Creating a Knowledge Base

Why I Am Adding a Knowledge Base to WriterSanctuary

Currently, I am working on adding a knowledge base to WriterSanctuary. It’s kind of like a Wiki page but with a bit more style. A lot of companies use these to help with troubleshooting and customer support. I’m building one to help writers.

It’ll be more geared toward quick and easy answers to questions and terms regarding freelancing, blogging, and self-publishing.

Doesn’t the blog provide this information already? Yes, it does. But sometimes you just want a quick answer without having to sift through a blog post.

I mean, I appreciate the time you spend on my blog, but there are days when you’d just like a fast answer and then move on.

I am driven by helping others, and this is just another way that I can assist writers in their journeys.

Benefits of Adding a Knowledge Base

Usually, companies will add a knowledge base to help customers with quick and succinct answers for product or service support. It’s a way to reduce phone calls and chats with support, which saves the company money while empowering customers.

The one I am adding is being built for a similar purpose. Only, I don’t have customers. I want to help those looking for information regarding writing of all kinds.

Quick and Easy References

A large portion of the KB (knowledge base) is essentially a condensed version of many of the blog posts on this website. They are meant for quick references for those who don’t have time to really dive into the blog.

Another portion of the KB is information that doesn’t really need a full-length blog post to describe. Some topics are relatively thin when it comes to word counts based on their nature.

In other words, not all topics need a 5000-word article diving into its nuts and bolts. Some things are relatively simple.

Providing Additional Support

The vast majority of the content on this site has one purpose – to help writers. I felt that a knowledge base would provide additional support for those looking to make a career as freelancers, bloggers, or self-published authors.

A KB will also give me an opportunity to share advice and tidbits of information from others that I’ve come across. And yes, I always cite sources with links.

Saving Info for Later

Perhaps one of the most important facets for me to add a knowledge base is to help me remember to cover future topics. While I usually add notes to my schedule in Asana, having the KB on this site lets me share what I’ve found with others before I write a full-length blog post or upload a video.

That way, I can write up a quick post complete with a link. Then, I can come back to it later for future blog content ideas.

What Will the Knowledge Base Include?

WriterSanctuary covers all things related to writing. Well, at least the different areas of writing that interest me. I’ve built quite a career by being exceptionally versatile when it comes to hammering out content.

So, what kind of topics do I include in the KB?

Freelancing

If it wasn’t for the work I did for Textbroker starting in 2012, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’ve learned a lot about freelancing since then and try to help others find their own paths.

The knowledge base includes everything from content mills to home office equipment. You’d probably be amazed by how much a decent office chair can affect the amount of money you make in a day.

Blogging

Blogging isn’t dead. However, the way people approach it has changed drastically over the past decade. And I do what I can to help others build websites of which they can be proud.

Sure, video content is constantly growing and evolving. But blogs still generate a great deal of traffic while helping creators make quite a bit of money.

Not to mention that I believe all authors and writers should have a blog.

Self-Publishing

Being a self-publishing author is my primary interest today. And I am constantly learning new things to help promote myself as well as my books. It’s my goal to see you succeed in your own journey as an author.

This means I share all of my successes and failures to help you determine the best course of action for yourself. After all, not all authors have the same experience. Every situation is unique, but perhaps sharing mine helps you prepare for what to expect.

Relevant Categories to Come

I’m not sure how much more I’ll branch from these three categories. But if there is something writing-related you’d like to learn, feel free to leave a comment. I’m always open to suggestions.

Eventually, I might add a few more categories as my interest gets piqued. For example, I’d love to give screenwriting a try and perhaps do some acting on one of my other YouTube channels.

The Blog Posts Are More Detailed

The purpose of the knowledge base is to provide succinct and bite-sized answers. However, the blog posts have far more details regarding specific topics. So, the KB isn’t replacing the blog content but is more of a way to accentuate the material.

For instance, it’d be awfully difficult to write a how-to for creating a book in Reedsy in less than 500 words.

In essence, the KB is more like an FAQ as I answer questions regarding each category. Then, I often link to the full-length blog post should someone want greater details regarding a topic.

Let’s say I answer a question about “How much does it cost to self-publish a book?” The KB answer would focus on the actual costs and basic information, but then I’d link to the blog post that dives deeper into all of the costs and what you should expect.

What about Google’s “Duplicate Content Penalty?” Actually, the penalty doesn’t exist. At least not in the way that some people might think. Duplicate content hurts SEO when it is a virtual copy from another website. This usually happens when someone scrapes a website for content.

The only time a website may face a duplicate content issue is when it’s obvious that the website’s owner is actually duplicating the content on purpose. And even then, it’s not necessarily a penalty, but it could cause performance and crawl issues for search.

So, no, a knowledge base alongside an actual blog is not going to trigger a penalty unless they are virtually identical.

Is There a Knowledge Base Tutorial in the Future?

I usually try to keep WordPress tutorials on WriterSanctuary relevant to what a blogger or author would need on their website. In the case of a knowledge base, I can see how it could be beneficial as a marketing device for authors.

If you keep it similar to an FAQ but deliver a bit of your personality in the posts, it can help fans and readers connect with you on a personal level.

A KB can also give you a platform to provide quick and easy answers to questions about your books. Where did you get the idea for this book? Is there a significance for the book cover that you used? What inspired you to write this series?

There’s actually quite a bit you can do with a KB from a writer’s perspective.

In any case, I plan on setting up a tutorial for adding a knowledge base to WordPress as soon as I have a moment. I’d like to do more tutorials, but they take considerably longer to write as I use my own screenshots and steps to show the process.

As more authors use WordPress, though, I plan on doing a lot more with the platform in the near future.

It’ll Be a Constant Work in Progress

Creating a knowledge base is often something that is a work in progress. There is always more information you can add to help visitors whether you’re just a blogger or have a multi-million-dollar corporation. It’s not something that you can spend a weekend creating and then ignore afterward.

Well, that is as long as you want the section of your site to be successful.

There are always questions that need answers, new products and services to mention, and writing methods developed over time. Always remain vigilant with your knowledge base and give visitors the best information you can.

Michael Brockbank
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