metaphors. Those are unexpected comparisons. Taking someone by surprise is how humor works. For example, writing funny posts is as easy as riding a burning bike.
  • Puns. They tend to be frowned upon sometimes, but they do work. And if you are not sure that it is going to look good, just be self-aware. Write a pun and then something like ”yeah, this is a record – the worst pun I’ve made. Let’s celebrate, guys”.
  • The rule of three. This is a famous comedy rule when you list something, use three things and make the last one a punch line. For example, to start a successful business, you need hard-work, strategy, and a HUGE amount of money. 
  • Use funny pictures, graphs, or videos. You can use other people’s work, just credit them. 
  • Timing is everything. If something funny is trending, you can jump on the wagon. Such a joke will work mostly for a short period, but it can boost shares for a moment. 

Some writers also use sarcasm, but it is quite raw and more complex to introduce. It also doesn’t translate well to writing and can sound just mean. You can use it, just be smart about it. 

Examples of how to create funny content for your business or personal blog

Learning from others is always a good idea. There can be bad business humor and a good one too. It all depends on timing and execution. Here are some examples of successful marketing strategies based on humor. 

Working title from Basecamp creators’ blog

In blogging, any news can be addressed with a bit of fun. Look at the latest post on Basecamp creators’ blog: Celebrating 3 million accounts.

Screenshot of signalvnoise.com article
Source: https://m.signalvnoise.com/celebrating-3-million-accounts-fewer/

The title sounds as if they gained 3 million followers. But actually, it is about them deleting unused and old accounts from the platform. Such a surprising title attracts attention. It also makes a topic, that could sound boring, more entertaining. 

Edgy humor from Penelope Trunk

This post is a successful example of how more edgy humor can work perfectly. The preview ends with the claim that women that do not re-marry and take care of their children on their own have Asperger’s. And a reader might feel even infuriated until opens the post (and you want to open it as it is an intriguing claim). What the punch line? It is at the expense of doctors that admit that they have no idea how to diagnose women with Asperger’s, so basically, someone should.

Catchy topic from Copyblogger author

One more hilarious title from another blog – ”Weak email marketing and Nickelback have less in common than you might think” by Stephanie Flaxman written on one of my favorite blogs – Copyblogger.

Source: https://copyblogger.com/nickelback-email-marketing/

It sounds bizarre, unexpected, and funny. It grabs attention and makes you want to know how these two things are connected. 

Lets not forget about video and audio content. As an example – by Metro Trains Melbourne

Humor serious business dilemma can also be resolved. In 2012 Metro Trains Melbourne released a video that went viral ”Dumb Ways to Die”.

It spreads an important message while still using a catchy song and a funny multiplication. 

Example of a clickable campaign by The Wild Detectives

The Wild Detectives bookstore used humor for its 2017 clickbait campaign. They’ve created articles that follow those annoying click bates like ”You’ll never guess what happened” but based on the classic literature. And when readers opened them, they could read the text of a classic novel. It brought the company boost of traffic and an increase in social media engagement.

Yet, humor doesn’t always result in success. Here are some examples of awful campaigns that brought nothing but troubles for the businesses. 

Sexy-Tasty Burger King:

2010 Burger King ad campaign for their 7-incher ”It will blow you mind away”. An explicit and sexualized ad that went very wrong.

Sexy-Tasty Burger King

People were offended; a woman whose photo was used without her knowledge was urging people to boycott the food chain even 5 years after. Oversexualized jokes rarely do well. 

Funny Elon Mask, sad shareholders

Elon Musk’s tweet about Tesla stocks being ”priced too high” in 2018. After that, the stocks fall in price immediately. Elon Musk is known for being funny on Twitter and sharing memes, but they do not always work well.

Yet, recently he did the same but tweeted only ”lol” and ”stonks” meme in the response of the Tesla high stock prices.

Forgotten Internet Explorer 8

In 2009 Microsoft released an ad for Internet Explorer 8 (yes, there were ads for it), which was called O.M.G.I.G.P.

It is an abbreviation of the phrase ”oh my God I’m gonna puke” and features a wife that borrows husband’s laptop and pukes from the content he failed to hide. It is quite graphic, and needless to say, this ad didn’t go well. 

