The Art of Crafting Complimentary Content: It's Not as Daunting as You Think!

The Content Conundrum

The demand for content is intense. Every website owner is on the hunt for fresh content, and countless writers are vying for their work to be showcased online. The abundance of free platforms allows you to promote your products, services, and expertise worldwide for years without spending a dime.

Of course, there is a cost associated with creating free content—time. However, the time investment is a mere fraction of the financial expenditure required to achieve the same level of exposure through paid content platforms.

Balancing Free and Paid Content

The goal is not to devote your entire day to crafting free content. Typically, once you've finished your articles for paid markets, take an idea and develop a free content piece. Choose a topic that you can write about in a few hours. Don't spend more than two hours on the article in a day—use it as a filler.

The objective is to create a brief article that offers a general overview of your expertise or work—avoid going into too much detail. If someone appreciates your work or idea, they can approach you and pay for a more comprehensive version. Consider it a way of "testing the waters."

Brain Training

One of the perks of writing free content is the mental exercise it provides. It allows you to create a brief article about a subject you're familiar with, without the added stress of acceptance and deadlines. This is your chance to write for the sheer joy of it while generating industry contacts and enhancing your resume.

Resume Boosters

Indeed, resume boosters. If a popular site features your article, you can include it in your resume. Ensure that you write something relevant to your areas of expertise. If your article catches the eye of major corporations or industry experts, you could land a client that you might not have had the opportunity to work for otherwise. The broader the audience, the more work you can secure!

Crafting a Free Content Article

Writing a free content article is straightforward and follows a similar professional approach as an article for a standard, paying market. Here are a few tips:

• Be Concise: Keep it under 1,500 words. Some professional organizations might pick up your article for a paying market, and they usually only accept between 500 and 2,000 words. Also, if you can write an in-depth topic in fewer than 1,500 words, that usually demonstrates that you have a handle on the topic.
• Be Real: Take free content articles seriously. Be professional and write about something you know professionally. Avoid meaningless writing.
• Be Honest: Do your own work! I've seen some authors use the same free content from other writers and just modify it a little to suit their needs.
• Your Byline: Make sure that your byline provides enough information to identify yourself and provide contact information. This byline is your business card!

Protecting Your Work

Unfortunately, some unethical individuals may plagiarize others' work to enhance their public image. While it can be seen as a compliment, it's essential to protect yourself. Protecting free content is no different than protecting paid content. One place to go is MediaRegister. They will register your work online for a minimal fee. This way, you can distribute your work and protect it from the internet's petty thieves.

The Future of Free Content

Free content articles can provide you with an enormous amount of exposure on the Web. In some cases, you can obtain exposure that you would have otherwise missed!