Every day, more and more people discover the wonderful art form that is content writing. Whether you are just starting or are already an expert, it is always helpful to remember these 7 content writing tips. So, in no order, consider the following tips:
Writer, Know Thy Audience
To write content that appeals to the right audience, you must first of all know your audience. It is one of the most important of our 7 content writing tips. This saves a lot of time and energy as there is nothing worse than trying to sell the right product to the wrong person. When you know who your target audience is, this will help you tailor your content effectively. Knowing your audience involves more than simply knowing who they are, as a content writer, you should always put yourself in the mind of your readers. Ask yourself, “Why should anyone read my content?”
It’s like asking, “Why should anyone buy what I am selling? What’s in it for them?”
If you can’t give them a good enough answer, they’re on to the next product and you end up losing a potential client. Nobody wants to spend money on something that is of no benefit or relevance to them. This is the reason why successful content writers cannot do without proper qualitative research.
Research Like Your Life Depends On It (because it does)
As a content writer, in fact, as any kind of writer, you must recognize that you cannot pour out of an empty tank, it is the basic law of Nemo Dat Quod Non Habet. In other words, you cannot give what you do not have. This is why research is very important. And not just any kind of research, but research that results in an engaging content that is relevant and useful to your audience. A vital part of research as a content writer is sourcing for ideas on what to write. There are numerous online resources to help you with this.
Nobody wants to read content that is inaccurate or that they have no use for. Research is the foundation of good content. It validates your written work and if done in a targeted way, it will multiply: the traffic on your site, the number of clicks on your content, your social media shares and ultimately, your sales.
Go for Their Emotions!
It was Maya Angelou who once said; “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Her words ring true in the business of content writing. Business brands that have mastered the art of evoking an emotional response from people through their ads are usually the ones that rake in the highest sales and profits. We can all recall that one ad that made us feel; “Oh wow, I really need what they’re selling;” even though thinking about it deeply, we may realize that we probably didn’t. The advert connected with you, the audience, and that’s what made these products or services so attractive. Well written content should always achieve the same result.
Keep It Plain and Simple.
Readers don’t click websites because they want to read long-winded literature. By all means, keep your content simple and devoid of verbose terms and phraseology. Use simple words that get the message across as effectively as possible. This way, you avoid losing your audience before you have even had a chance to make a good impression.
SEO is Your Friend.
SEO, which means Search Engine Optimization, is a practice of improving the quality and quantity of website traffic to a website or a webpage from search engines. It is a marketing strategy that improves your website’s presence and ranking on search engines like Google making you pop on the first page of search results. It increases your website or blog content’s visibility on the World Wide Web. Do you ever take note of the sites that come up on the second, third or tenth page of your Google search? No?
That’s right, you don’t…and neither does anyone else! People rarely go beyond the first page of search results. So, your goal should be to write content that guarantees you a premium spot.
Solve a Problem
People are forever searching for information on the internet. From self-development tips to money-making ideas, or random content just out of curiosity. Whatever their reasons, content is to them what formulas are to mathematicians and scientists. They help solve their problems or simply whet their appetites to surf the net even more. Good content should always aim to solve problems or meet a pressing need, it must also answer questions.
Always. Review Your Content
This is cannot be overemphasized. Nothing kills a write-up faster than poorly worded or punctuated content. Nobody wants to wade through an unsightly mire of writing filled with all manner of errors. Make sure to always proofread and review your content as many times as possible to ensure that it adheres to the rules of grammar, syntax, punctuation and spelling. Honestly, this is so important that some businesses hire the services of proofreaders and line editors who will painstakingly review their work just to ensure that no error is somewhere hidden in their content.
You also want to ensure the proper flow and overall readability of your work so that not only do people read your content because they need to, but they also read it because they want to.
Well, there you go! This list is by no means exhaustive. If you can put these tips here to practice, sure enough, you will make your mark in the content writing world.
Good luck and happy writing!