Misunderstood Bloomingdale

Bloomingdale’s date rape joke in 2015. Yes, that happened. In their holiday catalog, there was an image with the phrase ”spike your best friend’s eggnog when they’re not looking”.

Misunderstood Bloomingdale

It was a colossal failure for the company’s reputation. Some jokes are not edgy, they just straight insensitive and offensive. 

Not all trends are for you. Am I right DiGiorno Pizza?

This is an example of how one wants to jump on a trend without understanding what it is about. In 2015 DiGiorno Pizza used #WhyIStayed to promote their pizza on Twitter. But this hashtag was trending because people shared their stories about domestic violence. The brand suggested that someone ”might stay” for pizza. 

They have immediately deleted that tweet and officially apologized.

Business Writing Humor and Being Serious 

This is an important question. Can a brand be taken seriously while using a humorous marketing strategy? We see a lot of food producers and chains make jokes on Twitter and Instagram. And some might think that such a strategy is not suitable for a more serious matter. Yet, I believe that a bit of fun is almost always right. 

It just should be on-brand and used wisely. And some companies do it flawlessly. State Farm is an insurance company that has rebranded in a brilliant way. They used funny ad campaigns with character Jake. In this clip, a wife thinks that her husband talks to the mistress on the phone, while he speaks to insurance agent Jake.

State Farm has successfully increased its sales among a younger audience. They are playfully promoting service while still being taken seriously. 

Hence, should we use humor for business?

Humor is powerful in every way – it grabs attention, breaks the ice, helps to remember and recall. It can help to endorse brand image and bring awareness. The best part is that it works as good for blog posts. Even the most helpful information could use a little comedy help. It increases engagement, makes a text more lively and interesting. 

After all, it is not only WHAT you are saying but HOW you are saying it. The majority of information can be found in various places, but personality is what the audience stays for.

I do believe that humor is one of the best ways to get a personal connection with your readers. Tell me what you think about using humor for your business? Share your ideas in the comment section. I will be glad to hear your thoughts.

Vasy Kafidoff
Vasy Kafidoff

Vasyl Kafidoff is a founder and mastermind of KAFIDOFF.COM. He has a strong interest in education, modern technology, marketing, and business management.

If Vasy is not working, you can find him somewhere in the world attending a Rock Concert with his mates.

Personal website
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Knock Knock, Is There an Expert to Outsourcing a Blog? – PART 2

Glad you are back for the second part! Ready to read the main reasons why you DO NOT have to write your own blog posts and why outsourcing a blog is a good idea? 

So, let me continue!

Should you construct a car if you are not an engineer? Should you start your own expedition to the North Pole if you never even tried to organize any journey? Should you write a blog post if you are not a writer? Of course, NOT!

Once I had the possibility to talk with a friend of mine who I was helping with a website copy for his agro-business. When we finished with the main pages, he decided to add a blog section for his website. And I told him that my team and I can also help him with his blog posts. He just needs to start outsourcing blog for us.

Here’s how our conversation about blog writing went:

  • “Can you do this? WOW! But isn’t it kind of cheating? I believe that you should have experience in my niche in order to write a blog.”
  • “Bro, it’s up to you, but we can handle any blog post, be it about space invaders, about how to breed rabbits or your agro blog. We are experts 😉 You give us introductory info and details, and we can do the rest.”

He was absolutely surprised that businesses can hire writers to help them with their blogs. And his wonderment helped me realized that many companies do not even know that there are experts who can assist with their blogs.

As you might read in the FIRST PART of my blog, I strongly believe that each expert should do his job. After that conversation with my friend, an idea to write this type of post came up to my mind.

Why expert writers who can handle a website copy, still can’t handle outsource blog writing?

So, when you hire an expert to write your website copy or speech letter writer to help you with your product presentation, it is OK, but when we talk about outsource blog or articles writing – na-na-na, it’s personal, it’s CHEATING!

via GIPHY

But let us get back to the realities and daily beings of entrepreneurs or business owners.

Most businesses have a special block of expenses for content creation for their website. They are ready to hire experts for this job because they believe that it requires knowledge in sales to mentally force customers to buy products or services using landing pages. Others think that a writer should have specific skills for an informative website copy to convert visitors to leads.

STOP, but why do they still believe that blog posts can easily be written by anyone?

