No?

It’s like a magic wand for your old, dusty content on WordPress.

You’ve spent hours crafting that perfect blog post. You hit publish, it gets some traction, but then… nothing. The views dwindle down to a trickle and soon it becomes just another piece in your archives.

A year later, you stumble upon this forgotten masterpiece while doing some routine cleanup. You read through it again – oh boy! It’s not as good as you remember. There are outdated facts, links leading nowhere, and an overall style that makes you cringe slightly.

This is where the rewrite and republish feature comes into play.

Instead of letting such posts gather digital dust or deleting them out of embarrassment, breathe new life into them by updating information, improving readability, or even giving them a complete makeover.

We can do it in WordPress with the rewrite and republish feature. Let’s learn how.

Table of Contents:

• Leveraging the Rewrite & Republish Feature in WordPress: A Detailed Look
  • Unlocking the Rewrite & Republish Feature
• Revamp Your Content with the Rewrite and Republish Feature
  • Updating Content with Ease
  • Dealing with Outdated Information
  • Comparing Old and New Versions: A Key to Quality Content
• Rewrite and Republish: Keeping Your Content Fresh and Relevant

Leveraging the Rewrite & Republish Feature in WordPress: A Detailed Look

As you know, content plays a huge role in growing and scaling a sustainable business.

This unique functionality is invaluable for bloggers, business owners, and marketers who understand the power of content marketing. With this republish option at hand, you can immediately start rewriting any existing post without affecting its original version.

This helps ensure you always have fresh content on your site.

The magic happens when, after making all necessary changes to your duplicated draft version, one click on the “republish” button replaces the old with the new while preserving SEO benefits by maintaining the original URL.

Now, isn’t that smart?

How to Add the Rewrite and Republish Feature to Your WordPress Site

How do you use the rewrite and republish feature?

By default, WordPress doesn’t have a rewrite and republish feature built in.

Instead, you must install and activate the Yoast Duplicate Post plugin to get it on your site.

The plugin also extends support for the rewrite and republish functionality beyond blog posts or web pages to other custom post types.

Deciding whether to update or delete older content can often be challenging. However, with this powerful feature on your site, you can easily turn stale content into fresh current, relevant, and engaging content, all at a click of a button.

Unlocking the Rewrite & Republish Feature

Rewriting and republishing existing posts becomes easy once you’ve installed and activated the Yoast Duplicate Post plugin. All you have to do is go to the posts section in your WordPress dashboard and hover your cursor over the post you want to revamp.

This will give you options for what to do with that post. In this instance, you’ll want to click on the Rewrite and Republish option.

Clicking on the Rewrite and Republish button will create a clone of the original post. You can immediately start rewriting on the cloned version of the post. This won’t affect the content on your original URL.

Once you’re done, you can republish immediately by clicking the Republish button.

Another option is to create a clone of your original post. This creates a draft of your existing post that you can edit and update. However, this option doesn’t come with the republish menu item. You’ll have to copy the revamped version and paste it over your original post or click the Publish button. The latter will result in the updated post being published on a new URL.

Revamp Your Content with the Rewrite and Republish Feature

One of the best things about content marketing and SEO is that the initial efforts you put into creating content will pay off for years to come. That’s especially true if you keep your content fresh and up to date, something the Rewrite and Republish feature can help you

Here are a few benefits of using this feature:

Updating Content with Ease

The Rewrite & Republish feature is the busy entrepreneur’s best friend when it comes to maintaining fresh and relevant content. It provides the ability to immediately start rewriting outdated information, enhancing readability in the process.

It also makes it easy to combat content decay, a gradual decrease in organic performance. This is usually a result of newer and better content than yours being published by competitors.

The “freshness factor” is a critical ingredient to helping ensure your content continues to rank well, and the Rewrite and Republish function can help you do that.

The best way to ensure your content updates are impactful is to use the C.R.A.F.T formula.

I developed this framework for AI writing, but it can be used to edit any type of content.

Dealing with Outdated Information

In our digital age where trends change at lightning speed, ensuring your site’s content stays current can be a daunting task. A viable strategy would involve routinely scanning through posts for data or references that may have become obsolete over time.

If you find details no longer pertinent or accurate, don’t hesitate. Replace them swiftly with updated facts or eliminate them entirely. Remember: your objective should be to ensure your content remains current and enhance trustworthiness and optimize SEO performance in the process.

One of the biggest dangers of having outdated content is that it won’t meet search intent. This can lead to a decrease in rankings.

Once you’ve made the necessary changes to your content, you can put the Yoast Duplicate Post plugin into action – hit that republish button without hesitation.

Your existing post will be overwritten by this duplicated version immediately while preserving its original URL – offering continuity of user experience and retaining hard-earned SEO value simultaneously.

Comparing Old and New Versions: A Key to Quality Content

The Rewrite & Republish feature takes content management up a notch by allowing you to compare the old and new versions of your posts or pages. This is crucial in maintaining accuracy, quality control, and ensuring that no outdated information slips through.

Tracking all the changes you’ve made in your duplicated version is super easy. Simply click on the Republish button then, on the window that opens, select “Save changes and compare”.

This will open WordPress’s revision history showing you the two versions of your content.

Rewrite and Republish: Keeping Your Content Fresh and Relevant

Unleashing the power of the Rewrite and Republish feature can transform your old WordPress content into fresh, engaging masterpieces.

This ensures that the investment you put in crafting the original post continues to pay off handsomely.

Besides keeping your content fresh, this feature gives you an opportunity to update outdated information, improve readability, and enhance the overall user experience.

The steps are simple – access the tool through the Yoast Duplicate Post plugin or directly from the post edit screen. Make necessary changes without affecting the original post, and once done, click the Republish button.

You have control over every aspect – comparing versions before finalizing updates (you can even check the revision history) and scheduling the republish date and time for maximum impact.

It’s all in your hands!

If you want to learn more about creating content that moves the needle, that’s what my 12-month mentorship program is all about…

It’s called The Content Transformation System.

This is a personalized coaching program that empowers you with the knowledge and skills you need to start doing content marketing strategically — and grow your business by leaps and bounds.

Ready to find out more? Watch my free training for a preview of the lessons and results you can expect inside.

Just ready to get your booty inside and start learning? Apply today.

The post Revamp Your Content: WordPress Rewrite and Republish appeared first on Content Hacker.

You know AI writers can speed up production without sacrificing quality.

But where do you find writers who can “drive” these tools well and produce superior AI-written content? 

How do you vet them, hire them, and train them?

No need to fret – I’ve got you. 💪

In this blog post, we’ll guide you through identifying and hiring top-notch AIO (artificial intelligence optimization) writers for your business needs.

We’ll explore the skills to look for, how to craft a detailed job listing, leveraging platforms like Viva HR and Indeed to find talented writers, ditching traditional interviews for writing tests, and training new hires with experienced mentors.

At the root of this process are the cost and time savings you’ll see. Discover how maximizing profit margins is possible by embracing AIO writers in your team!

Table of Contents: Find and Train AI Freelance Writers

• Video Masterclass on How to Find and Train AIO Writers
• Finding the Ideal AIO Writer
  • The Importance of Industry Expertise
  • True Content Writing Skills
  • Embracing AI as Part of the Job
• How to Find and Train AIO Writers
  1. Craft a Detailed Job Listing
  2. Train Your New AIO Writer
     • Pair New Hires with Experienced Mentors
     • Offer Training on AI-Powered Platforms like Content at Scale
  3. Leverage Platforms Like Viva HR and Indeed For Hiring
     • Benefits of Using Viva HR for Hiring
     • Why Indeed is a Valuable Resource for Finding Writers
• Maximize Profit Margins with AIO Writers

Video Masterclass on How to Find and Train AIO Writers

Finding the Ideal AIO Writer

Looking for AI freelance writers (what I call “AIO” writers)?

This means you’ll use AI as your baseline content creator to produce blog drafts. Then, an expert human writer will take those drafts and optimize them so they reach their full potential. (This person can also be the one “driving” the AI machine. So, the goal is not to replace writers, but rather augment them with generative artificial intelligence.)

So, what skills and traits do you need in a good AIO writer? 📋

Find someone with industry expertise, killer writing skills, and a willingness to embrace AI tools.

Combining human talent with artificial intelligence can 10x your output. It can even save you up to 7+ hours of content creation time per post.

Remember, the average blog post takes about 4 hours for a human to produce, but those who spend longer on their content get better results.

So what if you could keep your content quality intact while saving hours and hours of time on writing?

That’s the power of AIO. Here’s what you need in your hire:

Industry Expertise

An industry expert understands your niche and has the ability to create relevant, informative content that resonates with your audience.

Hiring a writer with specific knowledge ensures they can quickly grasp complex topics while maintaining accuracy.

True Content Writing Skills

A skilled content writer crafts engaging articles that keep readers hooked from start to finish.

The writing skills you want to look for include excellent grammar, storytelling, research, and adaptability in tone or style.

You should also look for experience. 3-5+ years in content writing should give your hire the edge they need to succeed as an AIO.

Embracing AI as Part of the Job

Incorporating AI assistants into the writing process maximizes efficiency without sacrificing quality.

Great AI freelance writers (or AIO writers) should be open-minded about using AI-powered tools like ChatGPT or Content at Scale to enhance their productivity.

In other words, avoid the “snobby” writer who shuns AI. (That used to be me, so I get it. 😂 But this type of person won’t be the right fit for AIO.)

To be fair, most writers these days are open to it — especially if you give them the guidance and training they need to work with the AI tool really well.

By combining human creativity with the power of generative AI, you can achieve exceptional results in content creation.

By the way, you can get 20% extra credits toward creating content if you sign up for my AI tool of choice, Content at Scale, with my link:

How to Find and Train AIO Writers (a.k.a. AI Freelance Writers)

Want to attract talented AIO writers? Start with an impeccable job listing.

1. Craft a Detailed Job Listing

You need someone who can combine industry expertise and content writing skills while embracing AI tools.

• Highlight the need for industry knowledge: Your ideal candidate should have in-depth knowledge of your niche or sector (or your client’s niche or sector), so they can create high-quality content that nails your brand expertise. This is SUPER important because AIOing niche content is easier AND faster for someone with experience in that niche.
• Specify experience in content writing: A strong background in content writing is essential for any AIO writer role. Emphasize the importance of excellent grammar, storytelling abilities, and SEO optimization skills as part of their daily tasks.
• Describe the actual work your hire will be doing. In your job listing, describe specific examples of projects they might work on to give applicants a clear understanding of what’s expected from them.
• Mention AI in your job title and listing. I.e., “Technical AI content writer.” No need to avoid saying “AI” — artificial intelligence is a pretty big deal in the content industry right now, and most writers are catching on and actually looking for AI writing jobs! However, if you use the term “AIO” in your listing, make sure you define it clearly, as this is a new and emerging role in content writing.

Here’s an example of a job description:

“We are looking for a talented content writer who we can train into a technical AIO writer — someone who uses AI as their baseline to write the content (we will provide you with the training and the tool), and optimizes that content output for best results with both search engines and humans.”

Why Writing Tests are the Future of Hiring AI Freelance Writers (Forget the Zoom Interview)

So you’ve posted your job listing and some good candidates have applied. Now it’s time to filter your hiring pool.

Good news: Skip the Zoom interview.

Zoom interviews are so last year – it’s time to switch to writing tests.

Not only do they help you quickly identify high-quality candidates, but they also assess their ability to follow instructions and craft engaging content.

Why are written tests more effective than interviews?

Written tests allow you to evaluate an applicant’s true writing skills, rather than relying on their verbal communication during an interview.

Research suggests that traditional interviews can be influenced by biases and may not accurately predict job performance.

How to determine the quality of applicants through sample tasks:

Create a task that mirrors the type of work your AIO writer will perform – this could include optimizing AI-generated content or crafting long-form articles within your industry niche.

To ensure fairness, provide clear guidelines and expectations for the task, and consider offering compensation for completed samples as a sign of respect for their time and effort.

2. Leverage Platforms Like Viva HR And Indeed For Hiring

When searching for potential freelance writers, hiring platforms such as Viva HR or Indeed can save you many headaches.

These platforms allow you to customize your interview process and access a large pool of candidates, making it easier to find the perfect AIO writer for your business.

Benefits of Using Viva HR for Hiring

Viva HR offers an applicant tracking system designed specifically for small businesses and startups.

This platform streamlines the entire recruitment process by providing customizable templates, automated job postings, and easy-to-use candidate management tools.

Their built-in analytics also help you make data-driven decisions when evaluating applicants.

Why Indeed is a Valuable Resource for Finding Writers

Indeed connects millions of job seekers with employers across various industries – including content writing.

You can post jobs for free or sponsor them to reach more qualified candidates faster.

In addition, their advanced search filters enable you to pinpoint suitable applicants based on skills, experience level, and location preference – all tailored specifically to your AIO writer requirements.

Tips on optimizing your job listing:

• Create an eye-catching title: Ensure that your listing stands out among other similar posts. Use terms like “AIO Writer,” “AI-Powered Content Creator,” or “Content Strategist with AI Experience.”
• Showcase company culture: Attract the right candidates by giving them a glimpse of your company’s values, mission, and work environment.
• Provide clear expectations: Outline the specific responsibilities and requirements for the role. Mention AI tools they’ll be using and emphasize industry expertise.

By leveraging these platforms and optimizing your job listing, you’re well on your way to finding an AIO writer who can help take your content marketing efforts to new heights.

By the way, once you’ve hired and trained that writer, you’ll need a process for producing incredible content consistently. I’ve got that covered for you in my Content Process Blueprint. Learn the stages, tools, tips, and systems to use to supercharge your content marketing:

3. Train Your New AIO Writer

Congratulations on hiring your ideal candidate! 👏

Now, it’s time to invest in training them on how best to use AI tools alongside their own skillset to become efficient AIO writers capable of delivering exceptional results.

Pair New Hires with Experienced Mentors

If you’ve already got a rock star on your team, give this person the reins to share their process and tips with your new hire.

