essay writing

“So what should I know about online content versus what I learned in college? Do I have to unlearn AP English?” I’ve heard that question from new writers more times than I can count. Unlearning something doesn’t seem like the best way to approach a new writing position… or is it? Even though you might know how to write, do you know how to write for the ​online ​reader? It’s waaaay different than what you learned in school. AP classes may have gotten you college credit, but they do not hold nearly the same weight for online content. When starting out as a freelance copywriter, producing engaging online content is not so much about “unlearning” what you’ve been taught. It’s about building on foundational skills you’ve already acquired. But… We’re going to get real for a bit. It ​is, ​in fact, about breaking the rules a little. Exhibit A: NONE of these rules apply to online writing. (Rule #1: throw it OUT. In fact, you should always use first-person pronouns. So, pretty much do the opposite of English Composition 1 up there.) Now, don’t get me wrong. I love great literature, the classics, and English classes. And, I think a fundamental love for English is fairly crucial for online writers. I was a straight-A student who absolutely loved her English professors in college… and they loved me, too (one actually told me I’d written the best essay on Shakespeare’s Hamlet he’d ever read). But, here’s the fact. School-taught English essay-writing skills are NOT anywhere close to online content writing skills. While AP Language and Literature courses pave the way for synthesizing sources and developing arguments, online content should be thought of as a new class. Maybe one that some schools will end up offering in the future. Well, I want to make it simple. Over the last several weeks I’ve compiled the below guide, just for this specific pain point: figuring out college English rules vs. online content rules. Let’s call today’s blog: your AP online content guide. AP English vs. Real Online Copy: A Look at Why Online Content Matters Today Print is dead. I never liked that phrase. I don’t think it is true. Even Amazon agrees. Their first-ever bookstore went live 10 miles from my house this March. What is true, is that digital content has become a viable option for anyone consuming media. It’s the go-to for a culture demanding immediate answers. However, it goes beyond the scope of reading your news online. Almost everything has been digitized to surpass the lifespan of your average piece of paper. Plus, it’s just more convenient. In the last ten years, the paperless campaign has grown extensively. In addition to being a cost effective and environmentally friendly option, it’s honestly just easier for people. Why get my electric bill sent to me in the mail when I can view it online? Not surprisingly, schools have opted for the digital option as well. In a few years from now, the stereotypical student hauling a 20 lb backpack could completely disappear from college campuses. This may be the case sooner in California, where a law was passed to make all textbooks available electronically by 2020. When it comes to our education system, research compiled by Business Insider found that the majority of students prefer digital texts, even though they cannot always retain the information as well. Perhaps it’s the gentle blue light of the screen that calls to people from all demographics. When comparing print and digital readers, the American Press Institute, found that those favoring digital sources were more likely to admit that they value the quality of the content. Print and digital readers also interact with the content in different ways. Making content available online paves the way for readers to build a relationship with a company because following, liking and subscribing are only one click away. Now more than ever, readers value digital media. This makes the call for an AP Online Content course all the more relevant for beginning freelance copywriters. A Look at How We Consume Media in the Modern World Now that we can comprehend just how many people get their daily dose of all things text from online, we must understand how they absorb content. Phone and computer screens are an entirely different experience than flipping pages in a book. I don’t remember ads popping up for tissues as I read through the final chapters of Where the Red Fern Grows. Although honestly, that would have been very useful. Our screens are filled with distractions that draw a reader’s attention away from the content and onto something more distracting. I’m losing you. Does this GIF help? Online content writers have taken on the difficult task of asking people to stay on a page for an infinitely longer amount of time than the average GIF does. It’s a careful balancing act between being informative and engaging. Writers should include references to pop culture – and blogs often do. However, just by mentioning the new season of Westworld, I may quickly send viewers away to anxiously Google the trailer.   Please come back. More often than not, readers are scrolling through written content so that they only absorb what stands out to them. Unlike AP classes, the content is not carefully analyzed and graded. The sole purpose for online content is to engage readers and speak to them. Okay, so by now you’re probably ready for the meat of our guide. That would be the biggest, tangible reasons (with screenshot proof) of why/how online content differs from the English-writing styles you learned in college. …Hold your horses. Before we get there, I need to make a very important point. A VERY important one. Although Online Content is More “Readable” Than College Essay Writing, Online Content is NOT More “Sloppy” Many, many (x that “many” by 100,000) new writers think that dropping the essay style means dropping a lack of writing finesse altogether. Dear God. This GIF of Dwight sums up how I feel about this, pretty well. … Read more