Content writing has many roles. It persuades, informs, ignites and entertains. However, not every piece of writing can fit the mold, especially online. SEO content writing and creative content writing are sought-after skills in the modern world, but they aren’t the same thing. Some people think that a good writer can easily succeed in either field, but that’s sort of like saying a football player should automatically be good at badminton. Football players are not automatically good at badminton; their shoulders are too broad to swing the tiny rackets.

Being creative can help with SEO article writing, but there are many elements that go into generating SEO content. On the other hand, creative content writing requires a lot of thought and passion. So, what’s the difference between the two? When you do use one and not the other? Each is unique, but we’re here to tell you how both styles can enhance your writing and benefit your company.

 

What is SEO Content Writing?

So what is the definition of SEO content writing? SEO content writing is the art of creating engaging, readable content that ranks highly on search engines. This involves using keywords, headers and bullet points to portray valuable advice that answers search queries.

Optimization is the focus of SEO content writing. Each article, product description or social media post is uniquely written to attract users. Concise wording, careful keyword placement and attractive formatting all must reach a certain standard to start receiving big results.

 

Why Use SEO in Content Writing?

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a key part of effective digital marketing. When users search the internet, they are looking for resources or services that fulfill their needs. Google does the work to find quality content that can answer their specific search queries.

Complex Google algorithms study website content and determine whether those articles would be a good fit or not. To help users the most, search engines look for high-quality SEO content writing. This kind of content writing is heavily based on keywords, meta content and quality writing. It provides detailed information that is easy to find and straight to the point, making it an ideal resource for curious readers.

SEO content writers have a goal in mind when they write. They don’t use fancy, flowery words or go on long tangents; they intentionally place words and format content to adhere to Google’s algorithm. Of course, quality writing plays a key, but these writers use SEO best practices to create content that shows up on search engines and can be found by potential customers.

 

How is SEO Content Writing Used?

Businesses will use SEO content writing strategically to generate leads and increase traffic on their websites. Because writing this kind of content is a valuable skill, many writers work with companies as SEO content writers. They can find work on their own as freelancers, or join content writing teams to learn a diverse set of marketing and writing skills. When you contract with an SEO content writing company, you immediately have access to this plethora of SEO wordsmiths.

Traditionally, SEO content writing centers around content put up on your own website as well as content you distribute on other websites. The SEO content writing for your own website would include (but is not limited to the following):

• Web pages
• Blog posts
• Product/Category Pages
• Landing Pages

Most businesses at least engage in content writing for SEO by continually adding to their blog. Writing long-form, evergreen, educational blog posts is one of the quickest ways to start ranking for keywords and driving traffic to your site. In a blog setting, you can target many different topics/keywords/queries and continually expand your reach.

For SEO content writing examples centered around distribution on other sites you’ll frequently find the following content types:

• Guest Blog Posts
• Ebooks
• White Papers
• Press Releases

One of the primary goals of this type of SEO content writing is to get your content posted on other industry sites to get a backlink to your website as well as increase the number of shares/readers that engage with your brand. Some types of SEO content writing, like E-books, are meant primarily as a way to bring in leads directly.

 

What Makes Good SEO Content Writing?

As a company or influencer, how do you use SEO content writing to stand out among competitors? Implement these key aspects to distinguish your work and get noticed by readers:

• Be Authoritative. SEO content should always contain something useful to readers, but first, they need to trust your business as an expert in the field. This is done by backing up your data, providing honest opinions without trying to sell something and writing with a confident tone and voice.
• Stay Relevant. You won’t pick up any long-lasting traffic without being relevant. Pick and choose wisely the topics you use and be sure to connect them with your industry or business. Try to keep your content evergreen, meaning that your topic will be relevant for years to come. To find the best content ideas, many businesses gather data on both their target audiences and trending topics.
• Answer Questions. SEO content writing is all about adapting to the needs of readers. Adjust your content to answer search queries, and stick to those questions the whole way through.
• Create Comprehensible Content. Keywords are a vital way to get on Google’s radar, but don’t let them overwhelm the content. Keyword stuffing is never a good idea. Write articles that are engaging, easy to follow and focus on your topic.

There’s a lot more to SEO content writing, but generally, this kind of content is intentional, concise and strategic. Now let’s move on to a different kind of writing.

 

What is Creative Content Writing?

Creative content writing covers a range of writing styles that focus on imagination and originality. The purpose of creative content is to express emotions, thoughts or ideas through description and literary devices. A few common forms of creative writing include poetry, fiction, songs and plays. This kind of content can be fiction or non-fiction, depending on the story the writer creates.

More and more creative writing is being published through blogging platforms and social media. Similarly, more readers are using ebooks versus standard printed books than ever before.

 

Why Engage in Creative Writing?

Although SEO content writing is developed for readers, creative content writing is created simply for the enjoyment of readers. There’s no selling involved, and the writing is more focused on persuasion and rhetoric. Like any good form of entertainment, it is designed and developed to immerse the audience. Creative writing can be made purely for entertainment, or it can enforce a message or ideal. Either way, writers can use their personality to form works of art that tug on the heartstrings of their readers.

Engaging content is something that many people search for. According to WordPress, over 409 million people look at WordPress content every month. As readership grows, so do the blogs. Users are now creating over 70 million new posts each month.

 

What Makes Good Creative Writing?

One of the best parts of creative writing is that there is a lot of freedom in writing than there is for SEO content writing. There are multiple ways to create quality content that touches readers. Some writers chose to use similes, metaphors and symbolism to portray certain ideas while others use imagery and literal writing.

