Free Report Writing Tips

Writing a free report is something that can benefit you and your blog in many ways. You can use free reports to build your list, build your traffic, as a lead in for an upsell. There’s tons and tons of things you can do with a free report.

Here’s the rub. A lot of people start to FREAK OUT when they think about writing a “free report”. A lot of stuff comes up. “I don’t know enough.” “Who would listen to me?”  “I can’t write a report.”  “I don’t have that much to say.”  “Well, yeah, that will take up about a page.”

Whew… we’ve got a lot of stuff going on in our brains when it comes to free report writing.

Step 1.

Turn off your inner critic.

Step 2.

Let go of any preconceived notions of what writing a free report is or isn’t.

Ok if you manage the first 2 steps you’re 75% of the way there!

Now let’s talk about writing your free report. There’s quite a few ways to tackle this project, which one you choose depends on you and your business. There’s, again, no right or wrong way to do this. It’s simply a matter of what’s a good fit for your business, and what feels good for you! No matter which you choose you’ll need to open a text document. I have been using open office ~ it’s free and there is a feature where you can export to pdf (create a pdf ) with one click. The links in your pdf will be clickable too. Open office is the only free program I’ve found that keeps links live.

Ways to write your report

1. PLR

PLR is awesome for creating free report. If you get an article pack of 5 articles you can easily put them together, add a little content to connect them, an introduction, and a wrap up. Increase to 14 point font, add footers and you’re there. 10 to 15 page free report done. Depending on your niche you may find there are reports already written. You can just go in and make some changes ~ make it sound more like “you” and call it good!

PRL Resources I trust:

Easy PLR

Yummy PLR (food related)

2. Blog Content

If you have a series of posts, or even a category of posts on your blog already you can easily put them together as a free report.

I recently did this with a group of posts on keyword research for squidoo lenses. I used the posts (copy/pasted) as the base, and added some content in between the posts to tie them together. Intro at the beginning, wrap up at the end. BAM new report.

This type of report will be even more useful the more content you get on your blog. You can use these reports to drive traffic (which we’ll talk about later as well).

Look in your archives ~ do you have a category on your blog that people seem to like, or that you think would be interesting? Look at your posts, pull them out and reuse them in a report.

3. Write it from scratch

Now this step doesn’t have to be long, or complicated or scary. In fact, it can be pretty simple. Here’s some ways to get  started with brainstorming ideas for your free report.

• tips to do something in your niche (10 tips to choose a horse, 5 tips to get organized, 10 ways to choose the right ride on toys, 5 top safety tips for using a chainsaw)
• Questions answered. You’ve checked out forums right? What questions are people in your niche asking? Pick 10 that seem to be asked over and over and answer them in your free report.
• Give people ideas. This is great for many niches. Give people ideas that will help them get started. (10 ideas for a great birthday party, 10 great craft ideas for summer projects, 3 fool proof garden plans, 10 must haves for kids crafts)
• How To. Give people a step by step how to do something in your niche. This will work for just about any niche you can think of. Just brainstorm what people in your niche are trying to do… then come up with some steps to help them accomplish that. (get more traffic, write a free report, create a craft supply closet, pay more than the minimum on your bills each month, entertain your preschooler over summer, work while your kids are home, make a birdbath for your garden) The how tos are endless. If you’re having trouble thinking of something go to e-how.com and put in your topic or a related topic and see what kind of how tos they are writing over there.

Now it’s time to write.

You’ve turned off that inner critic right? That was step #1. So there’s nothing like “I can’t write” going through your head now right?!?

Good, because here are some tips to make knocking this free report out no problem.

1. Identify a few things you’d like to talk about in your report.

No matter what kind of report you’ve decided to write there are going to be pieces of the puzzle that you’ll need to put together for your reader.

Off the top of your head, think of a few of those things and write them down. (That way you don’t forget them, and it’s easier  to stay on topic)

2. Write down a couple things you want to say about each of those things.

For each of your big points you want to write down a couple smaller points to make about each one.

You’ve just created an outline for your free report. Now it’s time to sit down and write.

