To survive in this tough competition, freelance writers need to know about some really useful tools to enhance their productivity and creativity. There are many writing tools available online using which a freelance writer can easily manage his write-ups online.

Here is a list of some really useful writing tools every writer can make use of:

1.Keynote-This Free software by Tranglos works as a research data manager. It helps in taking notes; outline text and supports Windows operating system. Using this software a freelance writer can organize research notes by adding multiple and variety of notes within a single hotfile. It is an easy to use, multi-featured notebook that allows a writer to keep personal information and save and archive research material easily and instantly. In addition, a writer can also outline his freelance projects, create project documents; generate templates for variety of documents with a standard format, etc.

2.Picnik- It is basically a Free photo editing software to crop, resize, rotate, and give final touch to images. As writers need images for their blogs/ write-ups, hence, this fast software program lets them add special effects to the images. This tool also offers easy-to-use and powerful editing application using which a writer can follow his creative instinct and crop the photos or images the way he wants them. It can also be used on Mac, Windows Linux etc.

3.WhiteSmoke- Another important tool for freelance writers which works as an innovative English grammar and proofreading software. It helps in improving English sentences and makes them look more professional and creative. It supports MS Word, Outlook, and all other text-based applications. The best part about this software is that it highlights and explains the errors made by a writer. It is available in different versions (General Writing, Business Writing, Creative Writing, Hi-Tech Writing, Biotech Writing, Executive Package) as per writers needs.

4.Google Docs- It a Free, online word processor tool that allows writers to create and edit online documents quickly online. Using this software, a writer can simply integrate bullet lists, columns, tables, images, formulas, comments, change fonts & font size.

It also allows a writer to share those documents with his network across the world. It provides a pack of excellent features similar to word processor, presentations, spreadsheets, form applications etc. It supports all the major hotfile formats including DOC, ODS, RTF, CSV, PPT, XLS, ODT etc.

5.Ziney Pro- This important tool for writer can be used for formatting articles and newsletters. A freelance writer can make use of this tool while working on a lengthy writing project. It improves the quality up to 30—50% and saves your time in formatting your newsletters, articles, write-ups etc. It can easily run on old computers, supported with small hard disks and old graphic cards.

Hope these writing tools will assist all the freelance writers in making their career a great success. Please provide me with feedback and insights on our article as always.

It would be important for one to know what these services entail.

If we break down the words into 2 we get ghost and writing. A ghost is described by many as someone or something unseen. It is something of someone that is known to exist but cannot be seen. Writing the ability to put things down using a pen or whatever material that can create words on paper. Therefore, ghostwriting services are actions offered by people who can generate content but you may not necessarily see them.

These services mainly deal with the generation of content, especially for websites. One thing you have to note is that people website designers cannot be totally dependant when they are building your site. This is because many of the websites that are created have a lot of flash pictures and wordings that are irrelevant. Also, many website have many links and adverts are usually irrelevant to the search engines.

One of the most important things that you should know about ghostwriters is that they study search engines and try to make your website be indexed and rated highly by search engines. Look here, what is the point of coming up with a website with many pictures and flash images and when someone is looking for you products using search engines your site is no where in the top 100 pages. How do you expect the search engines to get you indexed if you don’t have relevant content? In fact, if you have a site that has flash images and no content, it is probable that your site may never be indexed.

This is where ghostwriting services comes in. Ghostwriters come up with relevant content and information for your site. These are professionals who have studied how search engines work and can help your site be in the top 20 results of a search engine using certain keyword phrases. All you have to do is give them the main keywords of your website and they will generate content on the same keywords and other keyword phrases. Many are the times that generating content for yourself is hard, but with professional ghostwriters, they can generate even 100 articles in a week. This is how great these ghostwriting services are!!

Read more on ghostwriting services.

More articles on SEO services

When composing an article for readers online there are some simple writing tips that could help you get the most out of your efforts.

Certain aspects of preparing an article to be read online differ from the more casual off-line approach to writing. Attention needs to be paid to the ‘technical’ and ’structural’ elements involved in constructing an article for online readers.

