An Alternative Work Opportunity to Balance Personal and Work Life: Freelance Content Writing

Note: Re-posting as the previous Link got Corrupted.

Not everybody can manage to handle a 9 to 5 job, but does that mean they can never have a professional life? They can’t build a career? Today we all aspire of having a good job where we can not only utilize our knowledge and skills to our benefits but also for those for whom we work. But unfortunately for many reasons, which are not in our control many of us give up the desire of getting a good full-fledged job and career.

There are people like married women who have to give up their job for reasons like family engagement or transferable jobs of their husband, or upbringing of kinds and many others. So does that mean every married women who has these above mentioned factors in her life has to forget about having a career? Thankfully the answer is No.

Though not very popular few years back, but with the rapid technological advancement the concept of Freelancing is gaining popularity. Those who are not quite aware of the meaning of the term, freelancing is doing job or work for yourself with the convenience of your own time and plan. You get to work from your home and you don’t have anybody to boss over you. Though sounds a little too good but it is true. Freelancing is a good choice of career for these people. In abroad the  concept is quite popular but in India it’s gaining gradually, now.

There are many fields where freelancing or home based jobs are applicable like for example journalism, Content writing publishing, photojournalism, editing, music, photography, event management, proofreading,, event planning, , copy writing, copy editing, computer

programming, graphic design, web design, website development, illustrating, translating, and many others. Among these Content Writing is the most popular field of freelancing. Freelance Content writing is quite popular in India.

Content writing means writing contents for websites. The write ups that we see whenever we open a page of a website is termed as content and those who writes it are called content writers. Since internet presence is very important today for every business and organizations, whether big or small need for content writers are increasing. And since the pay and earning both are quite profitable in freelancing freelance writers are always in demand.

The best thing about freelance content writing is that anybody yes anybody from any educational background and with any degree can work. Housewives, collage students, whether male or female, even retired persons who wish to spend time doing something productive and working persons with some productive free time can do this job. The main things required are computers at home with a good all time round internet connectivity knowledge of English (as the medium of work is mostly English) and flair of writing. Now knowledge of English and flair of writing in this case does not mean that one has to be a master in literary English, all it needs is the capability of arranging and writing simple, correct, crisp and understandable sentences in English language and without any grammatical and spelling mistakes.

 

There are firms and organizations who appoint freelance writers under them. There are also individuals who own writing firms or are themselves writers and get bulk projects to work on, who also appoints other freelance writers to share the load. The process of work is also quite simple. The employers will provide the subject of the topic, which are varied in nature, number of words that the article should have and most importantly the keywords along with other necessary guidelines that varies with different employers and you have to search the net for information and present it in a different way or as directed, and send it within the deadline provided. Now the keywords  of an  article is set of words , which will allow the article to be visible to the readers on the search list when they search on any search engine using that particular word or something similar to it. So it is very important to utilize them in any article effectively. The forms of writing that are involved in content writing are article writing, blog writing (there is not much difference between blog and article except in the presentation), writing press releases, review writings and the likes.

Just as the subject payment, pattern in this job also varies, but as there is the liberty of choice on the part of the freelance writers so it is quite acceptable on the both the front. Most of the time  payments are based either on per article basis or on per word basis. The writing can be of any  number of words like from 150 words to 1000 words per article but the rates are normally based on 500 words. The more number of articles you write (per day) the more you get to earn. Your writing speed is important here with increasing writing speed your number of articles (per day) can gradually increase and so does your earning. With experience one can even decides one’s rate and negotiate accordingly. Fresher’s however have the choices to select out of opportunities where rates are clearly mentioned, according to their convenience.

Finding these freelancing jobs is quite easy too. With networking popular sites like Facebook and skill pages it is very simple and fast to reach to the employers. With posting on walls and joining communities and liking pages in these above mentioned sites that has many pages and communities dedicated to freelance content writing, getting opportunities in the line of freelance is quite easy.

Here both the job seeker and the employer can post requirements and even reply and communicate directly. Moreover usual job portals are there too, for finding opportunities in freelance writing.

Before being appointed freelance writers are tested by the employers online by writing samples. Sometimes experienced writers are only asked to provide for previous writing samples too.

However freelance writing jobs also have a bad side which is recently being noticed. Frauds have entered in this field too. They make the writers write and do not pay. Well it is true that it is a bit difficult to detect fraud in this field as everything happens online but with a little awareness, intelligence and observation it can be avoided. If anybody offers too tempting rates then instead of jumping right into the offer check the authenticity first by little research and feedback from fellow writers, as far as possible.

