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How to Write Technical Blogs that Wow Clients

How to Write Technical Blogs that Wow Clients


How to Write Technical Blogs that Wow Clients

There’s big money to be made in the technical writing industry. In fact, technical writing is one of the most profitable writing niches out there, with the average technical writer making around $60,000. 

Plus, unlike many industries which are seeing a decrease in job openings, the technical writing industry is booming, with job growth expected to grow by 10 percent over the next ten years. 

And, it’s no wonder that technical writers make good money and that they’re in such high demand. Writing technical blogs and other technical materials is not easy. 

Not only do you need to be an excellent writer, but you also need to have a very strong command of the subject matter and be able to speak to readers in a way that it is informative yet still very engaging. 

If you’re looking to offer technical blogging services to your clients, then you’ve come to the right place. 

Check out this guide to learn how to write technical blog posts that will wow your clients. 

1. Know Your Audience 

Knowing your audience is one of the most important elements of technical writing, or any type of writing for that matter. 

This will determine how you structure your blog post as well as the type of language and tone you use. 

For example, if you’re writing a blog post that’s geared at a bunch of engineering PhDs, then you’ll obviously want to use intellectual language that conveys your expertise. In other words, you don’t want to dumb things down too much.  

If, however, you’re writing a blog post that’s meant to help the average person understand a technical subject, then you’ll want to use more accessible language. You’ll also want to make sure to illustrate your writing with plenty of everyday examples that the average person can relate to. 

If you don’t know much about the target audience, just ask your client for a detailed buyer persona. 

2. Format for Easy Reading 

Whether your audience is high schoolers or research scientists, you’ll always want to format your technical blogs for easy reading. 

This is because no one enjoys reading large blocks of text. Instead, people prefer to scan information, and it’s much easier to do this when your text is broken up strategically. 

Also, human beings have very short attention spans, which can make reading long paragraphs particularly annoying. In fact, it’s estimated that the average human attention span is 8 seconds. Which is, sadly, shorter than that of a goldfish. 

So, make sure you keep your paragraphs short—2-3 sentences is usually the magic number. And, make sure you use plenty of headers and subheaders to help break up your information and make it more digestible. 

This interesting read provides a good example of how blog posts should be broken up for easy-reading. 

3. Incorporate Expressive Language 

Look, just because the subject matter is a bit dry doesn’t mean your language should be dry as well. 

When writing about technical topics, it can be really easy to fall into a monotonous tone. 

To prevent this from happening, use vocabulary that will help your audience engage all of their senses when they’re reading. For example, instead of describing a tech accessory as “glow in the dark” you can describe it as “luminous”. Or, instead of saying that a product is reliable, you can say it’s “almost accountable to a fault”. 

Using metaphors and similes is also a great way to liven up your language. 

4. Know Your Goals 

When writing a blog post, it’s very important to keep your goals in mind. In other words, ask yourself what exactly you hope to achieve for your client by writing this post. 

While this answer will vary from post to post, in general, you want to make sure you achieve two things:

1. You’ll want to make sure the reader has gained something by the time they’ve finished reading your post.

2. You’ll want to make sure you write a post that makes the reader feel like they’ve received valuable information that they haven’t received anywhere else. (In other words, make sure you’re not just repeating information from other blog posts already out there.)

By keeping these general goals in mind, it’ll be much easier to write an effective blog post. 

5. Don’t Forget Visuals 

This will depend on the client and their budget; however, it’s generally a great idea to add some visuals to your blog post, even if you’re writing for a super technical audience. 

This is because approximately 65 percent of the population comprises of visual learners. So, adding in a graph or an infographic can really help your readers fully understand the information you’re presenting. 

Or, at the very least, it gives them a break from staring at text. 

6. Focus on Your Interests 

If you’re new to the world of technical blogging, then you may be feeling overwhelmed about the amount of information out there and how you’re ever going to win clients. 

When you’re just starting out, the best thing to do is to focus on a topic that interests you and then go from there. Not only will this help you learn more effectively, but it’ll also make you more marketable to clients. 

This is because clients would much rather hire a niche technical writer instead of a general technical writer. So, think about some technical areas that interest you, whether it’s robotics or healthcare, and go from there. 

Also, to make yourself more marketable to clients, you may want to add other forms of writing to your wheelhouse, such as brochure writing, landing page writing, or white paper writing. 

Are You Ready to Write Awesome Technical Blogs? 

As you can see, writing technical blogs isn’t that different from writing any other type of blog. And by following these tips, you’ll be gaining clients left and right. 

