Review
"This is the resource content and SEO writers desperately need. Consider it the go-to resource for how to write in a way that produces impressive SEO results without sacrificing quality!"
- Kaleigh Moore, Contributor at Forbes, Vogue Business, and Adweek and Co-Host of the Freelance Writing Coach Podcast
"The style guide on your shelf wasn't meant for the modern era. But here you've found a modern style guide, built for digital. Flip through and you'll find how different things are now. You'll see how badly this book is needed. Send a copy to a marketer on your team and they'll thank you for it."
- Andy Crestodina, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder of Orbit Media Studios
"So much web content ends up in the ever-growing landfill of content that we call the internet. How do you end up standing above the noise? Maddy's "Writing for Humans and Robots: The New Rules of Content Style" prescribes a no-frills approach to web content writing that's very needed to anyone who works in the digital world."
- Bernard Huang, Co-Founder of Clearscope
"Unlike so many books that are full of fluff, "Writing For Humans and Robots" is down to business immediately.
Within 10 minutes, I'd taken loads of notes. It was immediately clear how much we are missing from our style guide, despite building our blog for 6+ years. The book is so practical that you could copy and paste much of it into your own style guide.
I'm considering making "Writing For Humans and Robots" part of our writer onboarding. It's essentially a manual of everything you need to know to create good content, but also why those things are important.
Whether you're brand new or have been producing content for years, you'll take something away from this book that will result in better content. I'm excited for how much this is going to improve my own writing, and the consistency of content produced by our writers."
- James ("Jimmy") Rose, Co-Founder of Content Snare
"Writing content is an integral part of Search Engine Optimization. For too long, search marketers have undervalued the importance of creating content of staunch quality but with changes to Google's algorithm ignoring this skill is no longer an option.
Maddy walks you through what it actually means to write well. By using concrete examples of how you should and should not construct your online content Maddy gives you a clear path toward being a better writer. All of this positions you to be able to bring in more organic traffic and more revenue."
- Mordy Oberstein, Head of SEO Branding at Wix, Advisor at Semrush, and Host of #SEOChat
"I've had the pleasure of knowing Maddy and following her work for the better part of a decade now, and her approach to creating content that actually helps people is unrivaled in the content marketing space.
In an industry that's so painfully saturated with cynical tacticians just looking for a quick win and the next paycheck, I've always found Maddy's thoughtful level of care and attention to detail a welcome breath of fresh air. Her guidance on strategically balancing your writing for both human readers & the search engines of the world, is spot-on if you want to create content that'll stand the test of time."
- Ryan Robinson, Full-Time Blogger and Podcaster, Content Marketing Consultant, and Contributor to Forbes and Fast Company
"Maddy has long been my go-to for producing high-quality content people like to read, and that bots rank highly on search engines. It's a rare skill combination and she explains exactly how to do it in this book. It's a competitive advantage few would give away, and that any writer, content marketer, or person who wants their content to be found on the internet should read and implement ASAP."
- Tracey Wallace, Content Strategist at Klaviyo, formerly MarketerHire and BigCommerce
"This book is legit! "Writing for Humans and Robots" is the kind of style guide I wish someone would have pointed me to when I started editing online content in 2007. Have you ever found yourself struggling with following the writing "rules"? Well, many of those rules don't apply online. And I love that Maddy calls some of those out in this book (check out Chapter 3).
Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm wondering how Maddy downloaded so many of these great tips and guidelines from my brain! It's taken me nearly 20 years, writing and editing at multiple search marketing publications, to learn all of this stuff. Lucky you, you can just read this book to get the knowledge you need to start creating some fantastic content. Right now. I'll surely be pointing plenty of writers and editors toward this book."
- Danny Goodwin, Senior Editor at Search Engine Land, formerly Executive Editor at Search Engine Journal
"Content writing for the modern age requires style. As a smart content marketer, Maddy Osman teaches respect for the reader with relevant and well-constructed copy, rather than serving forgettable lightweight fluff.
As a word lover whose goal is to make content easy to consume, she does not discriminate. Whether for humans or for robots, her style guide mindset caters to the practical and technical requirements of readership.
The complete style guide for writers, marketers, and branding pros who favor substance over fluff, and who want to connect, rather than confuse. And when I say "complete," check out Maddy's appendix and resource section. Her innovative book is a seriously strong reference manual for writing better."
