Become A Better Content Writer

 

5 Ways To Become A Better Content Writer

How to make your writing more compelling and engaging for readers.

Every day there is a lot of new content that’s created and pushed out into the world. Some of it is compelling, and draws you in immediately filling you with an insatiable desire to know more.

But then there is a big pile of content that is produced ‘just because’, and it provides no real value to the reader. It’s just another bit of distraction and noise in an already over saturated world.

If you spend much time reading things produced by the regular content mills and popular press, it all becomes pretty bland and boring very quickly. It may be optimized for SEO, but it typically doesn’t do a lot for readers.

It doesn’t solve a problem or illuminate an issue in a new way.

Providing value and service to your audience is an important if not absolutely essential part of creating content. If this isn’t your goal, you might want to rethink the purpose behind what it is that you’re setting out to create.

You want your work to be read and appreciated.

You want to be able to create a following of loyal fans that get excited when you produce something new.

In order to do this effectively, there are some easy strategies that you’ll want to consider that will make your work better.

Pick A Niche

Each of us have something that gets us excited and this is the best place to start when deciding what to write about. This is especially true when you’re first starting out as a content creator.

In picking a niche area to specialize in, your work becomes focused and more precise. Readers who follow you will come to know you for your content in your specific area and this will add to your credibility and authority.

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It may seem limiting to pick a specific area to write about when you have a million and one things to say about politics, religion, climate change and your book club.

But it’s vital to remember that you’re writing for your audience, not for yourself.

If you want to write for yourself do it in a journal or publish it on Medium without any expectation that it will be read.

Pick your niche and then spend time looking at it from multiple angles. Explore it from different perspectives and consider how you can add to the ongoing conversation.

What new ideas and fresh thinking can you contribute?

Become An Expert

If you have picked a niche to focus on not only will your writing become more focused, but you now can establish yourself as an expert in that area.

Expertise and developing your reputation requires you to build trust with your audience.

And the only way to do that is to consistently provide quality content that is well researched and delivers on its promises.

In order to become an expert it will take a significant amount of time and learning on your part in order to make your work better. Don’t be tempted to skimp out on this part and think that your opinion can over rule the value of an informed and well structured argument put forward by someone that actually knows what they’re talking about.

Invest in yourself. Take a course. Get feedback on your work.

Be curious and never stop learning.

Read A lot More

Learning and growth only come about through exposure to new ideas, events and experiences. If you’re closed off to these or don’t regularly get your fill because you think you’re too busy, your writing and content will suffer.

Reading is one of the easiest ways to improve your knowledge and skill as a writer. Through exploring the work of others you’re not only exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking, but you learn how to start separating your voice from others.

You can decide where your voice as a writer differs from work that’s already out there. This is critical if you want your writing to stand out.

You may already spend a lot of time reading content on the internet, and while this is valuable it’s not the same as sitting down with a book.

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Challenge yourself to read books from subjects that you don’t understand or that make you uncomfortable. Open yourself up to new authors, new styles of writing and different genres.

A depth and breadth of knowledge will help you when you’re writing in your niche area because you know where and how your subject matter fits into the bigger picture.

If that sounds a bit intimidating then just use this as your takeaway — knowing a little bit about a lot of things will help you write better content that resonates with readers.

It will help you to connect the dots for those reading your work and make your writing stand out.

Learn About Your Audience

It’s really difficult to write content that people want to read if you don’t know what they’re actually interested in.

You might think that your piece about your trip to Niagara Falls is interesting, but unless it’s educating, entertaining or inspiring others, it’s likely to fall short. Readers won’t care about what you did unless you’re able to turn it into something that highlights the ‘must-see’ activities in the area or something similar.

Take time to learn about who your audience is and what motivates them. Explore what their wants, needs and desires are and craft your writing in a way that ultimately provides value to them.

If you don’t have much of an audience yet, decide who it is that you want to write for. Find other writers that already have a significant following and take a look at who reads their work. See if you can find common themes or patterns among those followers and get to know them better.

Once you’re able to cater to your audience, your writing will naturally be more appealing because people engage with content that resonates with them.

Remember that good content writing is about the audience, not about you.

Write Everyday

The thought of sitting down to write everyday might seem overwhelming, especially if you’re just starting out and are still trying to find your voice as a writer.

Regardless, the only way that you become a better writer or producer of any kind of content for that matter is through consistent, regular practice.

Even if you start off by journaling for 10 minutes a day and then move onto a blog or putting something out on Medium, building a writing habit is important.

Writing is an art form filled with nuance and subtlety, and without regular practice your skills can get a little rusty.

I took a lengthy break from writing because it wasn’t a core function of my job and it was surprising how difficult it was to get back into it and find my flow. Writing has always been a passion and something I’ve excelled at — but when I first picked up my pen again it was almost embarrassing.

At least in my mind it was.

If you don’t know what to write about, return to your niche, look at your audience, and consider what you’ve been reading as sources of inspiration.

Creating compelling written content that others want to read isn’t rocket science, but it does take an investment of time and energy. Your goal should be to continually push yourself to make your writing better through practice and self-improvement.

By picking a niche, dedicating the time to become a subject matter expert, reading from a variety of genres, getting to know your audience, and writing everyday you will see an improvement in your final product. A product that attracts readers, builds your following, and ultimately serves a larger purpose.