Pairing new hires with experienced mentors within your team will help newcomers quickly adapt to the unique demands of an AIO writing role while getting valuable insights and guidance.

Offer Training on AI-Powered Platforms like Content at Scale

The quality of the AI writing tool you use will have a huge effect on how efficient your AI freelance writers will be when they write marketing copy and blog posts.

Along with that, the training and support you give your AIO writers with that tool matters just as much.

Tips for effective training:

• Create a comprehensive onboarding plan: Outline clear goals and objectives for each stage of the training process.
• Incorporate hands-on exercises: Encourage trainees to work through real-life scenarios using AI tools to gain confidence in their abilities.
• Schedule regular check-ins: Touch base with your trainee during their initial weeks or months for feedback, address questions or concerns, and track progress.
• Provide ongoing support: Foster a culture of continuous improvement by offering additional resources, workshops, or webinars to help your AIO writer stay up-to-date with industry trends and AI advancements.

Investing in comprehensive training for your new AIO writer sets them up for success and ensures they become valuable assets within your content creation team, leading to increased output, cost savings, and higher-quality content that keeps clients coming back for more. 💯

Maximize Profit Margins with AIO Writers

Revolutionize your content creation process with the power of AIO writers. The combination of AI-generated content and skilled human optimization can increase your content output and cost savings. That can lead to higher profit margins without sacrificing quality.

Traditional freelance writing costs vs. AIO writing:

• Freelance writing costs add up quickly with research, drafting, editing, and proofreading tasks.
• AIO writing reduces expenses by leveraging AI tools for initial drafts while maintaining quality through human optimization.

The impact on productivity and efficiency:

• AIO writers produce 10 times more output than traditional methods by harnessing AI technology and their own expertise.
• Increased efficiency means faster turnaround times for projects – a major win for businesses looking to scale rapidly or meet tight deadlines.
• The collaboration between AI tools and talented writers ensures each piece is optimized for search engines like Google – driving organic traffic right where it belongs: your website.

Find and Train AIO Writers to Transform Your Content Game

Taking the time to find and train AIO writers can be a game-changer for your business, but finding the right one is crucial – industry expertise and content writing skills are a must, as is embracing AI technology.

Invest in the right tools and hire skilled AI freelance writers to grow and scale a sustainable business that thrives through effective long-form content marketing.

The right AIO writer is out there, but you have to be willing to do a bit of digging to find them.

Want even deeper education on finding and training AIO writers for your business? (That includes setting up systems to manage them and delegate to them once they’re on your team.)

This is an essential step in building a sustainable business that lasts, and that’s why it’s a huge part of my Content Transformation System mentorship program. ⭐

This 12-month program gives you all the keys you need to get your ducks in a row and finally grow through sustainable content marketing (with a touch of AI strategy).

Apply today to get started on your content transformation. 

The post Learn How to Find & Train AIO Writers to Elevate Your Business appeared first on Content Hacker.

I don’t blame you.

For many marketers, entrepreneurs, and business owners, one of the top impediments to creating content is time.

It takes time to craft high-quality, profitable content. (On average, one 1,500-word piece takes 4-6 hours to create. And if you’re doing it from scratch, it’s not easy.)

In fact, this is the top problem creators face: 52% say finding the time to create and promote content is a struggle.

Thankfully, the time struggle ENDS once you implement the right tools and strategies.

It IS possible to significantly reduce your time spent creating content while still maintaining high quality. (That means more high-quality content on your calendar, and more content = more results, faster.)

That’s what this blog is about.

Specifically, we’ll show you how Content at Scale and other AI technologies can help streamline your production workflow so you can get more done with less effort.

Additionally, we’ll discuss other key strategies for saving time, like repurposing existing content for maximum reach and impact – all without sacrificing creativity or quality.

Get ready to revolutionize the way you create content – because with these tips, it’s now easier than ever to write content faster.

Table of Contents: How to Write Content Faster & Save Time

How to Write Content Faster: 5 Tips for Quicker Content Creation

1. Leverage AI Writing Tools to Write Content Faster

AI writing tools are becoming increasingly popular among entrepreneurs, founders, business owners, and marketers who need to create content quickly — especially in the ever-expanding knowledge base of big data.

AI writing is a form of automated text generation. It uses natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to analyze large amounts of data in order to produce meaningful output.

The AI-generated output can range from simple paragraphs to full-length articles depending on the complexity of the task at hand. You can use it for various content tasks such as:

• Summarizing articles.
• Generating product descriptions.
• Creating long-form blog posts and webpages.
• Rewriting or paraphrasing text.
• And more.

Benefits of Using AI Writing Tools

Using an AI writing tool has lots of advantages over manual content creation methods:

• It’s faster.
• It eliminates human error.
• It allows you to scale your production capacity.
• And most importantly – it helps you save time and money while still producing high-quality results.

Additionally, some AI tools like Content at Scale come with built-in features like keyword optimization, which can help boost your SEO rankings when publishing online content.

The tool literally scans the top of Google at the moment of creation and pulls in a keyword list for you to use to fully optimize your content ():

It also tracks how many times you use each keyword. A green border means you’ve used the keyword optimally.

Pretty cool, right? Let’s look at how to use this type of AI tool to learn how to write content faster.

How to Use AI Writing Tools like Content at Scale to Write Content Faster

By leveraging an AI writing tool, you can write content faster and more efficiently while ensuring the quality of your output.

Automating parts of the process allows you to focus on other aspects of content creation and optimization, such as research, editing, publishing, and distribution.

With Content at Scale, the tool writes the full first draft for you, so all you have to do is edit it strategically.

As you may know, getting that first draft out takes the longest in the whole scheme of content creation. Automating this process saves hours and speeds up your creation process by 3-6x.

To create your first draft in Content at Scale, you’ll need to sign up. Use my link to get 20% extra credits!

Once you’ve signed up and have created an account, follow this tutorial. All you need to have in hand before you start is a good topic with a keyword mapped to it.

Enter that keyword/topic into Content at Scale, specify a word count, and give it direction on what to write about. You’ll get a long-form first draft in about 15-20 minutes.

Note: NEVER publish unedited AI content. Use the time you saved writing the first draft to edit that content and make it incredible. You’ll still save 2-4 hours of creation time, even if you’re the pickiest editor alive!

2. Automate Outlining, Editing, and Publishing/Distribution

Newsflash: You can also use AI tools to speed up and automate content tasks like outlining, editing, and distribution.

Outlining

By using AI-powered tools, you can quickly gather relevant information from multiple sources and create an outline for your content in minutes.

For example, you can use keyword research tools to identify popular topics related to your industry that people are searching for online. Once you have identified the topic, you can then use an AI writing tool (think: Quillbot or even ChatGPT) to generate an outline of key points based on the data gathered from your research.

Here’s an example of outline creation using ChatGPT (this is one of the best uses of this tool for content!):

The prompt I used: “Create an outline for a 2,000-word blog post on the topic ‘how to make sourdough bread.’ Include information on wild yeast, creating your own starter, and weighing vs. measuring ingredients.”

The outline it created:

For most topics, this works wonderfully to ensure all the important points are covered in your content without having to spend hours manually researching and outlining it yourself.

Editing/Proofreading

Automating editing and proofreading tasks is another great way to streamline your content production workflow.

Editing word by word and line by line can take hours, even for one content piece. Implementing a tool will save you many headaches — especially if you don’t have a human editor on your team.

Automated editing tools like Hemingway Editor or ProWritingAid help you easily edit and improve your text. They’ll take care of grammar mistakes, typos, incorrect word usage, and more. This helps all your content look professional before you publish it online.

Additionally, these tools provide useful suggestions on how to improve readability. They’ll help you simplify complex sentences or add more transition words between paragraphs — quickly.

Publishing/Distribution

Finally, automating publishing and distribution tasks ensures all of your hard work gets noticed once your content goes live.

For instance, many different platforms available today allow you to automate sharing content across social media networks like Twitter or Facebook with just a few clicks:

• MeetEdgar
• Hootsuite
• SproutSocial
• Buffer

This saves valuable time while ensuring maximum reach for each piece of content created.

You can also automate sending emails, including when a potential customer carries out a specific action on your website (like making a purchase or subscribing to your list).

Most email tools have templates you can use to quickly create email content, as well. A few tools include:

• Mailchimp
• HubSpot
• Omnisend

Automating your content creation process helps you save time and resources while still producing high-quality content that meets your goals.

Now, let’s look at how to streamline your production workflow for maximum efficiency.

3. Streamline Your Content Production Workflow

Creating a streamlined content creation workflow is crucial for any brand looking to consistently produce high-quality, engaging, and impactful long-form content efficiently.

Establishing clear and specific goals for the content you create will allow you to stay focused and on task while also ensuring that all of your pieces are consistent.

You can break a streamlined production process into two components: short and long-term.

• For short-term projects, such as a weekly blog post, you should create a detailed plan outlining when research, writing, and revision will take place. For example, researching content topics beforehand in large batches (think 5-10 topics/keywords) saves time when it’s time to pick a topic and start writing.
• For long-term projects like an ebook or white paper, you should create a more detailed timeline, including milestones and deliverables, so you can stay on track throughout the project.
• For both types of projects, if you work in a team, make sure each person’s role and tasks are clearly defined in your content strategy.

Now, these things may seem unimportant while you’re actually creating content. But, in the grand scheme of things, they will ensure everything surrounding content creation is efficient. In turn, that will help the actual writing go faster.

4. Use Content Templates

To further streamline your process, consider creating and using content templates.

Templates provide a structure that ensures consistency across all of your pieces. For example, a blog post template can include a rough outline of how to format your post, where to include keywords, how to lay out information, how to use headers, and more.

You could create a template for every type of post you publish, like checklists, how-to content, ultimate guides, tutorials, listicles, etc. Then, when it’s time to write the content, you can just pull up the appropriate template.

Templates might save you considerable amounts of time since you’ll just be filling out pre-made sections vs. writing everything from scratch.

Plus, templates will help you stay consistent from blog post to post, especially if different people are writing the content.

Need some pre-made templates proven to work? My Content Process Blueprint includes ready-to-go content templates PLUS the tools and systems I use to get amazing results from streamlined content production. Get the Blueprint here.

5. Repurpose Existing Content for Maximum Reach & Impact

Want to maximize reach and impact without having to start from scratch every time you want to create new content?

Repurposing existing content is a great way to accomplish this.

You have three options for repurposing old content:

• Update old content with new, relevant facts and information. Update key elements like the introduction, conclusion, images, and any outdated statistics. Then, republish to your blog with the current date. Presto! (Learn to do this with our in-depth guide on updating old content.)
• Identify relevant topics from existing pieces to reuse in new content. This can help you save time and energy while still producing high-quality.
  • For example, look for patterns in the data or information that already exists, such as identifying common themes or topics that could be used as the basis for a new piece of content. This allows you to quickly identify potential areas where your audience may have an interest, allowing you to create more targeted content with minimal effort required on your part.
• Adapt existing content into different formats. This is one of the best methods of repurposing.
  • For example, if you have written an article about a particular topic, consider turning it into a video or podcast episode. This way, more people can discover and share it across a wider array of channels.
  • Additionally, consider creating visuals such as infographics or slideshows based on your original content. This can help increase engagement levels among viewers who prefer visual forms of communication over text-based ones.

Learn How to Create Content Faster: Rely on AI + Strategy

Writing content faster doesn’t have to be a daunting task.

With the right tools and strategies, you can automate your content creation process, streamline your production workflow, and repurpose existing content to maximize reach and impact.

And by leveraging AI writing tools like Content at Scale and other automation solutions, you can write more efficiently while still producing high-quality work that resonates with readers.

Not to mention, with a faster, streamlined content creation process, you’ll be able to scale your marketing so you can grow your business.

But you need to have your business foundations set before you start scaling — otherwise, you risk growing too fast, too soon. And a weak business can’t handle that kind of growth.

What if you could get those foundations set AND set up your content strategy to integrate techniques and systems to make content production faster and more targeted?

Those are the principles I teach in my 12-month mentorship, the Content Transformation System.

In this program, you’ll learn every step in building a business and setting up a streamlined content strategy. And you’ll do it with the help of a 5-phase curriculum with video lessons, a private community, 1:1 coaching, and monthly live calls.

Let’s get started building and growing your business this year. Apply today to see if you’re a good fit — it takes less than 2 minutes. 

The post How to Write Content Faster: 5 Tips Using AI + Strategy appeared first on Content Hacker.

If so, you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage.

AIO content has arrived – and it’s here to stay. If you’re not investing in an AIO writer, you might get left behind.

Human-only SEO content creation is now more costly and less efficient than using AI to speed up the process.

That’s why, in this blog guide, I’m going to show you the new route:

Human-led, AI-driven content – including how I’ve implemented this in my own team.

It starts with an AIO writer.

But what is an AIO writer, and what is AIO content?

What Is an AIO Writer? Why You Need One at the Helm of Your AI Content Creation

AIO Definition

“AIO” stands for Artificial Intelligence Optimization. I defined it in January when I started working at Content at Scale. (Read the story on the Content at Scale blog.) This is the process of improving AI content by optimizing it with the expertise of a human trained in SEO and content writing.

AIO Content

That means “AIO content” is content produced by an AI (artificial intelligence) AND optimized by a human so it aligns with content goals and reads well for other humans. Because it’s supported by AI, AIO content can be produced 5-10x faster than just using human power alone.

AIO Writer

And that brings us to “AIO writer.”

An AIO writer is how you leverage both AI writer tools and human writing expertise. The human AIO writer is well-versed in SEO content and understands how to use a tool like Content at Scale to optimize and edit AI output to ensure the content is relevant, factually accurate, informative, and compelling.

(Remember the issues inherent in using any type of AI writing software? Without a human guiding your tool, you might be left with unoriginal, inaccurate, or robotic-sounding content. No matter how good it is, no AI tool is perfect.)

