The life of a professional content writer is not a sweet gig, especially if you create content for a business purpose.
It takes a lot of work, and you need to always be on your game. Of course, that's an ideal situation and it doesn't always happen that way. In most cases, writers find themselves at a loss. It could be in trying to come up with an idea for an article, getting the words to flow, or finding enough time to get everything done.
Just as a carpenter can get more work done with power tools, a writer can be more productive if given the right tools to address an issue such as writer's block or too many distractions. Hence, here are 10 useful productivity tools to help you out when you're in a rut.
Coming Up With Article Ideas
1.
Answer The Public
This is a pretty cool site for trolling for possible topics for any keyword because it automatically gives you long-tailed keywords based on searches made on Google and Bing, and you can use any of the suggestions to get you started. It even gives you a visual representation, so you can print it out and work your way around the circle.
2.
BlogAbout
Some content writers start from the top down when looking for inspiration, so they think about a great sounding title and use it to work their way through the article itself.
A kickass title will earn them brownie points with the search engines and the users, as well. This online tool offers different title frameworks and you fill in the blanks. When you find an approach you like, then it becomes much easier to go full steam ahead.
3.
Freedly
You can also look at what's trending in the news to find your next topic. Feedly is a news aggregator that lets you search for articles by category, URL, or hashtag. You can use the web version or download the mobile app. In any case, it is a good source for inspiration when you're stuck for a new topic or a new angle on an old topic.
Content Creation and Promotion
1.
EssaysOnTime
Many writers get stuck with a certain style of writing and have a hard time realigning themselves when they have to do something entirely different.
For example, if you are used to doing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) content, and you suddenly have to write a white paper, the styles are very different. You can get guidance from professional writing services like EssaysOnTime to help you find the right path. You can also use such services to get help with editing and proofreading of your draft, so you can start on with the next project.
2.
CoSchedule Headline Analyzer
What content writer has not struggled with coming up with an effective headline?
You want it SEO-friendly but also powerful. CoSchedule's free online Headline Analyzer will score the words you use in your proposed headline based on four parameters: Common, Uncommon, Emotional, and Power.
The tool will also check the word and character count to see if it is too short, too long, or just right to encourage click-throughs. Never again will you have to wait for your post to be published before you find out if your title is effective or not.
3.
Buffer rnContent writers are only as good as how many people they pull in, so it is important to include promotion by publishing it on social media. Buffer can help you do this more efficiently by letting you schedule your posts in advance. You can publish at the best times for a particular social network without fuss or bother, and without having to remember it.
Timing and Organization
1.
Timely
Time is an important resource for any person, but particularly for people who work on a deadline. Content writers typically have to stick to a rigorous schedule to meet their deadlines, but they also tend to put off things until the last minute. Timely lets you schedule your tasks and automatically track billable hours at the same time.
You can integrate it with your existing Google or Yahoo calendar, and auto-import each entry with estimated times, so transitioning is not a problem. You can also enter more tasks as you need. Never again will you miss a deadline, or manually calculate your income!
2.
Evernote
Aside from deadlines, there are a million and one things you need to remember as a content writer.
Important references, interesting images or videos, notes to self, and instructions from clients are just some of the things you need to juggle in your head. This app lets you capture all these bits of information in one app, and access it from all and any of your devices. It is essentially a digital notebook with kickass features.
3.
Trello
This app is particularly effective if you have to regularly work with a team to complete a project. rnFor example, if you are working on content for a new website, you need to coordinate with several people. This will probably include the website owner, web designer, marketing staff, graphic editor, and video editor.
With Trello, you can set a project, invite people, and collaborate on tasks. Everyone knows where everybody is, and what part of the project needs attention. It will help you avoid duplication and save a lot of time for everybody.
4.
IFTTT
With so many things going on, you just don't want to worry about having to bring all your devices to access the apps you use all the time.
If This Then That (IFTTT) is a free automation service that uses "recipes" (commands) to connect your devices and lots of web apps and services. The productivity features are especially useful for content writers because it can schedule your tasks, set reminders, connect with Evernote and Trello, and sync on the cloud. It even helps you track what you do with your time.
These 10 productivity tools for content writers are extremely useful for getting tasks done quickly and efficiently. You can get more done, and make you a valuable member of the content creation and marketing team. It also means you can make more money for your company, which is always a good thing.