When my virtual assistance story is finally written, two or three chapters might be dedicated to Grammarly. I would still be a great writer without this software, but I am thankful it exists. Grammarly is a powerful tool that can immensely benefit virtual assistance. Basically, the tool aids in proofreading. It is a must-have tool for writers, be they freelance writers or not. Here are some ways Grammarly has assisted me in my virtual assistance journey, specifically in proofreading or checking my writing: 1.      Enhanced Communication Skills Grammarly helps improve my writing by suggesting corrections for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. This ensures that my communication with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders is clear, professional, and error-free. Of course, I don’t accept every suggestion Grammarly offers because it does miss the context sometimes. But it helps a lot in pointing out typos such as thiss onee . 2.   ...

 As a news writer, part of my responsibilities involves creating news from news. I attentively read the original news and develop my version without distorting the facts or circumstances. News rewriting is when you read news and write a new one out of it. Or let me put it this way: rewriting news as a freelance writer involves presenting information from a news article in a new, original way while maintaining the key facts and ensuring accuracy. Let me point out from the onset that before you even become a news rewriter, you must already possess the qualities of an excellent writer to begin with. That is, learn to be a good writer first. Here are some steps you can follow: 1.      Understand the Original Article ·          Read the original news article thoroughly to grasp the main points, facts, and critical details. You cannot accurately explain what you don’t understand in the first place. Rewriting is merely...

Yes, you can learn a lot about freelance writing on YouTube, as the platform now hosts a wide variety of educational content compared to, say, 15 years ago. I have learned numerous virtual assistant skills on YouTube and other video platforms, so I know the potential offers. Have you realized these days that when you Google something, YouTube videos are part of the top first page results? Let’s not forget that Julius Yego learned to throw a javelin on YouTube . So let’s not underestimate the power of YouTube. At the same, I will tell you why you should not overestimate it when it comes to learning certain skills. I don’t want to be operated by a surgeon who acquired his skills on YouTube. Yes, but we are talking about freelance writing, not surgery. You can learn to be an excellent freelance writer exclusively on YouTube. Period. That said, becoming a successful freelance writer usually requires a combination of learning, practice, and real-world experience. That is, you may need mor...

There have been stories of those who dropped out of college to pursue writing and became very successful freelance writers, raking in millions of cheddars. I already discussed if one should quit a regular job to work exclusively online.  So, should anyone passionate about writing drop out of school and follow their hearts? I usually answered, “Yeeees, why not?” but these days I am more thoughtful — I suspect old age is catching up with me — so I’d thoughtfully and slowly reply, “No, hold on.” You see, AI is muddling the waters , and freelance writing isn’t what it used to be when we started. I’ll discuss this somewhere down here. The decision to drop out of college to pursue a freelance writing career is a significant one with serious repercussions and should not be taken lightly. Here are some factors to consider when making this decision: 1.      Skills and Experience Assess your writing skills and experience. Are you confident in your ability to ...

Why should you hire a virtual assistant to type your documents? What value will a virtual assistant add to your documents? You may not realize it, but hiring a virtual assistant for tasks such as typing your documents can help you in many other ways. Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) to type documents for you can be a beneficial decision for several reasons: 1.      Time and Efficiency VAs are skilled at typing and document formatting, which can save you a significant amount of time. By outsourcing these tasks, you can focus on more important aspects of your work or personal life. By delegating typing and administrative tasks to a VA, you can concentrate on your core responsibilities, potentially increasing your productivity and overall efficiency. 2.      Accuracy VAs are typically detail-oriented and can provide accurate and error-free documents. They can proofread and edit content, ensuring high-quality work. 3.    ...

To be an effective internet researcher, you need a combination of skills, knowledge, and strategies to find, evaluate, and synthesize information from various online sources. Here are 15 essential skills and qualities you should develop as an effective internet researcher: 1.      Information literacy This is the foundation of internet research. You need to know how to find, assess, and use information effectively. It includes understanding different types of sources, evaluating their credibility, and knowing how to cite them properly. The worst mistake you can ever make as an internet researcher is to blindly cite misleading information when a casual background check could have shown the information isn’t credible. 2.      Strong search skills You should be proficient in using search engines like Google, Edge and specialized databases to find relevant information quickly. Understanding search operators, advanced search techniques, and...

Some freelance writers do academic writing. In some quarters, academic writing has become synonymous with helping students with their exams or assignments. But is academic writing about cheating in exams or assignments? There is a difference between academic writing and academic cheating. Let’s dig in to find out the difference. Academic Writing What is academic writing? Academic writing is a structured and systematic approach to presenting research, ideas, and arguments in a way that is clear, well-organized, and supported by evidence. It is a means of contributing to the body of knowledge in various fields of study. Is academic writing a crime or unethical? Academic writing is not inherently a crime or immoral. In fact, it is an essential part of the educational process and the dissemination of knowledge. Academic writing is typically subject to ethical and academic integrity standards, which require authors to acknowledge the sources of their information and ideas thro...