Partially true. Everyone who has at least intermediate skills in English can physically write a blog. With modern technologies, it’s getting easier and easier each time for a person to write. Even your smartphone can now help you with grammar and assist you with punctuation. 

Sounds easy, especially if I can write a post for Instagram or share my experience of attending a restaurant together with WOW-pictures on my own. But what about a business blog?

Should I outsource blog writing?

If you want your content to speak with your audience, with your loyal or potential customers. If you want this content to move forward leads to sales. I believe this is where the expertise required. And that’s why its time outsourcing your blog to professionals.

You should outsource your blog

Your blog has the same importance as your landing pages, website content, social media posts and even emails sent.

If I hire a writer for my blog, it won’t be authentic and will lack niche knowledge.

This is a common mistake by businesses or people who hire content writers for their website copy but afraid to ask for assistance with blog and articles writing. So, you think that it is okay to hire a writer to write a “general copy” for a website? Do you really believe that sales copy doesn’t require to be authentic? 

I can surely say and suggest that if you feel like your website copy is not authentic to your business voice, you better change your content writers from now on. Like people are being greeted by clothes, all the website content is the face and clothes of your business. It’s a question of a first impression that is crucial for your potential customers.

The same thing is with a blog. It should be the same authentic as your other website copy. Your blog should not only describe general information about business life and share the latest news but educate and help your customers. Finally – not forgetting to bring new leads.

I’m a big fan of inbound marketing. Good content marketing strategy is crucial on any stage of your business processes, be it attraction, engage, or/and delight stage.

You can use your blog to educate customers on the attraction stage when they do not even know that they need you. You can help them understand that you can be a solution to their problems.

Also, you can suggest some better options for your potential customers using your blog on the engagement stage. The stage when your potential customers already know that your services or product can be helpful and searching for the best possible option between you and your competitors.

Furthermore, the delight stage is also here! Your blog posts can even be used in order to delight your existing customers after purchase by sharing some delightful content for existing loyal clients.

If we talk about the process of work my team and I have with all our customers, we believe in mutual help. Someone can say, I came here for YOUR assistance, what do you mean by MUTUAL? 

How do we work?

We believe that without help from customers, we won’t be able to provide them with an appropriate final draft. Our clients need to help us by guiding us using a detailed task for their blog or article writing. They can share some previous examples of their work. Or, if they do not have any prior works and just searching for their personal business voice, they can share links to some articles with the style they are searching for. Any information that will help us to personalize the content is essential. 

Also, there should be an understanding between customer and us, because we work WITH customers, not FOR customers. I believe this is a crucial part of mutual assistance.

Some people believe it’s too expensive to work with blog writers.

This is my favorite part. Let’s face the truth, TOO EXPENSIVE is an extremely relative and vague phrase.

via GIPHY

I believe that we can’t just count the price for each blog by hourly rates. Firstly, because each task is custom. Let us look from the business’ side. What will the customer expect from his blog?

Of course, he or she is waiting for the return of investments, and it’s absolutely understandable. Furthermore, if we talk about small and medium businesses where the owner might be writing a blog, by hiring an expert for this task, the owner will save his priceless time. Yes, there are some great examples of famous business owners who write astonishing content, for example, Seth Godin or Tim Ferris, but let’s be honest, there are less of them 😉

Well written piece for a blog can be done within several hours or even within several days when it comes to articles that require additional research and expertise.

Now think about how you would like to spend this free time if you gave this part of work to experts? Would you like to create some new product or service, to expand your business, or simply spend this time with your lovely once? It’s up to you to choose.

If you outsource your blog you will get a good written piece of content

We had a chance to work with an amazing woman, she is a world-known athlete and personal coach. She spends at least 6-8 hours to write one blog post on her personal website. When we finished with her first blog post with all the final revisions and so on, she told us that by working with us, she was able to not only save money but to earn more. She spent these 6 hours working with her customers by providing private workout sessions and that brought her more money than the cost of one blog post. 

Shout out to Mrs. V!

Now she is our regular customer, and we have completed around 20-25 blog posts for her personal blog while she’s doing her lovely job. Unfortunately, I can’t share her full name, as we agreed on 100% confidentiality, but she will understand that I’m talking about her 😉

Therefore, I would suggest you ask one simple question – How much is your time worth? But, please be as honest with yourself as much as possible. Answered? And now, is it still “too expensive” to work with expert blog writers?