Creative writing may be one of the easiest types of content to start creating. Although more experienced writers tend to write more compelling content, creative writing is mostly based on your own creativity and individuality. That being said, here are a few things that make creative writing exceptional:

• Good Ideas. Although the possibilities seem endless, good ideas can make the difference in creative writing. Be sure that whatever you create focuses on complete ideas and doesn’t leave the readers hanging in the wrong way.
• Story Fluency. No matter what you write about, the sentences and topic need to flow freely. Sentence fluency helps readers stay immersed while reading without getting confused or tripped up with poor writing.
• Compelling Writing. The best content is the type that catches the reader’s attention. Use your personality to enhance what you write, and make it jump out of the page.

There are thousands of directions you can take with your writing, and with enough originality and talent, your story can become popular among readers. If you’re planning on becoming the next J. K. Rowling, creative writing is the way to go.

How Is Creative Writing Used?

The most popular career path for creative content writers is to become a published author. This can take a lot of work, especially if you’ve never published a book before. However, the skills a creative writer gains can be useful in other careers such as journalism and content writing. Talented creative writers can find a place in the SEO content writing world. They can combine creative skills with strategic writing to create powerful content that rises above mediocre work.

 

The Differences Between SEO Content Writing and Creative Content Writing

At first glance, these two styles of writing seem very alike. Although they have similarities, there are some stark differences between the two. Perhaps one of the biggest differences is the reason why content is being written. A writer’s intention can completely change the type of writing.

We can explain this by comparing writing once again to sports. As a football player, your goal is to get a touchdown. This includes tackling, passing and throwing the ball towards the end zone. Ultimately, you want to get enough touchdowns to beat the other team and win the game.

On the other hand, if you’re playing badminton, you’re not going to try to score a touchdown. Your goal is to swing the racket and get the shuttlecock over the net (comment below if you knew what a shuttlecock was). Although both games are exciting and competitive, you have different ways of winning. To go further, football players will be using different strategies than badminton players. Both tactics work effectively in their respective games but aren’t really interchangeable.

 

Why the Differences Matter

The same goes for SEO content writing and creative content writing. SEO writing is mainly focused on marketing to potential leads. How do you reach customers? You use content that is concise, informative and persuasive. You use keywords and metadata to boost your google rankings, and you use every facet of digital advertising to score a marketing touchdown.

Creative content writing is created for different reasons. Creative writers capture the art of writing. They inspire, inform and explore literary devices that have been used for centuries. Creative writing doesn’t put a cap on the descriptions and imagery, and it doesn’t always have a purpose besides entertainment.

So when reading a piece of content, can you tell the difference? Here are three of the biggest differences you can identify when studying the two styles of writing.

1. Word Usage

Every good writer should have a collection of synonyms. When writers don’t know how to use synonyms, their writing can sound dull. But with SEO content writing, masterfully utilizing interchangeable words is vital. It’s not just that you need to be able to vary your sentences and sound professional, but you also have to limit the number of times you use certain words.

To illustrate this point, let’s compare a short story about a loan shark to a 300-word article with the keyword “loan.” The short story could have a sentence that reads, “When Lucy the Loan Shark called about a loan that was past due, she always made sure Loan Me a Dime was playing in the background.” Not the best phrasing, but passable. In the SEO article, that sentence is murder. You’ve exhausted your use of “loan” in just 26 words, and the keyword spacing is ghastly. If you don’t want the client asking for a rewrite, you’ll need to do some serious synonymizing.

2. Point of View

Part of the appeal of creative writing is sharing your own thoughts and opinions. If you have a strong opinion on a controversial topic and want the world to know, you may write a few rage-filled articles sharing your opinion. When writing a technical article that’s meant to drive traffic to a certain site, your aversion to this topic needs to be left out of your work. SEO content writers almost always have to avoid writing negative content, so it’s important that you’re able to set personal biases aside.

If you’re writing specifically for a client’s website or blog, then you’ll need to purposely take the point of view of the client you’re writing for. The ability to mimic a tone and voice and use verbiage and vocabulary the company would use is crucial in creating a congruent brand message throughout. There also is some research required in understanding products, target consumers and even competitors of the client you’re ghostwriting for. SEO content writing requires a lot of research for both topic and style.

3. Specific Styling

A lot of factors play into the style of an SEO article. Different companies want different things, so you have to know what’s acceptable when it comes to format and wording. You might love using italics to stress words, or maybe you feel that a numbered list is the best way to achieve the following:

1. Cleverness
2. Listing
3. Numerical Shenanigans

Unfortunately, these elements have to be avoided in some articles. You may need to use your creative skills to find another way to get your point across. Your client’s style guide always has the final say, so you might have to kill some of your darlings.

 

The Similarities Between SEO Content Writing and Creative Content Writing

Although there may be some stark differences between the styles, combining the skills of SEO content writing and creative content writing can amp your writing to the next level. Are they really so different from each other? Here are three strengths that these two writing styles share.

1. Good Quality Writing

Whether you publish creative writing or SEO content, your writing must be of high quality to receive recognition and admiration from readers. This means grammar and format need to be neat and tidy, with the exception of certain styles of poetry. When readers catch several of your grammar mistakes and struggle to interpret the format, they’ll bounce from your website in less than a minute.

Along with good grammar, readability is important to both styles. How well can a reader follow your writing structure and understand the information you present? Both SEO content writers and creative content writers need to keep in mind the audience they are targeting. If your content contains college-level words and a professional tone, the middle school students you’re catering to won’t be interested in what you say, even if it’s about how to create trending Tik-Tok videos.

