Every once in a while someone ask me what tools I use to write on my website. I’m using WordPress like just about everyone else. WordPress powers 34% of all websites worldwide in 2019 and accounts for 60% of Content Management Systems in use.
One other thing I use is HubSpot to handle my workflow and keep track of prospects. I use the free version since my needs are fairly simple but there’s an incredible wealth of product offerings within this software that can manage workflow, deal pipelines, and marketing automation. If you want to successfully implement HubSpot yourself, then you might want to work with an experienced HubSpot partner agency like Whitehat, who will be able to answer questions such as how long to complete a HubSpot onboarding? You can fast track this and easily start building your marketing hub.
Beyond that, I use a host of tools to check my grammar, spelling, and create content. I thought I’d take a moment and share my go-to sources for writing online content. I’m sharing with these two disclaimers:
- I don’t always check everything. Hence, the typos you see occasionally.
- I admit it. I’m cheap. I like using free tools whenever I can find them. Nearly everything on this page is free with few exceptions. What’s not free is very inexpensive.
GRAMMAR CHECK
There are several online resources available that can check your grammar and punctuation, but my favorite is Grammarly. I use the free version (because I’m cheap that way) which catches nearly all of my typos, long-winded sentences, and poor phrasing. It also keeps me from making those awful verb-tense mistakes. Grammarly offers a paid version that will catch even more errors.
IMPROVE YOUR WRITING
Hemingway Editor claims it makes your writing bold and clear. The app will highlight lengthy, complex sentences and errors. It uses a color-coding scheme that easy to follow: Yellow means shorten or split sentences. Red means it’s a convoluted sentence. Purple designates there is a simpler way to say something. Blue highlights adverbs so you can limit their use. Green flags passive voice.
Cut and paste and edit it in the app. It’s free to use.
TITLE CAPITALIZATION
Capitalize My Title is a great free tool to make sure you are capitalizing everything in the title. Just write your title (or cut and paste it) in the tool and click the button. It will capitalize everything that needs it.
JARGON AND CLICHES
Jargon Grader is another tool that identifies bloated writing and jargon that may obscure meaning. Cliché Finder compares your writing to the Associated Press Guide and flags phrases that are, well, clichés. Both are free tools that you can use by cutting and pasting your copy.
STUCK FINDING THE RIGHT WORD
If you use the same word over and over, it can get repetitive. Synonym Finder is a free tool that offers up just what it says: synonyms.
ADDING IMAGES AND GRAPHICS
My go-to sites for royalty-free and copyright-free images and graphics are Pixabay and Unsplash. Both sites have beautiful images with a large diversity of choices. You can search by keyword or topic and it will show you options. Download the image and you can use it however you like without attribution. Did I mention these are both free?
If you need to create infographics or more elaborate graphics, Canva and Piktochart are my favorites. Both offer monthly packages but doing one-off graphics or charts can be done for free. Choices in the free editor are limited but you can still create some great stuff. I opted for the smallest monthly package, billed yearly to get a bigger discount.
DUPLICATE CONTENT
Search engines punish you if you publish content that’s found somewhere else. You should never plagiarize. It’s amazing how often you write something, and it’s already been written in a very similar way. Copyscape will scour the internet and let you know if anything you write has a match.
It’s also good if you want to check whether someone’s stolen your writing and claimed it as your own. Cut and paste your content and search. If it finds a clone, it will show you where it lives.
It’s a paid service, but it’s very inexpensive. You can buy units for as little as $10 a piece and each check will run you a few cents.
Here’s to Better Writing
There you have it. My top ten go-to sites I use to help my online writing. Now make it happen!
If you want to check out my personal website, it’s PaulDughi.com. I track the developments and insights for the #Digital #Media #Marketing #Business.
You can also view two of my other online websites:
- Digital Vault which focuses on digital media and marketing
- Sports Raid which focusex on sports data journalism