If you still think you SHOULD have written your blog on your own – just do it! 

!!!I’M JOKING 😉

If you think you should, the sad reality is that you’ll never start. 

“I should go to the gym tomorrow, on Monday, next week, month”…, maybe even YEAR?!? Sounds familiar? Does it? 

“Should” – what a harsh word… It’s a verb without any implemented action.

Should have, could have, don’t matter!

Why do you think you should do it on your own? Did someone ask you to? Your boss? Your wife or husband? Your soul? – if the answer for all these questions is NO – I strongly believe it’s just the voice of your EGO. I know it from my personal experience. I’m also a fan of doing everything on my own, but there is some work you CAN leave to experts, and business blog writing is on the list.

As you might read from my previous blog, I have experience working with many different businesses and customers. Some of them are small local businesses, some others are world-famous. I can surely say that if you have some business gurus or coaches, or follow your niche expert, they might also use expert assistance with content for their blog. Maybe even our help… No, we as writing experts do not do their job, they generate the content. Mostly they are responsible for generating ideas, but I guarantee that most of them or even all are using third party writing assistance.

Outsource your blog to the real creators

Most of the politicians do not write their speeches, famous actors do not write scripts for their movies and the same thing with businesses – they can use expert writing help. And as an expert, combining good content with an excellent high scraper is important to me. 

Now I hope you realized that it is absolutely normal to ask for professional assistance and outsourcing a blog. It’s totally OK to spend your time for some crucial things, then to write a blog on your own, even in case you like to write, but you do not have enough time, it’s also okay to work with professionals who can help and guide you using a specific writing flow that will be absolutely up to your choice.

Vasy Kafidoff
Vasy Kafidoff

Vasyl Kafidoff is a founder and mastermind of KAFIDOFF.COM. He has a strong interest in education, modern technology, marketing, and business management.

If Vasy is not working, you can find him somewhere in the world attending a Rock Concert with his mates.

Personal website
  • How to use a skeleton outline in writing. Including my personal method & template
    Content writing is a creative process, first of all. But it doesn’t mean that it cannot benefit from a little structure and systematic approach. I feel like a lot of bloggers underestimate the benefits of skeleton outlines in their everyday work. Why? Well, it is hard to say for everyone, but I think a lot […]
  • 8 best sites for hiring freelance writers in 2020 – list with Pros and Cons
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  • The 4 writing skills bloggers are looking for – and NOT finding.
    When it comes to blogging, you’ve probably heard that “writing skills for bloggers are essential”. Everybody says that but what does it actually mean?  There are lots of articles on how to become a better writer, but the only thing they suggest is writing more. If you want to write, you’d better write. Well, it […]
  • How much should you pay for a blog post?
    How you all doing? Within the last several weeks, I was researching average blog post rates, and I think my findings will be interesting for all of you. So, let us figure out how much to charge for a blog post. In this article, I will explain how much you should pay for a blog […]
  • 9 simple yet impact ways to make your blog content delicious.
    Hey there! Have you ever asked yourselves what makes a good blog post? How to create content for a blog and what to put in it? I’m going to answer all these questions in this article by providing my custom blog writing tips. Most of the content creators spend hours, days, and even weeks on […]

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Knock Knock, Is There an Expert I Can Talk To? – PART 1

Hi. If you are looking for an expert, or just wondering if you need expert assistance, you have come to the right place. And you know that, of course. Or else, why would you be here?

To make things interesting for you, I have split this section into two parts. The second part can be found here.

Like a good film which gives you an interval before the second part begins. In this part, I will be talking about why you should be hiring experts to do your job.

In my case, I’ll be talking about experts in the writing industry. In this first part, I will tell you all more about myself and some general ideas. The second part will be on my thoughts where I will give you more insights and prove that each work requires to be done by an expert.

So, should we listen to experts?

Taking an expert’s opinion is important. Of course, sometimes the person you talk to in your long showers or during daydreaming can be tired as well. So, why not reach out to someone new?

Life is like a prolonged lecture at school. You go in everyday; you meet new people; you learn new experiences and there is always a teacher who will guide you regarding the subject. 

This teacher has the right command over the topic. They make sure you grasp the entire knowledge within a certain course of time. They create a learning environment for you, and everyone else. They are there to help you. 