Let’s review 4 areas of preparation involved in online article writing and how it may differ from ‘traditional’ offline articles.

INTRIGUING HEADLINE

The headline should jump out at the reader and capture their interest to read further into the article. Whether you’re using humor, shock, or appealing to the reader on some emotional level it needs to make the reader pause.

Online this can be a bit of a challenge due to the reader’s ability in just a nano second to quickly click away. The challenge is compounded further by certain restrictions article directories have in place. Any wording deemed unfit or a misrepresentation of content will prevent your article from even being published online. 
Headlines that often work online would take the direction of ‘How to”, “The Greatest”, “The Easiest”, or even a numbered list such as “5 Ways to”.

DON’T USE MISLEADING HEADLINES

Using a headline that inaccurately reflects the article content just to capture attention generally won’t work online. Browsers who open up an article are expecting to view information as indicated in the headline. When this doesn’t happen they quickly, and sometimes irritably, click away. With access to so much information readers will leave without a second thought.

ONLINE ARTICLE FORMATTING

When submitting an article online it is recommended to include a resource box so readers can link back to your site if they choose. The number of words and links you use will face the scrutiny of both the directories and the readers. You’ll need to be concise and convincing in order to get the reader to do what you want them to do.

Most articles will be accompanied by a short summary or abstract that again is monitored by directories. Your abstract is limited to just a few sentences in which you’re convincing readers why they should read your article.

If you’re submitting article to ezines or perhaps publishing them in a newsletter you’ll need to pay attention to the number of characters you use per line. If not done correctly your composition will not appear in a uniformed orderly fashion on the internet.

KEYWORD USAGE

The use of keywords in every aspect of article writing from titles to the body of content down to the abstracts themselves is critical. If your work is not optimized correctly with keywords neither search engines nor readers will every be able to locate your article content.

Keyword placement, accuracy, frequency of and the manner in which they are used are closely monitored by search engines. Keywords are the beacons that attract and guide search engines to your article itself. If this task is not completed correctly your article exposure will suffer.

These writing tips we’ve discussed here should enable you to more effectively plan and prepare your articles for internet reading. The focus here is more on concise content delivery, formatting, and keyword use. This allows your article to be easily found and then viewed online. With the size of the audience the internet makes available to you these additional measures are more than worth it!

A ghostwriter is a very useful professional for those, who are looking to earn more. A ghostwriter can significantly improve your online businesses and other online activities, so that you can be free of tension. If you hire a ghostwriter you will be able to see your business growing and the traffic in your site also improving with every passing day. The main problem is how to find a ghostwriter who will actually take away your tensions rather than adding to it. This is not that difficult, as you may think it is. There are many reputed online ghostwriting services, such as Writer4me.com, which employ the best ghostwriters in the world. They write on your behalf and make your business much more professional. The only thing you have to do is to follow the given tips and find a ghost- writer.

•    You need to make an assessment of the background of the company or the ghostwriter, whom you will be hiring for your writing requirements.
•    You need to look at some of the works that they have already done in the past. It is always a better idea to look in to such projects, which are similar to that of yours, so that you get a fair bit of idea as to how they will be performing.
•    When you are trying to find a ghostwriter, you must always stress on quality and the competitiveness of pricing.
•    You must also try to ensure that the ghostwriter, whom you are hiring, understands your instructions and requirements perfectly. This is very essential for the success of the total project.
•    You must also do a bit of research on your own and try to find out the track record of the company or the person whom you will be entrusting with the ghostwriting job.

If you follow the simple rules mentioned above, it will not be difficult for you to find a ghostwriter, who is good and efficient and suits perfectly to your needs.

Ghostwriting rates. They’re all over the place. But should they be? The answer is a firm: It all depends. Most people seeking out a ghostwriter first want to know what ghostwriting rates they should expect to pay.

Ghostwriting rates vary – wildly – because the writing itself requires a wide variety of skills. It includes not just writing talent, but also the ability to communicate and work together and to just about adopt the persona of your client. This collaborative process will usually start with a series of interviews between writer and client.