Be sure to check out our blog for more ways to gain clients and grow your business! 

Business

6 Mobile App Development Blogs that Every Developer Should Read

6 Mobile App Development Blogs that Every Developer Should Read


6 Mobile App Development Blogs that Every Developer Should Read

2018 was the most exciting year for app development yet, as people downloaded a record-breaking 194 billion apps! What’s more, experts predict that number will rise this year, smashing last year’s record.

In short, there’s never been a better time to get into mobile app development. But there’s more to app development than coding. You’ll also need to do research.

Read on as we detail six of the best sources of mobile app development news.

1. MobileAppDaily

MobileAppDaily is easily the most well-rounded blog on this list. Whether you’re developing a game, a utility app, or a streaming platform, or a VR interface, they have you covered.

In addition to tips and tricks to help your development process, MobileAppDaily reviews apps. Send them a build of your app, and you may end up on their homepage.

2. The Verge

Building an app is about more than the development process itself. It’s about predicting future tech and ensuring that you’re using your resources to the fullest extent.

While The Verge isn’t mobile-focused per se, they feature enough stories on mobile app development and mobile tech that they’re worth keeping up with all the same.

3. App Developer Magazine

From the business side of things, App Developer Magazine should be your go-to.

Not only do they have some great advice about coding, monetization, and cryptocurrency, but their business-centric focus can help you land your dream job and work with some of the top mobile development experts in the world.

4. Android Developers Blog

When all else fails, go to the source! Android devs who aren’t taking advantage of Google’s free developer blog are missing out on a fantastic source of firsthand info.

Google’s blog gives developers an inside look at what they’re working on, as well as advice on how to improve preexisting code.

It’s rare to find a company so willing to help devs out, but we’re not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

5. iOS Dev Weekly

We’re nothing if not equal opportunists. Since we gave some love to Android devs, let’s give a shout-out to their iOS counterparts.

Sadly, Apple doesn’t have a developer blog in a traditional sense. They have some articles, sure, but their posts are more press releases than informational posts.

iOS Dev Weekly fills that void, however, with plenty of hand-picked job listings, videos, articles, and how-to guides.

6. TechCrunch

Like The Verge, TechCrunch is a tech news aggregate. With that said, their articles tend to go more in-depth on topics and get into the nitty-gritty technical details.

They also have an entire section of their site dedicated to new startup companies, so you can keep a close eye on what the competition is up to.

Optimize Your Reading List with These Awesome Mobile App Development Blogs

As the mobile market becomes more and more crowded, you’ll need all the info you can get. These mobile app development blogs will give you thorough insight into the world of tech, business, and mobile development.

Looking for more mobile dev info? Be sure to check out our blog for even more great tips!

Technology

Cybersecurity For Blogs: How to Protect Your Blog Against Internet Threats

Cybersecurity For Blogs: How to Protect Your Blog Against Internet


Cybersecurity For Blogs: How to Protect Your Blog Against Internet Threats

Cyber attacks are one of the most significant threats to American businesses. In fact, hackers have targeted some of America’s largest and most powerful corporations.

For example, Marriott hotels and Google+ were both hacked in 2018. Hackers collected valuable customer information such as credit cards, passports, and birth dates.

Every online business, including blogs, is vulnerable to a cyber attack. If your blog is not secure, hackers can access your customers’ most sensitive information.

Read on to learn more about cybersecurity for blogs. Explore the actions required to protect your company and customers from a potential online threat.

What Are the Security Basics?

Some of the most basic security measures prevent hackers from gaining access to your blog. The first rule of thumb is to limit login access and give very few people admin privileges.

Many bloggers make the mistake of retaining a generic username, such as “admin.” This is the same as holding up a welcome sign for hackers.

Instead, you should develop a unique username and use a strong password. A strong password requires using capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Finally, establish a new user with full administrative privileges. Once you finished, go ahead and delete the admin account that is automatically set up by the CMS.

How Can You Protect Personal Information?

Sometimes, managing a blog requires that you share contact information. In some instances, you need a phone number for certain apps or services. Another example is the use of a personal e-mail address for a newsletter or marketing campaigns.

You should safeguard personal information by using business-specific accounts. Instead of giving out your phone number, for example, use a Google voice number. Also, list a PO box number instead of a physical mailing address. Hackers are so sophisticated they could this information to try and access your ADT Small Business account.