Taking advice from experts is always recommended.

Why? Well, because they are called experts for a reason. They have the required knowledge over the subject, they are available to help you and you need to learn lessons before practically implementing it. 

Of course, there will be some agreements and disagreements. You may find yourself not agreeing with the expert, but that does not mean they are wrong, does it? 

Before I get into more details, let me first tell you guys a little about myself. You know, just a way to be candid with you all and letting you know who I am because everyone has a story to tell, and from the stories of others, we can always learn. 

My name is Vasyl Kafidov, people also know me as Vasy Kafidoff.

I love calling myself a creator. This is because of how my life shaped me. I feel lucky because I had a chance to find the work of my life partially by accident.

I remember using the internet only for playing games or surfing the web before this very event. A friend of mine introduced me to what we commonly refer to as ‘online content writing’. He mentioned that “this is the future. Start learning about it today”. And I did. I was only 18 years old then. 

When I started my writing life?

At the age of 18, I started working in the writing field. I looked after different freelance writers that could catch the main idea of a customer and write down almost any type of content. And the most important and unbelievable thing for me was that they can do it from scratch, using only their personal experience and imagination. As I get used that most people just search for someone else’s ideas and copy/paste them and to use under their personal names.

via GIPHY

During months of work, I found many interesting things and techniques in the copywriting field and realized how things work. 

I had no idea what SEO is. I had no idea what keywords are. I was fresh out of school and just attended university. As a student, money is never enough.

Still, I decided to help to establish a writing business for my friends during my free time. It was not about money, but about new experience and practice. While gaining new experience and being a momentous person in the team were my sole reasons for working, little did I know that in the future I would make it my livelihood. 

Was I born to write? Am I “Messi” of writing?

Now I am not saying that I was born into this field. Nope, nope and certainly nope. I remember there were times I had questioned my own English language skills because of the mistakes I was making. I mean, cut me some slack, I was only 18. But even then, before joining the profession, I felt I was good.

But wait till you, as an advanced English speaker hears from an international client, “I thought English was your first language.” Oh boy, that hurt!

Be merciful. I was an 18 years boy from Kyiv, Ukraine. English did not come to me as my native language. But I’m working hard and believe my strong attitude is increasing my skills daily. Yes, I’m a SUPER humble person. Not an excuse to forgot my school education and several summers spent in the UK, but you know, things can get rusty. Either way, my rejections due to poor writing skills contributed massively to who I am today. You know, how actors start from doing low-rating movies and then struggle their way to the top? That was me. But in the field of digital content, though. 

vasy kafidoff is a master of law

Then, I spent 6 years learning law and legislation to finally get an exalted status – Master in Law.

Meanwhile, I was working with my friends, we were running several online writing services. I was responsible for managing and running one of the projects, but during the working process, I was able to learn a lot about writing in general from different writers we were working with.

This part of my life helped me to understand the importance of each word and punctuation in any sentence. 

Let me give you a famous example:

“A woman without her man is nothing”.

Everyone will read this sentence the way they want. But, according to the research made by an American prof:

  • most of the men read this sentence as “A woman, without her man, is nothing.”
  • when most of the women read this as “A woman: without her, man is nothing.”

So, punctuation IS powerful!

Curriculum activities that led to creativity.

Another vital part of my uni studies led to my creativity. As some of you might know, a good lawyer is a creative lawyer. I’ve written many essays, case studies, and research papers that required creativity and critical thinking. Sometimes I needed to make a 1000 or even 2000 words paper from only 100 words skeleton.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE? I believe that everything is possible. Sometimes I also helped my mates when they stocked with their writings. 

One more significant thing I forgot to tell you following the main theme of this article – an expert help.

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Huge-huge sorry to my professors. Yes, I was using a third party help from academic writers, when I wasn’t able to handle all of my hard tasks within a short timeframe. And I’m not ashamed of it. Maybe that led me to work in an academic writing business today, but this is another story.

I can talk about this part of my life hours and hours, but you came here to read about experts and their importance in our daily beings.

So, the question here: Is it OK to ask an expert’s opinion?

My answer would always be a big YEEEEES. That is not because I would want you to come to me. It is only because you need guidance… you deserve to be guided. 

