As a budding writer, you must master the art of creating eye-catching content to engage your audience. Here are 9 content writing tips to remember.
You enjoy reading, have a degree in English/journalism, and writing comes naturally to you; however, are these three qualities sufficient for you to become an effective content writer? We think, not!
Content writing is an ever-evolving field, and you need to keep up with the trends to stay the best in the business. From a head-turning headline to optimizing your content for the search engines, creating effective content is no walk in the park. But our intention is not to scare but rather to assist. Here are nine powerful tips that can help you become a better content writer. Take a look:
1. Write an Eye-catching Headline
The headline is the first thing a reader notices about your content. It should pique their interest enough for them to click and read on. It should be brief and to the point, hinting at what the reader can expect. It should stir emotion in them. Put yourself in their shoes and then come up with a compelling headline. We recommend avoiding clickbait headlines because they increase your website’s bounce rate on the search engines.
2. Know Your Audience
You create content for the audience to consume, so it is imperative to know who they are and what are their needs. Analyze the data and create a customer/buyer persona to better understand them. For example, at Fuzia, our audience consists primarily of millennial and GenZ women who are creative, woke, and interested in topics such as feminism, entrepreneurship, and equal rights. Learn about your readers so that you can produce content that is more relevant to them.
3. Do Your Research
Always conduct thorough research on the topic before you start writing. If you don’t perform enough research on the subject, it is most likely to show in the blog/paper you write. You can always learn basic research skills in order to support your content with facts. It adds to its credibility and helps you gain knowledge about different viewpoints on the subject.
4. Create a Hook
Did you know that you only have 3 seconds or less to grab the attention of a reader? The human attention span is decreasing day by day, and we have to pivot accordingly. Therefore, make sure your first sentence hooks the reader, invoking them to read through your content. It should be able to capture and hold their attention throughout.
5. Edit, Edit, and Edit
Your first draft is most likely to be rough and even rife with errors. After you’ve written it, take a break from it for a while and come back to it with a fresh perspective. Make the required edits and also proofread it thoroughly. A content-filled with errors is a huge turnoff for the readers even if you make valid and convincing arguments. If you are not good at editing, have a friend or a colleague look at it.
6. Use Online Tools
There are a plethora of tools available on the internet that can help you make your article look more professional and error-free. Don’t be afraid to use them as they will only improve your content. Here are some tools you can put to use:
- Grammarly: It will help eliminate grammatical errors and help you write better sentences for an impact on your audience.
- OneLook Thesaurus: This tool will help you find the right words that fit well with your content.
- Hemingway Editor: It analyzes, edits, and polishes your writing while making it easier to read.
7. Optimize The Content
As a web content writer, you need to have at least a basic understanding of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). SEO helps rank your content on the search engines and drives traffic to your page/website. The best way to optimize the content is to use the right set of keywords. Use Google Keyword Planner, Semrush, or Moz to find the keywords that can put your content on the search engine map. If you are new to SEO, click here for a short beginner course.
8. Focus on Quality, not Quantity
We all have a word count to touch while writing. However, it’s important to make sure that you’re not compromising the quality of the content to meet the quantity requirements. Remember, quality trumps quantity. Eliminate irrelevant content wherever possible. Quality content should solve the readers’ problems while also driving sales for your organization.
9. Invest in Content Writing Courses
No one becomes an expert in content writing overnight. It requires years of hard work and consistent writing efforts. However, there’s always room for improvement. You can enroll in content writing courses online to learn from the professionals. They can advise you on how to become an effective writer and help sharpen your current skills.
This month, Fuzia will also host a content writing workshop with an expert who will share their best tips with you. Keep an eye out for it on our website.
We live in a digital age where all our content is out there on the internet. Read this blog to know how to get better at digital writing. You can check out our other blogs as well. Sign up here to become a part of a creative and judgment-free community.
Image credits: freepik