Both types of writers should take their target market into consideration while writing. Word choice, certain themes and level of professionalism are all affected by the people receiving the content. Readability may be one of the biggest factors in how people react to your content, especially for SEO content writing.

2. Engaging to Readers

SEO and creative content are aimed at hooking readers. Google tries to evaluate data the same way a reader would, making the need for reader engagement even more important in content. Your search rank is partially dependent on how well visitors are receiving your post. Is it beneficial to them? Do they share it with friends, comment below or link back to it? These are all signs of engagement in the digital world, and engagement means traffic.

For creative content writers, a story needs to be loved by the audience. This requires a lot of hard work, and many writers take extra measures to spread awareness of their content, such as advertising, book signings or social media marketing. If creative writing is posted online, SEO comes into play. You need readers to find your content, and this can be done by optimizing your website and ranking for keywords.

Both styles have a fundamental need for engagement and involvement. The central reason why content is created is so that it can reach potential readers and benefit them. These practices aim to be interesting and appealing.

3. Advocates Writing

In a world where technology is uprooting traditional libraries and videos are being chosen over literature, SEO content writing and creative content writing show the power of words. Each serves its purpose in compelling readers and achieving goals. SEO content writing is a priceless asset to any marketing plan because of the traffic it generates and the power it adds to any website. Even social media uses the power of content marketing to reach users.

Creative content writing has always done its job well. Stories can make readers cry, laugh, think and discover. They can also bring across points and raise questions about current issues. The internet is chock-full of creative writing from people of all backgrounds and talents. And now, more and more creative devices are used in journalism, marketing and lifestyle writing.

 

The Future of SEO Content Writing and Creative Content Writing

We’ve established that SEO content writing and creative content writing are two completely different sports. One is used strategically, the other more creatively. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t use skills from both to create hybrid content that soars over the heads of competitors. The tactics for football and badminton are different, but what if you combined the agility that one gains from swinging a racket with the speed and power of a football player? You’re not necessarily going to play harder, but rather play smarter.

The same goes for content writing. Although each style of writing has its respective place in the world, it’s getting harder and harder to deny the benefits of both. As marketing continues to evolve, writing is becoming more fluid and interesting to read. Creative content writers are starting to optimize their work and use SEO best practices to promote work online. SEO content writers are creating better content by using creative techniques.

 

SEO Content Writing vs. Creative Writing: Use Them Both!

The world is changing, and so is the way we see content. Creative writing and SEO content writing are two very different beasts. Nevertheless, learning how to write both can absolutely make you a more competent writer. Marketing strategy and effective storytelling have never worked hand in hand better than they do today.

Looking for SEO content writers who incorporate creativity and quality into their writing? Check out our content shop and learn more about how we can help you.

There comes a time with every job where you take a step back and ask yourself if you really want to be doing this ten years from now. When I look at my job as a content writer with BKA, a year and a half after starting it, I realize that this job makes me happy enough to keep doing it forever.

 

Why I Love My Job

I love my job for four main reasons, the working conditions, the flexibility, the creativity, and the title.

 

1. Working Conditions

One of the main reasons why I love my job is because of the working conditions at BKA. This is probably because I have a lot of control over them and I am somewhat of a control freak. As long as I write a minimum number of articles and check my email a couple of times a day, then I am doing my job. I don’t have to deal with the same kinds of conditions that I did while working in retail/customer service jobs. This includes dress code, customer interactions, and a schedule set by someone else.

The fact that BKA does not have guidelines for dress and appearance has actually helped me potty train my son. I was trying to figure out how to change my bland and short hairstyle and my son suggested blue and spiky. So we made a deal that if he had no accidents for a week, I would dye my hair blue and spike it. He hasn’t had an accident since. If I still worked in customer service then chances are my job would not have let me dye my hair blue and I couldn’t have made the deal with him.

One of the things that I used to dislike the most about customer service jobs was the direct interaction with customers. This was usually because I was not able to fill every request within the parameters of my job. At BKA, the management works out the specifics with customers and then passes them on to the writers. I know what is expected of me and what the job parameters mean to the customers, making it easier to have a positive attitude about work and still be anti-social when I want to be.

Of course, sometimes my workspace is a royal mess between the two kids, husband, and two cats; but, that is also something that is within my control. If I want to spend half the day cleaning before I sit down for my work time then I am able to do so without worrying about punching in late.

 

2. Flexibility

As a mother of two, flexibility is a big plus for any job or activity. By writing SEO content from home, I can have a lot of flexibility in my schedule and still have the ability to contribute to the family budget, which is a very big deal with one kid still in diapers. I can schedule my two to four hours of work during nap and school times and still be available if someone needs mommy. This comes in handy because my spouse is working and taking college classes towards a degree of his own. As his school and work schedules change for him, I can change mine without approval of management.

The fact that the job is all online means that I can work when we are not home as well as when we are. This is one of the things I love about my job! Several times a year I travel a long distance to visit family. Since they have an internet connection, and go to bed before I do, I am able to take my work with me. This means that I have fewer days off and bigger paychecks. I have also found that when I do need to take time off, such as when my daughter was born, it is easy to shoot the boss an email explaining the situation. In many other jobs, you have to fill out paperwork for days off, hope that they are approved, and lose a full day’s worth of pay to attend an hour long activity.

 

3. Creativity

In a job where you are writing articles based on hard facts, existing websites, and specific word counts, you don’t expect to be able to flex your creativity that often. I have found, however, that being able to come up with engaging titles and topics for many different keywords, or multiples of the same keyword, can really work the creativity muscles.

