It is an undebatable truth that content writing is one of the leading and most sought-after skills in the marketing and even entertainment world today.

The world is a digital market and content is the wheel on which we ride through this market.

Moreover, starting in the content world today can be overwhelming but if you stay with the process and learn the basics, growing to be the best is only a matter of time. One of the first worries people have when they decide to get into writing professionally is that they think they can’t write, but that’s only half of the truth.

Newsflash: You can write!

So long as you have access to formal education, social media, and the internet, you can write. The only thing missing is professionalism which you can always learn.

Statistics have it that up to 61% of online consumers in the United States prefer to make a purchasing decision after going through a blog, following a survey by the Content Marketing Institute. Again, there is no need to worry about the viability of learning this skill; it is a must-have! In an earlier article, we highlighted the importance of content writing.

What is Content Writing?

To understand what content writing is on its own, it is important that you already have a basic knowledge of what “writing” generally means and entails.

Content Writing, as we’ve already established, is a branch of digital marketing that involves planning, writing, and editing content for different purposes, especially for marketing. It could also refer to content that is more educative and informative such as blog posts or e-newsletters.

There are various types of content, some of which include:

• Blogs
• Social media content
• Technical writing
• Email marketing
• Copywriting
• Listicles
• Website content
• Academic Guides
• Creative Writing     

Focusing on content writing is a viable method to polish your writing skills, develop a solid portfolio and generate a steady stream of sustainable income. 

Who is a Content Writer?

A content writer is someone who creates engaging and informative pieces to support companies in showcasing their products. They write on a variety of topics and provide the best written or visual material possible, from blog posts to press releases. 

Steps to Get Started with Content Writing

This is an inexhaustible list of how you can get started and join the big growing family of content writers.

1. Read

You must have heard the saying “readers are leaders”, right? If you plan to get the best version of this skill and be among the top leading icons in the content writing industry, then you have to make reading a hobby. Read far and near, wide and narrow. You enrich your vocabulary bank by reading quality books. Read books on writing, learn about writing by taking courses on writing, learn the rules of grammar, etc. Specifically, read around the field or niche you are interested in.

2. Practice writing

One of the most profound but neglected advice beginner writers get is “write daily”. Learn consistency, create a schedule for writing every day, and see the remarkable growth that you’d record in the long run. Practice writing as much as you can, write on topics that interest you, and topics that you’d like to learn more about, and you can also take creative writing exercises or start a journal or digital document for story ideas.

3. Develop a Style

You are unique and creative in your way. Learn from others but do not copy.

While practicing, develop a writing style that is unique to you, your personality, and the niche you are writing on.

4. Blog

Blogging is another way by which you can climb up the ladder of content writing. You can showcase your writing process by starting a blog. It is also a way to ensure continual practice while learning to get other paying gigs.

 5. Volunteer

You can also call it guest posting. Reach out to websites that are aligned with your niche and areas of interest and volunteer to write for them. This also helps to expand your reach; people get to read your works from not just your personal site/blog.

6. Freelance

There are lots of websites like Freelancer, Fiverr, Upwork, etc that are available for freelancers to connect with various clients and secure gigs.

7. Portfolio building

This step is very important if you plan to monetize your content writing services. A writing portfolio is a collection showing a writer’s credentials alongside a solid body of work. Put out your articles on the web, including social media.

Fundamental Content Writing Skills

As a content writer, there are some fundamental skills you must have, some of which include:

1. Research Skills

 You cannot produce quality content without research. A content writer that is skilled in research is a successful one. It is important that your content is of good quality and doesn’t contain misleading information; hence, the need for research.

2. Grammatical knowledge

Your writing should be void of grammatical errors. It is important to correctly punctuate and spell words so as to have a smooth reading flow. You can use Grammarly to correct your errors as you write and save yourself some time.

3. Time management

The rate at which you are able to deliver your work also counts. Don’t be the content writer that is unreliable and is always late with deliveries.

Content Writing Tools

Writing tools are not there to take the place of your brain and creativity, they are there to help simplify the process of writing and improve the quality of your work. Some of them include:

• Grammarly
• Yoast SEO
• Keyword Everywhere
• Google Trends
• Google Docs
• WordPress
• Quora

Finally…

The demand for content writers is on the high side. Every company requires a fantastic website, and every website needs excellent content for efficient digital marketing. You’ll be in high demand if you practice long enough, and can deliver it.

Do not stop learning about writing. Remember, the more you read, the more you’ll learn about how to express yourself succinctly and clearly.

Happy writing!

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