The bottom line: The help of a solid AI tool allows us to cut the cost, time, and effort SEO content used to require by at least half, if not more. And we do it by giving our writers and content teams an AI baseline to work with.

What should that look like? How do you pay AIO writers when you use this model? Here’s what I’ve come up with based on implementing this in my own content process.

Want an in-depth, hand-holding guide to implementing this in YOUR content marketing? Get the low-down on my entire content process, including tools and systems, in my Content Process Blueprint.

An Example of AIO Produced Content

My Model for Hiring AIO Writers and Pricing AIO Content

If you’ve been around for a while, you know one of my content secrets is to NOT produce everything alone.

Instead, I’ve been able to publish eight books and thousands of blogs because I use a writer trained in my voice, style, and expertise – Alyssa. Her full-time job is to write my content.

After years of entirely-human content creation, in mid-January, we leaped into AIO content. Here’s what that looked like:

• I gave Alyssa a keyword and topic to write about: best AI tool for blogging.
  • How that looked in the past:
    • Normally, she would take those (plus a few notes from me in a short content brief) and research the top-ranking pieces on Google. She’d take inspiration from their SEO structure and outline a piece geared for the Content Hacker audience. She’d flesh it out with research, story, examples, CTAs, and images or screenshots. Then she would self-edit and hand it to me for review.
    • Before, this process would take 7-8 hours (spread over a single work week) from start to finish for an average 2,000-word blog.
  • For the first, time, she would use Content at Scale to write the first draft and cut her work in half.
  • The baseline blog draft that Content at Scale produced was surprisingly good (yes, we’re still constantly surprised at the quality of this tool’s output ). All it needed was some editing to make it better, including adding in our tone, style, story, screenshots, and CTAs.

The results:

Here’s the post Alyssa wrote with the help of our AI writing tool:

How much time did she save?

She cut her work time down by more than half. Instead of working on a piece for 7-8 hours spread over a week, it took her 2-3 hours over one day.

Best of all, we were both happy with the result.

Based on this first experience, I examined the details and talked to my writer. We came up with a new pay scale for working on AIO content in our team, which we’re now implementing.

Let’s talk about it: the AIO Hiring and Pricing Model.

OLD Process: Quality SEO Content Created Solely by a Human Writer

• 2,500w SEO blog, created by a human writer from start to finish.
  • Time: 8 hours.
  • Cost: $0.10-0.30 per word, or $500.
• A human editor edits to ensure it passes quality standards.
• Content is published.

Quality content created from scratch by a human writer takes a lot of time and effort. If you try to squeeze less time out of your writer, you run the risk of draining their creativity dry and giving them a giant case of burn-out.

With the old process, we also need a human editor, because the writer should rarely edit their own work. Once this piece goes through the wringer and passes through multiple hands, we can publish.

Compared to the new process, this old way feels like using an abacus versus a calculator to solve a complex math problem:

Tedious. Slow. Grinding.

NEW Process: Quality SEO Content Developed with an AIO Writer + AI Writing Tool

• An AI long-form writer like Content at Scale writes the 2,500w first draft.
  • Time: 10-20 minutes.
  • Cost: $0.07 per word, or $175, with Content at Scale.
• An AIO writer takes the AI-written draft and improves it with smart edits.
• Content is published.

The differences here are mind-blowing. Using an AIO writer + an AI writing tool saves hours of time and hundreds of dollars.

The tool produces an extremely decent first draft. Then the AIO writer takes that draft and makes it better, bringing it to the level of publish-worthy.

When we allow a capable AI tool to do the brunt of the front-end thinking and researching, that just leaves polishing and editing – which any good writer can do much faster than grinding out a first draft.

The difference? Content created in one day versus one week.

How do you write AIO content well?

Follow my C.R.A.F.T. framework:

AIO Writer’s C.R.A.F.T. Framework

1.     Cut the fluff (remove excess words from the AI writing)

2.     Review, edit, optimize (review the AI content to make sure keywords appear sufficient times, the content reads well as a whole, sections are complete and nothing is missing)

3.     Add images, visuals, media (make your content feature/visual-rich)

4.     Fact-check (be sure to double-check all facts and verify accuracy, since AI can be limited in its factual knowledge)

5.     Trust-build with personal story, tone, links (add personal story, and/or customer case studies; link to known studies or sources, and make sure you link back to CTAs and next steps for leads on your site – i.e. to have them book a call, etc.)

What Is an AIO Writer? Your New Secret to Content Success

The combination of an AIO writer + an effective AI writing tool could be the formula that finally allows you to scale your content production.

And producing more high-quality content more often is your ticket to 55% more traffic and 434% more pages indexed in Google.

This opens up content marketing success to SO many more people than just the ones with the resources to scale. It levels the playing field, so to speak.

If you’re a solopreneur, a bootstrapped small business, or a marketer struggling with output, that’s fantastic news.

And if you need help getting started growing your business, you’re in the right place.

My in-depth mentorship program, the Content Transformation System, teaches you how to build an online brand that lasts with content marketing. We’ll also show you how to implement AI seamlessly without losing the human touch that makes great content sing.

It’s all inside: coaching, curriculum, community, and live calls. Apply today!

The post What Is an AIO Writer? appeared first on Content Hacker.

Creating, managing, and scaling a profitable business is not easy.

But why do so many businesses bail? And how can we keep ourselves in that 30% group?

We can stop working so much.

Or at least, stop working on the things we can delegate to others.

Because even if you’ve got the skills already (you might have learned how to be a content writer at some point), one of the best things you can do for your business is to learn, instead, how to hire a content writer.

Because…

Entrepreneurs, you shouldn’t be writing your own content.

If you’re an agency owner, business creator, or passion-fueled entrepreneur of any sort…

It’s just not sustainable, practical, or realistic.

Because more success doesn’t come from more work…

…more success comes from smart choices, systems, and a repeatable content marketing strategy.

But how do you find an AMAZING writer? It’s all in today’s blog on how to hire a content writer.

So, let’s not waste another moment!

This comprehensive guide includes the best tips I’ve found for founders like you learning how to hire a content writer for your website and beyond.

Watch Me Explain How to Hire a Content Writer

How to Hire a Content Writer: Table of Contents

Why You Should Hire Your Own (Contract) Writer & Skip the Employees

How to Hire a Content Writer in 6 Steps

1. FIRST: Create Your Brand Content Style Guidelines
2. Nail Your Job Listing
3. Find the Content Writer in the Haystack
4. Test Them with a Skills-Based Assessment
5. DON’T Hire the Best Writer
6. Find Your E.L.A. Culture-Fit

So You Hired a Writer for Your Blog & Website — Next Steps & Tips

1. Consider Hiring an Editor
2. Use a Simple Payroll System
3. Build Trust Through Authenticity
4. Treat Your Content Writer Like Gold

Why You Should Hire Your Own (Contract) Writer & Skip the Employees

Nope, you shouldn’t be the only one writing content for your brand.

The first thing you want to do to hire a content writer is to hire a freelancer vs. building a team of employees.

One of the keys to my success that I share in my business coaching system is to build your sustainable brand using contractors that you manage. This will all be part of your own business system you execute to help automate processes while freeing you up to make the big decisions your business needs, like executing your big content marketing ideas.

And instead of hiring a team of employee writers, hire a freelancer. The overhead is much more reasonable, and you get to pay per project – making it a breeze to stay within your profit margins and predict costs.

Plus, this is getting simpler and simpler to do by the minute. Freelance writers are flooding the online job market. In fact, a 2021 study found that 41.8% of the American workforce remains remote.

Source: Upwork

Finding gold-star contractors is becoming increasingly more streamlined to do, and there are even content writing agencies out there that will manage a writer for you. If you feel they meet the criteria you’re looking for, then by all means, save yourself some hassle and hire the agency!

Personally, I’m a big fan of telling entrepreneurs to work directly with a content writer if you can. Here’s why:

1. It’s simpler: You’ll be so much more agile when you can connect brains directly with your content writer. Plus, you can manage that writer within your team/system that you have set up and use whatever software you choose (check out the free payroll system I use at the end of this list!).
2. It saves time + money: You’ll need to handle the job posting, interview, management, and payment of your writer yourself. But with the right system, this can take less time than working with a third party and having to go through several people with your feedback and ideas.
3. The quality output is higher: Content generally ends up turning out way better than with a third party involved, as well.
4. Added flexibility: Working directly with a writing contractor can give you more flexibility when business tasks need to change or rearrange quickly. You can jump in and plan your strategy, redirecting your content writer as needed.

But… There are a lot of content writers out there.

So, let’s review how to hire the right content writer.

How to Hire a Content Writer in 6 Steps

Disclaimer: Finding a writer for your blog and website isn’t easy.

These steps WILL take a significant time investment. That’s because finding the right writer for your content matters.

Don’t lower your standards or hire a writer just to get it done. Take the time to find the right fit for your brand, the secret weapon who will help you bring in more traffic, leads, and sales. It’s worth it.

1. FIRST: Create Your Brand Content Style Guidelines

Nope, the first step to finding a writer for your blog or website ISN’T writing out a job listing or posting a “call for writers” on your social media accounts.

Instead, it’s an internal step that will make a world of difference to the success you have with any writer you hire.

You need to create brand style guidelines. These are sets of rules and guidelines for how your brand presents itself across your content and online presence.

If you don’t have these in place, I can guarantee you lack clarity in your brand’s overall presentation. You will not have a clear picture of how you want your brand to sound or look, and without that clarity, any writer you hire will have to guess at how to represent you in your content.

And that’s a HUGE problem, because consistency matters. Your business needs to have a stable personality if you want to earn trust — you can’t be swinging from “professional and facts-driven” one minute to “freewheeling and fun” the next if you want to attract and retain your audience.

Brand content style guidelines give your writers rules to follow so when they write for your brand, they sound like your brand.

By the way, brand style guidelines piggyback on other key brand foundations. If you don’t have these in place, if you’re not clear on them, you need to get clear BEFORE hiring a writer:

• Your branding, logo, and colors
• Your website structure and design (set up to optimize the user experience)
• Your offers and services (backed by market demand)

If you don’t have any of this clearly set, do not go out and hire a content writer. You’ll be setting them up for failure!

2. Nail Your Job Listing

Now we can talk about creating an effective job listing. This is how to find a blog writer who can actually write.

Because, you have a lot of options when it comes to content writers, and the talent pool is growing by the day (the content marketing industry is set to be worth $600 billion by 2024).

It’s not the site I post job listings on, but just as an example — there are literally thousands and thousands of content writers on Upwork alone.

And there are even more content writers on Fiverr — over 25,000:

That said, it takes eons to go out and find good content writers on these platforms. Instead, you want the right content writers coming to you.

This is why your content writer job listing is key – when executed right, I’ve found a way to get an avalanche of fantastic content writers applying for my freelance positions.

First, start with the right jobs platform. I prefer Indeed for a few reasons:

• It’s one of the largest hiring platforms (read: lots of people will see your job listing!) with the most resumes.
• It gets the most Google hits (read: more people will find your listing).

Next, create your job listing.

The trick is to position it in a way that attracts a smart, talented content writer that’s in the sweet spot of looking for hassle-free remote work and will accept a reasonable rate that’s well within your profit margin.

Offering consistent work without micromanagement is worth a lot to a contractor who may normally be used to having to hunt down client after client. There’s a huge pool of talented contractors with digital marketing skills willing to complete projects with you for an extremely reasonable rate.

Once you’ve learned how to hire a content writer and you’re officially ready to post your job listing, cut through all the clutter and make sure to follow these rules when drafting your content writer job description:

1. Be direct + transparent: The copy must be thorough, upfront, and crystal clear on everything your content writer will and won’t do. This way, you’ll both know exactly what to expect from one another.
2. Be authentic: Reading your job listing is likely the first time your content writer will be learning about the position they’re considering. Start the relationship off by being personal and being yourself so you can start building trust right away. If they don’t connect with you, it’s better to find out now. You may never be in the same room as this person, but you’ll still be building a relationship together.
3. Sell your vision: You’re an expert in your field and you’ve got exciting things planned for your brand, so share them. Tell writers about who they will be working with – position yourself as a dependable boss and talk about your successes and your long-term goals, too.

Curious what this looks like? Here’s an example content writer job listing for my brand:

TIP: If you’re asking yourself, “How do I hire a GOOD content writer?” …You can easily pull great writers in with strategic pay positioning. If you’re an expert, trade the time you invest to mentor and guide them, that you would otherwise charge for, as a value-add. Win, win!

3. Find the Content Writer in the Haystack

Now that your listing is bringing in applicants, it’s time to pick your content writer.

You’ll probably start seeing applications pour in by the dozens, if not the hundreds.

You’ll likely get a lot of applications with writing samples from excited applicants, but your job as a business owner is to be picky and only hire the 1% — the crème de la crème of content writers looking for immediate and consistent contract work.

Be ready — it will feel like a LOT. But, to find your perfect writer, you need to go through those hundreds of applications one by one. There’s no way around it. It’s a big haystack, and you’re looking for the sharpest needle.

Let’s take a peek at exactly what to look for to find the perfect content writer for your exact needs, based on what I’ve learned from hiring and managing hundreds of content writers since 2011. Get all nine in this free guide.

1. Grit: I translate this as the aptitude to work from home. Meaning, can your writer manage their own schedule and get your content written even if they have five kids at home? Can they be trusted with a deadline?
2. Relevant expertise: Real, verified expertise in your topic area. Let’s say marketing, finance, or law is your topic — you’ll need a writer that has real-world experience, otherwise content will suffer.
3. Research skills: Look for the ability to sleuth Google like a boss and get their content way beyond superficial and unhelpful.
4. No essay-writing habits: Make sure they can write for an online audience, a skill applicants with marketing degrees sometimes lack.

Now, you’re not going to learn all of this through the writer’s application alone. Instead, you should comb through your pool of applicants and look for the ones who best fit your criteria for hiring. THEN, you need to further cull your list by giving each applicant in this narrowed-down pool a skills-based assessment.