I have also found that when I get stuck on my more creative writing pieces, working on SEO content can help me get unstuck. The reverse is also true; I have learned that writing a little poetry or prose can help me get back to a challenging article or batch much quicker than just staring at the computer until I figure it out. Creativity also factors into finding the right words to create unique and interesting content for my SEO writing. You never know what kinds of articles will be available to write and there have been a couple of times that the research for work is in line with research that I need to do for my creative writing endeavors.

The prime example of this was when I was writing a batch of articles for an archery site and learned some specifics about bows and other equipment that I could put into one of my novels and get unstuck during a battle scene.

 

4. Title

The last reason I love my job is because of the job title I now have. I graduated college with a Bachelors’ Degree in English: Creative Writing, and with family and friends laughing at my career prospects. By telling people that I am a Freelance Writer of SEO articles, I am able to prove that I can use my degree for something other than fast food. Having the title of “writer” also gives me more ambition to finish and publish the various other projects that I am working on, such as novels, poetry, and plays.

Recently I have picked up a novel project that had been on the back shelf for almost four years and doubled the page count in less than two weeks. If I can keep the momentum up for all of my writing projects, work and play, then I should be able to keep supporting the family and have a novel published by next year.

 

I Love My Job and You Can, Too!

In all, I love my job. I enjoy writing for BKA because it is a rewarding job that provides me with the flexibility to be a stay-at-home mom, watch and help my kids grow up, and still call myself a writer. There is a certain amount of satisfaction in being able to tell people that I am doing something that I love, namely writing, and making money doing it. If you’ve ever been interested in writing for a living, apply today!

Growing up, I was someone who took to writing like a crane takes to the air. I was also someone who took to math about as well as an elephant takes to gymnastics—my dismounts were always shaky. Because there are left-brained and right-brained people, there are left-brained and right-brained writers. Most SEO content writers might feel as if their expertise always should be more technical and less creative, but they have several lessons to learn from their creative word-wrangling brothers and sisters.

 

What Can SEO Content Writers Learn From Creative Content Writers?

The truth is that SEO content writers and creative content writers aren’t all that different when it comes to approaching the craft. There are certain things both groups of professional writers can focus on to help drive high-quality content. If you’re in the business of learning SEO content writing, then draw upon the following creative writing techniques to help improve your SEO content writing techniques.

 

Give Your Work a Distinct Voice

While there are most certainly rules and parameters when it comes to SEO writing, that doesn’t mean you can’t inject a bit of personality into your work. Much like creative writers give their characters, narrators and stories unique voices, speech patterns and the like, the same can be said of SEO content writers. As you’re writing branded blogs and web pages, focus as much on how you write as you do what you write. Glaze your words with a bit of panache when appropriate and humor when the situation calls for it.

One way to help guide your voice as a professional SEO content writer is to create a style guide for consistent writing projects. Is the tone of the company you’re representing formal or is it conversational? Is the person you’re writing to older or younger? Can you create a list of items to go over in your SEO content writing, or should it follow more of a heading/paragraph format? Once you have some of the basics down, you can work to spice up your sentences and catch a reader’s attention.

There’s no reason your SEO content writing work can’t be as charming as it is compelling.

 

Write to One Person

No matter how wide an SEO audience content writers have, they will do well to focus on writing to a single individual. Even though creative writers might have several readers, they recognize the fact that each reader has a single desire: to read a great story. Creative content writers don’t write to please everyone, which is impossible; they write to complete a story or satisfy a need, and hope the reader can feel that passion in their words.

In regards to SEO content writing, it’s best to develop a concrete idea of your audience and compact that idea into a single image of a single customer. In the business world, this is often referred to as a buyer persona. No matter the material or content, always have that person in mind as you write. What are their needs? What pain points do they experience? How does the product, service or information you’re writing about help to fill a need that your reader has?

When trying to learn SEO content writing, focus on learning who your target audience is first. That can help to drive your story and make sure you hit all the right beats along the way.

 

Read as Much as You Write

To become a good SEO content writer, one must first become a good reader. Reading provides you with inspiration, helps you see how other creative and SEO writers ply their craft and gives you a different perspective you might not have stumbled upon had you remained in your personal bubble.

Not only should SEO content writers read other SEO content, but they should also read creative works as well. Doing so can generate a slew of ideas to keep your writing fresh, current and satisfying. I know all too well how writing day in and day out can drain the mental reserves, and reading the work of another can be just the jumpstart my creative battery needs.

Not only that, a unique content writer knows how to take existing ideas that are out there and turn them on their head. In an industry where much of the SEO content may seem the same, figure out places where the information is lacking and use that as a starting point for your next great article. Or come at your topic from a completely different direction. Old content can be made new when looking at it from the right angle.

 

Kill Your Darlings

Editing a solid part of a story feels like giving a child away. One thing I’ve learned as both a creative and SEO writer is that if something doesn’t move the story (or content) forward, it needs to be thrown out, no matter how brilliant it might be.

When considering your career as a professional SEO content writer, it’s important to tie the purpose of the content to your overall word count. If you’re writing an in-depth blog post on a subject, then it’s easier to fit more ideas into a single article. If you’re hyper-focusing on a single SEO keyword phrase, it may limit how many related topics you want to cover. In order to increase rankings for keywords and improve the SEO of your site as a whole with your writing, you need to be specific in your content strategy.

When you do have to edit out a big piece of your SEO content writing, it doesn’t have to go to waste. Something else to think about is the fact that yanked-out content can act as the basis for entirely new content or a new story, rising from the pages like a zombie mangled together from discarded verbs and adjectives. In fact, the best SEO content writers try to maximize the reach of their writing by doing exactly this.

 

You Can Learn SEO Content Writing!