There is no specific recipe to become an expert. It’s a question of your knowledge and experience that leads to expertise in some specific field.

expert secrets | recipe to become an expert

According to the research completed by The National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine – people who have developed expertise in particular areas are, by definition, able to think effectively about problems in those areas. 

Several key principles of experts’ knowledge and their potential implications for learning and instruction:

  1. Experts notice features and meaningful patterns of information that are not noticed by novices.
  2. Experts have acquired a great deal of content knowledge that is organized in ways that reflect a deep understanding of their subject matter.
  3. Experts’ knowledge cannot be reduced to sets of isolated facts or propositions but, instead, reflects contexts of applicability: that is, the knowledge is “conditionalized” on a set of circumstances.
  4. Experts are able to flexibly retrieve important aspects of their knowledge with little attentional effort.
  5. Though experts know their disciplines thoroughly, this does not guarantee that they are able to teach others.
  6. Experts have varying levels of flexibility in their approach to new situations.

So why don’t we just leave problem solving to experts?

Some writers or bloggers are embarrassed to admit that they are often asking for professional assistance from expert editors. But it’s NOT my case. I’m proud I’m using their help. 

!Trust me, there are no experts on the planet, who do everything on their own.

EVEN this text you are reading now was double-checked by my editorial team. Because I’m sure that they know their job, and they will do it way better than I can do it myself, or, at least, faster 😉 

Why do I need an expert in writing if I can write on my own?

Let us imagine the situation. You have trouble with your bathroom, the floor is full of water and you do not know what to do to stop the water running from the bath?

Won’t you call an expert plumber to get help from? Will you try to fix all on your own? I bet some of you will try and some of you will even succeed, but how much time will you spend?

My personal question remains the same:

Why not call experts and help others to use their knowledge and expertise?

An expert will not only share knowledge on the subject but wisdom as well. They will make you understand the thought process behind your actions.

For instance, when I was starting my writing life, getting all the rejections, my expert told me to start revising all the basics and work like I am a child going to the school for my middle school learning. You know when you learn your basic grammar skills.

via GIPHY

My expert told me to let go of viewing myself as a failure and just focus on what is in front of me. The future. And I did that. Now I am able to write and share my ideas with you, friends.

I’m in the online writing niche for the last 9 years now.

As you might understand from the previous parts, I have experience working with different groups of writers and customers and they taught me a lot.

I had great times and callous times. Throughout the working process, I liked watching how writers love crafting excellent and meaningful content that will be suitable for the customer. 

Thanks to these years, now I have my own team of expert writers who can handle almost any type of content. We are all mostly different. And I believe this makes us stronger when we face some challenging tasks. Because each person in the team can share ideas and proposals on how we can solve the situation. This makes us feel like we are ascending a new mountain.

Asking for advice does not make you less!

Asking for advice does not make you less. In fact, it makes you a bigger person. A person who is willing to become a better version of themselves. A person who admits they require some assistance. A person who cares about him or herself. 

Today, my team and I have numerous big brands and names under our umbrella. We have helped several businesses reshape themselves. We have helped them redefined themselves and capitalized their businesses through digital strategies. We helped and continue helping and assisting students all over the world for their academic woes. 

Team of expert writers - Writing Metier

We are always there to offer writing help and assistance. And that is only because I know what failure is, and I also know how important it is to have someone assist you through your tough times. 

Why I have told you my backstory if we talk about experts and expert assistance?

The purpose of narrating a part of my life here is to help you understand that I would have not done this on my own. I needed MY EXPERTS, I need their assistance. I had to fail to learn from my failure. But at the same time, I was not alone. That is the biggest comfort of my life. 

Having all of this said, if you ever require assistance in your life, be it regarding the work that we do or something else, we are always here for you. You are now our family and we will make sure that you get everything you are looking for.

To be continued… 

via GIPHY

In the second part of this blog, you will find more directions on why you should ask for an expert writing assistance for your business or personal blog.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you guys.

Have fun in life, enjoy your time here while you can, and of course, reach out to experts to make your life easier and simpler. It surely is a blessing you do not want to miss. 

Vasy Kafidoff
Vasy Kafidoff

Vasyl Kafidoff is a founder and mastermind of KAFIDOFF.COM. He has a strong interest in education, modern technology, marketing, and business management.

If Vasy is not working, you can find him somewhere in the world attending a Rock Concert with his mates.

Personal website
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