Writers have historically been solely creative people. Beyond the few marketing writers and ad copy producers, most writers were novelists, poets, and journalists. Now, with technology becoming such a central part of our lives, writers are being hired for technical work. Whether it’s copywriting, coding, blogging, or press releases, there are all kinds of writing techniques that are used in technology. Below are five types of online writing skills utilized for technical aspects of our economy.
Copywriting
Copywriting refers to the production of copy for a variety of purposes. It is most often used in drafting website content. Every website requires engaging and informative writing about the company, product, art, or brand. However, copywriting is a broad field that encompasses a lot of different things. While a copywriter may simply write web pages and other words for promotional content, they can also use search engine optimization (SEO). SEO uses keywords, hyperlinks, and metadata to land a web page high up on Google or Bing, but copywriters aren’t the only ones using the method.
Blogging
Blogging is also another form of online writing that utilizes SEO. In fact, maintaining a blog can be the difference between landing high on search engines and falling to the back of the search. Blogs don’t just provide the consistent publishing of SEO content; they can also provide the avenue for informing and engaging with customers. You can write about the uses of your product, topics that pertain to your brand, information on new services or sales, and much more. The sky’s the limit with blogging. Not only can it be informative, but it can also land you on search engines and provide a method to link to your products and other web pages. If you have been making fun of blogging in the past, it might be time to change the way you are thinking about it.
Technical Writing
Technical writing might seem vague, but it is a field all its own. You need someone to write the words for employee handbooks, software manuals, medical copy, scientific journals, and other forms of technical spaces that need to be written about. Technical writing software provides a way to get the most out of your content. Drag and drop content into different places and convert them into different files. Interact with a database of talented technical writers. Find new solutions to problems. Whatever field you are in, if you are working with technology, you will probably need a technical writer at some point.
Email Newsletters
Another form of writing online that is quite effective comes in the form of emails. Companies of all kinds are utilizing email newsletters to speak directly to their customers. You don’t get to just talk to the people who want to hear what you are saying, it’s a great way to promote new products, announce new services, and provide information on sales. Email marketing, as it has become known, is one of the best ways to create an audience. Whether you are in the world of science or social media, email newsletters provide a fantastic opportunity to get the word out.
Press Releases
Press releases are nothing new, but they are being used in fresh and exciting ways. Now, you can send a press release directly to an email address. Whatever field the organization is in, a press release can announce changes to the structure, a pivot in business model, a new name, services, a product, or just that you plan on going in a different direction. Press releases must be written and the person who is writing them should understand who they are writing for. Press releases have become another type of online writing.
It doesn’t matter what your perspective is, online writing is dynamic and continues to change. It is important to understand the various forms of online and technical writing that exist. These are just a few. As technology becomes more and more prevalent, it is viable as a form of living. Where writers would either struggle to survive on their art or become huge stars, now writers can support themselves doing a form of technical online writing that never existed before. It will continue to evolve, but right now it is in a special place.