Other ghostwriting rate variables concern the medium. Is the writer creating a book, an article, a website, a newsletter, advertorial, blog or whatever?

When checking on ghostwriting rates, think too about frequency. Ghostwriting an article or website might be a one-time thing. Writing a blog might be a one-time only event, but really shouldn’t be, since blogs should be updated regularly – sometimes even daily. So frequency will absolutely affect ghostwriting rates.

Writing a book is another thing altogether. Ghostwriting rates for books will be all over the place. Writing a book can take a few months or even a few years. Sometimes the ghostwriting rate can include added assistance – like helping find an agent or publisher, so again there will be a wide variance in the ghostwriting rate charged. Any added services should be spelled out in your contract with the writer.

Three final hints regarding ghostwriting rates:

· Your clients should provide thorough notes and a detailed outline.

· Your client may request one free round of changes on the spelling and grammar of the completed work. Extra changes and new pages should be charged at your basic editorial costs.

· When the project is completed, all rights to the work then belong exclusively to the client.

If you’re not doing so already, you may want to consider writing articles about your website’s topic. Writing copyright free articles is a great way to:

Establish your credibility and build your reputation and brand

Establish yourself as an expert in your field

Increase your exposure on the internet

Gain laser targeted traffic to your website

Increase the number of one way links to your website, which should help your website in the search results.

Writing articles about the topic of your website is a fantastic way to demonstrate your expertise and credibility and at the same time allows you to build your reputation and your brand. Submitting your articles to the various free article sites gives your articles the opportunity to be picked up by other webmasters for their websites and newsletters. When your articles get used on these other websites they must be used with the author bio section un-edited. This means that you can generate one way links to your website, which in turn leads to greater exposure and better rankings in the search engines. If the readers of your articles on other sites click through to your site, you gain targeted traffic.

Some Article Writing Tips

To get the greatest benefit from your article writing endeavors, try to keep the following article writing tips in mind:

Try to stay away from turning your article into a sales pitch. Give your readers credit – they will be able to distinguish a sales pitch right away. Once they think they’re just reading another sales pitch they will quickly click away from your article. I can just about guarantee that no one will pick up your sales pitch and use it on their website, unless it’s one of your affiliates.

Don’t include too many hyperlinks within the article body and stick to only one in the author bio section. Most webmasters will not pick up an article, no matter how good it is, if there are too many outgoing links. I would recommend not having any links within the article body but sometimes this is unavoidable.

Which situation would you rather have: 1 article with 1 outgoing link to your website that gets picked up by 1,000 webmasters or 1 article with 10 outgoing links that gets picked up by 10 webmasters?

Check, re-check and then check your article again for typos and grammatical errors. Have someone else proofread it for you before submitting it. Nothing says amateur more than typos and grammatical errors.

Write articles that complement the topic of your website. Don’t write about something totally unrelated to your website. Remember, you want to establish your credibility and expertise. Write about what you know.

When adding that one link back to your site, make sure to include a keyword targeted link back to your site. I’m talking specifically about the words between the opening and closing anchor tags.

When the search engine robots come across this link they will index the anchor text and it will help you with those keywords in the search engines. Do not waste this valuable link by just having your website address as the anchor text unless you have your main keywords in the website address. Try to vary the keywords a little as well when creating this link. There is speculation that having too many “uniform” links to a site may hurt you – just something to keep in mind.

Do not place a copyright notice at the top of your article. This leads to confusion and may cause webmasters to stay away from posting your articles on their website and in their newsletters.

It may be a good idea to write completely new content for your articles. Some writers just copy and paste parts of their websites and put them into articles. This may lead to a “duplicate content” penalty and may end up hurting your search engine results. I would recommend that you should play it safe and come up with totally new content for your articles.

With the expansion of third-party monetization models, many small businesses can enter markets online, without the same level of start-up capital that would be needed offline. This has made the demand for ghostwriters explode.