After all, the most important attribute the right writer will have is the SKILL of online writing for your particular niche.

How will you find out who has it? By testing them.

4. Test Them with a Skills-Based Assessment

Above all, you need a writer who can write for the web. Period.

This skill should be two-pronged:

• They have experience in your niche, or have worked in your niche for years (example: if you’re a finance brand, you need a financial writer with that experience or background).
• They know how to write online content.

This secret-sauce combination matters more than any other factor.

They especially need the EXPERIENCE in your industry, because no training can replicate years of immersive work. And, if you hire someone without that experience, it will show up, plain as day, in your content — and it won’t be pretty.

That’s why your skills-based assessment is so important. It will show you exactly who has the experience and expertise you’re looking for.

I like to give all my top applicants a real assignment brief, just like one they would get if they actually worked for me. Here’s some of what I include:

• The length I’m looking for (I usually just ask them to write the first 200 words — remember, they aren’t getting paid for this, and we just need enough words to see their skill in action).
• The topic to write about.
• The focus keyword to use for SEO.
• The brand guidelines to follow for voice and tone.
• Examples to follow for inspiration.

The writing you get back from applicants after giving them this test should speak volumes about their skill. More than anything else, your test will help you hire the right person. (Yes — even more than a Zoom interview or their resume!)

That’s why, in my business mentorship program, we teach you how to conduct skills-based assessments when you’re in the hiring stage: They’re the best way to narrow down your talent pool!

5. DON’T Hire the Best Writer

Testing your potential writers is a great way to further weed out the wrong candidates.

BUT-

What if you’ve hunted through those hundreds of applicants, tested a handful, and are left with two or three rock stars who could do the job equally well? (A great, if tough, problem to have.)

Or, what if you’re tempted by a high-profile writer with an impressive resume?

Here’s my best advice:

DON’T hire the best writer of the bunch.

No, I haven’t lost my mind. Hear me out:

Instead of the BEST writer, you should find someone who knows their craft AND can be trained to produce amazing content for your brand.

What you need is a writer who will write the content for you, and work directly with you without ego or assumptions.

Hire the writer with skill and potential, who’s willing to learn and grow with you.

For example, maybe they aren’t quite up to speed on SEO writing, but they have a lot of talent and potential, plus experience in your industry. You can easily train that writer on SEO, and with that time investment, you’ll have a secret weapon on your hands. ‍

In other words, don’t be afraid to hire a writer who has room to grow.

What matters more is their expertise, their ability and willingness to learn, and their love of writing.

I call this the E.L.A. Culture-Fit, and it’s the next thing you should be thinking about in the hiring process.

6. Find Your E.L.A. Culture-Fit

Again, don’t try to find the BEST writer out there.

Instead, find a skilled writer who contributes to an environment of growth, who has enthusiasm and expertise but is ready to learn more.

That person has the E.L.A. Culture-Fit — they will fit like a puzzle piece into your team.

The E.L.A. Culture-Fit is all about working with a writer who demonstrates EXPERTISE in your industry, an ABILITY to learn, and a LOVE of writing.

E – Expertise in Your Industry

You need an expert in your industry, because you want them to write authoritative content for your site.

They should be able to write about your niche topic and know what they’re talking about. That’s the only way to get in-depth content that’s useful for your audience.

L – Love of Writing

There’s no way around this requirement.

The best writers are the ones who adore writing. They’ll write long letters to their friends, essays on social media, and comments on blogs. They may write books or other content just for fun.

If you can find someone who LOVES writing and offer to pay them for it, you’ve got a win-win situation.

A – Ability to Learn

Your writer also needs to have the ability and willingness to learn. Even if they can recite all the spelling and grammar rules in their sleep, there’s always more to learn as a writer.

There’s a learning curve to writing blog content, especially if you, like everyone else, learned how to write essays in school.

Landing pages and emails differ from blog content, and your writer must learn how to ace all the content you need them to create.

Finally, you want your writer to learn how to emulate your voice.

These are the basic criteria for hiring the perfect writer. Again, you still want to put them through their paces by using a skill-based interview, but the E.L.A. Culture-Fit can help you find that diamond-in-the-rough writer.

How do I know so much about hiring a writer? In my day, I’ve hired thousands of writers for my agency and their clients. 

In the Content Transformation System, my mentorship program that teaches you how to build a business through content marketing, I teach you my exact process so you can build your own content team. Get a preview of how this works in my free training.

So You Hired a Writer for Your Blog & Website — Next Steps & Tips

Maybe, by this point, you’ve figured out how to find a writer for your blog and website. You’ve followed the steps, and you’re feeling good.

What now? A few tips:

1. Consider Hiring an Editor

When it comes to talented contractors hungry for consistent work with an impactful brand, there are even more roles to consider filling in addition to hiring a content writer.

Another central theme within the Content Transformation System, enrolling now, is exactly how to tap into this content trend in 2022 and use it to power your own content-based online business. In fact, more and more people are becoming contractors – 50% of Gen Z workers in the US freelanced in 2020!

Even the best content writer will miss something here and there. And expecting a writer to upload and schedule their own pieces to publish on your site can pull their attention away from their true skill – content writing.

And that’s where an editor comes in.

Just like you’ve learned how simple hiring a content writer can be, you should also consider hiring an editor.

Someone who can jump into your shared software that contains the draft from your content writer, make sure it’s perfect, and then upload and schedule it via the backend of your website.

And it doesn’t stop with hiring content writers and editors! Many additional roles can be filled by contractors (like an editing pro who can help you produce high-quality YouTube videos that make money, a CPA, customer support, and more).

This, my friends, is the magic of business automation that leads to sustainability.

2. Use a Simple Payroll System

What about managing the pay for that new writer you just hired?

You don’t need to pay for an expensive payroll management system to effectively track projects and pay your contractors.

Google Docs works perfectly.

In a 2020 report, Google Suite was accessed by 2 billion users per month. It’s a ROBUST platform that offers tons of free and low-cost features. Make it your best friend when you’re hiring content writers.

There are some other great content marketing tools out there, both free and paid. But remember – the name of the game is simplicity.

There are plenty of highly successful entrepreneurs who use free web apps for tracking contractor projects and payroll. Heck, I’ve used them since 2011 with the advice of a mentor who used them even before that.

It’s true, I exclusively use Google Sheets to manage and automate my entire payroll strategy.

And you can use this same method for literally any role you fill through contract work. It really can be as simple as that when it comes to payroll with your content writer.

3. Build Trust Through Authenticity

As you work with your hired writer, you can, and should, be friendly and warm without being unprofessional.

Because if 86% of your future customers consider brand authenticity an important factor in deciding whether or not to support you…

…building trust with your contractors should be just as important.

So be authentic. Be relatable. Be genuinely yourself in your job postings, and your communications with your content writer.

That ties in perfectly with my next tip.

4. Treat Your Content Writer Like Gold

Make sure to treat your content writer like a BFF. Because your writer is the person that will lend their creativity and power to you and propel your brand forward.

Being reactive, overly critical, or generally treating your writer like crap absolutely hurts you in the long run – you’ll only alienate them and make them unhappy and unwilling to invest the full power of their creative abilities in your projects.

Not treating your content writer well is a sure-fire way to see massive turnover in this role.

How to Hire a Content Writer (Without Creating MORE Work for Yourself)

The purpose of hiring a content writer should be to help take tasks off your plate.

But without a strategy and a plan, finding, managing, and keeping up with your content writer will create more work for yourself. You need a system.

I’ve been doing this for 10 years… and in year nine I learned the “secret” to finding amazing contractors. Now, I’m teaching that secret sauce in an incredible 12-month mentorship program, the Content Transformation System.

You’ll learn every step of building a team and hiring writers, from the actual hiring process to training them on how to write for your brand, to implementing systems to manage their work.

If you need a content writer but are struggling with how to put that in motion in your business, this is the program you need.

Apply today to to supercharge your growth for the year ahead.

The post How to Hire a Content Writer (An In-Depth Guide) appeared first on Content Hacker.

You’ve mastered your field of expertise, but you’re not a writer. What’s an entrepreneur to do?

Hire a ghostwriter, of course!

Only problem is:

You don’t know how to hire a ghostwriter.

Or you find a ghostwriter, pay them lots of money, and then they churn out a terrible book.

Yikes.

What are you doing wrong? It could be a few things:

• You’re looking for the cheapest option.
• You check to see if you like them as a person.
• You give preference to someone who came recommended by a friend.

Maybe you’ve made the first mistake, and now you’re wondering:

How much is it to hire a ghostwriter? Is it worth spending a lot of money on hiring a writer?

Fact: A talented writer is worth their weight in gold.

And: Publishing a terrible book is worse than not writing a book at all.

Here’s the thing: If you want to know how to find and hire a ghostwriter, it all starts with hiring a skilled writer who can get to know you, your brand, and your style.

Before we get into hiring a ghostwriter, let’s get really clear on what a ghostwriter is and why you’d want to work with one.

How to Hire a Ghostwriter: Table of Contents

What Is a Ghostwriter?

Why Would You Hire a Ghostwriter?

How to Hire a Ghost Writer in 6 Steps

• Step 1: Define Your Project
• Step 2: How Do You Find a Ghostwriter?
• Step 3: Do They Have the Skills You Need?
• Step 4: Evaluate Past Work
• Step 5: Can Your Candidate Capture Your Voice and Style?
• Step 6: Payment Terms or How Much to Hire a Ghostwriter

What’s Included in the Contract with Your Ghostwriter

What’s the Standard Process of Working with a Ghostwriter?

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Ghostwriter?

How Much Does It Cost to Ghostwrite a Book?

4 Mistakes People Make When Hiring a Ghostwriter

How to Get Hired As a Ghostwriter

So, How Do You Find a Ghostwriter?

What Is a Ghostwriter?

A ghostwriter is a person who creates content without receiving credit for it.

It could be the writer you pay to write your blog articles for your website or the writer you hire to write a book for you.

Ghostwriters get paid for the project, but they do not receive name recognition for their work.

A ghostwriter does not own any of the content they produce for you.

In effect, ghostwriters are like ghosts.

They do their thing silently in the background, and nobody can see them. The general public doesn’t even know their name.

Why Would You Hire a Ghostwriter?

Having a ghostwriter seems like such an odd arrangement. Why would you want to work with a ghostwriter if you can just write the content yourself or give credit to a writer?

The reason is pretty obvious: You don’t have the time or the skills to write.

Working with ghostwriters is like outsourcing any other part of doing business. It allows you to focus on other things.

Start with my free training to learn why hiring a dedicated writer matters and how to do it.

If you pay someone to produce content for your website or your book, you want to make sure you keep all the rights to that content, because content is a goldmine.

Now the tricky part is finding and hiring the right ghostwriter for you. You don’t want to work with just anyone, trust me.

Without doing your due diligence, you’ll end up with a writer who:

• Produces lackluster content
• Doesn’t create in-depth posts
• Can’t capture your voice and style
• Won’t turn in any usable work at all

Well then, how do you hire a ghostwriter who delivers the goods?

Be forewarned: The process is intense.

How to Hire a Ghost Writer in 6 Steps

Before you look for a ghostwriter, take a moment to go through these steps. It’s important to think this through beforehand to maximize the chances of finding the right person for the job.

Step 1: Define Your Project

Get crystal clear on what you want your ghostwriter to do for you.

Do you want them to write a book about widgets? Do you want them to write website or blog content for your brand? Do you need them to create content for your brochures?

Don’t just think about what you want written. This goes back to writing content that works.

You also need to think about what you want the content to accomplish.

For example, if you’re writing a book, it can serve different purposes:

1. A well-written book can bring you expert status
2. Your book can be your ticket to be a speaker, podcaster, etc.
3. A book can be a lead magnet to find customers
4. It can build trust with your leads and turn them into customers
5. It can be used as a referral tool
6. It can be an income source of royalty payments for you

If you’re hiring a ghostwriter to create content for your website, your goals might look different:

1. Increase SEO rankings
2. Generate traffic
3. Generate leads
4. Build trust
5. Position yourself as an expert

Well-written content can accomplish all these things.

Even if you don’t hire a ghostwriter, you should go through this first step before you write any content for your business.

Every piece of content you produce should help you meet your overarching goals. This is going to take some time, unless you’ve already done a lot of research and thinking about this.

If you’re not sure how to structure your content to achieve your goals, we offer the step-by-step Content Transformation© System to help you build a 7-figure business.

Step 2: How Do You Find a Ghostwriter?

Now that you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to start your search.

You have several options. There are ghostwriting firms that will match you with a writer (some of them are scammers, so be very cautious!), and there are platforms that allow you to post writing jobs.

We like to post our jobs on Indeed, because it’s one of the most popular job search engines out there. Using something like Indeed will vastly increase your applicant pool, which has pros and cons.

With more applicants, you’ll have to weed through a lot of candidates until you find one who’s a good match for you. But you can narrow it down by using a very specific job post.

Instead of asking for X years of experience, focus on relevant experience.

You can work as a writer for 10 years without any understanding of SEO, especially if you’ve been doing academic or technical writing.

Experience with your brand, your subject matter, your industry, and your niche is more important than unrelated writing experience.

And this brings us to the next step in the process, which is evaluating your writer’s skills.

Step 3: Do They Have the Skills You Need?

When you’re sifting through resumes and applications, make sure the candidate has the skills you need.

If you want someone to ghostwrite blog articles for your lifestyle site, a novelist or technical writer isn’t the best fit for the job.

While it’s not difficult to unlearn essay writing and write blogs, it takes some dedication and time to make the switch. I unpacked this in an episode on my podcast.

Unless you already have other writers on your team and have the resources to train a new writer, you really need someone who is ready to jump in right away and start producing content for your business.

To find out what skills they have, don’t just read their resume or profile listing the skills they’re proficient in. You also want to evaluate their past work and request a writing sample.