There is another sub field in freelance content writing known as academic writing or assignment help. Here a freelance writer has to write on academic subjects and provide help in writing assignments to students. There are online firms that provide such services to students and they are always in search for freelance academic writer. This can be a good opportunity especially for both working and retired teachers who wish to utilize their experience and knowledge in something productive and earn in their free times.

If, you are one of those who are caught between family engagement and career or have to quit a job for some reasons, then you can try out freelance content writing, instead of worrying for your career. This is a real good option as it helps in balancing personal and work life, conveniently. Moreover there are no issues even if you need to travel from one place to another due to your spouse’s transferable job. All you need is computer, net connection and a zest to try out a new field of work. There is also a chance to work with multiple employers at a time.  This gives chance to write on    wide range of subjects and get accustomed with various styles and forms as well. Sometimes you get to know about new things as well. It is an interesting, intelligent sophisticated and respectful alternative work opportunity for anybody.

PC: Google Image

Different Areas of Writing in Content Writing Work

Different Areas of Writing in Content Writing Work

Writing content is one of the latest trends amongst various alternate job opportunities, which is overpowering the world. Many website content writers are rising consistently.

Content is important everywhere. And without it there would be no website. Whatever we see and read on a site is content. In fact any piece of information is content, irrespective of where it is being found. Content is basic on the Web, but are also composed in a book, magazine, letter, report and so forth. But for Websites it is the lifeline. One, who creates various contents, mainly for the websites, is known as content writer. Thus a content writer or creator is an individual who works in giving important substance or content for utilization over the Internet.

Each site has a particular target group of onlookers and obliges an alternate sort and level of substance. Substance ought to have keywords that pull in and hold clients on a site. Thus content writing goes for pertinence and hunt capability. Significance implies that site content ought to be valuable and useful to people who are looking for such information. There is a developing interest for talented web content writers on the web. This is on account of the value that the content frequently deciphers into higher incomes for online organizations.

Article writing and blogging happen to be the two most critical areas; all the web content writers need to have ability in. Blogging nowadays maybe, is the most prominent manifestation of writing. It is captivating and exceptionally supportive in enhancing your written work style.

       

However with time the concept of writing contents for web has changed and today content writing is not confined to Article and blog writing only. Apart from these two there have emerged many other areas of writing content.

Here is the list of some new writing areas in the field of content writing on the net, along with article and blog writing.

Article writing: Article writing is to compose useful and quality substance over a subject to supply readers an important bit of data and educate them about the subject. Moreover, an article might likewise be composed for website improvement, where a writer needs to compose topical substance to rank a specific site.

      Blog writing: A blog is an educational website distributed on the World Wide Web and comprising of discrete sections. They are amusing to peruse, and following them could be pleasant, as well.

Academic Writing: Academic Writing is a type of written work implied for the reasons of evaluation and additionally imparting insightful plans and substance particularly in the fields of scholarly assessment. There are different sorts of scholarly written work practices that understudies need to experience throughout their educating or school days. The different types of composing may incorporate research projects, papers, examination papers, book or paper audits and the likes.

Webpage Writing: In simple words writing webpage means writing content for WebPages like ‘About us’, ‘Home’ and the likes. Web content is the reason that individuals go to the Web pages.  They are slightly different from writing articles for websites. The writing has to such as if the actual owner of the write-up is writing. You get to see uses of “we” and “US’ often in this kind of writing.

Legal Writing: Legal writing refers to composing legitimate substance for law offices and lawful gateways. While a lawyer is unquestionably able to expound on legitimate subjects and issues, but they may not know how to compose content that will perform well in ventures on Google and other web indexes. All the more significantly, the procedure of drafting great lawful substance is tedious. So they often need legal content writers to help them out. Law, as a rule, is an amazingly beneficial strength for journalists. The independent journalist with a lawful foundation might simply have very much a vocation in this specialty composing business.

Medical Writing:  Medical writing is the action of creating experimental documentation. The medical writer working with specialists, researchers, and other topic masters, makes archives that adequately and plainly portray exploration results, item utilize, and other medicinal data.

Business Writing: The business composing is a traditional correspondence from an organization to its customers, the normal open for their specific data, an alternate Company or the offices. In other words, this is any sort of composing chore done particularly for a business. Very nearly all business exercises are imagined, arranged, actualized and dissected in some manifestation of the composed word. These structures incorporate reports, and report synopses, letters, updates, and email, any archive, actually, that imparts something about business.

In Business writing there are many specific niches which a content writer can work on.
(Information Source: http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/67-freelance-niche-writing-markets-you-may-have-never-considered/)

Direction Manuals: The most imperative expertise for composing guideline manuals is to have the capacity to clarify how to do rather unpredictable things, just in exceptionally basic terms.