Ghostwriting for online publishers is somewhat different from offline mediums for a number of reasons. Many offline ghostwriters find that they are not fully qualified to write for web-based publications. With the expansion of third-party monetization models, many small businesses can enter markets online, without the same level of start-up capital that would be needed offline. This has made the demand for ghostwriters explode.

Now many publishers are moving online, and need their writers to develop skills and understand search engine ranking factors, otherwise known as SEO (search engine optimization).

So what does a ghostwriter need to know about search engine optimization? Information architecture is one factor that is effected by search engine optimization, as well as internal linking structure. A writer needs to understand the importance of anchor text, link depth, and online usability which are all prominent factors.

When writing online ghostwriters will learn about the requirements of writing in a manner that will act as link bait. This is the online equivalent of public relations, where writers will increase their clients search engine rankings by providing a stimulus for other websites to link to their clients.

Ghostwriters are often somewhat aggrieved when asked to sacrifice the quality of their copy for the benefit of search engines. This has lead to much debate amongst the writing industry, however much of this has been stimulated by the apparent ignorance of most.

As search engine algorithms have evolved, it is no loner nessesary for a writer to pump their copy full of keywords; it is more likely to have a negative effect on search engine positioning, than a positive one. Some ghostwriters have edited their writing style to allow for 3-5% of words in their copy to contain the keywords they wish to promote. This is not needed, but they should certainly appear at least once on the page if you wish to be ranked for them.

Web ghostwriting also involves ensuring that your clients have realistic ideas of what they can gain through using your services. Make sure they are aware that link building is the only way that they will be able to gain real exposure through search engines in competitive online markets. Your copy will only help to supplement their cohesive campaign. Always remember that providing quality content is a ghost writers main concern, and search engine factors should not over-ride this.

Ghoswriting for the web is also somewhat different in the less formal nature that a ghostwriter will be expected to take. Short sentences and paragraphs, as well as bolded words and sub-headings make web ghostwriting more like tabloid journalism than anything else. This is what readers require online, so ghostwriters must learn to adjust.

To learn about web/seo ghost writing it is recommended that you start reading up on search engine algorithms and positioning factors. Ensure that you know what you are talking about when an SEO agency gets on the phone looking for your services. Quality content and readability will always be the differentiating factor in your writing, but it is still necessary that you keep your skills up-to-date.

One of the best reasons for writing articles is to get traffic to your webiste and lots of it, but you won’t attract much traffic with boring content, ramblings and regurgitated ideas that no one cares about.

Your articles must be interesting, easy to read and spark interest.

How can you do that? Here are a few tips:

1. Forget what you Learned in English Class

Internet surfers are skimmers, they want something that is easy to read and gets to the point fast. When it comes to paragraphs, shorter is better and each paragraph should consist of about 3-5 sentences. The last thing they want to read are big long run-on sentences, even if they belong together it’s easier to read if you break them up. Keep your words simple, get to the point quickly and don’t ramble or get preachy.

One thing you do need to remember from English class is make your writing understandable. I do this by speaking what I write. After you write it, say it out loud. If it doesn’t make sense to you, it won’t make sense to anyone else.

2. Use a Catchy Title

Your title is what lures your reader in. It must capture their attention and incite intrigue. This means using powerful, descriptive words. For example, the title of this article is “8 hard-hitting article writing tips’. ‘Hard-hitting’ is a powerful description of these tips. Get the idea?

Remember also that your title should reflect exactly what your article is about, so keep it relevant and focused.

3. Skip the Broad Topics

There’s nothing worse than a broad topic with little detail. Keep your article focused on one specific topic and then follow through with informative details. Deliver good information in an expert manner. If you have too many topics running through your head, break them up into separate articles. If you are a little foggy about what details to include, ask yourself the who, what, when, where, why and how questions for ideas.

Additionally, keep your ideas flowing in a logical manner, don’t jump around. Your article should flow like smooth running water.