Step 4: Evaluate Past Work

A writer’s portfolio says a lot about their ability to write for you. A candidate who wants to work for you will do their best to send relevant samples.

This allows you to look at their current body of work and see if your content needs fit into that niche.

Keep in mind your perfect candidate doesn’t just demonstrate knowledge in your field of expertise, but they can also capture your voice and style.

Step 5: Can Your Candidate Capture Your Voice and Style?

This is where the rubber meets the road.

Your ghostwriter must be able to capture your voice and style.

You’ll have to give this some thought before you hire someone, especially if you’re starting out from scratch.

What do you want your content to sound like?

Think about the tone. Do you want to sound serious, funny, colloquial, interesting, or factual?

Maybe find some other websites or books like the one you want to create to share with your potential candidate. Have them mirror that style for the assignment.

Now here’s the deal.

If you’re hiring a content writer for a blog, you can and should ask them to write a 200-word assignment for you as a skills test to see if they’re a good fit.

A unique, new writing sample as a requirement does two things for you:

• Weeds out applicants who aren’t serious
• Shows you what they can do

It’s a little different if you hire a ghostwriter for a book.

It makes more sense to ask a ghostwriter to write the first chapter for you, but that’s a lot of commitment on their part.

If you need a bigger writing sample (over 200 words) or are hiring an experienced professional, expect to pay them for the writing sample.

Once you determine a winner, it’s time to work out the details.

Step 6: Payment Terms or How Much to Hire a Ghostwriter

When you find the perfect ghostwriter, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of price and payment terms, deliverables, rights and royalties, and termination rights.

Now, before you haggle with your writer, remember this person is someone you hope to create a lasting relationship with.

If you nickel and dime them, they’re going to resent you. It’s fine to go back and forth a couple of times, but you should be willing to pay a reasonable amount for their skill set.

If you’re hiring a ghostwriter to write a book for you, you can expect to pay several tens of thousands of dollars. Writing a book isn’t something you can do in a week, and it’s more than just the words inside the book.

To write a good book, you or your ghostwriter need to create a content outline. This is probably the step where you’ll be most involved.

When you hire a writer to produce website or blog content for you, you also don’t want to be cheap. Otherwise, they’ll start looking for other jobs immediately and bail on yours as soon as they find something better.

The relationship between you and your ghostwriter should be mutually beneficial.

And, to ensure you leave no room for disagreements later, you must spell everything out in a contract.

What’s Included in the Contract with Your Ghostwriter

The contract with your ghostwriter should discuss every detail of your arrangement with them. If there are any problems later, the contract will be the document you can both refer to.

You definitely want to have a contract even if you trust this person. Otherwise, you could end up in a he-said-she-said court fight where both parties lose.

Most importantly, you want to ensure that any content the ghostwriter produces for you is exclusively yours, even if they don’t finish the book or article they were writing for you.

Here is a list of things to include in your contract:

1. Price or cost of the service
2. Payment terms
3. Deliverables
4. Rights and royalties
5. Termination rights
6. Anonymity clause

1. Price or Cost of the Service

The price or cost of the service is something you may go back and forth on a couple of times. How you pay the ghostwriter depends on what type of work they do.

If they’re writing a book for you, you’ll agree on a total price, which can be paid in installments. For example, you can pay a portion once you receive the outline, and another portion when a third of the book is done, and the last payment after the final revision.

You can expect to pay a ghostwriter who creates articles or website content for you on a project basis, usually a set fee per word count.

2. Payment Terms

For a writer who sends in regular assignments, you can decide the payment terms.

Every other week is probably the most popular option, because it resembles a regular paycheck and allows your writer to budget for their expenses. How you pay them (via check, PayPal, etc.) and how often is also part of the payment terms in the contract.

3. Deliverables

Don’t skip the part about deliverables.

You want to be very clear about what your ghostwriter will deliver. This is less important for a contract writer who creates articles for you, because you can give them one assignment at a time.

A ghostwriter for a book must have clear deliverables, including the chapter or word count length, total length of the book, and the number of revisions.

4. Rights and Royalties

Your contract should also specify who owns the rights to the finished product. As mentioned before, the ghostwriter relinquishes all rights to their content when they hand it over to you.

You also don’t want to share royalties with a ghostwriter, unless that’s part of the payment arrangements. There are some services out there that pair you with ghostwriters who will work for a portion of the cost in exchange for a portion of the royalties down the line.

5. Termination Rights

Your contract should include a provision for termination rights. So many things can happen. #FactsofLife

Maybe your business goes bankrupt and you don’t have the funds to pay the ghostwriter. Maybe the ghostwriter has to take care of a sick relative and won’t be able to continue working on your project.

The only thing that’s certain in life is that nothing is certain.

So add some language about termination rights. What happens when one party wants to cancel the book project?

6. Anonymity Clause

Finally, if you don’t want your ghostwriter bragging about writing your book, add an anonymity clause.

If you’re a famous author and hired a ghostwriter, it could ruin your career if word gets out about it. But even if you’re not a writer, you may not want people to know you hired a ghostwriter, since your name graces the cover of a book.

What’s the Standard Process of Working with a Ghostwriter?

Now that you know how to hire a ghostwriter, let’s talk about what to expect when working with one.

Keep in mind, the process varies, depending on the type of projects you’re using a ghostwriter for.

Here is the process in a nutshell:

1. Give your writer a topic
2. Ghostwriter produces the first draft
3. You read and comment on the first draft
4. You discuss your feedback with the writer
5. Writer produces a second draft
6. You make corrections/requests
7. The writer produces the third (final) draft

How many drafts and revisions your writer produces depends on your agreed-upon terms in the contract. You may also decide to start with an outline or have the writer submit one chapter at a time.

Using an outline and having your ghostwriter create one chapter at a time, at least in the beginning, ensures your writer doesn’t follow a path you don’t like.

There’s also a difference between a revision and a complete rewrite. You want to avoid the latter if possible because that’s going to increase cost and extend the timeline for getting the work done.

When you’re working with a writer to create blog content for you, the process is much simpler:

1. You or the writer suggest blog topics
2. The writer produces a blog article
3. You request changes if necessary
4. Writer submits the final version

When you first work with your writer, you probably need to provide more feedback. It could be something as simple as asking for a unified title case throughout or adding pictures or links.

When you hire a ghostwriter to produce a book for you, the feedback will be more extensive than for a one-off piece.

Incidentally, managing your writer and keeping them happy is a skill you have to learn.

After all, what good is it to have a brilliant writer only to lose them after a month or two?

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Ghostwriter?

Finding and hiring a ghostwriter are just the beginning. You also have to pay them.

Of course, the goal is for the content to bring in revenue.

Therefore, you need to look at hiring a ghostwriter as an investment in your business.

Writing content for your website should bring in leads. A skilled content writer can bring you new qualified leads who are ready to purchase your products or services.

Similarly, a ghostwritten book will bring in royalties or leads or both.

How much does it cost to hire a ghost writer?

There’s actually a vast range.

For a skilled content writer for your website, you can expect to pay about 10 cents per word.

If you’re looking for a ghostwriter for your book, it depends on the subject matter and length of your book and your ghostwriter’s credentials. You’re looking at upwards of 30 cents per word.

How Much Does It Cost to Ghostwrite a Book?

When you hire a ghostwriter for your book, you usually agree to a total fee for the entire book.

You might pay $10,000 or upwards of $100,000.

If someone quotes you $10,000 for writing a book for you, do your due diligence on that writer. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Writing a book takes months of work, which is why the cost of ghostwriting a book is so high.

If you work with a skilled writer who is new to ghostwriting, you might get a price at the lower end of the spectrum. Experienced ghostwriters who have traditionally published successful books will charge a premium for their services, as they should.

4 Mistakes People Make When Hiring a Ghostwriter

If you’ve never hired a writer or ghostwriter before, you probably don’t know what you’re looking for. Traditional models of finding employees don’t necessarily fit when you’re looking for a writer for your team.

Here are the mistakes you’re probably making:

1. You’re Looking for the Cheapest Option

You often get what you pay for, and this is true for services of any kind. A skilled writer will not sell themselves cheaply. If you look for the cheapest option, you may see that reflected in the type of content they produce.

We all want to get a good deal, but you can’t require your writer to work for low pay and expect them to deliver quality work for years to come. Not gonna happen. They have bills to pay.

2. You Hire Someone You Like

When you hire staff for your office, you want them to fit in with the rest of the team. If the candidate you’re interviewing shares your humor or favorite sports team, it’s a plus.

But a content writer doesn’t have to be anything like you. You could be a fitness coach and the perfect content writer might be a couch potato who has written extensively about health and exercise.

Your writer doesn’t have to share your values, either, but you DO want them to love your brand.

3. You Focus on Credentials & References

When you hire someone to drive a forklift, you probably want to talk to their previous supervisor about them. You’ll ask if they’re a genuinely good person, but you also want to verify they know how to operate that forklift safely.

You have to do the same when hiring a ghostwriter. You want to make sure they know how to write.

You can see this by examining their writing samples and asking them to submit a writing assignment for you. The only question you could ask a previous boss is whether they turned in their work on time and produced reliably great work.

4. You Don’t Have a Contract

You never want to put yourself in a position where you have to trust people’s words. It’s okay to trust them, but you don’t want to have to trust them.

Do you see the difference?

Spelling out the terms of your working relationship in a contract is the only surefire way to make sure you and your writer are literally on the same page.

How to Get Hired As a Ghostwriter

If you want to make a living as a ghostwriter, you have to start by gaining the necessary skills.

Great writers aren’t born, but you can train to become one. If you’re looking for freelance work in the world of SEO content, the first step is to take a course on SEO writing.

Skills are more important than experience.

With Google’s most recent changes to YMYL and E-A-T guidelines, human content writers are more important than ever.

When you try to think of how to get hired as a ghostwriter, don’t limit yourself to the obvious options. Besides blogs, website content, and books, entrepreneurs also need great writers to create emails, brochures, presentations, flyers, and more.

So, How Do You Find a Ghostwriter?

Now you know how to hire a ghostwriter for your website, and how to hire a ghostwriter for a book, what to look for, and what to include in your contract with them.

I admit it’s not a straightforward process.

I’ve hired hundreds of writers myself, for my company and for clients. Thanks to my extensive experience in hiring, training, and retaining writers, I have the process down!

I teach this exact process, from strategy to hiring a content team, in my Content Transformation System.

This is our flagship 12-month mentorship that gives you the skills, strategy, and systems to finally start up and scale your content marketing — which ultimately leads to HUGE business growth.

Apply today to reserve your seat inside. 

The post How to Hire a Ghostwriter: Everything You Need to Know About Working with a Ghostwriter appeared first on Content Hacker.

The hours are ticking, and the days keep passing, but there’s nothing in your inbox.

Then it clicks.

You check your spam folder, and sure enough, it’s been sitting there for days.

Google blocks 10 million emails per minute and tries to guarantee that less than 0.1% of spam ends up in your emails.

But sometimes, even Google makes mistakes and marks non-malicious messages as spam.

So how do you make sure you’re not missing essential emails?

Fortunately, there’s a quick and easy way to avoid this.

Whitelisting an email is a simple process that will guarantee your urgent emails never make it into your spam folder again.

I have broken down this process so you can whitelist emails in no time.

How to Whitelist in Gmail

1. Log in to Gmail and Go to Your Settings

First things first. Log in to your Gmail account.

Navigate to the left-hand corner and click on the gear icon. You will then see a drop-down list. Select the “See all settings” button.

2. Select Filters and Blocked Addresses

This tab is in the top row underneath the settings and is the fifth option from the left.

3. Create a New Filter

You’re halfway there!

Scroll down and select the “Create a new filter” button. This will be in the center of the page.

4. Add the Email Address You Want to Whitelist

Once you select the “Create new filter” button, you should see a pop-up that looks like an email format. Type the email address you wish to whitelist in the “From” line. Once you complete this step, select “Create filter”.

5. Complete Whitelist

Check the “Never send it to Spam” box. This is the seventh option from the top. Once this is selected, press the “Create filter” button. And just like that, the email address has been whitelisted!

6. Confirm the Email Was Whitelisted

Double-checking your work never hurts. Take a quick look in your settings to verify your desired email address has been whitelisted correctly.

After you select the “Create filter” button you will be led back to the settings page. Look under “Themes” and see what filters are applied to your email.

You should see the email you whitelisted with the message “Never send it to Spam” below it.

Looking for other great tips to set yourself up for success? Check out my free training.

How to Whitelist a Domain in Gmail

Whitelisting a domain in Gmail is such a handy tool. This is a great option to ensure you don’t miss any emails from your employers or clients’ companies.

To do this, follow the same process as above until step four. In the “From” field, you will add the domain address. Instead of only monitor@contenthacker.com being whitelisted, all emails from the @contenthacker.com domain address will be safe from the spam folder.

How to Whitelist Multiple Email Addresses in Gmail

Do you have multiple emails you need whitelisted that aren’t from the same domain? Not a problem. You can whitelist multiple email addresses in no time.

Follow the same process for whitelisting one email up until step four. In the “From” field, add all the emails you need to be whitelisted. When doing so, insert the pipe symbol ( | ) in between emails.

Use the photo below for reference.

Systems That Lead to Success

Setting up your email for productivity is just one of the many processes that can help elevate your business.

At the end of the day, your skills, strategies, and systems will set you apart and take your business to the next level.

Are you ready to achieve the growth you’ve been hoping for?

I have taken my decade of experience and developed a proven, methodology-driven mentorship and coaching program that will guide you through the necessary steps to scale your business to six- and seven-figures.

Stop wondering what it would be like to have a thriving business. Apply for my Content Transformation System today. Get instant access when you watch my free 30-minute class!

The post How to Whitelist Email Addresses in Gmail: 6 Easy Steps appeared first on Content Hacker.

Today’s guide is a simple, easy, effective, with pictures (you’re welcome!) tutorial on just that.

FYI: blogging for business is making a comeback (spoiler alert: it never died).

