Month: October 2023

As a writer, you probably realize that plagiarism is a big no-no. Not only does plagiarism steal someone else’s work, but if you’re caught, it can also significantly harm your reputation. Many writers would never intentionally plagiarize, but accidental plagiarism does exist, and some writers may not be aware of how to avoid it. Understanding unintentional plagiarism can help you avoid accidentally using someone else’s work without giving credit to the writer.

How does unintentional plagiarism happen?

Accidental plagiarism happens when you use someone else’s content without giving them credit, but it usually happens when you either forget to cite a source or you don’t cite sources properly. Some writers may copy and paste direct content from other authors using this information as a placeholder but then forget to change the information and include the source where it came from. Some inexperienced writers may think that simply moving a few words around makes an idea their own. But this can still be considered plagiarism in some cases. 

Avoiding accidental plagiarism

Citation rules differ based on what you’re writing. Direct quotes are useful, but as a general rule, they should make up around 10% or less of the whole article. When you use a direct quote, you should always use quotation marks and link or list the source where the quote came from. When paraphrasing, use footnotes to show where you got the information. When it comes to generally known information, citations and sources are usually not required. If you’re worried about unintentional plagiarism, you can use an online plagiarism detection program to check your work. 

Plagiarism is a serious problem and with instant access to information through online media, it’s easy to steal someone else’s content. Most writers don’t want to be accused of plagiarizing someone else’s work. But it can happen accidentally. Be sure to know when it’s appropriate to cite sources and follow the standard rules based on the type of writing you do. Avoid unintentional plagiarism as it could have a significant impact on your reputation and your career as a writer. 

When writing papers in high school and college, you may have found it necessary to be extra wordy just to reach the word count minimum. But when you work as a writer, being too wordy can be a problem. The age of constant social media usage has left many readers with short attention spans. To those who write online content, especially those who work in copywriting, adding too many words can cause readers to click away. Everyone has a different writing style, but for those who tend to be on the wordy side, learning to write more concisely can help enhance your writing skills.

Why too many words can be an issue

When a reader is looking for information online, they have so many choices, which can make it difficult to decide which content is worth reading. If your content has too many words, especially large words and flowery phrases, a reader may look elsewhere. Most readers are looking for quick answers to their questions and they want that sudden satisfaction of reading content that gets to the point quickly. For copywriters, this means being concise, but clear with the point you’re trying to make. 

Removing the unnecessary words and phrases

During the initial editing process, you may easily see what needs to be removed or changed. Look for uncommonly used words that an average reader would not be familiar with. People often become frustrated if they must look up definitions of words to understand the point of an article or blog. Avoid phrases that are used in the industry and try to stick with common and concise sentences with basic sentence structure. Sometimes, it’s as easy as removing extra adjectives and making your sentences shorter to create content that appeals to a wider audience of readers. 

Wordy writing works well for scholarly pursuits, but it’s not ideal in everyday copywriting. Your reader should understand your point without doing extra research about the meaning of the words and phrases you use. Online writers, and especially those who work in copywriting, can benefit from knowing how best to reach their audience with a clear and concise message.

Working in an unconventional manner, like those who do freelance work, has many perks. But for those perks to be valuable to you, you must be aware of them and take advantage of them when they’re available. Taxes, for example, work differently when you don’t have an employer. When you work as a freelancer, or gig worker, you may not be aware of the tax advantages of being self-employed. Tax laws are complicated, and they vary from state to state, but when it comes to federal income taxes, you can write off some of your business expenses, which can be extremely helpful to your financial situation. 

Understanding tax write-offs

Gig workers are considered independent contractors, which means you have the option to write off many everyday expenses used while working. The key to doing it right is to keep records of these expenses. Expenses like cell phone bills, technology needed to complete your work, and paid-for apps that you regularly use during your workday can usually be written off. If you travel while working, you may be able to write off costs for car insurance and gas used. Take the time to consider what you utilize each day while working and keep records of the time used so you can accurately write off those expenses. 

