Several bloggers use the native WordPress editor as their default content writing tool. I used to be one of them. However, I prefer using a common tool for all my writing projects, including WordPress blog posts.
In this article, I will show you three tools you can use to:
- Write your blog content
- Easily upload your work to WordPress
These three tools are: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and AirStory.
Let’s start with MS-Word.
Content Writing With MS-Word
In the corporate world, Microsoft Word is the writing tool of choice. Outside of that, lots of people use it (except for me). If you do use MS-Word, then craft your post with it and save it with a .docx file extension. (older versions of MS-Word used the .doc extension)
Once you are done with your writing, upload the MS-Word document into your WordPress blog with the Mammoth .docx converter WordPress plugin.
Mammoth enables you to upload both text and images to WordPress. All formatting is preserved including headings. Don’t forget that, in WordPress, the H1 tag is reserved. So, make sure you don’t use that style in your MS-Word document. Instead, start from H2, then H3, H4, etc.
Installing the Mammoth .docx converter WordPress plugin
As a pre-requisite, you must install the free Mammoth .docx converter plugin in WordPress. You will need to this once:
Plugins > Add New
Next, from the keyword search field, type “mammoth” without the double quotes. This action will display the Mammoth .docx converter plugin. Click on the “Install Now” button.
Finally, click on the “Activate” button to activate the plugin.
Importing your MS-Word document into WordPress
From WordPress, create a new blog post. Scroll down until you see the Mammoth .docx converter.
Click the “Browse” button. From the file selection display, choose the .docx document that you saved in Step-1 above. Then, press the Open button (on MacOS) or equivalent on other platforms.
This will cause Mammoth .docx converter plugin to upload the MS-Word document into WordPress.
Now, scroll up to your WordPress editor, and your article will display. It will include everything you wrote in your MS-Word article.
If you are happy with MS-Word, then stick with it. The above procedure works just fine.
Otherwise, you may prefer to examine the Google Docs method that follows.
Content Writing With Google Docs
For a long time, I used Google Docs to create my blog posts and other documents. Google Docs is part a Google suite that includes: sheets, drawings, forms, slides, etc. I already covered How to Craft Your Featured Images With Google Drawings.
Google Docs is a free alternative to MS-Word. It is cloud-based and enables you to share documents with your peers or teams.
(You can also use it offline by installing the Google Docs Offline Chrome extension).
Now, let’s suppose you create a blog post with Google Docs. You are ready to publish it to WordPress. Here are three available options:
Option-1: Copy From Google Docs to WordPress
From Google Docs, select all your article, copy it and then paste it into your WordPress editor.
This action will preserve all your text, headings (H1, H2, H3), formatting (bold, italics, bulleted lists, etc.) but not images.
You will need to upload your images manually. It may be acceptable for one or two images. Beyond that, you will prefer the next option.
Option-2: Mammoth .docx Converter Plugin
With this option, you will upload both text and images to WordPress.
You need to install the free Mammoth .docx converter plugin in WordPress. See the above discussion on how to do this.
Now, proceed to the next two steps:
Step-1: From Google Docs, save your article as a Ms-Word Document on your local device.
Step-2: From WordPress, create a new post. Scroll down and locate the Mammoth .docx converter. Click “Browse” and select your MS-Word document. For details, refer to the previous section: Importing your MS-Word document into WordPress.
Option-3: Use the Jetpack Plugin
Ok, I have to talk about another option: the Jetpack plugin and Google Docs combo. Personally, I don’t like Jetpack because it introduces delays in my GTMetrix performance reports.
Besides, the Google Docs / Jetpack integration requires several authentications between WordPress.com, your WordPress blog, and Google Docs. But that could be an alternative if you are already running the Jetpack plugin.
I will not cover the integration details in this article. Instead, I will refer you to the following external links:
- How to Import From Google Docs to WordPress (Using Jetpack)
- How To Import Google Docs Articles To WordPress
If Google Docs is not your cup of tea, then consider using Airstory.
Content Writing With AirStory
Airstory is an impressive cloud based content writing tool for all your writing projects. I’ve been using it as a replacement for Google Docs. It provides a clean and distraction-free user interface. It offers:
- an outliner: to quickly rearrange your sections or text blocks
- a note library: collect information from various sources
- an image library: store all your visuals in one place for your projects
- templates: jump start your writing by using templates (built-in ones + your templates)
- version history: you can travel back in time in your document and start writing from any given point
- multiple tabs: your document can contain several tabs for better segmentation
- a word counter per document and per tab
- good support and knowledge base
- mobile friendly: works great on mobile devices (and desktop too).
- instant synchronization between all your devices
- and many more exciting features … more in my next product review.
Airstory comes with its Airstory Researcher for Chrome, helping you clipping anything on the web and save it into your Airstory projects.
You also get their free WordPress plugin companion that will automatically import your Airstory documents into your blog. All you need is to press the “Publish” button.
You can start with the Airstory free plan at ten documents per month. For unlimited documents, you can subscribe to their premium plan.
Importing your documents in Airstory is easy. All you need is to install the Airstory WordPress plugin and provide your Airstory user token. Let’s see how it works.
Installing the Airstory WordPress plugin
Installing the plugin is easy. You only need to do it once.
From WordPress, install the Airstory plugin:
Plugins > Add New
From the keyword field, type “airstory” without the double quotes. On the Airstory plugin entry, click on the “Install Now” button.
Next, activate the plugin:
You will get a welcome prompt asking you to authenticate the plugin to your Airstory account. Click on that link. This will take you to your WordPress user profile.
From your Airstory account settings, retrieve and copy your user token:
From your WordPress user profile, paste your user token:
Update your profile. You are done!
Publishing Your Airstory Document to WordPress
That’s the easy part. Click the blue “Publish” button located at the top right corner. You will get several publishing options:
- Airstory template
- Google Drive
- Your authenticated WordPress site
- Word
- HTML
- Markdown
In the following example, I selected BuzzAndTips:
The publishing process will create a new WordPress blog entry. All text and images are uploaded. Headings (H2, H3, etc.) and other formatting are preserved too.
Final Words
And now you have it. Three ways to write your blog posts and smoothly upload them to WordPress.
Remember the goal here: using a common tool for all your writing. Then, a simple process that makes the bridge between that tool and WordPress.
What kind of content writing tools are you using?
Please leave your comment below. Your feedback is welcome.
The article 3 Content Writing Tools With Easy Upload To WordPress appeared first on BuzzAndTips.
