How to Be a Pop Culture Writer for the Web

There is all sorts of nonsense on the World Wide Web. As a reader, it is up to you to discern the trash from information that you seek-and choose to store in your mental Rolodex. As a writer, it can be even harder to make an impact. If you've decided to cover a hot entertainment scandal, you'd better believe that at least 169,220 blogs and websites will be covering the same story. Why should anyone read yours? The answer to that lies in building a solid catalog of material that makes readers want to hear your interpretation of pop culture events. Reporting on the things that happen around you is simple; anyone can write a "journal." The key to being a successful pop culture writer (for the web) will take more than a few strokes of luck and a subscription to the Enquirer.

1-Stay in the now and in the "know." Stay ahead of the curve. If you remain tuned into the rhythm of life, you'll be able to "see" things before they happen. Celebrity news as random as it may seem-isn't always really so random. You may not be able to predict the next hot scandal. But you can make predictions about future film and album releases, or the fallout of an event happening in your hometown. Staying ahead of the curve involves understanding human nature, and how people will react to hearing certain news.

2- Expand your techniques. The beautiful thing about immersing yourself in the pop culture arena is that the writing possibilities are endless. Humorous pieces (if they are truly funny) will eventually garner a small following as people love to laugh. If you can deftly spin semi-serious topics into something palatable, you're well on your way. Experiment with different language styles. Write an article as an open letter. Post fun quizzes. Use small anecdotes to back up your topics. Anything to continuously keep your audience on its toes.

3-Read, read, read. Find the pop culture blogs you like. For instance, you may love cooking, but discover that PioneerWoman's visual recipes are more entertaining and informative than ones you'd find on Epicurious.com. Identify the online blogs and sites you enjoy, and pinpoint the reasons why they're your favorite. You shouldn't necessarily copy the writing styles you see; but getting familiar with different online approaches will help you to find your own audience.

4- Listen to the public. Visiting a restaurant's website to find out about their menu and location will probably yield about 50% of the information that you really need to make a decision about the venue. The company's site won't tell you that parking is awkward for large cars-or that the reservation process can be a tad messy. Check out review sites like Yelp.com or Kudzu.com; it's a terrific way to glean bits of information that you might not find otherwise. You can't always rely completely on the reviews of strangers. But you can obtain tips that you can investigate for yourself.

5-Brush up on your Web Writing "Mathematics." Yes, there are indeed certain Internet tricks that writers employ in order to widen their fan base. Those terms you've been hearing such as SEO (Search Engine Optimization), pay per click advertising, and link building are just part of the huge puzzle that is Web Content Writing. No matter what website you are writing for, there are things to consider if you plan on your work actually being accessed. Clean work with plenty of keyphrases will help your writing become more visible on search engines like Google, Yahoo!, or Bing. This aspect of web content writing can be pretty confusing. All in all, the rule of thumb is to write what you know and write it well. Keep your tone accessible and your words uncluttered.

6- Find your niche. There are millions of websites dedicated to various aspects of pop culture. The beauty of writing is that people see the same world with entirely different perspectives. Finding your niche in the wide world of pop culture requires you to reveal how you interpret current events. Anyone can write a review about his/her favorite band's latest concert. But the concierge booth clerk at the concert venue probably has a much juicier cache of anecdotes to share. When certain events occur, your slant will make all the difference between 112 hits and 112,000 page hits. Remember that no one knows your life like you do. Merge a little of who you are with what you know-and the numbers that follow your work will grow.

SOURCES:
www.styleguide.yahoo.com
www.associatedcontent.com
www.psychologytoday.com
www.mediatakeout.com
www.radaronline.com