We live in an interconnected, content-driven world.
People are hungry for new content to consume, and the internet provides new things to read every day.
Becoming a content writer could be your ticket to a flexible and enjoyable career that is always in high demand.
Most content writers are the driving force behind the internet.
So, you want to know how to become a agency content writer?
1. Study Multiple Writing Styles
No one want’s to hire a one-trick pony — make sure you are well versed in many different styles of writing.
Flexibility is an ideal quality for a content writer to cultivate.
A flexible writer will deliver quality content no matter what the subject.
And will make sure that the article’s tone is appropriate for the topic and audience.
As a professional writer, you will be covering a lot of topics. You need to know how to write for different audiences and produce great content.
There is a big difference between a technical paper and a blog post about summer fashion.
Understanding your audience will enable you to write for them.
2. Get the Right Training
Modern content writers need to know more than how to string a delightful sentence together.
Today, freelance writers should be well-versed in coding and SEO.
Search engine optimization or SEO is vital to the success of your content career.
SEO is a targeted set of principles that push sites to the top of the search engine list.
You should also know a thing or two about coding. HTML, CSS, and WordPress knowledge will make you competitive in the field.
And also give you a better understanding of how web design and content work together to create great sites.
3. Write with Purpose
There is nothing worse than fluffy, useless content. No one wants to read bad content. And it negatively impacts the perception of the site.
Write with purpose. Make sure there is a reason for the content you’re writing.
With so much noise online, you need to write with a purpose in mind or your articles will get lost in a flood of online text.
Every topic you start should be well researched.
Always seek to answer questions that people are asking.
Take to Reddit or other Ubersuggest to know what questions your audience wants to be answered.
You can mine question sites for topics people want to read.
4. Build a Portfolio
Building a portfolio is an early step in how to become a content writer. Your potential clients need to know that you’re the right person for the job. What better way than by showing them you are perfect?
As you get your feet off the ground with this career, you should compile a portfolio of your best work.
Make sure to showcase a variety of writing styles and topics.
If you are particularly adept at a particular topic, showcase that talent.
Finding your niche will help you stand out as a writer.
You excel at things you enjoy. And, when you write about things you are passionate it about it shows!
5. Be Original
There are millions of articles on the internet — how do you stand above the crowd when there is so much out there?
As a writer, it’s your responsibility to craft original content.
No one wants to read the same listicle over and over again.
Check out what other writer’s work to make sure you are re-writing the same tired article over and over again.
And if you are writing about a popular subject, make sure you have an original take.
Find a new angle on a tired topic. Critically asses other articles and try to see how you can improve or learn from other people’s writing.
6. Know the Ins and Outs of Social Media
2.7 billion people use social media daily.
The best way to reach readers and improve the circulation of your content is by knowing your way around social media.
Your clients want the content you write to reach the maximum number of people.
Knowing how social media works can help you design articles that do well on these platforms.
Different social media platforms have different types of content that trend well.
Understanding this will help you write high-quality articles that reach the most number of people.
And this success will keep clients coming back again and again for more content.
7. Use the Principals of Readability
The principles of readability will guide you’re writing so that it’s to understand.
Articles that are enjoyable to read get more shares and like. Which means your business gets more visibility.
Be direct with your readers. Your audience needs to be able to understand your article.
You should also use a conversational tone with your readers.
Using 1st and 2nd person pronouns make your writing more conversational.
Write in an active voice. Writing in passive voice can be confusing for readers.
An active voice draws readers in and keeps them excited about your content!
Get straight to the point. Your audience is reading your article to get important information.
Make that information easily accessible. Don’t ramble and keep your sentence structures simple.
Focus on one topic. Stay on track and focus on the one topic you want to cover.
When you try to talk about too much at once, you end up with a confusing article.
Proofread, proofread, proofread. Never submit an article before you proofread it.
Nothing is worse for your career as a writer than submitting articles with obvious errors.
8. Use Sources and Citations
The best article is well-research. Show your readers that you know what you’re talking about and cite your sources.
Citations make your article more reliable and attractive to readers and clients.
And external and internal links also help with your search engine results. This is a great selling point for clients.
How to Become a Content Writer: Preparation
Writing successful web content is all about proper preparation.
With the right experience, you will be crafting quality content in no time.
Put the time in, and you will be churning out articles in no time.
Now you know how to become a content writer.
So, sign up for an HTML course and break out the grammar books — it’s time to get started!