While learning SEO writing may seem difficult, it doesn’t have to be. Let’s have a meeting of the minds between creative content writers and SEO content writers. Share any lessons you think SEO writers can learn from creative writers, or vice versa, in the comments below.

People talk about writer’s block all the time. It’s one of those phrases that everyone uses, whether they’re experienced SEO writers or just a person trying to caption an Instagram photo. Have you ever stopped to think about what this block that so adversely affects writers actually is? Are we talking about a tiny air bubble that gets in your brain right after a client demands an immediate rewrite, or is this a “dog ate my homework” kind of thing? It’s hard to pinpoint the reality behind this syndrome because people use the phrase to mean a lot of different things. I’m entirely unqualified to do this, but let’s psychoanalyze a bit, shall we?

Sort of Blocked

There’s no law against blaming writer’s block after 10 minutes of struggling to come up with a good opening sentence for a blog post. However, that pales in comparison to the poor writers who balance on the edge of sanity because they can’t figure out how to start chapter 20 of the novel they’ve been working on for a decade. If you’re trying to write an email and having a hard time thinking of a punchy subject line that will grab people’s attention, it’s probably just time to stop procrastinating and hit send. I declare this type of blockage to be imaginary.

Really, Really Struggling

At a certain point, this condition becomes more than just a mental misfire. Some people start to feel anxious when struggling to write, and that anxiety then feeds into itself. In many ways, the inability to push forward in your writing is the same as a panic attack; once you start to focus on your difficulties, all you can think about is the fact that you can’t write, and the problem just gets worse. My verdict is that this stage of the struggle is more real than imaginary, and it certainly feels that way to the person who’s experiencing it.

Fully Blocked

Even prolific writers like Ernest Hemingway and Barbara Kingsolver have talked about how excruciating the battle with writer’s block can be. The same is true of a lot of songwriters, who experience a very similar type of creative congestion. While it could be the result of a tired brain that’s struggling to find the perfect word, it can’t be ignored that the pressure to produce good content, whether it’s an article for a magazine or a song for a new album, can lead to oppressive and obstructive fear. Nerves and anxiety can have a profound effect on a person, and that’s why I’m going on record as saying this level of blockitude is legitimate. The word blockitude, on the other hand, is not.

According to me and my non-existent medical training, writer’s block can be real or fake. In the case of all my half-written screenplays, I believe it is very, very real. At any rate, whether it’s clinical or imaginary, it’s definitely an issue that every writer will encounter at some point. If you’re a writer/doctor and you’d like to weigh in on this study, please share your thoughts in the comments below!

I have been writing for BKA Content (a website content writing service) for over four years. During that time I have written more articles than I can remember; and naturally, I have experienced writer’s block a time or two. This was especially true during a few months back when the queue was filled with countless articles on every type of energy efficient light bulb you could imagine: CFLs and LEDs and halogens . . . OH, MY!  Somewhere in the middle of the 75 (No exaggeration—I counted!) articles I wrote on light bulbs I felt as if my own lumens were officially burnt out. Yet, I powered through, lit up the keys and turned out some more. There have been other times when I have battled writer’s block as well. Here is my recipe for overcoming that unpalatable beast!

Add A Dash Of Caffeine

Caffeine is scientifically proven to boost your brain’s intellectual activity when you become fatigued or bored. I’m not talking about pounding a 5-Hour Energy Drink every time you sit down to write articles; this much caffeine typically overstimulates the brain. You want to make sure your articles are still creative and contain concise information, not rambling, run-on sentences. My drink of choice to help me overcome writer’s block is a can of Pepsi. It contains 39 mg of caffeine, just enough to get my synapses firing again. Coke, green tea or coffee all work wonders as well. Just remember that experts recommend that you limit your caffeine to less than 200 mg per day.

Let It Simmer

There are times when even a dash of caffeine doesn’t help me come up with creative, quality content.  In this case I typically choose a block of articles, research them a little bit and then walk away from the computer. I let the information simmer while I do something mundane like fold the laundry or pull weeds in the garden. I can usually come up with a different spin on the information if I’m not actively trying to do so. You have to be careful when doing this, however. There is a fine line between simmering and procrastinating. The latter is a recipe for disaster. Rather than concocting the perfect potion, you may just feel that wrath of a Project Manager boil over if you miss a deadline.

Serve It Al Fresco

Similar to letting information simmer, I find that fresh air helps me think better. Some time ago, I composed a 1,500 word article for TWINS Magazine entirely in my head while snowshoeing. Getting outside and enjoying the beautiful scenery was refreshing and helped clear out all of the other clutter in my head. When I got home, I immediately sat down at the computer and started typing everything out. My fingers were having a hard time keeping up with my mind; something that doesn’t happen very often! I’ve had similar experiences while jogging or hiking. The endorphins released when exercising tend to help me, but the same sort of thing could be accomplished simply by taking your laptop out on the deck on a nice spring day, going to a park or whatever you prefer.

Spice It Up

As a self-proclaimed HGTV junkie, I tend to gravitate towards articles on the spreadsheet that are home related in some way. Over time, however, I begin to feel as if I have exhausted everything I have to say on such subjects. I now realize that it is to take different topics that I really know nothing about from time to time. Not only do I get to digest new and interesting information, but writing on an unfamiliar topic also helps prevent writing fatigue. Even taking a block of articles that are longer or shorter than what I typically write helps to keep the creative juices flowing. It’s true what they say: variety is the spice of life!

Add Other Ingredients To Taste

Just as every oven cooks a little differently, every writer functions a little differently as well. Feel free to tweak this recipe as needed, adding other ingredients to taste and mix well. Place the finished product in the Submit Box and don’t forget to sprinkle the spreadsheet with your tantalizing new titles!