- Marti Konstant, Author of Activate Your Agile Career
"Writing for the web is becoming more complex. We're often overwhelmed by the nuances involved in writing for algorithms and the people who read our content.
"Writing for Humans and Robots: The New Rules of Content Style" helps you strike the balance between creating content that connects with readers and satisfies search engines. It provides a clear path through the messy process of content creation, from developing a style guide to telling stories and measuring results. Throughout, Maddy takes you through each step of her process while referencing real-world situations encountered during her time running The Blogsmith.
Maddy's writing style is energizing, and the content is straightforward with practical advice you can apply immediately. Writing for Humans and Robots should be required reading for any content marketing professional."
- Michael Keenan, Co-founder of Peak Freelance
"This book is making me a better writer! I've been blogging since before blogging was a word, but I've ALWAYS struggled with consistency in my formatting and writing style. Now, as a course creator, consistency is really important throughout my programs. Writing for Humans and Robots is helping me put together my own content style guide so that my content is consistent from blog post to blog post and program to program. Whether you're creating content alone or with a team, you need to grab your copy of Writing for Humans and Robots!"
- Erin Flynn, Founder of Out of Office Entrepreneur
"I've always turned to Maddy to answer all my social media and SEO content questions. She has such a unique way of breaking down overwhelmingly complex information into simple concepts. This book is the perfect embodiment of all her expertise and skill! 10's across the board!"
- Erika Kubick, Author of Cheese Sex Death
"Maddy brings to the table a vast knowledge of how content and SEO work together. "Writing for Humans and Robots" helps outline and simplify the world of content creation in a way that makes it simple and straightforward for all to understand in a thoughtful and well-constructed manner.
Nearly every company needs to create engaging content to be successful online, but it won't do any good if it can't be found. If you read this book, you'll learn how to create content that matches what your audience is looking for and can earn top visibility in organic search results.
Maddy's years of experience shine through with this guide that will help you navigate the world of writing for both humans and robots."
- Matt Lacuesta, Director of SEO at Milestone Inc and #SEOBeers Denver Host
"Consider "Writing for Humans and Robots" a modern-day "Elements of Style" that picks up where most writing guidelines, like the AP Stylebook, fall short. Maddy Osman teaches online writers how to create concise, visually appealing, and compelling content for our contemporary world. I found the book to be loaded with practical style and grammar tips as well as essential online writing strategies - such as guidelines for headline writing, keyword selection, and link strategies. Maddy's writing guidelines are exactly what today's 21st-century writers have been desperately searching for and need most."
- Jenny Levine Finke, Author of Dear Gluten, It's Not Me It's You and Writer at goodforyouglutenfree.com
"As someone who is in the habit of creating 4-5 pieces of content a week, I understand the frustration of not gaining traction, even when putting in the effort. Maddy's advice (especially on writing headlines) is incredibly valuable. I cannot recommend this book enough. It's now something I keep handy for the pieces of content I really want to make sure do well."
- Joe Casabona, Host of the How I Built It Podcast
About the Author
Maddy Osman is a digital native with a decade-long devotion to creating engaging, accessible, and relevant content. After teaching herself web design at age 11, she found her true passion in content creation—learning the intricacies while transitioning from technical to creative SEO marketer. Maddy's journey from freelance writer to founder and CEO of The Blogsmith yielded numerous insights to share about content creation for enterprise B2B technology brands. She believes in finding win-win situations for brands, readers, and robots—translated into actionable guidance throughout this book.
In Writing for Humans and Robots: The New Rules of Content Style, Maddy gives a nod to editors and style mentors she's worked with at brands like Automattic, HubSpot, Adobe, Wix, and Trello. After benefitting from their thoughtful feedback, she has assembled this comprehensive guide to writing for the web in an attempt to pay it forward and create better quality content that's inclusive and accessible to readers.
Maddy has been recognized as one of Semrush's and BuzzSumo's Top 100 Content Marketers and The Write Life's 100 Best Websites for Writers. She has spoken for audiences at WordCamp US, SearchCon, and Denver Startup Week. When taking breaks from the digital world, Maddy enjoys cooking, reading, and exploring the world, but she is most content at home in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, Dan, and their pooch, Lola.
