Author: Tanya Marie Porras

  • ProWritingAid Vs Grammarly: Which is The Better Grammar Checker Tool?

    ProWritingAid Vs Grammarly: Which is The Better Grammar Checker Tool?

    Last Updated on 6 months by

    ProWritingAid and Grammarly are excellent grammar checkers. If you had to pick one, which would it be and why?

    If you let me, I’ll help you decide.

    In this ProWritingAid vs Grammarly match, let’s lay down the details of each grammar checker. We will also explore various alternatives to Grammarly, focusing on features, price, plagiarism detection, and suitability for students’ academic needs. Then we’ll decide whether there’s a better tool that can help you be a better writer.

    What is ProWritingAid?

    ProWritingAid is a grammar checker that aims to help writers of all levels better their writing skills. It gets rid of errors in spelling, grammar, and more. It also alerts you of unusual hints with your writing’s structure and style.

    You can use it for free. The free version of ProWritingAid, however, limits you to check texts of no more than 500 words.

    Insistent on taking ProWritingAid premium out for a spin? No problem.

    The good news is, you can sign up for a 7-day trial and receive your premium license via email.

    GO PROWRITINGAID PREMIUM

    What is Grammarly grammar checker?

    Grammarly is also a grammar checker that helps take your writing up a notch. It also purges your piece from errors. And like ProWritingAid, it informs you if your structure and style match the writing tones you’re aiming for, too.

    Plus, you can use it for free. No limit on the number of words you can. And the free version is free forever, making it one of the best free Grammarly alternatives available.

    The free version, however, is limited to providing you with basic writing corrections. It only has your back in terms of necessary and glaring writing errors.

    Want advanced writing feedback? Then upgrade to Grammarly premium

    UPGRADE TO GRAMMARLY PREMIUM

    How are they different?

    First, let’s iron out what makes ProWritingAid and Grammarly different from one another as a Grammarly alternative.

    Because you’re about to pick one tool, it’d be in your best interest to know this piece of information.

    Difference # 1: Writing goals

    Confident in your abilities to direct your writing towards a specific writing goal?

    ProWritingAid acknowledges that. 

    To specify a writing style, expand Settings. You can select writing styles such as General, Academic, and Business

    Meanwhile, enter Grammarly. Compared to the former, it provides a detailed arrangement in helping you identify your writing goals.

    The Audience, Formality, and Domain you want to set for your writing are on you. You also have full control of your writing’s Tone and Intent

    With Grammarly, you can set your writing goals even before you punch a single letter into the software editor. You can also adjust sails along the way.

    Difference # 2: Design and user interface

    Both ProWritingAid and Grammarly’s design and user interface are impressive. The commands are well-organized and easily accessible.

    The slight distinction is in the colors that harmonize with the writing environment.

    Here’s an image of ProWritingAid’s editor:

    As you can observe, it’s clean. It features primary (dark green and white) and supplementary colors. Other than that, you can’t find a lot of shades.

    Now, here’s an image of Grammarly’s editor:

    It’s also clean. Next to ProWritingAid’s editor, it incorporates playfulness with colors.

    As a result, it’s vibrant, joyful, and less formal.

    Difference # 3: Plagiarism checker

    ProWritingAid checks your writing and can hit you up for instances of plagiarized text. A small setback (for some writers), the editing tool’s plagiarism checker is an add-on. If you’re looking for Grammarly alternatives, there are other writing tools that offer similar plagiarism checking features, each with different pricing and use cases to suit your needs.

    Even when using the premium version, you need to purchase credits to screen your work for plagiarized content.

    Grammarly, meanwhile, doesn’t put a cap on how you choose to use its plagiarism checker. If you’re a premium user, you can use it as often as you please.

    To make it happen, locate the feature on the bottom portion of its side panel. There, click the Plagiarism to compare your work to text in 16 billion pages.

    Difference # 4: Price of the free version

    ProWritingAid’s premium subscription plans are more affordable. 

    Here’s the part that can confuse you:

    ProWritingAid offers a monthly subscription for $20 per month. Meanwhile, Grammarly also provides the same monthly plan for $11.66. So, you may conclude that Grammarly proposes a cheaper deal. 

    However, Grammarly’s monthly plan can be yours if you agree to be billed yearly.

    And in terms of yearly subscription fees, ProWritingAid’s plan is fixed at $79 per year. Grammarly’s yearly plan, on the other hand, is available for $139.92 per year.

    Here are all of ProWritingAid’s premium subscription plans (for individual users):

    • Monthly subscription

      • $20 per month

      • Access to 20 in-depth reports

    • Yearly subscription

      • $79 per month

      • Access to 20 in-depth reports

    • Lifetime 

      • $299 per year

      • Access to 20 in-depth reports

    ProWritingAid also offers a Premium+ subscription plan. Here’s a rundown of the said plan:

    • Premium+

      • $89 per year 

      • Everything in ProWritingAid premium

      • 50 plagiarism checks

    Meanwhile, here are all of Grammarly’s subscription plans (for individual users):

    • Free

      • Basic feedback

    • Premium

      • $11.66 per month (billed annually)

      • Advanced feedback

    Difference # 5: Keyboard shortcuts

    ProWritingAid goes beyond the promise of one-click access to detailed writing reports. It introduces keyboard shortcuts.

    To reveal the shortcuts, press the alt key when using the editor.

    Grammarly is as easy to use. However, these keyboard shortcuts are non-existent.

    Difference # 6: Self-publishing support

    ProWritingAid allows you to move forward with your finished writing immediately. 

