If you are writing blog posts, proofreading them for readability, or running grammar checks before going live; the right Online Content Writing Tools can help you save hours every week. A good content writing toolkit typically consists of three types of tools: something for writing, something for editing and something that will help you organize your ideas — but the exact tools needed can vary based on which forms of content writing you do the most.
That said, writing well consistently is really freaking tough – often because we are scrambling between deadlines, ideas and platforms simultaneously. The good news is, there are only a handful of tools that can relieve a lot of the pressure and let you focus on writing — and not fixating too much on technical minutiae along the way.
Why the Correct Setup is Important
The best Online Content Writing Tools do far more than help you save time. They also mitigate the mental burnout stemming from constantly changing gears (between apps, tabs and half finished notes). Having a simple, reliable setup allows you to use more of your energy on the ideas instead of struggling with your own system.
Tools To Get Your First Draft Down
First and foremost, You need a reliable method of getting words on the page,
Early drafts written in distraction free writing apps
Voice to text if your like me and you want to get ideas down on the go
Outline builders are to brain dump and organize your thoughts before the writing process
Templates for common formats such as blog posts or emails
If you reach that stage of writing block where you have no clue what to write about — idea generators
For most writers, the white page of the document is where they become blocked so any friction reducing tools around that will compound really significantly over time.
Tools for Editing and Polishing
Editing tools help tighten up in the next version, once your first draft exists:
Refinements of grammar and spelling catch for small errors
Readability checkers to write simply and clearly
Plagiarism checkers to make sure your work is completely original
Tone analyzers so you will find the voice perfect for your audience
Avoid long, confusing lines with sentence length checks.
Most editing tools are not here to replace your own judgment but they do catch things that you can easily miss when reading your own text over and over again in the editing stage.
Tools for Staying Organized
Staying organized is not only important for writing the most effective content but it's also very important once you start putting out multiple pieces of content through various stages at the same time:
Content calendars for planning what is published and when
Shared folders to save drafts, notes and research
TIP: Project Management boards– Control multiple pieces simultaneously
$ Topic Research Tools
Usually the format of simple checklists so that publish nothing is missed
One of the most lousy habits a writer can develop is that, for whatever reason, writing half-finish drafts with no real plan on how to bring them to completion, which I would consider one of the worst vices each wordsmith has ever suffered (for the sake of honesty surely everyone does it).
Matching Tools to Different Formats
Not all tools work the same way for every concept, and this is exactly where knowing different forms of content writing comes in handily. For example, a tool designed for social captions is not going to do much good with long-form in-depth guides and a documentation-style tool will likely feel clunky for prose writing of a more informal blog. Having a toolkit that matches what you are capable of creating is well worth your time and avoids lots of anger.
Creating an Installable Setup
The top Online Content Writing Tools are the ones that you continue to use weeks later, not necessarily the most feature-rich tool. A trial period testing a new tool is going to save you from collecting apps that you never even open again.
Free Versus Paid Options
Most assume that the writing comes with an expense tag attached, but not always. There are also still loads of good free options, especially for checking basic grammar errors, organizing simple outlines, and other things that you do (or should) do before getting into writing. Paid tools usually have more advanced features, deeper analytics or less restrictions that are worth it once you are pumping out content regularly at a larger scale.
How to Choose Only What You Need
Instead of trying to capture every tool in existence, focus on your biggest current bottleneck. For this purpose use distraction free writing apps and if you feel slow while drafting. If you get triggered by slow editing, use grammar and readability checkers. If organization is not your strong suit, take the time to create a simple content calendar before adding any additional actions into the mix.
Final Thoughts
Good writing skills are essential, but the right Online Content Writing Tools can eliminate a large portion of friction in the process and help you be more consistent over time. Identify the specificity of formats you focus most on, and build a toolkit that is incremental to the things that actually save you time + effort no matter how menial it may be.
Comments
Log in or sign up to join the conversation.