Everyone hates being sold to, which is why 40% of internet users proactively block ads.

But with over 1 billion blog posts published this year alone, the internet is full of content. How will yours stand out?

With a strong content strategy in place, your blog posts will be lead-generating machines.

And WordPress is arguably one of the best-known blogging platforms out there. It’s the strongest, most stable one for SEO.

Let’s get into the quick, simple guide: how to draft a blog post in WordPress, step-by-step.

Step-by-Step: How to Draft a Blog Post in WordPress

When you log into your WordPress account, you’ll see the main dashboard. Don’t let it intimidate you. We’re just focused on the post section today. Simply click to add a new post, and it will take you to a new post page.

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the page. There’s a lot going on here, but we’ll break it down for you.

At the top, you’ll find the title of your blog post.

The main content box underneath is where you’ll write your post. You can also just copy and paste the content if it’s saved in a separate file.

Don’t know what to write? Try a content writing template.

Your publishing options and settings are on the right. You’ll also find categories and tags along the side. Then there are the settings for your featured image.

Still breathing?

I don’t expect you to have it all memorized. There’s no test at the end of this. Take as much as time as you need to get used to the interface.

And this is just a bird’s eye overview. We’ll come back to the different sections in a moment.

Under the main content block, you will find your SEO settings.

Pay attention, because this is really important.

Your SEO settings include the focus keyword or phrase, your SEO title, and your meta description. Let’s talk about this in more detail, because this is the non-intuitive part of publishing a blog post.

If you leave this blank, your content marketing strategy starts off with a limp. You may still finish the race, but it will take you a lot longer to reach the end.

How to Use the SEO Settings in WordPress

1. Focus Keyphrase

Let’s start with the focus keyphrase (i.e. the main keyword or phrase you’re trying to rank for). In our example, the focus keyphrase is “content marketing consulting”. Yours will probably be different, depending on your keyword goals.

By the way, if you’re not up to speed on best SEO practices or just need some help finding relevant keywords for your blog, check out our list of 23+ free SEO DIY tools.

2. Google Preview & Meta Title

Let’s use the Google preview to see what the snippet for your page looks like on mobile and on desktop. In our example, the title was too long. This means it gets cut short when it appears in the search engine results pages, short SERPs.

Do you see those three dots after the title? That’s not good.

When someone finds your blog post online, you want them to see the title in its entirety.

If it has too many characters, it won’t fit. In WordPress, you’ll see a red bar if the title can’t be displayed in full length.

Red is bad. You want that bar to turn green.

It’s an easy enough fix. We just edit the title until it fits. But don’t remove the keyword from the title when you do that. You may need to tinker with it until it has the right length and still sounds good.

Once you have a green bar, your Google preview should look much better. Score one for you against the SERPs.

3. Edit the Slug

Next, you want to check the slug.

Oops. Wrong slug.

The slug we’re talking about refers to the words at the end of the URL for this post page. It’s good practice to use the keyword phrase or shortened title as the slug with dashes in between.

For example, we have contenthacker.com/content-marketing-consulting in our example. That looks good. Don’t keep any auto-generated slugs with random letters or numbers, which can happen if you haven’t added a title to your post.

4. Meta Description

The last piece of the SEO puzzle is the meta description. You don’t need to worry about creating it. Your writer will provide it to you. Just copy and paste it here. The meta description is the snippet you see when you pull up search results in Google.

Without it, Google will display the first few lines of your blog post. Instead, we want a specific description to encourage readers to click and read the entire post.

Formatting/Drafting Your Blog Post in WordPress

Now it’s time to actually draft your blog post in WordPress.

Most likely, you’ll copy and paste your blog content from a saved document to the content box inside of WordPress. Just select everything and copy and paste the document in its entirety. The images won’t copy over, but it saves time to do it all at once.

There’s a good chance some of the formatting won’t transfer properly. This means you’ll have to double-check everything.

Here is your list of formatting tasks:

• Edit your links to open in a new tab
• Check your headings for proper formatting
• Verify the hierarchy for your headings
• Upload and insert your images
• Add the ALT text for your images
• Edit custom snippets of code
• Pick a category
• Set the featured image

These may take you some time if you’re unfamiliar with the process. But eventually, you’ll zip through them.

We’ll tackle them together right now.

Ready? Set… Go!

1. Edit Your Links

You want to make sure all your links will open in a new tab. Click on the link. Then click the edit button. Next, select the link options and check the box that says “Open link in a new tab.” Hit the update button.

The bad news is you’ll have to do this for every single link in your blog post.

Maybe put on some music and rock on while you perform this tedious task.

By the way, formatting and drafting blog posts in WordPress is a lot easier when your site is designed to look and work amazingly once you publish. If you need help getting your site to this place, we build custom websites! Check it out.

2. Format Your Headings

You must format every heading properly inside of your blog post. It can be an H2, H3, or H4. When you copy and paste the content from your document, a heading may turn into regular text, or an H3 heading might show up as an H2 heading.

Don’t bold the text or use a bigger font size for your headings. Best SEO practices require the use of header tags (H1, H2, etc.) instead. H1 is always used for the title of your page, but you can use the other headings throughout the blog post.

You also need to pay attention to the hierarchy of headings.

3. Check Hierarchy for Headings

The hierarchy for headings is important, because that’s how we organize blog posts. An H2 heading can have sub-headings underneath it. Those must be H3. Any subheadings under H3 must be designated H4.

This system streamlines your blog post formatting for the reader and the search engine bots.

When you copy and paste the text into WordPress, you need to correct any headings that aren’t in the right hierarchy order. Just highlight the heading and select the correct heading type.

We’re almost there. Let’s play with some images next.

4. Upload & Insert Images

Blog posts without pictures are like bowls of cereal without milk. Kind of boring and bland.

Spice up your blog by adding some images (and fruit, milk, or yogurt to your cereal).

You may have uploaded some pictures in your WordPress media library, such as your branded images. You can set a placeholder for the images and then grab them from the media library when you’re ready.

Go through the entire blog post and make sure you upload all the images.

5. Add the ALT Text for Your Images

Every image should have an ALT text. This is a brief description of what the image is. It’s good practice to include keywords in the ALT text if it makes sense.

Now you just need to center the image if that’s what you want. Nicely done.

No, you’re not done yet, but we’re close. Hang in there.

6. Add a Call to Action

You’re publishing blog posts for a reason. You want your readers to take action on them, which is why you need to add a call-to-action, short CTA.

In our case, the CTA is a link for the Profitable Content Marketer’s Skills Cheat Sheet. We add our custom URL for the freebie.

Flashback warning.

Since it’s a link, we edit it to open up in a new tab. Sound familiar? Good.

7. How to Handle Custom Code in WordPress

You may have a custom snippet of code in your text. It could be a link to an embedded video or something else cool you want to include in the blog post.

The bad news is it won’t show up properly as-is. The good news is it only takes a minute to fix it.

First step is to cut the code (you can also copy it and then delete it later). Then go to the top right of the main content box and hit the text tab.

Now you’ll see the code version of your blog. If you’re not familiar with HTML, this will look like gibberish to you. It’s okay. Don’t panic.

The key to success is to do what Aladdin and his monkey should have done in the cave.

Don’t. Touch. Anything.

Find the spot where you need to insert the custom code. If you don’t think you can find your way in the document, you can go back to the visual side of the blog and add a placeholder first. Then search for the placeholder.

Now drop the custom code right in there.

Don’t touch anything on the way out, either.

Deleting or altering anything here, such as removing a bracket, can mess up the formatting for the entire blog.

Switch back to the visual view with the button on the top right of the content box. Now you’re back to the familiar.

How does it look? Let’s see!

Our code turned into an embedded video. Perfect!

8. Pick a Category

On the right side of the screen, you will see categories. You get to pick one category for your blog post. For our example, the category is content marketing. Choose only the most relevant category. Don’t select multiple options.

Don’t worry about adding tags.

9. Set the Featured Image

Your featured image will be the image that displays on social media, search engines, and anywhere else you share your blog in snippet form.

Don’t forget to add the ALT text.

I knew you wouldn’t. Good job.

Do you have the focus keyword in the ALT text? Bonus points for you!

After you’ve saved your changes, you can see the featured image displayed on the bottom right of your post page.

We’re at the home stretch now.

It’s Time to Preview Your Blog Post

It’s time to preview what you’ve written. WordPress allows you to see the post just like it will show up after you publish it.

You may be tempted to skip this step, but don’t. Because you’ll always find something you missed.

Check that everything looks good: Spacing. Headings. Images. Embedded videos.

If you need to make any changes, go for it. Otherwise, it’s time to publish!

Publish Your Blog Post

To publish your blog posts, go to the upper right corner of your screen. You can schedule blog posts in advance. (Note: Sometimes WordPress is iffy about posting at the scheduled time.) You can also hit publish immediately or set the date and time for today’s date.

Then hit publish.

And it’s alive! You did it! Your blog post went live. Woo-hoo.

I promise all of it will get easier with every blog post. And eventually, it will be just another thing you do, like brushing your teeth or feeding your cat/dog/child or watering your cactus.

Just kidding. You’re not supposed to water cacti. They die.

Learning How to Draft a Blog in WordPress Is Useless… Without a Great Website

Learning all these steps is essential to ensuring your posts are readable, usable, and rank-able (yes, I just made up that word) in the SERPs.

But what if your website overall is a mess?

Your great content and correctly formatted blog posts won’t land as well as they could.

You’ll actually turn readers off… before they can ever read your great content.

That’s why you need a great website at the foundation of your business.

And… we can help with that.

Content Hacker is now offering fully custom WordPress website design as part of our services.

Find out more and get our rates here. Because a fantastic website is a necessary piece of the conversion pie.

The post How to Draft a Blog Post in WordPress appeared first on Content Hacker.

This is your guide.

After all, sending a PDF to Kindle is a great idea for tons of other reasons beyond portability. These scenarios are pretty common:

• You have a course PDF you’d like to read on the go (for example, in my Content Transformation System, we have supplementary PDFs – course homework and downloadables that would be perfect to read on your Kindle)
• You have a PDF ebook that would be much easier to read on Kindle
• You’re traveling and want an easier way to read/study your PDFs
• An ebook you want isn’t available to download in Kindle format but exists in PDF format

For all these cases and more, wouldn’t it be great if you could access all your PDFs from your Kindle device library?

You can. Let’s discuss the simplest way to send a PDF to Kindle, in 8 steps. (Figuring this out a year ago saved my life when it came to reading PDFs in easier ways!)

Send a PDF to Kindle in 8 Steps: Breakdown

Part 1: Find Your “Send to Kindle” Email

1. Log in to Your Amazon Account on a Computer
2. Navigate to “Manage Your Content and Devices”
3. Select the Kindle You Want to Send PDFs To
4. Save Your “Send to Kindle” Email Address

Part 2: Send Your PDF to Your “Send to Kindle” Email

1. Create a New Email in Your Email Application
2. Copy and Paste Your Kindle Email Address into the Recipient Box
3. Attach Your PDF to the Email
4. Send Your PDF to Kindle!

How to Send a PDF to Your Kindle

The easiest way to send a PDF to your Kindle?

Email it to yourself.

Nope, I’m not kidding.

This is the fastest and easiest method I’ve found that works seamlessly. Let me show you how to do it.

Note: For this how-to, I’m using Gmail, but the steps should transfer similarly to other email applications.

Part 1: Find Your “Send to Kindle” Email

Did you know that every Kindle device automatically is associated with a unique email address? This email is linked to your device for the express purpose of sending documents and PDFs to your Kindle.

Here’s how to find your Kindle email (already know it? Skip to Part 2).

1. Log in to Your Amazon Account on a Computer

If you have multiple accounts, choose the one you used to purchase/set up your Kindle.

2. Navigate to “Manage Your Content and Devices”

After logging in, find your Content and Devices page. On a desktop, this should be under “Account and Lists” (top navigation, directly to the right of the search box).

Click it, and you’ll be taken to your digital content page by default. Switch to the “Devices” view (at the top of the page) to find a complete list of the Amazon devices you own, including your Kindle(s).

3. Select the Kindle You Want to Send PDFs To

Next, click the Kindle device to which you’d like to send PDFs.

A “device summary” should pop up with lots of information, but we’re only interested in the email associated with your device.

• It should be located on the first line underneath your device name.
• It should include a string of numbers and letters followed by “@kindle.com”.

Pssst… because you’re reading about this topic, I know you’re hungry for learning. You’re probably a creative, too. If you’re looking for a proven pathway to launch and scale your creative business, check out my free class. This is powerful training that will give you MASSIVE shifts and eye-opening methodologies about what it really takes to run a digital business. Watch now.

4. Save Your “Send to Kindle” Email Address

At this point, copy and paste your Kindle email to a safe place so you always have it handy. I recommend adding your Kindle email to your contacts so you can easily find it right where/when you need it.

Here’s how that may look in Google Contacts:

Part 2: Send Your PDF to Your “Send to Kindle” Email

Once you know your Kindle email and have it saved, it’s time to send your PDF to Kindle via email.

1. Create a New Email in Your Email Application

First, head to your email application and create a new message.

Note: To prevent spam, Amazon limits the email addresses you can use to send files to your Kindle. That means you must send your PDF to Kindle from an email address you authorize on Amazon.

To check your approved personal document email list or add a new authorized email, follow the same steps from earlier to navigate to “Manage Your Content and Devices.”

From there, choose “Preferences” from the top menu.

Scroll down to “Personal Document Settings” and click it.

Scroll further down to “Approved Personal Document Email List.” Check that the email you want to use to send PDFs is there. If not, you can add it by clicking “Add a new approved email address.”

2. Copy and Paste Your Kindle Email Address into the Recipient Box

The next steps are easy-peasy.

Return to the new email message you just created. Paste your Kindle email (you should have it saved from the previous steps!) into the “To” field.

Or, if you saved it to your contacts, click on “To” and select it from your list of saved entries.

