Considering embarking on the journey of becoming a content writer, or simply trying to revamp the content on your site to make it a bit more compelling? Either way, don’t be content with subpar content—instead, follow these content writing tips to go from beginner level to pro status in no time at all.
Before you write—research.
Before you start taking pen to paper (or fingers to keys), you’ve got to know what you’re writing about, which begins with research. Researching SEO keywords will help you identify what content your target audience—and search engines—find most relevant, which can drive everything from your overall content strategy to the way that you structure the piece you’re writing.
Reel them in with your headline.
Your headline is the first thing that your audience—and Google—see when your article pops onto their radar, which means that it is extremely important. A good headline catches eyes but also communicates clearly and concisely what your article is about. Make sure to include the focus keyword you identified in step one in your headline, too, for better SEO.
Make every word count—from the very start.
The work of engaging your audience doesn’t end with your headline. Your article’s introduction can be the deciding factor for a reader who
Readability is key.
When you start writing, it’s important to remember: you’re writing an informative article, not a thesis paper. You want the information you present to be clear, easy to understand, and easy to skim. Use bolded, topical subheadings, and short paragraphs so that readers can easily scan your article to find specific tidbits of interest. Don’t use this article as your chance to prove to the world how many ten-dollar words you know or try to bump your word count by describing a refrigerator as a “free-standing refrigeration appliance.” Keep it simple and both search engines and searchers will have an easier time finding and reading your content.
Save the stuffing for Thanksgiving.
We’ve already established why keywords are important—and how they can boost traffic to your site—but keyword stuffing (aka shoving your keyword into your article as many times as possible) is a big no-no. What does this mean? Basically, if your key phrase is “dolphin tattoo,” you don’t want to write content that looks like this:
Interested in getting a dolphin tattoo? Dolphin tattoos can be a great option for anyone who loves dolphins and wants a tattoo. If this sounds like you, maybe you should get a dolphin tattoo!
No adult human likes to read content like that—and Google doesn’t like it very much either. Use your focus keyword strategically three or four times throughout your article and leave it at that.
Have a call to action—and compel readers to answer it.
Getting readers to read your content shouldn’t be the end goal of anything you write. Ultimately, all written content should be supporting some greater purpose and driving your audience toward an action of some sort—whether that be liking, subscribing, purchasing, donating, volunteering, or simply clicking through to another page of your site. Either way, you need to determine the why of what you’re writing if you really want it to be worth your time.
Proofread… And then have someone else proofread… And then proofread again.
It sounds so simple and obvious, but you’d be surprised how many writers skip this step—and it shows. Nothing makes a piece feel more unprofessional than simple grammatical or spelling errors that are easily avoidable. This piece of content may be the first experience a reader has with your brand; don’t let it be the thing that makes them decide they don’t want a second one. If you aren’t able to have someone else edit your work, there are many services online that can help.
Follow these simple steps and you’ll be well on your way to developing captivating and compelling content that grips your reader’s attention and drives them to act. What are you waiting for?—go out there and get writing! You got this.