    Notice the sidebar icon under the human editor icon?

    Click that to be redirected to BookBaby’s website. BookBaby is a platform that can help you with book printing on your own.

    This unique feature from ProWritingAid is handy for the right group. It’s for writers who want to build (or carry on) with a professional writing career

    Grammarly doesn’t have this specific feature, alright. However, there’s a simple workaround.

    You can open the general menu and hit Download. Once you have your downloaded copy, you can head to a self-publishing platform and see what you can do.

    How are they similar?

    Now, let’s discuss what makes ProWritingAid and Grammarly similar to each other.

    Similarity # 1: Tightens writing

    They’re grammar checkers. And as such tools, you can expect that the premium versions of ProWritingAid and Grammarly will provide advanced feedback for your writing.

    ProWritingAid pulls this off by showing you detailed reports. It identifies issues like passive voice and does the work in real time.

    To get an in-depth assessment of these reports, make sure to expand the Reports tab. From there, you can click the name of the report that you need.

    Grammarly is as helpful, too. For one, it informs you of your writing’s Correctness.

    It can also alert you of your writing’s Clarity, Engagement, and Delivery.

    And the suggestions will keep coming. Because the tool provides real-time suggestions, you can learn more about your writing’s errors as you go.

    Similarity # 2: Key insights

    Both ProWritingAid and Grammarly alert you of key insights about your writing.

    When using ProWritingAid, you can access key insights if you expand the Reports tab and click Summary. The information you can collect is extensive.

    Despite being a summarized version, going through every insight in this report can take a while. So, if you want to Print, E-mail, or Open (the report) in (a) new window, go ahead.

    Doing so will reveal Document Scores, Vocabulary, Readability Measures, and more.

    Using Grammarly? Click the Overall score on the side panel.

    By then, a small window will pop up. Here, you can see your writing’s Performance score, Word Count, Readability, and Vocabulary.

    You can also download a .pdf version of this report.

    Similarity # 3: Collaboration

    ProWritingAid supports teams. And to use the tool for business, you need to book a demo.

    Make sure to thoroughly discuss your team’s needs as one of ProWritingAid’s representatives walk you through the process.

    Grammarly’s Business plan reflects its support for collaborative writing, too. Its business plan, at $12.50 per month, can streamline your team’s writing.

    And with a streamlined writing process, your business will make stunning impressions. 

    Similarity # 4: Extensions and add-ins

    Both ProWritingAid and Grammarly also allow you to integrate with external apps. This feature is handy if you like to use other writing apps, too.

    ProWritingAid includes integrations for the apps and text editors that writers use the most.

    Here’s the list:

    • Microsoft Word

    • Google Chrome

    • Google Docs

    • Gmail

    • Scrivener

    • Medium

    • Firefox

    Grammarly comes with more options. It features integrations with popular messaging platforms and tools for documents and projects.

    Here’s the list:

    • Gmail

    • Microsoft Outlook

    • Messenger

    • Yahoo!

    • Slack

    • Asana

    • Jira

    • Salesforce

    • Medium

    • Facebook

    • Twitter

    • LinkedIn

    Want to use the web-based versions of the editors? Then you’d be glad to know that both tools offer browser extensions, too.

    Similarity # 5: Professional editing

    Both tools also allow you to reach out to a real-life editor.

    If you’re using ProWritingAid, you can find this feature on the software’s sidebar. Look for the human icon.

    The moment you load it up, you’ll be redirected to a page that offers further assistance. On that page, you can choose the kind of help you need.

    If you’re using Grammarly, you can find the same feature on the sidebar, too. It’s called Get Expert Writing Help and it’s at the bottom.

    Once you click the feature, a window will pop up. Here, you can specify the kind of help you need from a human editor.

    Similarity # 6: Support

    ProWritingAid offers assistance if you have concerns about its service. A way to reach out is to open the editing tool’s Menu and scroll down to click Support

    Then, you’ll be redirected to a page where you can entertain your concerns in two ways.

    The first option is to sink your teeth into its FAQs section. The second option is to reach out via email.

    That’s how it is with Grammarly, too. Visit its FAQs section to see the loads of useful resources that are yours for the taking.

    However, the FAQs section can only do so much. If the articles can’t help you with your concern, you can send an email to move forward.

    What’s better about ProWritingAid?

    Sure, ProWritingAid and Grammarly are similar in the most important aspects of checking your writing. However, there are tiny matters that can help you decide which tool is worth taking home.

    First, let’s shed light on what makes ProWritingAid one of the best options available.

    In-depth reports

    ProWritingAid grants you the privilege to gauge your writing exceptionally well.

    Here’s a list of ProWritingAid’s reports:

    • Summary

    • Style

    • Grammar

    • Thesaurus

    • Overused

    • Combo

    • All Repeats

    • Echoes

    • Structure

    • Length

    • Transition

    • Sticky

    • Cliches

    • Diction

    • Pronounciation

    Personalized progress reports

    This new feature came out in 2020. And it’s an implication that ProWritingAids keeps an eye out for you.

    Straight to your inbox, you’ll receive Personalized Progress Reports. Such an email acknowledges your writing performance.

    With it, you’ll get specific reports about how you’re doing and what you need to do to get better. The reports includes lists of grammar and style improvements, as well as other useful data.

    Word Explorer

    ProWritingAid features a Word Explorer tool. It’s a solution for writer’s block — or in times when you want to know more about a particular word.

    You can access the feature from the Menu. You can also highlight a written word and double-click on it.