In addition, do not use your personal e-mail address on a blog newsletter. A better strategy is to use another e-mail address so that you don’t compromise your personal account.

Last, you should exercise caution about the content that is posted. Security experts recommend that you do not post identifying images or names.

How to Keep Your Website’s Domain Private?

When you buy a domain for your website, the hosting service requests a significant amount of personal information. This information goes on a public website called WHOIS.

The good news is that you do not have to submit this information to the public database. Instead, you can buy domain privacy from the web hosting service.

This is the best option for people who are unwilling to share personal information. Perhaps the best advantage is that domain privacy is inexpensive and only costs a few dollars per month.

Recap of CyberSecurity For Blogs

You put yourself out there when you start a blog. Hackers target vulnerable websites so that they can steal personal and financial information.

If major companies like Google are vulnerable to hackers than your website is too. If you enjoyed this article about cybersecurity for blogs, check out our blog for other great pieces.

Technology

5 Science Blogs that Nail Their SEO Strategy

5 Science Blogs that Nail Their SEO Strategy


5 Science Blogs that Nail Their SEO Strategy

Do you operate or write for a science blog? Are you wondering how to get your awesome content seen and heard by the masses? Are you utilizing SEO strategies to get higher rankings?

If not, now’s the time to start!

Unfortunately, there seems to be a disconnect between people and science. Brilliant science articles attract fellow science buffs – but what about everyone else? How can you get quality information out to them?

Science blogs need to market their content much like any other blog. An amazing article on the artists’ brain may get lost in the pages of Google. It may get taken over by the latest Kardashian sighting or Apple iPhone release.

And that just isn’t right. We need to reinforce that important connection between humans and science.

Here are 5 science websites that are killing the SEO game. Use them as inspiration for your own!

Science Blogs Worth Looking at

When we say SEO, what are we talking about, exactly? More than keywords (although they’re important, too).

The site should be easy to navigate. It should use click-worthy titles and social media. It needs to use internal and external linking to establish authority.

Take the PBMCs site, for example.

It has clear, click-through sections. It has a helpful FAQ page. They use text and video. 

Here are some others whose SEO techniques are on-point!

1. Scientific American 

This blog knows the importance of using video as well as text. Not only does Google love video, but so do mobile users. It offers an emotional and authoritarian connection, which is great for science writers.

They also have great headlines:

  • “There Is No Such Thing as Conscious Thought”
  • “A Novel Way to Fight Drug-Resistant Bacteria”
  • “How and Why Scientists Redefined the Kilogram”

Are we nerdy, or do those titles make you want to know more?

2. Gizmodo 

This site is great at combining humor and education, bridging that science gap. “There Goes My Dream of a Viking Funeral,” says Bryan Menegus in one hilarious (but informative) article. 

They also know how to use internal linking to their advantage. Click any of their articles and you’ll find them referencing other articles of theirs. Authoritative and (sneakily) promotional.

3. HowStuffWorks

This site is also great at linking. They link back to their own content and cite reputable sources like universities and space.com. This increases their trustworthiness to audiences and the Google bots.

They also have a handy “Related Articles” section at the bottom of each article. This helps keep users on their site.

4. ScienceNews 

Quality is better than quantity – unless you can nail both as ScienceNews does. They post on a regular basis, sometimes even many times a day. But each article is chock-full of relevant, researched info.

They also use the “Subscribe” pop-up, a great way to keep users in touch with their content.

5. Popular Science

This science blog also uses the effective pop-up, offering a “largely ad-free” experience. The ads they do use are smartly placed and not annoying for users.

They have a super navigable page, starting from the toolbar at the top. They have sections such as “Science,” “Tech,” “Military,” and the popular “Video.”

Our favorite feature is the “Roll the Dice” button, which gives you random articles. Within two clicks, we got the articles “Monkeys May Technically Be Able to Talk,” and “The Rise of Personal Computers.” 

Fun, and interesting!

This site is also great at their linking.

Science for the Masses

SEO increases your blog’s credibility, something very important for science blogs. It might put you on Google’s coveted page 1, getting you the exposure you deserve.

Let’s make science popular again!

And while you’re at it, why not hone in your writing skills? Science can be a pretty technical subject. Here are 7 technical writing tips all scientists and bloggers should be using! 

Technology

Where To Find The Best Free Images For Blogs

Where To Find The Best Free Images For Blogs


Where To Find The Best Free Images For Blogs

Generating amazing content doesn’t just happen thanks to your creative abilities.