4. Stir up Some Action

Light a fire under your reader by using action words. This means avoiding words like was, were, can, maybe, are, am, may, could, should, etc. Bring your message alive with action words like get, find, will, do, must, go, run, drive, etc. The idea is to bring forth a powerful message that adds enthusiasm and provokes action. Don’t be wishy-washy with your ideas. Project a powerful, authoritative, say what you mean voice.

5. Deliver Quality over Quantity

When submitting your articles to a directory, use the minimum number of words it requires. If a directory requires of minimum of 500 words and your article is 1000 words, split it up into two articles. The more articles you can submit the better. Having more articles is better than having larger articles.

6. Show Some Personality for cryin’ out loud

Let’s face it, articles can be dull. Just read some of the articles out there and you’ll see what I mean. You’ll get a lot more feedback and interest if you can interject some personality in your writing. If you are a funny person, let that humor come through. Even a little sarcasm or controversy can add to a reader’s enjoyment and help put them at ease.

No one wants dull, so let your personality reflect a ’spark of spirit’ that will help your reader better engage in your article.

7. Funnel Your Readers

Forget the bio pitch. Your articles are not the best place for them; leave that to your website. Instead use your article’s resource box to funnel your readers to your website. If they liked what they read in your article they will likely want to see more. Use your resource box to lead them there by attracting them with something of value. For example, your resource box might say something like this:

- get your free course here…

- learn more about xyz here…

- get more articles like this here…

The idea is to channel your readers to your website, not pitch your bio. At this point no one really cares. Get them to your site first.

8. Grammar and Spelling Count

Ever read an article with poor grammar and spelling errors? It’s a bit of a turn-off. It diminishes your professionalism and authority. That’s why you must use spell checker, particularly after making article changes or updates. Keep in mind; however that spellchecker may not pick up errors for words like ‘there’ and ‘their’ so give your articles a good eye-balling before submitting them.

As for your grammar, you don’t have to follow every rule of grammar but you don’t want to sound like a first grader either. Don’t be sloppy; take the time to read over your article for good punctuation and a style of grammar that projects intelligence yet lets your personality shine through.

An ebook ghostwriter is a person that creates an ebook without expecting to receive credit for writing the book. An ebook, which is much like a hard-copy book but distributed in digital format, provides an excellent means for a business to promote its goods or services. Or, the ebook itself can be a steady source of income.

Reasons for Hiring an ebook Ghostwriter

If you offer a good or service, you might want to consider a freelance writer to create an ebook that you can distribute for free. By offering free ebooks to your site visitors, you can substantially increase your number of customers and create strong partnerships with other businesses.

Hiring an ebook ghostwriter is one marketing tool that many business owners are finding to be quite successful. If you have a web site dedicated to selling herbal supplements, for example, you might hire ghostwriter to write a book about various herbal supplements and their benefits. By offering this ebook for free on your web site, you are improving the pubic perception of your business. Offering a free ebook on the subject can also help boost your search engine ratings as your site becomes considered a valuable resource for those interested in information about herbal supplements.

Of course, you don’t have to give your ebook away for free. There are several businesses that make a steady flow of cash by offering ebooks for sale. These ebooks come in both fiction and nonfiction and there is a developing fan-base of individuals that prefer to purchase their books in this way. In addition, offering your books in digital format can significantly decrease your overhead costs and increase your profit. Better yet, you can hire an ebook ghostwriter to write the books for you and you will not have to put very much effort into the money-making venture at all!

Selecting an ebook Ghostwriter

Selecting an ebook ghostwriter will have a great deal to do with the type of ebook you need written. If you are looking for a fictional book, for example, you will certainly want someone with experience writing successful fictional stories. If you are interested in hiring ghostwriter to write non-fiction, on the other hand, you might want to hire someone that has experience in the subject matter. Or, you might hire someone that has written numerous articles even if he or she doesn’t necessarily have experience writing ebooks.

Selecting an ebook writer may also depend upon the length of your ebook. If you are looking for a small ebook on a simple subject, for example, you might not need someone that is overly experienced with writing. If you want something that’s large and detailed, on the other hand, it will be well worth paying the extras for writer that knows how to take complex information and make it easy to read.