    In the image above, for example. After I keyed in the word “anxious”, the Word Explorer provided me with details about that word.

    By default, the Word Explorer provided me with the word’s definition. And as you can see, it also provided me with different options.

    Here’s a list:

    • Reverse Dictionary

    • Thesaurus

    • Alliteration

    • Cliches

    • Spelling

    • Rhymes

    • Collocations

    • Common Phrases

    • Anagrams

    What’s better about Grammarly alternatives to grammarly?

    Now, let’s discuss why Grammarly is a step ahead.

    Formatting options

    Conscious about formatting your work?

    At the bottom of the editing software, you’ll find formatting options. This is useful for writers who don’t want to bring in another editor when composing content for specific purposes.

    For instance, you’re a writer who wants to create SEO-friendly content and you want to assign headings to your text. With Grammarly, that’s not going to be a problem.

    Hide Assistant feature

    Should the time come that you no longer need Grammarly as much as you used to, the writing assistant can take the backseat. Click Hide Assistant on the side panel to make this happen.

    Here’s an image of how you can proceed to using Grammarly without the writing assistant:

    Click CORRECT WITH ASSISTANT if you don’t think you can handle this. Doing this will unhide the writing assistant. And just like that, you can get help for your writing again.

    Straightforward explanation

    Grammarly doesn’t offer hard-to-grasp writing suggestions. When you open a writing alert, you can instantly understand what’s wrong and what you can do about it.

    Take the writing alert in the image above, for example. When I expanded the writing alert for “vs”, I immediately got the message. I knew what was wrong with it and how I could resolve the problem.

    Who should get ProWritingAid (and why)?

    ProWritingAid is useful for writers of all levels. And more experienced writers will find it more effective. They may include novelists, academic writers, or those who are writing long texts.

    It offers writing suggestions only when you ask for them — and not instantly bring your attention to possible corrections.

    For professional writers whose focus is on improving their writing, this grammar checker tool is ideal.

    GO PROWRITINGAID PREMIUM

    Who should get Grammarly (and why)?

    Meanwhile, Grammarly is more ideal for novice writers. Two reasons.

    For one, using it gives a sense of encouragement for writers who want to improve. After all, the software editor adds liveliness and fun to the writing atmosphere. 

    For another, it offers progress — and is willing to support you as you move forward with your writing.

    To help you get my point, think of how it allows you to adjust your writing goals. If you specified a writing goal in the earlier stage, you’re free to change that goal and let the editor guide you towards a different path.

    UPGRADE TO GRAMMARLY PREMIUM

    ProWritingaidGrammarlyFeaturesComes with 20 in-depth reports. Thus, it can provide detailed reports about your writing.
    Provides straightforward writing corrections. To learn more about a suggested correction, expand the section.Writing suggestionsOffers real-time writing suggestions. You can upload a document, use CTRL+V, or write as you go.Corrects your writing in real-time. You can upload a document, use CTRL + V, or write as you go.Plagiarism checkerOnly available if you purchase credits. Regardless of premium membership, you won’t be able to check your work for plagiarized text with zero credits.Its plagiarism checker is at your disposal. Granted you’re subscribed to its premium plan, you’re free to use the plagiarism checker.IntegrationsIt works on both Windows and Mac.

    It comes with browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. You can also use it with MS Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, Medium, and Gmail.

    It supports browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. It also supports integrations with popular tools for emails and messages, documents and projects, and social media.

    Specifically, it works with Google Docs, Gmail, Facebook Messenger, Slack, Facebook, and Twitter.

    Extra writing assistanceComes with a Human Editor feature. Clicking this sidebar feature redirects you to a website that offers professional editing services.Offers expert help from a professional editor. Clicking this feature in the editing tool will trigger a pop-up window. In this pop-up, you can choose the editing fees you want to pay for.Writing atmosphereBest for experienced writers/writers of lengthy texts because of its formal environment.Best for novice writers because of its inviting and energetic vibe.SupportOffers support. If the articles in its FAQ section won’t be able to resolve your issue, shoot an email.FAQs section is loaded with detailed and helpful articles. If its FAQs can’t provide answers, you can contact via email.TrialOffers a 7-day free trial. To benefit, go to ProWritingAid’s official website and sign up using your email address.

    For that short time, you’ll receive a premium license. With your license, you can explore the editing tool as much as you can.

    Doesn’t offer a trial. To use Grammarly premium, sign up to its premium plan. 

    It does, however, offer a free version that you can use for correcting basic writing errors.

    GO PROWRITINGAID PREMIUMUPGRADE TO GRAMMARLY PREMIUM

  • How Keyword Intent Can Boost Your Conversion Rate

    How Keyword Intent Can Boost Your Conversion Rate

    Ever wonder why searchers enter keywords differently on search engines?

    Two words. Keyword intent.

    And in this article, we’ll talk about that. First, let’s find out what it is, its importance, the types of keyword intent, and how you can use it to boost your website’s conversion rate. 

    What is keyword intent?

    Keyword search intent refers to what the user or searcher wants when entering words on search engines. User intent describes their purpose for using a specific set of words when searching.

    Hopefully, the image below will help convey what I’m getting at.

    Image displaying examples of searches with different keyword intent

    When I entered the keyword “hand sanitizers” on Google, I looked at the autocomplete suggestions. 

    These were among the auto-suggestions:

    • how to make hand sanitizer
    • hand sanitizer effectiveness
    • purell hand sanitizer
    • hand sanitizer for sale

    Based on the list, you can notice that each auto-suggestion aims for a specific result. And this is because each auto-suggestion has a unique keyword intent.