You also need the right digital marketing resources to make your content as valuable as it can be. This means investing in things like link building campaigns and funding online ads, or even just finding the best images for blogs.

Every blog needs an image if you want it to be successful. But, if you aren’t a photographer, paying for professional images can easily add up.

Thankfully, there are many free image sites out there to make this tool more accessible. If you’ve never heard of such a website before, don’t worry – we’ve made a list of some great ones to start out with.

Here are all the best places to get free images for blogs.

1. FreeImages

FreeImages is exactly as it sounds – the place to go when you need a photo, but you don’t want to pay for it.

Their stock is full of all sorts of captures. From candid shots of people who range in age and background to beautiful landscapes and wildlife, everything you need is right here.

The only catch? Some pictures will have varying restrictions and uses.

Be sure to read the rights you have access to before you download an image and put it on your blog. This will keep you in good standing with FreeImages and prevent any other issues from happening, like a direct conflict with one of the photographers who upload their shots to this site.

2. StockVault

Up next on the list is StockVault. This is a place where creatives of all kinds come together.

Photographers and videographers upload the works they want people to use. Then, bloggers, print media developers, and all other sorts of individuals find what they want and make it part of their campaigns.

Someone may be looking for an image of an old, abandoned building while another person may need the perfect shot of a person laughing or a beautiful home. Whatever it is needed, there are plenty of images for blogs available here.

Not to mention, StockVault also has presets, graphics, and textures available!

These can be used with pictures you download or on their own. Such resources are the final touch to make any blog post complete. Having them ready to go and easy to access can transform your creative process.

3. Unsplash

Unsplash is another great place to go for all the free images you need.

The site has a search function that is similar to any standard search engine. Simply go to the homepage, type what you’re looking for, and browse through the results that come up.

You will also notice suggestions for related, popular searches as you’re typing.

Not even sure what you’re looking for? Try using Unsplash’s Chrome extension.

They have a feature you can add that generates a new image every time you open a tab. The image is available to download right away. This can make content creation a more fun, inspiring process than what you’re normally used to.

4. Flickr

Flickr has no cost in terms of finances – but there are a few hoops to jump through on this site.

Every time you search for images for blogs, the best way to begin is by looking for “using creative commons license.” This search will result in a variety of free thumbnails for you to look through, of all sorts of visual content.

As some images catch your eye, click on them to see if you can actually use them on your blog or not. Each one will have specific rights and conditions, depending on the photographer who uploaded the image in the first place.

Most of the time, a photographer just wants a link back to their work. This recognizes them as the original creator of the content you’re using on your blog and can help expand their online presence.

There are some people who will want payment, or who will only allow photos to be used for certain things. Still, Flickr is among the most popular and most trusted sites for bloggers to find free images.

5. Dreamstime

If you enjoy using Flickr, you’re going to love Dreamstime, too.

This site also makes a big effort to protect the rights of photographers, while making it easy for other content creators to find free images. Everything is royalty-free and simple to find and download.

Just note, some images will have a cost, but these will only be around twenty cents!

That’s something that anyone can pay for, although it will add up over time. Stick to the free options Dreamstime has available unless you’re absolutely in love with one of the paid photos.

6. New Old Stock

What if the subject you’re blogging about is part of a specific niche?

This might make your search for free images for blogs a bit harder. But, thanks to the expansive depth of the internet, it won’t be impossible.

Take New Old Stock, for example. This is a free images site that is dedicated to sharing vintage photos with online users. Some of these will be real-time accounts of major points in history, while others will simply take you back in time to shots from everyday life.

Either way, the journey is pretty cool and very easy to access through New Old Stock.

7. Public Domain Archive

The Public Domain Archive works kind of like the way New Old Stock does, except it offers bloggers more variety of images.

You can find vintage photographs here, as well as modern captures and everything in between. All the content ranges from nature shots to city streets and buildings as well as people and things.

Such a variety is fun to explore and even better to make use of in any blog post. With so much to choose from, you may even decide to turn your blog into an interactive magazine.

Get All the Best Images for Blogs and Boost Your SEO

Why use images for your blogs, anyway?

Because these can improve your site’s ranking more than you might think. Images offer more content for search bots to crawl. Plus, you can name and caption an image with relevant keywords, or use it as a way to link elsewhere on your site.

Always do such SEO tactics with the photographer’s rights in mind.

To help you manage this part of your SEO campaign and more, sign up today.

