What exactly constitutes content writing? This is a question I asked myself a few years ago when I began my profession in a new country. After holding several roles in the field, I have direct knowledge of how to excel as a professional content writer. In this guide, I’ll share all I’ve learned along the road.
What is content writing?
A content writer creates text for websites, digital products, and any associated assets, such as marketing videos, blogs, assistance articles, social media postings, and so on. To rank on Google, content writers create clear, concise information that follows search engine optimization (SEO) rules. Professional content writers must be technologically adept and able to write for a variety of consumers, platforms, and formats.
Content writing is in high demand since it contributes to the tone of a brand’s image and influences product design. Good text can eventually have an impact on a company’s bottom line, which is why many businesses see the value of hiring great content writers.
Skills of a content writer:
Regardless of the position or field you wish to pursue, some skills are essential to excel in the industry. Here are the top ten abilities every content writer should master:
- Master diverse writing styles.
As a content writer, you’ll be expected to write in a variety of tones, formats, and platforms. You must be comfortable balancing numerous writing styles based on the principles provided. For example, if your organization wants to launch a new product, you may need to develop content for a new landing page, email blast, social media post, and press release. Your mission: Customise the messaging for each asset to have the most impact on that group of readers.
2. Be tech savvy.
You must have a strong technical foundation to be an excellent content writer. This covers the fundamentals of SEO, how to navigate the ever-changing social media landscape, and the concepts of HTML, CSS, and coding languages such as JavaScript. The most technically skilled content writers are also masters in making the web accessible to individuals with impairments, which will become increasingly important in the future.
3. Possess good research ability.
Good writing begins during the research phase. During this period, you might learn useful information about your audience’s preferred terminology, existing competitors in the market, and the kind of assets they publish. Not that you want to replicate someone else’s voice or inventiveness; your company or client pays you for your own. However, understanding what your competitors are doing can provide you with ideas for how to package your material and pointers for success.
4. Work on design.
You never make content in a bubble. To be a great content writer, you must understand the workflow of designers and how to collaborate with them. This could entail reducing your writing to match character constraints or creating a layout that will tie your content together. The best writers have the big picture in mind. They take care to create text that complements the surrounding aspects of a page or product, adding another depth to their skill set.
5. Pay attention to detail.
Consistency is essential, especially about grammar, style, tone, and voice. This could include spelling and capitalization of a word, how terminology is utilized across multiple assets, or avoiding plagiarism, even unintentionally. A skilled content writer constantly checks for errors and ensures everything is in order.
6. Understand complex thoughts.
“If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you can’t understand it yourself,” Albert Einstein once stated. The finest content writers can simplify something that may be unclear to the reader. This requires in-depth knowledge of your product, target market, and audience. You aim to make sentences as clear and succinct as possible. By delivering bite-sized information, you may assist your readers in achieving their objectives.
7. Work with data.
Quantitative analysis can often impact what words you write and where you place them. This might range from how long users stay on a website to which button they click the most. An excellent technique to produce data is to do A/B testing, in which you separate your audience and deliver different material to each group. You can then track and measure the content’s impact over time. Data-driven topic selection can distinguish your work and deliver the most value to your audience.
8. Be inventive.
Content authors attempt to present new ideas. While there are numerous tried-and-true approaches for various writing styles, creating something unique is the best way to leave a lasting impression on your readers. When working on a project, try brainstorming ideas without editing and writing down as many as possible. It’s much better if you can do this with a group of authors or colleagues and provide feedback to one another.
9. Thrive under pressure.
Content writing necessitates producing high-quality content in a fast-paced setting. You could spend the entire day working on a draft just to come in the next morning and throw it away. It is critical to be adaptable and adapt to changing circumstances. You must embrace this and view it as a challenge to consistently offer the greatest material within tight deadlines.
10. Implement feedback.
Be bold and listen to recommendations and adjust the text properly. Just as you must collaborate with designers and incorporate their feedback, you must also be able to listen to and improve on suggestions from colleagues or the audience over time. You are expected to stick by the text you write, but consider integrating additional recommendations in future iterations or content testing.