Like many women (and probably some men, too), I have a tendency to compare myself to others, especially those with whom I have something in common: mothers, church members, bloggers, content writers. And most of the time, my comparisons do not come out in my favor. I’ve heard it said that we tend to compare our own worst qualities with other people’s best attributes. It still doesn’t stop me. I’m not skinny enough, not organized enough, not as hard-working, not as smart.

I worked full-time while my husband got his degree, with the intent to complete my education when it was my turn. We started a family quickly, and as you can imagine, taking college classes got put off every year! Now I’m 40, have a few young kids still running around everywhere, and haven’t yet gone back to school. Thus my number one unfavorable comparison: I’m not as educated as my peers.

BKA Content gives their writers the chance to be in the spotlight with these blog posts, as well as having an active and supportive online community. While reading my fellow BKA writers’ profiles, I often see English and marketing degrees that I don’t have. I’ve caught myself too many times saying, “I’m not worthy of this job because of my lack of credentials.”

I had to stop and think about what this was doing to my self-worth. There had to be a reason I was hired, right? And the guys who run BKA have been nothing but supportive and uplifting. Was it fair to me, and to the people I work with, that I was putting myself down?

If you spend your time thinking you’re not good enough, eventually it starts to show up in your work.

As a newly single mother, I could not afford to let that happen.

I can remember being fascinated with words ever since learning to read in kindergarten. Since then, I haven’t stopped writing. From silly poems and stories in elementary school, to research papers in high school, writing anything and everything was one of my favorite activities. I didn’t stop outside of school, despite completing only one year of college. I started working on bigger stories, and eventually books. I attended writers’ conferences, took a few writing classes when I could, read books on the subject, and joined some amazing writers’ groups.

I learned that there are other ways to educate yourself and develop your talents besides getting a formal degree. Along the way, I completed two novels, built a blog following, and gained dozens of supportive friends with a shared passion for writing. And somehow, something must have paid off, because now I’m working at a job I never would have dreamed I could get. Every day, I feel blessed and grateful that I’m able to stay home and support my family while continuing to improve my writing skills. (But my time management skills are a different issue entirely!)

If you have a passion, there’s nothing that says you can’t practice what you love and strive to improve your skills.

Having a college degree can go a long way toward getting the career of your choice, but I found out it doesn’t have to be the end of your dreams if you never got the opportunity to finish school. Life gives us endless chances to learn and grow. And working for BKA has taught me about an endless variety of subjects, which was an unexpected bonus of working for the company!

That little green monster of envy and poor self-esteem still shows his face sometimes, but now I know how to keep him under control. One of these days I’ll be able to get my degree, but for now I can focus on being happy that I’m doing what I love and learning something new every day.

-by Kristin Baker

When you work from home, all kinds of things can be distracting. Whether it’s the kids who need you, the constantly ringing phone vying for your attention, Facebook pop-ups luring you into the tangled web of social media, or the laundry buzzer reminding you that you’ve already reset it 3 times, trying to work at home can be a challenge.

The problem becomes even worse when you aren’t in the mood to work, or have a personality that is easily distracted. And . . . that pretty much describes me.

I am one of those people who loves life and likes to have fun. However, I’ve also got a job to do. . . several jobs, actually. For starters, I’m a mom of 7 amazing kids varying in age from 21 to 8, and let me tell you, if that isn’t fun, I don’t know what is! Besides trying to keep myself sane while raising my children, we own a 2.5 acre piece of property complete with a smattering of assorted farm animals that need to be taken care of every day. My husband works in international agricultural business consulting and travels every few months for his employment, making things just that much more exciting! Besides all that, we both hold busy church callings and serve in the community. To help make ends meet between my hubby’s big clients, I design websites and write SEO articles for BKA. Are you feeling tired yet? I feel tired just typing about it!

I love working from home because I can choose my own hours and work around my always-hectic schedule. But as I said before, working from home can be very challenging because. . .  well, because you choose your own hours and can work around your always-hectic schedule!

Working on Your Own Schedule

It’s one of those double-edged-sword kind of things to work on your own schedule. If you’re really good at following a rigid timeline, and your life happens to roll along at predictable hour-long chunks, then it’s no problem to work, be a mom, and keep up with all the other demands such as church and community service, lawn care (ugh), and making sure the pets aren’t starving. But do you honestly know anyone whose life is perfectly scheduled and always on time?

Okay, I admit, there are a few people I know who are extremely good at keeping life on a tight schedule, and they seem to be always on top of everything. But . . . not me. I admit it! And I’m okay with it. Why? The answer is simple, there’s just too much good stuff out there in the world to let yourself get anxious or depressed about a rigid, self-imposed, silly little schedule!

And I’ll tell you what, it may sound irresponsible, but when my 11-year-old daughter wants me to play a game with her, or my 8-year-old son invites me to watch Justice League with him, I try to say “yes” as often as I can. Why? Because I have a few grown-up kids, too, and I know how fast they grow up. It’s mind boggling. Snuggling up with your child when they’ll still let you is such a precious gift. Don’t let it slip away too fast!

It’s not worth it to give up that precious time with your children just to make the house sparkle unnecessarily, or even to get one more article written. (Gasp! Am I allowed to say that here?) But truly, building relationships with your loved ones has to come first, especially when it comes to those quickly growing children.

Balancing Responsibility, Work, and Guilt-Free Fun

Now, don’t think I’m unrealistic. I realize that you can’t just fly from thing to thing all day without a schedule and still expect to get anything done. Bills have to be paid, school and sports fees have to be taken care of, and ice cream needs be purchased. So, in my case, that means that articles need to be written! And therein lies the big question. How does one balance the joy of living life and the responsibility of completing work?