There’s no need to fill in any other field, including the subject or message. Just leave them blank!

3. Attach Your PDF to the Email

Next, attach the PDF you’d like to send to your Kindle.

Click on the paperclip icon in the bottom toolbar (to the right of the “Send” button).

Your computer’s file browser should pop up. Navigate to where you saved your PDF and select it.

The successfully attached file should appear at the bottom of the email message.

Here’s how that looks in Gmail:

As you can see, the PDF I want to read on Kindle is the homework from Phase 2, Lesson 7 of The Content Transformation System.

If you’re curious, this is my mentorship program where I share the skills, strategies, and systems that led me to hit $70k months in one year in my business (after FOUR years of floundering and scrounging for $30k months).

It includes live coaching, a curriculum-based pathway available on-demand (videos + downloadables like the one above!), optional monthly mastermind-type group calls, and more.

Interested? Applications are open – apply to see if you’re a good fit.

4. Send Your PDF to Kindle!

Now, all that’s left to do is click “Send” and…

Et voilà!

You just successfully sent your PDF to Kindle. It should now appear in your content library, under “Docs.”

It should also automatically appear on your Kindle device, in your Library.

If, for some reason, it doesn’t show up, try manually delivering it directly to your device from the Digital Content page on Amazon:

On your Kindle, you can also filter your Library by type (“Documents”) or status (“Downloaded”) if you’re still not seeing your PDF.

PDF to Kindle? Done. What Other Skills Will Serve You Moving Forward?

To you out there reading this…

Yes, you.

I think I know who you are.

You’re somebody who’s not afraid to go out and get the skills you’re missing.

You wanted a better, easier way to read PDFs, so you found this guide on sending PDFs to Kindle.

And that’s awesome.

The question remains:

What other skills might serve you moving forward?

If you’re a creative as well as a go-getter, if you’re at the helm of your own burgeoning brand that needs a shove in the right direction, I think I can help.

The Content Transformation System is a 12-month coaching program designed to give you the skills, systems, and strategies you may be missing in your business. These are the same ones that catapulted my own brand from $30k months in revenue all the way to $70k months – and beyond.

Eventually, I sold that business for over $1 million.

And I’m sharing everything I’ve learned from building that brand – and others! – to six- and seven-figures.

If you’re looking for a way forward to success, if you’re ready to go out and get the skills you’re missing, help is here.

Apply today for The Content Transformation System to see if you’re a good fit.

Get a taste of what to expect in my free class!

The post How to Send a PDF to Kindle (in 8 Easy Steps, with Pictures) appeared first on Content Hacker.

That’s why nailing your content writing outline is so darn important. Without a clear writing outline for online content, things get messy — fast.

We’ll talk about the other amazing reasons you need a content writing outline later in this post, but one of the highlights is it helps eliminate writer’s block, so you don’t have to stop what you’re doing and research something.

With outlines, everything you need to hit the ground running is already all laid out for you.

Ready to learn how to make a content writing outline that gives you professional-level blog articles?

What Is a Content Writing Outline?

A content writing outline is a plan for writing your blog article. It should include the whole shebang, from your lead-qualifying intro to your action-inspiring conclusion, and everything before, in between, and after.

Your content outline for website writing needs to be consistent with your brand’s tone and voice. For help establishing yours, check out these strong brand voice examples and free worksheet.

Why Use a Content Writing Outline Template?

Are you a business owner?

A content outline is extremely helpful for teaching yourself and your writers (if you hire your own) how to structure blog articles properly.

…Pssst… don’t hire your content writer without first checking out our free guide, The Top 9 Traits of a Content Hacker-esque Writer.

Because once you’ve established the skeleton of your content writing template, your writing process gets so much faster (without sacrificing quality).

You can keep your content outline in a simple Word document or Google Doc and then copy and paste it into your writing software, filling it out as you go. That way, when it’s time to write — the bulk of the research is already done, so the entire content creation process becomes incredibly efficient (writers rejoice ).

Are you a freelancer? This a great way to learn a sellable skill.

Content is an industry you’ll want to learn how to work in — content marketing is worth over $400B and will keep growing past $600B by 2024. We can expect to see an astounding $269B growth in that time period.

The most common outsourced role inside content marketing is writing…

…at an earth-shattering 81%.

A strong content writing outline is and will be a key building block to building a solid content marketing strategy.

Most importantly, using a blog post outline as a template (as a PDF, editable Word or Google doc, etc.) is crucial to speeding up the research and writing process for sustainable content marketing. This will let you ramp up your content creation, so you can stay consistent with your blogging efforts and post often.

How Do You Create a Content Writing Outline?

Wondering “How do you write a content outline?”

There are different types of content writing outline formats out there, but this is the one I’ve used time and time again with a ton of success. It’s simple yet thorough, and only focuses on what matters. Here’s a step-by-step guide to surefire success with your blog post.

Step #1: Pick Your Topic

When you’re trying to figure out what to write about in your blog, knowing your topic first is key. Once you have that, you’ll get a much clearer vision of what your post needs to look like.

For a deeper look into topic research and how you can apply it to your outline, download our free template with a writer outline cheat sheet here.

Step #2: Gather Researched Information

Keywords will help initiate your SEO blog post layout, and as you weave them into your article, you’ll start to piece together the bones of your outline.

Hold onto the information you gather around your keywords — you’ll use these later once you start writing.

You’ll also want to check out length and format here, so you can understand which content type you’ll be creating. For instance, the article you’re currently reading is a long-form blog (and these types of content are getting more and more popular – in 2021 it took an average of four hours to write a single blog vs. 2.5 hours in 2014).

Step #3: Write a Powerful Working Title

Part of the gathered research you’ll be doing while constructing your content writing outline is to check out other posts’ titles and use them to inform your own.

You’ll want them to be relevant to your content, and you don’t want to copy anyone, but studying the top results for your chosen focus keywords can help give you an idea of what kind of title is working.

Step #4: Create Your Headers

Your headers (rather, the sections of your post) will help break up your content. Here’s a detailed content outline example of this post you’re reading before it came together.

This content outline example is just that, an example. Yours can and will look quite different, but I’ve included it to show the power of structuring your headers early and how this can inform what you write.

Step #5: Draft an Irresistible Intro

Your introduction needs to be powerful. It’s what’s going to make the reader keep reading OR scare them away completely.

Blog introductions are best with “hooks” — something tantalizing like a statistic works fantastic. Most importantly, tap into the power of the Forward Flow in your intro to increase sales by qualifying leads/readers early, and watch your articles sell for you while you sleep. Here’s an example of that in action on a landing page:

I’ve used the Forward Flow to help me create content for multiple six and seven-figure digital brands, and I’ll show you how you can do it, too, inside my coaching program The Content Transformation System, enrolling now.

Step #6: Write an Action-Inspiring Conclusion

Continue the momentum that your fabulous post will create by placing a strong call- to-action in your conclusion. If you offer a product or service that can deeply solve the problem you’re addressing in the post, this is your chance to tie it all together.

Here’s an example of this from my blog on promoting a self-published book.

Step #7: Insert Your Researched Info

This should be an easy step with lots of payoff if you’ve been following this content writing outline example to a T. Moving between your relevant sections, you can now plug in the details you gathered during step two.

Simply fill in the information inside the appropriate sections (headers) you created, find a relevant spot for them to live, and start writing around them.

Step #8: Inject Calls to Actions

On top of your strong CTA at the end of your blog, you’ll want to consider sprinkling them within your content as you see fit.

If you have a specific lead magnet that can help solve a problem you talk about in your article, make sure to let readers know. I’ll go ahead and add a real one here so you can see what I mean.

If you want to add a newsletter signup or a strong CTA within your post content, that’s completely okay, too! As long as it’s valuable for your reader and not obnoxious in any way. Remember, the point of your content is to help the reader first, and the sales and conversions will follow.

Still asking yourself what are the components of content writing? You can listen to me talk about the common online writing mistakes to avoid at all costs in the video below:

Step #9: Find Internal Linking Opportunities

Internal linking is important. Not only does it invite your readers to keep engaging with your content, but it also helps them learn more about their pain points by guiding them to other blogs you’ve previously published.

On top of that, internal links help with search engine rankings for both the articles they are within and the articles they link to, so don’t skip this very vital part of small business blogging! (See what I did there? )

Step #10: Insert Images

Big blocks and walls of text will make your content hard to read and isn’t friendly for website visitors’ eyes. They want clear, concise, skimmable content — and one important piece of that is injecting high-quality images often.

If you have images you already know you want to use, insert them at this point of the content outline. If you’re needing to add images, consider creating them on top of adding visual CTAs, and take relevant screenshots from other sources (but always make sure credit is given when using external images).

Step #11: Proofread, Then Proofread Again

If you’re claiming to be a professional content writer, your work needs to be error-free.

Sure, you’re human, and a typo or two are simply inevitable from time to time — but they need to be a rare occurrence (especially if you’re creating content for someone else’s brand).

Grammarly is a fantastic content marketing tool for proofreading — I use the Chrome and Microsoft Word extension, and I seriously don’t remember what writing life was like before it was around… it’s that helpful.

After you’ve checked your work for typos, you’ll want to double-down and read it out loud.

Reading your content out loud helps you:

1. Get out of the writer mindset and into the reader’s head
2. Spot additional typos you and/or Grammarly may have missed
3. Identify areas that could sound more conversational

You’ll hear these “stiff” sentences as you’re reading them out loud and find opportunities to make them flow much better. You want to talk to your audience like you’re having a 1:1 conversation with them, so sentences like…

“You will have to return toward the initial part of this process to resolve your errors.”

…becomes…

“You’ll want to go back if you need to fix any mistakes.”

Ah, yes. SO much better.

Reading your work out loud (especially after taking at least a 24-hour break) will do wonders for catching these high-readability-level sentences. If you’re using a content writer, consider hiring an editor to double-check their work and upload/schedule the article so you can free up your time to manage your business.

Whatever you do, keep web writing in mind at all times.

Because if your online content sounds like an essay, you need to unlearn sticky essay writing immediately — it’s not fit for the web, period (even if a pricey marketing degree taught you differently).

Get 100% Clarity on Your Content Writing Business

Just because you’re a writer doesn’t mean you have to work more to make more money.

It is possible to grow your business sustainably — saying goodbye to burnout and the days of more work = more revenue, FOREVER. I’ll show you the system I used to go from a freelance writer with $75 to scaling into an 80-person content writing agency that grossed over $5M in less than 10 years.

If you want to sell marketing, SEO, and writing as a service (or simply create a flood of leads to your business using SEO content), you need my coaching program. The Content Transformation System is a business-building program that will teach you SEO-driven content skills.

I invite you to apply today, as seats are limited each month so my expert coaches and I can give my coaching students our full attention. We’d love to see you there.

The post How to Make a Content Writing Outline (to Create Better Blogs Faster) appeared first on Content Hacker.

When it’s time to grow and scale, their #1 pain point is…

Building a team from scratch.

They have NO idea how to do it. But this is what separates the freelancer/entrepreneur from the business owner. (Download my Serious Business Owner Map for the actual picture on this.) But if you don’t know how to build a new team sustainably, you’ll never level reach this level.

Building a great team is hard, folks.

Take, for instance, one creative entrepreneur who recently told me that as soon as she hired a copywriter to help with the workload… that person stole one of her clients.

Now she’s afraid to hire again, not to mention scared she’ll never climb to the next level in her freelance career.

No wonder!

But truth time…

Without help, she can’t.

If you want to scale, if you want to build a business, you must build a team. You need to delegate. According to new research from The Tilt, most content entrepreneurs spend just 30-40% of their time actually creating content. The remainder of that time, the majority, is spent running their business, including managing people. And most of them hired help just 18 months after starting.

Building an effective team is integral to scaling. You can’t shift your attention to running your business until you have help with the workload.

Here’s the thing… it took me nine years to learn this skill. In those nine years, I hired and fired tens of thousands of people – no joke – to manage and run the 40,000 projects we did for over 5,000 clients. We cultivated a core team of 100 people that worked completely from home and were very successful.

At Content Hacker, I’m growing a team of no more than nine to ten people to run my business with me. I’m banking on scrappy, intelligent, 10x-ers who are all in this with me.

Here’s how I do it. Buckle in. These are the key lessons I learned from building my team from scratch. What to do, what NOT to do, and how to avoid the people who will stall your progress versus accelerate it.

By the way, you don’t need a LOT of people. You only need to build a team of the RIGHT people.

Why Building a Team from Scratch Is So Hard to Get Right

Why is building a team from the ground up so hard?

Why does it take an average of 18 months to find a single hire, and 26 months to build a sustainable income?

Source: The Tilt

Because it isn’t just about hiring.

It’s also about solid communication. Defining and matching up goals. Putting processes in place. Not settling. Patience as you mentor and train the people you find.

I know this deeply because it took me nine years to figure it all out.

For the first handful of years I was in business, it was incredibly difficult to hire and keep the right people. Instead, the wrong people ended up on my team, and I got scammed, as in tens of thousands of dollars stolen. (The full story is inside my memoir, Woman Rising. Get it here.)

My profit margins were also slimmer than slim.

Guess what?

These things are all intertwined.

Building a strong team culture is not just about people – it’s also about your processes and your profit margins. I call these the three Ps. And all great businesses have them down pat.

Without them, you’ll never attract the right hires. And you’ll never earn enough revenue to grow. You may even end up with a horror story that includes stolen clients or stolen money.

Needless to say, this topic is HUGE to understand and implement.

Once I figured it all out, I was able to grow and build a team (100 people strong!) at my former agency, Express Writers, which I recently sold for $1M.

Right now, I’m building my next million-dollar business/idea with a team of eight. And all of them have been 100% slam dunks.

It’s all about those three Ps. Let’s discuss them in detail.

  Want to listen to the podcast version of this blog, where I share strategies and lessons on how to build a team from scratch? Listen to Episode #12 – Tips on How to Build Your Own Scrappy, Lean Team on Spotify, iTunes, or on our site.