    Below is a table that can elaborate on what each auto-suggestion implies. Particularly, let’s delve into why searchers type these specific sets of words.

    AUTO-SUGGESTIONWHAT THE SEARCHER IS IMPLYINGTITLE THAT MIGHT APPEAL TO THEM
    how to make hand sanitizerLooking for ideas on how to make hand sanitizer10 Creative Ideas on How to Make Hand Sanitizer at Home
    hand sanitizer effectivenessWants more information about the effectiveness of hand sanitizers. And if these items are proven effective, they might want to buy the productAre Hand Sanitizers 100% Effective? (15 of the Most Effective Products)
    purell hand sanitizerLooking for hand sanitizers from a famous brand, Purell5 Benefits of Purell Hand Sanitizers
    hand sanitizer for saleWants to see hand sanitizer for sale22% off on Hand Sanitizers

    Why is keyword intent important?

    Keyword intent as part of the keyword research process is essential because it can increase your site’s conversion rate. Knowing this subject also allows you to optimize your site correctly.

    For instance, it’s not enough to use a tool like keywordintent.io that only shows you the search volume and CPC of keywords. Strangely enough, a tool with the name keywordintent .io should be able to determine keyword intent.

    So, if you’re serious about getting the most out of optimizing your website for keywords, these are the things that keyword intent can do:

    • Attract qualified traffic – Target the right audience — the people you know will be interested in your offer.
    • Offer cost-effective advertising – Helps consume your ad budget wisely. With the right target, you can spend on ads that generate leads and sales.
    • Align with content’s primary purpose – Creating content isn’t easy. Using keyword intent to reach out to people who like your piece makes the process worthwhile.

    Related: What’s a Bucket Brigade in Copywriting?

    Four types of search intent

    keyword intent - how to write a good blog post

    Knowing the different types of keyword intent can keep you organized.

    It’s like visiting a foreign country and sticking to your original plan.

    Here they are.

    1. Informational keywords

    This refers to the intent of gathering more information. It signifies that a searcher wants to learn more about a concept in the provided key phrase.

    Return to the list of auto-suggestions above. There, “how to make hand sanitizer” is the key phrase with informational intent.

    Here are modifiers that suggest informational intent:

    • Questions beginning with what, where, how
    • Meaning of …, definition of …, synonym of … 
    • X history, X tutorial, X full name

    2. Commercial investigation

    Keywords with commercial or buyer intent mean that a user is willing to take action and wants to take you up on your offer. This type of intent is also called the “buy now” intent because of its commercial nature.

    Again, let’s go back to the autocomplete suggestions for the keyword “hand sanitizer”. From the discussion above, the auto-suggestion with a commercial keyword intent is “hand sanitizer for sale”.

    Here are modifiers that suggest commercial intent:

    • Shop, buy, download
    • Discounts, deals, coupon codes
    • Free shipping, special promos, sale

    3. Transactional search intent

    This is a mix of informational and commercial intent. That’s why keywords with a transactional intent represent the searcher’s willingness to take action and learn more about a concept.

    Head back to the list of auto-suggestions. There, you can see that the keyphrase with a transactional intent is “hand sanitizer effectiveness.”

    Here are modifiers that suggest transactional intent:

    • Roundup posts with titles beginning in best, worst, and top 10
    • Review, effectiveness, pros, and cons
    • Product comparisons with words like versus and which is better 

    4. Navigational search intent

    Navigational intent is when the searcher uses a brand name when keying in words on search engines. It signifies that they already know what they want — and they even know what brand they want.

    purell hand sanitizer“? From the list above, that’s the key phrase with a navigational intent.

    Here are modifiers that suggest navigational intent:

    • X login, x pricing, and x sign up
    • X business hours, x address, x supervisors
    • X website, x FB page, x Twitter handle

    How to determine keyword intent

    Keywords are powerful. Unfortunately, not using them with the right keyword intent diminishes their power.

    Don’t know how to determine keyword intent, though?

    Here are helpful tips:

    Analyze keyword list

    Analyzing keywords is arguably the simplest way to go.

    Before anything else, though, generate a list of keywords. You can use free keyword generators like Keyword.io. Then refer to the discussions above as the basis. 

    Use People also ask

    Google’s People also ask section is where the search engine displays relevant questions that involve your keyword. You can find this section as you scroll through the search results page.

    In most cases, the key phrases here indicate informational intent. 

    Image of People also ask section on

    As you can see from the image above, people want to know more information about the keyword (caramel macchiato). Sure, one question mentioned a brand (Starbucks). However, the context of the question strongly hints that the searcher is looking for information.

    Use Shopping results

    Enter a seed keyword on Google. Then launch its Shopping section.

    Image for the location of Shopping section on Google

    You will then be redirected to a section that displays commercial products about your keyword. This, of course, indicates commercial intent.

    Image of the results in Shopping section

    Use keyword research tool

    You can use different tools to determine a keyword’s search intent.

    A paid subscription to SEMrush gives you access to its Keyword Magic Tool, which will show your keyword suggestions from your seed keyword, along with the search intent of each.

    Entering your seed keyword there shows you suggestions based on your initial keyword.

    More importantly, there’s a column that identifies for you whether the keyword has an informational, commercial, or transactional search intent.