3. Write like you’re talking to a friend

We’ve been using the words “authority blog” a lot lately, and I don’t want you to think you have to be an “authority” like in PhD, no sense of humor, can’t be who you are. Because that’s just NOT true. The more yourself you can be the better. The more you in your report the more your audience will resonate with you, and get to know YOU as well as more about the topic.

I’ve said it time and time again.

People don’t read blogs, they connect with people.

The more you can be friendly, yourself in your report the better. (oh and it makes it sooooo much easier to write too!) Just act like you were talking to a friend who asked about the subject at hand. What would you tell them? What would you say to answer the question? It’s that simple, don’t make it more than it needs to be. ok?

Depending on your style you can do the writing a couple different ways.

1. Write an “article” on each of the topics you’ve outlined. Once you’ve got an “article” 300-500 words on each of the main topics, then put the together. Add a little content in between to tie them together. An intro, and a wrap up and you’re done.

2. Start writing about the part that feels easiest to write about. It doesn’t matter if it’s the beginning, middle, or part 5. Start somewhere. Once you get started you’ll find things start to flow and the parts that seemed a little harder in the beginning feel a little easier now.

Either way you do it keep in mind that once you get in the flow with the writing you may dream up a “term” or “nickname” for something. This may/probably will happen in the middle or toward the end. Make sure you go back to the beginning and use the new term throughout to make it consistent.

This happened to me while I was writing the Blog 2 hours report. I was trying to explain about the different times of the plan. On the last time area I came  up with “time block” which made sense to me. I then had to go back to the beginning (after I finished the report ~ I didn’t want to mess with the flow right then) and rewrite a little to include the term “time blocks” in the parts I had already written.

Whether it’s a term or anything else, just make sure you are consistent throughout the report so it will make sense.

Finishing touches

1. Introduction

At the beginning of your report it’s nice to say if the report can be shared with others. It’s up to you if people can share it or not. Remember, you will have links to your site throughout the report so if people share it, it will likely help your traffic. Make sure you say something about it being free.  I often forget down the line if I’ve paid for something or if it was plr ~ so it’s a good thing to mention so people won’t inadvertently use your report in a way it was not intended.

Tell a little about yourself, who you are, why you’re writing the report.  I’m assuming you’re familiar with or enjoy your topic so that’s good to mention how you fit in with the topic. It will give people a reason to believe what you say and read on.

2. Footers

You want to add footers to your report. You can do this by clicking insert and then choosing footer. Once you’ve got the footer open you can write in there. You want something that will lead them back to your site. Think of  a benefit they will get for going to your site. In my latest report I made the whole footer a link that said “click here for more step by step blogging tutorials” since the whole report was about blogging. You might want to make it a sentence and then have your url there. That way it will help brand your url. Either way, make sure you have a link at the bottom of each page people can click on to get back to your website.

3. Wrap up

At the end of your report you want to create a little wrap up section. Go over the basics of what they learned, and then provide links (affiliate if you have them) to products or resources you may have mentioned in the report.

Let them know how you can further assist them ~ even if it is finding out more about the topic on your blog. If you have an articles page or something similar where they can easily track down information you might mention that there as well.

Finally, you want to make sure you put your name on it, and have your website address where people can see it.  The more personal you can make it, the more “real” it will be for people and the more of a real person you’ll become.  You will also want to add any other way people can connect with you ~ so if you have a twitter account, facebook account, youtube (if you’re site has a lot of video) put all of those links at the bottom of your report as well. The more connected you can get the better.

4. Proofread and Create PDF

I know many of you will be tempted to write and rewrite and rewrite and then revamp and renew your free report.

QUIT IT.

Write the report. Proofread it for spelling and huge grammatical errors. Then stop. Turn it into a pdf and upload it. If you’re not great at catching spelling errors ask a friend to read it (or post at the facebook page ~ I’m sure someone would be happy to take a gander and give some feedback).

All in all just keep in mind you’re not being graded on this. It is just one more way for you to connect with your readers.  Be yourself, have fun, and go for it!!

Can’t wait to hear how it’s going. If you have questions or need help ~ just pipe up in the comment section. I’ll do what I can.