3 Keys to Building Your Remote Team from Scratch

I learned these lessons the hard way, from nine years of building a business. Remember, it’s about people, processes, and profit margins if you plan on building a team from scratch successfully.

And you CAN find people in a matter of weeks and months, if you have these three keys in place.

1. Learn to Set (and Stick to) Profit Margins

During my first four years in business, I didn’t understand why we were only taking home about 12% of our total revenue.

The answer: razor-thin profit margins.

Now, you might be asking: “What exactly do profit margins have to do with building a team?”

Everything. You have to be able to afford your team and maintain your income, simultaneously. Without smart profit margins, you’ll struggle in every sense of the word.

First, a few definitions.

1. Your revenue (also called “gross profit” or “gross income”) is the total income from your business through the sale of products and/or services.
2. Your net profit is your revenue minus any business expenses (office supplies, travel, etc.).
3. Your profit margin is the percentage of money you actually take home.

Here’s the formula for finding your profit margin:

Net profit / Revenue = Net profit margin

So what if your revenue was $300,000 and your net profit was $150,000? Your profit margin formula would look like this:

$150k / $300k = 0.5 or 50% profit margin

Naturally, your profit margin (PM) depends on how you price your products/services, but it also depends on how you pay your hires.

Set this up at the beginning, before you hire anyone. Sticking to it will help you stay on track.

2. Have Patience, Don’t Settle

What if you find a hire who looks exceptional on paper, but they have rates that will eat into your PM?

Some experts will tell you that you need to hire these expensive contractors to supercharge your business growth, but this isn’t true… Nor does it make sense.

You may be tempted to throw money at an “in-demand” potential hire with an impressive portfolio because you want the best people on your team…

But this will put you at a disadvantage, earnings-wise. If you think of your PM like a budget, a set limit you need to stick to so you keep pulling in a decent income, then hiring an expensive contractor will blow that sky-high.

Hiring this person may be tempting… but it will blow your profit margins.

Even more importantly…

The most “skilled” people aren’t necessarily the “best” people for your business.

What matters more than skills?

Integrity. Motivation. Passion. Potential.

The right people will align with your goals and mission for your business. They’ll grow into their roles because they’re open to learning. They don’t have to BE the best… because they have the potential to BECOME the best!

The question is, how do you find these people?

Here’s a tip: Ask potential hires for a test sample of their work (have keywords and a topic at-the-ready). 150-200 words should do the trick. It’s enough for you to see their skill, and you’ll also get a lot of information from their response to the request.

• If they’re happy to write up a sample and eager to show what they can do, that’s a great sign. If they respond within the agreed-upon time frame with a GREAT sample, they could be a fantastic new member of your team.
• If they refuse and say something like, “I don’t work for free,” you know you should probably look elsewhere. This person’s motivation is “ME.” It’s questionable whether they’ll be a true team player, and that’s just not a risk you should take when you’re building your team from nothing.
• If your potential hire is open to writing a sample, but something else feels off (they’re late getting the sample back to you, or the sample is iffy) – don’t settle for this person, either. Keep looking, and have patience!

The right person will not magically appear out of thin air. You’ll need to do some weeding… and some waiting. On average, it takes me two weeks of sifting through hundreds of applications to find my one great hire.

Speaking of your application, if you make it strategic, the weeding will be a lot easier. That brings me to my next point.

3. Post a Hardworking Job Ad to Build a Team from Scratch

The job ad you post needs to draw in the people you’re looking for. You want them to see your ad, stop, click it, read it, and apply A.S.A.P.

This means you should post a strategic application to multiple job platforms (think Glassdoor, LinkedIn Recruiter, Indeed, etc.).

What do I mean by strategic? Precisely this:

Be Clear and Direct

So many job ads beat around the bush. They launch into wordy explanations of what their company is about for paragraphs before they even mention what kind of qualifications they desire. Don’t do this.

Instead, state the title of the role you’re trying to fill. Then, immediately describe the job in clear terms and what you’re looking for.

At the end, you can include a few sentences that describe your company. Include your mission/vision for your business/team, because you definitely want to attract people who will align with it.

Describe the Exact Qualities You’re Looking For

Now is not the time to be general. Get into the nitty-gritty.

1. What activities will the person in the role perform? Be specific.
2. What skills do they need to successfully carry out the role?
3. What will you expect of the person in the role? Flexibility, adherence to deadlines, immaculate grammar, a love for writing? Be specific.

Offer Breadcrumbs of a Future Working with You

Finally, it’s important to give applicants a taste of what they can expect if they work for you long-term. Where could they end up if they get the job? Where will they be in six months?

Mention opportunities for growth and advancement, if you know you’ll be able to provide those. If you’re an expert, you can also position your open role as a mentorship opportunity, since whoever you hire will be working closely with you.

Lean into describing growth opportunities for your potential hires – it’s how you attract people with the right mindset, as well as people who will accept lower pay in exchange for intangible pluses in a job that will help them advance in their career.

Building a Team from Scratch? You’ve Got This

Building a new team for your business is next to impossible…

Until you have the tools and techniques down that will make it easier.

Start with firm profit margins, have patience, and make sure your job ad is strategic.

You’ll find those diamonds in the rough, and your team will grow solid.

Of course, there’s also a lot more to erecting a self-sustaining business besides team-building (though that’s a giant piece!)

There’s also marketing to think about, as well as your business structure, strategy, and systems.

If you’re tired of the ups-and-downs of trying to be successful, and you’re ready to build a sustainable online business the long-term, strategic way…

Consider applying to my transformative coaching program, The Content Transformation System, where I’ll teach you how to set up your business, systems, and marketing, in 90 days or less—and reach the income and impact you crave. We spend an entire module & multiple weeks on the Growth stage, Phase 3, where you’ll learn simple systems for delegating, automating and hiring. It’ll change your life. Guaranteed. 

Watch my free 30-minute class to get instant access today!

The post I Built Teams of 100 from Scratch: How to Build Your Own Remote Company Team appeared first on Content Hacker.

How do see yourself in five years?

Are you happy and healthy? Are you financially stable? Are you living your life the way you want?

Here’s the cold truth.

Most people never achieve their goals. (According to the University of Scranton, an entire 92% of people who set New Year’s goals never actually achieve them.)

Why doesn’t it happen?

Because most people don’t know how to set long-term goals.

And it’s NOT because you might struggle with building self-worth, aren’t smart, or aren’t willing.

Often, would-be goal crushers are actually so capable that they get stuck painting a pretty picture of an ideal “future” life.

It can be addicting to get caught in a cycle of constantly living in the future and striving for perfectionism before action. All that “thinking” and “planning” about what we want can easily distract us from what we need to do to get it.

Let’s talk about how you can truly conquer your goals this year and live life on your own terms.

What Are Long-Term Goals?

A long-term goal is an accomplishment you wish to reach or complete in the future. They normally require significant planning, effort, and time to meet and/or stick to.

There’s a major difference in the effort needed for short-term goals vs. long-term goals:

• How long is a long-term goal? Usually takes 12+ months.
• How long is a short-term goal? Usually takes under 12 months.

So why set goals if they’re so hard?

Because life is hard, and you get to choose your hard.

YOU get to choose if you’re going to put your energy and effort into living a life you don’t enjoy, seeking instant gratification from low-level activities that steal your time.

Or, you can choose to shift your mindset and focus to productive daily habits that compound into a bigger achievement that you’d like to conquer in your life.

You get to pick.

And making that choice is what separates the leaders from the pack.

So how do you determine your long-term goal? Let’s look at some examples to get you inspired.

If you’re struggling to build a business that really works, drop everything and grab your seat in our two-hour free class. This powerful training will give you the eye-opening methods behind what it really takes to run a digital business.

Long-Term Goals Examples

What is an example of a long-term goal?

You’re likely already aware of the importance of long-term goals in both your business and your personal life. But for many business owners, your brand is your personal life. So, it can be confusing to define the differences.

Here are some long-term goals examples for business:

1. I’ll hire 3 new members of my team to start delegating more.
2. I will receive a promotion and a 10% raise within three years.
3. I’ll get our business listed in the “best of” section of a local magazine.
4. I’ll learn digital skills and how to master blogging for small business.

And here are long-term goals examples for your personal life:

1. I’ll improve my communication skills so I can be more open with my loved ones.
2. I will run a 5k through Disney World.
3. I’ll have enough money for a down payment on a home within 5 years.

Did you connect with any of the long-term goal examples on this list? Take that with you and let’s now look at tips for how you’re going to set and hit your goals.

7 Tips for How to Set Long-Term Goals

Are you living with the pain of knowing what you want out of life and what you need to do to get it, but lacking the structure and systems to put it all into action?

That’s where goals come in.

Setting long-term goals for yourself is the key to unleashing your motivation.

But do you know how to set a goal and stick to it?

It’s OK if the answer is no. It doesn’t come naturally to most people, but I have good news:

It’s a skill that can be taught.

Because when it comes to setting goals, there is a process that high achievers stick to. And here’s what it involves:

1. Meditate Daily

Ask yourself, “How can I improve my long-term vision?”

It all starts with adjusting your mindset.

The simplest way to make this happen? Start a daily meditation routine.

Meditation is so effective for honing productivity and focus that 52% of employers now offer mindfulness training.

And because I’m blessed to know many highly successful content marketers, I know that one of the most common keys to our success is prioritizing mindfulness.

Is it easy to commit to this practical tip every day? Nope! But that’s why not everyone does it.

But putting work into practicing mindfulness is worth it. Getting yourself into the proper mindset is beyond powerful – it’s transformational.

When my coaching clients are learning how to have lasting impact, the very first thing we dig into is what’s going on with their attitude and beliefs. You simply can’t hit long-term goals and serious business growth if your mindset isn’t there.

2. Get Your Goals on Paper

Once you’ve decided that you’re going to adjust your mindset, the next step is to write your goals down.

Make a list of what you want to achieve. Be specific. And make sure to write them down because only 3% of people have goals written down (yet they are 3x as successful as those who don’t).

So, if you haven’t yet, get to work writing down your goals. If you need to, you can use the list of long-term goal examples above for inspiration.

3. Establish Habits

Repeatable habits are key to reaching your long-term goals.

My list of the best content marketing books includes Atomic Habits by James Clear. It offers practical and easy-to-follow advice including the need to create a daily habit that will ultimately lead you to meet your long-term goal. For example, instead of setting a goal to run a marathon, set a goal to create a habit of running every day.

It feels simple, doesn’t it?

Sadly, learning how to prioritize goals doesn’t come naturally for most.

Especially creatives.

Achieving your long-term goals can be hard, so it’s essential to have a process in place. And establishing (and making room to stick to) goal-oriented habits should absolutely be a part of the system you create for yourself.

For a real kick-in-the-pants on what you need to reach your goals and build a sustainable business, get in my free class!

4. Pick a Date

The brain loves a good deadline. So, it’s helpful to set both long-term and short-term timelines within your goals.

For example, if your goal is to build a successful and sustainable business that frees you from the 9-5 grind, give yourself a 3-5 year timeline.

You’ll also want to give yourself a shorter timeline. For example, I teach budding and struggling entrepreneurs how to plan and set up everything they need in their first 60-90 days.

Putting in that hard work up front helps build the necessary skills and practical system that will allow you to free up your time to prioritize your goals.

5. Learn the Skills Your Goal Requires

Sometimes a lack of knowledge is the only thing standing between you and your goal. If you want to learn how to set long-term goals, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and learn new skills.

Before a marathoner learned how to run for hours without stopping, they learned the basics of jogging. And just like an athlete, before a successful website owner learned how to blog for money, they hit the pavement and learned how to create a content marketing strategy.

To achieve a goal, you’ll need to possess the necessary abilities.

Say your goal is to increase overall brand awareness for your business. You’ll need:

1. Research what skills are needed to increase brand awareness
2. Teach yourself those skills (or enough of the basics to learn who to delegate to)

Whatever your goal, taking the time to research and learn the needed skills is incredibly important.

6. Create (+Document) a Repeatable System

To prioritize goals, you need a method. So, clear your schedule and plan out exactly how you’re going to meet your long-term goals.

This is often the most overlooked tip for how to set long-term goals, and that’s a crime.

Because on the journey to hitting your goals, everything you’ve learned and are willing to do will be lost if you don’t have a repeatable system in place. That’s key.

7. Re-evaluate + Refine Consistently

Finally, make reviewing your goals part of your process. Pick a date in your calendar where you’ll revisit your core values and how they relate to your goals for yourself. Then, refine from there.

During your evaluation, remember to concentrate on what’s impactful and say no to distractions. This is how you’ll drill down what truly matters, and explore new investment and brand opportunities, like writing a book to establish authority.

So, How Do You Achieve Long-Term Success?

Tell me… How do YOU go about setting long- AND short-term goals?

Has that been working for you?

Deep down, you’re probably craving long-term impact.

If you’re a creative entrepreneur who’s ready for more out of life, I can be your mentor. Through my live coaching, I’ll show you how to get out of your own way and build a process for your business in 90 days. And then, I’ll teach you how to create and reach your long-term goals with a 5-year plan for REAL impact.

You get access to a proven blueprint for both short-term and long-term success from a creator and coach who has been there, done that. (When I was 19 years old, I went all-in on my goals and business idea and made a 13,000% ROI ten years later. I want the same for you, too! And I know it’s more than possible — we’re in the greatest digital era of our time.)

I know first-hand that if you’re trying to build a business, you need to do more than just set long-term goals.

You need a system in place that includes a sustainable business model. One that doesn’t drain your time and energy. A system that frees you to focus on daily habits that act as building blocks to your most audacious goals.

If you’re there mentally but just not quite sure why you can’t break through to the next level and live the life you’ve been imagining in your mind for years, then you need my coaching program. Apply for a spot in The Content Transformation© System today.

The post How to Set Long-Term Goals (& Actually Reach Them) appeared first on Content Hacker.