    How to use keyword intent

    And once you’ve identified a keyword’s intent, follow these guidelines to proceed:

    • Commercial – Entice — add excellent product images and descriptions — searchers to a product. Then, share irresistible offers such as discounts and special promos.
    • Informational – Create content to help them become more educated about a particular concept. Examples are how-to articles and explainer videos.
    • Navigational – Jot down key terms commonly associated with your brand. Then, optimize your site to offer solutions for these key terms.
    • Transactional – Create detailed discussions of products on the market. Examples are product reviews with links to the products’ landing pages.

    Conclusion 

    If you read the article above, you should know what makes search intent important.

    Therefore, whenever you create content for your site, ask yourself what you want that content to accomplish.

    Is it to inform people? Is it to get them to buy your product?

    Is it to tell them about your brand? Or is it to help them decide if a product is worth buying?

    You can then optimize the right keyword for your landing page on a specific website, From here, you can generate more conversions from the organic traffic it generates!

  • What’s a Bucket Brigade in Copywriting?

    What’s a Bucket Brigade in Copywriting?

    When it comes to effective copywriting strategies, a whopping 91% of content marketers are “all in”.

    And wouldn’t you agree it’s a powerful statement that sums up how content marketers believe in excellent writing?

    So, here’s an excellent copywriting strategy: Use bucket brigades.

    In this post, let’s discuss what a bucket brigade is and what it means in copywriting and content writing. You’ll even get tips on how to use them.

    What is a bucket brigade?

    The term bucket brigade is also called a human chain. It’s a method for transferring goods from one person to the next. 

    Before fire engines came into the picture, it was the go-to solution that allowed anyone to transport goods to a far destination. And for this reason, you can see why the method is praised in the firefighting industry.

    Below, you’ll find an image of a bucket brigade. 

    What Is a Bucket Brigade in Copy writing

    (Source)

    As you can see, they literally pass buckets of water from one person to another to put out the fire!

    Now, what is a bucket brigade in copy writing?

    what is a bucket brigade in copy writing

    A bucket brigade in copywriting, also known as the “grease slide copy,” is a classic magnetic writing technique.

    It is a bridge word or phrase. And it encourages site visitors to remain on your website and keep reading your content.

    Below is an example of bucket brigades from Robbie Richards’ post called SEO Copywriting: 15 Killer Techniques (With Examples and A/B Test Results).

    The author used “Truth is” in that image as his bucket brigade. And based on these words, the reader will stick around for what the author says. 

    That is if they want to know the truth. If the reader couldn’t care less about the truth, they’ll scoot.

    However, let’s be realistic. And put yourself in a reader’s shoes.

    If someone tells you something like “Truth is,” wouldn’t you also want to stick around?

    It’s understandable if you do!

    Related: How Keyword Intent Can Boost Your Conversion Rate

    Why use the bucket brigade technique?

    Asking the reader to listen to what you have to say in your article is a simple question. You’re asking too much, though. So, establish that your blog post can flow seamlessly. 

    And luckily, you can use bucket brigade phrases to spruce up your writing on landing pages, sales letters, blog writing, or any written content!

    Here’s a look at the benefits:

    Increases dwell time and reduces bounce rate

    Dwell time refers to the time visitors spend on your site. Meanwhile, bounce rate refers to the percentage that these visitors exit your site after viewing a single page.

    Dwell time and bounce rate go hand in hand and are inversely proportional to each other. Therefore, when your page has a high dwell time, its bounce rate will likely slide.

    And this is where general bucket brigades can help in your SEO copywriting. They can improve both factors by making your page’s content worth checking out!

    To elaborate on this point, picture how you would react to this tidbit from Neil Patel’s 6 Copywriting Tips That’ll Keep Readers Eyes Glued to Your Screen.

    If someone asks you, “What does that mean for you?” you’d stay on the page. And because this tidbit appears in the post’s second sentence, your interest was captured, and you’re less likely to bounce.

    Improves user experience

    Think of this like you’ll make a great impression on every visitor. And if visitors are happy with your site’s overall performance, they’ll return.

    Bonus: They may even give you free advertising and invite their family and friends.

    Here’s how bucket brigades and grease slide phrases fire up the user experience:

    • Engages readers – Bucket brigade writing keeps things interesting. They tell the readers that there’s information waiting for them.
    • Makes content easy to read – It makes your content scannable and not difficult to understand. Using Grammarly or other grammar checkers helps with this.
    • Grabs attention – Bucket brigades are conversational. And thus, users stop and pay attention to them.

    Increases rankings on search engines

    Improvement of dwell time, bounce rate, and user experience all lead to this. And when your rankings on search results are high, you can expect a desirable outcome:

    A boost in your conversion rates and sales.

    For a winning example, let’s take a page from Brian Dean’s playbook — SEO Copywriting: 17 Powerful Secrets.

    On that page, he covers bucket brigades. There, he writes that he adapted bucket brigades, and “the results are crazy.” 

    All over his blog, he walks the talk by using bucket brigades.

    And if you want proof that his copywriting technique works, why not determine how much time people spend on his blog?  

    To save you time from conducting your research, let me tell you about it: in 4 minutes!

    How to use bucket brigades

    Already gave readers all the information they need? Well, it makes sense if they’re itching to leave your site. 

    However, if you have something else that you believe is as useful for them, tell them. And that’s where you let bucket brigades enter the picture.

    Now, we’ll discuss the specific ways to use bucket brigades:

    Introduce your article

    Using bucket brigades to introduce the topic you’re about to discuss is a way to keep things interesting from the start. And it’s a great idea considering you’re at the point where it’s crucial to grab people’s attention.

    Below is a screenshot of a post that uses a bucket brigade in the introduction.

    You can find this if you unearth posts in the Ahrefs blog. Wondering why I decided to use this as an example?