Flyers and Circulars: Businesses, groups, and occasion organizers all use this age-old manifestation of publicizing. An independent essayist with a few design abilities can truly sparkle with this sort of work.

Pamphlets and Brochures: From specialists' business locales to lodging halls, leaflets and flyers are everywhere. They could be a reduced system for getting data crosswise over or a smooth promoting device to acquire new clients. This independent written work specialty is incredible for independent writers who have a decent understanding of promoting strategies.

Yearly Reports: Both philanthropic and revenue driven associations needs to report their funds, and huge numbers of them do so through extravagant yearly reports that get conveyed to contributors and used in award suggestions. On the off chance that an independent author makes an extraordinary showing the first year, then there's clear potential for rehash business. Lorna's taken a shot at a yearly report or two, and they might be truly intriguing.

Presentation documents:  In a few ways, a presentation document is a much more vital bit of business composing than a resume. That is the reason numerous individuals decide to contract an expert journalist to make theirs. Securing a decent notoriety for getting the meeting makes a presentation document journalist, exceptionally famous and well-paid.

 Introduction Materials: New workers frequently need to go to introductions, and somebody needs to outline and compose the materials utilized. A little HR experience can surely go far for this situation. Lorna uncovered direct that schools and colleges are a decent place to search for this kind of chance, as they have new learner introductions normally.

Organization Policy Manuals: A business writer who can create solid abilities in this corner composing business can order a pretty penny for this administration.

Marketable strategies: Though it takes distinct aptitude in composing and improvement, marketable strategies could in all likelihood be an independent essayist's essential wellspring of pay. There are sufficient juvenile organizations to keep content writers occupied for a considerable length of time to come.

Press Release writing: A PR is a composed proclamation to the media. It can report a reach of news things, including planned occasions, work force advancements, grants, new items and administrations, deals achievements, and so on. It can additionally be utilized to create a gimmick story.

Review Writing: An audit is an assessment of a distribution, item, administration, or organization, for example, a film a bit of equipment like an auto, home machine, or workstation; or an occasion or execution and anything. Composing an item review could be an extraordinary approach to impart valuable data to different customers, advertise items you cherish. You can review very nearly any item - from an electric toothbrush to your sweet new Hybrid auto.

A purchaser audit alludes to a survey composed by the manager of an item or the client of an administration who has sufficient experience to remark on dependability and whether the item or administration conveys on its guarantees.

Writing content for PowerPoint Presentations:  Big organizations and enterprises are one of the best places to discover the higher-paying customers we all longing. Likewise with a large portion of their outsourced written work ventures, PowerPoint presentations are regularly on the schedule. Independent writers like this one significantly offer it as a component of their arrangement of specializations.

Writing content for Advertorial: An advertorial is a notice as publication substance. The expression "advertorial" is a mix of the words "ad" and "publication. In printed distributions, the ad is normally composed as a goal article and intended to resemble an authentic and autonomous news story. In TV, the notice is like a short infomercial presentation of items or administrations. These can either be as a TV plug or as a fragment on a television show or theatrical presentation. 

Copy Writing: Copywriting is composing copy/content with the end goal of publicizing or advertising. The writing is intended to convince somebody to purchase an item, or impact their convictions.

Writing Content for Proposal writing: This is a standout amongst the most vital abilities specialized written work. Organizations compose suggestions to draw in new business, deals customers and activities. 

Technical Writing: Technical content writing is any composed manifestation of specialized information utilized within a mixture of specialized fields, for example, Computer hardware and programming, science, aeromechanics, customer gadgets, and biotechnology. This style of composing has an altogether different reason and diverse attributes than other composition styles, for example, article, blog writing, academic writing or business writing.

Ghost Writing: In  ghostwriting a writer composes books, articles, stories, reports, or different messages that are authoritatively credited to someone else. Big names, executives, and political pioneers regularly employ ghostwriters to draft or alter collections of memoirs, magazine articles, or other composed material.

Looking for an Unusual Career? Try Content Writing – Different Content Writing Courses to Choose From

Looking for an Unusual Career? Try Content Writing – Different Content Writing Courses to Choose From

Are you interested to pursue a unique profession? On the off chance that you are, then no need to worry much, there are a ton of alternatives before you and content writing is one of them. It is one of the career jobs that are in enormous interest nowadays.

In layman’s language Content is what we read on any website and it assumes key part in driving movement to a site as well. Those who write or compose these contents for different websites are known as content writers. A Content Writer looks into, gathers, investigates and examines data to create quality substance for sharing by the sites on the web. He examines different hotspots for data, gathers the important data, arranges and groups the data lastly creates content for sites on the web. Individuals of different foundations can turn into a Content Writer.

