What is Content Writing?

Content writing is everywhere. From this blog post, you are reading the videos you watch on Youtube, the Facebook post you liked, and everything on the internet counts as content. Therefore, the person who writes these scripts, articles and posts are called content writers. There are plenty of content writers everywhere. Some work as freelancers and offer their services on Freelancers, Upwork, Fiverr and People per hour. What distinguishes one content writer from another is their knowledge of the topic, writing style, wit, clarity and understanding of SEO. You don't need a degree to become a content writer. However, having one will improve your job prospects if you plan to work for a company or organization.

Nevertheless, it would help if you had good grammar and be interested in research. Before writing any content, it is essential to have a clear idea about your writing goals. You need to have enough knowledge, understanding, and expertise about the topic you will be writing about. If the case is unfamiliar, you need to familiarize yourself by conducting adequate research to fill in your knowledge gaps. As a content writer, you will always be learning new things. If you love learning, expanding and growing your knowledge and understanding of topics, you will undoubtedly, enjoy being a content writer. It would help if you did not start writing about a subject without knowing it very well. Identify your aim of writing the article. For instance, your purpose could be to drive traffic, to get subscriptions or make sales. Aim matters because it determines how and what you write. It is also best to have a clear understanding of your audience or writing to better resonate with them.

Always be sure about your grammar. There are plenty of tools online like Grammarly. Make good use of them. Then there are online courses and Youtube tutorials where you can brush up on your grammar. Good grammar can make a good article great, just as lousy grammar can make an excellent article mediocre. You might think readers don't care about grammar, but the truth is that they do.

Your keywords matter. Keywords are how your audience finds you. So, it is essential to conduct specific keywords using online tools at your disposal. This will make your content more discoverable and help your audience find you when searching for content related to what you publish. So, take your time to do thorough keyword research before you publish your articles, posts and videos!

Then comes the subtitles. Your subtitles must be catchy and grab your audience's attention. These days, with so many blog posts and videos out there, this is one way you can stand out from the massive crowd and have your voice heard above the background noise. The subheading should be descriptive so that they grab your audience's attention. Edit until you have the perfect subtitle. 

Edit your content as well. The more you edit, the better your writing is going to become. Then, finally, you will have a polished article to put out into the word!

How do you start as a content writer?

The best way to start is to start journaling or blogging online. Create your blog. This way, if you have an audience, you feel compelled and motivated to keep publishing articles and content.

Upscale your skills through reading, writing and taking courses on writing, SEO and other related skills. There is always something to learn, and you should never stop learning.

Where can you find online courses?

Coursera:

Coursera offers courses on writing, marketing as well as SEO. These courses are offered through renowned universities. These universities provide quality courses where you can earn certificates online. You can pay for the certificates or apply for financial aid, and if approved, you get a free certificate. I will list some of the courses below:

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/good-with-words

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/seo

https://www.coursera.org/projects/search-engine-optimization-with-squarespace

Udemy

Udemy has free courses on content writing, marketing and SEO. You can also choose from the paid courses if you are willing to invest in them. Always check for the ratings before you decide on taking or purchasing courses.

https://www.udemy.com/courses/search/?price=price-free&q=content+writing&sort=relevance&src=ukw

https://www.udemy.com/courses/search/?price=price-free&q=seo&sort=relevance&src=ukw

https://www.udemy.com/courses/marketing/?price=price-free&sort=popularity

The list goes on!

How do content writers get paid?

The way most content writers get paid is per word. Writers get paid according to the words they write. Therefore, it is essential to keep getting better and better at writing. So, keep reading articles and studying how other writers write. Writers need to keep getting better and better. The better you get and the more opportunities. 

Where can you find paid jobs?

Fiverr

Fiverr is one of the best platforms to find work as a content writer. All you've got to do is create gigs with good descriptions and gig images and hashtags.

Upwork

Upwork is a more complicated platform than Fiverr. But there are a lot of opportunities available on Upwork. I don't use Upwork, so you should search online and find out how it works!

So, if you want to be a content writer, you must have a love for writing. You also must love reading and absorb excellent writing like a sponge. The more you read, the more you learn. There is a lot you can learn from others. Networking is also essential as a content writer. Find other content writers online and strike up conversations with them. Also, there are plenty of social media platforms where you can find like-minded people. These individuals will motivate you to pursue your dreams and keep hustling.

The best way to get better as a writer is to keep learning and improving as a writer. So keep acquiring new skills and try to keep getting better. Networking will help you to get tips and advice on content writing. Start writing on different topics. Write, write and write more. The more you write, you will get better at writing. Keep going and doing. If you keep working, you will get better over time. Never give up and strive to be better than yesterday every day!

Here are some links to my fiverr gigs if you want me to write your content for you: https://www.fiverr.com/share/9zq5Pe