Freelance Writer Tip #4 — Web Content
Most of the work available for the freelance writer is web content, and it is normally expected of the writer, to know enough HTML for SEO purposes. Luckily this isn’t a major obstacle.
The HTML tags used for SEO purposes, are the basic ones. H1, H2, H3, bold, italic, paragraph, and hyper-link. You don’t need to know more than this simple set.
<h1> – </h1> : Header 1 or Top Header, probably the main title
<h2> – </h2> : Header 2 or Sub Title/Sub Chapter heading
<h3> – </h3> : Header 3 or a minor heading inside a chapter/article
<strong> – </strong> : This is the Bold tag. It use to be really simple, (<b> – </b>), but it was changed a while back. The <b> tag still works, but it is better to use the <strong> tag.
<em>-</em> or <i>-</i> : Italics tag. Either of these is ok, but do yourself and your client a favor and pick one, then stick with it. If you are using OpenOffice Writer (and why wouldn’t you), then the default it <i>, but you can change it if you wish.
<p> – </p> : paragraph tag, it is what seperates the paragraphs in the document.
<a href=”http://www.glennhefley.com”>link</a> : link tag or A tag. This creates the hyperlinks.
As it happens, your client will probably know less about HTML formating than you do, but if you are given specifications on how to use formating, then you should try to follow them.
Some tags have choices, and there are different ways of doing the same thing. If you are getting instructions from the client on what <DIV> tags to use and what CSS settings to put into your content, then you probably want to re-negotiate the deal, as this type of work is far more than “writing web content” would normally mean, or entail. You are also looking at a case of Project Creeping, which we will talk about in another tip.
There are some other tags you will want to be familer with, which could be useful.
<cite> -</cite> : for putting around citations
<blockquote> – </blockquote> : for quotations
There is a very good page for learning the basics of HTML on the Wikipedia, for more information.
You can usually figure out the clients who know little or nothing about SEO and formating, because they will almost always say in the description area of the bid, something like — “This should be very easy for someone who knows what they are doing.” … which of course means that he doesn’t know what he is doing, but doesn’t want to pay anyone the skill wage, who does know what they are doing.
It is good to know the basics of the HTML you will be working with, but again, this isn’t a major obstiacle for any writer, because there are editors out there which make this area of work much easier, and which you will want to use, even after you have overcome the learning curve of web formating. We will get into one of these editors in another Freelance Writer Tip soon.
Other Bloggers on this subject :
Freelance Writing Jobs: Understanding Web Writing
| by angela.booth Jennifer Mattern, a freelance business and Web content writer, who publishes the excellent All Freel… Copywriting for Beginners: Three Essential Tips. Would you like to begin a copywriting career? Copywriters are very well-paid; … Angela Booth’s Fab Freelance Writing Blog – http://www.fabfreelancewriting.com/blog/ |
Are you sure you want to become a Freelance Writer? | Freelance …
| by chrisblogging Many years of freelance writing and consulting experience; Web content, blog content, sales letters, feature articles and more; Competitive rates, Bulk discounts; Contact me today. « Tips for Managing your Freelance Writing Career … Freelance Writing – http://www.chrisblogging.com/ |