    Simple. It’s because it introduces and supports the title of the article. It also contradicts a previous statement that beginners in SEO may find relatable.

    Want to use bucket brigades this way, too? Then here are five common bucket brigade examples for you:

    • Let’s get started
    • I’ll show you
    • Here’s the truth
    • It’s time to begin
    • Now, off we go

    To explain

    One of the purposes of a bucket brigade is to tell readers you want to elaborate on a claim.

    They’ll hop on to another site if they don’t understand your reason for a claim they disagree with.

    So, throw in a bucket brigade that lets them know you want to talk about why you decided to stick to specific claims. Then you’ll still have them in your space.

    Below is a screenshot of a post that uses a bucket brigade to explain.

    It’s grabbed from a blog about productivity, Darius Foroux. In the post, the author talks about the Munger Technique.

    He plans on convincing readers that it works. And the bucket brigade “Let me explain why” helps him out. 

    Want to use bucket brigades this way, too? Then here are five common bucket brigade examples for you:

    • In my experience
    • Think about it
    • Let me explain why
    • To make a point
    • Based on the results

    Transitioning to a different angle

    Are you planning to use bucket brigades in the middle of detailed discussions? 

    They help make both arguments worthy of consideration. Using them is like telling readers to hear out an opposing statement.

    Below is a screenshot of a post that uses a bucket brigade to make a seamless transition.

    It’s taken from a post from a finance blog, Making Sense of Cents. I went for this example because the entire article focuses on how the author became successful in real estate.

    She starts by detailing what she does and shares tips on how to succeed. And when she transitions to a different point of view, she uses the bucket brigade, on the other hand.

    Want to use bucket brigades this way, too? Then here are five common bucket brigade examples for you:

    • On the other hand
    • But wait — there’s more
    • And as if that is not enough
    • Then again
    • Now for the other part of the story

    Related post: 5 Ways to Be a Better Copywriter (and Get More Business)

    Final thoughts

    Without a doubt, the bucket brigade copywriting technique works. Using too many of them, though, is not a good idea. Instead, be strategic and use tools that point out which area or page of your site needs some work.

    Crazy Egg’s heatmap and Google Analytics are examples. It can help you identify areas in your content that don’t appeal to visitors

    Now, edit these places, and off you go to enjoy a boost in the search rankings of your blog post and conversion rates of your sales pages!

    Learn To Write Copy That Ranks AND Converts! ✍️

    Write conversion, persona-based copy from over a decade of manipulating many search engines, but mainly Google.

  • ProWritingAid Review: Will You Be a Better Writer Using This Tool?

    ProWritingAid Review: Will You Be a Better Writer Using This Tool?

    Ready to use ProWritingAid and improve your writing skills?

    If you’re building a career as a professional writer, I can understand why you’re turning to the promise of this tool.

    However, is ProWritingAid the most effective tool to help you write better?

    In this ProWritingAid review, let’s dive into the subject. We’ll check out its features, pros and cons, and pricing.

    At the end of the article, I’ll share my thoughts on the tool. If it can help you become a better writer, that’s what we’ll find out.

    KEY POINTS

    • INTERFACE

      It’s easy to understand. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned user of ProWritingAid, you won’t get lost due to its straightforward interface.
    • USEFULNESS

      The limit on plagiarism checks is bothersome. Other than that, though, the tool’s usefulness in coaching you is unquestionable.
    • USABILITY

      ProWritingAid is good for individual or team use. You can sign up for a free trial to try out its premium version.
    • USEFULNESS

      ProWritingAid features detailed reports. Thus, you can get why it’s effective in helping you become a better writer.

    What is ProWritingAid?

    ProWritingAid is an editing tool with free and premium versions. Its premium version offers at least 20 in-depth writing reports. It screens your writing thoroughly and checks your grammar, spelling, style, and more. 

    The editor’s goal is to help strengthen your writing skills and craft powerful words and sentences. And as this post and other ProWritingAid reviews are saying, it will help you become a better writer.

    Are you a student, blogger, or professional who wants to make an excellent impression with your writing? Then, this tool is ideal for you!

    Now, you might have also heard of Grammarly Premium, which is very similar to ProWritingAid. So, after reading this post, head on to this comparison post between the two to help you decide which is better for you.

    Features

    “ProWritingAid is a ‘grammar checker, style editor, and writing mentor’,” goes a statement written on its website. So, let’s explore the features that make it live up to this statement.

    Reports 

    Core

    This refers to the core reports that you need to access. In cases when you need to assess your writing’s fundamental aspects, the core reports will come in handy.

    The reports in this section include Summary, Style, and Grammar.

    Repeats

    This section calls your attention to instances when you get repetitive in your writing. The problem with repetitive writing is that it makes your work a chore to read.

    So, if you want to bring life to your writing, this section can help you. You can access two reports here such as All Repeats and Echoes.

    Structure

    Here, you can gauge your writing’s structure. You’ll also get tips that can help you form well-structured groups of words. 

    The reports you can find in this section include Structure, Length, and Transition.

    Readability 

    A tip to help engage your target audience is to write readable pieces. In simple terms, you need to increase your writing’s readability. 

    And if you need advice in making your content more readable, this is the section for you. It features reports such as Readability and Sticky.

    Sidebar features

    Human Editor

    Instances when you feel you need a fresh set of eyes to look at your work come around. And when they do, ProWritingAid can rush to save the day.

    With this feature, all you need to do is click the “human” icon to get in touch with a human editor.

    Publish with BookBaby

    Do you want to go into self-publishing? Or are you already in the process?