Finding an ebook Ghostwriter

With the ever-growing popularity of the Internet, finding an ghostwriter isn’t as difficult as you might think. One method for locating an ebook ghostwriter is to post your project on a board such as Craig’s List. The downside to posting on Craig’s List, however, is that you can only post in one city. Therefore, your pool of applicants for the job is restricted. If you are looking for writer with specific knowledge or experience, you might not find it if you do not expand your search.

Another option is to post your project on a bid board. By posting on a bid board, all of the freelancer of the board can easily read your project specs and determine if they would be a good match. If they feel they can complete your project to your liking, they will then place a bid. You can follow this up by reading the portfolio they create on the bid board and reading the reviews they have received from other clients they have worked for on the board. In this way, your selection process becomes quick and easy.

Everybody’s got a little writing skill. But if you’ve got an idea for something you’d like to get published – an article or a book, perhaps – the question is, is your skill level enough? It’s one thing to compose an email to your sister. It’s a different matter entirely when it comes to sitting down and having the wherewithal to write a publishable piece of work. Here are five questions you should ask yourself before you decide to tackle that potential writing project:

Do I have the time?
I find that most people don’t realize the time that’s involved in writing something important. Even a relatively short article can take longer than people think. There’s a process that takes place between the brain, where the ideas are, and the fingertips, which remain poised above the keyboard waiting for instructions. In a lot of cases, what goes on between these two points can render the original idea almost unrecognizable by the time it hits the screen. If you find yourself stopping repeatedly, saying things like, “Wait, that’s not what I meant to say…” then you can assume you might be getting yourself into a very long affair.

Do I have the patience?
As any good writer will tell you, effective writing is actually mostly rewriting. When we write a sentence, or a paragraph, or a page, we’ve just started the writing process. We know that there’s always a better way to write what we just wrote. And so we go back through the sentence or the paragraph or the page, and we clean it up, edit it, chop stuff out, add stuff, consider the word choices we’ve made, and make certain we’ve made the writing as clear as possible. It can be a painstaking process, but it’s necessary.

How are my organizational skills?
Lots of people stop before they even get started, sitting with tons of great ideas in their heads, or on little scraps of notepaper, but without any real idea how to take those ideas and organize them, let alone transfer them to the written page. A good piece of writing needs to start with a strong outline. One needs to be able to produce an effective introduction; a body that flows in an understandable way, with each point being properly supported; and a decent conclusion that properly summarizes, encourages the reader to take some kind of action, or both. If you’re not the organized type, you might want to enlist some help.

How are my spelling and grammar skills?
Do you know the difference between “there” and “their” and “they’re”? Between “affect” and “effect”? Your spellchecker program doesn’t. Do you know when to use “lie” and when to use “lay”? When to use “who” and when to use “whom”? Your spellchecker doesn’t know the differences there either, although some grammar-checking programs will at least offer suggestions. Even still, it doesn’t take too many wrong tenses or misplaced commas to throw a cloud over everything you’ve written, thus undoing any credibility you might have. If the work looks sloppy, it’s not going to matter that you’re an expert on the subject matter.

Can I afford a ghostwriter?
Hey, we’re not cheap. Pricing ranges all over the board, from anywhere around $50 per page up to $250. As in most professions, you pretty much get what you pay for. But realize that asking a professional writer to set aside some time to compose a decent piece of work – several months or more for a book – isn’t going to come without a price tag. If you decide it’s worth it, just make sure you’re hiring the right person and make sure all the terms of payment are spelled out in advance.

Writing is a skill like anything else. Some people want to trust it to professionals, just like they’d call a lawyer for legal help, or a plumber to fix their leaking pipes. Other people don’t mind giving it a go themselves, and some have enough skill to pull it off. It’s not a decision that should be made lightly. If the project is important enough, take a long, serious look at your own abilities and decide what the best route is for you.

Copyright 2009, Jerry Payne