Career in content writing is turning into one of the lucrative vocations in India. As India has turned into a decent place for outsourcing, one can discover enough open doors in this field. There is huge number of organizations in India, who undertakes content writing projects from American and European nations as India is rich with many English talking individuals. And thus creating demands for content writers as creating substance for the locales is a huge scale action.

Importance of Content Writing and Scope

Substance composing makes for an exceptionally imperative employment nowadays. Content is something which is looked for by different varieties of commercial enterprises both online or off line. There are different occupation assignments in this field obliging editors, PR writers, Article and blog writers and content journalists and the likes.

Today apart from working as a Full time content writing, one can also opt for working as a Freelance content writing, which means you do not have to go to any office instead you can work from the comfort of your home and at your preferred timings.

Courses and Institutions  

Though the concept of content writing has been there for many years but it is only now that people are gaining knowledge and interest in it and giving serious thoughts about choosing it as a career option. Though the best way to understand and gain expertise in this field is by working and writing in real ( as this field does not demand any particular or specialised qualification level and working experience), yet getting a content writing training, or studying content writing courses, is definitely an added advantage. However there were no such proper training facilities in this field earlier. All those who have been in this field from the start have gain expertise and knowledge only through work, but today the scene has slightly changed. Today, if you are interested to take up content writing, either full time or freelance, you have the chance to get content writing training, as there are institutions that offer content writing courses in India.

Nonetheless there are still only some establishments in India, today, which provide training in content writing.

Here is the list of some institutions that offer Content writing courses. The courses offered by the following content writing training institutes, varies from certificate to diploma to online courses.

ü  Wavelength eLearning Consulting and Training, Uttar Pradesh

ü  Sri Aurobindo Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi

ü  Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi

ü  A.J. Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre, New Delhi-110025

ü  Pioneer Media School, New Delhi,

ü  Manorama School of Communication, Kerala

ü  Indus Net Academy, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

ü  STHA, Ahmedabad

ü  Compete InfoTech Academy, Kolkata

ü  Connect India, Kolkata

Here are few more Content writing courses to try out:  

ü  Learn today content writing course, which is an online content writing course by India today group: http://www.learntoday.in/course/SEO-Writing-Online-Web-Content-Writing-6.html

ü  Excel PTP web content writing course: http://www.excelptp.com/web-content-article-writing-training.html

ü  Seo Content Writing Training course: http://www.seotraininghubahmedabad.com/seo-content-writing.html

ü  Certificate course in Content Writer: www.seoprofessor.in

The courses offered by these institutions realize all the essential abilities to turn into a fruitful online content creator or writer. You'll be taught how to select theme, research for pertinent watchwords, compose intriguing copies, and advertise content on social networking and lastly assessing its execution. You also get to learn press release composing, article composing, online journal composition, web composing, social book checking substance, business substance composing and that's only the tip of the iceberg. The length of time of these projects differs depending on the institution.

You can also enter into the field of content writing with training in creative writing as well. Creative writing has developed as a different scholastic field with painstakingly composed course educational program and down to earth instructional method. In India, a few universities and colleges offer courses in creative writing. Creative Writing course offers an assortment of systems to enhance your written work process and improve creativity. Creative Writing Courses are an early on class intended to help you create composing abilities in various types, Learn to compose gimmick articles, screenplays, short stories and travel composing, advertorial, blogs, press release and many more. Creative Writing course from British counsel can be the best option.

Here are few Institutions that offer creative writing courses in India (Ref/source: http://www.indianfreelancewriters.com/2012/09/the-best-writing-courses-in-india.html)

ü  Indira Gandhi National Open University: The institution offer a Diploma in Creative Writing in English through its study centres across the country. It is a distance learning course with the maximum duration of 4 years

ü  Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL), Pune: This institution offers a 1 year Diploma in Creative Writing. This is also a distance learning course with maximum 2 years duration

ü  Xavier Institute of Communications Mumbai:  The institution offers a certificate program in creative writing. The course is best for those beginners looking for a quick introduction to professional writing. The course duration is six weeks and it is a campus program.

ü  Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication, New Delhi: This institution offers a certificate programme in creative writing. The duration of this course is three months. This is a campus program.

ü  R.K. Film and Media Academy, Delhi: This institution offers certificate programs in creative writing and content writing. This is a full time course with three months of course duration. This is a campus program.

Other names are

ü  Centre for Research in Art and Film & Television (CRAFT), Delhi:  creative writing programs of 3 months, 6 months and 1 year duration.

ü  Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi: Creative Writing program.   

ü  Central Institute of Indian languages, Mysore: Creative writing in English.

Whether you are new or already into the field, trying out the courses is always going to be profitable as it can provide you extra edge over the others and an opportunity to hone and brush up your skills that you have earned working all these years.