Entertainment

How to Submit Music to Blogs (and Start Making Money)

How to Submit Music to Blogs (and Start Making Money)


How to Submit Music to Blogs (and Start Making Money)

It’s a great time to be alive for music lovers everywhere. We have access to an infinite library of different artists and genres to choose from thanks to the internet.

However, for those independent artists who are trying to get their name and music out into the world, the competition can be fierce. So, how do developing artists stand out and keep themselves from being drowned in a sea of emails and mixtapes?

Well, it takes hard work and strategic planning, but it’s possible to get the attention you’re seeking through a simple and organized approach. If you are choosing to submit music to blogs with a high traffic rate, below are a few things to keep in mind when you decide to reach out.

Solidify Your Brand

Before you decide to put yourself out there, it’s important to have a full understanding of who you are as an artist. Branding is a crucial piece in making yourself memorable.

Branding yourself is a lot like putting together a puzzle that represents your artistic identity. Putting together certain pieces such as a certain font, color scheme, symbol, sound, style, or personality can cohesively create a theme in your music and artistry.

A solidified brand will show music blogs that you’re serious about making music your career. The confidence you have in knowing who you are and how to professionally represent yourself will help you stay clear of the dreaded email trash bin. And hopefully, you’ll get a positive response.

Research Before You Submit

After you’re confident in how you represent yourself to your audience, it is important to put in some extensive research before you submit music to blogs.

Reaching out to a website that promotes only rappers when you are a wedding band, such as David Rothstein Music, is completely irrational, right? Well, it happens all the time. That’s why it is important to make sure you’re not wasting your time and energy on a website or blog that doesn’t reach out to the same demographic as you.

Before committing to sending your art to someone, you should look for certain things they promote, the most important being genre. Once you’ve decided that the music blog you’re interested in is right for you, then you can move forward with trying to get their undivided attention.

Create a Sales Pitch

After you have decided to submit music to blogs that feel like a right fit for you, it is then time to work on a simple, yet professional email that will help you sell yourself to the reader/listener.

The first thing you will want to focus on is the music, of course. You will want to give a brief introduction to the song(s) with the title, an educated comparison on who/what it sounds like based on your musical inspirations, and the story behind the song(s).

Once the music has been presented, it is a good idea to give a story of yourself as an artist. For instance, you may want to include a little bit about where you came from, your musical background, any amazing opportunities you have had, who inspires you the most, and why you were drawn to music as a career path.

Giving insight into your creative background allows the blog to personify the artist behind the email address and put a personality to the music they’re listening to. The artistry of music is all about the heart, soul, and story. If you have a captivating sales pitch that includes all of those, then you’re sure to stand out from the crowd.

However, when you are writing your sales pitch, be careful to not write a novel. Yes, the reader/listener is interested in who you are as an artist, but they also have a lot of submissions to sift through. Telling them about how you wrote your first song when you were five because your dog died will be completely irrelevant to who you are as an artist today.

Keep it short. Keep it simple. Keep it unique. Keep it relevant to who you are today.

Sending the Right Format

When you submit music to blogs that may have an interest in promoting you, it’s extremely important to know what kind of format they will accept your music in. You will look pretty foolish and get a first class ticket to the trash bin if you send music in a format that they can’t play or don’t accept.

Depending on the type of website or blog you are reaching out to, there are many different formats that could be accepted. They may have it listed on their website, but if you’re unsure, it would probably be a smart decision to shoot them a quick email asking to clarify the types of formats they accept just to be on the safe side.

Here are some different formats different outlets will accept:

Radio

  • Hardcopy CDs
  • MP3s
  • EPKs with download links

Blogs

  • Embedded music player
  • Videos
  • CDs
  • Digital Press Kits

Festivals

  • Digital press kits
  • CDs
  • Hardcopy press kits

Record Labels/Producers

  • CDs
  • Press kits
  • Videos
  • Streaming links

Taking the Risk

Making the decision to submit music to blogs is a huge step for any aspiring artist. Once you have a solid confidence in your artistry and branding, then the only thing left to do is take the plunge in getting your name out there.

Even if you don’t receive any feedback from the first few times you make a submission, don’t give up! Take each refusal as a chance to improve your approach. Any famous musician you know of today had been turned down many times before the right person found them.

The music industry is all about hard work, making connections, and taking risks. The story you submit in your sales pitch could be the beginning of a much longer fairytale if you play your cards right.

Consider this article as an outline for your success. Take suggestions, take risks, and always stay true to your music. And if you have a music blog yourself, be sure to check out our tips on how to promote it to your fans.