Introduction to Content Writing Online Free Tools
Content writing is the process of writing various types of content material like articles, blog posts, product descriptions, reviews, newsletters and more. It involves research, analysis, organization of ideas and using an engaging writing style to communicate information to the target audience. With the rise of content marketing, more businesses and brands are focusing on regularly creating and publishing fresh, useful content to attract and engage online visitors. Developing high-quality content requires time, effort and resources which many smaller businesses or individuals may not have. This is where online content writing tools can help simplify the content creation process.
This article provides an overview of some of the best free online tools available for content writers. These tools aim to streamline various aspects of content writing like research, organization, formatting, style checking, publishing and more. While not a replacement for dedicated content management systems, these free tools can be quite useful for occasional or non-technical content creators looking to easily generate fresh content for blogs, websites or social media profiles.
Free Content Research Tools
Google Docs – One of the most popular free content writing tools is Google Docs. It offers a basic word processor online with features like collaborative editing in real-time. Google Docs integrates seamlessly with the broader Google ecosystem including services like Google Sheets, Slides, and Google Search which makes content research easier within the same platform. Content writers can easily search online, import relevant results and snippets into their Doc and organize ideas.
Quora – For conducting detailed topic and audience research, Quora is a rich source of niche information. Content writers can browse through related questions and answers on Quora to understand audience pain points, commonly asked queries, and opinions on a topic before starting to write. They may also directly ask the community additional questions to gather insights.
Keyword Tool – This free online keyword research tool helps writers identify popular keyword phrases relevant to their topic or industry vertical. By analyzing search volume data, it suggests optimized keyword opportunities with good search traffic that the content can target. This informs content focus and structure for maximum discoverability.
Free Content Organization Tools
Mindmeister – An online mind mapping tool, Mindmeister allows content creators to visually map out ideas, organize content structure and outline different sections before starting to write. Ideas, key points, sub-topics and supporting details can be arranged on a canvas in a way that flows logically. This visualization helps establish a natural flow.
Trello – For project management of content creation, Trello acts as a digital scratchpad. Individual ideas, to-do tasks, draft sections etc. can be created as virtual “cards” on customizable boards. Cards can then be easily rearranged, assigned, commented on for collaborative editing. Checklists within cards keep content progress organized.
Free Tools for Content Creation and Editing
Google Docs – In addition to research, basic content can be created within Google Docs itself using its word processing features. Headers, bullet points, images etc. formatting tools help structure written pieces. Real-time collaboration is possible for peer review.
Hemingway – A free online writing style and grammar checking tool, Hemingway analyzes writing style, complexity, passive voice, clutter and other metrics. It identifies where sentences can be simplified for better readability. This assists in editing content for maximum clarity and impact before publishing.
SeoHackerTool – For formatting content stylistically for search engine optimization, SeoHackerTool checks page attributes like keywords density and placement, links, image alt texts etc. against best practices. This helps optimize content structure for organic discovery and rankings.
Free Content Publishing and Distribution Tools
Medium – Medium is a free blogging website where content can be published in beautiful, customizable templates. It offers tools to format content with headers, lists, images etc. Published pieces generate readership analytics helping direct future content efforts.
PublishThis – For building simple landing pages or microsites to distribute self-published eBooks, reports or other long-form digital content, PublishThis is a free web publishing tool. It allows uploading and custom display of content without technical skills on a quickly launched page.
Buffer – As a social media scheduling and publishing tool, Buffer helps content creators easily share written pieces across multiple networks including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. It allows batch uploading, tagging and scheduling of posts for consistent community engagement.
Free Content Promotion and Sharing Tools
Feedly – Using Feedly’s “My Collection” feature, content creators can curate all their published pieces on various websites and blogs into a central single feed. This makes it easy to promote all created content through social sharing buttons or by sharing the customized feed link.
Storify – For telling visually engaging stories or recaps using social media content, Storify is a free tool. Published pieces on the platform can be embedded on websites and shared through networks. It amplifies reach of self-authored pieces.
Canva – The free graphic design tool Canva lets creators quickly design visually appealing social graphics, banners or post headers to engage audiences. These promotional assets raise awareness of published articles through social channels.
Conclusion
While free content creation and management tools have limited features compared to paid solutions, they remain valuable resources especially for occasional or non-professional content creators. The above discussed tools cover diverse aspects like research, organization, writing, editing, formatting, publishing, distribution and promotion within overall content workflows. By leveraging these free online solutions strategically, consistent quality content can be produced and amplified on a budget. This helps inform, engage and grow target communities for brands, businesses and independent authors.
Andrew Stroud