    If you want to write a book and publish it, ProWritingAid can help you along the way. It will tighten your sentences, eliminate fluff, and more.

    If so, hit this icon to step inside the platform.

    Integrations

    ProWritingAid features useful integrations. So, if you’re regularly working on external apps, you can easily use the tool.

    The list of integrations includes add-ons and browser extensions. With these integrations, you can polish your writing even if you’re using a different primary editor. 

    Using Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Scrivener, Firefox, Chrome, and Microsoft Edge? Then, you’ll be glad to know the software editor comes with extensions for these programs.

    Keyboard shortcuts

    ProWritingAid offers convenience by introducing keyboard shortcuts. This means you can press particular letters to access reports.

    To reveal the keyboard shortcuts, go to the editor and display the Reports toolbar. Now, press and hold the alt key to reveal single letters on a particular report’s upper left portion.

    For example, you’ll see the letter J associated with Style. The letters M and L are then associated with the Combo and Length reports respectively.

    How to Use ProWritingAid

    Using ProWritingAid is simple. Sign up for an account (or login to an existing one). Then, click Use App or Start Web Editor to kick things off.

    Once the web-based app is up and running, let me walk you through the process.

    Step # 1 – Provide text

    There are different ways to go about this. How you proceed is up to you. The results will still be the same regardless of your choice.

    Option # 1 – Upload

    If your text is ready, you can upload it as a document. 

    Click Upload a document from the software editor. Or open the Menu and launch Upload.

    Option # 2 – Copy + paste option

    You can also copy your finished text from an external source. Then, key in Ctrl + V to paste it to the tool.

    Option # 3 – Real time edit 

    Another option is to start typing in the editor. Don’t forget, ProWritingAid analyzes the entries in real time. This means you can expect the suggested revisions to keep coming as you type. 

    As you type, you’ll notice a red number beside Reports. Well, that number corresponds to the number of real-time suggestions.

    Take, for instance, in the image of my copy below.

    Step # 2 – Scan text

    Click Reports to view ProWritingAid’s analysis. Because ProWritingAid features at least 20 in-depth reports, you can scrutinize your copy to the letter.

    You can read through each report and use the notes to evaluate your writing.

    For a standard writer, there are “essential reports” worth checking. This includes grammar, style, and readability. Fortunately, you can access these reports on the toolbar with a single click.

    Another essential report worth accessing is the plagiarism report. And unlike these essentials, you might not easily access ProWritingAid’s plagiarism checker with a single click. 

    If you’re new to using the tool, you might even think it doesn’t exist. I, for one, dismissed it as a non-existent feature in the beginning.

    However, exist it does! If the size of your screen doesn’t allow access to all the available reports in one column, expand More Reports. And at the bottom of the dropdown menu, you’ll see the Plagiarism checker. 

    Like when you access the essential reports, it takes a single click to use the plagiarism checker. Once you load it up, the tool will search the web for similar copies of the text you provided in the editor.

    Don’t want to access the reports one by one? 

    The workaround is to click the Summary report. It will provide you with a summarized report of your pasted text. Yes, with a single click!

    Because it’s a summary of reports, you’re probably thinking that you’ll get a few brief statements and nothing more. Well, you’re wrong. 

    Even with a summarized version of the reports, ProWritingAid analyzes text thoroughly. It provides reports for key document areas, statistics, readability measures, and more.

    For example, I’ll view the tool’s summary of the original version of this ProWritingAid review’s introduction.

    prowritingaid summary report

    The summarized report shows you where your content stands based on the different factors or “Goals” as seen from the screenshot. But to get you an idea of what you expect from it, below is a breakdown of things discussed:

    • Grammar Check – Attempt for a score of 100% to make your audience understand what you’re trying to say.
    • Writing Style – Score 80% or higher by improving the word order and phrasing of your sentences, eliminate hidden verbs, stop repeating the same sentence starts, and more.
    • Sentence Length Check – Make your sentences shorter by aiming for simple sentences instead of complex ones.
    • Readability Check – Aim for a grade that suits your audience, i.e. if your target readers are kids, Readability Grade should not be higher than 5.
    • Sentence Structure Check – Eliminate the use of conjunction starts (and, but, etc.) to increase your score here.
    • Pacing Check – Applicable to authors, this factor measure how fast or slow the movement of the story is.
    • Consistency Check – Use of quotes and acronyms must ideally be consistent.
    • Sticky Sentences Check – Reducing the number of glue words will make your content less sticky.
    • Repeats Check – Avoid repeating long phrases more than twice.
    • Dialogue Tags Check – Strike the balance of using dialogue tags (said, asked) to not distract your readers.

    If you don’t want the tool to give you an extensive report about one area in your writing, tapping the summary will give you what you need. If you prefer things differently and you want to jump into the details of a report, there’s an easy workaround in the Summary section, too.

    Notice hyperlinked text that says Read More About This Report? To explore a particular report — and not merely its summarized version, that’s what you need to click.

    Step # 3 – Apply revisions

    After ProWritingAid analyzes your copy, you’ll see words that are underlined in three different colors. Here’s what these colors mean:

    • Blue – Grammar issues
    • Yellow – Style issues
    • Red – Spelling issues   

    So, using the tool’s reports as the basis, it’s time to make changes to your original copy as you see fit. 

    This step is simple. All you need to do is click an underlined word to view the suggested revisions. What makes this even simpler is you can click the suggestion for changes to be applied to your copy immediately.

    That’s exactly what I did in the following images. The first image shows the original copy.