I’ve found that for me, I have to have little games to play with myself. You know, “Work now, play later”. I guess I’m kind of like a little kid. My internal dialogue goes something like this:

“Write one article, then you get to play one level of Candy Crush.”

“Pay this bill, then you get to look around on Pinterest for half an hour.”

“Finish the laundry, then you can watch one episode of Call the Midwife.”

Things like that. Whether it’s a simple check-off list, setting a Pomodoro timer, keeping track of tasks at Kanbanflow.com, or rewarding myself with something I like to do, keeping it fresh and making it fun makes all the difference.

Procrastination – That Pesky Little Problem

I’ll tell you, though, if there’s something I really don’t want to do, I’m as good as anyone at putting it off. Especially if there are lots of other fun things around to get me distracted. So, when the procrastination bug hits, how can you overcome it?

According to “The NOW Habit” by Dr. Neil Fiore, there are three great ways to get past the block of procrastination. So if you find yourself avoiding your most important work and projects, maybe these ideas can help you.

Tool #1 – Three Dimensional Thinking

When we begin a large project or try to force ourselves to do something we’ve been avoiding, we often put it off because we quite simply get scared! We see ourselves trying to accomplish various parts of the project all at once, and we become overwhelmed. We procrastinate because it’s less painful to just not think about it. But that doesn’t really help because the work is still there, and the deadlines loom closer.

When you use three-dimensional thinking, it’s like extending a telescope out and projecting the work along a timeline that only needs to be traversed one step at a time. You see the beginning, middle and end of the project, instead of the whole thing at once. By creating what Dr. Fiore calls a “reverse calendar”, you can work backwards to schedule your tasks, in manageable chunks, until you get to one little thing you can do today. Maybe you can’t plant, water, harvest and store the entire garden at once. But you can purchase seeds today.

Tool #2 – The Work of Worrying

This idea fascinates me. Did you realize that it takes work to worry? It’s true. When you worry, you imagine all the problems that may occur, and all the roadblocks holding up your success. Unfortunately, according to Dr. Fiore, most people never “finish” their work of worrying. We tend to only do the first part – thinking about all the reasons why we may or may not be able to finish the task. So what do we do? Bingo! We procrastinate so we don’t have to think about the pain.

Again, this solution is temporary at best. Dr. Fiore says we need to “finish” the work of worrying by mentally carrying those worries through to completion, and finding solutions for them. For instance, you may worry that if you don’t do a good job on your writing assignment, the account manager will complain about your work. To “finish” the work of this worrying, you ask yourself, “Okay, if that happens, what will I do next?” Then imagine yourself through the situation.

Keep asking yourself “Then what will I do next?” as you imagine each part of the scenario, and carry it all the way to its conclusion, where you will realize that no matter how bad it gets, you can always pick yourself up and keep going.

Once you complete these “worst case scenarios” for your worries, you give yourself power over them. Instead of having a worry become paralyzing, your mind is freed from the “what if” syndrome, and you can get back to the real work – doing what it takes now to avoid getting yourself into that situation in the first place.

Tool #3 – Persistent Starting

This is just what it says – you must simply start on whatever project you are procrastinating. Even if you can only set a timer and do 5 minutes on the “next action” in your project, just the act of making yourself take the first step may be the jumpstart you need. If you focus on persistent starting, finishing will take care of itself.

In fact, it was the idea of persistent starting that finally got me going on writing this blog entry (on the very last day of the twice-extended deadline, no less). I thought to myself, “This is silly! I’m just going to start writing!” For weeks, even months, I’ve been thinking about what I would write about if I put an entry into the blog writer’s series. And yet, I write dozens of articles every week. So, what’s the big deal? That was it – it was time to quit procrastinating. I just started writing, and here we are!

Really Short Conclusion Because This Is Getting Too Long

So – I guess that’s all I have to say! Life is fun, working at home is amazing, getting distracted can be a challenge, and procrastinating can make life downright depressing! By finding little games and tricks to play with yourself, and using a few simple time management strategies, things can go a lot smoother. And before you know it, you’ll have written over 1500 words and realize it’s time to STOP!

So – go have some fun – and get something done!

I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. As I walked across the commencement stage on a sunny December morning, I was overwhelmed with the greatest feeling; it was a mixture of relief, accomplishment, and pride.

That feeling lasted about 30 seconds.

I accepted my diploma, moved my graduation tassel to the left of my mortarboard, posed for the obligatory “parents flanking the graduate shot” and then was struck by a thought.

What now?

And just moments after that, a second thought came barreling toward me.

I should have majored in Education like everyone else.

That’s the thing about a major in English literature: everyone assumes you are going to become a teacher. That assumption is so prevalent and so powerful that it was almost enough to make me believe it myself. There were times I strongly considered an Education degree because it seemed to be the safer option, the only option. I persevered, however, and attempted to drown out the nagging voices that constantly asked “What are you going to do with an English degree?”

It’s a question I’ve received hundreds of times and yet I never perfected a response. The thing is, people only want to hear one of two answers: become a teacher or go to graduate school. Sometimes I would tell people what they wanted to hear. Usually I would shrug. Rarely would I tell the truth.

I want to write.

It’s a small and simple sentence but it’s one that always catches people off guard. I learned quickly that people don’t know how to react to impossible dreams.

And so, I kept that dream mostly to myself and spent the months after graduation working a soul-sucking office job. As I prepared for the birth of my son, however, I realized that my dream would never come true if I did not even have the courage to say it aloud.