Ask for help to prevent errors

Not everything can be considered a work-related tax write-off. If you’re unsure of what is considered a legitimate work expense, you may want to work with a tax professional. Otherwise, you could face an audit if the IRS thinks you’re trying to write off illegitimate expenses. Audits are time-consuming and stressful so it’s always a good idea to seek advice if you have a question about your taxes. 

When you’re self-employed and working freelance, you should always take advantage of the perks that are available to you. One of those perks is writing off your work expenses. Keep records of what you use when you’re working so you don’t have any issues if questions arise from the IRS. If you’re unsure of how best to take advantage of independent contractor tax write-offs, ask for help so you can make the right decisions that will best benefit your financial situation. 

No one is immune to making mistakes, whether it’s in a professional capacity or in your personal life. But work errors can cause issues, especially if you don’t learn from the mistakes you make. Copywriters must remember writing rules, work within client specific guidelines, and create content that reaches the target audience.  With so much to remember, copywriters do make some common mistakes. If you’re aware of these mistakes, you’re less likely to make them. 

Writing without purpose 

A good copywriter creates content where every word is meaningful. Adding fluff just to reach the required word count can cause clients to look elsewhere for their next task. Know your client’s goals and write in a way that helps them reach those goals. Understand your audience and write using words and phrases they can relate to.

Making it too complicated

Industry jargon and lofty language may not be understood by the average reader. This comes back to knowing your target audience and writing content they understand. Complicated words and phrases can turn off a reader, leading them elsewhere. When reading and editing your content, consider removing anything that sounds pretentious or too wordy. 

Not finding your niche

Copywriters often find the most success when they use their talents to write for a specific niche. When starting out, you may not yet know where your talents lie. But over time, you’ll likely discover which copywriting jobs you’re best at. This doesn’t mean you can learn to write other styles, but finding your niche may be the key to success.

Forgetting to sell the client’s product or service

Start with information to get the attention of the audience. It’s also important to provide details about the client’s product or service. But you can’t forget to actually sell the product. Whether your client wants a soft sell or hard sell, be sure to conclude your content with a line that will encourage the readers to act.

Copywriting is a popular marketing tool used by most industries. As a copywriter, you must learn to adapt, and this includes always improving your skills. Mistakes will happen, but if you’re aware of some of the most common copywriting mistakes, you can better yourself and find success in your field. 

As people spend more and more time online, careers and opportunities continue to become available for those who wish to work in the digital world. Digital marketing, for example, is gaining popularity with those who enjoy working with technology. While digital marketing uses many of the same principles as traditional marketing, those who work in the field can focus more on finding that online audience and reaching the target market in what would be non-traditional ways when compared to how marketing was done before the digital age. If you want to work in digital marketing, understanding more about the field can help you find success.

Digital marketing 101

Digital marketing, also called online marketing, means you’re using the internet and other types of technology to advertise. Many companies use both digital marketing and traditional marketing to reach their target audience. As a digital marketer, you may work on your client’s social media accounts, create online ads for websites, and craft ad campaigns for emails. Most companies are spending more money, and putting more effort into creating and maintaining their online image so potential customers can find them easily.

Finding success in digital marketing

Digital marketing involves using SEO, email marketing, pay-per-click advertising, and other methods to reach an audience. Understanding the ins and outs of social media is important if you want to work in digital marketing. If you can master these skills, you can likely find a career working in digital marketing.

SEO, or search engine optimization, involves using strategies that improve the ranking of your content when potential customers are using a search engine. Pay-per-click advertising means creating ads where payment is received with each click. These ads may be found on websites, in emails, or on social media. Email marketing involves sending regular emails to a list of potential customers to keep them informed of special deals or personalized offers. 

As more people continue to use social media daily and spend more time online in general, companies are increasing their efforts to maintain an online presence. With a career in digital marketing, you may have the chance to work in social media and create online ads and campaigns that help your clients sell their products or services. Online marketing is a good choice for those who enjoy working with technology and it’s a career that’s likely to continue to grow.