    The unedited text is as follows:

    “…However, it’s a short version of all ProWritingAid’s in-depth reports.”

    And after clicking the tool’s suggestion, the revised version of the copy came out. Like it shows in the image below, it now says the following:

    “…However, it’s a quick version of all ProWritingAid’s in-depth reports.”

    Then again, you get full control of your writing. You can apply these changes if you agree with the tool.

    Think ProWritingAid is offering unnecessary suggestions? Then, choose Disable Rule or Ignore from the suggestions.

    Step # 4 – Export

    You’re now set. You can transfer your revised copy to an external location. 

    Go ahead if you want to let it go live on a WordPress blog. Or if you’re about to submit it to a publication.

    The easy way to proceed is to copy everything from the software editor and paste it to your preferred location. 

    Another way to proceed is to use the tool’s Export function. This will download a revised copy that you can open and use as you please. Before you can make this happen, though, you need to save your work first.

    And as discussed earlier, you can also use the sidebar feature, Publish with Bookbaby. If you click the feature, you’ll be redirected to an external place where you can begin self-publishing.

    ProWritingAid Pricing

    Checking out reviews about ProWritingAid free vs. premium is practical. If you’re looking to know whether you can get by with the free version or if you really need to pay up, I get where you’re coming from.

    The tool is handy, alright. Although, it comes with a price. 

    Here’s a rundown of the free version, along with ProWritingAid’s (discounted) Premium and Premium+ subscription plans:

    • ProWritingAid Free
      • Summary report of key issues
      • 19 writing reports
      • Exclusive online use
    • ProWritingAid Premium
      • $59.3 per year (25% discount)
      • Everything in ProWritingAid Free
        • Plus:
        • Use of desktop version
        • Word, Google Docs, Chrome, and Scrivener integrations
    • ProWritingAid Premium+
      • $66.8 per year (25% discount)
      • Everything in ProWritingAid Premium
        • Plus:
        • 50 plagiarism checks

    You can use the free version for as long as you like. The catch is, it’s rather limited.

    For one, you’re limited to editing 500 words with the free version. And you can only access the summary of the reports. This means, you can’t scrutinize your writing well, too.

    So, here’s a tip if your heart is set on trying ProWritingAid Premium for free:

    You can sign up for a 7-day trial. Provide your email address. And voila, you’ll receive your ProWritingAid Premium license in your inbox immediately.

    Now, what do you do if your ProWritingAid free trial expires and you want to continue using the tool? Well, it’s time to upgrade your account. 

    ProWritingAid offers three subscription plans for individual use. All plans have the same features. The main difference is in how regularly you want to use (and pay for) the tool.

    The Monthly ($20 per month) and Yearly ($79 per year) plans seem fitting for you if you’re willing to shell out cash for the tool regularly.

    And if you want to access the tool for as long as you like, subscribe to the Lifetime plan and receive your ProWritingAid Lifetime license. It’s yours for a one-time payment of $229. And should there be updates to ProWritingAid along the way, the plan has you covered.

    ProWritingAid Review: Pros and Cons

    ProWritingAid receives lots of praise from writers. However, there are some not-so-good aspects worth shedding light on, too.

    So, let’s discuss the positive and negative aspects of this tool.

    Pro: Intuitive and user-friendly interface

    ProWritingAid’s interface is a winner. The choice of colors and text blends harmoniously and gives off a visually appealing vibe.

    Everything is self-explanatory and the descriptive icons are helpful. Even if it’s going to be your first experience with the tool, you’re unlikely to bump into impediments along the way.

    Con: Scanning lengthy texts can slow down the tool

    Sadly, ProWritingAid is not ready for the big stuff. A thousand words of text is bad news because it can slow down the tool.

    However, are short copies all you deal with? Then, you won’t have a problem.

    Pro: Personalized progress reports

    This new aspect informs you of your performance based on your writing history — and not someone else’s progress. You’ll get notified of your most active day of the week and improvements that you can apply.

    These personalized progress reports are emailed to you regularly. Next to your writing’s strengths and weaknesses, they contain advice on how to improve your writing.

    Here are three snippets from the personalized progress report that I received:

    Con: Limited plagiarism checker

    Going around and claiming you own an entire article, when in fact, someone owns the rights to it is frowned upon. In the writing industry, this is unprofessional.

    So, checking your copy for plagiarized parts is a must. Especially if you’re writing professionally, you need a plagiarism checker. 

    Unfortunately, ProWritingAid doesn’t give importance to plagiarism checks. Even if you’re a premium user, there’s a limit to how often you can check your copy for plagiarism.

    Pro: Keyboard shortcuts

    The keyboard shortcuts are helpful. With them, using ProWritingAid is a notch easier and faster.

    This is a big plus for time-conscious users. If the milliseconds consumed by moving their hand away from the keyboard to the mouse bothers them, the shortcuts are a live-saver.

    VERDICT

    Tanya Marie Porras

    INTERFACE
    USEFULNESS
    USABILITY
    EFFECTIVENESS

    Summary

    With ProWritingAid, moving on to the next level with your writing skills is less challenging. With this premium tool, you can write better — choose the right words and craft powerful sentences.
    Like all tools of its kind, it doesn’t disappoint. It helps you with the basics, such as grammar, spelling, and plagiarism checks.
    What makes it a cut above the rest is its ability to help you thoroughly as you revise your writing. Besides its core features, the tool monitors your website content for repeats, structure, and readability. 
    So, if you’re searching for the ultimate writing assistant, you’ll find it in ProWritingAid!

    4.3

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