January Toolbox: Six Writing Tools to Improve Your Writing

Last week, we published the results of the Web Care Survey. It was fun to see how web care consultants run their businesses.

One thing I noticed was the lack of use of content marketing and email newsletters.

I’m not saying that you should use these channels, but I know consultants who get new business from these two channels for their business.

42% of consultants say they do not write a consistent blog. Only 10.7% say they do. The rest are trying.

The email newsletter is even more stark. Almost 65% of respondents said they do not have an email newsletter.

Why are web care consultants not using email and blog posts? I am sure the reasons are as many as those who said they do not use these channels.

One reason may be that they do not feel they have the skill or are very good at writing.

I understand this. Writing is a funny thing. Writing is a skill most in business have. Professional writing is another thing altogether.

Today, we are going to look at some tools that can assist you in your business writing efforts. They may not make you better as a writer, but they can help you create better content for your audience.

As with any marketing task, the key is knowing your audience well. It’s like my friend who runs the coffee shop who is often heard calling people by name when they walk in the door. He already knows the drink they want.

We need to know our customers like my friend who runs the coffee shop. That will make everything else so much better!

Today, we are going to look at six writing tools that may help you create professional content for your customers.

1. Bertha

I signed up for the free plan to see what it is about. Bertha, like others, is an AI writing tool that helps you produce copy and content for your business.

The tool was launched by Atarim’s Vito Peleg and Andrew Palmer in early 2020. The difference is that Bertha is funneled through your WordPress site with its software.

Once you install the plugin, connect to Bertha, you get a writing assistant right inside your WordPress dashboard.

It’s pretty nifty.

2. Jarvis… er Jasper

For many people, Jarvis is the standard-bearer, only it appears it has changed its name.

Now it is Jasper.

Apparently, with Thanos, it was inevitable.

Anyway, some of my copywriter friends are on board with Jasper. I know some other digital marketers are also big supporters of the software, including Jan Koch and Kim Doyal.

It has an excellent reputation. It is worth exploring, which I may do someday.  Jasper also has an opportunity to test with a free account.

3. Rytr

Rytr is one of the first AI writing programs I signed up for. A while back, they had a sale on AppSumo. Several have signed up and are happy with the help they are getting.

Recently, Rytr has created an integration with SEM Rush, making it a win for content writers and SEO who use SEM Rush.

4. Grammarly

I have been using Grammarly for years. Unlike AI writing software, Grammarly seeks to improve your writing regarding grammar and other editing issues.

It does a good enough job, although I have argued with it more times than not. It has a hard time understanding context, but it can catch many of my spelling mistakes.

5. ProWriting Aid

ProWritingAid is the competitor of Grammarly. I believe I first heard about it from Ivica Delic.

Just recently, an editor friend of mine sent me a link to the tool telling me how much she liked it better than Grammarly.

It seems to cost a little more, but if it is better, it might be worth the look.

Like Grammarly, it has a lot of editing and writing resources and lots of extensions so that you can use the tool anywhere you write.

ProWritingAid is definitely one to look at with its Free trial.

Grammarly and ProWritingAid use some AI to handle the editing.

6. Hemingway App

If you are looking to simplify the language you use, make it less academic and easier to understand, you might look at the Hemingway App.

The Hemingway App will help you reduce the “grade level” readability based on its algorithm.

“Hemingway judges the “grade level” of your text using the Automated Readability Index. It’s a reliable algorithm used since the days of electronic typewriters.” Source

Hemingway app is web-based, but there is also a desktop app you can download. The cost for the download is a mere $19.99. Hemingway app is available through Gumroad.

This will allow you to use it on your computer even if your Wi-Fi is not working!

If you don’t feel like Grammarly or ProWritingAid helped you simplify your language, Hemingway App will do so.

Wrapping it up

I would be remiss if I finished this article without mentioning one more tool for your desk. This tool is physical as in a book.

My opinion is that any person in business who needs to write should have a copy of Ann Handley’s “Everybody Writes”.

The book gives you the ins and outs of writing for business and how it is so much different from writing your college term paper.

There is no need to fear writing for your business because you can’t write an article for an academic journal. Ann will help you with tons of great help.

Do you use any of these writing tools? Drop in the MainWP Users Facebook group and let us know!