And so I did. I said it as many times as I could. During this time I quit my 9-5 job, had a baby, and stumbled into the opportunity to become an SEO writer for BKA. I now spend my mornings, my afternoons, and any moment in which my baby is asleep, writing. Writing for work, writing for pleasure, and yes, writing for pay.

Getting paid to write? That was always the dream.

I’ll be honest; SEO writing is not the dream job I imagined for myself in college. (That included a host of published novels and a cross-country book tour.) I like to consider this little SEO venture of mine dream-job-adjacent, however, because I am getting paid to do what I love.

I hope that is something I can say for the rest of my life.

-by Kara Mcdowell

While some might consider working at home with three crazy little boys running around to be a curse, there are some who actually love it. With the help of BKA Content, mothers (like me) are able to stay home, take care of their family, do something that they enjoy, and earn money all at the same time. The benefits of working for BKA Content heavily outweigh the disadvantages (none of which I have actually found…yet). The following are some of the reasons why I love my job:

An Outlet for Typing

I love to type. Ever since my Junior High keyboarding class, I have been an addict. Not only do I type on the keyboard, but I “air-type”. When I drive down the road, I find my brain typing out the road signs. While my fingers are not actually moving, my brain is telling them to. Weird, but true. I also type conversations that I have with people, and even just random songs that are stuck in my head.  All without consciously realizing it. Come to think of it, it could possibly be a disease.  Either way, that’s part of who I am.

The Home Factor

I admit, I love being home with my kids. When the possibility arose that I might be required to get a job in order to survive, I almost had a heart attack! Could I possibly leave my children for hours at a time in the hands of someone else?  You just never know, they could end up being corrupted. Luckily, I found BKA Content from a job ad at KSL.com and sent them an email, completely oblivious to what an SEO article even was. By some miracle, they saw potential in me (I guess…). The result: a job. Not just any job, but one that I could do from home, in the midst of the chaos, the temper tantrums, the snacks, and the bug collections. It’s great! Seriously, who would want anything more?

Lessons Learned

Through my experience with BKA Content I have learned many lessons. The top ten lessons I have learned are:

• I can type 113 WPM. Yes, I am awesome.
• There are  certain products and services that I’ve written about that I will never buy.  Amazing how a little bit of good research can be enlightening.  Not everything out there is awesome.
• Greg and Phil totally seem like family guys. Awesome? Yes!
• Matt seems like a party animal and should get married (source; Facebook). Also awesome!
• “Catch Phrase” is the perfect game to brush up on SEO writing/thinking skills (I’m done with awesome’s).
• I shouldn’t procrastinate work that is due on Monday morning at 8 am. I think I have done it every week, however. Maybe that one is a lesson still to be learned.
• It is hard to be objective on some topics. Hard, but not impossible.
• Home Depot sells a lot of unexpected, yet cool things!
• It is easier to type with short fingernails (which also makes it easier to play the guitar. Killing two birds with one stone…).
• Just because Google finds it, that doesn’t mean an industry “professional” had to write it. There are thousands of informative, high-quality articles on the internet that were written by a 30 year old stay at home mom who, in the beginning, didn’t have a clue what she was actually writing about (and I always considered it scripture. Ha!).
• You can actually trust people you meet on the internet!  Well… some of them anyway.

As you can see, there are actually eleven top lessons I have learned. That’s just how fantastic it is working for BKA Content!

I’ve known Matt and Greg since long before they were even legally allowed to have a job.  So when the opportunity to write for their growing company opened up, I jumped on it, knowing that they are great people and that they would help make this a positive experience for me.

I was nervous about my ability to understand and write what they needed, but felt encouraged by their excitement in helping me to succeed.  Along the way I had the chance to meet Phil, who might be the nicest of them all.  All three men are honest and hard working, and are willing to help their writers in any way they can.

I am a mostly stay at home mom to four kids, so my days are consumed with multiplication tables, sippy cups, and lots of whining.  Writing for BKA gives me a chance to flex my brain and develop my writing talent.

I’ve always loved writing and felt it came naturally to me, and turning that skill into a moneymaker seemed like the perfect idea.  What sounds better than working from home, choosing how much I work, and working at my own pace?  Add to that the fact that I get to interact with the outside world on a professional level, essentially choose the amount of my paycheck, and buy plenty of Lego sets for my kids without guilt, and the opportunity was too good to pass up.

One day I was driving home from one of many doctor appointments and I realized that I was truly excited to check the spreadsheets to see what new work had come in while I was gone.

I started thinking of the fact that every morning after my kids left for school, the first thing I did was open up my computer and look for new work to complete.  I realized in that moment that I was more excited to see the spreadsheets than I was to check out my Facebook page!  Apparently the perfect opportunity had turned into the perfect job that made me excited to “go to work” every chance I got.

I’ve always felt that the best jobs are the ones that you enjoy, no matter how much they pay.  No amount of money is worth being unhappy every day.  I love writing for BKA not only because of the flexible schedule, set your own pace mentality, and regular paycheck, but also because of the positive feedback I get in creating something that is unique and original every time I write.

Granted, I’ve made four humans, but there is something rewarding about knowing that my brain and the way I think is valued by the world.  In knowing that I have a talent and skill that helps businesses to be successful that I get paid to use.  I feel an obscene amount of pleasure that goes beyond monetary value as I save a piece of work that I feel was written particularly well.

I love my job because I have an investment in something that is growing and expanding every day.  I feel excitement for Matt, Greg, and Phil every time a new opportunity opens up or a new client is landed.  I take pride in knowing that my content has helped them to be successful, and am excited for what the future holds.